Capital City Toastmasters

Do I hear seventy? I hear seventy – can I get seventy five? Seventy five? Who’ll give me eighty?  Eighty.  I have eighty.  Do I hear eighty five?  Eighty it is.  Going – going – Sold.  The September 1 meeting theme was Auctions, and Robert Horan was our Toastmaster/Auctioneer. Super job Robert!

During Table Topics we learned that Leif has a love-hate relationship with the ludicrously pricey real-life Tron car, and therefore may or may not bid on it at an auction.  We learned that Zahra would auction off her own sister, and that Becky thinks the best bargaining strategy is stealing.  Just as auctioneers receive secret signals from bidders, Taline got a signal from a fellow Iron Man triathlete that told her she was meant to be there, in that race, in that place, at that time.    

Heather almost put us to sleep with her speech.  In a good way.  She taught us how to relax, and breathe, and relax…relax……relax……….through meditation.  Heather got buy-in on her mini-lesson on meditation by giving it a Texas twist, and by mentioning beer. As a meditation coach, Heather’s got skills.  As a comedian, Heather’s got skills.  As a speech writer, Heather’s got skills.  Evaluator Corky confessed he can no longer think of her as a ditzy blonde, because he has finally realized that she is neither ditzy nor blonde.

Gina got us thinking creatively in her speech on reducing waste and repurposing.  Repurposing is a euphemism for being extremely cheap — using things again and again rather than throwing them away. A Parmesan cheese container becomes a glitter dispenser, a detergent shaker, a fertilizer sprinkler, a home for fireflies, a place to hide spare keys, a container for golf balls, etc., etc.  Other countries are doing it, why can’t we? Evaluator Brendan gave props to Gina for getting back on track after a rough start.  He encouraged her to use the 3 T’s to give her speech an easy-to-remember structure, which will prevent her from getting overwhelmed, as well as making her speech listener-friendly. “Tell ‘em what you’re gonna tell ‘em, Tell ‘em, then Tell ‘em what you told ‘em.”

Brenda, Brenda, Brenda. Yet another new perspective on the topic of inter-personal communication and its elusive facets and ramifications.  Brenda analyzed a set of widely respected skills, which are generally associated with great communicators, and came to the conclusion that sometimes breaking the rules yields the best communication of all.  Evaluator Louis gave Brenda advice about limiting the number of abstract concepts brought into one speech.  Asking the audience to wrap their heads around just one abstract concept can be a challenge (as Brenda did when she wheeled in the imaginary corpse of an accomplished Toastmaster on a gurney as a lead-in to her  autopsy/exploration of what goes on in a speaker’s brain).  Yet it’s always an adventure and a treat when Brenda speaks.

Congratulations to our ribbon winners:  

·         Best Table Topic: Taline

·         Best Speaker: Heather

·         Best Evaluator: Brendan

·         Most Enthusiastic: Corky

·         Best Use of Humor: Corky

·        Most Heroic Recovery: Gina

See you next week at the Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contest!

Our theme was “Nature and Nurture” and our Toastmaster, Leif, prepared a quote from John Lennon to get us started: “We’ve got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant.  You can’t just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it’s going to get on by itself.  You’ve got to keep watering it.  You’ve got to really look after it and nurture it.”

Our word for the day was “cleave” – a confusing, undefinable word, rendered clear at last when ended with “age”.

If Lora were a professor, I would be terrified of her final exams – her numerous table topic speakers Katy, Keith, Heather, Gina and Carol did the “Brookover Table Trot” – the delicate art of taking the long way around the table at a slow enough pace to think up an answer, yet fast enough to not be totally obvious.  Robin and Keith, the quick witted men they are, don’t believe in such silliness and took the quick, short route.

Russell delivered a funny speech titled “It’s in my blood”, about the travails of manly bravado, such as what one should do to a box in the road whilst driving your new truck (e.g. flatten it of course!).  The kicker, though, was not listening to your body, when trying out for the football team, when that small, still voice was trying to warn you about the impending tragedy of ripped muscle.

The tiny house was Louis’ topic, this time with pictures and a powerpoint presentation as he demonstrated the goal of this particular speech of “getting to the point.”  Some of the process seems to be a lesson in the best way to do things – such as not getting screws that are a 1/4 inch too long because they are a pain to install.

