06/01/2009 SRT Meeting Minutes

Sgt. at Arms, Kelly Vandever, gaveled our meeting to order at 6:02 and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Nine Speakers Roundtable members and six guests shared agendas, snapped up evaluation forms, and overflowed into side tables as we settled in for a speech filled evening. President Claudia Brogan welcomed each guest as they introduced themselves. Phonetically spelled guest names are as follows; Dr. Barbara Rhoades, Division Governor Elect, Livia Mitchell, 2002 Toast Master World Champion and Dawn Breaker member Dewayne Smith, David Smith, Mamie Harris and our old friend John Cargile. (I think Vicki Willard was scheduling John for his ice breaker as the meeting adjourned.)

Our General Evaluator for the evening was Vicki Willard. Our Camera Person, Iris Grimm, was notified that two of our three speakers wished to be recorded. Merrilee Morris was meeting Grammarian and Vicki volunteered herself to be her own timer. With such an illustrious gathering of guests and members, we were aiming for a sacrosanct meeting.

Rui Li led off delivering part one and the conclusion of a speech she will deliver at TLI entitled “Toastmasters are International.” Rui exudes her love and joy at being a toastmaster when ever she speaks, but tonight she was totally sacrosanct. The agenda indicated this was a practice delivery, but she rolled through her points; International benefits; Native benefits; and leadership/better person benefits, smoothly and professionally.

Steve Cohn followed with a philosophical speech “Life Lessons from Later,” which took us into the woods and down a path to a 12 year old child which was us. What would we want our 12 year old selves to know? The answers Steve found when he researched this subject on the internet were a bit materialistic and even humorous. However, the personal reflections Steve shared with his 12 year old self and us were meaningful and even applicable to our 12 year old selves.

We were challenged with a three minute break and so many folks to visit with. It was a special joy to have Deborah Hill-Flach attending our meeting after her long medical absence.

Donna Satchell closed the evening with “What’s Your Level?” Donna moves and speaks with such grace and powerful gestures that her speeches almost become word sculptures. Tonight she created and explained four levels of belief: 1. Unbelief, 2. Borderline belief, 3. Solid Belief and 4. BOLD belief. After the oral evaluation period, Donna passed out lovely cups along with her “Brew Up” a Motivational Cup bookmark. (Yes, it’s an acronym.)

Although our meeting adjourned on the late side, members and guests were still hanging out and visiting around the refreshment table. This definitely proves that our 7 minute break should be sacrosanct.

Listed below are the unconfirmed meeting participants for June 15.

Toast Master, Bill Kovach

Speakers: Claudia Brogan

Jon Schwartz

Possible Ice Breaker

General Evaluator, Donna Satchell

Timer: Cara Iovino

Camera: TBA

Grammarian: Vicki Willard

Thank you all for a valuable and wonderful evening of Toast Masters!