Capital City Toastmasters

Perhaps you can remember a time you were truly inspired. It may have been a grand accomplishment or a simple acknowledgment.

If you ask a random sample of Toastmasters why we do it, you’ll hear anything from engaging the personal challenge of public speaking to the friendships we’ve made. For some it’s the career advancement. For others it’s the mid-week boost of energy to break it all up.

Whatever your reason, I want you to be inspired at Capital City...

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

“O Canada”

Oh, such passion for our gelid neighbor to the north.  Brendan, Eric, and Taline gave Table Topic speeches, proving that Canada can indeed provide funny stories.  And as Corky would agree, this club likes a funny story, drunk stories especially.  More on that later… Taline shared her Canadian experience (of course it required proper protection to do so safely) wearing a hoodie (triple layered), footie and a full body wet suit.  A wet suit demonstration was summarily dismissed.  Canada can evidently also get under our collective collar, but I shall not go there, since the Canadian speech police might catch up with me eventually, since evidently, you are not allowed to say unkind things up there - nor boo.  But hey, isn’t that what sports games are all about?

I fear I’m getting ahead of myself.  So the sports comment leads me into Robin’s saga with the authorities in his speech, “Tossed.”  Though it won’t be coming to a movie theater near you, the plot is described with a map on the chalkboard, a sort of tale of three cities.  Robin’s friends get into a little innocent trouble and seem to be the real stars of this drunk, funny story.

Amy honored a soon-to-leave-us Jenny in advance of her departure, titled, “Jenny, We Hardly Knew Ye.”  She touched on many of the shared experiences that the Club has been able to enjoy with Jenny, notably her amazing abilities and superstar organizational skills and outgoing personality.  Though I am fairly new to the club, I can echo the sentiments, even from my shorter timeframe.  Jenny is consistently one of the friendliest people around, strives to make newcomers feel welcome, all of this done with confidence and grace.

Albert’s speech on “The Chagossian Struggle” was enlightening as always.  It is a highlight of Toastmasters - being exposed to new knowledge and new viewpoints.  I read the WSJ, FT and the Economist on a regular basis and had never heard of this particular people group.  A short summary is that the Chagossians were displaced in war from their rightful homeland by two of the world’s great powers, the US and the UK.

John S. was the chief evaluator and gave a pep-talk on the improvements he envisions we could install.  Am I the only one that thinks John has a TV/Radio voice?  He enunciates clearly and projects his voice well.  Oh yeah, he had lots of handouts.  I got a paper cut but it will heal eventually.  I hate to admit I am developing a phobia of colorful paper handouts.

Corky’s evaluation of Robin’s speech was a lesson in body language and acting.  Ever want to see a well tanned, baseball cap sporting, slurred speech, baseball fan?  Should’ve been there….

Brian’s karma levels must have been a little low this day because he not only had to evaluate The Dog Whisperer, but follow after Corky.  So how do you evaluate a heartfelt dedication?  A challenge, to be sure, but he did a fine job.  Note to self - no thigh slaps.

Louis was the final evaluator for the day.  It was a serious evaluation for a serious speech.  I’m sure there is a drunk Chagossian dying to tell their funny, drunk story.

Ribbon Winners:

• Best Table Topic - Brendan
• Best Speaker - Amy
• Best Evaluator - Corky
• Best Humor - Robin
• Most Enthusiastic - John S.

“Give me one more pullup!”  That’s what Brian’s dad said to him to teach him to literally pull the best up out of himself.  He learned that even when his arms are tired, and he thinks he’s finished, he still has one more pullup left in him.  Dads teach us quite a lot, don’t they?  Brian showed us through a “Fathers” themed meeting that they do.  Fathers and father-figures teach us to drive, to adapt, and to believe that we are smart enough to do anything we want to do.

We are smart.  We saw that clearly through our two speakers, Brad K. and Louis.  Brad talked about his lifelong plan to be a medical doctor and how he’s becoming a doctor of another kind by studying artificial intelligence.  Louis talked about diversifying his life across other countries by keeping his citizenship, assets, permanent mailing address, businesses, and playgrounds in different countries.  Brilliant?  Perhaps oddly brilliant? 

Brian further demonstrated his brilliance by asking Corky to fill in for Albert - we miss you Albert! - as general evaluator.  Corky did a fine job getting Maureen, Bert, and Patrick to evaluate table topics that he apparently didn’t pay much attention to himself.  Did it matter that Maureen arrived late and didn’t even see the table topic she evaluated?  Nope.  Corky apparently didn’t notice, and Maureen did a fine job winging it. 

