April 19, 2012

Meeting Minutes:

Members present: Barbara Basabilbaso, Rick Boyer, Magda Brugos, Charisse Carter, Zach Fauver, Danita Fox, Christy Gardner, John Harman, Tim Herrity, Curtis Lassiter, Victor Lopez, Tim Tonkovic, Lauren White, Phillip Sweat, Lester Yearwood, Katherine Crawely, Charlene Gilbert

Guests: Samuel Gilbert, Regina Gilliam

Promptly starting the meeting  at 6:45pm, SAA John Harman introduced Club President Christy Gardner to welcome members and guests, then she introduced Toastmaster of the Evening, Danita Fox.  Danita guided members and guests through the agenda, making changes and updates as well as explaining to guests what some of the TM jargon meant.  General Evaluator Rick Boyer continued with explanations with the introduction of the Evaluation Team; grammarian, Ah counter, speech evaluators, listen-up master and timer.

Four club members delivered speeches: Lauren White, Charisse Carter, Zach Fauver and Magda Brugos.  Lauren's speech titled "Customer Service for Toastmasters" was number 6 towards the ten required for Competent Communicator.  Second was new member Charisse giving her ice breaker speech titled; "Faith Family and Friends". Following Charisse, club member Zach Fauver took advantage of the forum to deliver a speech presentation that he'll be giving professionally on Monday. His speech was titled; "Virtual Simulation Technology".  Last but not least, Magda delivered a persuasive speech from an advance manual and she challenge the members to be officers.

Following the speeches Table Topics Master Tim Tonkovic, challenged everyone with topics to speak "off the cuff" for 1-2 minutes.  Participants were: Katherine Crawley, Curtis Lassiter, Christy Gardner, and Phillip Sweat.

General Evaluator Rick Boyer lead the next part of the meeting, feedback for growth and improvement.  Speech evaluators offered constructive comments to enhance speakers methods and style when delivering speeches and the ah counter and grammarian gave comments about use of fillers and grammar.  Evaluators: Victor Lopez, John Harman, Christy Gardner and Katherine Crawley.
Rick summarized the meeting with comments of actions that were good and ones that need to continue to be developed.

President Christy Gardner brought meeting to a close with announcements and ribbon awards.  Announcements included the status of club towards President's Distinguished and needing two CC's and 2 AC's. 

Ribbon Winners

Best Table Topics:  Katherine Crawley

Best Evaluator:  Christy Gardner

Best Speaker:  Lauren White

Respectively submitted,

Danita Fox, Club Secretary



5 April 2012

Members present: Rick Boyer, Magda Brugos, Stan Dalziel, Danita Fox, Christy Gardner, John Harman, Nancy Hogg, Janet Krenn, Wade Miner, Lauren White, Lester Yearwood, Tim Herrity, Zach Fauver, Charlene Gilbert, Barbara Basabilbasco

Guests: Corey Carter, Wayne Bailey

Club Sargent-at-Arms John Harman emceed the meeting as Toastmaster.  Introducing three members delivering speeches, as well as General Evaluator and Table Topics Master, John kept the meeting on pace.  Speakers Christy Gardner, Wade Miner and Lester Yearwood, shared various stories and information, that enlightened and inspired the audience.  Christy's speech, from advanced manual, taught us how to deliver bad news. Wade challenged us to develop goals and then to accomplish them. Lester spoke about himself in his "ice breaker" speech.

Janet Krenn, Table Topics Master, invoking audience participation and elicting some laughter, challenge six people to speak 1-2 minutes "off the cuff"; Magda Brugos, Danita Fox, Stan Dalziel, Barbara Basabilbasco, Zach Fauver and Tim Herrity.  Topics ranged from; "underwear shortage in 2013" to "Sparky the dog ate too much homework", to "news flash...junk food actually healthy!".

General Evaluator Lauren White, lead the evaluation team, providing feedback for growth and improvement.  Speech evaluators: Nancy Hogg, Stan Dalziel and Magda Brugos, did share points that speakers did well as well as offer suggestions that would improve delivery of speeches.  Other members of the evaluation team, shared feedback of time and grammar, and Lauren completed the assessment by reviewing the entire meeting.

President Christy Gardner brought meeting to a close with announcements and reminders and ribbon winners.  Reminder: District Conference April 20-21st, can register online. 

Ribbon Winners

Best Table Topics: Stan Dalziel

Best Evaluator:  Magda Brugos

Best Speaker:  Lester Yearwood

Submitted, Danita Fox
Club Secretary

March 29, 2012 Open House

Special Meeting, 5th Thursday!    Open House

Members present: Rick Boyer, Magda Brugos, Stan Dalziel, Allen Foretich, Danita Fox, Christy Gardner, John Harman, Nancy Hogg, Janet Krenn, Curtis Lassiter, Victor Lopez, Wade Miner, Jean Smith, Lauren White, Phillip Sweat, Lester Yearwood, Katherine Crawley, Tim Herrity, Charlene Gilbert, Barbara Basabilbasco

Guests: Glenn Strum, Shera White, Debra & Clint Townsend, Linda England

Introducing the three speakers for the evening, Toastmaster of the Day, Stan Dalziel, also kept the meeting flowing and on track.  First speaker President Christy Gardner delivered a speech from an advance manual, 10-14 minutes on how to make "Win-Win Negotiations" during conflict.  Following Christy was second speaker Magda Brugos who also spoke from an advance manual.  Magda's speech was unique because she role played as a radio talk show and she spoke about Toastmasters.  Jean Smith was the third and final speaker for the evening, delivering a speech from the Competent Communicator manual, with a speech 5-7 minutes about "Poems of Hope".

Table Topics Master, Nancy Hogg, took the opportunity to call upon veteran members to share about Toastmasters experiences.  Participants: Danita Fox, Wade Miner, Lauren White and Rick Boyer.

