A Sporting Venture

Fellow Toastmasters,

First-time Toastmaster-of-the-Day Glenn Woodson led 19 members and four guests through a sports-filled meeting, shaking things up by having the three speakers first followed by Table Topics. All participants were introduced by explaining the way that sports had impacted their lives - still the question remains between the two “Glenns” as to whether Chess is actually a sport!

MIIS student Elizabeth Mitchell won “Most Improved” with her icebreaker speech, in which she demonstrated how her late father had influenced her life. Karen Woodson followed with HER icebreaker, describing what it was like to grow up in North Carolina as an identical twin! Meanwhile, Angi Anderson won “Best Speaker” with her #6 (Vocal Variety) speech entitled “What color is your Underwear” - a humorous description of the daily life of her two young boys - and then read us the children’s book of the same name!

First-time evaluator Eric Timmerman was awarded the “Best Evaluator” trophy by General Evaluator and VPE Robin Walker for his excellent evaluation of Karen - way to go, Eric! Robin also reminded us that the lectern must always be attended (having the “conn” in Navy parlance), and that the approaching speaker ALWAYS passes in front of the person who is leaving the lectern.

Shahid Abrar ul Hassan led the Table Topics, which was won by the very humorous Ryan Squires. Of interest in the Grammarian’s report was the use of the word “like” - which can mean “want” (I would LIKE some ice cream), fondness (I LIKE you), or similar to (You’re just LIKE your father!). Or as, LIKE, a word filler popular among young people! No wonder it’s so hard to learn English!

NEXT WEEK: Special all-Table-Topics meeting! This will be loads of fun and will challenge our listening skills as well as our impromptu speaking prowess.

COMING UP 24 Mar: Our third monthly “Smedley Saturday” at the La Mesa Community Center, from 1300-1500. Past Area Governor Rachelle Onishi of Bayview Toastmasters will be Toastmaster for this event, which can count as credit for “chairing a club event” (a Competent Leader manual requirement).

COMING UP 31 Mar: Area A1/A2 International Speech and Table Topics Contests, also at the La Mesa Community Center from 1300-1630. Plan now on attending to support Fred and Angi as our contestants in the respective contests.

Submitted by:

Carl Thormeyer, DTM
NPS TM Club Historian