Moments of Truth - A Gauge for our Club

On December 7, Peace Speakers closed the 2011 year with a lovely potluck lunch at their meeting.  Members gathered with dishes they wished to share and an eagerness to hear the day's talk from our Area Govenor, Jason Rehkamp. 

Starting our Toastmasters meeting a half an hour earlier gave us a chance to just visit with one another and hear about each other's plans for the holidays.  Being a congenial group, it's easy to stay engaged!

Here's a sampling of the chow we enjoyed.  All of it was delicious!  (Darn!  I meant to ask for the recipe for that bean salad with the fresh parsley!  Was that yours, Eric?)

And yes, there was dessert!  Chocolate lovers were honored.  (And for those who don't ingest sugary sweets, there were fresh bananas and apples as well.  Beloved health enthusiasts, don't dispair!!!!!)

Betsy, our President, shared that the Presbyterian Staff Development Day on December 1 brought visitors into two different Peace Speakers workshops.  Both sessions reportedly were well-received by participants, one of whom followed up with an email stating that this was an example of how a workshop should be conducted.  Others who experienced one of our Peace Speakers meetings that day expressed interest in joining our Toastmasters club. Staff Development Day is a fun way to let others know how we go about improving our communication and leadership skills.  Anyone can join our community of learners! 

Jason Rehkamp, our Area Governor for Toastmasters, visited today and shared a message entitled "Moments of Truth."  We all experience them, but these "moments" help clubs create a culture of success and foster quality club meetings.  These "moments" within meetings are ripe with opportunities to evaluate our clubs.  Knowing that member service and personal satisfaction are the optimum goals of any club, we would be wise to use these "moments" to evaluate our own effectiveness in each of these areas.

6 Moments of Truth -

Standards to Offer Quality Service in Toastmasters Clubs

1.  First Impressions

2.  Membership Orientation

3.  Fellowship, Variety, and Communication

4.  Program Planning and Meeting Organization

5.  Membership Strength

6.  Achievement Recognition

If visitors to a club aren't enthusiastic about coming back to another meeting, then there's something amiss in one or more of the 6 areas listed above.  Maybe that newcomer wasn't heartily welcomed and encouraged to participate the first time he visited.  Maybe he left without any real understanding of the communication and leadership skills that Toastmasters offers, how they achieve them, or wasn't invited to join their club. 

If members occasionally lack enthusiasm to attend their club meetings, maybe the meetings aren't on time, are poorly organized, or aren't varied enough to increase interest.  Maybe the agendas arrive late in the week, leaving members wondering what to expect at meetings.  Possibly members aren't being recognized sufficiently for their achievements or aren't receiving honest evaluations that really help them grow and flourish.  Maybe the club just isn't large enough or diverse enough to enjoy a variety of different perspectives. 

We all want to feel valued and a part of a club that is vibrant and well-run. This helps build better communicators and leaders!  The question is, in each of these "Moments of Truth", are they a strength or an opportunity for needed growth in our club?  

Peace Speakers wants to fulfill its mission!  In 2012, maximizing the effectiveness of each of these "moments" is our focus.  After all, that's how members remain active and new members are recruited.  We choose to make our club an appealing, welcoming place with a mutually supportive and positive learning environment.

Visitors to this blog, come join us!  We'd love your influence and your perspective on the world.  You have my personal invitation.  

Peace Speakers meets twice a month:  the first and third Wednesdays from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.  Our next meeting is Wednesday, January 4, 2012, at the Presbyterian Center in downtown Louisville.  We're located at 100 Witherspoon Street, with ample parking around the building.

I hope to meet you at our next event or some time during the new year.  Give yourself the gift of growth.  Make your communication and leadership skills non-negotiable, and just see where your involvement in Peace Speakers takes you!

Wishing you a holiday that is fun-filled, relaxing, and peaceful,

Kay Chambers

VP of Public Relations  

Peace Speakers Focus on International Speeches about What's Beautiful and What's of Value at November 16th Meeting

With Thanksgiving on the horizon, Betsy, President of our Peace Speakers club, opened our meeting with a fact about Thanksgiving.  She shared that seven other nations celebrate Thanksgiving as well,  a time to be grateful for the harvest and to connect with family and friends.  (My dose of gratitude and desire for connection is big this year, since I'll be hosting Thanksgiving dinner for 20 people!)



