The Monday, January 18, 2010, meeting of Speakers Roundtable was crammed full of speeches, table topics, quotes, members, guests, learning and fun. Our meeting observed the Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. through his lesser known quotes mixed in with quotes from Cicero, Plutarch, and Will Rogers. Toastmaster for the evening, Merrilee Morris, opened the program with this quote. A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus. (MLK)
First up to speak on the topic, “Wear a Suit that Suits You” was our dapper Paul Johnson. He was in fine form in his worsted wool pin-stripped suit, white shirt, and eye grabbing tie of rose and red tones. Paul showed us his tattered paperback book of “Dress for Success.” Women in the audience perked up when he stated how clueless men are about fashion and shopping. Paul took us on a tour of his suit including fabric (100% worsted wool is best and breathes) and construction, (making sure pin-stripes match); to proper fit, such as buttoning a suit coat nicely over a Twinkie waist and the correct sleeve length; and lastly, other considerations, items such as perspiration pit pads and collar roll. Thanks to Paul, we all, men and women alike, are vastly more confident and competent in men’s suit shopping. Thanks for an informative, useful, and fun speech, Paul.
A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan. (MLK)
Keith Schroder, also a fashion plate in his black jacket with electric blue and white embroidery and his matching spiked hair with blue hue, took us on a whirl-wind tour in his speech, “Go to Google.” His object was to tell a compelling story and that’s exactly what he did, and then some! Keith visited his brother Tom in California and was able to visit and tour where his brother works, GOOGLE. It was an awesome experience for all of us to hear about the non-cafeteria, the non-signing in and out, the beach volley ball courts in the quad, the non-employee badges, and the corporations total trust in employee judgment. The Google work environment sounded like something from another dimension, definitely other worldly. For now, we only have Keith’s word for it. I think SRT should adopt his brother Tom and take our own fact-finding field trip to GOOGLE. Until then, a wonderfully compelling story, Keith!
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. (MLK)
Following an eight minute break, it was Table Topics time. Four members and two guests reflected on the quotes they were given. Their responses brought added enrichment to our meeting and to the MLK Holiday. Thank you Iris, Bob, Claudia, Cindy, Baerbel, and Kelly!
General Evaluator Iris Grim called on her crew for their reports. Both speakers stayed within their allotted time to avoid having Cindy Light sing with the red timer card as she had threatened to do. Cindy Cannon provided a very thorough, but not brutal grammarian’s report. She has a sharp ear for all the ands, double clutches and our shameless use of filler words. Well done. Iris summarized the meeting as punctual, well run, with each of us gaining knowledge for having attended.
Acting President, Claudia Brogan reminded officers of the TLI training sessions coming up yet this month. Kelly Vandever, who is speaking February 1, will be sending out an e-mail for members to bring their hand-held and laptop computers. It’s something about Twitter Back Channel so be sure to watch for her e-mail. Oh yes, to a person, our five guests found the meeting informative, worthwhile, and fun. For that matter, so did I, your Toastmaster for the evening.
