Summer Movies ...and Farewell to Robin

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 loves hates 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!

The Senate

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.

Angi's Evaluation: