Folks:  Last night’s meeting of the Speakers Roundtable was a great treat indeed. Five of our club members were joined by three top-notch guests who brought good karma right through the door when they arrived. One (Laura D) is a talented speaker/trainer who intends to join soon~~ and two were dynamic former members who came to bring greetings to SRT folks. So, Merrilee et al, here are two names you’ll recognize: Andrew Deutscher and Phil Parker say hello and send their best! (They asked to be remembered to you and send  special hellos to Steve C, to Paul J, to Deb, to the 3 Poodts, to Bill K ……and to Merrilee, as they called you: “The world’s best story-teller”)

Cara served as Meeting Toastmaster and guided us well through the full agenda.  Keith painted an incredible word-picture of his recent experience snow-mobiling in his speech entitled “Rocky Mountain High.” Claudia conducted a practice speech she’ll give soon titled “So you want to be a Facilitator?” with tips about using PowerPoint carefully, engaging with audience members, and designing good training sessions. Vicki had us mesmerized as she described, with whispered description, to ‘Come Along with Her’ for a Christmas Eve service experience at the Vatican (relying on her recent great adventure).  Thorough verbal feedback was provided to each speaker, with tips and practical lessons shared.

Two of our guests enthusiastically stepped up to serve in support roles—Phil served as able Grammarian and Andrew timed speeches, evaluations and the break. Kelly served as General Evaluator, keeping an eye on the big picture and flow of the meeting. All in all, a rich experience, the 90 minutes just flew by.

**DO NOTE** Our next SRT meeting is this coming Monday, FEB. 2nd!!  Each of the folks listed on Iris’s role sheet will be contacted today by Claudia, the meeting Toastmaster.

PS—I just can’t resist saying this: CONGRATS to new grandfather Paul Johnson! You look far far too young for us to call you Grampa, but we’re sending our good greetings to you and yours~~ Indeed, a whole new chapter has begun!

See you next week, folks~~Forward we go.

Claudia W. Brogan

With his degree in Marketing Jon Schwartz decided there’s no business like show business, and has been performing professionally for the past 35 years! 

He has toured prisons with a production of Samuel Becket’s Waiting For Godot and has performed mime at Carnegie Hall.  Jon also worked with Tennessee Williams in the world premiere production of Tiger Tail and worked on ships as cruise director and entertainer. 

For the past 18 years Jon and his wife Ginny King have been producing shows for the event business in Atlanta.   Jon has written, produced and directed fourteen interactive mysteries that have been produced at over 350 corporate events. 

In February of 2004 Jon, as Vinny Verelli, won the NSA Comedy Idol Competition in St. Louis and recently won the Toastmaster’s State of Georgia humor and table topics competition.  In December 2007, Vinny was the closing keynote speaker at the 2007 CAPS (Canadian Association of Professional Speakers) convention in Halifax.  Jon is currently the president of NSA Georgia.

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