VPE and TMoD Moyara Ruehsen led a well attended meeting (for this time of year), with 13 members present. Her theme was Afghanistan.
Juliette Ferguson called on 5 different table topics speakers... Elie Ishag imagined being a dog handler searching for land mines in Afghanistan: Carl Thormeyer explained how Burkha Barbies could be considered the epitome of capitalism: Newest member Dalton Clarke responded to the question of how a Toastmasters club might work in Afghanistan as compared to the U.S.: Art Testani imagined he was the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan:
But it was Joe Tacker who won best table topics:
Fred Sadler gave his #4 speech (A Dramatic Talk) from the advanced manual "The Entertaining Speaker" entitled The Gray Eminence and the Summer of '68:
Fred was evaluated by Jim Burlison:
Margaret Stevens gave a warm and supportive General Evaluation:
With 16 members and one guest present, Elizabeth Mitchell gave us another example of a well-run Toastmasters meeting in her role as TMOD. Her theme was the importance of mentoring.
Jim Burlison gave Opening Remarks:
Table Topics was expertly run by Cathy Lee. There was a tie for best Table Topics between Carolyn Keeler and Rosetta Ishag:
Arnie Buss gave a #4 speech Don't Ask and was voted Best Speaker:
Arnie was evaluated by Margaret Stevens, who was selected Best Evaluator by General Evaluator Lacey Raak:
Elie Ishag gave his #8 speech The U.S. Dollar and was voted Most Improved Speaker:
Elie was evaluated by Art Testani:
Club officers for the January - June term were voted in. Congratulations!
President: Art Testani VPE: Moyara Ruehsen VPM: Karen Woodson VPPR: Glenn Woodson Secretary: Elizabeth Mitchell Treasurer: Carl Thormeyer Sgt-at - Arms: Aaron Sanchez
Today's meeting, with 18 members present, got off to a great start with the induction of newest member Dalton Clarke. Here is Dalton being sworn in by Club President Art Testani: Welcome to club # 2032 Dalton!
Aaron Sanchez channeled Julie Andrews in "Sound of Music" with his Opening Remarks:
First-time TMoD Margaret Stevens led a song-filled meeting around the theme of "Singing." As a special treat, she regaled us with song versions of inspirational poetry from the masters:
Elizabeth Mitchell led Table Topics, with excellent responses from Aaron Sanchez, Dennis Hickman, Jason Lin, and the winner, Joe Tacker:
Two #7 speeches ("Research Your Topic") were jammed full of important and detailed information. First, based in part on her recent Op-Ed piece in the L.A. Times, Moyara Ruehsen explained the economics of the drug trade in Afghanistan. Moyara tied with Lacey Raak for Most Improved speaker. Here is her Afghanistan Opium Trends & Policy Implications:
Moyara's speech was evaluated by Fred Sadler, who was selected Best Evaluator by General Evaluator Karen Woodson.
Lacey Raak described how climate change is affecting us in Monterey and outlined some of the local work that is moving toward solutions. Lacey was voted Best Speaker and tied with Moyara for Most Improved. Here is her Climate Action and Planning:
Lacey's speech was evaluated by Tonya Holloway: A proposed slate of officers for the next term was presented by Immediate Past President Fred Sadler, chairman of the Nominating Committee.
With 13 members and one guest present, our meeting this week got off to a terrific start with the addition of a new member. Here is Club President Art Testani inducting our newest member, Carolyn Keeler. Carolyn is a previous Toastmaster with Monterey Peninsula Toastmasters #934. Lacey Raak, in her first time as Toastmaster of the Day, led a fantastic meeting with the delicious theme of "dinner parties." Margaret Stevens gave a hint at the theme with her Opening Remarks:
Elizabeth Mitchell won a hard-fought round of Table Topics:
In what must be a first for the club, there were two speeches by DTM's, Carl and Arnie. And each was giving a speech from the basic CC manual.
Arnie Buss gave a #3 speech titled Why am I Here? and was voted Most Improved as well as Best Speaker:
Arnie was evaluated by Aaron Sanchez:
Carl Thormeyer completed another CC manual with his #10 speech Dare to Dream. This completes another CC for Carl - congratulations!
Carl was evaluated by Arnie Buss, who completed a trifecta by being selected Best Evaluator by General Evaluator Art Testani:
One of the highlights was Lacey's story about the dinner party in 1900 that included all the mayors in France:
On Friday 30 October, veteran Toastmaster and DTM Arnie Buss led us through a very exciting meeting with a theme of "All Saints Day". Sixteen members and three guests were present, for the largest attendance in several weeks.
Past Area A-3 Governor Bob Aston Visiting Toastmaster and past Area A-3 Governor Bob Aston presented the club with a new timing light and attachments which he made for us as a military club. He had previously made a similar timer for the Toastmasters Club at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq. It's Bob's way of honoring the military. The enthusiastic applause reflected our appreciation. Acting President Moyara Ruehson accepted on behalf of the club, and we put the new timer into immediate use. Bob took the old timer to repair the problem with the battery slipping out of its enclosure.
