FS Toastmasters

Sally Jones presided over our meeting and let the Toastmaster warmth work its magic inside while the cold, icy sort of day outside had county schools delayed. Jeanne Resen enacted a killer parrot joke for our entertainment before the main speakers. Don Emon gave a speech entitled, “How to Become a Poet,” which was accompanied by handouts to the audience by his faithful assistant and wife, Deanne.  Don gave the audience a formula from which to write a poem. One of the handouts was his latest Valentine’s Day poem to Deanne. Don analyzed his poem for the audience, using his formula. (It really is a simple means to start and refine a poem. Give it a try!) Judy Groff’s speech, titled “Oh the places we'll go”  started with the opening of Dr. Seuss's book of the same name.   Her speech is designed to inspire the audience about overcoming fear and developing a team to be successful.  She described her own struggle with managing MS. Judy hopes t...

Susann Swan debuted as Toastmaster of the Day.  She gave us the history of Valentine’s Day and how it is celebrated around the world.  She also discussed the commercial aspect of it with examples from the Godiva Chocolate Company.   In closing, she invited the attendees to consider sending a valentine to someone who may not receive one tomorrow.   Music, chocolates, and blank valentine cards were a part of the meeting as well.  Don Groff had the audience in laughter with his watermelon joke to set the tone of the meeting. Ron Climer delivered his speech, “Bigger Than Life,” about knowing his father, who died when Ron was two, by his family‘s colorful stories about him.  Stan Coss delivered the second speech of the meeting,”The Neglected Art of Compromise”, offering examples from his personal life and Daniel Webster and Humpty Dumpty to help resolve our nation’s political stalemates. Following the two main speeches, Michael Thompson s...

Jeanne, as Joke Master, told of a parrot put in the freezer. Theme for the day:  Cold;    Word of the day: Glacial;   Toastmaster: Sally Jones Eyes and Ears Team:   Ah Counter- Melinda; Grammarian – Judy; Word Master – Judy; Timer - Don Sergeant Melinda gathered us at 8 am to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.   President Judy welcomed the three guests attending the meeting.   This week’s toastmaster, Sally Jones, described the building of the Eiffel Tower in Paris for the world’s fair, and the cold reception it received from the Parisians, before introducing the two speakers of the day. Not one to shy away from profound topics, Don Emon engaged the audience with his speech, A Model for Understanding Our Lives.   Don explained evolutionary psychology as it pertains to our drive to survive and our drive to reproduce.   He cited examples ranging from home security to clothing to our sense of tribe with others....

This morning, our club was the Toast of Pardee Hospital. On the last Wed. of Feb., March, and April, the FSTM will hold its regular meeting in the orientation room at Pardee to introduce hospital employees to the world of Toastmasters and to enable them to participate and join our club. Jeanne Resen served as the Toastmaster of the day and her theme was “Personal Growth.” The Eyes and Ears team for the day was: Margaret Dav is , Word Master; Sally Jones,   Joke Master; Judy Groff, Grammarian; Ah  Counter, Melinda; Timer, Susann Swan.   Margaret’s word for the day was “tenacious.” Michael Thompson delivered his speech, "Being Grateful", as a practice run before he has to deliver this speech before the Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 8.   Michael was inspired for his speech from member Stanley Yurth’s speech several weeks ago about feeling gratitude for his life.   Stan Coss evaluated Michael’s speech, offering glow and grow suggestions. ...

Michael Thompson relives his kneeling on one knee in his wedding proposal to his wife-to-be.  He was prompted in his table topic to say whether a marriage should be forever.  He gave a resounding yes and told how he planned out his elaborate, heartfelt proposal. Judy Groff was Toastmaster using the theme of "Plan B."  Michael's Word of the Day was "adaptable."  Stan Coss was Joke Master. Don Groff was Table Topics Master, Melinda Lowrance was Grammarian, Timer was Jeanne Resin, Ah-Counter was Susann Swan, and Karla Reese was GE/TTE. Ron Climer gave his storytelling advanced manual speech on "You Can Make a Difference; I Did."    Using the Storytelling manual, Ron told how he was able to change the method used to qualify realtors to teach.  Because of his efforts the criteria have been changed. One grow that Karen Alexander had in Ron Climer’s evaluation is one that we all can put to good use.    “Do not grow roots on sta...

We are making a transition with the officer that is to act as the interim secretary.  In lieu of minutes, here's the agenda.  The only addition is that Ron Climer filled in as the grammarian.

     It was the first gathering for the new year: a great one, even if small in attendance.  Many members were currently under the weather or had even more severe health issues.  Melinda had laryngitis but did her best to lead us in the pledge of allegiance.  Here she embraces Don and Diane just as they had to leave for a pressing appointment.      What do you do when you are prompted to speak with no preparation?  Do you pivot or do you press on full steam ahead?  Do you let yourself be vulnerable?  Jeanne Resen, the leader of this meeting on table topics, advised to simply bear on with the truth.      Today's meeting had some deep truth-seeking, some flights of fancy, and some missed opportunities.  It all comes with the territory, especially when it is uncharted territory.        Participants drew some very challenging topics from a bag, spoke for one to two minutes with timekee...