The house is indeed tiny (for once marketing hyperbole that is ACCURATE!).  It was nice to finally be able to get an idea of what all is meant by a tiny house.  But, alas, where were the Vibram Five Fingers?

The ribbon winners were easy to pick because of going over-time.

• Best Table Topic: Heather
• Best Speaker: Russell
• Best Evaluator: Leeanne
• Most Enthusiastic: Heather
• Best Use of Humor: Heather

Congratulations to our ribbon winners!

“My Mama Told Me” was the theme of Wednesday’s meeting.  We learned that one member of our club has a wise mama, one has a mama who will love her more than anyone else will ever love her, and one has a mama who is as dumb as a rock.  

Leeanne “The Screamer” Pacatte was our Toastmaster.  She showed us that finally, after more than six years of Toastmasters coaxing and training, she has learned to make her quiet voice heard.   

During Table Topics, led by Li, we heard from Russell, who told us about his mother’s “Failing Forward” philosophy: Go forth and try to succeed even when you suspect you will not be successful; try even when don’t have complete information; try even when you know you’re not the best or the strongest, and learn from the outcome….here I thought that was the definition of stupid, but Russell made it sound noble. Taline talked about her wonderful, generous, caring, guilt-tripping mom, who fits the description of a Jewish Mother to a T, even though she is not Jewish.  New member Katy did an excellent job in her first time up at bat, letting us know that, while her mother discourages the use of salt for health reasons, Katy thinks it is more important, for the sake of spiritual health, to make food taste good!   Amen to that!  Great job, Katy!

Three outstanding speeches today.  Wendy completed her tenth speech and, in doing so, earned her Competent Communicator award. Her funny speech took us through her journey of becoming the new target of office jokes after setting fire to the microwave, and being forced to endure a worksite safety training (totally unrelated to the microwave incident, or so she was told). At the training, Wendy didn’t learn much about safety, but she did realize how much she had learned at Toastmasters: the presenter could have been a lot more effective, and could have shared more pertinent information if he had taken the time to learn more about his audience. Evaluator Lora pointed out that Wendy is a great speaker, because Wendy is a great person we always love to hear from: full of conviction, full of ambition, and full of joy.    

Stuart, ah Stuart.  Who else can turn an off-color story into something artful and witty.  Normally, the act of peeing into a plastic container during a road trip is the act of a lazy bum. But when it’s Stuart in real life, it’s the act of a philospher grappling with a moral dilemma.  Brendan gave props to Stuart for setting up a story that had us thinking all kinds of awkward and inappropriate things, though none were ever stated.  Brendan also provided a psychoanalysis of Stuart that would have made Albert proud.

Keith used a speaking slot to practice 5 to 7 minutes of standup comedy he will be presenting at an actual gig for actual people in real life. Keith, as we know, is a comedy monster.  He was hugely funny when going for the laughs, and, in classic Keith style, was almost even funnier when he hit a brick wall and the jokes weren’t working. Evaluator Heather praised Keith for steady laughter all the way through, and liberal use of physical comedy and self-effacing humor. Keith, we wish you the best of luck tonight.

Congratulations to our ribbon winners!

• Best Table Topic: Taline
• Best Speaker: Stuart
• Best Evaluator: Brendan
• Most Enthusiastic: Keith
• Best Use of Humor: Keith

And Congratulations to Wendy on earning her CC

Next week’s theme: Yo Mama.   :-)

Hot Dogs, HoHos, Reese’s Puffs Cereal, Coke, Fries…and that was just the agenda. Cynthia made her debut as Toastmaster and did a dynamite job of it.

Brenda did her Ice Breaker. It was a Magical Mystery Tour, hilarious and meandering and thought-provoking and endearing all at once, with a sweet ending that let us know she is truly on board to learn and grow in her communication skills. Heather, as Brenda’s evaluator, gave Brenda the props she was due, applauding her courage and her humor, and her willingness to share her weaknesses, which helped her make a connection. Heather suggested that Brenda try a formal structure next time, just for variety sake.

Corky also spoke today, without much notice, and pulled together 7 minutes and 30 seconds worth of pure entertainment. You may not want to fly with Corky, but you definitely want to hear (while on solid ground, where it’s possible to laugh about this) his stories of practical jokes played high high up in the air. Could a man really be so devilish? Who knows, and really, who cares, as long as he keeps bringing these speeches. Louis, Corky’s evaluator, liked all the self-effacing humor, and came to a greater understanding of why not all of Corky’s marriages have worked out.

