Meeting Recap: August 25, 2009
Our Toastmaster this evening was Bert Freeman. Bert also did an “improvisational moment” as humorist. Man stories about kids and grandkids are great!
Bert Freeman speaks at a Dyehard Toastmasters Meeting. Bert was the Toastmaster on August 25, 2009.
Ron Crews was our first “performer”, I mean speaker tonight. His speech was full of thoughtful tid-bits about giving a speech or performance that connects with the audience. Tell a story/ make a point, tell another story and make another point. He also mentioned humor is a great pressure reliever when giving a serious performance. Injecting just a little humor goes a long way! He mentioned even at funerals humor is a way to relieve the grief. I agree I attended a funeral for a very dear older lady; she was like a second grandmother to me. The priest spoke of all the traditional stuff and then pulled out a coffee cup and cigarette and acted like he was going to smoke. That was the lady’s persona and he hit it on the head. Humor WORKS!!
We had an enjoyable meeting tonight. There was synergy in the room, brought to us by Gewreka Robertson. Synergy was the word of the day. Its definition is the combined effort being greater than its parts. If that doesn’t reflect the Dye-Hard Toastmasters Club, I don’t know what does! Thank you Gewreka!! We had THREE guests tonight; Charles Hutson, Dawn Harris, and Dave Blazek we welcome you and hope you will return to visit or join! Charles Hutson joined and will be inducted at the September 1st meeting. Welcome to the Dye-Hard Toastmasters Charles!
Our Toastmaster this evening was Bert Freeman. Bert also did an “improvisational moment” as humorist. Man stories about kids and grandkids are great! Ron Crews was our first “performer”, I mean speaker tonight. His speech was full of thoughtful tid-bits about giving a speech or performance that connects with the audience. Tell a story/ make a point, tell another story and make another point. He also mentioned humor is a great pressure reliever when giving a serious performance. Injecting just a little humor goes a long way! He mentioned even at funerals humor is a way to relieve the grief. I agree I attended a funeral for a very dear older lady; she was like a second grandmother to me. The priest spoke of all the traditional stuff and then pulled out a coffee cup and cigarette and acted like he was going to smoke. That was the lady’s persona and he hit it on the head. Humor WORKS!!
Our second speaker was Lateefah Holly. I believe this was her fourth or fifth speech. She role played with the audience and she was the principal. The audience was parents of Toastmaster High School students. She challenged the parents to sit down with their children and come up with some goals, and write them down. The goals could be academic or personal and write them down on index cards and keep one set posted at home and one set at school. Make action plans to achieve those goals. Then review those goals as the year progresses. I think that is a plan we all should do!! Lateefah I apologize I didn’t get the quote verbatim, but you mentioned Helen Keller and quote that is so sad for people “to have sight but no vision.” That added a great deal to your presentation.
I was the General Evaluator. Jada evaluated Ron’s speech. She did something which I thought was great, she asked the audience if they had “connected” with Ron’s performance and they did. Khaled was Lateefah’s evaluator and did a good job. He also reminded me that Toastmasters doesn’t eliminate the butterflies, but makes them fly in formation to help you speak enthusiastically and with energy. Anne Dawson was our ah/counter and grammarian. Chad was timer tonight.
Action Points:
1. E-mail Bert your educational goals for the upcoming year.
2. Meeting on Thursday at Alfred & Charlies 6-7pm “Operation CAPS”
3. Next week; Gewreka will giving her “Icebreaker” and Charles will be inducted!!
4. Wear your college school colors, college football is our theme!
