Speakers Roundtable had their own Academy Awards evening on March 15^th.  The event was hosted by none other than that gracious Toastmaster of ceremonies, Donna Satchell.  Amid a splattering of interesting Oscar Award acceptance speech categories, Donna introduced each speaker with wonderful aplomb, almost elegant fanfare. Thirteen members and eight guests settled in and enjoyed the evening.

Who gave the longest awards acceptance speech?  Donna opens the envelope; it was Greer Garson in 1943 and she spoke for 7 minutes.

Cindy Cannon was first up with her icebreaker, “Where did I go?” Cindy, through verbal pictures, gestures, and humor literally had her life flashing before us. She began at a red traffic signal, looking at herself in the side mirror, and not recognizing herself.  Cindy developed her love of speaking at a young age.  She spent many hours in the kindergarten “doghouse” for talking.  On reflection, she felt she could have started her own Toastmaster’s club in Kindergarten. She spoke of serious illnesses, major medical facility visits, fifteen surgeries, and near death experiences.  She used the light turning green to motivate us to live in the now, to stay in the now, and to move forward.  It was an entertaining and fun glimpse of Cindy; worthy of an Oscar.

What Oscar acceptance speech got the award for most ums and ahs?  Donna opens the envelope; it was Jonathan Deli in 1992 who delivered 40 ums and ahs in 4 minutes.

“Your Time at the Office” brought Paul Johnson to the lectern to deliver project #1, Warm Up your Audience from the Humorously Speaking manual.  Paul was smooth as he delivered a story about three men discussing the virtues of having a wife versus having a mistress. One chose having both a mistress and a wife so he could spend more time at the office.  Paul introduced us to three folks who had abandoned jobs with good pay and at which they were successful.  They totally focused their work niche on doing something they liked.    His power point visual Your Personal Niche made his oral message even more powerful.  Examine what you are good at, then move to the center and find your niche.  Tate, Jessica, and Anne did; so can you!  Paul’s message was motivating and positive; worthy of an Oscar.

What Oscar acceptance speech was the shortest?  Donna opens the envelope; it was 1972 and Jane Fonda who simply said she wouldn’t be saying anything.

Break was a meager eight minutes or so it seemed what with so many guests and members to visit with.  However, we were glad we’d drifted back to our seats when Donna introduced our third speaker, Dwayne Smith and his speech, “Get On the Bus.” This was a Demonstration Talk from the Speaking to Inform manual. With warmth in his voice, a black suit, and a bus driver’s hat (Kelly recognized it immediately as a naval hat); Dwayne took us on a trip via this wonderful metaphor.  Speakers have the same mandate to their audience as a bus driver has to his passengers.  They have to know where they are going. They have to know why they are going. And finally, they have to know how we are going to get there. Dwayne used gestures, quotes, and humor to keep his audience rolling with him.  We definitely weren’t the bored passengers he warned us about  in the back of the room groaning “Are we there yet?”   A great speech, worthy of an Oscar!

What Oscar award winner was a no show?  Donna opens the envelope; it was Marlon Brando in 1972.

Iris Grimm called on her evaluation team for their reports.  Timer Cindy Light reported all speakers were within their allotted times.  Bill Kovach, as camera person, recorded Dwayne’s speech and was still formatting it. Rui Li gave her grammarian report.  Aside from a few ums, she listed several turns of phrase that pleased her.  Iris felt the meeting went a bit long since we did not end at 7:30. However she praised Keith Schroder for the wonderful job he is doing as Sgt. at Arms.  He deserved a standing “O”, but settled for a round of applause.  Iris praised Donna Satchell for the fun Oscar theme program she put together, “And the award goes to. . .” She deserved a standing “O’, but also settled for a round of applause.  Thanks for a stellar evening, Donna.

Bill invited visitors to share one thought regarding the evenings meeting.  He then asked all non-members to step out into the hall while members had a brief business meeting.  Bob Goodyear was voted unanimously into club membership. Guests were brought back into the meeting and Bob was welcomed into membership.

GO TO AGENDA TO LEARN WHO IS SCHEDULED FOR WHAT ROLES ON APRIL 5, 2009.

