With today being graduation and the last meeting before Christmas, Tonya Holloway in her first time as TMoD led a small (but mighty) meeting of 9 members and one guest. Tonya also proved her mettle by serving as Wordmaster and filled in as Table Topics Master. Choosing the sweet theme of "Candy Bars," she gave us fascinating information about the history of candy bars and the various companies that make them. Introducing each member by way of their favorite candy bar added sparkle without calories - and Cathy Lee provided some additional excitement by actually bringing chocolate Doves.
Elie Ishag returned from his travels to win best Table Topics:
Malia Esteban was inspiring in her Icebreaker "Double Vision" and won Best Speaker:
Kate Daniels Kurz gave her #3 speech "We Have an Opportunity" and was selected Most Improved Speaker for her dynamic rendition:
Cathy Lee evaluated Malia's Icebreaker:
Carl Thormeyer gave an outstanding evaluation of Kate's speech and was selected Best Evaluator by GE Arnie Buss:
Our next meeting will be January 9, 2009. We wish everyone a happy holiday season however it is celebrated.
For better thinking, listening, and speaking... NPS Toastmasters Club 2032
It was so appropriate that our beloved Angi Anderson was TMoD for her last official meeting at the club! She expertly led 15 members (once Pam Walker had been inducted by club President Fred Sadler) and 1 guest through an exciting meeting whose theme was "So Long, Farewell." Unfortunately the video blogger left the camera in his other pants, and so you will just have to use your imagination about how awesome the meeting was!
Serving as her own opening remarks person, Angi gave perhaps the shortest opening remarks on record..."Bye!"
Tonya Holloway choose "Adieu" as Wordmaster which nearly everyone was able to weave into their speaking. The other functionaries were expertly performed by Margaret Stevens (Ah Counter), Kate Daniels Kurz (Grammarian), David Perez (Timer), and Emilie Staryak(Vote Counter).
Andrew Kennedy led a clinic on Table Topics, calling on newest member Pam Walker, experienced member John Armstrong, and guest Lynn to give their experiences with farewells. Even though he was forbidden to dance, John was voted best Table Topics speaker.
Two great speeches made up the prepared portion of the meeting. Tonya Holloway led off with her #3 speech "How it All Got Started." This was an entertaining and informative exposition of the history of the Christmas tree from its ancient beginnings. Who knew that Christmas trees were originally hung upside down? Tonya was voted Most Improved Speaker.
Arnie Buss finished with his fifth Icebreaker speech "Faking It." He spoke of the fears that he still feels even after acquiring many Toastmasters skills and being able to effectively hide it. Arnie was voted Best Speaker for it.
Art Testani evaluated Tonya's speech, and first-time evaluator Elizabeth Mitchell evaluated Arnie. Elizabeth was selected Best Evaluator by General Evaluator Carl Thormeyer.
Angi gave a heartfelt farewell to the club, expressing appreciation for all the members she has come to know and cherish. She also reminded us that it is very likely we will meet again!
We ended with Fred presenting Angi with the farewell plaque of appreciation for past presidents and Arnie giving her the "Best of Angi" DVD.
And so we bid a fond Adieu to Angi, who has been so instrumental in the club's awesomeness over the past two years. You have been inspiring as a speaker and a leader, and have mentored and helped so many members individually. As a club officer, you have been the heart and soul of NPS Toastmasters. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors and Toastmastering!
The post-meeting roster.
Back row (left to right): Carl, Fred, Angi, Emilie, Arnie, John, and David. Front row, Tonya
Art Testani took a turn as TMoD and chose a theme of "Gestures," drawing in his Italian heritage. Leading 16 members and two guests in a lively and gesture-filled meeting, we were made more mindful of the iomportance of nonverbal communication skills.
Inspired by the theme, Tito DeJesus gave his Opening Remarks in Charades:
Table Topics Master Margaret Stevens called on Elizabeth Mitchell, David Perez and Glenn Woodson who won Best Table Topics for his response:
Kate Daniels Kurz' started the prepared speeches with her #2 speech Why the WIP is Good for the Women of the World and for Monterey. Kate was voted Most Improved Speaker.
Karen Woodson's #10 speech When Bad Things Turn Good. Karen was voted Best Speaker and got a standing ovation for her completion of the Competent Communication Manual. Congratulations Karen!
Speech evaluations were given by Christina Hicks for Katharine, and John Armstrong for Karen Woodson. Carl Thormeyer also evaluated Art's introductions as a project in the Specialty Speeches advanced manual. However, Christina Hicks' was selected as Best Evaluator by General Evaluator Glenn Woodson:
Four members and one guest followed TMoD Karen Woodson's lead into Toastmasters heaven on a special Smedley Friday - the day after Thanksgiving.
David Perez led off with his # 2 manual speech on the things and people that he is thankful for. "And for that I am thankful" was the tag line he used throughout his beautifully organized speech evaluated by Karen.
Karen Woodson lauded the seven virtues of exercise in her #9 speech entitled "Let's get physical". She showed us as well as told us how to exercise - always with a smile on her face. David Perez added thoughtful suggestions in his first gig as an evaluator.
