After a conversation with a leader from another city, the drama of the previous day and the discussions regarding public speaking came back. Having seen his friend's reaction to a suggestion, he decided it might be worth further expansion. Heading back into the streets he grabbed a coffee and addressed the gathered community members.

My recent discussion about public appearances threw up lots of things I wasn't expecting. Some good, some bad, some just wild. One of the things to come out of it has been a general reluctance for normal mobsters to speak in the street. There are numerous reasons for this, some understandable, some purely misconception. A conversation I had this morning lead me to believe I may have a tool to help.

In the Joy Division Headquarters there is a regular gathering we hold. Everyone gets together in the main lounge and we host street discussions. These work as a 'safe' place for members to develop their speaking skills. It has been proving interesting so far and I believe it can be at least one tool that can be used to help develop people's varying levels of ability and confidence. In an environment where they will not be judged harshly or shot down by insecure people trying to make themselves feel better about their own inadequacies.

I was discussing it with Richard_Kuklinski this morning and he decided he would try something similar in his own HQ for his members. Naturally that got me thinking and so here I am with it. It is not a solution and I don't promise it will change the world. However it is a tool that can be used by families to help all mobsters within the crew. It can also be a bit of fun.

So for what it's worth, here are the plans. Any leader is welcome to take and use or not use, the format as they wish. Its totally open, just an idea I am happy for anyone to try.

Street Speech Workshop

Leaving a stack of copies of the plans in rolls on the table beside him, Tyrion sat down to enjoy a coffee.

Alessandro grabs one of the copies off the table, and reads it.

Such a brilliant idea sir, I totally agree with you that every crew should have mentors or street speech workshops as you called them to help their members improve their street speaking skills, instead of letting them go on their own, do mistakes and end up getting shot, or even worse be mutes.

I have carefully read your form for the workshop and I have to admit I am impressed, Such a great work you put in it sir.

Finally, Thank you for your efforts to improve our society, I hope they don't go in vain and people would follow/learn for them.

tips his at for Don Tyrion.

Burrito Joins The group and refills Tyrion's Coffee

I have to say, As a member of the Joy division I've seen some of our members grow by leaps and bounds in their knowledge of the streets.

Even myself, somone who's family line has had quite a lot experience in the streets, has learned a lot. I can totally recommend this to everyone.

He Nods, lights a cigar and walks away

Fantastic idea Tyrion! RK forwarded me a copy of the workshop outline earlier and I have to say I was impressed. Not just by the format and content of the workshop itself (which is excellent) but the whole ethos of trying to help each other out and improve our skills by sharing experience and advice is something that's great to see and will hopefully inspire further similar initiatives.

Very much appreciate you sharing this with everyone and hope that this will be a good contribution to us all helping each other to hone our speaking skills!

<em>Sabina listens to the man as he speaks. She looks around at the other person surrounding her; she picks nervously at one of coins in her pocket then decides to go for it. She takes one more look around herself before she starts to speak</em>

This is an excellent idea Mr Tyrion. I think that many of us needs this to improve our self-confidence when it comes to public speaking. <em>The young woman takes a deep breath before she continues talking</em>

I can’t talk for everyone around here, but I know that I might not be the most confident human being when it comes to openly share my views on topics that I sometimes feel like I want to discuss. It’s hard for some people who don’t have English as their first language. The feeling that you might misunderstand what the person that you are talking to mean or that they misunderstands what you mean, isn’t something you overcome that easily.

<em>Sabina looks around herself once more and keeps on talking, feeling a little bit more confident now that she has breach her silent wall</em>

I have read some diaries from one of the first ancestor I had walking these shores a while back and she wrote about a public appearance that she made. Not feeling that confident she broke out of her safe spot and tried to tell everybody a little something about herself and her history. Let’s just say that she got some mixed response and that she didn’t try it again.

My family line has some friends in this world of ours and let’s just say that I or my ancestors might not be know for their opinions in open debates and stuff like that. We can say that we always have settled for private discussions or family matters because we have been a little afraid of the reactions one might get here on the open streets.

