Our Toastmaster
Club Mission
With the opening of our Peace Speakers meeting today, Ada, our president, shared the Toastmasters mission statement and asked members to recite it at each meeting:
"The mission of our Toastmasters club is to provide a mutually
supportive and positive learning environment in which every
individual member has the opportunity to develop oral communication and
leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal
growth."
This is a great reminder for members as we abide by this pledge. Now visitors will clearly know our purpose and goals.
2013 Toastmasters International Convention
Ada announced that our Toastmasters International Convention for 2013 will be in Cincinatti, Ohio. The dates for that are August 21-24, 2013, so start thinking about how you can fit that into your plans for learning and fun!
Invocation for the Day
Ken whipped out his smart phone to pull up his Invocation for the day. Admitting that he searched the Toastmaster International site for ideas, he left us with a quote from Dale Carnegie: "There are three speeches for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave."
We all have personal reasons why we're members of Toastmasters. When we come and participate, we get closer to achieving our goals and delivering that "wished for" speech.
Treasurer's Report
Our treasurer, Perry, shared details about our Peace Speakers account. Dues are paid by each member semi-annually. Renewing members, please get your $39 to Perry soon, as our dues must be submitted to the Toastmasters International world headquarters office before October 1st.
Toastmaster for the Day
Our Toastmaster, Eric, gets the ball rolling for the educational portion of our meeting today. He placed a picture of an unwrapped sandwich at the top of our agenda, and he asks if any of us recognize it. It's the famed "donut burger" served at the Kentucky State Fair, and his wife loved it. Thereafter, Eric asks me, today's Joke Master, to deliver my goods.
Joke Master for the DayI was in Chautauqua, NY, last month when this shot was taken, but this was the dress I wore to our meeting today. (As the photographer and blogger for our meetings, it's my easiest option.)
In light of the nature of political campaigns, I focused on humor related to politics. Ross Perot was spot on when he remarked, "War has rules. Mud wrestling has rules. But politics has no rules." I followed this quote with several ridiculous bumper sticker messages. Here's one that targets all candidates running for office:
Politicians, like diapers, should be changed often, and for the same reason.
Other bumper stickers directly targeted individual politicians:
A taxpayer voting for Obama is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders.
Romney Hood: Robbing from the middle class; enriching the 1%.
Unfortunately, I was unable to load any of the 12 political cartoons that I shared on a handout at our meeting. What ever our leanings, may we all be able to maintain some levity during the upcoming elections.
The Timer
Prior to our first speech, Eva explains how the timing system works. Similar to traffic lights, the green light is for go but alerts speakers that their time is limited, the yellow suggests that time is waning, and the red indicates that the allotted time has expired. Speakers know to quickly wind their speeches to a close at this point.
Our Speech for the Day
Robin
began her speech with a powerful suggestion: “Work
for a cause. Not for applause.” That’s what members of the Junior League
of Louisville strive to do, an organization of women dedicated to community
service. It’s open to women over the age
of 22 of all races, religions, and national origins who are committed to
voluntarism.
Few people fully
understand the impact that the Junior League makes in our community every day.
Robin laid it on us, citing impressive examples. Here are a few:
· In 2009-'10, league members dedicated more than 3,000
hours in community service and impacted over 54,000 lives through hands-on
projects.
· Members also raised over $45,000 in fundraising, with 100%
of the proceeds returned to the community through service projects and
training.
· Addressing today’s health challenges at the root of the
cause, the Junior League is involved in the Be Fit, Be Fine Health and Wellness
Initiative.
·
League members also dedicate their time through Done in a
Day Projects. A few organizations benefiting from their voluntarism include Big
Brothers, Big Sisters, Gilda’s Club, and Blessings in a Backpack.
In order to
provide continued support of its community initiatives, the Junior League stays
aggressive in its fundraising, which keeps Robin busy as well. She knows it will be returned to the
community in some beneficial way and loves serving in The League’s present and
future initiatives.
Robin
invited us to learn more about the Junior League by visiting their web site:
Table Topics Fun
Joelle, our Table Topics Master, enticed us with questions she posed on slips of paper. Although she chose no central theme, she assured us they were user-friendly. Eric took the first bait.
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
Without hesitation, Eric replied, "Fly!" Admitting he's lived near airports or under flight paths for much of his life, he thinks the ability to fly an airplane would be an incredible experience. He's always appreciated pilots and their ability to control aircraft. He finds their careers intriguing and exciting.
If you could stay at any age, what age would you choose?
Ada was clear: age is just a number, and she didn't seem to think there was a perfect one. Sure, the body eventually deteriorates, but more importantly, it's all about keeping the mind healthy, which influences the body's health. God has most assuredly blessed us at any age.
Ken chose Gandhi because he changed the world with his peaceful influence. He exhibited power in a simple form. Gandhi understood that we live in a world where money equals influence, but even though he had no money, he still exemplified power in a peaceful way that spoke to millions.
If you could be any fictional character for a day, who would you choose?
Betsy admitted that her grandson watches a lot of Sponge Bob, and this is a character she's come to enjoy as well. Sponge Bob and his friends always have a good time. They live under the sea and are always in the midst of an adventure. Besides that, he's a non-violent character who is very flexible.
If you were reincarnated as an ice cream flavor, what would it be?
Becki knows she wouldn't come back as a standard flavor. She imagines it would be a really funky flavor with everything combined like cherries, chocolate, and nuts. Being fairly creative, she's not a box kind of person like plain ol' vanilla. However, she wouldn't be a combination like donuts and pickles, which clearly wouldn't work out well together!
If you could throw any kind of party, what would it be?
Robin, doing double duty as our speech maker today and volunteering to do Table Topics as well, nearly squealed with delight at this question. She looooves throwing parties. Her favorite is Halloween, and that's how she met her husband. She gets excited just planning for them and loves couple's costumes, which her husband often vetoes. This Halloween she's having an 80's-90's party where everyone dresses as pop stars and couples will do Karaoke. Besides all that fun, the flavorful punch is her favorite, adding, "You gotta love it."
Some of the members are seen here mulling over which Table Topics speech was the best. Everyone seemed to enjoy answering the questions as well as hearing the responses.
Becky, our vote counter, admits she enjoyed all of the 1-2 minute spontaneous speeches, but Robin's plans for a playful Halloween party comes out on top. She is awarded the Table Topics trophy to enjoy until our next meeting. (Of course, with Robin's baby due any day, her attention may be diverted from this award...and for good reasons, too!!!)
I'm so grateful for this ongoing opportunity to be in community with interesting and supportive members of Toastmasters. If you're a visitor to this blog, please join us at an upcoming Peace Speakers meeting and see if it's a good fit for you as well.
OUR NEXT FEW MEETINGS
ARE SEPT. 19 AND OCT. 3, 2012
ARE SEPT. 19 AND OCT. 3, 2012
Peace Speakers Toastmasters Club
Presbyterian Center
1st and 3rd Wednesdays
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
100 Witherspoon Street
Downtown Louisville, KY
Respectfully submitted,
Kay Chambers
VP of Public Relations for Peace Speakers
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