Word of the Day: Anathema

Do you love Justin Bieber? Are you a Belieber? Like it or not, this young man is one of the most powerful forces on the planet — this baby-faced money-making monster, whose every move is followed by millions worldwide.  That’s right! Thanks to Toastmaster Amy, the club explored the phenomenon of Biebermania!!!

Table Topics Master Shane, gave us too much creepy information involving a meeting between Bieber and the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, which lead to table topics from Vince, Walter, Shundreka, Laura, Linda #1 and #2.  We learned all about a secret crush, guilty pleasures and the desire to meet those you admire the most.

Brittani took us on a journey through DC using their public transit system.   She definitely didn’t think this was the way to become a super hero, as Genevieve suggested in an earlier speech.  After giving us tips to avoid the drunks and weirdos, she advocated that we were all BETTER OFF WALKING!   We all took her recommendation and WALKED right down the gin aisle of Twin Liquors with Robin, and it was so worth it!  This full-flavored speech left us wanting more – martinis & gin and tonic that is!

Ribbon Winners -

Best Table Topic: Walter

Best Speaker: Robin

Best Evaluator: Brendan

Most Enthusiastic: Amy

Humor: Brittani

Word of the Day: BLEB!

Do you have a look alike – are we seeing double?!?  Today was Doppelganger day, and Toastmaster Blake wanted to know all about “The Other You.”

Our table topics master, Brittani, exposed her other side which involved spending lots of money to support a shoe fetish.  She called on Dev, Shundreka, Katie, Shane, Stuart and Jennifer to answer questions relating to their celebrity look alike, wild and crazy split personalities and their innate ability to lie with a straight face.

Walter was our entertaining speaker.  His dramatic talk was filled with blood, gore and Zombies!  Working effectively through technical difficulties, his speech was complete with sound effects and swinging hip action!  Katie delivered speech #3 from the CC manual, “Austin Eclectic.” In the true spirit of Keeping Austin Weird, she gave us 9+ tips all about the corky side of Austin.  Bottom line, all outsiders should learn to “conform to our non-conformity!”

There were 5 guests today, and it was a clean sweep for our ribbon winners…

Best Table Topic: Jennifer

Best Speaker: Walter

Best Evaluator: Jennifer

Most Enthusiastic: Walter

Humor: Walter

Our Table Topic participants were totally into theme and it’s very obvious from the following quotes -

“In my dreams, I make out with Jabba the Hut.”

“I go good with any spread.”

“If stranded on an island with my only friend, I would eat that friend.”

“I go to work with last night’s puke in my hair.”

“As a virile young man, how can I carry these donuts when my hands are full?”

Amanda gave her ice breaker and told us how she loved growing up in Troy, TX and if it were up to her she would have stayed there for life but broken-hearted, she left that excitement .  Who would blow dry the sheep?  She has bigger things to worry about like unfortunate children.  Amanda gave a great speech to introduce herself to the club.  I weep for the wet sheep.

Laura gave a talk on how to talk.  That is, how to have a conversation with real people in social settings.  She provided great tips like exchange facts, talk about your opinions and wear revealing clothing that are a couple of sizes too small for you.  I added that last one.  She then demonstrated with Jennifer in a totally unrehearsed demo as if they were at a party.  The give and take provided a good example of her topic.  Additional tips – Ask open-ended questions, take risks and even prepare things to talk about.  Avoid personal topics such as your hemorrhoid flare up even if you’re itching to talk about it. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Ribbon winners (a number of members were disenfranchised and their votes were not counted so the actual winners are not known.)

Best Tabletopics: Shane

Best Speaker: Jennifer

Best Everything Else: Katie Sternberg

First time Table Topics Master Thao jumped right in with some good questions, saving the best for Buff Keith (aka Old Keith).  Carol insisted that she never makes mistakes – she’s a perfect angel who’s just here to support the rest of us unfortunate souls.  Amanda’s generosity is unacceptable and downright inconsiderate in her new bureaucratic government job.  Amy’s ailing dog wasn’t just a costly mistake… he turned out to be a costly best friend.  Katy is mountain biking again – watch out!  New member Kevin recommends white lies to get out of admitting you made a mistake – think quickly, work fast and watch the mistakes melt away.  Old Keith proved he deserves the Funny Man title with his speech about how it feels to be an unwanted baby.

Walter impressed us all with his ability to incorporate fat asian dolls into a speech about business entity selection.  Brendan captured the magic in his evaluation, giving Walter props for confidence and suggesting a little less of the “Toastmaster dance.”

Chris gave us the run-down on his leadership project.  He had some serious SUCCESS planning a Toastmasters conference.  He laughed, he cried and ultimately, he got his next award.  Congrats, Chris!  Robin liked Chris’ enthusiasm and encouraged him to work on his “writing on whiteboard” skills.

Corky doled out all sorts of compliments, convincing the guests that joining our groups is not an “Oh No” decision.

Congrats to the ribbon winners!

Speech - Walter

Table Topics – Amy

Enthusiasm – Corky

Humor – Keith

Evaluator – Robin

Theme: Beauty by Design

Word of the Day: Envision

Blake and his fancy pen led the meeting as Toastmaster. He encouraged us to simplify and reduce our E.D.C. (Every Day Carry).  Blake listed his E.D.C. on the back of the meeting agenda making sure we all were aware that he has a Montblanc Meisterstruck Classique Ballpoint pen (oooohhhh ahhhhhh) and a Beretta Px4 Storm Sub-Compact 9mm in case you make fun of his fancy pen.

