FS Toastmasters

Karen Alexander was Toastmaster with the theme of Memorial Day.  Karen also filled in as TTM on that theme when an assigned member did not confirm and was not present.  The other theme even more prevalent was Pathways, as both speakers addressed it as the focus of their speeches. Jeanne Resen made a big hit with her joke on an especially old church member who could truthfully say to the pastor and the whole church that she had no enemies; she had outlived them all.  Special Guest Jairo Rodriguez, zooming from Virginia, said he especially liked the joke.  He'd been invited by President Susann Swan.   Susann said Jairo had persisted in asking and finally having her rejoin a Toastmasters club when she lived in Virginia. Hoyt Griffith gave a speech that was the last one required to earn the Bronze Communication Award in the legacy system.  Congratulations!  Hoyt's speech was titled "The Case Against Pathways."  His goals were to dispel hos...

Toastmaster Jeanne Resen, with her theme of North Carolina, touched on a number of the state's highlights.  Yes, waterfalls like at Dupont was one of them, and that was dealt with in more detail in one of the main speeches.  Sally Jones was the Joke Master. A new-member induction was run by VPE Karen Alexander to make Ray Daley and Blanca Sanchez officially accepted into the fold. Judy Groff spoke on "Unforgettable Mr. Colbertson" in her speech of effective coaching as a process of mentoring.  She said this dignified Southern gentleman set a high standard for mentoring.  He began in helping her find  a place to live 48 years ago in neighboring Polk County.  Her job was to be with Cooperative Extension as a 4-H agent.  Judy discovered the need for a 4-H club in Tryon, and Mr. Colbertson listened to her plan and advised her to seek out Della Jackson, a leader in the black community.  Judy's evaluator was Melinda Lowrance. Karen ...

Toastmaster Melinda Lowrance chose the befitting theme of a tribute to Don Emon, a beloved member who'd passed away on April 25th.  She introduced Don to newer members with an acronym and the word "exuberant," a word many members used to echo their memory of him. President Susann Swan had faith the meeting would take on a decidedly international flavor, as she announced the hope that a prepared speaker from India would join us (Raj popped in at 8:03) and maybe a visitor from Jamaica (not until 9:08 came Jallee).  As joke master Susann spoke of that foreign entity we've become so familiar with, Zoom, and how a club in Texas was conducting meetings in a non-intentionally humorous way. Speaker Sally spoke on "Good Deeds."  Instead of an after-dinner speech, she offered that her speech would be after-breakfast.  She shared four stories of good deeds, expanding on the last one  that involved "Love Packages," the spiritual literature she collects to...

Karen Alexander was Toastmaster with the "Optimistic" theme.  Every Toastmaster goes into a meeting hopeful there will be some truths revealed, some humor shared, some interaction made.  Well, this meeting all these elements overflowing, and more. As Joke Master, Don Glovan shared a number of jokes.  Stan Coss presented the word buoy and buoyant and buoyancy and got seven members to incorporate the optimistic word. Ray Daley was the first speaker and used the title, "What is Education, Anyway?"  In the introduction from Karen, it was explained that Ray's daughter, Caitlin, was to have a big graduation ceremony from Florida State University on this very day, an event cancelled by the COVID-19 pandemic.  The speech contained  the thoughts Ray had told his daughter before she'd gone off to college four years prior, with three boxes of success he hoped she'd check off: 1) getting a good education not marked by grades but interaction with classma...

Unity was the theme of Toastmaster Stan Coss on 4-17.  He was barely afloat in a sea of disunity, after sharing two April anniversaries on the start and end of the Civil War, sharing a screen about the dismal Covid-19 statistics and other epidemics, and sharing a tale of an Asheville Toastmaster club debating the need to say the pledge of allegiance.  That's when Melinda Lowrance threw out a lifeline of some humor as joke master. "Are You Stuck?" was the title of Ron's speech. His opening captured his audience by relating how drivers in western North Carolina were so helpful in a time of crisis.  In times of emergency, Ron explained how it was important to have various  items in your car:  primarily, tire changing equipment like a four-way wrench, a knife, a fire-starter, and cash.  Ron's speech did not have just one evaluator but a roomful in a round-robin.  There was an abundance of glows and a few grows as well.  This was a speech prepa...

This is what one "virtual Easter egg hunt" looks like that is presently ongoing, not on Main Street but on the web.  Children email their guesses on posted photos (shot at Team ECCO Ocean Center & Aquarium's Main Street location) on the number and color of eggs.  The prompt on a virtual Easter egg hunt was given by Table Topics Master Don Groff. Toastmaster Judy Groff again headed up the meeting that was opened with Ray Daley as Joke Master in a series of puns.  "Normal" was the word of the day presented and monitored by Carole Kitchen. Molly Garnett joined her first Zoom at FSTM with a speech on "Life Decisions." This was practice for a speech she is to deliver to the staff at Pardee next week. She spoke of ethics, zero harm, autonomy, and fairness.  Melinda Lowrance was her evaluator. Sally Jones spoke from an advanced manual project with the objective to "Make Them Laugh."  Her title was first announced as "Life in ...

Fifteen Toastmasters shared in this second Zoom.  Not all had tuned in for the start of the pledge, but by the time the flag had  been unfurled, all were ready for Judy Groff to start the fireworks. Adding professional flair to the whole operation was Don Glovan from his green screen studio.  Especially helpful were his timing cards clearly visible to all.  Those on smart phones may still be unable to see anyone but themselves.  But it is quite a social gathering for those using the gallery. Grant Guffey gave his ice-breaker that told of his challenges from an early age in public speaking.  He imagined Toastmasters would mean an old wood-paneled room with musty smells and said he was pleasantly surprised to find an inviting environment to practice before members that were encouraging and representing all walks of life.  Danielle was his evaluator. Ron Climer told in his speech of all the challenges he'd faced, challenges f...