Dyehard Toastmasters

Meeting Recap – November 3, 2009

We had a great meeting last night with Bert Freeman serving as a wonderful Toastmaster. Ken Levra gave us a very heartfelt speach entitled Tic Tac Toe and Jada Criswell has all of us laughing with her speech “Boys and Their Toys.”

Emily Lowrance was our Table Topics Master and sparked some heated debate between Charles Hutson and Chad Bordeaux regarding Twitter. Chares asserted that it was a waste of time, while Chad detailed examples of how he has grown his business and strengthened business and personal relationships with its use.

All in all, it was an awesome meeting!

Meeting Recap: September 22,2009

toastmasters-football-theme-meeting We had a great theme meeting last night – FOOTBALL! We inducted our two newest members into the club, Kelvin Smith and Joseph Salloum. WELCOME GENTLEMEN!! Mr. Jeff McNeill visited our club and will be a participant in our Career Advancement Planning Seminar that we are doing over the next four weeks.

Our first time Toastmaster of the evening:　 Ms Jada Criswell, did an excellent job keeping the meeting running smoothly. Lateefah Holley was our humorist. We had two great speakers, Chad Bordeaux gave a speech entitled; “Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched.” The subtitle could have been “Hardees and Jack Daniels: What more could you want!”

Charles Hutson gave his “Icebreaker” last night. It was entitled; “Full circle”. For an “Icebreaker” Charles demonstrated great poise, even when a cell phone rang. How inconsiderate!! Oops it was my cell phone, SORRY Charles! You gave a great presentation and I look forward to hearing your future speeches.

I was General Evaluator. Bert evaluated Charles. Lateefah evaluated Chad’s speech.

We are in the process of developing a template for our meetings. We want to continue to have consistently great meetings week after week. Jada is putting in a great deal of effort in this process and we thank her. We are also planning theme meetings like Khaled suggested and skip the prepared speeches and do impromptu speaking or have a debate. Pepsi or Coke? Toliet paper over or under, or any other pertinent topic that comes up. The important thing is: THIS CLUB LISTENS TO ITS MEMBERS AND WILL FOSTER GROWTH WHEREVER AND WHENEVER POSSIBLE!!!

Congratulations to US!!! We have achieved the Smedley Award. We have had 5 new members join our club since July 1^st. We even had a member who has been visiting the Big Apple return to our club at tonight’s meeting, Emily!!!! Welcome back!! 　Bert will e-mail roles out soon. Please remember “CAPS” begins this Monday night at Lutheran Chapel Church. Please come out and support us.

Meeting Recap: August 25, 2009

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! Join like Charles Hutson who 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!

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!!

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!

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!

Meeting Recap: August 19th, 2009

We had an enjoyable meeting last night. We had two guests; Ms. GiGi Sampson our Area Governor visited our club and Mr. Thomas Choat visited our club. Chad was the Toastmaster of the evening and did his “standard great job”. We accomplished one of the most important functions of a Toastmaster Club tonight, we inducted a new member. Ms. Gewreka Robertson was inducted into the club! We welcome you Gewreka! Her mentor will be me.

We had two prepared presentations tonight. Bert Freeman gave a presentation tonight that was part status report/ part motivational speech and 100% great. He discussed how his organization received a government contract and how he assembled his team to train a new generation of military personnel. A generation whose viewpoints are very different from those of the baby-boomers viewpoints and it is difficult to meet the same expectations of the two groups.

Great job, Bert!!

I gave the second prepared speech. It was “Mentoring”. What is a mentor? Why do we need them? Are they only needed in Toastmasters? A mentor to paraphrase a friend’s quote “Is someone who gets you through your first three speeches. They are a resource for information, a pat on the back for a job well-done, and the character from a children’s book. They are the little train engine that says I think you can, I think you can!!” I appreciate the positive responses I received from the club.

Jada was our “Table Topics Master” and Mike Keever won the most laughter award tonight. Jada asked Mike if you belong to an organization that was hiring and a friend who would be a poor worker for the job asked if you were hiring what would you do. Mike’s response was to LIE and state no positions are open at this time.

Our General Evaluator was Ann Dawson. GiGi evaluated Bert’s speech. I was impressed because GiGi’s evaluation was without notes. She also stated how body language really enhanced Bert’s speech.

Bert will be e-mailing the roles for next week’s meeting,

Action Points:

September 15th will be the Club’s Humorous Speech Contest/ Evaluation Contest.

We are looking ahead for January’s Public Speaking Seminars and volunteers to assist us.

