Book Signing this Saturday, May 4th for Once Upon a Sandbox

I am excited about my book signing at Waterloo Chapters this Saturday, May 4th from 11 am–1 pm, in Waterloo, Ontario. Come and get your copy of Once Upon a Sandbox and get it signed. The book makes a great gift for Mother’s Day for a mother, sister, aunt or grandmother as well.

Waterloo Chapters, King Street North, Waterloo, Ontario.

Go here to listen to my interview with Robert White at  Faith FM’s Art Connections

From my publisher’s website:

A marvellous family friendly book that will lift your spirits. Once Upon a Sandbox, by C. R. Wilker, is a warm and gentle memoir about family life on a farm. It is about the farm and the individuals, the personalities, and the ties that bind them to each other.

Whether it’s helping to whitewash a barn, hoeing endless rows of vegetable plants, or driving a tractor to prepare for spring seeding, there’s plenty of work to be done. Through this collection of prose and poetry, reflect on the realities of farm families, their connection with community, weather and economy, as well as being stewards of the land from which they make a living. This is a fine story to which anyone will relate. Read more here.

speaking at Kitchener Kiwanis Club, November 2012

Once Upon a Sandbox was a finalist in the 2012 Word Guild contest

Thank you again, Deborah Pryce, for your delightful art on the cover of my book.

Who is God? Nature and Characteristics

I just came upon a film from the 31st World Religions Conference held October 1, 2011, in which our pastor, Rick Pryce, was a speaker.

 

For more information on this conference www.worldreligionsconference.org

Book signing soon– May 4th for Once Upon a Sandbox

I am excited about my book signing at Waterloo Chapters this Saturday, May 4th from 11 am–1 pm, in Waterloo, Ontario. Come and get your copy of Once Upon a Sandbox and get it signed. The book makes a great gift for Mother’s Day for a mother, sister, aunt or grandmother as well.

Waterloo Chapters, King Street North, Waterloo, Ontario.

Go here to listen to my interview with Robert White at  Faith FM’s Art Connections

From my publisher’s website:

A marvellous family friendly book that will lift your spirits. Once Upon a Sandbox, by C. R. Wilker, is a warm and gentle memoir about family life on a farm. It is about the farm and the individuals, the personalities, and the ties that bind them to each other.

Whether it’s helping to whitewash a barn, hoeing endless rows of vegetable plants, or driving a tractor to prepare for spring seeding, there’s plenty of work to be done. Through this collection of prose and poetry, reflect on the realities of farm families, their connection with community, weather and economy, as well as being stewards of the land from which they make a living. This is a fine story to which anyone will relate. Read more here.

speaking at Kitchener Kiwanis Club, November 2012

Once Upon a Sandbox was a finalist in the 2012 Word Guild contest

 

Thank you again, Deborah Pryce, for your delightful art on the cover of my book.

Life and Arts in Kitchener Post: Tell Me a Story

Life and Arts in Kitchener Post: Tell Me a Story

Today (March 28, 2013) in the Kitchener Post, an article and photos about our World Storytelling Day concert at the Waterloo Region Museum and the meaning of storytelling.

http://www.kitchenerpost.ca/whats-on/tell-me-a-story/

This photo by C. Wilker.

Photos on Post site by Meredith Taylor

When Fear Gets in the Way

This morning in Jeff Goins’ blog post, his guest writer, Anne Peterson, poet, author and speaker, wrote about how people offer up excuses to get out of doing things, and avoid failure. Her mother sounds just like mine. In fact, she said the same words: “There’s no such word as can’t.”

In a recent speech to fellow Toastmasters, I talked about doing something I feared. My fears were my own, but audience members identified, for they have their own to face. The first was my fear of heights and, how, when I was a teen, the prospect of standing on an elevated platform to whitewash the side of our barn terrified me. My second, the fear of speaking was about as big, and so I joined Toastmasters in preparation for a book that I would, one day, promote, or a workshop I would present.

Perhaps you’ve guessed; I`ve done both.  It took months and months of practice—not to mention shaking hands and trembling voice—to feel more comfortable in front of my club members. but in time, I was speaking outside the club too, in other venues. Still challenged by the fear of heights, I fly to destinations for vacations but climb as few ladders as possible.

Learning to speak  has been  a good thing. Since then I have had a book published—well two, including my first little poetry collection. Being prepared has helped for I enjoyed my book events. Still butterflies creep in from time to time when I get up to speak, but I understand that means I care about my audience. Now I focus on my excitement about sharing my presentation, and it has made a big difference.

