Spooky Things!

Tito DeJesus led us through the strange world of "spooky things," so appropriate for a Halloween meeting. Identical opening remarks and the beginning of the meeting from two weeks ago set the stage with an eerie sense of deja vu - all over again! There were 21 members attending (after the induction of our newest member Candace Brueggeman) and 5 guests, including visiting dignitary, Area A1 Governor Ralph Villar.

Here's how Tito became aware of the deja vu moment...


Kate Daniels led a "spirited" and thoughtful Table Topics session:


After challenging our newest member Candace Brueggeman and Area A1 Governor Ralph Villar with tough questions about the supernatural, Kate called on veteran Art Testani, who was voted best Table Topics speaker for his tactful response to why Democrats are more suspicious than Republicans:


We were treated to three amazing speeches. Chance Litton somehow made the Federal budget amusing and entertaining, as well as informative with his #8 speech "Using Visual Aids". He gave us much food for thought! Chance was voted Best Speaker for this tour de force, Money to Burn:


Wilfredo Crave gave his Icebreaker speech Anything is Possible, a moving account of his drive to achieve whatever goal he has set in his sights. Wilfredo was supported by his wife attending, and and was voted Most Improved for his speech:


Glenn Woodson finished the prepared speeches with an advanced speech from the Speaking to Inform manual, Why Are We Here:


Three excellent evaluations followed by Cathy Lee, Christina Hicks, and Fred Sadler, with Christina being awarded Best Evaluator by GE John Armstrong for her evaluation of Wilfredo's Icebreaker.


Happy Halloween to all ... and ...
"Beware of ghoulies and ghosties and long-legged beasties and things that go bump in the night!"

Tomorrow at 10 am we have a "Smedley Saturday" - a time for varied and sometimes lengthier speeches. Led by TMoD Emilie Staryak, it will be held at our meeting room at 389 Glasgow Hall.

The Pacific Ocean!

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's newest 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:

Radio Days

With 17 members and 2 guests, TmoD Tito DeJesus led a spirited meeting in praise of radio. He covered the birth of the medium to the present day and every speaker had the chance to plug his favorite radio station.

Elizabeth Mitchell's Opening Remarks:


Devid Perez had an innovative approach to Table Topics - including his very own rap (yet another awesome talent heretofore hidden). Best TT speaker went to guest Tony Valle who plans to join the club next week.


John Armstrong's #7 speech turned ophthalmology into understandable English in The Gift of Sight: He was voted most improved speaker.



Kathy Lee's #5 speech from the advanced manual "Speaking to Inform" reviewed the highlights of Susan B. Anthony's heroic efforts to get women the right to vote in the United States. She was voted best speaker.


Tonya Holloway was awarded best evaluator by GE Wanda Pan-Christiansen for her critique of John Armstrong's speech:

Country Music

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:

Passport to the World

Wanda Pan-Christiansen led us on a tour of the countries of the world and tantalized our taste buds in the process. With her theme of "Passports to the World" we were treated to information about different countries and feasted on dishes from Mexico, the Middle East, and China. 18 members and two guests enjoyed a feast of international cuisine and sparkling speaking.

The festivities got underway with Opening Remarks by Chance Litton's in his uniquely "Chance" way:


Table Topics Master Glenn Woodson characteristically went out of the box with a twist: adding a "20 second rule" for answering the question, and having a backup question in case the respondent needed one, excellent responses were given by Angi Anderson, Christina Hicks, Tonya Holloway, and Tito DeJesus. Angi's response won the day:


Three great speeches followed. Cathy Lee informed us of the ubiquity of left-handers amongst Presidents, as well as both of the current Presidential candidates. With some tests to discover our "inner" southpaw, Cathy informed and entertained us at the same time. She was voted "Most Improved" for her #1 speech from "Speaking to Inform" The Vast Left-Handed Conspiracy:


Arnie Buss, in his fifth time through the CC manual, helped us to be in the present moment with his #2 speech Are We Here Yet?, for which he was voted "best speaker."


Karen Woodson finished up with a verbal tour of Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. Her #7 speech The Home of the First President


Excellent evaluations were provided by Angi Anderson for Cathy, Art Testani for Arnie, and Margaret Stevens (in her first speech evaluation) for Karen. Art was selected Best Evaluator by General Evaluator Carl Thormeyer.Art Testani's winning evaluation:


Reminders:

• Executive Committee meeting next Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. at the La Mesa boardroom
  


• Support the Area A1 champions for humorous (Tito DeJesus) and evaluation (Angi Anderson) at the Division A Contest on Saturday, October 11 at 12:30 p.m. at the Aptos Academy. More Information here.