Jason Lin provided chuckles with his opening remarks:
Margaret Stevens won best Table Topics - responding to TT Master Fred Sadler's question:
Lacey Raak delighted us with a speech and pictures from her October 10 wedding in Minnesota. Her #5 speech The Big Day garnered her Most Improved Speaker:
Lacey was evaluated by Joe Tacker:
Moyara Ruehsen hit her #6 "Your Body Speaks" out of the park with a demonstration of belly dancing, in It's Not About the Hips. She was awarded Best Speaker:
Moyara was evaluated by Carl Thormeyer, who was also selected Best Evaluator by GE Elizabeth Mitchell:
Tonya Holloway enthralled us a remarkable story of her heritage, in her #7 manual speech "Research Your Topic" titled What's in a Name?
First, congratulations to the Division A Humorous Speech Contest winner, our very own Tonya Holloway, who won the Division contest in Aptos last Friday. Come suppert Tonya at the District contest on November 21!
Also, congratulations to Lacey Raak, who tied the knot on October 10.
Club president Art Testani served as TMoD with an entertaining and creative theme of "Astrology." Art continues to set the bar high, and the printed agendas were especially valuable (future TMoDs take note!)
Karen Woodson gave Opening Remarks:
Art called on Jason Lin to explain the vote counter's role.
Art was ably assisted by wordmaster Aaron Sanchez, whose choice of word ("Lunacy") perhaps reflected some skepticism about the topic. Filling the other functions were Cat Grant as Ah counter, Dennis Hickman as Grammarian, and Margaret Stevens as timer.
Table Topic Master Tonya Holloway asked some challenging questions of Cathy Lee,
Moyara Ruehsen,
and Dennis Hickman, with Dennis being voted best table topics speaker for his take on the Mayan calendar's "end of world" in 2012 forecast.
The prepared speeches were outstanding! Juliette Ferguson led off with Castles in the Sky, a number 3 speech ("Get to the Point"), for which she was voted Most Improved Speaker:
Juliette was evaluated by newlywed Lacey Raak, who added Best Evaluator to her collection:
Next Elizabeth Mitchell gave a dramatic and eventful number 5 speech ("Your Body Speaks") Traveling in the Black Hills, with highlights including elk and prarie dogs:
Elizabeth was evaluated by Moyara Ruehsen:
Finally, Fred Sadler took home the gold with his #1 speech from the advanced manual "The Entertaining Speaker" entitled A Whole New Attitude, in which that selfsame attitude was illustrated and the origin of his famous "Indiana Fred" fedora was revealed.
Fred was expertly evaluated by Cathy Lee:
General evaluator Arnie Buss gave the meeting high marks and selected Lacey as best evaluator:
Area Governor Alisha Empleo inducted new officers Moyara Ruehsen: VP Education, Elizabeth Mitchell: Secretary, and Aaron Sanchez: Sergeant at Arms. Elizabeth Mitchell as TMoD created a masterful meeting on the theme of "Silence":
Jason Lin was inducted into membership by club president Art Testani.
Dennis Hickman's Opening Remarks:
Cat Grant won best Table Topics speaker by expertly channeling her father and his glasses:
Moyara Ruehsen was voted Best Speaker and Most Improved Speaker for her outstanding #6 speech, Babies and Boogers: They Grow Up Fast!"
Moyara was evaluated by Arnie Buss:
DTM Arnie Buss gave his sixth Icebreaker speech to begin another trip through the CC manual. His talk was titled The Boy in Me:
Arnie was evaluated by Tonya Holloway, who was selected Best Evaluator by GE Fred Sadler:
Congratulations to Aaron Sanchez for being voted in as our new Sergeant at Arms!
You would never know it was Moyara Ruehsen's debut as TMoD! Bringing her economics expertise and considerable stage presence to a timely theme of "Stock Market Crashes". As General Evaluator Carl Thormeyer remarked, "I learned more about stock market crashes today than I have in the rest of my life!" Thirteen members and one (about-to-become-a-menber) guest enjoyed a very fine meeting.
Tonya Holloway's Opening Remarks were brief and to the point!
Fred Sadler gave the best Table Topics response, albeit the one that provoked the most squirming!
Aaron Sanchez starred in his Icebreaker Speech The Plan to Win, demonstrating advanced speaking skills and giving us a window into his life. He was voted Most Improved Speaker:
Aaron was evaluated by Jim Burlison:
Margaret Stevens demonstrated the lighter side of Table Topics and her ambiguous relationship with TT's in her entertaining #6 speech Table Topics - From fear to Fun. She was voted Best Speaker for her energetic and captivating performance :
Margaret was evaluated by Art Testani and was selected Best Evaluator:
With 12 members and one guest present, Tonya Holloway as TMoD led a creative and fun-filled meeting on the theme "This Day In History." She channeled Walter Cronkite as News Anchor and turned our functionaries into reporters from the field. Who knew that October 2 was such a rich day in history?