Anne Peterson quoted Winston Churchill too: “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” I identify with that, because we do often stumble as we learn, whether it’s from fear of failure or just part of the learning process. Probably a little of both. If we want something badly enough, we’re willing to work hard to achieve that success, whatever it is.

Carolyn Wilker, storytelling during the event Open Doors Waterloo, 2012.

Contest season again at Toastmasters

Contest winners at the Fall District 86 Toastmasters conference in London, Ontario, 2011.

February, for those who aren’t familiar with Toastmasters, is a contest month, one of the two times in the year that Toastmasters hold speaking contests.

For the uninitiated, contests provide an opportunity for members “to gain speaking experience, as well as an opportunity for other Toastmasters to learn by observing proficient speakers.” The rule book is specific in what or what is not allowed, but this is its purpose.

In February, at least in our area and district, clubs hold their own events for  the Evaluation contest and the International Speech contests.

When I first joined the Energetics Toastmasters, I was in awe of those who spoke so well and so easily. I learned later that even they were nervous in a contest. At least it didn’t show.

In an evaluation, a person gives feedback on the speaker’s presentation, not on the speaker herself, but how she presented the speech, notable gestures, the way she uses her voice, the content of the speech and how she makes it interesting for the audience. And so in the evaluation contest, the people who compete evaluate the speech of someone who comes into the club as a target or test speaker.

I’ve been on both sides, and I remember giving the speech at different clubs and getting the feedback, as well as being an evaluator in my own club and having to give feedback on the speech. In my first contest, as an evaluator, I ran out of words to say. I only needed to give, perhaps, one more comment and it would have been fine. Having evaluated so many more speakers since then, it should be a breeze, but it isn’t. There’s something about a contest that changes the picture.

The second contest this season, at the Energetics and other clubs, is the International Speech contest—the one that continues on through area, division, district to the world championships. We’ve now had two people in our district get all the way to the international convention, which in itself is quite a feat and an honour. The International contest tends to bring out more motivational and inspiring speeches, ones that speak to a greater number of people.

Our contest chair for the Evaluation contest—our first contest this season—has been asking for judges and contestants, getting all the necessary paperwork in order. She’s well organized, even while doing this task for the first time—learning as she goes. That’s what Toastmasters and contest speeches do for us. We learn as we go, and in practising first in the club, we go on to the world outside our club doors and use what we’ve learned.

Let the contest season begin! Back to my own preparations…

On to storytelling from Toastmasters, using skills I’ve learned

Storytelling as guest author for launch of  Robin Livingstone’s book,  Eyes Wide Open,telling a story from my own collection in Once Upon a Sandbox

Introducing author and children’s storyteller, Aubrey Davis on stage at Latitudes in Kitchener, ON.

Addressing the guests at my own book launch in 2011, for Once Upon a Sandbox

A big step from the Ice Breaker

The beginning of a new year is a good time to reflect on accomplishments and look forward to the next step—the next contest season and a speech for the International speech contest particularly. As I prepare to take a next step towards the designation of Distinguished Toastmaster, still a  lengthy journey, I remember my early days in Toastmasters.

The Ice Breaker is both the hardest and easiest speech, I was told. The hardest, to get up  in front of the club and give my first one. The easiest was supposed to be talking about myself, but I would argue with that. Who wanted to hear about me and my little life? Apparently I was wrong.

February 5, 2004, marked on the Energetics educational schedule, the date my mentor Tammy booked me for my Ice Breaker. Many beads of sweat, indecision on my topic preceeded that day, and had I known it then, it was safe to say many revisions of a speech went the way of recycling bin or delete that previous month.

I had written a poem that month about a childhood memory, one that would go on to be published. It came to me one day as I drove home from an errand that the memory and poem would be a good topic for my speech. But what would my fellow club members care about my life?

I  wrote a new speech, practised and rehearsed, including for my mentor and a fellow Toastmaster, and soon the day was upon me. Could I remember all I had written? Would it be like a school speech that took me to county level, when my mother had to prompt me when words and memory failed? No, I’ll not soon forget the day.

Lacking the grace of more experienced members, I held my notes tight in my hand. The pages shook like a leaf in a storm, just like my hand that held them. I’ve been told that my voice trembled too, and I sure know that my knees did. But never mind, I got through it, shook the Toastmasters’ hand and returned to my seat, glad to be done. I admit to feeling the fight or flight, but I just couldn’t leave. My legs would not have allowed me to move that far or that fast.

I made it to my seat somehow, but the experience wasn’t over. I couldn’t quite let go of the tension of preparing, waiting and anticipating. It was like the slinky toy we had at home, making its way down the stairs until all its momentum and energy were at a standstill. My body still tingled with that nervous energy.

