Fellow Toastmasters,
An ongoing tradition at NPS Toastmasters is the “Holiday Gift Exchange” meeting on the last scheduled meeting of the year. This year we had 15 members and one perennial guest (Karen Woodson; Glenn’s wife) vie for a wide assortment of gifts using their impromptu speaking skills! Though many tried, no-one succeeded in “stealing” a gift previously opened by someone else! Perhaps the most popular gifts that others tried to “steal” were the batteries, the hi-tech lunch bag, and the gifts from London brought back by returning members Elie and Rosetta Ishag. (Click the following link for the video of Glenn Tolle’s raucous but unsuccessful attempt to win some batteries!) (Watch this space for the link to Mary’s video.)
We said farewell today to Alec Metz, who will be returning to Mongolia via Beijing. We will miss you, Alec! (Why not start a club in Mongolia? There are already six Toastmasters clubs in Beijing!)
And congratulations to NPS students Brendan Epps, Wil Wooten, Joel Tiu, Dave Mazur and Andy Hamann who all graduated on December 15th. Further congratulations to MIIS students Lars Olberg and Alec Metz who have finished their studies here in Monterey. Additional congratulations are due to Brendan Epps, who with a Herculean effort finished up his Advanced Communicator Bronze qualifications just before he graduated! (Ed. Note: That gives our club six goals so far this Toastmaster year, and we’ll have seven once we get two more of the new officers trained. That’ll make us at least “Select Distinguished” for 2006-07, with “President’s Distinguished” in our sights.)
Speaking of which…. Until recently, NPS Toastmasters led all 203 clubs in District 4 with 20 new members since July 1st. Now, two clubs in the Bay Area have caught up with us and also have 20 new members. So, let’s all get out there and replace those several fine members who just left, and reclaim our spot at the top!
Meetings will resume on Friday January 5th, when the newly elected officers will be installed. The January schedule will be posted soon on our Web site, www.npstoastmasters.org. In the meantime, we wish you all a happy and joyous holiday season!
For better listening, thinking and speaking,
- Carl
Friday, December 15, 2006
Friday, December 08, 2006
Glenn's Hipcast
Glenn recorded this on his cell phone and blogged it instantly - is this soooo 2007 or what?!
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Friday, December 01, 2006
World Aids Day
I hope that everyone had a happy Thanskgiving! I, for one, found myself mysteriously antsy around 12:10 the day after - without a Toastmasters meeting, I didn't know what to do with myself!
Today's theme was "World Aids Day," selected by Toastmaster par exellence Mary Lineberger, a sober and timely theme, since it is World Aids Day. Their theme this year is "Acountability," and that was also the word of the day.
Instead of our typical (of late) gaggle of guests, we had 21 members and only one guest - a very healthy attendance. Part of the reason for so few guests is that they have become members!
The speakers today continued the pattern of our newer members showing their speaking skills, with two Icebreakers and one #2 speech.
In Ken Pawley's Icebreaker speech, he related the importance of family values and music in his life. His uplifting speech earned him "Best Speaker" of the meeting. We are looking forward to hearing more from this new NPS faculty member.
Cathy Lee was so inspirational in her Icebreaker speech, both speaking about and confronting her public speaking fears that she received a standing ovation. Her speech earned her "Most Improved Speaker." And congratulations to Cathy on passing the California Bar!
Erika Hunnsicker was completely captivating in her second speech about "bride stealing" in Kazakhstan, mixing humor with an ultimately serious subject. Effective evaluations were given by Joe, Arnie, and Alec, with Alec getting the nod for "best evaluator."
Table Topics was particularly competitive, with Luke Lazzari, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Linda Larson being called on, and Linda winning "Best Table Topics."
John Looney was very effective in his first time as General Evaluator, giving excellent feedback to all the functionaries.
All told, another energetic and informative NPS Toastmasters meeting!
-Arnie
Today's theme was "World Aids Day," selected by Toastmaster par exellence Mary Lineberger, a sober and timely theme, since it is World Aids Day. Their theme this year is "Acountability," and that was also the word of the day.
Instead of our typical (of late) gaggle of guests, we had 21 members and only one guest - a very healthy attendance. Part of the reason for so few guests is that they have become members!
The speakers today continued the pattern of our newer members showing their speaking skills, with two Icebreakers and one #2 speech.
In Ken Pawley's Icebreaker speech, he related the importance of family values and music in his life. His uplifting speech earned him "Best Speaker" of the meeting. We are looking forward to hearing more from this new NPS faculty member.
Cathy Lee was so inspirational in her Icebreaker speech, both speaking about and confronting her public speaking fears that she received a standing ovation. Her speech earned her "Most Improved Speaker." And congratulations to Cathy on passing the California Bar!
Erika Hunnsicker was completely captivating in her second speech about "bride stealing" in Kazakhstan, mixing humor with an ultimately serious subject. Effective evaluations were given by Joe, Arnie, and Alec, with Alec getting the nod for "best evaluator."
Table Topics was particularly competitive, with Luke Lazzari, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Linda Larson being called on, and Linda winning "Best Table Topics."
John Looney was very effective in his first time as General Evaluator, giving excellent feedback to all the functionaries.
All told, another energetic and informative NPS Toastmasters meeting!
-Arnie
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