JUNE 6TH CLUB MEETING
Check out this group of mostly Peace Speakers, with the exception of a few esteemed guests. Prior to this club meeting, our members received an email from Ada, our VP of Education, announcing that our upcoming meeting would have an "impromptu" theme. This meant that roles would not be assigned prior to our gathering. No one knew in advance what role they would serve, if any. Some members came with pre-made speeches, invocations, jokes, and Table Topics questions. Others arrived just on faith alone.
Considering that our meetings usually are preplanned, it's remarkable how smoothly the event progressed and how unrattled the participants were. It was exciting! That's a testimony to the trust members have in the support they'll receive and to the skills individuals have acquired through their ongoing participation in Toastmasters.
The best example of poise and skill at this "impromptu" meeting was Joelle, whose eyes widened after she drew her role. She mouthed the words to me, "I drew a speech." With nothing planned in advance, I watched her jot down 3 brief phrases. Later at the podium, Joelle delivered a 6-minute speech as to why she was an active Toastmaster. Even without notes, it was a masterful talk. Her dedication to Peace Speakers was evidenced by her composure, eloquence, and spot-on delivery.
JUNE 20TH CLUB MEETING
For this meeting as well as most, members arrived knowing in advance which role they would serve. Our president, Betsy, opened the meeting with a few welcoming words, and we were off!
Eva warmed us up with a thoughtful Invocation taken from the words of Brother David Steindl-Rast, who reminded us that the Chinese word for "busy" is composed of two characters: "heart" and "killing." When we make ourselves so busy that we are always rushing around trying to get this or that "done," or "over with," we kill something vital in ourselves, and we smother the quiet wisdom of our heart. Impatience and the strive for speed and efficiency causes us to lose the capacity to appreciate the million quiet moments that may bring us peace, beauty, or joy. Eva reminded us to seek these healing moments, and at what better time than at the onset of summer!
Ada planned a "summer picnic" theme for our meeting today. Members brought a variety of snacks, and we all enjoyed the samplings of tasty foods.
Our Toastmaster for the day, Todd, created an appealing looking agenda with the title "Kick Off Summer Meeting". Participating in our Peace Speakers meetings is one type of summer fun that's guaranteed to be stimulating and educational. The sailboat picture below was at the top of today's agenda, setting the scene for summer fun.
Excuse me! Is there room on that boat for one more person?
I've chosen to insert this shot right here, which exemplifies the helpfulness of our members. Before the meeting today, Todd helped Geoff set up for a speech. It's often Perry or Eric engaged in these "techy" manipulations, making sure that members get the assistance they need for a speech using technology. Peace Speakers are quick to support one another in any way they can.
FIRST PREPARED SPEECH OF THE DAY
From the Communication and Leadership Program manual, Geoff delivered a speech today focusing on Speaking with Knowledge. The title, "Being Logical," is one that required great concentration, and our members were ready to listen. Geoff noted it's often hard to be logical. Logic has its limits, however, it helps us deal with reality.
Reality for me right now is that I will see the logic of Geoff's speech much better if I view it in print. This is why I've chosen to blog his speech in detail from notes he gave me. You can hang with me or skim ahead. It's your call.
Up at the board making notes, Geoff shared the 6 elements that make up a logical argument. Given in blue print, he used the following scenario, an example that you can follow down this page: A Ford truck plant needs delivery of engine components from a Chicago supplier.
¡ Claim or Proposition--an arguable assertion
Your order will arrive by noon Saturday.
¡ Evidence/Grounds/Data: reasons or examples or numbers that support
the claim
¡ Warrant or Bridge--an assumption that links evidence to the claim; a line of reasoning
It's a 7.5 hour drive from our Chicago factory to Ford.
¡ Foundation or Backing--a statement supporting the warrant
In over 100 shipments, we've always made the trip in 7.5 hours.
