FS Toastmasters

Toastmaster Stan Coss, based on Judy Groff's aim to educate new members, conducted the meeting by having role-takers sum up their roles, beginning with his as Toastmaster.  Word master Ron Climer followed with his word of the day (tutelage); grammarian, Amy Sahf; ah counter, Michael Thompson; timer, Sally Jones. Joke Master Hoyt Griffith gave advice about how to create jokes and sources for  inspiration and segued into a dog joke. Stan gave Jeanne's introduction that included her objectives for the icebreaker speech, titled “Who Am I?” She described her family statistics and showed the audience the three books that she has written. She also showed the audience one of her paintings. Stan introduced Susann Swan who explained the role of the table topics master.  Her responders were the following: Don Groff revealing his favorite teacher and coach; Amy Sahf, describing the music classes that she used to teach at Blue Ridge Community College and the sales class sh...

Despite construction delays in traffic for members along Highway 191and adjusting to a new location, the Four Seasons Toastmaster meeting began on time at 8 am at our new location in the video conference room at Pardee Hospital. Stan Coss convened the meeting for a few minutes before Toastmaster Judy Groff arrived. Judy spoke about today’s theme: Taxes. She described different types of taxes, such as: income, sales, luxury, excise, vehicle, and inheritance. She also mentioned celebrities with tax fraud problems naming Al Capone, Pete Rose, Willie Nelson, O.J. Simpson, and M.C. Hammer.  Joke Master Jeanne told a tax joke, in keeping with the theme, about a goldfish granting the finder a villa. Judy introduced Speaker #1, Ron Climer. Ron presented the speech, “Some Things I’ve Learned,” which he will be delivering in the District speech contest on April 6 in Asheville. Joseph gave his icebreaker speech, describing the phases of his life, his military experience, ...

It was the first meeting that resonated with its new location.  Toastmaster Karla Reese spoke on the theme of renewal, letting things go, exercise, breathing Audrey Hepburn, and people needing to be revived and restored more than things. The Grammarian and Word Master was Sally Jones.  The word of the day was: restoration Joke Master Michael gave a tale of a genie that was not restorative but retributive, based on the wishes of an ex-wife.  The Ah Counter was  Jeanne Resen and the Timer was Don Groff. 22 people attended this meeting; 18 members have now officially paid up for the April-September cycle. Judy welcomed the members and visitors.  Today was the last of a series of end-of-the month meetings held at the orientation room of Pardee Hospital.  Next week, on April 5, we will begin our official relocation to Pardee to hold our meetings at 8 am on Fridays at the adjacent video conference room. Don Emon and Mel...

President Judy was eloquent in presenting the concerns for a possible relocation of our meeting to Pardee Hospital and the potential to expand our membership to ensure we retain quality meetings and our distinguished club status.  Out of the quorum of 14 members, Judy counted 12 voting in favor of meeting at Pardee. The Pardee staff believe that there will be fewer chances of our meeting getting bumped to another room if we meet on Fridays. The next meeting of FSTM will take place at Pardee Hospital on March 27 at 8:00 am.  There will be no further meetings at Lake Pointe Landing at this time. After the March 27 meeting at Pardee, the meeting day will change from Wednesday to Friday, beginning April 5.  The starting time of the meeting will remain the same at 8:00 am. Toastmaster Karen Alexander cultivated the theme of spring with her unique view of the agenda. Jokemaster Susann Swan told a tall tale about Ron Climer’s healing experience at the First Uni...

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...