We had an enjoyable meeting last night. We had two guests; Ms. GiGi Sampson our Area Governor visited our club and Mr. Thomas Choat visited our club. Chad was the Toastmaster of the evening and did his “standard great job”. We accomplished one of the most important functions of a Toastmaster Club tonight, we inducted a new member. Ms. Gewreka Robertson was inducted into the club! We welcome you Gewreka! Her mentor will be me.

We had two prepared presentations tonight. Bert Freeman gave a presentation tonight that was part status report/ part motivational speech and 100% great. He discussed how his organization received a government contract and how he assembled his team to train a new generation of military personnel. A generation whose viewpoints are very different from those of the baby-boomers viewpoints and it is difficult to meet the same expectations of the two groups.

Great job, Bert!!

I gave the second prepared speech. It was “Mentoring”. What is a mentor? Why do we need them? Are they only needed in Toastmasters? A mentor to paraphrase a friend’s quote “Is someone who gets you through your first three speeches. They are a resource for information, a pat on the back for a job well-done, and the character from a children’s book. They are the little train engine that says I think you can, I think you can!!” I appreciate the positive responses I received from the club.

Jada was our “Table Topics Master” and Mike Keever won the most laughter award tonight. Jada asked Mike if you belong to an organization that was hiring and a friend who would be a poor worker for the job asked if you were hiring what would you do. Mike’s response was to LIE and state no positions are open at this time.

Our General Evaluator was Ann Dawson. GiGi evaluated Bert’s speech. I was impressed because GiGi’s evaluation was without notes. She also stated how body language really enhanced Bert’s speech.

Bert will be e-mailing the roles for next week’s meeting,

Action Points:

September 15th will be the Club’s Humorous Speech Contest/ Evaluation Contest.

We are looking ahead for January’s Public Speaking Seminars and volunteers to assist us.

Remember to bring your Competent leader manual to all club meetings so you can be evaluated fulfilling your roles.

We had an enjoyable meeting last night. We had two guests; Ms. GiGi Sampson our Area Governor visited our club and Mr. Thomas Choat visited our club. Chad was the Toastmaster of the evening and did his “standard great job”. We accomplished one of the most important functions of a Toastmaster Club tonight, we inducted a new member. Ms. Gewreka Robertson was inducted into the club! We welcome you Gewreka! Her mentor will be me.

We had two prepared presentations tonight. Bert Freeman gave a presentation tonight that was part status report/ part motivational speech and 100% great. He discussed how his organization received a government contract and how he assembled his team to train a new generation of military personnel. A generation whose viewpoints are very different from those of the baby-boomers viewpoints and it is difficult to meet the same expectations of the two groups. Great job, Bert!!

I gave the second prepared speech. It was “Mentoring”. What is a mentor? Why do we need them? Are they only needed in Toastmasters? A mentor to paraphrase a friend’s quote “Is someone who gets you through your first three speeches. They are a resource for information, a pat on the back for a job well-done, and the character from a children’s book. They are the little train engine that says I think you can, I think you can!!” I appreciate the positive responses I received from the club.

Jada was our “Table Topics Master” and Mike Keever won the most laughter award tonight. Jada asked Mike if you belong to an organization that was hiring and a friend who would be a poor worker for the job asked if you were hiring what would you do. Mike’s response was to LIE and state no positions are open at this time.

Our General Evaluator was Ann Dawson. GiGi evaluated Bert’s speech. I was impressed because GiGi’s evaluation was without notes. She also stated how body language really enhanced Bert’s speech.

Bert will be e-mailing the roles for next week’s meeting,

Action Points:

September 15th will be the Club’s Humorous Speech Contest/ Evaluation Contest.

We are looking ahead for January’s Public Speaking Seminars and volunteers to assist us.

Remember to bring your Competent leader manual to all club meetings so you can be evaluated fulfilling your roles.

Meeting Wrap-Up – August 11, 2009

We had an enjoyable meeting tonight. For those of you who were unable to attend tonight, we missed you. We started the evening with a guest who is co-chair of the Toastmasters Fall Conference to be held in Asheville this year. Her name was Susan Stewart; she was visiting our club to promote the conference and ask for volunteers to assist with the conference. The conference will be held November 6th & 7th at the Doubletree Inn. Additional information may be found in the District 37 Newsletter “The Tarheel Talker” which was recently mailed to all Toastmasters in the state. The information can also be found on the District 37 website: www.toastmasters-nc.org . Susan’s e-mail is: susanestewart@gmail.com .

