Thursday, April 15, 2010

Hello Fellow Toastmasters,

Career Night was the theme of the evening.  Jobs - finding, keeping and upgrading skills - tips that kept everyone interested through-out the evening.

Toastmaster of the Evening:  Rick Boyer.  General Evaluator:  Frank Connelly.  Table Topics Master:  Grayson Williams.

Twenty three in attendance, includes three guests: Tom Day, David Richey and Adam Gold.

Speaker #1, Jessica Ledbetter, talked about "hohum to happy at your job".  She gave tips on what to do to make the job better starting with 'how do you feel on Monday morning?'.  Self evaluation, the value you give to and get from the job and the voice you have play a large part in analyzing how to get the most satisfaction from your job.  Tom Delbridge, speaker #2, told us submitting a resume for that job we want, we have 8 to 10 seconds to make an impression on the resume reader.  Read "The Elements of Resume Style" for the perfect resume resource, Tom urged.  You need to get it all on ONE page.  No bullets.  Use action words. Only use words that add value.  Janet Krenn described how networking can develop into leads for jobs and business.  One needs to consider what your unique skills and differences are and the value they bring.  Your 'elevator speech' must be short, descriptive (no jargon) and practiced to engage others.  Jessica Ledbetter received the Best Speech ribbon.

We had six Table Topics speeches from Michael Brugos, Stan Dalziel, Tom Day, Adam Gold, Linda Williams and Magda Brugos.  Linda Williams received the Best Table Topics ribbon.

Speech Evaluators were John Harman, Stan Dalziel and Stacey Wallace.  Stan Dalziel received the Best Evaluator ribbon.

Nancy Hogg
Club Secretary
Oyster Point Speakers

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Greetings Fellow Toastmasters,

Oyster Point Speakers Toastmasters Club reached President's Distinguished Club status with Tim Tonkovic's speech tonight.  This is an achievement not reached by many clubs.  Oyster Point Speakers Club has reached it in an amazingly short amount of time!  Congratulations Tim and fellow club members!!!

This meeting had an unconventional structure called "Grab Bag".  All the roles were up for grabs.  Literally, as the agenda noted.  All meeting roles were drawn from a bag filled with slips of paper with a particular role assigned to that person who pulled it.  Adventurous guests were included.  Lots of fun ensued.

Jessica Ledbetter was Toastmaster of the Evening.  John Harman was General Evaluator with Rick Boyer as Table Topics Master.

We had two speakers, Janet Krenn and Tim Tonkovic.  Janet Krenn talked about the Cow Nose Ray.  This creature lives in the Chesapeake Bay.  Tim Tonkovic talked about flying.  The airline way.  Used to be fun; but, take a train if you're travelling now.  Janet took the Best Speech honors (ribbon).

Table Topics had six speakers that included two of our guests.  Good sports.  Danita Fox described 'her life as a mirror.'  Stan Dalziel described 'why we should go out and buy his new book on "My Life As A Mountaineer".'  Christy Gardner talked about 'if she could be any age for one week, what would it be.'  Victor Lopez (guest) discussed 'some people say a little white lie is sometimes OK, what do you think.'  Linda Williams (guest) talked about 'day-glo-orange and why she plans to paint herself that color.'  Finally, Nancy Pracker (guest) defended 'you (I) live in a swamp and it is a good place to live.'  All off the wall subjects and all artfully explored.  Thanks Rick.  Linda Williams received the Best Table Topics speech ribbon.

Word of the Day, hugger-mugger, might have described the evening.  However, it was an orderly jumble.  And fun!

Sixteen in total attendance, included six guests: Linda Williams, Nancy and Jerry Pracker and son Stephen (visiting in town from Ohio), Victor Lopez and Ernest Jones.

Nancy Hogg
Club Secretary
Oyster Point Speakers

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Hello Toastmasters Family,

Happy St. Patrick's Day theme (one day late).  Eighteen in attendance with three guests: Victor Lopez, Tom Day and Jacqueline (add last name).

Nancy Hogg was Toastmaster of the Evening.  There were four speakers.  Lamar Thomas gave his Icebreaker speech.  Lamar focused on his relationship with his job as a member of the US Air Force.  Great job, Lamar!  Janet Krenn, a new member, is off to a fast start, already giving her speech #3.  She talked about her speaking experiences.  Wade Miner gave his speech #2 in a series of speeches he is working on.  Wade's series theme is 'Change your Programming'.  Rick Boyer, Speaker #4, gave his speech, a fact finding report, from the advanced manual 'speaking to inform'.  Rick's topic was about bottled water.  VERY informative.  For example, 45% of bottled water comes from ordinary tap water.  Rick and Janet shared a tie for Best Speaker.

Table Topics Master was Zach Miller.  Table Topics speakers were Tom Delbridge, Matt Phillips, Stan Dalziel and Lamar Thomas.  Another tie!  The tie was between Matt and Stan.  Competition is tight.

