Waitakere ITC win debate

Don't Think Big - a September1996 photo of Waitakere Powertalk international members Margaret Raby, Jenny Body and Anne Pearman after winning The Great Western debate.

NZ Region Speech Contest Winners!

Waitakere POWERtalk International Club celebrated two of NZ Region's winners!

At the recent Anchors Aweigh! conference, Janet Henderson won the NZ Region POWERtalk International Prepared Speech Competition and Dave Tomu won the NZ Region POWERtalk International Cosmopolitan Speech Competition!

Waitakere club took the opportunity to celebrate their wins with cake!

Both Janet and Dave will go on to represent NZ Region in the International Convention held in Rotorua in 2015.

Waitakere club wish them both the best of luck!

POWERtalk International is a world-wide not for profit organization that coaches in effective communication.
If you would like more information on how to give winning speeches in any language, check the NZ Region Website at www.powertalk.org.nz or call 0800 841 842.

Nautical Pairs- Did you find your Solemate?

During the Anchors Aweigh! conference, one of the fun conference events was to find your Solemate

Captain Ahab	Moby Dick
Herman the Merman	Sinead the Mermaid
Captain James Cook	Endeavour
Christopher Columbus	Santa Maria
Nemo	Dory
Rose	Jack
Robinson Crusoe	Friday
Jack Hawkins	Long John Silver
Castaway	Wilson
Neptune	Trident
Poseidon	Amphitrite
Homer	Odysseus
Jason	The Argonauts
Sir Francis Drake	The Golden Hind
Sir Francis Chichester	Gipsy Moth IV
Popeye	Olive Oyl
Jack Sparrow	Barbossa
Captain Hook	Peter Pan
Laura Dekker	Guppy
Barbara Kendall	Olympics
Fletcher Christian	Bounty
The Skipper	Gilligan

Alas, I was Amphitrite and despite dancing all night, the rogue Poseidon was not to be found.  Not even an Ahoy! from my beloved solemate.  

Did you find your Solemate at conference?  Which were you?

NZ Region Person of the Year!

Congrats to Nissa for winning the 2014 Person of the Year!

Nissa has been a member of the POWERtalk Waimea club for 4 years.  From the moment she joined the club, Nissa has actively taken part in all the POWERtalk has offered.  She immediately started on the accreditation program and has completed level 2.
Nissa has held various offices at club level including VP Education; Club Webmaster and Treasurer.  Nissa has embraced all the principles and training of POWERtalk and is a wonderful ambassador for our organisation as she is an accredited Short Course Trainer and facilitates at the Students Seminar and judges at the primary schools speech contest for the Nelson region.

Nissa's diligence and commitment are a credit to the orgnaisation and we are proud to recognise her as the NZ Region Person of the Year 2014.

Past Presidents Unite!

We were very lucky to have a number of past presidents at the Anchors Aweigh! Conference, including Helen and Barb.  

Keeping up with past presidents gives us the opportunity to learn from those who have experienced office.

POWERtalk International is a world-wide not for profit organization that coaches in leadership and effective communication.  Past Presidents are honored and have gained prestige at a club, area,  nation-wide and world-wide level.  

If you would like more information on POWERtalk International, check the NZ Region Website at www.powertalk.org.nz or call 0800 841 842.

Welcome NZ Region President, Janet Henderson!

The incoming NZ Region board was announced at the region conference.  Barbara Henderson-Wragge had the privilege of installing our new president Janet Henderson.

Barbara welcomed Janet to her post with a poem : 

We’re changing the board at Region dammit

The new President, her name is Janet

Linda retires, her tenure commendable

Janets’ new board will be dependable

                                                                                    Says Janet

We’re changing the board at Region dammit

The new President, her name is Janet

The Presidents job is to be commanding

A role that can be, very demanding

                                                                                    Says Janet

We’re changing the board at Region dammit

The new President, her name is Janet

The President-Elect is trainee and learner

Waiting in line,  just on the back burner.

                                                                                    Says Janet

We’re changing the board at Region dammit

The new President, her name is Janet

The Vice President will be kept on their toes

Educating members at our annual shows

                                                                                    Says Janet

We’re changing the board at Region dammit

The new President, her name is Janet

The secretary takes note of all that’s happening

With pen always poised, they’re not caught napping

                                                                                    Says Janet

We’re changing the board at Region dammit

The new President, her name is Janet

Money, money, money makes the world go round

Balancing the books is the Treasurers ground.