The April 5th SRT meeting assignments are as follows:

Toastmaster:  Keith Schroder

Speakers:

1. Rich Hart
2. Donna Satchell
3. Kelly Vandever
4. Wendy Y. Bailey is available to speak

General Evaluator:  Open

Timer:  Mark Parham

Grammarian:  Open

Camera Person: Open

Call or e-mail Keith if you can fill one of the open roles.

Donna Satchell is the March 15th Toastmaster Host.

The following are assigned to speak:

1. Cindy Cannon
2. Paul Johnson
3. Keith Schroeder

GE is Iris Grim

• GR is Steve Cohn
• TR is Cindy Light
• CP is OPEN

Please verify your roles with Donna.

Well, sort of.  Our meeting was more the high-spirited, energetic and playful Lion, than the roaring dominating Lion of legend.  After Keith Schroder’s upbeat call to order, Steve Cohn briefly welcomed ten repeat visitors.  Then it was Rui Li to the helm as Toast Master for the evening.  Rui’s theme was “Management of Negativity,” based on a Saturday night presentation given by our own, Jon Schwartz.  She teased us with the three F’s needed to manage negativity.

General Evaluator for the evening was Steve Cohn.  Grammarian Paul Johnson introduced the word of the evening, EQUIPOISE and challenged folks to use it in a sentence right than and there.  Three folks did.  Keith served as both our timer and our camera person.

Enthusiastic and high-spirited Cindy Light came to the lectern with her speech, “Looking Great as Your Resume. Her purpose was to motivate.  She had two wrapped boxes, one beautifully wrapped and the other rather haphazardly taped up with whatever was on hand.  Unbelievable as it seems, folks make snap judgments about you in 20 seconds.  You take longer to decide on a book purchase.  Cindy gave us five signature tips for looking as great as the contents of our resume.  Her wardrobe comments were insightful.   Clothes show passion.  Fit in ~ standout.  Life is today!  Cindy was an articulate fashion plate herself and if her speech works in reverse, she has one outstanding resume.  Cindy presented a lot of useful information not only for those in the job market, but for establishing our own uniqueness in everyday living.  Life is today!

Rui’s first F for managing negativity was FUN, so our next speech fit right in.  “I’m Waiting for That Call” by Merrilee Morris was next on the agenda.  She chose to do an icebreaker with a bit of humor.  Merrilee confessed that she has been faithfully waiting for a call to appear on NPR’s Prairie Home Companion Show.  She presented her resume of life events and speaking experiences, pausing between her litany of Toast Master speeches, Red Cross Training Sessions, Air Disaster training session, Women’s club talks, and children’s holiday party story telling, to pick up the phone and moon for that call from Garrison (Keillor).   She told us that she wasn’t getting any younger and that if any of us knew anyone at NPR’s Prairie Home Companion, to please mention her name to them.  If speaking wasn’t enough, she said, she could also dance the schottische, make great lefsa, and crochet doilies.  How we prayed the phone would ring for her!

Rui delivered the second F, FOCUS, before we took a five minute break.  It is nice to not only see our repeat visitors at each meeting, but to know many of them by face and name.

Toastmaster Rui had listed two table topics on our agenda.  Two of our guests volunteered to speak.  Wendy Y. Bailey spoke on “If you were Tiger Wood’s publicist, what would you say to his fans.”  Patricia Stalworth’s topic was “The next breakthrough of technology after Internet will be…”  Both did entertaining and fun off-the-cuff speeches.

FERVOR was Rui’s final F for the evening.  It was evident due to the fun we had this evening, the focus on giving great feed back, and the fervor with which we approach speaking that there was not a shred of negativity at this club meeting!

Steve’s evaluation team did a thorough and enjoyable job.  Paul was so enamored with his word of the day that he felt it should be re-used by a member with dual club membership.  He found many unique turns of phrases and felt that tonight was the first time the word doily had ever been used in a Toastmaster Meeting.  Timer Keith reported the speaking and evaluation times and then commented on his second role as camera person.  Our club tri-pod is capable of mounting some personal cameras.  He suggested that if you have a digital camera with a tri-pod mount on the base and would like to record your speeches with your own camera, bring it.  Steve encouraged more members to take part in the verbal evaluations.  We all become better speakers the more evaluations we give.

Steve donned his acting president hat and asked the non-members to adjourn to the hall.  We then briefly discussed reinstating the membership of Wendy Y. Bailey.  Members unanimously welcomed her back.

Come to think of it, maybe tonight’s meeting did ROAR a little!