Because no member was giving a prepared speech at our meeting today, Perry, our Toastmaster, planned for us to watch two televised speeches that he witnessed live in August at the Toastmasters International Convention in Las Vegas.  Noting that there was a common thread that ran through both speeches, Perry asked us to study the strategies employed by each speaker and decide which speech was most effective. 

The First Televised Speech

Marin Toyama, whose speech was called "The Origin of Beauty," was the first speaker.  She began with, "Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?"  The mirror replied with a resounding, "NOT YOU!!!"  She looked at the audience and posed the question, "Who decides what is beautiful?"  After being told at a young age she was really ugly, she tried to compensate by becoming the smartest, then the most athletic, and even by marrying a "hot Brazilian". 

Marin asked us to ponder on who WE see when we look in the mirror.  She alleged that each of us projects our thoughts and feelings onto others.  Therefore, if WE think we're ugly, then we'll see others as ugly, too.  By the same token, the beauty we see in others is in us as well.

Marin closed her speech urging us to stand before a mirror and recognize our own beauty.  It starts with an open heart and kindness towards ourselves.  What naturally follows is kindness and acceptance of others, which in turn fosters true happiness.

The Second Televised Speech

Teresa Nwachukwu began her speech, "Nickels and Dimes," with the message that what you see isn't necessarily what you get.  She relayed the story of herself at age 5 and her brother at age 3.  Their grandmother gave each of them coins, and seeing that her brother's coin was larger and shinier, she tried to snatch it from him.

When her brother complained loudly, Teresa's mother intervened.  Her mom advised her that her coin, though smaller, actually had more value.  She had mistakenly placed value on mere surface features.

As Teresa grew up, these learnings evolved. If size didn't denote value, then maybe appearances of people were deceptive as well. Conclusions made about others without looking within or beyond their masks often betray us.  When Teresa let her guard down on an airplane, she formed an unlikely yet long-standing friendship with a woman after initially prejudging her appearance.  She was reminded once again, "What you see is not always what you get!" 

I found both of these 7-minute speeches to be compelling.  The first one's message is one I have been cultivating for years, realizing that I must take some ownership for what I see in the world around me, no matter how disturbing it is.  Witnessing what displeases me might just be an issue I need to address and heal within myself, if in fact, the world is a mirror for what's inside me. 

In comparing the two speeches, the second one was delivered in a more expressive way.  Her body movements were more involved and expressions had greater variance.  Although her message was as important, it wasn't as novel or as challenging to accept as the first one.  Both speeches, however, were well-crafted and entertaining.  I loved how each speaker memorized her speech and shared it in a storytelling manner as she paced back and forth on the stage.  (Ahhhhhhhhh, to be that self-confident and accomplished.  That's why we're members of Toastmasters!)  

We had time for extemporaneous sharing as well at our meeting, and Kim was our Table Topics Master for the day.  She bagged some thoughtful questions that brought a moment of reflection before answering.  Most of us who drew from her decorated bag were asked to choose one of the three given values and talk about why it was more important than the others.  In 2 minutes or less (usually), members responded verbally.  I chose "nature" primarily because of my fascination with critters, which had been fostered by my father early in my childhood. It is still one of the best ways to connect with my dad 80 years later. 

Becki had a choice between formality and being casual.  She admitted she preferrred jeans over dressing up because she likes a more natural look and seeks comfort.  (What??!?!?  You don't want to wear those 5-inch heels and have foot problems the rest of your life?)  

 

Keith focused on the word "creativity" and shared that he should be more creative with his gifts.  His co-worker has inspired him by creating items made from silhouettes of her nieces.  (We'll be happy to get creative gifts this year, Keith!)



Perry chose the word "achievement" and admitted that he likes to accumulate information and skills in a variety of areas.  I have a lot of interests but not Perry's ability to synthesize all of that information.  

Rhonda was our Ah-Counter/Grammarian today.  (No, she isn't scolding us for butchering the English language.)  She just let us know that we inserted some "ums" and "ahs "as we shared with one another today.  Being aware of the "space-fillers" we use is the first step in eliminating them!

On December 1st, the Presbyterian Center is hosting a Staff Development Day.  Members of our Peace Speakers club will be conducting two Toastmasters meetings for newcomers to experience.  One is at 10:30 and the other session is at 12:45.  It's a great opportunity to share what Peace Speakers do at their meetings and encourage others to join us. 

Learning how to communicate effectively and developing leadership skills is valuable in any workplace or setting.  Peace Speakers meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month, with the exception of next month, when we will only gather on December 7th.  That particular meeting will be hosted by our Area Govenor, Jason Rehkamp.  Anyone is welcome, however, if you want to attend a regular meeting, they will commence on January 3rd and the January 17th, 2012.