Speaking of table topics, Lora once again handled the Table Topics Master role beautifully.  She called on Wendy, who FINALLY is a bona fide member of this club, to describe a time when father really did know best.  She called on Carlos, who remains as handsome as ever, to talk about whether dads should be portrayed better on television.  She called on Jenny, who recently married and sadly will be leaving us, to talk about what life would be like with Keith and Amy as parents.  Great topics, fun answers.  Maureen, you should have been there.

Let’s not forget Rey and Lee, who evaluated the speeches.  They reminded us all to distinguish the openings, body and closing of each speech and to involve the audience occasionally by asking, “Are you with me?”

Are you with me, folks?  Brian did a wonderful job with this meeting.  We’ve actually had a bunch of great meetings lately, thanks to the energy of our new members and the continued commitment of our older members.  I have had the pleasure of reporting to you on a somewhat regular basis on the goings on of our meetings.   Thanks for letting me do this and for taking the time to read them.   Robert is taking over the duties of Secretary beginning this week, so I say farewell from this post.  I’m hopeful Robert will let me help out with the recaps in the future.  I’m pretty sure he will and that he’d let you help out too if you’d like to give it a try.  Looking back on our meetings really can be - and has been - a lot of fun.

In the words of our new president, you guys are awesome.  Signing off…

• Best Table Topic: Jenny
• Best Speaker: Brad K.
• Best Evaluator:  Lee
• Best Humor: Maureen
• Most Enthusiastic: Corky

Summertime, and the living is easy.  With Susana as Toastmaster, we coasted through some sun, fun, and partying.

First, we celebrated Lee’s new job, which he credited to his fine abilities at Table Topics. 

Then Louis as Table Topics Master took us on a stroll through vacation packages, vacation problems, and our final days of life.  Brad K. described a travel agency he would form that would sell only packages that involved living in historic places and interacting with locals.  Zahra, whose antics with her gum we’ll never forget, spoke of the trouble she expects on her upcoming trip to Vegas.  Finally, Carol said that, if she had one summer left to live, she’d forget about material things and focus on relationships.  

The speeches were our vacation night life.  Allison opened our speeches with her hysterical confession of addiction to the television.  Allison, we hope you’re surviving your no-tv season.  If you need encouragement, call us.  Stay strong!  Then Nora spoke of the phases of vacations - the planning, the vacation, and the afterglow.  Nora, prepare yourself.  Every last one of us will be calling on you to plan our next trip.  Perhaps you and Brad should go into business together.  Finally, Maria did a wild tenth speech, demonstrating her confidence and flair throughout.  Maria, though Toastmasters has done much for you, you also have done much for us.  Get your sassy self into an advanced manual and speak to us again soon!

Corky, Maureen, Rey and Lora evaluated.  We were reminded to explain acronyms, to lift our voices, and to breathe and pause for effect.

Thanks to everyone for a fine, fun meeting.

• Best Table Topic:  Carol
• Best Speaker:  Allison
• Best Evaluation:  Lora
• Most Enthusiastic:  Maria
• Best Humor:  Allison

Up next?  Fathers.  Brian will toastmaster.  You won’t want to miss it.

Today’s meeting was filled with positive attitudes and perhaps some adult beverages during the day or possibly some illegal or controlled substances of some kind since there were several Toastmasters who were a little loopy!  The loopiness did add humor to the meeting though, so we aren’t complaining.
 
Rey was our Toastmaster of the day.  She started with the story of why she tells people who ask how she’s doing that she’s “AWESOME!” She hope to spread some of that cheer on to everyone in attendance.  Our Table Topics Master, Maria, was definitely involved in partaking of the adult beverages or other substances before the meeting, but she had great questions for each of our participants.  Allison took the high road of always seeing the positive side of things even during her Moped scooter crash on vacation.  Russell took the low road of always being negative no matter what the situation.  Leif advised us of how he would make sure to make his wife or his mistress (not really who he was trying to keep cool) stayed cool if the air conditioner broke at his house.
 
Our speeches topics today ranged from cooking to bracing a fence postto getting up there because Corky made you feel guilty about backing out of your speech the day you were suppose to give it.  Robin gave us a great recipe of Eastern style cooking with all the fixin’s while Brad gave a 5-7 minute impromptu speech.  Brad, that took a lot of guts, and you did a wonderful job.  Stuart finished up our speeches with his own on how to brace a corner post with a small model for great visuals!
 
Our evaluators did very well, but our general evaluator, Brian, may have been partaking in the same adult beverages or other substances that Maria was having.  Brendan did a great evaluation of Robin’s cooking speech using his own cooking analogy in his evaluation.  Louis and Corky also gave great suggestions for improvement to their speakers.
 
Wendy was stunning as always in giving her Timer’s Report.  Maureen knows how to correct all our little quirks while still being kind and gentle to not hurt our feelings too much.  
 