I had the honor of being Toastmaster tonight. We had two prepared speeches tonight! Jada Criswell gave speech #5 , tonight entitled “Citizen’s Arrest”. Some of Jada’s objectives were to learn the value of gestures and body movements as part of a speech. You nailed this one Jada! I really think if you enhanced your story with suggestions like Mike Weaver gave you during his evaluation you would have a contender for the humorous speech contest. The crux of the story was Jada wasn’t about to let the “bad guy” get away with leaving the scene of an accident. To paraphrase another comedienne; “She got it done!” Her best phrase was she was acting like the “Incredible Hulk on Steroids”. Go Jada!!!

Ken Levra gave the second prepared speech tonight. His speech was entitled “Pass it on”! Do you have a past time or a hobby you really enjoy? How did you learn to do it? Did you have a mentor or buddy to teach you the ropes? This was the central point of Ken’s speech. We must mentor/teach people our passion so they may enjoy the rewards. Ken mentioned his love for hunting and fishing. He mentioned in a ten year period almost a million hunters have left the sport. Ken realizes that the sport is often portrayed as being cruel and inhumane. It is however a sport that prevents the over population of animals like deer and beaver. Ken was taught by a mentor his uncle to respect the wildlife, hunt responsibly and ethically. Points he plans to pass along to future generations. (True story) Ken’s grandson Aidon (sp?) has a tee shirt with a picture of a high chair, underneath it the words: “My first tree stand”. Raise him right Ken!

Chad Bordeaux was our Table Topics Master. His theme was “Gilligan’s Island”. Ron Crews admitted he was really the “Professor” in disguise. Jada said if she wasn’t rescued from a tropical island that would be fine with her. Mike stated that the television and his computer were the only modern conveniences he would miss besides a shower.

There will be a new agenda being e-mailed in the next day or two. We will have a full meeting on August 18th. I will be presenting an “educational module”, Bert will be speaking and I believe we will have a new member induction ceremony, with Ms. Gewreka Robertson joining our ranks. Mr. Tony Treece may visit our club and we look forward to meeting you Tony!!

We had an enjoyable meeting tonight. For those of you who were unable to attend tonight, we missed you. We started the evening with a guest who is co-chair of the Toastmasters District 37 Fall Conference to be held in Asheville this year. Her name was Susan Stewart; she was visiting our club to promote the conference and ask for volunteers to assist with the conference. The conference will be held November 6th & 7th at the Doubletree Inn. Additional information may be found in the District 37 Newsletter “The Tarheel Talker” which was recently mailed to all Toastmasters in the state. The information can also be found on the District 37 website: www.toastmasters-nc.org.

Susan Stewart discusses the Toastmasters District 37 Fall Conference in Asheville

I had the honor of being Toastmaster tonight. We had two prepared speeches tonight! Jada Criswell gave speech #5 , tonight entitled “Citizen’s Arrest”. Some of Jada’s objectives were to learn the value of gestures and body movements as part of a speech. You nailed this one Jada! I really think if you enhanced your story with suggestions that Mike Keever gave you during his evaluation you would have a contender for the humorous speech contest. The crux of the story was Jada wasn’t about to let the “bad guy” get away with leaving the scene of an accident. To paraphrase another comedienne; “She got it done!” Her best phrase was she was acting like the “Incredible Hulk on Steroids”. Go Jada!!!

Ken Levra gave the second prepared speech tonight. His speech was entitled “Pass it on”! Do you have a past time or a hobby you really enjoy? How did you learn to do it? Did you have a mentor or buddy to teach you the ropes? This was the central point of Ken’s speech. We must mentor/teach people our passion so they may enjoy the rewards. Ken mentioned his love for hunting and fishing. He mentioned in a ten year period almost a million hunters have left the sport. Ken realizes that the sport is often portrayed as being cruel and inhumane. It is however a sport that prevents the over population of animals like deer and beaver. Ken was taught by a mentor his uncle to respect the wildlife, hunt responsibly and ethically. Points he plans to pass along to future generations. (True story) Ken’s grandson Aiden has a tee shirt with a picture of a high chair, underneath it the words: “My first tree stand”. Raise him right Ken!

Chad Bordeaux was our Table Topics Master. His theme was “Gilligan’s Island”. Ron Crews admitted he was really the “Professor” in disguise. Jada said if she wasn’t rescued from a tropical island that would be fine with her. Mike stated that the television and his computer were the only modern conveniences he would miss besides a shower.

There will be a new agenda being e-mailed in the next day or two. We will have a full meeting on August 18th. I will be presenting an “educational module”, Bert will be speaking and I believe we will have a new member induction ceremony, with Ms. Gewreka Robertson joining our ranks. Mr. Tony Treece may visit our club and we look forward to meeting you Tony!!