This year's President Kathy McClean welcomed a good turn out of members and visitors to the opening event of the season.  There were many memorable contributions from the floor on the topic of Reminiscence.  Last year's President, Barry, described how, he and Russian wife, Anna, had welcomed their new baby daughter, Alicia, into the world last May.  He spoke movingly about the joys and hopes of parenthood.   Other members spoke entertainingly about past experiences which had been memorable for a variety of reasons.  It was good to see our guests taking to the podium and proving that public speaking need not be a frightening experience, when there is such a supportive audience as the Belfast Speakers' Circle provides. 

Kathy closed the evening, thanking everyone for their contributions to a most worthwhile evening and reminding us that the theme for next Monday evening will be poetry.   So why not come along and read one of your favourite poems and tell us a little about the poet?   We extend a warm welcome to guests or even just curious observers.

The Circle's opening meeting will be on Monday 29th September so a warm welcome to members and guests and an opportunity to do some reminiscing and thinking about the programme for the year ahead, as well as hearing from TEDX speaker Richard Wasson. 

Here's a list of planned activities and themes for the following Monday evenings from 7.30pm at St John's Presbyterian,Knockbreda, Belfast

October 6th - Poetry reading.
.............13th - Prepared speech.
..............20th - Extempore speech
..............27th - Sight reading - introduced by Ann Humter

November 3rd - Halloween Party - friends and spooky stories welcome.
...............10th - Pandora's Box - what mysteries and surprises will this activity reveal?
................17th - Short talk on 'The Art of Looking' and follow-up discussion.
................24th - Musical evening.

December 1st - I'm passionate about...........
................8th - Reading the News.
...............15th - Christmas Party - friends welcome

January 12th - I wish...............
.............19th Extempore speech.
.............26th. Burns Night

February 2nd - Call my Bluff.
..............16th - Speeches that changed the world.
...............23rd - Theatre evening out.

March 2nd - Extempore speech ( in house competition.)
..........9th - Prepared speech ( in house competition.)
..........16th - Irish Nights
...........23rd - Annual Dinner with guest speaker.
...........30th - Local history.

April 6th - No meeting (Easter)
.......13th - Annual General Meeting.

Hoping to see a good turn out of members and visitors at the above meetings. 

Hello again - just to remind 'old' friends and new and possible new visitors to the Circle - that we start the new season's programme at the same venue St John's Presbyterian Church Hall, Knockbreda on the evening of Monday 29th September from 7.30pm.

Hope to see a good turn out and an enthusiastic start to our new season and opportunities to polish up our speaking skills.  Kind regards, Irene