Our Peace Speakers meetings are open to anyone!  Join us any 1st or 3rd Wednesday from 1:00 - 2:00 PM downtown Louisville at the Presbyterian Center, 100 Witherspoon.  It's never to late to improve yourself!

Respectfully submitted by Kay Chambers, VP of Public Relations

A Bountiful Harvest - 11/2/11 Meeting (and how a Peace Speakers meeting is conducted)

Peace Speakers gathered at the Presbyterian Center in early November to once again enhance their communication and leadership skills.  With just one hour to accomplish this, members serving in various roles moved effectively and efficiently.  It was 1:00, and Peace Speakers were on a mission!

If you're new to this blog and want to learn more about what often occurs in a Toastmaster meeting like ours, here's a typical run-down:

The meeting opens with a welcoming word from our club president, Betsy, and a pledge to the flag.  Toastmaster business is discussed (usually briefly), then our president turns it over to the member who has agreed to do the Invocation.  We hear an inspirational passage like a poem, reading, personal writing, or non-denominational prayer, which sets the mood and prepares members and guests for our Peace Speakers meeting.

On this day, Kay (moi') shares an invocation about the splendor of fall and the transformations that occur in every season.  She relates seasonal changes to the ongoing transformations we experience as we strive to harness the power of speech.  She notes that each time we actively engage and share ideas, as well as explain, influence, and entertain each other, we are transformed as well. 

Moving right along, our the Toastmaster for the day is welcomed to the podium by our president, Betsy.  This is Keith's first time in this role, and you can see from the picture above that he handles the experience with enthusiasm and grace.  The Toastmaster creates an agenda ahead of time and introduces the educational part of the program.  He asks members to briefly explain the roles they have taken for this meeting.

Members agree ahead of time to accept roles such as Speech Evaluator, Timer, Vote Counter, Table Topics Master, and Ah Counter/Grammarian.  In the above image, Perry has taken on the latter role, sharing the Word of the Day he chose: bucolic, which pertains to a rural lifestyle.  He encourages anyone speaking today to use this word, if they can, and reminds us that he will be listening for speaking errors.  This increases people's awareness of the common speaking mistakes they make.  That way they are easier to change over time.  As Dr. Phil says, "You can't fix what you don't acknowledge," and we're all about becoming better communicators.

After the other members briefly explain their roles, Ada is greeted at the podium by our Toastmaster as she prepares to give her 7th speech called "Tic Toc, Tic Toc - Your Body Clock."  She shares that our internal body clocks follow the sun and never really adjust when forced to change to Daylight Savings Time each year.  And since our body clock regulates essential body functions, it is best to minimize disruptions to these natural body rhythms.  If you are not in sync with the earth’s pattern, here are 4 simple ways for resetting and/or regulating the tic toc of our body clocks: 

1. Have a morning routine. 
2. Eat the right food at the right times.
3. Engage in regular exercise at the right times. 
4. Have a regular bedtime routine. 

What's great about the speeches given by members is that we listeners are educated on a wide assortment of topics/opinions and learn different ways to make presentations. Each of the speeches has a difference focus, all of which is clearly explained in our Competant Communication Manual.  This is a valuable tool that helps us prepare and organize our first 10 speeches, which are given at the pace of one's choosing.

Following the speech, our Table Topics Master, Eva, brings in a basket full of harvested fruits and vegetables to elicit spontaneous sharing from members and willing guests. Participants draw one fruit or veggie from a covered basket and talk about it for approximately 2 minutes.  

Perry pulls out a large clove of garlic and admits that his wife is the cook in his family.  He brags on the savory spaghetti sauce she whips up on occasion.

Ken finds a tomato in the basket and shares that both he and his dad used to raise them together.  He still loves growing tomatoes today and enjoys bucolic or rural experiences. (Thanks, Ken, for using the Word of the Day!)

After selecting a fresh pepper, Betsy shared that she actually won a Blue Ribbon at the Kentucky State Fair for the habanero peppers she grew in her garden. 

Usually 4-6 people share extemporaneously during Table Topics, making for an interesting time listening and learning from others as well as thinking on our feet while speaking. What's missing in this blog is a picture of the homemade pumpkin/chocolate chip cake topped with a dollop of whipped cream that Ada shares with everyone as they talk today.  (When does this woman ever sleep!?!?!)

