Software

Adrian Papacica made his debut as TMoD with a theme of "Software"

Kate Daniels Kurz was the humorist:


Rolf Ridge won Best Table Topic Speaker:


Michelle Banazwski gave her #8 speech The ABC's of Home Canning and was voted Best Speaker:


Michelle was evaluated by Art Testani who was selected Best Evaluator:


Zeynep Yilmaz gave her #4 speech Interesting Inventions and was voted Most Improved Speaker:


Zeynep was evaluated by Rolf Ridge:


Carl shared some reflections on the 2011 Toastmasters International Convention in Las Vegas:

Music that Inspires

Kate Daniels Kurz led a music-themed meeting. Why settle for just speaking when you can sing!

Michelle Banazwski was the Humorist:


Table Topics Master Suad Ali danced the questions, which were won by Fred Sadler:


Ali Ibrahim Yilmaz gave his #3 speech Three Sights to See in Turkey and was voted Most Improved Speaker:


Ali was evaluated by Tom Shih:


Adrian Papacica gave his #3 speech How to Deal With Crucial Conversations:


Adrian was evaluated by Fred Sadler:


Arnie Buss gave a #9 speech Listen to Me! as practice for a possible contest speech, and was voted Best Speaker:


Arnie was evaluated by Carl Thormeyer, who was selected as the Best Evaluator:

Humorous & Evaluation Contest

Jum Burlison and Karen Woodson organized and led a great club Humorous and Evaluation contest!

The test speaker was Dan Maschmeier from our sister club Lettuce Speak:


The Evaluation Contest was won by Arnie Buss - here are all the contestants.

Evaluator Contestant #1 Michelle Banazwski:


Evaluator Contestant #2 Brian McGinnis:


Evaluator Contestant #3 Arnie Buss:


The Humorous Speech Contest was won by Brian McGinnis - here are all the contestants:

Adrian Papacica, My Entertainer Cat:


Stanley Wong, Drivers Beware - Cyclists!:


Brian McGinnis, Are You Listening?:

Water

Rolf Ridge moved fluidly from item to item on the agenda with his fluid theme of "Water"

Brian McGinnis gave his #8 speech The Case for the Electric Car and was voted Most Improved:


Brian was evaluated by Art Terry, also selected as Best Evaluator:


Arnie Buss practiced Losing My Baggage:


and was evaluated by Fred Sadler:


Table topics was a tie between Moyara Ruehsen and Ali Yilmaz:

How to Start a Story

Fred Sadler (and his hair) regaled us with stories and more stories as "Mr. Joy of Public Speaking" spread some more joy!

Humor was supplied by Nusret Denizci:


Best Table Topics was won by Zeynep Yilmaz:


Completing the Turkish Trifecta, Erkan Abunaz gave his #2 speech My Love and was voted Most Improved:


Erkan was evaluated by Brian McGinnis, who was also Best Evaluator:


Art Terry followed with a #3 speech Why Me?:


Art was evaluated by Arnie Buss:


Suad Ali won Best Speaker for her #7 speech Post Conflict Recovery:


Suad was evaluated by Jim Burlison:

Listen!

Sharon Lipinski's theme of Listening proved very thought-provoking in a fantastic meeting! Due to time constraints she was not able to relate all the material she had - please scroll to the bottom of this post to read this great reflection.

Jim Burlison was the Humorst:


Glenn Woodson won best Table Topics(again!):


Nell Turley gave her #2 speech In Case of Fire and was voted Most Improved Speaker:


Nell was evaluated by Michelle Banazwski, who was selected Best Evaluator:


Katharine Danies Kurz was voted Best Speaker for her #8 speech How One Pesky Little Protein Changed My Life:

Kate was evaluated by Stanley Wong:


Brian McGinnis continued his sprint through the CC manual with his #7 speech The Last Astronaut:


Brian was evaluated by Nusret Denizci:


Sharon's Thoughts on Listening

God gave us twice as many ears as mouths, so we can listen twice as much as we talk. I wish I always followed this advice, but I like to talk and I have a lot to say. But nevertheless, listening is a critical part of public speaking, and I’ll share with you three different areas where it’s important to listen.