Fred Sadler gave his first speech from the advanced manual (The professional Speaker) - "the Keynote Address" in 20 minutes - an opportunity for him to practice a commemcement address he will deliver on December 8 at the Physician Assistant Program graduation at Yale Medical School. This is the 38th graduation class of a Masters level Program he founded in 1970. He says - "Thank you Toastmasters - this might actually be fun". Evaluator Carl said "crank up the vocal variety if you want your audience to have fun with you".
Carl Thormeyer gave his fifth speech (the Motivational Speech) from the Professional Speaker manual - a manual he started working on in 1999. Now that is persistence! Carl was very motivational indeed in encouraging us all to be better leaders and using examples from Abraham Lincoln to Barak Obama as well as from Toastmasters to make his point. His 20 minute speech had us enthralled and was evaluated by Fred.
With 17 members present, TMoD and VPE Emilie Staryak led a spirited meeting on the theme of "John Steinbeck," California's central coast literary giant. She asked each partcipant to comment on what kind of book they would like to write.
Elections were also held and the slate submitted by the nominating committee (see last week's blog) was elected without any opposition.
Peripatetic traveler Joe Tacker returned home to lead Table Topics... Art Testani responded creatively and won Best Table Topics Speaker: Michael Kensick addressed the complexities of the current housing crisis in a beautifully organized #2 speech entitled Foreclosure, which garnered him Most Improved speaker: John Armstrong's #8 speech From the Depths of the Earth was a tour de force about alternative energy sources complete with maps and scientific charts:
Elizabeth Mitchell won Best Speaker for her very creative use of language in her #4 speech Tai Chi in Shanghai:
Veteran Carl Thormeyer was selected Best evaluator by GE Fred Sadler:
This was the last meeting for two of our newer members, Aysun Caliskan and Michael Kensick. We bid them a warm farewell and wish them all the best in their future public speaking. Michael will take his family to the Las Vegas area upon graduation and looks forward to joining Toastmasters there. Aysun, who plans to continue speaking at Toastmasters in Ankara, gave a moving farewell along with some Turkish delights in her role as vote counter:
There will be no regular club meeting the Friday after Thanksgiving but we will have a "Smedley Friday" for anyone interested at 10 am November 28 at Glasgow 389.
With 20 members and one guest in attendance, TMOD Elizabeth Mitchell chose an entertaining theme which reached all of us - sibling rivalry! Fred Sadler opened with "Anything you can do I can do better" in which he took on his invisible but real twin brother Blair. Elizabeth regaled us with stories about her older brothers and then added a sibling snippet about each of our functionaries and speakers - the very model of a successful Toastmaster.
David Perez' winning Table Topics response to Chance Litton's extemporaneus question:
Aysun Caliksan, drawing on the experience of Sir Isaac Newton was voted "Most Improved Speaker" for her #2 speech Luck or Success?
Tonya Holloway won Best Speaker for her beautifully crafted #2 speech Shoot Anyway:
Tito DeJesus' took us from classical to pop in his #4 speech Music is Music to my Ears:
Art Testani was selected Best Evaluator by General Evaluator Cathy Lee:
Finally, VPPR Tito Dejesus produced another fine club newsletter which highlighted the fact that we are the first club in District #4 (212 member clubs) to have achieved seven of our ten club goals for the year.
Although there was no "power" in Glasgow Hall on Saturday November 1, a loyal band of Club # 2032 Toastmasters convened at 10 am in a third floor hall in front of a large window to carry on the tradition of Smedley Saturday. TMoD Emilie Staryak presided over three speeches, three traditional evaluations and then a round robin evaluation popularized by the Peninsula Pros group that allows everyone to comment on the speaker's performance and in turn give the speaker a chance to respond.
Fred Sadler delivered an interpretation of "Long Day's Journey into Night" - Eugene O'Neill's masterpiece, in which he channeled each of the four principal characters as one by one each expresses his/her own "truth". This 12-15 minute presentation was from the "Interpretive Reading" manual.
Arnie Buss discussed "followers and leaders" and how you can't have one without the other. In fact we often have leading and following backwards or upside down.
Tonya Holloway did a practice run of her # 2 speech entitled "Shoot First". The rest of the club gets to hear this on November 7 so hold on to your seats for this (Tonya was a theater major in college) surprise.
Aysun Caliskan served as timer and joined in for the evaluations.
The small number of participants allowed for an open and "powerful" sharing before we sent Arnie off to play his violin at an afternoon concert.
TMOD and Club Treasurer John Armstrong led 22 members and 2 guests on the theme of the Pacific Ocean including nautical stories and incidents from our members. We were privileged to listen to Christina Hicks' moving #10 speech; she is the Club'snewest Competent Communicator("CC").Congratulations, Christina!
Aysun Caliskan became the first NPS TM member to use photographs on our "Smart-Screen" via PowerPoint to introduce her table topics questions in her role as Table Topics Master. What ingenuity!
We inducted new members Malia Esteban and Tony Valle. Welcome to the Joy of Public Speaking!
