It's Time to Hit the Road!

The meeting today was planned to be a dry run for a workshop we are hoping to do for the Chamber of Commerce members on June 7. We are prepared after today to do it for them or take to other businesses or organizations as an outreach to educate about Toastmasters.

We had a visitor today in Stanley Yurth who is in sales. He was very helpful in giving feedback about the quality and format of the workshop.

Betty McCallister served as Leader of the workshop after Don Groff did our customary opening of thought for the day and pledges. Judy Groff conducted an Ice Breaker to help members become better acquainted and ready to learn. Everybody was asked to get up and find someone to share two things: 1) what do they really like about living in Hendersonville; 2) what do they like most about Toastmasters. Judy explained that this will be very close to what will take place at the workshop.

Jackie Branscum did a speech on “The Bare Bones of an Effective Presentation”. This will serve as the meat for organizing the speech. It will be followed by an exercise conducted by Judy that will engage participants in utilizing the points Jackie makes in her speech.

The next speaker was Don Groff doing his speech, “Pickles” which is about communicating effectively. Don used a story to capture the importance of communicating effectively and the tools of voice, gestures, and body language. After Don finished, Judy followed with a small group discussion of what he did that captured their attention and made the speech memorable.

Stan Coss followed with a speech about making a speech interesting. The core of his speech was on collecting personal stories and using them in speeches. Stan had an exercise included in his presentation, but at the workshop, Judy will follow-up with another short exercise to make his ideas personal for each participant.

Melinda filled in impromptu fashion with a speech on Why she joined Toastmasters. At the workshop that portion will be followed with a sharing in triads of personal goals in speaking.

 And what would a TM meeting of any sort be without table topics!  Karla Reese did great pinch hitting to fill in with assorted, challenging prompts.

The meeting ended with a quick feedback session. 


Newcomer Stanley and Old-timer Stan speak with Jackie and Betty,
two of the coordinators for the "touring" show.

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