The first happens when someone asks you to speak. Then, it is time to start asking them questions and listening carefully to the responses. Ask simple open-ended questions, and listen to the response.

Why did you ask me to speak?
What would you like me to speak about?
What would your group like to hear?
Why is this important to your group?
Who else will be speaking?

Listen carefully to responses for two reasons. First, responses will help you determine if you will accept the invitation to speak. Second, listening will also help you put together a presentation that is of interest to the audience. Remember, the audience is the most important ‘person’ in the room, not the speaker. You can only speak to their needs if you ask what they are, and then listen to their response.




The second time to listen is at the event you’ll be speaking. Arrive early to meet people before the event begins. When you meet, ask about them and their organization or group. Ask what interesting projects the group is working on. You may learn that they just raised $10,000 for the local Children’s Hospital. Listen carefully and make a mental note or add to your speaking notes. Congratulating the group on the success of this worthwhile project at the beginning of your presentation will help you to connect with them. And remember, your objective is to learn about them, not talk about yourself. We never learn anything when we are speaking, only when we’re listening.

When you are speaking at an event that has multiple speakers, try to listen to as many of the other speakers as you can. In particular, don't miss the keynote or general session speakers. By doing this you are able to add a polish to your talk and to the event as a whole. It also might save you some embarrassment from covering material other speakers have already covered.




The third time to listen to the audience is while you’re giving your speech. A speech is really a conversation where you won’t be interrupted, but listening to your audience will help you connect and more effectively deliver your message. Toastmasters are great listeners, but that won’t necessarily be your experience when you speak at a non-toastmaster event.

How do you do listen to your audience? Looking at their faces is a good place to start. Is there interest or boredom? Which way are their heads tilted? Are they looking at you, looking down or looking elsewhere? Firstly, make eye contact with selected members of the audience from different parts of the room to establish rapport and don't forget to smile. Look out for their facial expressions to see if they are happy, interested or bored with your speech.

React to the audience! If they laugh, pause to let the laughter permeate and then subside. If they are looking look puzzled or confused, you may want to slow down and articulate your next point carefully and take your time to speaker clearly. If they are frowning, then you may have to make some changes or lose your audience.

Summer Vacation

Michelle Banazwski chose the seasonally appropriate theme of Summer Vacation for this weeks meeting and treated us to a Magical Mystery Tour.

Brian McGinnis was the humorist:


Returning former member Amy Treadwell won Table Topics:


Adrian Papachica gave his second speech in as many weeks with his #2 The Most Important Aspect of a Strong Character, for which he was voted Most Improved:


Adrian was evaluated by Ngan Kim, who was selected Best Evaluator:


Tom Shih gave a #8 speech, The Three Traps of Overeating, and was voted Best Speaker:


Tom was evaluated by Rolf Ridge, who unfortunately went over time:

Connection and Independence Day

The Lipinski Administration was kicked off in grand fashion by first-time TMoD Art Terry, who chose a theme of Connection and Independence Day.

Ngan Kim was the humorist:


Kate Daniels Kurz was voted Best Table Topics Speaker:


Margaret Stevens was voted Most Improved Speaker for her Table Topics:


Adrian Papacica gave his Icebreaker speech Do You Know What Shaped Who You Aee Today?:

Adrian was evaluated by Natasha Zeligs:


Karen and Glenn Woodson tag-teamed on a dual project from the "Special Occasion Speeches" advanced manual, accepting and receiving an award. Karen gave and Glenn accepted:


Karen and Glenn were evaluated by Fred Sadler, who was selected Best Evaluator:


Michelle Banazwski was voted Best Speaker for her #7 speech Twice a Week With Thom:


Michelle was evaluated by Sharon Lipinski:

The Movies!

