Bedfordview Toastmasters rises above the pandemic
Working virtually has also allowed them access to clubs all over the world without the expense of constantly jetting back and forth.
They say that drastic times call for drastic measures.
Given the current circumstances, this could not be more accurate, especially when referring to the swift way in which Bedfordview Toastmasters responded and adapted to the ongoing pandemic that has changed the way in which we see the world.
Less than a week after South Africa went into lockdown, the club hosted its first virtual meeting and, although at first members may have been slightly apprehensive, the club’s regular Zoom meetings have turned out to be a great success.
In addition to the safety benefits of not driving home late at night, members and guests can now also participate from the comfort of their own homes, which was reported to be especially enjoyable in winter.
Furthermore, through working online, members have also noticed a huge development in certain skills they usually would not have practised.
According to 33-year-old Darren Barr, he is now able to better write and rehearse his speeches because, through working virtually, he has learnt to imagine the audience’s feedback and adapt accordingly.
“In the beginning it was very difficult to host speeches online because when I speak I look for cues from the audience. With online meetings, you naturally lose a portion of that, which forces you to add pauses for when you imagine people might laugh.”
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Fellow Bedfordview member and vice-president of membership Jess Qvist said: “It is a different type of speaking, but I think is also a valuable skill to have.”
Qvist said without the immediate feedback of a live audience, she often finds herself feeling quite negatively about the quality of her speeches.
However, through working online, she has come to realise that, as a speaker, you have to rely on yourself for positive feedback.
Speaking online has also proven to be a good opportunity for members to observe themselves when speaking.
Although it may have seemed awkward at first, Barr, who has been a member of the club for three years, uses the virtual meetings as an opportunity to pick up on and correct any subconscious gestures and facial expressions he makes when speaking.
Lastly, in addition to the many skills the members have learnt, working virtually has also allowed them access to clubs all over the world without the expense of constantly jetting back and forth.
According to frequent guest at Bedfordview Toastmasters Michelle Yenson of Egoli Golden City Toastmasters Club: “When you are at your own club all the time you tend to get very comfortable with the people. So to get the most out of Toastmasters I encourage everyone to attend as many clubs as possible. Plus, with online, this has become much easier.”
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