Katherine Daniels Kurz' Opening Remarks:
Tito DeJesus' winning Table Topics speech (the "shark"):
Sammie Pringle's #2 speech warned us about the dangers of Too Much TV (Most Improved Speaker)
Christina Hicks' #10 speech drawing inspiring lessons from the life of President John Adams - A Life Well-Lived (voted Best Speaker):
Karen Woodson was selected "Best Evaluator" for her insightful evaluation of Sammie Pringle's #2 speech:
Cathy Lee chose Country Music as the theme of the meeting, and got off to a rolicking start with Karen Woodson's Opening Remarks:
With 17 members and 4 guests, a fabulous time was had by all.
In his first time as Table Topics Master, Wilfredo Crave asked penetrating tough questions. Although he mangled the David Allen Coe reference, Arnie Buss nevertheless won Table Topics:
The prepared speeches got off to a great start with Katherine Daniels Kurtz' Icebreaker speech, in which she took us from California to New York and back again, and was voted Best Speaker. Katherine Daniels Kurz' Icebreaker My Life in Years:
Michael Kensick's gave his Icebreaker speech next Old Time Hockey, and was voted Most Improved:
Finally, Emilie Staryak's #8 speech took us in words and pictures to the island paradise of Saba Island:
Three excellent evaluations followed, but Angi Anderson was given the nod as best evaluator. Angi Anderson's winning evaluation:
Glenn Woodson, stepping in at the 11th hour, led a spirited meeting as TMoD today. With the universal theme of "Cartoons," each functionary was introduced with their favorite, accompanied by an expertly crafted slide show with the appropriate graphic. With 17 members and 2½ guests (Sterling Woodson being the ½) attendance was strong considering that it was graduation day!
Donna Cunningham led off with opening remarks:
Cathy Lee (favorite cartoon: Roadrunner) led Table Topics, calling on Tito, Christina, and Chance, with Chance winning Best Table Topics speaker:
Three prepared speeches followed.
Aysun Caliskan's Icebreaker, delivered without notes highlighted the important decisions she began making at a very tender age. Aysun was voted Best Speaker for this outstaanding speech entitled My Right Decisions:
Karen Woodson (favorite cartoon I Love to Singa) followed with her #6 speech that translated the words women often say into terms the men can understand. Karen effectively used her voice to make her point in a very humorous way and was voted Most Improved for A Woman's Dictionary:
Fred Sadler gave his rendition of Bill from the advanced manual Interpretive Reading. In Fred's case "reading" sounded a lot like "singing" - and Fred's dramatic interpretation of the soliloquy from Carousel was a perfect #3 speech (The Monorama) from this manual.
The evaluations by first-time evaluators Tito DeJesus (favorite cartoon: Beavis and Butthead) and Christina Hicks (favorite cartoon: The Backyardigans) were so good that General Evaluator Emilie Staryak (favorite cartoon: The Simpsons) couldn't decide which was "best" - so they both received Best Evaluator.
Tito's evaluation of Aysun's Icebreaker:
Christina's evaluation of Karen's #6 speech:
Oh, and Glenn's favorite - Gossamer from Hair Raising Hare:
Until next time - for better thinking, listening, and speaking...
Today's meeting is another traditionally "low attendance" one due to final exams and preparation for graduation next week. However, with 18 members and one guest you would never have guessed it! It was another bittersweet meeting - the sweet being Joyce Laker from Uganda giving her #10 speech, we welcome her to the ranks of "Competent Communicator" - and the sad being Brian Anderson's last meeting. Although we are fortunate to have half of "Team Anderson" with us awhile longer, Brian will be graduating and moving on. Brian has been such a stalwart backbone of the club for the past two years, and will be very much missed by all. See below for his farewell to the club. We did however have a long-lost member, Elizabeth Mitchell, return.
Chance Litton had an opportunity to show us yet another dimension to his versatile set of skills by running the meeting smoothly and with his prototypical Chance-ness. The meeting started with Tito's remarkable opening remarks - what was once wild and fantastic is now commonplace:
Opening Remarks by Tito DeJesus:
Chance's theme was of course science fiction - as distinct from fantasy. Explaining that films such as Star Wars are really more in the fantasy realm than science fiction, Chance extolled the virtues of the genre, including the top science fiction films (Blade Runner).
Margaret Stevens led an energetic Table Topics session with thoughtful questions of John Armstrong, Karen Woodson, and Tito DeJesus. Tito DeJesus won best Table Topics speaker with his explanation of why Blade Runner is his favorite science fiction movie:
The prepared speeches were begin by Donna Cunningham's fascinating peek into Gullah, and how she has been torn between the culture of her present and that of her past. Donna was voted Most Improved speaker. Donna Cunningham's #3 speech, Bin Yah Come Yah:
Joyce Laker completed the Competent Communicator manual with a call to action on the worldwide problem of HIV-AIDS. While improvements have been made in the problem, Joyce showed how much more is needed. She was inspiring by showing how we are impacted in our roles as parents, educators, and citizens. Joyce won Best Speaker for this - and the congratulations from all for achieving Competent Communicator. Joyce Laker's #10 speech HIV AIDS: A Call to Action:
Expert evaluations were performed by club and area champion Angi Anderson and Arnie Buss. In an upset, Arnie was selected best evaluator by GE Art Testani:
Brian Anderson bids farewell to the club. We will miss you and wish you all the best!
On Saturday, September 13th, Angi Anderson and Tito DeJesus won the Area A-1 Evaluation and Humorous Speech Contests respectively at the combined Area A1 / Area A2 event held at the Agricultural Center in Salinas. This is the second year in a row that NPS Toastmasters swept both contests!
Angi's masterful and humorous assessment of Dave Empey's test speech about the proper use of English grammar won her top honors over four other excellent evaluations. Her spot-on insights were coupled with delightful humor and suggestions for enhancing an already successful speech.
Tito honed his speech about his favorite island paradise off the coast of the US (New York City) to a fine edge of wit and poignacy - wrapped up in a presentation so seasoned that he looked like a ten year veteran of Toastmasters. Four other very humorous presentations were surpassed by Tito's effort which was another level better than his performance at our club contest two weeks ago.
Other NPS players at the Area Contest included Carl Thormeyer as Humorous Contest Chief Judge, Chance Litton as Evaluation Contest Toastmaster, Fred Sadler and Art Testani as judges, and Emilie Staryak as Chief Ballot Counter.
Angi and Tito will now compete at the Division Contest in Aptos on Saturday October 11th. The winners there will move on to the finals at the District Contest in Santa Clara on November 14-15, 2008.
A near record crowd of 24 members and one former member (now being re-instated) enjoyed one of the best Club Humorous Speech Contests ever with five (5; count 'em!) outstandingly funny contestants! All five contestants were Jay Leno guest material but only one, Tito Dejesus emerged as the winner with his good-natured parody about New York City. Chance Litton finished second by the narrowist of margins (according to Chief Judge Carl Thormeyer) with a repeat of his now notorious "Five Baddest A____s of All Time" speech. Newest members Max Akhterov and Tonya Holloway gave hilariously funny speeches, as did Angi Anderson talking about "Girls Night Out". Each performed with originality and panache.
So: Tito goes on to represent NPS TM #2032 in the Area A-1 Humorous Speech Contest next Saturday afternoon 13 Sept. in Salinas, while Angi will represent us in the Area A-1 Evaluation Contest. Chance Litton has been tapped to be Toastmaster of the Evaluation Contest.
Tito's winning speech, A State of Mind that Never Sleeps:
Max's speech Cultural Learning of America for the Benefit of Personal Enrichment:
Tonya Holloway's Help Me find My Skin:
Angi Anderson's Girls' Night Out:
Chance Litton's Five Baddest A____s of All Time
The event was ably organized and chaired by Joyce Laker who also serves as President of the MIIS Toastmasters Club. Mike Kensick became our ninth new member since July 1 and was welcomed by Club President Fred Sadler.
Our latest newletter by VPPR Tito Dejesus (newly posted to our Web site) colorfully announced our club pot luck social, which is set for Friday September 19 @ 6pm to be held at the La Mesa Community Center. This is a great opportunity for spouses and significant others to participate in the fun of Toastmasters.
Our Treasurer, John Armstrong announced dues of $39 for the six month period beginning October 1 should be payable to NPS Toastmasters. Please bring a check or cash to next week's meeting. Never in the history of humankind, has so much fun been had by so many for so few (dollars) - with apologies to Winston Churchill.
With 21 members and two guests present, Toastmaster of the Day Alex Bein led us through a fast paced meeting on the theme of "competition". He was also presented with a "Certificate of Appreciation" for his many contributions while a member of Club #2032. Alex graduates from NPS next week and heads to Norfolk, VA for his next duty assignment.
We will miss you Alex and know that you will continue Toastmastering on the east coast.
Donna Cunningham's Opening Remarks
Max Akhterov's turned the description of the Wordmaster's duties into a short humorous speech:
Masami Maeda became the first in our Club this year to achieve Competent Communicator status by completing her # 10 speech entitled "Mejumi is Japanese" - a moving and inspiring treatise on the horror of abduction and what we need to do about it. She won Most Improved for her outstanding delivery. Congratulations Masami! Masami Maeda's #10 speech:
Tonya Holloway won Best Speaker for her beautifully crafted presentation on reading and teaching as it applies to her life - a gift to us all. Tonya Holloway's Icebreaker speech I Wanted to be a Writer; However, I Didn't Like to Read:
Art Testani ws awarded Best Evaluator for his evaluation of Tonya's Icebreaker:
Table Topics Master Fred Sadler thought he put John Armstrong on the spot with his question - "What would you do and say if you were selected for the 'Dancing with the Stars' competition?" John Armstrong blew us all away as he channeled John Travolta in "Saturday Night Fever" with his winning Table Topics response:
This meeting featured the annual evaluation contest ably orchestrated by Emilie Staryak as TMoD and contest chair. "The Largest Team..." was our playful imitation of Carl Thormeyer's presence in a TV advertisement for the KSBW's weather team identified multiple times on NBC's coverage of the Olympics as the Central Coast's "Largest team of forecasters."