Jim Burlison led a creative meeting with the theme of The Movies, with a cast of thousands and stars galore!

Rolf Ridge was the Humorist:


Tom Shih won Best Table Topics:


Art Testani gave the #4 project from the Special Occasion manual, President's Distinguished Division A:


Art was evaluated by Arnie Buss, who was selected Best Evaluator:


Sharon Lipinski gave a humorous speech What You Should Have Known and was voted Best Speaker:


Sharon was evaluated by Tom Shih:


Glenn Woodson finished with another Special Occasion Speech, A Living Tribute:


Glenn was evaluated by Rolf Ridge:

What do you do when you're thrown off balance?

Natasha Zeligs made her debut as TMoD with a theme of "What do you do when you're thrown off-balance." Natasha showed remarkable balance in leading a fantastic meeting!

Kate Daniels was the humorist:


Michelle Banazwski won Best Table Topics:


Moyara Ruesen was voted Best Speaker and Most Improved with her After Dinner Speech from the advanced manual The Entertaining Speaker, My Swan Song - and Ode to Club 2032:


Moyara was evaluated by Jim Burlison:


Fred Sadler gave an advanced speech The Roast, from the Special Occasions Speeches manual, Carl Thormeyer - Extremely Rare:


Fred was evaluated by perennial guest Rachelle Onishi, who was selected Best Evaluator:

Cartoon Characters!

Zeynep Yilmaz debuted as TMoD with a theme of Cartoon Characters.

Erkan Abunaz was the humorist:


Margaret Stevens won both Tables Topics and Most Improved:


Natasha Zeligs gave her #3 speech Wily Coyote and the Road Runner:


Natasha was evaluated by Carl Thormeyer:


Rolf Ridge gave his #9 speech Solar and was voted Best Speaker:


Rolf was evaluated by Moyara Ruehsen:


Suad Ali gave her #6 speech We Need to Get Serious About Development:


Suad was evaluated by Fred Sadler, who was selected Best Evaluator:

Pet Peeves

Stan Wong made his inaugural debut as TMoD with a theme of "Pet Peeves".

Rolf Ridge was the humorist:


Sharon Lipinski won best Table Topics:


Zeynep Yimaz gave her #6 speech The Amazing Ants and was voted Best Speaker:


Zeynet was evaluated by Art Testani, who was selected as Best Evaluator:


Moyara Ruehsen gave the #2 project from Storytelling advanced manual, The Silent Suffering of Sexual Harassment and was Most Improved:


Moyara was evaluated by Sharon Lipinski:

The End of the World!

Tom Shih was a TMoD with a theme for "The End of the World," and thankfully the meeting managed to finish (on time!) without the apocalypse. Good going!

Art Terry channeled Dave Letterman for his spot as humorist:


Art Testani won best Table Topics Speaker:


Brian McGinnis (Most Improved) took another lap on his fast track to CC with the #6 speech The Next Meltdown:


Brian was evaluated by Kate Daniels Kurz (Best Evaluator):


Stanley Wong (Best Speaker) gave his #3 speech The Human Revolution:


Stanley was evaluated by Ngan Kim:

Hats!

Ngan Kim debuted as TMoD with a theme of hats - and hats there were on the members at the meeting. Our moms were no doubt rolling their collective eyes at all the hats being worn indoors!

Kathy Norton was the humorist.


Instead of table topics, each of the nominated club officers gave their respective campaign speech. Sharon Lipinski was voted best speech in this segment:


Michelle Banazwski won best speaker and most improved for her #6 speech Confessions from the Over-Committed:


Michelle was evaluated by Suad Ali:


Moyara Ruehsen gave a speech on international finance called How to Say It:


Moyara was evaluated by Brian McGinnis, who was selected best evaluator:

Leon Panetta

Kate Daniels Kurz chose Monterey's own Leon Panetta, currently the head of the CIA, as the theme for the meeting.