The General Evaluator was Tom Delbridge.  Stacey Wallace evaluated speaker #1, John Harman evaluated speaker #2, Maritsa Alger evaluated speaker #3, and Lois Boyle evaluated speaker #4.  Maritsa received the Best Evaluator ribbon.

Danita Fox, Club President, gave the closing remarks.

Upcoming:


April 1 meeting -   Grab Bag Night!  All roles are drawn.
April 15 meeting - Career Night!  Speakers are presenting on career related topics.
April 29 meeting (fifth Thursday) - Speech A Thon
May 15 & 16 - District 66 Conference at Founders Inn in Virginia Beach.
                         get info:  http://district66.org

Nancy Hogg
Club Secretary
Oyster Point Speakers

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Speech Contest Night!    

Table Topics and International Speech

Tim Tonkovic as Contest Master ran a great contest.  There were five contestants in the Table Topics portion and three contestants in the International Speech portion.  The winners will compete March 27, 2010 in the Area International Speech and Table Topics Contest.  That contest will be held at the Peninsula Workforce and Development Center at 600 Butler Farm Road in Hampton.  The scheduled time is 2 to 5 pm.

Chief Judge John Harman directed Judges Stacey Wallace and Lavorise Love for this club contest.

"It was a cold and rainy night.  You had just settled down with a good book by the fire, when you heard a strange noise outside...."  The preceding sentence was the set-up for the Table Topics.  Each participant had minimum one minute to two minutes thirty seconds, maximum, to flesh out their take on that statement.  Contestants drew for speaking order.  Stan Dalziel, Frank Connelly, Nancy Hogg, Jessica Ledbetter and Tom Delbridge were the Table Topics contestants.  Jessica placed first, Frank Connelly placed second and Tom Delbridge placed third.

International Speech contestants were Frank Connelly, Wade Miner and Stan Dalziel.  Stan placed first, Frank placed second and Wade Miner placed third.

Jessica Ledbetter and Stan Dalziel will go on to compete at the Area Speech Contest on March 27th.  Good Luck!!!  Remember to come out and support Jessica and Frank on Saturday, March 27.

There were 22 in attendance with one guest.

Nancy Hogg
Club Secretary
Oyster Point Speakers

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Greetings Fellow Toastmasters:

We had 18 in attendance at our last meeting, February 18, 2010.  Our theme, “Valentines for the Valentine” brought out the sentimental side of the members who spoke on the theme.  Our Toastmaster of the evening who is the “Best Darndest Sergeant At Arms” Tim Tonkovic won Best Table Topics when he told of how he keeps the romance in his marriage and how it started from the very beginning when he proposed after just eight months of courting his lovely wife. 

Rick Boyer, the Area Governor, announced that out of 138 clubs in District 66, Oyster Point Speakers was the FIRST club in the district to become Distinguished!!!!  And that is no surprise with our terrific Executive Committee and vibrant membership. Kudos to Oyster Point Speakers! We have just one more point to go to achieve President’s Distinguished!

We welcome our newest member, Janet Krenn, to Oyster Point Speakers who joined on her second visit and already fulfilled the role of Ballot Counter for the evening.

Toastmaster Tonkovic read an email from John Foden, who as been absent for a while due to work, but he hails us from British Columbia just to let us know he hasn’t forgotten.  Thanks John, and we haven’t forgotten you either.  We look forward to his return.

I believe we made history by having two of our more recent members, Magda and Michael Burgos, give their Icebreakers speeches on the same night.

We had five really substantive speeches. Stacey Wallace addressed the subject of cancer and how we’ve all had a connection to it, if not personally, then through someone we know and how we can give back through an organization called Lee’s Friends.

Maritsa talked about the importance of diversity; race and culture. Being a principal and educator, she talked about how we should embrace it and use it as an opportunity and see it as a moral obligation to move students to empowerment.

Lavorise won Best Speaker for her touching story about “paying it forward.” It was a telling story of how one woman was able to give back to the same person who gave her a hand up at her most desolate times. She moved some of us to tears.  Superb job!

We had a tie for Best Evaluator between our President, Danita Fox, and bubbly Joanne Fletcher. Both gave great advice.

Our upcoming events are:

March 4 is Contest Night.  We still have slots open so if you desire to help out, please contact Tim Tonkovic.

April 1^st is Grab Bag Night. Come prepared to fulfill any role for that night.

April 30^th is our Speech-A-Thon.  If you need to give a speech, now is your chance. Please contact Lois Boyle and let her know if you’d like to give a speech.

Lois Boyle
Acting Club Secretary
Oyster Point Speakers

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Hello Toastmasters Family,

'Success Check', theme for the night.  "Good resolutions are like babies crying in church.  They should be carried out immediately".  Charles Monroe Sheldon   Several of the speakers incorporated the theme into their speech.

A new position/role for the club has been established - "Humorist".  Nancy Hogg was the inaugural Humorist.

