Passion!

In keeping with the season of Valentine's Day, TMoD exraordinaire Mary Lineberger chose Passion as the theme of today's meeting. And what an appropriate theme for such a fantastic and impassioned meeting it was! Michael Barksdale's got us started with an excellent reading of a poem for opening remarks. Brian Anderson expertly led the assembled Toastmasters through Table Topics filled with various dimensions of passion. One of our newest members, Joyce Laker, beat out Arnie and Emilie for top honors with her response, the highlight of which was her list of things she would "leave behind" - like hatred, intolerance, and bigotry.

We were then treated to two Icebreaker speeches by our newest members. First Corban Spraker (A Fork and a Bump in the Road), spoke about what happens when you continually choose the road less traveled - and how a life-threatening bike accident helped him continue to make mindful choices in his life. His effort garnered him Best Speaker.

The second Icebreaker was by John Armstrong (Photographic Memories), about how photography helped him stay connected to the past without having to be tied down by it and how digital photography has led to electronic pictures gathering electronic dust instead of photographic prints gathering actual dust.

Finally, Zeki Yildirim gave his #3 speech Turkieya - My Country Turkey, an entertaining and informative travelogue of the different regions of Turkey with their customs and wonderful history. He showed how Turkey is indeed the bridge between Europe and Asia, and finished by extending an invitation to all to visit him when he returns there. Zeki received the nod for "Most Improved" speaker for this.

Corban Spraker's Icebreaker A Fork and a Bump in the Road.


















John Armstrong's Icebreaker Photographic Memories.


Zeki Yildirim's #3 speech, Turkieya - My Country Turkey


Reminder: Next week is the club's speech contest for Table Topics and International Speech. Come and hear our club's members compete for who will represent NPS at the Area contest (and beyond)! Please contact Steve Skaggs if you wish to compete in the International contest and Cathy Lee for the Table Topics contest.