At this point in our Peace Speakers meeting, our Toastmaster calls for the reports from the Evaluation Team.  Above, Bethany compliments Ada's speech, admitting that she was unaware that our "body clock" was actually a tiny cluster of nerve cells located in the center of our brain.  Speech evaluators commend what they can about a given speech and offer a few constructive suggestions during their 3-minute sharing.

Next, the other evaluators share the specific times for speeches, the total number of grammar-related mistakes made by all (not by individual names), and who gave the Table Topics winning speech.  Two people tied, Ken and Betsy, so they both get a trophy.  The bragging rights are theirs to enjoy for 2 weeks, or until Peace Speakers meet again.

The Toastmaster, Keith, makes his closing remarks and Betsy, our president, adjourns the meeting.  It's no more than 1-hour long and participants leave with smiles.  Most likely, everyone has practiced their speaking skills, learned something, and enjoyed themselves.  We know that what we've planted today, we will harvest later.

Our next Peace Speakers meeting  will be held on Wednesday, November 16, at the Presbyterian Center in downtown Louisville at 100 Witherspoon Street from 1:00-2:00 PM.   PLEASE JOIN US!  ALL ARE WELCOME!

P.S..The Weight Watchers Pumpkin/Chocolate Chip Cake recipe is as follows: 1 Spice Cake Mix, 1 can pumpkin, and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Beat cake mix and pumpkin for two minutes. Add chocolate chip morsels, one-half bag or more. Bake in bundt pan 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until done. Thanks, Ada, for baking it for us!!!!!

Respectfully submitted by Kay Chambers, VP of Public Relations

On October 19th, Peace Speakers Benefit from Positive and Pause-itive Encouragment

Peace Speakers' October 19th meeting was brimming with several kinds of encouragement. First of all, our area govenor for Toastmasters, Jason Rehkamp, paid us a friendly visit.  He shared his willingness to support our club in any way he could and encouraged us to strive for excellence.  Just there to observe, Jason noted the less regimented manner in which our club meeting is conducted, making for a more relaxed and informal style of engagement.  He thought this worked well for our members and guests.

Another type of encouragement came from Ada, our VP of Education, who gave us some "pause-itive encouragement"  when she shared excerpts from an article called “The Strategies of Silence” in October’s Toastmaster Magazine.  

She noted how constructive quiet deepens our understanding of ourselves and others.  Living in a surround-sound world of relentless noise - from traffic to cell phones to 24/7 news - it's little wonder that occasional moments of quietness feel awkward and unsettling in comparison. 

Silence, however, is a very powerful communication tool in our public speaking.  There is a great wealth of information and wisdom in well-placed and well-timed pauses between words...if we use it and others listen for it.  In public speaking, timely pauses add power to your message and allow for reflection.  In these pauses, we have time to process the message and make meaningful associations.  Zipping through a speech in order to power-load the information shared can leave listeners overwhelmed.  (I know, because I’m guilty of this!!!!) 

The wise Benjamin Franklin once emphasized, "Remember not only to say the right thing at the right place, but far more difficult still is to leave unsaid the wrong things at the tempting moments."  (I confess...been there and done the latter more than I'd like to admit.)

Any of us can practice expanding our comfort zone by disconnecting from technology for 15 minutes 2 times a day.  (Yes, it's possible!!!!!)  This shuts out all distractions and clears your mind from internal chatter and must-do lists.  Dwell on this quietness and enjoy it, and a channel for creativity will emerge as well. 

Practice using silence and you will  become comfortable with it.  Notice how your interactions with others improve as a result.  The key is focusing on what the other person is expressing instead of mentally rehearsing your response.  As Peace Speakers, we use this strategy for enhancing communication and building stronger relationships.

During our Table Topics session, participants were asked Halloween-related questions.  Jason's two-minute impromptu talk intrigued listeners as he reminisced about a tradition he and his children enjoy in October.  His 3 children find it fun making the trek to Huber Farms, where they spend the day picking out pumpkins for the kids to carve.  He loves watching their creative carving and the costumes they come up with each year.  These memories stirred listeners as well when they awarded Jason with the Table Topics trophy.

I love Table Topics sessions because they allow members and willing guests to share facts and opinions they have about an endless assortment of subjects.  What is shared in two minutes is often moving, informative, and can even bring us all to laughter. Speaking in such a safe and supportive environment is a wonderful way to expand communication skills!

I apologize that it took me a while to get this blog posted. I admit I was suffering from "sieve brain" early on (not recalling details I wanted to include), and this made for serious procrastination. As time progresses, I hope to become more adept at juggling my camera and being a better recorder during our Toastmaster meetings. 

