Martha Washington to speak to Cypress Toastmasters

The Something Gained Toastmasters club will welcome “Martha Washington,” our nation’s original First Lady, to its Feb. 11 meeting. Mrs. Washington will focus on her husband’s love of animals, telling stories and anecdotes about the pets that shared their Mount Vernon home.

Kitty Goding reprises the role she played at her work from a presentation called “We Love Our Presidents Because They Love Their Pets.” Her short speech will show members and guests how they can use props and costumes to expand on their topic. Props, short for the theatrical term ‘property,’ can be anything – flip charts, slides, photos, videos, costumes and even engaging audience members.

“Many people who are hesitant to speak in public assume that they have to rigidly stand at a lectern,” Goding explains. “As I’ve become more comfortable speaking in front of others, I’ve used props and costumes. This doesn’t take away from my speech, but instead makes my speech more entertaining.”

Adds Robin Itzler, club founder, “A speaker’s goal is to get their message across to the audience. If using props or dressing in costume helps make that happen, use them. From the moment Kitty walks in, she IS Martha Washington and that creates immediate interest in what she is going to say.”

After hearing from the former First Lady, members and guests will enjoy a regular Toastmasters meeting that will include icebreaker (first) speeches, table topics and evaluations.

Club co-sponsor Silvia Swigert, ACS, ALB, who has served in various club and division positions, will be the table topics master. “Table topics is one of my favorite parts of the meeting,” says Swigert. “This is where members are randomly selected to speak for one to two minutes. This can be very challenging, but definitely sharpens your speaking skills.”

The club is starting their Toastmasters journey with the Speechcraft program ($25). If you’ve procrastinated about improving your communication and public speaking skills, plan to attend this meeting. After all, every time you speak it’s public speaking – all that changes is the size of the audience.

There’s no charge for those who want to see “Martha Washington” and enjoy the Toastmasters club meeting.

Interesting facts about Martha Washington

• Born into a wealthy family.
• Married at age 19 to Daniel Park Curtis.
• Widowed with two children at age 26.
• Married George Washington at age 27.
• Cared deeply about the well-being of our troops during the Revolutionary War; they showed their appreciation by addressing her as Lady Washington.
• She was 57 years old when she became First Lady and was relieved eight years later to return with George to their beloved Mount Vernon.
• Would identify with Michelle Obama and other First families who are always in the public eye. Martha complained about how the press followed and recorded even mundane activities like shopping or taking her grandchildren to the circus.
• What was their marriage really like? We’ll never know since she burned all their correspondence shortly before her death in 1802 at age 70.

Source: National First Ladies’ Library

Featured photo

Courtesy photo of Kitty Goding as Martha Washington.