Photo: Supplied.
CONTRIBUTED BY PAM TRANTER
Several people rank public speaking among their top fears –right alongside heights or spiders – due to its ability to evoke anxiety. However, within Forum, we view public speaking as much more than a skill to master. It’s a creative pursuit, an opportunity for play, and a personal stage upon which we can truly shine.
Whether you’re an experienced orator or just gathering the courage to greet an audience, Cleveland members are committed to inspiring and entertaining, showing both new and seasoned speakers how public speaking can become an enjoyable and fulfilling journey. The biggest challenge is encouraging others to take that first step.
Our mission continues to be the inspiration and demonstration that public speaking is one of life’s most rewarding and enjoyable adventures. We dedicate ourselves to helping others discover the excitement and satisfaction that comes from sharing one’s voice.
At our recent session, we embraced the theme “EXPAND” for our speeches, reflecting our ongoing dedication to both personal growth and the continual expansion of our membership. This approach aligns with our core values, encouraging every member to push their boundaries and reach new heights with confidence.
Some speech titles have been: Expand Your…Taste Buds, Knowledge of Eggs, Creativity, Wardrobes, Horizon, Expand or Shrink Your House?
To motivate new members and encourage participation, we introduced segments such as On Your Soap Box, Journalist for a Day, book and movie reviews, Poets’ Corner, Cameos, Progressive Story, and the dying art of joke-telling. We also continued tutorials, workshops, and sessions with guest speakers to support ongoing learning.
At the biennial Forum conference held at the Royal Qld Yacht Squadron in Manly in September, all clubs had the opportunity to showcase their club. Our Cleveland Forum delivered the message of “fun and fabulous at Forum”, making every session an opportunity for growth and enjoyment when removing fear, freeze, fight or flight.
Fear of public speaking is common and can hold you back from opportunities and growth, but you can overcome it with preparation, gradual exposure, mindfulness, and by shifting your focus to serving the audience.
Cleveland Forum – Be Confident, gathers on the first and third Thursday of each month at 12:30pm at the Cleveland Library. Bayside Forum gathers second and fourth Wednesday each month at 7:00pm at the Wynnum Library. If you are interested in attending a 90-minute meeting to see if it suits you, please contact the secretary, Pam Tranter, at [email protected].