We awarded the following ribbons:

• Best Table Topic: Leif
• Best Speaker: Stuart
• Best Evaluator: Brendan
• Most Humor: Maria
• Most Enthusiastic: Corky

 Who said women can’t drive?  Maria did an awesome job as Toastmaster, and it was all about cars.

Wendy, whose second car was the Blue Roach, called on Lora, Brendan, Susana and John for table topics.  Lora charmingly spoke of the driving lessons she took on what was basically a runway.  Brendan spoke about the wreck of the 89 Pinto he was supposed to receive from his brother.  Susana confirmed her identity as a Prius, though she hinted of a split personality in the form of a truck.  John delivered perhaps the most unusual table topic on the various wrongdoings on his car.    John, get that car under control before anyone gets hurt!

Then it was speech time.  Eric delivered quite possibly his best speech ever on how Toastmasters has benefited him and helped him help a non-profit through fundraising that could only be accomplished with speaking.  Then Rey delivered a speech on the state of our club and how we should be evaluating our weekly operations.

Amy and Brian evaluated.  Though Eric probably intended to inspire our newer members and visitors, Eric even helped Amy renew her commitment to Toastmasters, though she’s been committed for years and wins all kinds of stuff.  Brian did a wonderful job evaluating Rey by encouraging Rey’s energy and enthusiasm and commending her organization and story telling.

• Best Table Topic:  Brendan
• Best Speaker:  Eric
• Best Evaluator: 
• Most Enthusiastic:
• Best Humor:  Eric

Your secretary was so wrapped up in the meeting that she slacked on the job.  If you know who the winners were for the ribbons, please let me know!

Our theme today was small crimes.  Our resident criminal, Eric, toastmastered, though he wouldn’t share his criminal story. 

Amy handled our Table Topics, and we learned a lot about our six Table Topic participants (John S., Charles, Leif, Keith, Patrick R., and Zahra) whose stories suggested that we have a club full of criminals! 

Allison did her icebreaker speech, which was full of humor and very well presented.  Great job Allison!  Brian also did a speech about how Shelby the dog completes their family.  Although Brian didn’t want a dog, he ended up having Shelby lovingly tell him, “YOU SAVED MY LIFE!”  Yes, he did, Shelby.  Yes,  he did!
 
Brad and Bert did fabulous jobs as Timer and Grammarian.
 
Our evaluators, Louis and Patrick, were well polished and awesome on their presentation.   

Overall, the meeting was funny and energetic - perfect for the lunch hour.  As some folks learned, you miss one meeting, and you miss some really good stuff.

Ribbons were awarded as follows:

• Best Table Topic: They were all winners!
• Best Evaluator:  Patrick
• Best Speaker:  Brian
• Most Enthusiastic:  Brian
• Best Humor:    Brian

People who tailgate.  People who add to task lists that are already too long.  People who fail to show respect for elders.  Puppies that pee when they get excited to see you.  Bad wheels on shopping carts.  The members of Capital City Toastmasters are not lacking in pet peeves.    It was fun digging into them though, wasn’t it?  Great job as Toastmaster, Amy.

Rey did her share of venting through her table topic questions.  She asked Allison to describe a lack of respect for elders experience.  Allison described growing up with her sister who had a tendancy to challenge authority.  Rey asked Brendan for his thoughts on the texting of youth, but Brendan wanted to talk about his 11 year old badass alley cat and the abuse that cat takes at the hands of the fluffy new kitten Brendan brought home.  Rey asked Louis to describe some blast from the past he’d like to bring back, and Louis managed to offend half the group by saying that he doesn’t recall the days of vinyl records.  Finally, Rey called on Carlos (and gave him a gratuitous hug that made the rest of the girls jealous) to describe his pet peeve.  He described a few:  people who don’t play basketball critiquing basketball, women commentators, and repetitive post game questions.

Then we had three fun speeches.  Brad described hypothetical fanatical Astro loving behavior (and, according to Maureen, should have given us a better view of his tatoo).  Lee told of chasing George W. during the Capital 10K and delivering his fastest ever 10K.  Eric lamented owning a cat and vented his frustration with people who parade around their dogs and judge him.    Another pet peeve - new and long absent Toastmasters who get up there and make delivering an awesome speech look so stinkin’ easy.  Great job guys.

Susana, Maureen, Lora and Stuart evaluated.  Maureen reminded Brad to bring a manual when delivering a manual speech and also encouraged him to show more…props.   (Others would second her sentiment.)   Lora praised Lee’s awesome use of language: the obstacle course that was the human race, snipers taking out runners, running like he stole something.  Finally, Stuart raved on about Eric’s speech.  Clearly we all though Eric was on today.

Ribbons were awarded as follows:

• Best Table Topic:  Brendan
• Best Speaker:  Eric
• Best Evaluator:  Stuart
• Best Humor: Eric
• Most Enthusiastic:  Brad

Great meeting, everyone.