Moyara Ruehsen was the humorist:


Arnie Buss won Best Table Topics:


Brian McGinnis led off with his #5 speech The Five Cookies:

Brian was evaluated by Fred Sadler:


Ngan Kim gave his #3 speech Army Leadership and was voted Most Improved Speaker:


Ngan was evaluated by Michelle Banazwski, who was selected Best Evaluator:


Art Terry finished the prepared speeches with his #2 Three Simple Steps to Achieve Your Fitness Goals. Art was voted Best Speaker:


Art was evaluated by Jim Burlison:

Acronyms

OMG, Art Testani chose an unusual theme for today's meeting: Acronyms. TGIF! (LOL!)


Natasha Zeligs started out with some humor:


Fred Sadler won best table topics:


Kathy Norton gave her Icebreaker Speech, Me and Grandma Moses, and was voted Most Improved Speaker:


Kathy was evaluated by Rolf Ridge:


Katharine Daniels Kurz gave her #7 speech Crushed by Plastic and was voted Best Speaker:


Katharine was evaluated by Tom Shih:


Arnie Buss gave the #5 project from Speaking on Television, Tell a Story:


Arnie was evaluated by Carl Thormeyer, who was selected Best Evaluator:

April Showers

Brian McGinnis conducted the meeting with military precision, but was also fun-filled with a theme of April Showers.

Art Testani was the humorist:


Moyara Ruehsen won Best Table Topics:


Erkan Abunaz gave his Icebreaker speech:

Erkan was evaluated by Carl Thormeyer:


Zeynep Yilmaz gave her #2 speech and was voted Most Improved Speaker:


Zeynep was evaluated by Moyara Ruehsen:


Arnie Buss practiced his contest speech as a #4 from the CC manual, Losing My Baggage:


Arnie was evaluated by Tom Shih, who was also selected Best Evaluator:

Idioms and Proverbs

Nusret Denizci led today's meeting like an experienced pro - and yet it was his first time as Toastmaster of the Day. Wonderful job! The theme was Idioms and Proverbs.



Ngan Kim was the humorist:


Arnie Buss won best table topics (since it's quite a challenge to videotape oneself whilst speaking, all that was available was the audio):


Jim Burlison brought down the house with his hilarious speech The Ah's Have It, from the advanced manual "Humorously Speaking":


Jim was evaluated by Fred Sadler, who raised the bar by writing a limerick on the spot. He was selected best evaluator:


Carl Thormeyer gave the #5 speech from his third time through the basic manual, Lectern Protocol:


Carl was evaluated by Michelle Banazwski:

Spring Cleaning

Rolf Ridge led an outstanding meeting with the theme of "Spring Cleaning."

Carl led Table Topics, which resulted in a tie between Art Terry:


And Kathy Norton:


Michelle Banazwski gave her #5 speech Ballroom Basics:


Michelle was evaluated by Cathy Lee:


Brian McGinnis was voted Best Speaker for his #4 speech You Are a Teddy Bear, and I Can Prove It!:


Jim Burlison was selected best evaluator for his feedback to Brian:

Aloha Friday!

Brian McGinnis debuted as TMoD with an Island theme of "Aloha!" With the members bedecked by Hawaiian shirts, he helped create an Aloha spirit during a fabulous meeting.

Fred Sadler was the humorist:


Newest member Art Terry won best table topics:


Nell Turley was voted Most Improved for her Icebreaker My Name is Nell:


Nell was evaluated by Juliette Ferguson:


Stanley Wong was voted Best Speaker for his humorous #2 speech Beating the All You Can Eat Buffet:


Stanley was evaluated by Art Testani:


Moyara Ruehsen gave the #2 project from the "Speaking to Inform" manual, The US Budget Crisis:


Moyara was evaluated by Tom Shih, who was selected Best Evaluator: