Categories
News

Daniel Mouqué Wins District 59 International Speech Contest

Division B is tremendously proud of Daniel Mouqué (The Brussels Toastmasters Club), who won the International Speech Contest at the District 59 Spring Conference in Luxembourg. Daniel will represent our District in the semifinals of the World Championship of Public Speaking, at the Toastmasters International Convention in Washington, D.C., in August.

Daniel Mouqué was not the only fellow Toastmaster from our Division who performed above and beyond in the Spring contests. We also congratulate Bruno Cacciapuoti (Le Club des Orateurs, Brussels), who came third in the French Speech Contest, and Valentina Caimi (Berlaymont Toastmasters, Brussels), who came third in the Italian Speech Contest.

Belgian Toastmasters celebrating Daniel Mouqué’s triumph in Luxembourg.
Belgian Toastmasters celebrating in Luxembourg.

Team B had a real blast in Luxembourg. Besides performing spectacularly in the Spring contests and rooting for their contestants, the more than 60 strong delegation from Belgium, Luxembourg and Northern France attended as well as lead captivating workshops, featuring Tom Aerden, Karin Bral, Margarida Brites, Crista Filip, Covey McAllister and Thomas Vervaet. And of course, we went above and beyond in partying, dancing and networking, like only Toastmasters can!

The road to Washington, D.C.

In the coming months, all clubs in our District are warmly invited to grant Daniel stage time to make his winning speech even better and to test material for the speech he is preparing for the final — without a shadow of a doubt, he will need that speech! What better way to support our District contestant, on the road to Washington, D.C.?

The first club to host the District Champion is Toastmasters Hasselt, at their 5th anniversary meeting on Saturday, 28 May. Register for this meeting!

The Brussels Toastmasters Club, Daniel Mouqué’s home club, will be welcoming home their District Champion on Tuesday, 31 May. Register for this meeting!

In 2015, contestants from Districts 59 and 95 took part in several “The Road to Vegas” events, one of which was organised at the Artful Orators club in Brussels. In London, two more districts joined the party for a shower of feedback. Right now, initiatives are being taken throughout Region 11 (of which all said districts are part) to stage events that will support our contestants as one EMEA family, in true collaborative Toastmasters spirit. We will keep you posted!

Full results of the District 59 Spring contests

International Speech Contest

1st: Daniel Mouqué, Division B (Brussels, Belgium)
2nd: Stewart Bornhoft, Division G (Monza, Italy)
3rd: Peter Zinn, Division C (Utrecht, The Netherlands)

English Evaluation Contest

1st: Peter McKenzie, Division K (Barcelona, Spain)
2nd: Carina Schey, Division J (Nyon, Switzerland)
3rd: Carol Bausor, Division F (Lyon, France)

French Speech Contest

1st: Patricia Mansecal, Division G (Rome, Italy)
2nd: Alain Petillot, Division A (Paris, France)
3rd: Bruno Cacciapuoti, Division B (Brussels, Belgium)

Italian Speech Contest

1st: Annalisa Crespi, Division G (Monza, Italy)
2nd: Melchior Glatthard, Division I (Bern, Switzerland)
3rd: Valentina Caimi, Division B (Brussels, Belgium)

Credits to Sean Ryan and Margarida Brites for compiling and sharing this list.

Categories
News

World Champion Pitches Toastmasters to Creative Professionals

Who better than the World Champion of Public Speaking himself to promote Toastmasters? That is what Mohammed Qahtani did on 20 May 2016 at CreativeMornings, a monthly breakfast talk for the creative community in Brussels. As a partner of CreativeMornings Brussels, our Division assists the event in coaching its speakers.

Mohammed accepted the challenge of delivering a 2 minute pitch that instantly energised the audience — at 9:30 in the morning! He explained how feedback is at the core of Toastmasters meetings, how joining Toastmasters has changed his life and how it could change the lives of the creative people in the audience.

Afterwards, people came to meet this very special guest and wanted to know more about Toastmasters. Brussels clubs, be prepared to welcome new members who are eager to improve their creative talks!

Categories
Events News

Memorable Masterclass with the World Champion in Antwerp

On Thursday 19 May, World Champion of Public Speaking Mohammed Qahtani gave a Masterclass at Toastmasters Antwerpen.

After a keynote that was a 15 minute public speaking crash course in its own right, Mohammed gave instant feedback to no less than 15 speakers in front of a room packed with 70 enthusiastic Toastmasters and guests from all over Belgium and beyond.

The Wall of Feedback, as seen at the Lille Division conference, ensured that all speakers went home an envelope full of written feedback from attendees, on top of their on-stage coaching by the World Champion.

Categories
News

Mohammed Qahtani and Bart De Wever: Two Giants of Oratory Meet in Antwerp

Mayor of Antwerp Bart De Wever and World Champion of Public Speaking Mohammed Qahtani

Toastmasters Antwerpen invited World Champion of Public Speaking Mohammed Qahtani to visit Antwerp, on his way from the District 95 Spring Conference in Timisoara to the District 59 Spring Conference in Luxembourg. On Thursday 19 May, he was received by Mr Bart De Wever, Mayor of the City of Antwerp, at “het Schoon Verdiep”, the sumptuously decorated “beautiful floor” of Antwerp’s 16th century City Hall.

Since Mr De Wever is arguably the best political orator in Flanders, his meeting with the World Champion of Public Speaking truly was an encounter of two giants of oratory!

The Mayor expressed his admiration for Mohammed Qahtani’s achievement and encouraged Toastmasters Antwerpen in its endeavours to promote the noble art of oratory in the Antwerp community.

160519MQBDW1

Mohammed Qahtani was accompanied by a delegation of the executive committee of Toastmasters Antwerpen: President Egwin Gonthier, Vice President Public Relations Sandra D’Amario and incoming Sergeant at Arms Wouter Dupré. Vice Mayors Rob Van de Velde, Fons Duchateau, Ludo Van Campenhout and Nabila Ait Daoud joined Mayor Bart De Wever for the group picture.

Categories
Events News

Division B Spring Contest Winners on their Way to Luxembourg

— by Margarida Brites

On 23 april, the Lille Toastmasters Club organised a terrific event, everything went well! We were so proud of the core team! Now, Luxembourg, here we come!

Our contestants were well-prepared and impressive on stage. There was real emotion with the depiction of traumatising life experiences! The response amongst the public was immediate with real tears. The speeches were very touching when inspiring. And more humoristic when depicting the male-female realities.

Division B hereby proudly presents its contestants that will compete at the District 59 Spring Conference in Luxembourg:

Lille160423InternationalSpeechContestInternational Speech Contest

1. Daniel Mouqué
2. Carsten Wendt
3. Erik Luijts
Contest Master: David Lewis

Lille160423EvaluationSpeech-ContestEnglishEnglish Evaluation Contest

1. Jeffer London
2. Jack Gilbey
3. Covey McAllister
Contest Master: Alexis Brouard

Lille160423SpeechContestFrenchFrench Speech Contest

1. Bruno Cacciapuoti
2. Jean-Philippe Stijns
3. Oxana Rogozina
Contest Master: Emmanuelle Lewartowski

Lille160423SpeechContestItalianItalian Speech Contest

1.  Valentina Caimi
Contest Master: Bonifacio Di Pietrantonio

ArtfulOrators160511AllContestants
The four contestants: Jeffer London, Valentina Caimi, Bruno Cacciapuoti and Daniel Mouqué with Bess Stonehouse and Anita Sheehan at the Artful Orators in Brussels.

Division B takes feedback and mentoring very seriously amidst all the fun. On their way to Luxembourg, the four contestants received on Wednesday 11 May the infamous shower of coaching at the Artful Orators, Brussels’ Advanced Toastmasters Club. The contestants received feedback in English, French and Italian: that’s the stuff champions are made off!

Our multilingual recommendations to the contestants:

Daniel and Jeffer: Break a leg each!
Bruno: Bonne merde!
Valentina: In bocca al lupo!

Categories
Events News

Mohammed Qahtani Gives Masterclass at Toastmasters Antwerpen

Between his Spring conference keynotes in Timisoara (District 95) and Luxembourg (District 59), Mohammed Qahtani chose to spend some time in Belgium. Toastmasters Antwerpen invited the 2015 World Champion of Public Speaking to give a Masterclass on Thursday, 19 May.

