FS Toastmasters

    A hearty seven had plenty of room to socially distance on September 19th.  The party started at 2:00 and flowed so well that even the one short-sleeved guest didn't think of leaving until 4:15. Sally and Jim were gracious hosts and even relayed how they first met when inquiring minds like Jeanne wanted to know.   2019: Last year's September Hosting at the Joneses was a splendid outing.   Directions to the Toastmasters Social Outing,  929 E. Tracy Grove Rd, Flat Rock 28731  Be careful as some GPS's will take you astray. From 4 Seasons Blvd. Take Dana Road Make right onto Tracy Grove Rd take to the end. At stop sign go straight across Take first right on to East Tracy Grove Rd to stop sign go straight across We are the 4th house on the left.  Horse in front pasture. House is tan with green trim. From I 26 Take Upward Road toward Dana From Upward Road make left onto East Tracy Grove Road (3 miles from I26) We are the 3rd house on right....

  In Attendance:  Jeanne Resen, Karen Alexander, Brad Deinst, Judy Groff, Don Groff, Dick Miley, Susann Swan, Sally Jones, Ron Climer, Hoyt Griffith, Betty McAllister, Melinda Lowrance, James Bender, Stan Coss, and guest Mitchell Robinson. Our Toastmaster, Don Groff, began with a timely theme, “Who is That Masked Man?”   He intertwined stories of Pandemic masks with the infamous Lone Ranger, the ultimate Masked Man. Our newest Toastmaster, Dick Miley, shared his passion with a delightful tale on a few of his bicycling experiences.  My favorite was the Rocky Mountain adventure with the wild goats demanding a toll of stacks, apples and oranges. As Dick progressed through stopped traffic, the goats followed him, releasing the cars to proceed.  I evaluated Dick’s WHY speech and thoroughly enjoyed learning more about his bicycling adventures.  We now know WHY. Jeanne Resen, our resident thespian,  charmingly share several stage experiences, one of whic...

Toastmaster Brad Dienst gave interesting insights and interludes into longevity, and Word Master Susann Swan supported the theme with "venerable."  Joke Master Betty McCallister incited laughter with a teenage son whose father with the wisdom of Solomon withheld driving privileges:  if Jesus and others of his time had long hair, that did not mean the teen could forego cutting his hair and still get a car to drive.  Jesus and others also did not have motorized vehicles. Speaker Stan Coss converted his back pocket speech before another club two weeks ago into a Pathways project that emphasized body movement.  His title was "These Black Lives, especially, Mattered."  He explained how three people gave lessons in a life that mattered.       Truth be told, the slide used above, along with the mule, was much smaller than Stan recalls.  The mule at times had to pull a rubber-tired wagon loaded with green tobacco leaves, not just thr...

Ray Daley premiered as Toastmaster on July 10, 2020.  On his theme of baseball, he mentioned a story of Jackie Robinson who felt all alone before a riotous, insulting crowd.  One teammate crossed over part of the field to help him and silence the crowd.    This has some real relevance to our Toastmaster club. How you ask?  Well, we have one lone speaker, one speaker only to face a wide audience.  That speaker is the only one that has signed up for the next four months of speaking! ! !  One lone speaker  for four months. Do we have such a riotous, insulting audience that speakers are afraid to speak.  Of course not!  So, why not offer to help that speaker and help that audience and  sign up right now online.  Just cross on over to the online schedule and support our club with this gesture.  Our club cannot exist without speakers, and that is the one role that you will never  be "voluntold" t...

Toastmaster Hoyt Griffith chose "Transitions" with the new officers pledging to fulfill their new roles.  Don #1 Groff whittled down his gavel to a sharp point to better track the finances as treasurer. Don #2 Glovan, the man with the thousand backgrounds, is new to being Sergeant-at-Arms, but he'll be a cinch to keep things under control.  He served as joke master for today and even sang his punchline.  Carole Kitchen can be counted on to safely welcome new members as the VP Membership. President Susann Swan passes on her leadership to President-Elect Karen Alexander, who's been second in command all year.  (Better photos of the officers should be forthcoming once in person.) Jeanne Resen gave her ice-breaker as she is ready to start her second Pathway in "Engaging with Humor."  She dealt with the theme of  "Who is the Real Jeanne?"  Early on in her marriage she said she'd discovered that the root of all religion is the ...

Sally Jones, as Toastmaster, decided to extend her own family vacation by making that the theme.  There were scores of images of family vacations at the beach, but that would not have worked with the virtual background that the major speaker used.  So, bikes will do here and also call up Dick Miley's favorite topic of cycling.   While much of the Apple Festival will be modified or shut down for Labor Day, the Tour d’Apple will continue as one of the events.  More is given at the end. Melinda Lowrance was the joke master, and Karen Alexander presented a well-used word of the day, "summer." Stan Coss gave his final speech for the Gold on the old legacy system by focusing on the new delivery system of Pathways.  Joining him in the role play of a cold sale scenario, Betty McCallister took the part of an investor on the Shark Tank.  Stan pitched the product all members have bought but only a few have bought in to: Pathways.    ...

Toastmaster Karen Alexander chose cookies as the theme, in part, she said, because it was National Peanut Butter Cookie Day.   It probably was also a relief and comfort from all the recent news.  Joke master Stan Coss gave a journal of some jokes on the pandemic, he said, to try to get back the power. Don Groff had previously spoken in tribute to a role model in George Wingfield, and today Don spoke of the personal influence of another Reidsville legend, Leo Rentz.  Don said he'd proudly worn his little league jersey with  Rentz Oil and Mickey Mantle's number seven on the back.  Mr. Rentz    had become a wealthy man with his resourcefulness in putting out wildcat fires with dynamite.   Don had first met him at a Rotary Club luncheon when  Rentz had presented Don with an award for being an outstanding student athlete and citizen.  In 1970 Don had accepted a job to learn the oil business for a year before he decided to...