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Area 62 Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contests

Silver Spring Toastmasters......

You've GOT to be there!

The District 36, Division F Area 62

 

Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contests

Here's the details.......

September 18, 2011 3-5pm

Takoma Park Presbyterian Church

310 Tulip Ave, Takoma Park MD

Doors for Set Up 2pm

Registration Begins 2:30pm

Briefings 2:45pm

Ignite Your Potential......See YOU There!

We have . . . TWO WINNERS!

Congratulations to the winners of our Silver Spring Toastmasters Club 1314 Table Topics and Humorous Speech contests . . . and Bravo/a to all those who participated!

Six contestants came forward for Table Topics, conducted into the room one by one by our Sergeant-at-Arms Robin Bradshaw. Contest Master Merlyn Kettering presented each with the thought-provoking query: What person from the past, present, or imagined future would you most like to meet, and why? We enjoyed thought-filled responses from Andy Jacobs, Drew Kolody, Mary Olowofoyeku, Renee Davis, and Fiona Morrissey . . . and CLARENCE FEATHERSON, whose intriguing two-minute account of the pioneering life of America's first African-American female physician garnered the most votes from our judges.

It was exciting to have three of our newer club members--each of whom has joined within the last year--entertain us with well-prepared Humorous Speech entries. Andy Jacobs, Drew Kolody--double entrants both!--really had us chuckling! But in the end it was SHIRLEY JARVIS, drawing us in with a tale that began darkly--like, really darkly--and then delightfully lightened right up, who emerged as our judges' top choice.

Thanks to Merlyn, and Chief Judge Mike Nolan, our judges, and everyone who enjoyed a fun and enlightening evening as they supported our contestants.

Congratulations, Clarence and Shirley!! We are pleased and proud that you will represent our club in the Area 62 Table Topics and Humorous Speech Contest at 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 18, at Takoma Park Presbyterian.

First meeting full of verve and vigor!

Thanks again, everyone who participated, for kicking off our new Silver Spring Toastmasters year con BRIO last Wednesday evening!

We lived up to that excellent Word of the Evening that Renee Davis shared with us--so much so that most of the photos I snapped came out a blur! (Likely there's an iPhone setting to take care of that . . . will explore further, or try taking video next time! :)

Featured here is the sole posed photo--of 2011-12 Silver Spring Toastmasters Club 1314 officers Pauline Brown, VP Education; Desiree Payne, VP Membership; Maxiine Blanks, VP Public Relations; Andy Jacobs, Secretary; Mike Nolan, Treasurer; Shirley Jarvis, Sergeant-at-Arms; and me, Joan Phillips, President--snapped by Merlyn following our installation by immediate Past President, Mel Bayo.

Fittingly, our leadoff meeting featured some new developments . . .

• See the NEW ORANGE NAME TAGS? If you're a member who wasn't able to attend, you'll find one waiting for you at the door at the next meeting. No more hand-scribbled stick-on throwaways, thanks to Shirley!

• Why orange? We introduced OUR NEW CLUB COLOR: ORANGE--a powerful color evocative of activity, fun, socialization, and . . .

• Our 2011-12 CLUB MOTTO: IGNITE YOUR POTENTIAL! as well as member and District Governor Barry Piatt's District 36 motto, BE THE SPARK! and member and Division Governor Una Mae Kettering's Division F motto, FIRE UP!

We also enjoyed some new twists . . .

. . . (and a lot of laughs) as our creative respondents, including William Aley, rose to Table Topics Master Mike Nolan's challenge to concoct a story leading up to the "moral of" he provided them.

. . . as Master Evaluator (and new Area 62 Governor) Mel Bayo expanded on the three excellent evaluations with insightful pointers of his own . . . foreshadowing the You Too Can Become a Great Evaluator theme you'll find at many of our meetings this year.

As always . . .

. . . The meeting featured admirable preparation and delivery by our Toastmaster of the Evening (Pauline).

. . . We were treated to informative and inspired speeches: K.I.S.S. (Keep It Short & Simple) by Maxine, who did!; "Medicaid's Nursing Home Benefit" by Henry Nash (many notes taken); and "We've Got Talents" by Las Vegas International Speech Contest bound Eldon Ralph (GO ELDON!).

. . . Our speakers, and each of us, benefited from perceptive, well articulated evaluations (by Andy Jacobs, Eniola Olowofoyeku, and Merlyn Kettering).

. . . We also received valuable feedback from our Timer (Robin Bradshaw), Grammarian/ Wizard of Ahs (Hoan Dang), and Listener (Shirley Jarvis).

. . . And, of course, we enjoyed great refreshments (thanks to Fiona Morrissey, Marcia Snyder, Una and Merlyn, and other contributors).

Looking forward to seeing you on WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, everybody!

Get to Know the Great Leader Inside You!

Fellow Silver Spring Toastmasters,

It has been a fun year full of growth opportunities for all and high achievement for our club as a whole. I personally thank and commend every member of #1314 for their contribution to our joint success in the 2010-11 Toastmaster year.

You’ve been the embodiment of our club’s tagline: Together We’ve Soared!!!

Want to soar even higher?

Get to know the Great Leader inside you better. Be a Silver Spring Toastmasters club officer in the 2011-12 Toastmaster year!

I can clearly remember my first #1314 meeting in March of 2008. As I walked in the door I was FULL of trepidation. This was a room FULL of accomplished speakers and leaders, what could I bring to the table?

But as the meeting was about to begin, the Sergeant at Arms greeted me with a welcoming smile and introduced himself. Without the safety net he provided my first meeting experience wouldn’t have been the same. That gentleman went on to become Vice President of Education, President and is now our Area 62 Governor. You know him well: Merlyn Kettering.

I was also struck by the eloquence and grace of the club President that evening. She was engaging energetic and, above all, full of encouragement for each member who performed a role and for the club as a whole. She became Area 62 Governor in 2009-10 and is our incoming Division F Governor. You know her well too: Una Kettering.

One of the speakers that night delivered a 7 minute speech with no notes. That was amazing to me! What presence, what casual confidence and WHAT A SENSE OF HUMOR!!! So that’s what a decade or so of taking on Toastmasters speaking and leadership opportunities can do for you. That gentleman was Division F Governor, went on to be Lieutenant Governor of Marketing, Lieutenant Governor of Education and Training and is our incoming District 36 Governor: Barry Piatt.

There are NUMEROUS additional examples of OUTSTANDING Toastmasters Leadership in our club’s history (to those not mentioned here: sorry for holding true to tri-partite structure) and the three described above were chosen so you could convince yourself not only of the importance of taking on club officer roles but the many benefits you’ll enjoy when you do so.

And please understand: those benefits are available to you regardless of how long you’ve been a club member. EVERY great Toastmaster Leader began with their first meeting. In fact, it’s great when new members decide to take on a club officer role right from the start!

To that end: It’s time to nominate club officers for the new Toastmaster year which begins in July.

Please be sure to attend our next meeting which will begin at 6:45 (in order to accommodate the club officer nomination proceedings) and will be followed immediately by our regularly scheduled club meeting from 7:30-9:30.

Also, please visit the Toastmasters International website beforehand to get an understanding of what each of the club officer roles entails.

Get to know the Great Leader inside you!