Our TTM, Jennifer, wove history, fun and magic into a wondrous tapestry of wonder and magic and questions and fun.  I remember Corky, Vince, Taline, Amanda (new member)  and Robin answering the TT questions but the only thing I remember from the responses is the quote from Amanda, “…sunshine comes from his ass”.  All members collectively stood and turned our backs on Amanda giving her an extreme shunning.  Take that shun!  Actually, we all laughed with glee (which coincidentally is what comes from my ass). Amanda is going to fit right it.

Brittani gave her Icebreaker. She shared with us details of her life as an attorney and as a baker.  Then made some comparisons of the two.  It was an interesting and fun way to get to know her.  We look forward to her next speech.

Shane gave his 10th speech from the CC manual, “I’m a people.”  He inspired us with a hilarious anecdote about living alone in a big house and then explaining how successful people are people just like us.  If other people reached their goals and dreams, why can’t we?  Hey, I’m a people, too.  Congrats on completing your manual.

Ribbon Winners -

Best Table Topic: Amanda

Most Enthusiastic, Humor: Shane

Best Speaker: Brittani

Best Evaluator: Jessica

Table Topics Master Katie kicked off the entertainment portion of the meeting (our Table Topics contest, affectionately referred to as the Smackdown)  with her casually complex question about an overheard phone call in a similar vein to “I know what you did last summer.”  Undeterred, the contestants did a quick pivot, then jabbed back with some excellent responses.  Brenda proudly gushed about her daughters, the only people who could break through her composed demeanor to make her yell with excitement.  Very few people could make Blake exclaim the word “fantastic” in public, but he does have one idol who could get him to emote – he’ll tell you about it if you ask nicely.  Jennifer would like nothing more than a visit with her Grandpa.  Wendy shared some especially strong feelings about fellow dog owners.  Message received loud and clear – don’t mess with Wendy.  Brendan did a nice sidestep to avoid the question completely and answer his own table topic.  Corky doesn’t kiss and tell… except for every single time he gets in front of the Toastmasters club.  Keith was the last one in the ring with his heartfelt story about how much he adores parenting.

Robin recited two plays, giving our Japanese guests a challenging lesson in English listening skills.
Maureen evaluated, giving some good advice about making a clear distinction between the various characters in a play.  If your vocal variety is limited, props are a great idea.  John was the general
evaluator, with praise for the Table Topics contestants and good analysis of the overall Smackdown.

Toastmaster Amy gave the final Knock Out with her easy humor and ability to roll with the punches.
Ribbon confusion ensued, but Amy worked it all out.  Congrats to the winners!

Table Topics (Smackdown contest winner): Keith

Table Topics runners up: Wendy and Jennifer

Speaker: Robin

Evaluator: Maureen

Enthusiasm and Humor: Wendy

Theme: Cartoons

Word of the Day: Acme

Toastmaster Vince	* Muttley
Invocation Stuart	* Toaster Man
Table Topics Master Corky	* Whiskey Man
TT Contestant Taline	*
TT Contestant Jessica	*
TT Contestant Dev	*
Speaker #1 Jennifer	*
Speaker #2 Thao	*
Speaker #3 Katie	*
General Evaluator Shane	*
Evaluator #1 Steve	*
Evaluator #2 Amy	*
Evaluator #3 Katy	*

Brian started the meeting by leading us in 30 seconds of reflection, prayer, silence, whatever we wanted, for all those involved and impacted by the wild fires.  We even learned how to close our eyes thanks to his example.

Toastmaster Keith jumped right into the meeting by discussing the HAIR theme.  His jokes fell flat as he spoke of his afro as a child then how he matured to the ‘Rachel’ in the 90’s. He wondered at the mystery of facial hair – why don’t women have it?  Why did his eyebrows have a sudden grow spurt?  Why do we look weird without eyebrows?

Wendy provided some great questions related to hair.  Robin said something about cutting his own hair but everyone was distracted by his early 80’s shorty shorts and camel toe. Carol talked about trying a new hair product and her hair falling out. Stuart convinced us he has the best hair in TMs without even trying to style it.  Maureen saw a local celebrity on TV who used to be a conservative politician and now has hippie hair.  If you ask Brian to go on the record, he prefers brunettes though a redhead stole his heart for nearly six weeks back in the day.

Amy jumped in at the last minute and gave a hilarious speech about bad customer service with numerous examples of rude, obnoxious, lazy, clueless and sometimes foreign accented people who provided less than acceptable service.  A very funny look at what Amy has had to deal with.

Chris gave an inspirational speech that used 9/11 as the backdrop to people persevering and even rising to great heights as a reaction to the traumatic event.  He then compared struggles that folks may be going through as their own personal 9/11’s and encouraged us to find the strength to overcome these life challenges.

Our Holy Duo – Stuart and Shane – evaluated and then blessed us all.  Amen.

Ribbon Winners

Table Topics – Carol/Brian (Carol won the arm wrestling match to break the tie)
Best Speaker – Chris
Best Evaluator – Shane
Most Enthusiastic – Carol
Best Humor – Amy