Newsletter for 11-19-7 Meeting

November 21, 2007 by Merrilee Morris.

Wow, what a meeting! I’m still energized, spiritually fed, and just plain overwhelmed at the caliber of our SRT Club Meeting last night. From the moment Keith Schroder called us to order and our Acting President, Paul Johnson, acted, we were in for a totally off-the-chart Toast Master evening. Keith also served as the General Evaluator with Paul Poodt as timer, Mike Himelstein as grammarian, and Kelly Vandever as camera person. Hats off to Kelly as she filmed all four speeches her first time at the lens!

Peter Gibson was our charming and witty Toast Master. He kept the meeting on track with four speakers, even entertained us with jokes he’d learned from his son while the DVDs were formatting. First up to speak was Donna Satchell. She more than inspired us with her speech, The Phone Call. She encouraged each us to make a special effort to thank individuals who had made important differences or contributions to our lives; that it was never too late. She gave a polished, professional and inspirational account of her 15 year in-the-making thank you phone call and the moving written response she had received.

Paul Johnson somehow turned a story telling project into a lesson on the dangers of complacency. His speech, The Bears were NOT Goldilocks’ Problem was entertaining, informative and oh so fun! Paul took an old folk tale and with humor and insight turned it into a unique and contemporary business lesson.

Following a Toast Master Gibson Rui Li teaser, we took a short break enjoying chocolate donuts, deviled eggs, and water.

True to his word, Peter introduced Speaker #3, Rui Li who gave her Icebreaker (audition) speech. With a twinkle in her eye, a sparkle in her voice, and her arms gesturing the way, she zipped us through China, California, and landed us smoothly in Atlanta at the CDC, all under the title of A Generation “X.” We learned what a wonderful Toast Master fanatic she is via humor involving family and friends. Her parents know one word in English; Toastmasters. We know one word in Chinese, Rui.

Next on the program was our 4th speaker, Linda Love. Linda’s title was Flakes. Linda is a baby boomer, who came of age with the Feminist Movement. Her developing career as a news reporter, caught her life up not only covering this movement, but becoming a part of it. She shared many heartfelt thoughts with us about the price many boomer women paid by pursuing careers and listening to the flakes in the feminist movement. Linda’s experience is a moving testament to some of this movements consequences.

Ah, closing time following the Evaluation Team reports, and no one wants the evening to end; not the members in attendance nor our three guests, Osker Hofer, Rui Li and Cindy Light. We move on to Club business and unanimously vote Rui Li membership in Speakers Roundtable. We welcome and congratulate Rui.

This was close to a 10 Wow night. Thank you everyone!

Next week: Toast Master: Deborah Hill-Flach
Speakers:
Dave Flach
Jon Schwartz (exchanged with Paul)
Mike Himelstein

GE:Merrilee Morris
GR:Linda Love
TR:Steve Cohn (replacing Donna)
Camera:Jon Schwartz

It sounds like another Wow night for Speakers Roundtable.

Verbose Merrilee Morris, Acting Secretary for Deborah, signing off.

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