Someone may say: another ordinary meeting. No, no, no! There are no ordinary meetings at Parker Toastmasters. And last night was no exception. Five speeches, including an Icebreaker, and Table Topics Irish-style, this Club has always something new, refreshing and exciting to offer.
Bill Bevard, or I should say Braveheart, showed us how Toastmasters can change one’s life. As a first-time Toastmaster of the Day, he led the meeting with poise, competence and in an orderly fashion, making sure we finished on time, which doesn’t happen that often. Way to go Bill! You made us proud and proved that Toastmasters program works!
Cole Mayer, brand new to the Club, presented his Icebreaker and delivered a very moving and powerful speech titled: “What made me”. Mayer took us on a journey to a small, farming community in South Dakota, where he grew up, played sports, met many foreigners and eventually his future wife at his high school. His story was very personal, in particular when he talked about losing his father, shortly after he graduated from college and moved to Denver. Cole shared with us his life experiences and what shaped him as a man, husband and a father of two beautiful, little girls. As Bruce Ekins (Best Evaluation Winner) summarized: “Amazing first speech and we look forward to hearing more speeches by Cole”!
When Michelle Devore enters the stage, we all know it is going to be good. As a member of Toastmasters since 2004, Devore delivered more than handful of excellent speeches. And this time was no exception! In her speech, “Be Assertive”, Michelle eloquently explained what assertiveness is and how we all can benefit from it. Do you want more freedom? Be assertive! Michelle provided real life examples of being assertive in a non-aggressive way and armed us with four steps on how to be assertive:
- State the problem
- State your feelings
- Propose solution
- Explain benefits
Michelle, very natural on the stage with no signs of nervousness, concluded with a role play assisted by Sandy Marthaler. Both Michelle and Sandy received a positive feedback and many good suggestions. This presentation made Michelle Devore the Best Speech Winner. Congratulations!
Joanna Knott evaluated Michelle’s speech with enthusiasm and pointed out a well-organized and perfectly delivered presentation.
Well, well, well! Looks who is back: Nina Minary! And she did it again! Minary delivered another thoughtful, positive and inspiring speech. In her project #9 from the Competent Communicator manual titled “Gratitude – Do it every day”, Minary told us how important it is to be grateful every day, not only around Thanksgiving, and how sometimes hardship, or a bang on a head must happen so we can realize how many good people and things surround us. Nina presented each Club member a gratitude rock to help us remember that we ought to be thankful, and not take things for granted. Nina is one speech away from completing her Competent Communicator manual, and we will celebrate when she reaches her goal. Good luck Nina!
Michelle Devore’s evaluation of Nina’s speech was very thorough and insightful.
Joanna Knott started her presentation with an arts and crafts activity, handing each person in the audience a piece of paper and a crayon. “My first origami” was a demonstration project from the Speaking to Inform manual, one of two advanced manuals Joanna is working on towards her next goal: ACS. When the audience finished their simple origami, Joanna explained that many people learn by observation and imitation. If you strive to be a good manager, instructor or parent, make sure your employees, students or children get hands-on experience, so they can learn in a more efficient way. This is what we do in Toastmasters too – we practice communication and leadership. Sitting in the audience and observing is great, but being on the stage and practicing is even better.
Bill Morgan evaluated Joanna’s speech and this time gave her a decent grade.
Would you like to work on a more challenging project? Are the advanced manuals you picked boring? Talk to Bill Morgan. His monodrama presentation from Love’s Labour’s Lost by Shakespeare was one of the most difficult projects we have witnessed in a long time. Morgan said: “I was pretty lost on what to pick. Monodrama is hard because there aren’t many pieces out there with duration as long as required – Shakespeare tends to have long-winded ones. The first bit was funnier than I read it, and the second bit was much more whimsical and happy than I showed. Sandy Marthaler did a great job in her evaluation – I think the strangeness of the language and my nervousness did not connect me to the audience and I think everyone felt that”. Kudos to you Bill, for selecting such hard, but very poetic, romantic, and inspiring piece. We don’t get to experience Shakespeare that often!
You were probably wondering what the Table Topics Irish-style look like. No, there was no alcohol involved, as we meet at the SE Christian Church. When visiting Toastmasters clubs in Dublin, Ireland, Bill Morgan was inspired by the level of questions that were being asked, and decided to test it out in our Club. The questions touched on politics, history, taxes, community work, traits of character of former US presidents. It was decided that our Club needs to move to the next level when it comes to Table Topics; no more fuzzy and simple questions. Table Topics are about impromptu speech and you never know when you may be asked a difficult question in front of others. Practice makes master, and again, Parker Toastmasters in the best place to learn.
Participants in these challenging Table Topics included: Everett D’Anjou, newest member of the Club; Michelle Devore, Irini Dobeck (Best Table Topics Winner); and Bill Bovard.
The meeting would be incomplete without these important roles:
Timer – Irini Dobeck
Ah Counter / Grammarian – Nina Minary
Vote Counter – Cole Mayer
General Evaluator- Joanna Knott
We missed a few Club members, including Jodi Michael Horner who is getting ready for the Mrs. Colorado Pageant as I write this, and we wish her all the best on Saturday, February 25th. May she charm the judges and the audience with her brilliant and witty answers. Good luck Jodi!
So, if you are still on the fence whether you should join Parker Toastmasters or not, come and visit us on March 8th which is the International Speech and Table Topics Contest Night. You will not regret.
Truly yours,
Joanna Knott
President