FS Toastmasters

The tag team of Judy Groff and Don Groff presented a  “Suitcase Ready Boutique Home.” Betty McCallister, Toastmaster of the day, told the audience facts about spring and urged them to catch spring fever.  Joke Master Susann Swan told the humorous story about Dr. Gross, the feisty (word of the day) dentist. The Groff's presentation brought to life their adventure of finding a place to live in Hendersonville and how they used their garage as a retreat while their home was being built.  As they lived in a smaller space, they developed the idea of building smaller homes to help individuals and families get started with home ownership.  Their presentation included photos of two of three boutique homes that they built in Brevard to meet a housing need.    The speech was followed by a question and answer period with the audience. Toastmaster Betty relinquished control to Table topics Master, Jeanne Resen.  She described how she needed to develop qu...

Stan Coss served as the Toastmaster for an unconventional meeting, divided into three “acts.” Don Glovan was Act One, delivering his dynamic leadership pathways speech entitled, “The Honeymoon from Hell.”    Don related the story of how he met his wife when they were both teenagers and their Jamaican honeymoon with him being 18 and naïve.  He was learning how to navigate in life after growing up in a small rural town.   He gave a vivid account his wife’s experience going through illness and going to a local doctor in Jamaica.   To their credit, this couple is still going strong 45 years later. Here Don Glovan prepares for his Act III impromptu table topic. Jeanne gave the evaluation of Don’s speech.   She praised how the chronology made his speech easy to follow, and noted his good eye contact.   She recommended moving around the stage more, and gave suggestions about how to inject more humor into the speech.   Members of the audie...

Pardee Hospital played host once again, and five hospital staffers attended alongside regular members.   Michael Thompson was the Toastmaster of the Day and led off on the theme of "The Concept of Time."  Margaret Davis introduced "juncture" as word of the day, and Don Groff gave his joke of the day.  As you can see the two prepared speakers of the day and the Toastmaster were dressed to impress. Melinda Lowrance gave a very timely speech on "Why We Celebrate Black History Month."  She said the event was first celebrated in a week in February 1926 to encompass the birth days of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.  The celebration was expanded to a month in 1976, the nation's bicentennial.  Her speech was evaluated by Don Emon. Karen Alexander spoke on "Activities in Daily Living."  She said attitude makes all the difference and encouraged her audience to brighten someone's day and greet each day with a smile.  She told of b...

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. ...