Steve Rawson's gave the test test speech entitled Pause
Emilie interviews Steve Rawson after his test speech. Carl's speech explaining what Toastmasters contests are all about:
Fred Sadler garnered second place with his evaluation:
Angi Anderson won the evaluation contest and advances to the Area contest on September 13:
Angi Anderson led another awesome Toastmasters meeting as TMOD, weaving in several of our newest members as functionaries! The room was again packed with 21 members and six guests, including Area Governor Ralph Villar.
The group of 27 was treated to another world-class icebreaker, this time by new member David Perez, who won "Best Speaker". Leena Oh broke through the "4th wall" with her #5 speech, and Rosetta Ishag won "Most Improved" with her #6 speech. All three speeches are replicated below.
Another new member, Kate Daniels-Kurz, won "Best Table Topics", while Joyce Laker was chosen "Best Evaluator" by General Evaluator Chance Litton, whose own evaluation was one of the funniest general evaluations ever! All three efforts are shown below.
Tonya Holloway's Opening Remarks:
Kate Daniels-Kurz' winning table topics:
David Perez' Icebreaker My Journey:
Leena Oh's #5 speech Let's not be Crude:
Rosetta Ishag's #4 Speech The Power of Food:
Joyce Laker's Evaluation of Leena's speech:
Chance Litton's humorous and insightful general evaluation of the meeting:
Today acting president Emilie Staryak inducted five (count 'em!) new members to the club. With the three from last week, that means both our DCP membership goals for the entire 2008-9 year have been met! So welcome to our newest members: Christina Hicks, Kate Daniels-Kurz, Sam Pringle, Tonya Holloway, and Aysun Caliskan. With these, there were a total of 23 members and 1 guest in attendance - quite an excellent turnout for August!
Chance Litton took on the role of TMoD just Wednesday, and put together a remarkable meeting with the theme of "Pet Peeves." Throughout the meeting, Chance shared some of his own pet peeves, and each functionary was introduced with one of theirs as well. What a great way to welcome all the new members!
David Perez, who just joined last week, jumped right in with a humorous and creative Opening Remark, coordinated with Chance's attention-getting re-entrance (which illustrated one of his peeves about members coming late to meetings).
David Perez' Opening Remarks:
Another new member from last week, Wilfredo Crave, Jr., also stepped in and did a fabulous job as Ah Counter.
Chance elected to order the meeting with Speeches, then Table Topics, and finally Evaluations; so we began with three outstanding speeches. Elie Ishag led off with another informative and thought-provoking talk in which he shared his knowledge and insights into international finance. Elie talked about the lasting consequences of the housing crisis, and how more and more people walking away from their housing debt is triggering a crisis in the banking industry. Elie was voted "most improved" for this.
Elie Ishag's #6 speech Walk Away from Debt:
Next, Brian Anderson entertained us with both a poetic rendition of the theme from Gilligan's Island, followed by a recital of the seven deadly sins - and even more remarkably, showed how the two were inter-related. Who would have thought??
Brian Anderson's Dante's Castaways:
The prepared speeches had their climax with new member Max Akhterov's Icebreaker, which will be remembered as one of the more memorable ones. Utilizing an array of props, and demonstrating a flair for the dramatic and the humorous, Max shared some of the "book" of his life and his journey from Russia to the US. Be sure to check out his dramatization of his first kiss! Max was awarded "best speaker" for his remarkable effort.
Max Akhterov's Icebreaker A Warm Russian Icebreaker:
Table Topics Master Masami Maeda, being pressed for time, called on John Armstrong and one of the newest members, Kate Daniels. Kate showed poise and grace in her response, and was voted best Table Topic speaker.
Kate Daniels' winning Table Topics:
Three experienced evaluators, Glenn Woodson, Arnie Buss, and Carl Thormeyer, rounded off the program. They all demonstrated excellence in giving feedback, but Glenn smoked the graybeards with his insightful suggestions to Elie, and was selected best evaluator by GE Angi Anderson. Glenn's winning evaluation:
Cathy Lee got August off to a rousing start with a meeting on the theme of "Romance" which coincides with the fact that August is "National Romance Month" (did you know that??). Rosetta Ishag presented a delightfully sung "Opening Remarks":
President Fred Sadler inducted three new members: Max Akhterov, Wilfredo Crane Jr, and David Perez. Welcome to the club! With these three, the meeting was attended by 17 members and 4 guests. New member David Perez wasted no time in jumping into a role, by serving as vote counter.
Before introducing TMoD Cathy Lee, Fred recognized Angi Anderson, Immediate Past President, for helping to lead the club to President's Distinguished status in the 2007-8 year. She pinned the blue ribbon on the gold TI banner along side all the other ribbons that our club has won over the years.