My personal opinion on this is that it’s a great idea and I can only hope that people will use it and that it will spread amongst the families. So that people like me can get the practise they need to feel a bit more confident when it comes to openly sharing your views in things. I know I need it and I’m most certain that there are more people like me that need it.

<em>Sabina stops talking and wishes that all eyes could leave her for a while. She touches her necklace with the red stone she got from her mother, feeling a little bit better about herself.</em>

This is a fantastic idea, turning a problem right round - innovative.

I look forward to seeing improvements, from Las Vegas, but also in the streets.

"Tyrion, 

This is very well designed.  In fact, there is really no reason why every leader shouldn't institute something similar.  We've all seen the silver tongues that have developed in New York and perhaps this is a glimpse into how the city has grown so successful.  It might help to include a discussion of some of the less verbal aspects of public speaking: pathos, tone, reputation, picking your spots, etc, etc... I have noticed that the greatest speakers have not just mastered the language, they have worked tirelessly (through both words and actions) to cultivate the character of a great speaker.  These are leaders of men.  I apologize if this sounds vague, but it is a difficult concept for me to express.  Think Hugglebear, for example."

sureshot chuckles to himself.

"Seriously though... You, Tyrion, would be an obvious example of the type of speaker I am referring to here."

...folds a copy of the Joy Division plans under his arm to show to the Godfather of LA.

Reditus wonders around a corner and sees a crowd gathered in front of Tyrion. After picking up the paphlet beibg handed out and reading it throughly Reditus starts to speak.

Tyrion this is a kost excellent idea for all hose from the lowest walk of life to the highest. If this workshop was utilized throughout the nation I believe we would see more of the younger mobsters, like myself, speak out publicly.

Pausing for a breath Reditus glances around to gauge the crowds reaction so far.

I beleive that if this tool is utilized by all we can once more see the busy streets the journals of my ancestors mention.

Smiling broadly Tyrion puts down his coffee and puts a few more copies of the plans on the table.

I must say thank you to you all for responding so positively. I am very glad you all feel this could be of some benefit.

Looking at Sabina he shakes her hand.

Sabina I must say thanks to your for speaking, its means a lot to see someone who is not normally confident, have the guts to speak. Thanks for your kind words. You may have noticed there were a few communication issues (OOC the WYSIWYG editor and normal HTML code don't mix very well) but its things like this that the Workshop is there to help iron out. All the subtleties and nuances of our communication can be developed over time.

Turning to sureshot.

As you said sureshot, there are many aspects of our general communication that can be developed in a consequence free environment. From the simple fundamentals to the more more refined subtleties that you spoke of. The nature of the format allows a CL to remove each discussion as it has run its course and feedback been given, then begin a new topic for discussion. As time goes on and voices develop within the crew walls, the CL can select promising speakers to host discussions, choosing their own topics and exploring that side of public speaking as well as just responding to others speeches. Its something the entire crew can get involved with. It can be a lot of fun.

Tyrion, I applaud you for this brillant idea. As a crewleader who sometimes struggles to voice his thoughts properly, I shall use this important and very valuable assest.

Robby reflected on his thoughts for a while after Tyrion stopped speaking, Tyrion was totally right about this, it would be a whole lot better to see his crew members actively posting out in the streets, wording out their opinion, and like Tyrion said, having fun. Now that Robby thought about it, it seemed like a perfect idea to put LV members out there, he imagined teaching his crew on how to improve their activity in the city and speak out in the streets, it would be fun and it would be awesome for Las Vegas.

I love this brilliant idea, i've thought about it and seems to me it works and it'll help, sure some of us need to get up off of our ass and start participating, but it'll be benefcial to all of us.

I agree with Falcon on this one, Brilliant Idea. I will have to try this out to help me grow the condifence and speaking skills to come to the streets more often and make my vioce heard with eberyone esles.

Saul Smiles and nods his head at Tyrion.

Once again Tyrion i am pleased to call you friend and brother. Now i have to steal one of these papers and review it and share this with my younger brothers and Sisters.

Singer takes one of the papers and walks off.