John Steinbeck

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.