FS Toastmasters

Ron Climer as Table Topics Master watches the parade of august men and women that take on his prompts.  We learn from Toastmaster Betty McCallister, as part of the theme on autumn, that the weather of fall and winter cools down due to the earth tilting away from the sun. The Word Master, "august" Nick Ronningen, provided that respectful word of the day, and his son Caleb was one of the table topic responders.  Joke Master Sally gave a story a patrol officer had never heard before.  Here below left Susann Swan speaks about mentoring, as in her learning about nameology, and Betty continues her Toastmastering transitions on the fall season. Susann spoke on "Why Should I Have a Mentor?" from Pathways Level 2.  Her evaluator was Melinda Lowrance. Josh Gravley spoke on "Preach On" from Pathways Level 1.  His evaluator was Judy Groff.  Below rigth Josh opens his speech and Brad Dienst finishes his table topic.  Brad later announced that...

Here are the Humorous Speech Contest Winners:  Susann Swan, third place; Ron Climer, second place; Josh Gravley, first place. (Photo courtesy of Carole Kitchen.) A special thanks goes to these above contestants and the other two contestants: Karen Alexander and Don Groff.  There was one time disqualification. All the speeches were quite entertaining. Special thanks also to the contest team that mounted the contest, from Contest Master/Chair Stan Coss to Head Judge Judy Groff, to Ballot Counters Nick Ronningen and Betty McCallister, to Timers Sally Jones and Don Glovan, to Sergeant at Arms Melinda Lowrance, to the anonymous judges. Ron Climer's speech, "Put some Humor in your Presentation," gave some helpful humorous tips and anecdotes on adding levity.  His dramatic opening dealt with a toe truck. Susann Swan's speech, "Take Me back to the Ballgame," gave some interesting characters that filled out the team roster of her softball team when Susann ...

From L to R, Wendy Whitaker, Nick Ronningen, and Josh Gravley read the new member pledge under the direction of Caitlin Owens, the VP of Membership. Carole Kitchen as Toastmaster led us on a rollicking good time.  She introduced and transitioned with information on fairs, which was the theme.  Word Master Mary Beth Dallman introduced the superb "rollicking" word, and Danielle Messer read us a joke as Joke Master. Shortly after his new member induction, Josh Gravley introduced himself in a memorable ice-breaker.  It was in the tradition of a stand-up comedian, with great humorous content and smooth delivery.  Betty McCallister was the evaluator. Don Emon gave a speech on his "Cancer History." It traced his continual misdiagnosis and some heroes that persisted in pinpointing the cause and treatment needed.  Don said the lesson was to "be your own hero."  Sally Jones was the evaluator. Table Topics Master Judy Groff reinforced the "f...

a Starring Jeanne Resen and Ron Climer, with a supporting cast including Melinda Apple, Mary B. Gardner, Hoyt Zone,  Karen Cake and Countess Danielle Messer.  Director Sally Jones, Executive Producer Susann Swan, Grammartographer Molly Garnett, and Timarian Don Groff. Sally Jones opened with the theme of fall and gave Carole Kitchen the role of  Joke Master and that of Word Master to Stan Coss.  It was a "delightful" meeting up until the end when Susann Swan had to play casting director for the next meeting.  Filling roles can be so much easier if members would simply go online and sign themselves up! Jeanne Resen's leading role was to speak in a persuasive and credible way about a topic.    She did use the "delightful" word of the day at the opening but then focused her content on a somewhat unsavory subject: food that may not be good for our bodies to process.  She had on  display nicely packaged snacks and cereals. (Insert disclai...

The Evaluation Contest was won by Molly Garnett, a relative newcomer.  Former Toastmaster Nathan Garnett would have been especially proud to see his mom speak so eloquently, and that after just five minutes of preparation time!     Veterans Judy Groff and Karla Reese also performed very ably, winning second and third place respectively.  Two other relative newcomers, Carole Kitchen and Caitlin Owens, also evaluated effectively in the short time frame allowed.  Unfortunately, one had to be disqualified in running just short of the time minimum of 90 seconds.     Karen Alexander acted as Contest Master, orchestrating all the various movements and directing all the supporting players into one smooth-flowing composition.     Chief judge was Susann Swan. Sergeant at Arms was Sally Jones. Timers were Don Glovan and Don Groff.  Ballot-counters were Melinda Lowrance and Stan Coss. The test speaker was Area Director Bryan Smith.  He d...

Two amazing ice-breakers were given by two young Toastmasters that would have inspired a global audience.  Sadly, just the Four Seasons audience was available at the time.  But what a time it was!  Toastmaster Stan Coss had chosen the theme of "evaluation," and both speeches were aglow with glows and had very few grows. Hoyt Griffith had us all "ponder" on using his word of the day.  Vicky Balson gave a very nicely paced, well-described joke that drew immediate laughs at the punchline. Ice-breaker Caitlin Owens spoke on "Networking- the Uncomfortable Key to Success."  She said the keys to making a connection and building community were to have confidence, intuition, and communication.  Evaluator Judy Groff gave numerous glows, saying Caitlin had "nailed it."  She did suggest Caitlin cut down on the movement or pacing. Danielle Messer, whose three images emblazon this site, broke ice about topics of her past, present, and ...

The title and feature photo, using Sally's theme, Susann's verb, and Don Groff's table topics, capture today's meeting.  Toastmaster Sally Jones took a phrase from a Toastmaster Magazine to say that "if you're not changing, then you're not growing.  Don Emon started the humor going with his joke using  jumper cables.   Judy Groff continued on with great energy as the sole prepared speaker on communication styles.  One anecdote dealt with her wanting to get things moving but stepping back to let scheduling unfold with Mary Beth's great offer of the classroom and the alternate conference room.  Stan Coss gave an evalution that included praise for her organization and a tip on transitioning.    Don Groff continued on Toastmaster Sally's tag team using the "change" theme.  His table topic prompts  enabled seven members and two guests to be put on the spot. Jim Jones, Sally's husband, is an occasional guest and super ho...