In this highly interactive meeting, you will learn from Mohammed’s experience as a Toastmasters World Champion, keynote speaker and corporate trainer. His feedback, tips and tricks will enable you to create better speeches, boost your stage presence and conquer the hearts of your audience.

Register now for this unique event!

Categories
Events News

Division B Spring Conference: the Programme!

DivCon160423programme

Categories
Events News

Division B Spring Conference Workshop: Communicate Effectively in a Multicultural Environment

ElizabethVennekensKelly
Elizabeth Vennekens-Kelly

At some point in your professional life, you will inevitably be confronted with cultural differences that may challenge your behaviour. A faux pas is easily made and can be a serious roadblock to the success of your endeavours. If you understand the culture in which you are conducting business, it will help you to be more successful. Knowing how to handle cultural sensibilities is an essential part of being an effective communicator.

In her workshop at our Division’s Spring Conference in Lille, intercultural relations expert Elizabeth Vennekens-Kelly will outline the major challenges of business and interpersonal communication in a multicultural environment. She will provide recommendations to make your communication more effective and culture savvy.

SubtleDifferencesBigFauxPasElizabeth Vennekens-Kelly is an intercultural trainer, consultant, and the author of Subtle Differences, Big Faux Pas. In this cultural guide she helps and encourages individuals to realize the extent of cultural differences and the value in gaining an understanding of the cultures in which they interact.

Elizabeth’s goal is to help individuals develop the cultural competencies they need to be successful and to encourage people to make the most of the unique opportunity of living outside their passport country. She combines her business experience, familiarity of expat living and intercultural knowledge to help individuals to deal with the complexities of living and working abroad. She trains individuals working in multicultural settings, people who are relocating overseas and those returning home, to effectively interact and communicate in the varied situations they encounter.

At the Lille Division Conference, Elizabeth will share a plethora of striking examples in verbal as well as non-verbal communication, from the simplest gestures in everyday life to the noble art of toasting — indeed, even if you are an experienced Toastmaster, you should think of the cultural context in which you are required to propose a toast! Elizabeth will show you how to leverage your cultural competence and be successful in today’s multicultural environment.

You don’t want to miss this workshop? Register now!
Check out the Conference programme!
Categories
Events News

Division B Spring Conference: Mixing Worlds & Words in Lille

On Saturday 23 April, Lille Toastmasters will be hosting our Division’s  Spring Conference at La Grappe, a venue in the heart of the capital of Le Nord.

After an inspiring keynote by intercultural relations expert Elizabeth Vennekens-Kelly, the best speakers of Belgium, Luxembourg and Northern France will compete in the following contests:

  • International Speech Contest (in English)
  • English evaluation contest
  • French speech contest
  • French evaluation contest
  • Italian speech contest

Check out the Conference programme in detail!

Registration

The entrance fee for the Division Conference is 35 euro. You will find the payment details on the registration form.

Register now!

If you come by car, there are 30 parking slots available in the venue’s underground garage, at 5 euro each. Please indicate upon registration: first come, first served!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=GE2eR1xV2l0

Categories
News

The International Speech Contest 2016 is On!

Every year, 30.000 Toastmasters in 135 countries compete for the title of World Champion of Public Speaking. After winning their club and area contests, the Division contest on Saturday 23 April in Lille will determine who will represent our Division at the District 59 Spring Contest in Luxembourg, on 20-22 May in Luxembourg.

The International Speech Contest culminates in the semi-finals and finals of the World Championship of Public Speaking at the Toastmasters International 2016 Convention, to be held on 17-20 August in Washington, D.C.

Judging criteria include speech content, originality, organisation, gestures, style and timing.

MohammedQahtani
Mohammed Qahtani, Toastmasters’ 2015 World Champion of Public Speaking

“Becoming the World Champion of Public Speaking was the culmination of a dream I didn’t think was possible,” says Mohammed Qahtani from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who is Toastmasters’ 2015 World Champion of Public Speaking. “When the competition began at the club level, it was hard to imagine that, at the end of the journey, I would be crowned the winner. The reality was much more satisfying than a dream.”

Watch Mohammed Qahtani’s winning speech from the 2015 World Championship of Public Speaking.