The applause of my fellow members  was like music to my ears.  I remember feeling so relieved and thankful for their kind words that I had to hold back tears.  Maybe just a few slid down my face. I’d just have to wait to see what my evaluator said about my performance.

The feedback was so encouraging that when I went home that night, I was tempted by a topic for the next speech, and on it went from there. I did not rush through the projects, but prepared carefully for each one, for my evaluation was at stake and so was my progress.

One speech at a time, I have continued to Advanced Communicator Gold as well as storytelling with a guild, at Open Story night and in public events, in giving workshops at both Write! Canada and Toastmaster conference and training events.

Had I stopped in 2004, I would not have learned how to manage the nervousness that comes from standing in front of a group of people and speaking—one of the greatest fears in the world, and one so many avoid because they just cannot bring themselves to do it. I’m so glad I started before my first book was published. It made promotion and speaking at the events so much more comfortable.

If I can do it, so can you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carolyn, who has since gone on to storytelling, and sometimes on the street corner in a public event

Speaking to Kiwanis and Learning from Them

This week I had the opportunity to speak to a Kiwanis club in Kitchener. The setting was a meeting room in Winston Park, a retirement centre.

All members of this division have had a range of education and positions—high school teacher, lab technician, and I’m guessing, some labourers too. The average age of members, I was told, is about 72.

On further research, I learned that the mission of this international organization is to serve the children of the world. Their values include giving first thought to “the human and spiritual rather than to the material values of life” and to encourage living by the Golden Rule.

The meeting room was already set up when I arrived, and people chatted with each other while someone played lively music on the piano.  A mirror on one long wall made the room look twice its size, and chairs lined up in short rows faced a lectern. Tables were ready for my books, and someone offered me coffee.

A large banner hung near the front displaying ribbons and badges that represented special events and projects they had supported. A very full banner, which John Wilson said is the second one they’ve filled.

Beth Waring, Vice-President, had told me that the meeting would begin with prayer and so it did. After a brief sing-along, they welcomed me to their meeting and began the business part of their meeting.

Another local group that had initiated the Meals on Wheels program was seeking help to deliver Christmas dinners. Kiwanis also supports the popular shoebox gift project run by Samaritan’s Purse.

My message, about adapting to change, or more accurately how to get a new job or work when the situation requires, may seem more fitted to younger members of the population who need to provide for a family and those for whom retirement is not yet an option. Still there was room for adapting and tailoring my message to people in their age group—where no member is looking for a new job to pay their bills.

What the current members of this club may be looking for is a way to adapt to the changes of being retired, whether it be health-related issues—and driving or not— while still contributing to society as they are able.

These members are so committed that they will keep coming as long as they are able, even if the bus or someone else has to provide the transportation.

When I talked about facing changes in jobs, I saw people nodding their heads. Some of them had indeed lost jobs or been edged out of work, then had to find a new one. They, too, had felt lost, stuck and frustrated at such times.

While their world was different than mine, they understood about not having work and needing it. They understood core values such as working to support their families and contributing to their community and country.

When I spoke of skills that people already have and figuring out how to move forward, they were listening too. And when I asked them to dream about a new place where they could useful, they were with me.

“Would you take on a leadership role in this organization?” I asked. “Could you mentor a young person from your years of work experience?”

Living in a world that often values the young over the older members of society, and addressing them as valued members who are still learning and contributing, I gained their appreciation and applause.

In conversation afterwards, I learned about some of the challenges they had faced. A woman who had been an x-ray technician had experienced the loss of a good job. A gentleman mentioned that losing a job made it hard for some to get up back up again; he thanked me for my positive message.

I may have been there to share my message, but in that room, I had kindred spirits.

Canadian Writers Who Are Christian–Where I posted today

This  time of year is busy for most people, with students getting back in school routines and others working on committees or engaging projects. It’s been busy for our family as we prepare for a second family wedding this year. The year 2012 will henceforth be known as the “Year of the Weddings.”

Thus my blog topic today is about writing wedding speeches. Go over to Canadian Writers Who Are Christian and read my post A Wedding Speech is…

While you’re there, take some time and read other posts by fellow writers of The Word Guild.

 

And thank you to  my fellow Toastmasters. We learn together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Open Streets Waterloo, August 2012

Blogging Today at Canadian Writers Who Are Christian

 

You can find my blog post over at Canadian Writers Who are Christian where I wrote about using stories in writing and speaking as well as the oral tradition of storytelling.
While you’re there, you might like to read more posts from fellow authors.