FS Toastmasters

    There were clearly three stand-outs in today's meeting for which Carol Walters was Toastmaster:  Dr. Stan Dienst visiting the club he'd been a past member of for more than 10 years; Melinda Lowrance giving her speech on "Women and their Rights; Karla Reese's mastering some very interesting table topics.       Melinda gave a spirited delivery that included some choice words and a mini-speech by Sojourner Truth from 1851.  One memorable Truth was a rebuff of a man of the era saying  women can't have as many rights as men, because Christ wasn't a woman: "Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with it ."      Ron Climer eagerly did the ah-counting, Sally did the grammarian report of all the descriptive language, and Nathan Garnett did the timing.  Betty gave us some mentoring on how we might raise our family count to more than the current 14 members.  Ron did an evaluation for Meli...

      We were short on members today as several were out of town, but we were big on Toastmasters as we TM Jackie assisting TM Melinda.  The Saturday prior we'd had 10 members participate as speakers, role-takers, or audience members at the area contest at Habitat for Humanity in Asheville.  (More details are at    fourseasonstoastmasters.com   .)      "Bliss" was the word of the day described in a triad by word master Carol.  The triad is, of course, a set of three details that amplify a meaning in a momentous, pleasing way.  Co-Toastmaster Melinda Lowrance transitioned from Carol to say it was blissful to be in a meeting of Toastmasters.        Jackie Branscum presented the joke in a first class sort of way.  Ron Climer's speech resounded with laughs, as it was titled "Put some Humor in your Presentations."  Two tips Ron gave were that you can always make fun of yourself and you can always...

After the opening and pledge of allegiance by Don Groff, Sergeant at Arms, President Carol Walters introduced Toastmaster Sally Jones. Don Groff gave a joke about a nun. Since Sally is VP Education, she conducted a brief Awards Ceremony. The following Toastmaster members were recognized for the following accomplishments: Don Groff - Competent Communicator Carol Walters - Competent Leader Stan Coss - Advanced Communicator Bronze Betty McCallister - Advanced Communicator Silver Ivan Beggs - Advanced Communicator Silver Brad Deinst - Competent Communicator Sally Jones - Advanced Communicator Silver The Evaluation Team for the meeting were Judy Groff, Grammarian, Stan Coss, Word Master, Don Glover and Nathan Garnett shadowing as Timer, and Hoyt Griffith as Ah Counter. The word of the day was SOAR. Jackie Branscum did project #6 from the Competent Communicator manual. "Less is More" was her title about getting rid of clutter and stuff one space at the time. Ja...

Hoyt Griffith, Toastmaster chose “April Fools” as the theme. Throughout the meeting, Hoyt sprinkled interesting facts about April Fools Day pranks. We learned that the practice goes back as far as Chaucer. We learned some easy and tame pranks to do this year. He also informed us about a few corporate pranks that have captured attention. As Word Master, Don Groff, picked “pharsophobia” as our word of the day. This means fear of pranks.   Brad Deinst’s joke was something of a prank as well. He had 3 volunteers help from the audience who were not in on the joke! Other members of the Eyes and Ears Team were Nathan Garnett as Grammarian, Jeanne Resen as Ah Counter, and Don Glovan as Timer. Judy Groff did her speech, “Finding my Voice,” that she will do in the Area Contest for the second time. Sally Jones started her evaluation then Hoyt opened the floor for others to pass along evaluative feedback to Judy.  Jackie Branscum also conducted Table Topics around the “Apr...

Stan Coss was Toastmaster and chose  Women’s History Month as the theme. We learned much about “Homer Blanchard,” the first woman in Toastmasters who later became International President. Curiously, it was the men in her club who were her advocates and helped her join under the Homer alias when women were not allowed. We learned more interesting facts about women in leadership positions and other situations during Table Topics. Ron Climer was grammarian, and word master. The word of the day he chose was “bonafide”. It means authentic, genuine. Ah-counter was Melinda Lowrance and Timer was Jackie Branscum. Sally Jones told a very funny joke to get us in the right mind frame. Then Nathan did his Icebreaker. Nathan was funny, articulate and very well organized in his presentation. His title said it all in “Band Nerds, Political Mishaps, and Escaping the Corporate World”. We gave him several standing ovations. Speaker #2 was Rei Fuller, our Division Director and two time D...

After Don Groff, Sergeant at Arms, did the opening Pledge of Allegiance , Carol Walters, President, introduced Judy Groff as Toastmaster. Judy chose “Bring on Springtime!” as the theme. She noted it is also Pi Day, which notes the significance of math in our daily lives. First on the agenda Judy introduced Betty McCallister, VP Membership, to conduct the Induction of New Members Ceremony. We voted to induct Nathan Garnett and Melinda Lowrance as new members.  (Jeanne Resen's induction will come soon; she could not join us today due to the weather.) Following the ceremony Nathan gave us a joke as Jokester. Judy then introduced the Evaluation Team of Don Groff, Timer with Nathan shadowing him; Don Glovan as Ah Counter; Sally Jones, Grammarian and Word Master. Sally presented the Word of the Day as  assume . Judy introduced Stan Coss as Speaker #2. He was doing project 3 from the Advanced Storytelling Manual. He developed this from a TV show called Myth Busters. His ...

Betty McCallister was Toastmaster for our March 7 meeting. The theme she chose was “Looking at things from a different perspective.” Area Director Ed McGowan was special guest. After the opening pledge and comments from President Carol Walters, Toastmaster Betty introduced Ed McGowan to bring remarks from the Area. He reminded us all that dues are due March 31. We need more new members. The other important date he highlighted was the Area Speech Contest to be held at Habitat for Humanity in Asheville on April 7. He also encouraged us to register for the District 37 Conference in Charlotte May 4-6. He said there is an opportunity for the club to sponsor a basket to be auctioned in the Silent Auction as a fundraiser. He said this is a great way to promote our town. Hoyt Griffith told a couple of very humorous jokes involving dogs. The Eyes and Ears Team were the following: Grammarian/ Word Master, Ivan Beggs; Ah Counter, Nathan Garnett, Timer, Sally Jones. The word of the day wa...