Meeting October 19th 2005

The room was changed twice, once by the participants, there had been a misunderstanding with the Hotel, secondly by the President who gave one of his memorable opening anecdotes, a story which reminded everyone why he is President for an unprecedented third consecutive year  The first Speaker spoke on "The Anonymous English"  echoing many of the sentiments less eloquently expressed in Morrissey's, English Heart Irish Blood. The second Speaker spoke enthusiastically about  Podcasting, expressing his debt to Trucker Llew - The Alistair Cooke of US Truckers. This was a remarkable speech by the secretary, never in  the thirty five history of the club has a speech been given on Podcasting.  In the second half there was a double topics session to make up for the shortage of speakers.  The topics theme, in good old Dostoevskyian style, was one of Crime and Punishment, a subject dear to the heart of the Topics Chairman.  The meeting was attended by eight members, regrettably there were no guests, no doubt they were still recovering from the previous meeting.

Meeting October 5th 2005

Those lucky enough to attend this meeting witnessed three well delivered speeches. It is not uncommon to hear three interesting speeches but less often does one hear three such well delivered speeches, this after all is a club for people learning to speak in public, not a showcase for professional talent.

The first speech, which was on modern art, managed to be graphic, disturbing, descriptive and polemical all at the same time.  A speech which was delivered with such fervour and passion that speaker threated to dislodge the secretary's precious microphone from it's perch on the lecturn.

The second Speaker ran rings around his audience with his deft use of metaphor in a speech which was one minute  didactic  the next brilliant in it's scope. A ready mixture of 'kick-ass' common sense and blistering erudition.  The speaker had, to quote Wilbur Smith, the far sighted gaze of a Mirage Pilot.

The final speaker gave a speech on Karate which was so compelling and inspirational, it could  provide the story line for the next Steven Seagal  action movie.  The only question that remained in the audience's mind was : Is Steven Seagal, at 6 foot 5, big enough for the role?

The evening was rounded off with a well structured topics session in which participants were given the opportunity to express their love for the North East of England.  Few contestants made the most of this opportunity, preferring instead to 'go negative' much to the chagrin of the General Evaluator. The General Evaluator, in this instance the Secretary, gave a good summary of the evening.

Meeting September 21st 2005

Six members attended for this second meeting of the season and there were four guests.  The first half was a departure from the norm with a game of "Call My Bluff", a game played fairly by the two competing teams.   The topics session was the hardest in living memory with the Topics Chairman asking the impossible of the contestants, who were by in large humbled by the experience.  Few lasted more than 25 seconds, there were some inspired responses, particularly from the guests, but even these brought forth little more than a scowl from the chairman.

Meeting September 7th 2005

Six members attended for this first meeting of the season and there were four guests, Claire Coffield, Garry Tear, John Grierson and Jane Lord. Each guest bravely stood up and spoke for a couple of minutes. Doug Paterson gave an interesting impromptu speech on New Orleans, his first impromptu speech for the club. Michael Bradley spoke animatedly about his experience of the Sunderland Air show, providing, with the aid of two ball point pens some vivid representations of the Harriers maneuverability. Elaine McKeith expounded an authoritative comprehensive review of hypnotherapy. There was the usual topics session which brought forth some merriment, if only on the part of the topics chairman. Guests and members were asked for their views on Jet Lag, Thunderstorms, Opening Chat Up Lines at Parties. A good time was had by all.