                                                                                    Says Janet

We’re changing the board on the Regions Card

It’s Janets turn to take up the guard

Do you think the members know all about her

Maybe not yet, but they will, I’m sure.

                                                                                    Says Barb

POWERtalk International is a world-wide not for profit organization that coaches in leadership and effective communication.  Janet has learned about leadership and practiced how to succeed and gain prestige at a club, area,  nation-wide and world-wide level.  

If you would like more information on POWERtalk International, check the NZ Region Website at www.powertalk.org.nz or call 0800 841 842.

Conference Committee... the ladies who who deserve the thanks!

The conference committee seen here beavering away finalizing details for the Anchors Aweigh conference.  From opening ceremony to accreditation and finances the team worked hard to create a fun, educational and informative conference.

All attendees loved the event and expressed thanks and credit to the conference committee : 

Mary Marshall - Conference Coordinator; Marilyn Steel Financial Controller and Registration Chairperson; Margaret Raby Credentials Chairperson; Helen Doherty & Kathleen Dixon Decorations; Helen Wilson Hosts and Page coordinator; Lynette Russ Kits; Sue Martin properties; Kleo Zois Publicity & Sponsorship Chairperson and Margaret Craigie Silent Auction chairperson.

POWERtalk International is a world-wide not for profit organization that coaches in effective communication.  The conference is a way for members to practice planning and execution of world-class events.

If you would like more information on POWERtalk International, check the NZ Region Website at www.powertalk.org.nz or call 0800 841 842.

Prepared speech contest winners!

The best speeches from New Zealand came from these fascinating ladies!

All corners of New Zealand were represented when Carmen from Dunedin, Margaret from Wellington and Janet from Auckland came together to compete against the other best speeches.

Janet will go on to represent NZ in the International Competition,  so watch this blog for more news!

POWERtalk International is a not for profit world-wide organization that coaches on leadership and effective communication.  To find out more on how you can practice the art of public speaking see www.powertalk.org.nz or call 0800 841 842.

Speech Structure. ..

Helen presented a new take on an old favourite subject - Speech Structure.

Attendees of Helen's workshop learned how to simplify their speeches with her novel formula that guarantees the message flows seamlessly from point to point and includes the tried and true lessons.

She is evaluating!

POWERtalk international president Val Harper DC is seen here evaluating NZ Region President Linda Bergman's speech.

Evaluation is a key part of the POWERtalk experience.  It's about being constructive in feedback and allows members to see themselves through the evaluators eyes.  

International guests are always welcome at their destination POWERtalk meetings and it's always fun to see how clubs differ internationally.  Val spoke of her first conference in 1990.  The conference was held in Texas where hundred attendees from around the world met to share knowledge and experience from other clubs and members.  

POWERtalk conventions usually have a number of workshops to learn from, usually there's a speech contest or two to inspire you to increase your public speaking experience.

POWERtalk International is a world-wide not for profit organization that coaches in effective communication.
If you would like more information on how to travel the world with POWERtalk International, check the NZ Region Website at www.powertalk.org.nz or call 0800 841 842.

Congrats NZ Region Board!

Congrats to the NZ Region Board for their great work during their term!

Neptunes representative presents Transire Lineae!

When first time sailors cross the equator, there is a crossing the line ceremony and the Anchors Aweigh conference was no different. 

Division IV VP Akemi Kosuge crossing the line

Neptune sent along his representative to welcome First Timers to conference with a message... 

To all Sailors wherever ye may be: 

And to all Mermaids, Mermen, Whales, Sea Serpents, Porpoises, Sharks, Dolphins, Eels, Crabs, Lobsters, Octopi, Leviathans, Giant Squids, Taniwha, and other living members of the Sea: 

GREETINGS.

Know ye that on 9th May 2014 in Latitude 37.0081o South and Longitude 174.7917o East there appeared at the Grand Chancellor Hotel in the Domain of Auckland the Members and Guests of POWERtalk New Zealand.

Know ye that the below First Timer has been inspected and proven worthy of acceptance into the ranks of THOSE WHO HAVE ATTENDED A NEW ZEALAND POWERTALK CONFERENCE, and thereby has Crossed the Line.