Table Topics Master Moyara Ruehsen provided a creative twist to impromptu speaking by asking that the respondents be correspondents and report the "news." Margaret Stevens was thinking quickly when she passed the baton to Carl Thormeyer, who earned best Table Topics speaker:
Fred Sadler led off the prepared speeches with a #3 from the advanced manual The Entertaining Speaker. His speech, titled Useful CME - An Ode to Doctor Martin Samuels garnered him Best Speaker:
Fred was evaluated by Club President Art Testani:
Arnie Buss followed with an inspirational #10 speech from his fifth time through the CC manual, entitled Walk With Me. Arnie was voted Most Improved Speaker:
Arnie was evaluated by Karen Woodson, who was selected Best Evaluator by GE Elizabeth Mitchell:
Veteran and Distinguished Toastmaster Carl Thormeyer put on a "how to be an expert TMoD" clinic around the theme "Upheavels". As accomplished leaders do, he stepped into the role when needed at the last minute and put together a crisp and fun filled meeting for the 13 members (no guests) in attendance.
Arnie Buss' Opening Remarks were brief and to the point:
Moyara Ruehsen won Best Table Topics speaker for her polished response to Art Testani's question:
Black Belt Bruce Lim was voted Most Improved for his #4 speech which revealed the spirit, tradition and moves of the Korean Martial Art - Tai Kwan Do:
Bruce was evaluated by Margaret Stevens, who was selected Best Evaluator for her outstanding effort by GE Jim Burlison:
Fred Sadler gave the #5 speech from the advanced manual "The Entertaining Speaker" titled Is it Vanity? and was voted Best Speaker for his nuanced 8 - 10 minute effort to explore a quality that seems to be all around us if not inside us:
In his first time as TMoD, Jim Burlison made it look like he has been doing it for years! He led a smooth meeting of 14 members with three prepared speeches, lots of Table Topics, and entertaining information on C.S. Lewis and his writings.
Margaret Stevens' Opening Remarks:
Joe Tacker was voted Best Table Topics Speaker in response to a question from Bruce Lim:
Dennis Hickman gave a polished Icebreaker speech What You Want, and was voted Most Improved Speaker:
Dennis was evaluated by Arnie Buss:
Karen Woodson performed the #1 speech in the advanced manual Storytelling; the project is to read a folk tale. Karen chose Why the Ocean is Salty:
Karen was evaluated by Elizabeth Micthell, who was selected Best Evaluator by GE Cathy Lee:
Fred Sadler gave the #4 speech in the Humorously Speaking Manual entitled SoWhat Kind of Doctor Are You? and was voted Best Speaker:
Fred Sadler as TMoD led us through several meanings of 911 on this eighth anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. 911 is the emergency response number though it hasn't always been so. He reminded us that the solution to a public speaking emergency is to come to Toastmasters - not to call 911! Although we only had 10 members in attendance, the meeting was very animated and lots of fun as usual....
Wendy Goody gave opening remarks:
Moyara Ruehsen won Best Table Topics for her response to Margaret Stevens who in turn channeled Karen Woodson:
Lacey Raak was voted Best Speaker for her #5 speech, A Day to Remember.
Lacey was evaluated by Arnie Buss, who was selected Best Evaluator by GE Carl Thormeyer:
Juliette Ferguson was voted Most Improved for her #8 speech Take a Shot and Tell Two:
Juliette was evaluated by Elizabeth Mitchell:
We also had a special election for two vacated offices. Congratulations to Moyara Ruehsen as the new VP Education and Elizabeth Mitchell as the new Secretary for the rest of the term ending Dec 31st.
With 12 members and one guest present, Cathy Lee as TMoD gave us a lesson in being creative and stepping out of the comfort zone to "try new things". She ran a creative meeting filled with wisdom and levity. Those members who missed the meeting due to the Labor Day weekend missed a unique "impromptu" meeting whereby all but the major roles were selected from a "grab bag".
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Newest member Aaron Sanchez won Best Table Topics:
Natalie Laudier gave a very informative #4 speech entitled The Carmel River State Beach and tied with Jim Burlison for Most Improved Speaker. This is her last day with us. She and her husband are off to Hawaii after a whilwind vacation in Italy. Natalie - we will miss you and have been thrilled to have you with us in club #2032. We wish you continued success in Toastmasters and in everything.
Natalie was evaluated by Karen Woodson:
Jim Burlison gave a semi-impromptu #6 speech:
Jim was evaluated by Carl Thormeyer, who was selected BestEvaluator:
Arnie Buss gave a #7 speech entitled The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. With the time rules suspended, he was voted best speaker.