If you're new to this blog, come visit us sometime!  We always meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month (with the exception of December 21st).  The last two Peace Speakers meetings for 2011 are on Wednesday, November 16th and December 7th at the Presbyterian Center, 100 Witherspoon Street, from 1:00-2:00 PM.  It's a great way to become a better communicator and leader, and who wouldn't benefit from that? 

Learning along the way,

Kay Chambers, VP for Public Relations

What's on Your Bucket List?

Peace Speakers gathered on Wednesday, October 5, 2011, for their first Toastmaster meeting of this month.   Pictured on each person's agenda were the faces of Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, who starred in The Bucket List, a movie about two men who created a list of things they wanted to do before they "kicked the bucket" or passed away.  This became the theme of our meeting because of a speech one of our members gave this day. 

As Ah-Counter and Grammarian for the day, Eric explained his role and let everyone know that the Word for the Day was "pernicious," meaning harmful or destructive.  Members and guests looked for interesting ways use this word when speaking and concurred that there was nothing "pernicious" at our Toastmaster gatherings.

Perry, our Toastmaster for the day, welcomed Becki to the podium, as she prepared to give her 8th speech from the Competent Communication Manual.  This 7-minute talk required the use of visual aids (as well as taking into consideration the learnings from 7 other previously given speeches).   Becki shared a great deal of thoughtful and useful information with grace and style.

   

Becki's speech gave us something to seriously think about:  What do you want to accomplish before you die?  Unless you give it careful consideration and write down ideas today, you may feel unsatisfied at the end of your life.   If you clarify what's important to you now, then set intentions and act on them, you can minimize regrets.  Instead of ending your life with regrets, have a bucket full of memories at the close of your years!  Whether your Bucket List is long or short, check off your wishes as you complete them.  Experience the satisfaction and joy from leading a life of conviction and meaning.  And don't be timid!  What may seem outrageous now has a way of coming to you when you intentionally write it down as a wish.

Continuing the theme of the Bucket List, Kay, the Table Topics Master of the day, gave everyone an opportunity to speak before the end of the meeting.  She enticed participants to pull a slip of paper from her bucket.  Each question gave 4 Bucket List possibilities, and each speaker chose one of the 4 they would like to add to their own Bucket List, sharing details and reasons why.  

Vincent explained that he would choose "playing an instrument," lamenting that his attempt in his younger years to play the saxophone was short-lived.  Eric admitted he'd love to record a CD of songs, especially now that technology makes this a greater possibility.  Ken, a visitor, chose swimming with the dolphins and whale watching because he loves nature.  And Rhonda shared that with sufficient funds, starting a foundation for children at Kosair Children's Hospital that would help families stay together would be her greatest wish.  Her extemporaneous 1-2 minute speech inspired the greatest response and won her the most votes for the Table Topics trophy, which she can can enjoy and show off for two weeks before our next meeting in October.

Ada, who agreed to take on the role of Evaluator for Becki's speech, was smiling broadly as she shared her responses to the topic "What's in Your Bucket?"  Noting that Becki spoke confidently and without the use of notes, she praised her for bringing this subject to us and giving us so much to consider, which could be life changing.  

Who knows, maybe someone visiting this blog might add "joining Toastmasters" to their Bucket List.  It was on mine a year and a half ago after I stood shaking and speaking timidly in front of a mentoring class.  I was tired of living a life running away from opportunities that required leadership and speaking skills, and people were quick to encourage me to look into Toastmasters in my own hometown.  It's one of the best decisions I ever made for numerous opportunties for ongoing growth.

If you're visiting this Peace Speakers blog, consider joining us personally at our next meeting on Wednesday, October 19, 2011.  We meet between 1:00-2:00 p.m. at the Presbyterian Center in downtown Louisville on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays.  Our membership is open, and we warmly welcome all visitors.  Our area governor, Jason Rehcamp, will be speaking at this meeting, and we look forward to hearing what he has to share.

Respectfully submitted by Kay Chambers, VP of Public Relations for Peace Speakers

August 17 meeting

Vice President for Education Ada Middleton gave a presentation about the use of humor in speeches. A two-round Table Topics activity about Las Vegas, risk-taking, and the Toastmasters international convention followed. Voting on who were the best Table Topics speakers followed the speaking. Bethany Furkin and Betsy Blocker (pictured above) tied in the first round, and Becki Moody won the second round.

International convention images