POWERtalk International is a world-wide not for profit organization that coaches in effective communication.

If you would like more information on how to attend world class conferences and have fun with the POWERtalk International, check the NZ Region Website at www.powertalk.org.nz or call 0800 841 842.

 

Kissing Cheeks - a workshop on conflict resolution

Conflict is a part of our lives and is an opportunity to learn about yourself and others. 

International president Val Harper presented the Kissing Cheeks workshop on how to get win/win situations in conflict situations.

POWERtalk International is a world-wide not for profit organization that coaches in effective communication.
If you would like more information on how to manage conflict resolution and come to a win/win situation check the NZ Region Website at www.powertalk.org.nz or call 0800 841 842.

Once upon a story. ...

There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there has been no society that did not tell stories.

- Ursula Le Guir

Once Upon A Story - The interactive workshop was fun for the whole audience.  Margaret taught us how to really spin a yarn properly.  A great story should be contagious,  credible, connect with emotions and surprise and delight the audience.

And remember when telling a story humor disarms the audience!

Barb penned the following poem...
  Margaret - Kotuku member since 1982
  This session here is quite a fuss
  For the child in all of us
  Margaret's a story teller of some renown
  Her neighborhood is Timaru town
  For 15 years she's plied her trade
  In schools and libraries she's raved
  Stories sad, happy,  frightening and gory
  Marg believes the world is a story!
  - Barbara Henderson-Wragge

Life is the most wonderful story of all claimed Hans Christian Anderson.   

POWERtalk International is a world-wide not for profit organization that coaches in effective communication.
If you would like more information on how to spin a yarn properly with POWERtalk International, check the NZ Region Website at www.powertalk.org.nz or call 0800 841 842.

Non English audiences

Sharing a workshop is a piece of cake when you're an expert in your subject matter, but what if you had to present to an audience that doesn't understand your language?  

Akemi Kosuge SC, Fellow of ITC knows exactly how to present to an audience who speak any language.

The Japanese native POWERtalk International Region IV VP shared a very interesting presentation on how to give a workshop to Non-English speaking audiences.  

Akemi was a key translator in the International Training Weekend in Japan where 15 workshops had to be translated and presented to non-english speakers from english-only speakers.

Having translated workshop presentation scripts to audio and powerpoint slides to different languages, there's still more to consider such as translation options with simplicity and clarity being the main stars. 

  

Akemi showed us the options and helped us experience the options.  

With such an international organization,  I am excited for the opportunity to give a workshop to an audience who speak other languages.

POWERtalk International is a world-wide not for profit organization that coaches in effective communication.
If you would like more information on how to present in any language, check the NZ Region Website at www.powertalk.org.nz or call 0800 841 842.

Kupe Tauatahi

Maori is the indigenous language of New Zealand.  

Judy from Kirikiriroa club presented a workshop on The Maori Language explaining pronunciation, culture and the songs of the Maori people - Waiata.  

Anchors away! It's conference tomorrow!

Anchors away!  It’s conference tomorrow,
If you didn’t reserve, you’re brow’s sure to furrow

Because you’ve missed out on Conference this year
And the chance to meet friends for a wine or a beer

All able seamen are making their way
By car, sea or train and however they may.

Come Otago and Kotuku it’s warmer up here!
Waimea and Speakwell, come chew off my ear.

Come Matamata,Taupo and Kirikiriroa –
Val Harper will be there, there’s lots we can show her!

The Auckland Clubs will be your gracious hosts
If you’ve done it then share it!  Lets give it a toast!

St Heliers, Howick, Glendene and Waitakere
Will help you with directions or where to be

So I’ll meet you at conference and we’ll all have a ball,
We’ll learn from the workshops and celebrate it all!

And if it’s too much fun and you can’t remember,
The blog will be online… no matter the weather!

Communication

I believe the quality of your communication reflects the quality of your life.
That's why I study as much as I can about communication and I practice public speaking at least twice a month in front of world class speakers who give me feedback and advice on how to improve.  And improve I have... from a 45 second stream of consciousness I can now speak on purpose, with structure... and summarise at the end.
Nothing beats practice.

And here as I start the blog... I am simply sharing a journey from here onwards.

For more information on POWERtalk New Zealand Region see www.powertalk.org.nz