We heard Table Topics from Wendy, Russell, Robert, Zahra, and Taline, who collectively shared their weaknesses for ice cream sandwiches, chocolates, tortillas, fries, peach pie, marshmallows, Oreos, and butter. And I believe McDonald’s and Wendy’s both got an honorable mention today.

Maria was the Topic Master! Brian was the Timer! Carol and Zahra both were the Grammarian! Li did the Chuckle!

Congratulations to our Ribbon Winners:

• Best Speaker: Corky
• Best Table Topic: Taline
• Best Evaluator: Louis
• Most Enthusiasm: Heather
• Best Humor: Corky

Delicious meeting!

See you next week!

Our Emperor was our Toastmaster today and our theme was “Charisma: Letting The Inner Light Shine.”

When Amber opened with an invocation defining charisma as a state of caring about others, Albert realized he had unwittingly picked a theme that focused on others, rather that on his majestic self!  How did this happen!

(By the way last week’s recap was wrong.  Amber won the Best Table Topics ribbon last week.  Sorry.  Go Amber!)

Stuart was our Topic Master.  Unfortunately no one seemed to want to master his charismatic topics.  Wendy went rogue and talked about her peeing dog,  Robin told jokes he’d heard recently (which were stellar) and Amy spoke not on whether charisma is innate or learned, but rather on how it can be un-learned.  Robert tap danced around an answer, and finally new member Brenda eloquently addressed one of Stuart’s actual topics, and walked away with the ribbon.

If you missed the meeting, this is honestly honestly true, ask anyone who was there – Cynthia did a full-on speech about vomit.  In answer to the searching question, “What’s Up Chuck?” she spoke of vomiting after drinking, vomiting from amusement park rides, and virtual vomiting after no more vomit was left to be vomited.  And what did she do for a finale?  Displayed an actual bag of vomit.  Cynthia.  You have guts!  And we saw them!   Evaluator Heather, undaunted in her first evaluation – delivered a clever, insightful and brilliantly constructive evaluation, cleaning up quite nicely after Cynthia.  Both ladies cleaned up: Cynthia with the Best Speaker ribbon and Heather with two ribbons - Best Evaluator and Most Enthusiastic.

Louis did a speech about Tiny House.  Not the Tiny House or a Tiny House.  Just Tiny House.  He’s building one. He outlined good reasons for doing so, yet never explored Tiny House as a resource for teenager  management. As Evaluator Carol pointed out, the Tiny House speech could have been bigger. More volume, more visuals.

Congratulations to our ribbon winners!

• Best Table Topic: Brenda
• Best Speaker: Cynthia
• Best Evaluator: Heather
• Most Enthusiastic: Heather
• Best Use of Humor: Carol

An All Girl Ribbon Sweep!!

See you next week!

Our July 7th meeting was outstanding. Our Toastmaster was Brendan and our official theme was The Radio.  We learned that Brendan deeply loves the radio.  We were taken on a tour of every radio selection button in his car, what it is programmed to, and why, and even how.

Cynthia urged us to eat organic meat rather than meat produced by its evil, money-hungry, not-at-all-animal-friendly, meat industry monopoly counterpart. And other organic food as well.  We will be healthier if we eat organic, and we will not be supporting politically incorrect business practices.  Cynthia was well organized and most enthusiastic.  Her evaluator Amy pointed out that sadly, even when we know the facts, we still have the tendency to continue to eat what we want to eat.

Keith came to the meeting!  And delivered a speech on UFC: Ultimate Fighting Championship. It’s all about guys getting almost pummeled to death while other guys watch on TV, and it rocks! And it all takes place in The Octagon.  Anything can happen.  Arms can break.  Skulls can get fractured.  And guys love it.  It doesn’t cost a lot of money if you partake of this spectacle at Pluckers.   Louis as Keith’s evaluator gave Keith a hard time about not being committed to one purpose, because it seemed Keith could not decide whether it was an informational speech or a humorous speech.  Keith punched Louis in the nose after the meeting.

Carlos did some great Table Topics.  All the speakers where great.

Congratulations to our ribbon winners!

• Best Table Topic: Robin
• Best Speaker: Cynthia
• Best Evaluator: Amy
• Most Enthusiastic: Keith
• Best Use of Humor: Keith