The weatherman cooperated and cancelled the “Severe Thunderstorm Watch” just as our Monday Speakers Roundtable meeting was convening.  Tom Nixon called us to order and President Cindy Cannon introduced us with great hyperbole to our wonderful Toast Master for the evening, Cindy Cannon!  Her theme dealt with quotes from a Bathroom Reader.  We had a full agenda with four speakers and lots of great break food. 

Manola Robison did some masterful Venezuelan children’s story telling.  (Her manual speech was to use vocal variety.)  In her lovely scarf and colorful skirt, she sat at the bedside of her daughters relating a somewhat familiar story of a talking frog who thought he was a prince.  The outcome wasn’t exactly the “lived happily ever after” that her daughters wanted to hear so they were clamoring for a different ending.  She taught her daughters and us, that we had the power and faith; we could work to change unhappy endings.  Well done, Manola.

Speaker #2 was our guest contest speaker.  Ryan Jenkins delivered a very polished, powerful and moving speech.  I’ll say no more.  Our club, because of Cindy, has had the good fortune of hearing three excellent, though very different, International Speech Contestants.  I am in awe of the great talent we’ve witnessed!   

Break, and Tom Nixon has completed his month as Food Master and now hands over the rolling treat cart to Manola Robison.   

Tom Nixon entertained us next with an interpretative reading.  With baseball cap, baseball tee shirt, a baseball glove and a huge wad of gum (not tobacco), Tom proceeded to read Garrison Keillor’s version of “Casey at Bat.”   Tom was very animated, excited, yelling streeeike to the heavens while flipping the book pages with great hyperbole.  This was a very entertaining and fun version of Casey which most of us had never heard.  Light hearted, enjoyable, and fun.  Thanks, Tom. 

Last on the evening’s agenda was Iris Grimm giving an impromptu on one of six topics.  Iris encouraged us not to let anyone rob us of our dreams by relating a story involving a dog and two husbands.  Iris and her husband were called on to leash train a rescued puppy for a lady.  Iris explained that all things could not be solved in a positive way, but that the dog’s transformation and saving its life were all worth it.  The husband of the lady was not happy and almost caused Iris’s husband to give up and let go of his dreams.  Never allow anyone to rob you of your dreams. 

Keith Schroder called on his evaluation team for reports.  We thanked Cindy for a well emceed evening.  The Spring Conference is May 13^th &14^th.   Cindy verified the schedule for next week.  We tidied up the room and adjourned to our rain washed autos.

Monday, April 18, 2011, found Craig Keyworth at the helm of our Speakers Roundtable Toast Master meeting.  We had a full schedule of three speakers of which Ericka Butler held the first slot.   Ericka with her winning smile and warm demeanor presented, “The Voices in Your Head.”  She talked about the five voices (strengths) in our heads just waiting to come out.  She referred to them as Inner Committees and then went on to describe each of the five with examples, explanations, and wit.  Ericka described her connectiveness strength via dating adventures.  We learned about the other voices of strength in our heads such as empathy, harmony, intellection, and relator.  Ericka delivered a lot of interesting and useful information in her unique and memorable style. 

Speaker number two was Anne Taylor, a guest practicing her international contest speech.  Once again, I will not divulge any of the details of her speech since I want it to be contest fresh at our Spring Conference.  Suffice it to say, we thoroughly enjoyed her entire speech.

Tom Nixon (Food Master for the month) had turned our eight minute break into a food bonanza which was appreciated. 

Cindy Light next presented us with a 12 minute portion of an hour speech she will be making to a group of realtors.  She titled her speech, “How to Attract Chinese Clients in the U.S.”  Her four recommendations are definitely worth repeating.  1.  Learn some simple Chinese sentences.  2.  Do’s and Don’ts such as houses facing North, below street level, by a grave yard, and front doors where you could see through windows on the back of the house were a few Cindy pointed out.  3. Get involved; advertise in Chinese Newspapers, and 4.  Cultural roots.  Cindy ended by telling us that WE stands for East and West.  Cindy is a knowledgeable presenter who captures our attention with her Chinese charm and wit. 

Kelly Vandever received reports from her evaluation team.  President Cindy Cannon thanked Craig for a well organized and emceed meeting.  She reminded folks of the conference in May and read the agenda for April 25^th.  We adjourned at 7:30 on the dot, but lingered in conversation and clean up.

April 11, 2011 found members of Speakers Roundtable and three guests in the capable hands of our Toastmaster for the evening, Manola Robison.  We were introduced to a book, “The Four-Fold Way” by Angeles Arrien.  Being present allows us to access the human resources of power, presence, and communication.  This is the way of the warrior.  Manola told us that in many ways, our first speaker Keith Schroder is a warrior.  He has the power of presence, the power of communication and the power of position.  His speech, “Tennessee” had us reeled in when a friend named Cat, called Scoop (that’s early Keith) and needed a favor.  A DJ business owner named Charles, who had been kind and supportive of Keith in his early years, was ill with a brain tumor and couldn’t make a job he had contracted for.  Keith said yes before learning the job was in Nashville, TN.  Keith faced and overcame the obstacles of unfamiliar equipment, crew leaving to get dressed, and a planner wanting music at precisely at 7p.m.  From there Keith took us to buy some cowboy boots and explained to us, and demonstrated, why men in boots swagger.  Then we learned how to Holler and Swoller with a Nashville country band.  Keith reflected on the young folks at the Bar Mitzvah wanting pop music, like Usher and Katy Perry, while the older audience in the Nashville bar preferred Country.  It is not only a changing of the guard, but a changing of the culture.  Way to go Warrior Keith!