Brian Anderson ably led an extended Table Topics with challenging questions about memories of romantic dates, calling on all three new members along with Tito DeJesus, who was voted best Table Topics Speaker. Tito's winning response:
Prepared speakers included longtime member Joe Tacker returning to a speaking role after a long absence. Already an ATM-Bronze, Joe decided to retool his considerable Toastmasters skills by going through the CC manual a second time. Today he gave his Icebreaker speech It's Never Too late to Have a Happy Childhood, and was voted Most Improved Speaker:
Alex Bein presented his #5 speech My Vacation to Virginia. Eschewing the lectern for the first time, Alex entertained us with tales of his travels and moving his family across country, for which he received Best Speaker:
Art Testani received Best Evaluator from Carl Thormeyer for is thoughtful review of Joe's speech and Leena Oh also "broke through the fourth wall" in ably evaluating Alex.
Emily Staryak, VPE encouraged club members to sign up for the club evaluation and humerous speaker contests to be held August 22. President Sadler recognized Tito DeJesus, VPPR for his first and colorful club newsletter - also available on the club web page.
John Armstrong led his first meeting as TMoD with a timely theme of The Olympics. With 17 members and 6 guests, we had a very well attended meeting for the middle of July.
Carl Thormeyer led a spirited Table Topics, with Fred Sadler winning best Table Topics speaker for explaining why he should be the head of the International Olymic Committee. Fred's winning Table Topics:
Three great speeches followed. Tito DeJesus gave a humorous discourse pointing out the silliness of the creation/evolution debate by offering a third alternative, from the "Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster." Tito received Most Improve speaker for his #2 speech. Next Masami Maeda continued her sprint through the CC manual by showing and explaining several Chinese characters in her #8 speech. Eric Guttmann finished with his #5 speech about the importance of allowing "failure" and the perils of not allowing for learning through making mistakes. Eric won best speaker for his inspiring speech.
Tito DeJesus' #2 speech Creation, Evolution, and Spaghetti:
Masami's #8 Speech: The Precious Asset from Ancient People:
Eric Guttmann's #5 speech Zero Defects Mandatory:
Three quality evaluations were given by Emilie Staryak, Corban Spraker, and Arnie Buss. General evaluator Art Testani chose Arnie's evaluation as the best one.
With 15 members and 3 guests, today's attendance was excellent for this date, due to graduation. Warner Howser returned after a long hiatus as TMoD (it not being tax season) and led the club through an outstanding meeting. With a seasonally-appropriate theme of "Summer Movies," the attendees were reminded of our own favorite movies while also hearing Warner's. (His all-time favorite movie is "Citizen Kane" by the way).
Karen Woodson's Opening Remarks gave a great hint at the theme by consisting almost entirely of movie titles:
Donna Cunningham expertly led Table Topics, calling on Warner (by request), a guest, and Brian Anderson. Brian's response to the question about whether "reality tv" actually serves a purpose was voted best Table Topics. Brian's winning Table Topics response:
We were treated to three outstanding prepared speeches. Emilie Staryak explored the breadth of nonverbal communication and showed eloquently, with both words and gestures, how we communicate without actually saying anything. Eric Guttmann gave an energetic account of his grueling three day fitness ordeal, especially how he loveshates climbing mountains. Finally, Robin Walker gave bade farewell to the club by recounting his experiences in Toastmasters with his first club in Washington D.C., how he came to NPS Toastmasters, and grew to appreciate it deeply. Robin has of course recently led the club to President's Distinguished status in record time, and has set the bar very high for all leaders in the club to follow. You will be missed!
Emilie Staryak's #5 speech, Speak Without Saying a Word. Emilie won "Most Improved" for it
Eric Guttmann's #4 speech "Elite Combat Fitness"
Robin Walker's Farewell speech. Robin won "Best Speaker"
The meeting ended on a poignant note, with club president Angi Anderson presenting Robin with a plaque in appreciation for his leadership as president and with the fond best wishes of us all.
Angi gives Robin his President's plaque, with a bonus haiku!
Robin Walker led an awesome meeting with the theme of "The Senate" - very appropriate on several levels. One of course is the fact that both major Presidential candidates are currently in the Senate. Another is Robin's past work with Senators, and of course the fact that someday in the near future may very well find him among that elite crowd. With 13 members and 2 guests, the attendance was lower than recent meetings. We made up for it in extra enthusiastic clapping. Also, it being the last day of classes, attendance at this meeting is historically low.
Tito DeJesus set the enthusiastic tone for the meeting with his Opening Remarks, showing a painting of the Roman Senate and climaxing by quoting Cicero - in Latin! Tito DeJesus' Opening Remarks;
Brian Anderson led an impeccable Table Topics, calling on John Armstrong, Angi Anderson, and Robin Walker, with Robin being voted best Table Topics speaker for his explanation of why all those in the Senate should wear togas for humility sake (although he doesn't care to look at them in that garb). Robin Walker's winning Table Topics response:
Joyce Laker led off the prepared speeches with another moving description of the travails in Africa, this time the problems in Rwanda, and the failure of diplomacy and the UN to solve them. Joyce Joyce Laker's #7 Speech Failed Diplomacy:
Art Testani went next with an "off the cuff" speech from the advanced manual "Specialty Speeches." In this one, he had evaluator Angi Anderson choose one of five topics at random, and Art gave a 5-7 minute speech on the one chosen. The one picked was "Global Accounts" and we got treated to a clear explanation of how Cisco Systems deals with them. Art Testani's speech #1 (Speaking off the Cuff) from advanced manual Specialty Speeches, Global Accounts:
Finally, Arnie Buss gave speech #7 from his fourth time through the CC manual. This manual has the theme of "Servant Leadership" (all speeches are on that same general topic), and was about Bayard Rustin, a man whom Arnie feels embodied Servant Leadership in his lifelong efforts towards social justice, particularly racial equality. Arnie Buss' #7 speech Servant Leadership and Social Justice: A Portrait:
Three excellent evaluation followed. Alex Bein evaluated Joyce, Angi Anderson evaluated Art, and Carl Thormeyer evaluated Arnie. General Evaluator Emilie Staryak gave the nod to Angi for Best Evaluator.