Lavorise Love filled the Toastmaster of the Evening duties.  Five speakers on the program.  Phillip Pedersen gave his 'Icebreaker' speech.  Phil's parents were immigrants; father from Norway and mother from Italy.  His stint in the US Navy has played a major role in the direction of his life.  As with most of us, Phil joined Toastmasters to become a better speaker.  Great job, Phil!  Christy Gardner's speech "Who's Rowing Your Boat" challenged the audience to consider where each is, on their success path.  Christy also regaled us with a rendition of 'row, row, row your boat.'  Wade Miner, speaker #3, spoke to changing internal guidance systems.  We can change thru the use of affirmations.  The affirmations need to be present tense, stated in the positive and in the present.  What motivates people and the secrets to motivating them were the basis of Jessica Ledbetter's good leader equals a good team speech.  Stan Dalziel's persuasive speaking, advanced manual, speech urged everyone to pay attention to their health stats to aid their ability to live a longer life.  Christy Gardner garnered the Best Speaker ribbon.

Tim Tonkovic was Table Topics Master.  Zach Miller, Matt Phillips and Michael Brugos were the Table Topics speakers.  Michael Brugos won the Best Table Topics ribbon with his rendition of a first date.

Sandy Peterson was the General Evaluator.  Tom Delbridge was Evaluator for Speaker #1.  John Harman was Evaluator for Speaker #2.  Lois Boyle was Evaluator for Speaker #3.  Nancy Hogg was Evaluator for Speaker #4 and Matt Phillips was Evaluator for Speaker #5.  Matt Phillips received the Best Evaluator ribbon.

Club President Danita Fox presented Stan Dalziel his official Competent Communicator Toastmasters Badge.

We had 22 in attendance that included two guests Latasha Randon and Janet Krenn.

Nancy Hogg
Oyster Point Speakers
Club Secretary

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Hello Toastmasters Family,

Theme of the night: Dreams.  Danita Fox gave her own 'I have a Dream' speech for the club president's opening remarks.  Danita conducted the induction of the newest club members: Matt Phillips, Magda Brugos, Lamar Thomas, and Phillip Pedersen.  Welcome to the Oyster Point Speakers Toastmasters Club!  There were 19 members in attendance and one guest, Jeanette Richardson.

Zach Miller was Toastmaster of the Evening.  His first experience as Toastmaster!  Great job, Zach.

Speaker #1, Christy Gardner shared her environmental engineer background by talking about body pollution from harmful chemicals.  There are LOTS of harmful chemicals in the environment and in products that we inhale, apply and ingest.  Joanne Fletcher has a dream to run.  Literally.  At the end of March, Joanne will run a 5k.  She gave some pointers and benefits of running.  Number one most important item is a good pair of running shoes.  Stacey Wallace as Speaker #3 talked about Second Chances.  Stacey is advocating on behalf of the "Good Time" Bill before Congress.  This Bill will re-instate parole for non-violent federal inmates for good behavior.  A very enlightening speech.  Information on this issue:  www.goodtimebill.info   Contact your legislator to support this bill.  Rob Jones, from a Richmond area club, rounded out the speakers lineup.  Rob gave a persuade and inspire motivational speech.  We all have our dreams.  Write down goals and commit (at least) 15 minutes each day to your goal(s).  Create a visual aid to chart your progress.

John Harman was the Table Topics Master.  John had a list of quotes for the table topic 'victims' to choose from and then explain from their perspective.  Magda Brugos:  when patterns are broken new worlds emerge.  The importance of habits cannot be stressed.  One must improve their habits.  Matt Phillips:  what gets measured gets improved.  In his job, measurements help improve the company and they show trends.  Tim Tonkovic:  progress involves risk.  You can not get to 2nd base if you can not get your foot off 1st base.  Fear keeps that foot on first.  Rob Jones:  you get the best efforts from others not by igniting the fire under someone; but, by lighting that fire within.  Bonnie Parker:  It gets easier when you're going forward.  Continue to press on and grow.

Danita Fox was General Evaluator.  Tom Delbridge was evaluator for Speaker #1, Christy Gardner.  Stan Dalziel was evaluator for Speaker #2, Joanne Fletcher.  Tim Tonkovic was evaluator for Speaker #3, Stacey Wallace.  Wade Miner was evaluator for Speaker #4.

Best Ribbons were given out:  Best Table Topics:  Tim Tonkovic; Best Evaluator:  Tim Tonkovic; Best Speech:  Rob Jones.  Way to go Tim!

Jessica gave updates on what's coming up.  A new position has been created in this club's lineup - Humorist.  Starts next meeting.  We are combining the Grammarian and Word of the Day to make room in the agenda.

Upcoming!
February 4 - Success Check
March 4 - Contest Night
April 1 - Grab Bag Night!  All roles are drawn from a bag.  Two speaker slots are scheduled with two more available.

to sign up for upcoming roles:  http://ops.freetoasthost.info/members/roster.cgi

Nancy Hogg
Club Secretary