Thanks for the late entries into the list for next week’s bonus round!

The majority of the entries were based around the 60 secs, which is understandable, as it is one of the areas of the meeting that doesn’t score points by default.

Now, next week is going to be a ‘wing it’ 60 sec presentation.

The format chosen will be:

• Each member is going to stand and pick a name from the ‘hat’ or other suitable container that I shall use (visitors and subs will not be added to the ‘pool’).
• The member whose name is picked will then have to stand and give a 60 second presentation for the person that chose them from the hat.
• The person who picked the name from the hat will then write a score from 10 on the back of the name rating the presentation given, fold it and then give me the paper.
• I will then award the 15 bonus points to the person who has the highest score. The increase to the available points is due to the ‘improvisation’ element.
• If there is a tie between two or more members based on given score, I will then open the vote on those members to the floor with a show of hands. The member with the most hands (including visitors and subs) will then carry the win. If there is a tie, the winner will only gain 10 points, and the other ‘tied’ members will gain 5 points each.

The person who suggested the above format will be publicly declared at the beginning of next week and will have the 5 bonus points given, along with the accolade of drawing the first name from the hat. You know who you are. The people who follow that will be ordered by the time at which they signed in. The earlier you arrive, the sooner you will get the chance to pick from the hat. If you are here last, you will get the last name to present your 60 seconds. Isn’t life a raffle?

As next week’s 60 seconds is not you presenting your own business there will be no penalties for overrunning, but the week following, there will be the added challenge, monitored by the ‘MinuteMinder®‘, our very own ThawMeister. If you (or your substitute!!) over run the 60 sec time limit you will lose 1 point. If your presentation is EXACTLY on the minute, or as close as five grains of sand you will get 5 points bonus. That gives you TWO WEEKS to plan a precise 60 seconds and practice against your own stopwatch. That week Mark will be leading off to show everyone how it is done (timed by me), and then each of you will follow, as per usual, directed by me, with me bringing up the rear before the substitutes get to present their 60 seconds and the visitors theirs, as per usual.

The above 60 second overrun penalty scoring will then stay in place for the remainder of the Game (it is ending on the 18th of March).

After next week there will be ONE more bonus round, taking place on the 18th of March. The ideas that haven’t been used from this week, plus any more that I receive between now and midnight on the 10th of March will all be considered. The best will be chosen and the person who thought of it will be given 10 points. Get your thinking hats on. The more ideas you present, the better your chance. It might be the element that tips your team into the winning slot!