Art Testani led a picture-perfect meeting in his first time as TMoD for NPS. Although one of the newer members of the club, Art is a seasoned Toastmaster, having earned his CTM and CL at his previous club. With a theme of great quotations, the 15 members and 2 guests were regaled throughout the meeting with inspiring and humorous quotes from the likes of Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw, and John F. Kennedy.
The meeting got off to a great start with the induction of Glenn Cameron, who is also not a newcomer to Toastmasters. Leading Table Topics was veteran member Fred Sadler, who called on our newest member Glenn Cameron, the "other" Glenn, Glenn Woodson, and Tito DeJesus, with Tito garnering Best Table Topics Speaker.
Three outstanding speeches followed. Bill Gibbons gave an alliterative and inspiring speech #4 on running the Big Sur Marathon, for which he shared Best Speaker and was also voted Most Improved speaker. Cathy Lee gave an informative and entertaining look at the World Wide Web, and Chance Litton finished with a look into the world of a hard-core computer gamer, for which he chared the other half of Best Speaker.
Bill Gibbons' #4 Speech Running on the Ragged Edge of the Western World:
Cathy Lee's #2 Speech from the Speaking to Inform Advanced Manual, The Incredible Web:
Chance Litton's #4 speech The Joy of Conquest:
Evaluations were by two veterans, Angie Anderson and Arnie Buss, as well as John Armstrong in his first evaluation. Arnie was given Best Evaluator by GE Brian Anderson.
Smedley Saturday Update
A small but mighty Smedley Saturday was held, with Art Testani, Angi Anderson, and Arnie Buss taking turns giving speeches, evaluating, and timing. Art gave a speech from the advanced manual on Public Relations "The Radio Interview," Arnie gave speech #8 from his third time through the CC manual Child Parent Aware, and Angi gave speech #2 from the "Humorously Speaking" advanced manual Breaking Up is Hard to Do. Those who weren't there missed out on a real Saturday afternoon treat!
With 21 members and 4 guests (including Fred Sadler's wife Edi), Leena Oh's second time as TMoD was welcomed by a full house. With a very pertinent theme of "Traveling in Monterey," our glorious Peninsula was honored throughout the meeting with useful information and reverence. As an experienced TMoD, Leena presided over a fun-filled, educational, and entertaining meeting.
Art Testani's Opening Remarks deserve a listening:
Table Topics Master Joyce Laker kept us on our toes - or at least kept Alex Bein, Robin Walker, and Fred Sadler on their toes with challenging and relevant questions. Fred was awarded best Table Topics speaker, and his winning speech is show below:
The prepared speeches got off to an amazing start as Bill Gibbons presented an informative and very entertaining speech, explaining rainbows, the "22° halo," and mini-mirages. For his fantastic speech he was voted best speaker. In only his third speech, Bill has demonstrated his fantastic speaking and communicating skills!
Bill Gibbons' #3 speech It's Just Bent Light:
John Armstrong followed with his #4 speech about the challenges of coming up with a topic for a speech. For his humorous and entertaining coverage of a topic we have all struggled with, John received "Most Improved Speaker."
John Armstrong's #4 speech So Many Topics, So Little Time:
Chance Litton batted cleanup with his #6 speech along similar themes - procrastination. Extolling the virtues of never doing today what can be put off until tomorrow, Chance was entertaining as always and filled with humor. Chance Litton's #6 speech The Art of Procrastination:
Three excellent evaluations were given by Alex Bein (for Bill) Cathy Lee (for John) and Carl Thormeyer (for Chance). General Evaluator Brian Anderson completed the evaluation portion of the meeting with insightful overall feedback on the entire meeting and detailed evaluation of the speech evaluators, selecting Alex as Best Evaluator.
Eighteen members and three guests enthusiastically welcomed Eric Guttmann's first foray as TMOD, and all contributed to another great meeting! Donna Cunningham won both "Best Speaker" and "Most Improved" with her descriptions of her private spaces where she finds inner peace, while long-time Toastmaster (and one of our club's newest members) Art Testani treated us with an icebreaker of sorts, describing how he got into Toastmasters and what it has meant to him (see below for both speeches).
Best Evaluator was Robin Walker, who made the effort to coordinate with his assigned speaker (Donna) ahead of time. Best "Table Topics" went to John Armstrong.