¡ Rebuttal--refutes counterclaims seeking to
disprove the claim
What if the truck breaks down? Backup trucks are in Indy and Gary in case of truck breakdowns.
¡ Qualifier--limits the claim if it cannot be made with complete certainty
Unless there are extraordinary circumstances like an act of God or a collision, the order will be there by noon on Saturday.
Now I must admit that having laid this all out in print, I'm better able to wrap my brain around Geoff's speech. What's useful is that we can utlilize these 6 elements to check our own propositions or arguments now that Geoff has given us the foundation for making a successful claim or assertion.
SECOND PREPARED SPEECH OF THE DAY
Speaking in Praise was the focus for Perry's talk. This Special Occasion Speech Project inspired him to praise President Barack Obama and title his speech "Hail to the Chief".
In this speech, Perry praised the President’s leadership in five areas. First of all, he has led our country
out of two wars. In 2009, he asked his generals to prepare a plan that involved the withdrawal of U.S. troops 18 months later, but they essentially declined to do so. President Obama had to create a three-page plan of his own that made way for the withdrawal a year and a half later. It’s only because the President took that initiative that the withdrawal is underway today.
Secondly, President Obama helped prevent an economic catastrophe. Knowing that capitalism, let to its own devices, can destroy itself, the President had the government do what it had to do to rescue the economy. Granted, he might have held his nose about the bank bailout, the auto bailout, the fiscal stimulus package, long-term zero-percent interest rates, and the temporary extension of ALL the Bush tax cuts, but one might argue that it was better than the bottom completely dropping out of the economy.
Thirdly, the three
critical sectors of the economy that President Obama has begun to reform are
the energy sector, the banking and finance sector, and the health care
sector. Focusing just on health care, the U.S. spends more money on health care than any
other country with the worst overall health care outcomes of any wealthy
country. The health system is broken, and at least "Obamacare" takes a good stab at fixing it.
Fourthly, President Obama has tried to ease political polarization. In the summer of 2012, he tried to appoint three Republicans to his original Cabinet. He set aside some of his most cherished policy objectives that were detestible to Republicans: the “public option,” “cap and trade,” and repealing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. Additionally, parts of his enacted programs were inspired by Republicans: the health insurance exchange system (Senator McCain), the universal health insurance mandate (Senator Romney), and most recently, the administrative version of the DREAM Act for young undocumented immigrants (Senator Rubio).
Lastly,
President Obama is a notable role model. Study the photograph above, taken during a tour of the White House in 2009 by a man who was retiring from the staff. His 5-year-old son asked the President, "Is your hair like mine?"
President Obama leaned down beside him and
asked, "Why don’t you see for
yourself?" When the boy hesitated,
President Obama responded, “Go ahead – touch it, dude.” Upon touching the
President’s hair, the boy nodded yes. Indeed, their hair was the same.
On this occasion, an African-American boy came to appreciate that the President was like him, an African-American. Perry admitted at this point that even though he's not African American, he is a biracial person with an immigrant father, with roots in Asia, and with a funny-sounding name. The fact that the President is too, didn't escape him. President Obama’s similar story helps convince Perry and many others across the country and the world that anything is possible.
On this occasion, an African-American boy came to appreciate that the President was like him, an African-American. Perry admitted at this point that even though he's not African American, he is a biracial person with an immigrant father, with roots in Asia, and with a funny-sounding name. The fact that the President is too, didn't escape him. President Obama’s similar story helps convince Perry and many others across the country and the world that anything is possible.
By speaking in praise of the work of President Obama, Perry said he hoped he'd persuaded a few more listeners to do what he planned to do in November:
vote to re-elect President Obama.
Despite all of the difficult challenges the President has faced in
the past three years, he is still a man of accomplishment. And with four more years, Perry imagines that truly, anything is possible!
Given the notes that were shared with me from both speakers today, Geoff and Perry, I blogged big time in detail. Their evaluations by Bethany and Eric were thorough, highly commendable, and constructive.
