Brirish Gas Retirement Poole

Another repeat booking! On 16 September, I paid my fourth visit to speak to the Poole branch of the British Gas Retired Employees. I made a further alteration to the beginning of my Algonquin Round Table talk by asking a very basic question: who had heard of them? It turned out that a number of the audience had. I asked this because I had found at so many previous bookings for this talk that a people seemed t beo intrigued by its title. Some even thought it was something to do with the service organisation Round Table!

Public Speaking Tip #246: Sometimes asking a very simple question at the start of a presentation can give you some useful guidelines. Asking who has actually heard of your subject matter may seem incredibly obvious but it lets you know how many in the room will be totally unfamiliar with what you will be speaking about and perhaps also that there is already some interest/knowledge where others are concerned.

There were about 60 there and this is always a friendly club to address and chat to afterwards. One lady asked me to write down a couple of the quotations I finished on. I think it is time for me to start giving out a handout with some of these sayings after the talks.

I was amazed to learn how many of their members are now in their 80s (you would never know it) and the club was making preparations for its 30th anniversary dinner. I have since heard that it was extremely well-attended and much enjoyed. Long may they continue.