On the Horizon: May 16-17: District 4 Spring Conference, Elections, and Speech Contest (our own Arnie Buss is representing Division A in the International Speech Contest, competing against speakers from the seven other Divisions!) See www.d4tm.org for details.
Art Testani's Advanced Speech from Public Relations, #1 "The Good Will Speech" titled Toastmasters, Gandhi, and Me:
With 18 members present and two guests (both of whom have decided to join), Brian Anderson led a picture-perfect, well-prepared, Marine-quality meeting as TMOD - with a theme of (you guessed it) - "Preparation"! Brian's performance was a tremendous example of how to execute the TMOD role effectively, efficiently, and with aplomb.
We had three excellent speakers, but no videographer (even though the camera seemed to be running from afar). There was a tie for "Best Speaker" between Robin Walker (Evaluate to Motivate module) and Alex Bein (who made his arcane thesis project understandable and fun). It might have been a three-way tie if Chance Litton hadn't gone overtime with his funniest speech since his Fall contest winner, which described his nominees for the five worst "bad-guys" of all time! For both Chance and Alex, it was their #4 speech in the CC manual. Robin did the Evaluation module his way, which made it much more useful and up to date. His outline is now on our Web page. Cathy Lee won "Best Evaluator" for her insightful evaluation of Robin, while Alex Bein was voted "Most Improved".
Emilie Staryak did a great job leading Table Topics on the theme of preparation or lack thereof, with new members Art Testani and Tito deJesus competing along with Fred Sadler. Fred won "Best Table Topics" largely on his uniquely skillful stalling techniques!
All the club's latest educational accomplishments have now shown up on the TI WHQ Web site. If they allowed us more than 10 goals, we would have 18 (including six CCs, five CLs, and 20 new members)!
With the recent and pending graduations of several very active members, our recruiting must continue. Our club has acquired former Toastmasters from other Divisions and Districts as members. This should enrich our club through the importation of ideas that have succeeded elsewhere.
With 18 members and 3 guests, we had another high-energy, action-packed and fun-filled meeting! Veteran Toastmaster Robin Walker presided over a fast-paced meeting with a very relevant theme of "Political Campaigns." Spicing the meeting with his personal experiences of being involved in campaigning, Robin was inspiring in his call to get involved with the political process. Robin, as usual, spiced up the meeting further by altering the normal format to give us some variety in programming --- speakers were first, then table topics, then evaluations! Fred Sadler led a theme-oriented table topics, which was won by Mary Lineberger's guest Erica Hemmingway, speaking about what she would do if Governor for a day. Erica is moving to San Francisco and hopes to join Toastmasters there.
Cathy Lee's Opening Remarks:
Robin Walker's introductory remarks:
Bill Gibbons presents his #2 speech, for which he won both "Best Speaker" and "Most Improved". He was evaluated by Angi Anderson, who won "Best Evaluator" for her effort.
Mary Lineberger, assisted by Carl Thormeyer, tackles an assignment in the Public Relations advanced manual involving a radio show interview.
The meeting ended with a recognition of Angi Anderson as the 2007-2008 NPS Toastmaster of the Year - congratulations Angi! She has been such an inspiration to the club with her warmth, energy, and enthusiasm ever since joining. She has served as VP Public Relations, during which time she revived our dormant club newsletter, as VP Education, where she effectively led and shepherded members to achieve their educational goals, to her current role as club president, where she continues to inspire with her leadership. Angi exemplifies by both word and deed what Toastmasters is all about.
And of course last but not least, you all know by now that Arnie won the Division A International Speech Contest on Saturday, and will compete next in the District 4 contest in May. Arnie also was awarded "Division A Toastmaster of the Year"! Congratulations!
Our awesome club also received special recognition as the first club in District 4 to achieve all 10 DCP goals and "President's Distinguished Club" status!
Another great crowd of 19 members and two guests enjoyed our April 4th meeting, which was ably run by first-time TMOD Elie Ishag with his theme of Spring. Impeccably dressed and professionally smooth, Elie navigated us through another soul-satisfying meeting featuring Cathy Lee's #10 speech and John Armstrong's #3 speech. Cathy completed her requirements for the "Competent Communicator (CC)" award with a wonderfully motivating talk about spiritual encouragement, and won "Best Speaker" as well! John won "Most Improved" with his talk about the importance of our national parks. Winning "Best Table Topics" was Glenn Woodson, who took the opportunity to plea for volunteers for the upcoming Sea Otter Classic bicycle races at Laguna Seca, while GE Fred Sadler chose Carl Thormeyer as "Best Evaluator" for his review of Cathy's #10 speech.
The new members keep rolling in (to replace those leaving), as first-time guest Walter Bilger joined immediately, and another first-time guest Tito deJesus indicating he would be joining soon. Welcome, Walt!
Cathy Lee's completion of her CC gives NPS TM six CCs for the year, which goes a long way toward helping District 4 meet its goals. Go to http://www.d4tm.org/ to see NPS Toastmasters standing alone atop District 4's Distinguished Club Plan ladder from over 200 clubs between San Francisco and King City!
We will miss Elie and Rosetta Ishag, who are returning to their other home in London this week, but they will be coming back to Carmel in July.