TABLE TOPICS TAKES A DIFFERENT TWIST
On the left, our Table Topics Master, Robin, had members each drawing from a bag of pennies. Looking at the date of the penny Betsy drew, she talked about her life in 1968. She shared that she was a junior in high school and owned a blue Corvair. Putting a meager 50 cents worth of gas in that car would take her everywhere! (Watchdog Ralph Nader would be relieved you survived that car, Betsy. My mother's 1965 Corvair would fill up with dark smoke each time she turned on the heater, and my dad sold my 1960 Corvair for a mere $25. Does this give you an idea just how respectable these vehicles were at that time?)
Others who drew pennies and spoke for 1-2 minutes were as follows:
Ken, who in 1988 was 27, was living on a farm. He took care of a dozen cattle, a bunch of chickens, and tended an organic farm. (I bet you had long hair then, too, right Ken?)
Eva, who in 1973 was in college, spent her junior year in Madrid, Spain, and other areas in Europe. She lived with Spaniards and honed her Spanish speaking skills through this experience. (I took Spanish in high school, and what I remember is a boy throwing his Spanish book at a wasp flying over his head. I think you got a better language workout than I did, Eva.)
Ada, who in 1994 was working here at the Presbyterian Center, admitted that by then she was well indoctrinated and was making friends. (You strike me as one who'd learn everything you could to make the best of a work situation. And you're just a natural for building friendships!)
You can always depend on Table Topics to teach you something, either about the person speaking or a topic of interest. Thank you, Robin, for using such a creative way to ask questions. The person receiving the most votes and the esteemed Table Topics trophy this time was Betsy. I'm glad she survived owning a Corvair and lived to tell about it.
INSTALLATION OF CLUB OFFICERS
As if this blog wasn't loooooong enough, the new officers for Peace Speakers who begin serving in July 2012 for a year are as follows:
President....................... Ada Middleton
VP Education................. Joelle Kopacz
VP Membership.............. Robin Rueff
VP Public Relations......... Kay Chambers *
VP Public Relations......... Kay Chambers *
Treasurer....................... Perry Chang *
Secretary....................... Bethany Furkin *
Sergeant at Arms........... Rhonda Martin
*Is serving a 2nd
term
Commendations go out to those who sought these positions. May you function well in the role you have accepted, inspiring and serving other Peace Speakers and guests who visit our club.
Kudos to those officers who faithfully served last year! A special thank you goes out to these members as they leave these roles as officers:
Betsy Blocker, our past President
Ada Middleton, our past VP of Education
Kim Kaberle, our past VP of Membership
Eva Stimson, our past Sergeant at Arms
Betsy, however, will continue to serve as the Immediate Past President on our Executive Committee in the year ahead.
The first meeting of the newly formed Executive Committee will meet the week of July 9th. The exact day and time is yet to be determined.
If you're new to this blog, consider joining us for our next Peace Speakers club meeting. We're a friendly and unassuming group of people with similar goals. Join us as we build communication and leadership skills in fun and interesting ways.
Commendations go out to those who sought these positions. May you function well in the role you have accepted, inspiring and serving other Peace Speakers and guests who visit our club.
Kudos to those officers who faithfully served last year! A special thank you goes out to these members as they leave these roles as officers:
Betsy Blocker, our past President
Ada Middleton, our past VP of Education
Kim Kaberle, our past VP of Membership
Eva Stimson, our past Sergeant at Arms
Betsy, however, will continue to serve as the Immediate Past President on our Executive Committee in the year ahead.
The first meeting of the newly formed Executive Committee will meet the week of July 9th. The exact day and time is yet to be determined.
If you're new to this blog, consider joining us for our next Peace Speakers club meeting. We're a friendly and unassuming group of people with similar goals. Join us as we build communication and leadership skills in fun and interesting ways.
NEXT MEETING IS JULY 18, 2012!!!
(NOT ON THE 4TH OF JULY)
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