Our next speaker, John Matthews is an old friend of the club.  John was invited to practice his International Speech for the District contest to be held at the Spring Conference.  John’s, Story Time, gave us a toastimonial to the value of Toast Masters.  I won’t go into the meat of John’s great speech for fear of letting the organization, the humor, the gestures, and the conclusion escape into competitors’ hands.  However, I do find it hard to believe that John joined TM’s to pick up women!

Thanks to Tom Nixon, we had a plentiful food break,

Toast Master Manola Robison introduced our final speaker, David Flach, and his speech, Some settling may NOT occur.” David tore open a bag of BBQ chips down the side to show us how the package was barely half-filled.  He then read the disclaimer on the package stating that ‘some settling may occur.’  David went on to compare people to potato chips.  We package ourselves based on our personal goals, yet sometimes, like his sales friend, we fall short of what we’ve packaged.  We may be fearful or intimidated, but for some reason we settle and fall short of our goals.  When that happens, we are most disappointed in ourselves.  Dave offered several suggestions for living up to the contents on our package.  That way we won’t need any disclaimer on our contents.

Claudia Brogan was commended on her excellent and insightful suggestions as General Evaluation of the meeting.   We all came away as better members, evaluators, and speakers.  Thanks to Manola Robison for an interesting theme and a well directed evening. Cindy asked our guests for comments and thanked them for spending Monday evening with us.  Congratulations to Ella Grace (6 months old) for choosing John and Angie to be her loving parents!

Every one have another speech ready in case someone drops out. Let Cindy Cannon know of any changes. NOTICE: WE WILL NOT HAVE A MEETING ON July 4th  DUE TO INDEPENDANCE DAY.

Tonight, April 4, 2011, was Richard Kirby’s maiden voyage as Speakers Roundtable Toast Master.  Richard did a masterful job of “tying things I have learned” into the speakers’ introductions.  Kelly Vandever spoke first on “When is a Story Not a Story?” This was speaking to inform Advance Manual #3, Demonstration.  Kelly was coaching a business client by suggesting that he could better connect with his audience if he used a story.  His idea of a story was abysmal and funny.  We were then introduced as to what makes a story a story via the Hero’s Journey.  First there is the quest, then the challenges, overcoming the challenges and the resulting new wisdom.  Kelly brought an unused fun story out from her personal Iowa story file, related it to us, and then asked how she could turn it into a meaningful story using the Hero’s Journey.   Response was excellent as well as fun and enlightening.

Next, we were treated to Dwayne Smith, who by now needs no introduction, but got one anyway.  He opened his speech, “It’s Funny this Time”, with a poem about time.  Dwayne has such a love of words and the ability to melodiously deliver the verses that a listener just drifts away on his words.  Time just is, use it wisely, Time marches on, use time for your own purposes, time is on my side, and man tries to control time, are some of the points he made.  He told of a young man who was always going to tell is Mom he loved her yet he forgot and always planned to tell her next time.  There came a time however, when there was no next time.  You may delay, but time will not.  Dwayne confessed that he was that young man.  Dwayne’s tick tocking gestures with his left arm at the close of his speech were totally effective in letting us know how relentless time is.

We enjoyed an eight minute break returning to our chairs to hear Merrilee Morris and her talk, “Little Details of Major Importance.” She opened reminding us of the Radio Public Service Announcements by the American Stroke Association regarding the five common stroke warning signs.  She then went on to tell how she recognized four of the five symptoms in her husband, just a year ago on April 10.  Merrilee warned us that just recognizing a person is having a stroke is of major importance, but the little details you can provide to emergency personal are also of major importance.  This information includes, doctor’s names, birth date, allergies, medications, and life style information. Make sure you are prepared to be your loved one’s voice in a major crisis.  You may not only prevent complications, but you may help the ER physician save your loved ones life.

Manola Robison called on her Evaluation Team to give their reports.  Cindy Cannon was Timer, our neoteric Grammarian was Mimi Williams and our videographer was Craig Keyworth.  All agreed we’d had another great evening.  Thanks Richard for a well run meeting and getting us into port on time.

President Cindy Cannon announced the 4/11/2011 schedule.  Toastmaster of the evening will be Manola Robison.  Speaking will be John Mathews (guest practicing his contest speech), David Flach and Keith Schroder.  Claudia Brogan is General Evaluator.  Grammarian is Erica Butler, Timer Cindy Cannon, and Camera Master is Dwayne Smith.  Cindy also reminded us that it is time to be thinking of running for club office.  She gave a brief description of each office role.  Give Cindy your name and the club office you would like to run for.  You might get drafted if you hesitate too long.