Janet Krenn, General Evaluator, lead the final portion of the meeting.  She introduced speech evaluators; Rick Boyer, Wade Miner, and Curtis Lassiter.  She also offered comments for improvement and encouragements towards growth.

Club President Christy Gardner brought meeting to a close with announcements and ribbon winners.

Ribbon Winners:

Best Table Topics:  Lauren White

Best Evaluator:  Rick Boyer

Best Speaker:  Jean Smith

Respectfully submitted

Danita Fox, club secretary

March 15, 2012

Members present: Magda Brugos, John Harman, Janet Krenn, Nita Langford, Curtis Lassiter, Victor Lopez, Wade Miner, Lauren White, Zach Fauver, Phillip Sweat, Charisse Carter

Guests: Jenna Wilson, Paul & Mikki McClean, Martha Brown

Toastmaster of the day, Tim Tonkovic had the pleasure of emceeing the meeting.  He introduced speakers, evaluators, and kept the meeting flowing.  Magda Brugos, first speaker, delivered a speech titled "The Good Will Speech"; and Tim Herrity delivered his first speech since becoming a member, titled "Stagefright". Zach Fauver and Curtis Lassiter evaluated the speeches offering encouragement and points for improvments.

Wade Miner, Table Topics Master, challenged participants to "speak off the cuff" during the portion of meeting dedicated to audience involvement.  Victor Lopez, Nita Langford, Lauren White, Charisse Carter, Jenna Wilson and Area Governor Diane Norbitus were the participants.

In the absence of Club President Christy Gardner, VP of Education Nancy Hogg, closed out the meeting with announcements and awarding ribbons.  Announcements: reminder of upcoming contests, and sign up for roles for next meeting.

Ribbon Winners:

Best Evaluator:  Curtis Lassiter

Best Speaker:  Magda Brugos

Meeting notes taken by Lauren White

March 1, 2012 Contest Night!

Members present: Magda Brugos, Frank Connelly, Stan Dalziel, Danita Fox, Christy Gardner, John Harman, Lanette Kelly, Nita Langford, Victor Lopez, Wade Miner, Tim Tonkovic, Lauren White, Lester Yearwood, Katherine Crawley, Tim Herrity

Guests: Sylvia Matford, Stephanie Teasdale, Avery Byers, Charisse Carter, Charlene Gilbert, Barbara Basabilbasco, Gina Wilson

International Speech and Table Topics Contest night!

Tonight's meeting was full with contestants speaking against each other in this annual Toastmasters International spring contest.  Club members participated in one or both Table Topics or International Speech contest where judges using prepared evaluation forms rated contestants on voice projection, organization, and use of speaking area.
Contestants in Table Topics were given the same topic and 1-2 minutes to on that subject. 
Table Topics Master Tim Tonkovic's topic--time travel, was an interesting and challenging one for the contestants: Frank Connelly, Magda Brugos, Wade Miner, and Tim Herrity.
Contest Chair and International Speech Contest Master John Harman introduced the competitors for the 5-7 minute speech contest; Wade Miner and Frank Connelly. 
Wade inspired the audience to try new activities and shared how to accomplish them.
Frank delivered an humorous speech that included personal stories and a question to the audience; "what are you...a cod fish or cat fish?" 
The contest continues up through the levels of Toastmasters. The winner from our club contest will move on to the next level, Area 43 contest, and if they win at that level they can continue to compete at the Division D level.

President Christy Gardner had the honor of announcing the winners:

Table Topics:  Frank Connelly

International Speech:  Frank Connelly

February 16, 2012

Members present: Magda Brugos, Allen Foretich, Danita Fox, John Harman, Nancy Hogg, Janet Krenn, Curtis Lassiter, Wade Miner, Tim Tonkovic, Lauren White, Zach Fauver, Tim Herrity, Katherine Crawley, Cristina Stoia

Guests: Ian Shippen, Charlene Gilbert, Kelly Gibb, Marjorie Heiges, Steve Heiges, Charisse Carter, Deanna Underdo, Gina Wilson

Sargent-At-Arms John Harman opened the meeting at 6:45pm with pledge and then introduced Toastmaster of the Evening, Danita Fox. After welcoming the many guests, General Evaluator Katherine Crawley introduced evaluation team when all roles were explained so guests would understand what was happening throughout the meeting.
Nancy Hogg, Vice President of Education, delivered her tenth and final speech completing the requirement for Competent Communicator.  (congratulations!)  A timely speech for all the guests, she spoke about the organization of Toastmasters, its benefits and the steps towards improvement.
The second and last speaker of the evening was Allen Foretich.  Allen spoke about great men of the past, in particular presidents.  The speech was Allen's forth toward the ten required for Competent Communicator.
Table Topics Master, Janet Krenn, stirred the meeting up a bit with her unique, fun, and challenging topics that eight people rallied and spoke one-two minutes about.
Katherine Crawley and the evaluation team completed the meeting with providing the feedback for growth and improvement both as speakers as well as leaders.
President Christy Gardner was absent so Vice President of Education Nancy Hogg closed out the meeting with announcements, a second welcome to guests, and recognition of awards.

Ribbon Winners

Best Table Topics:  Lauren White

Best Evaluator: Lauren White

Best Speaker:  Allen Foretich

Respectfully submitted, Danita Fox

Club Secretary



February 2, 2012

Members present: Rick Boyer, Fank Connelly, Allen Foretich, Danita Fox, John Harman, Sabrina Joy-Hogg, Janet Krenn, Curtis, Lassiter, Wade Miner, Tim Tonkovic, Lauren White, Lester Yearwood, Jacquelin Scott, Katherine Crawley, Zach Fauver, Tim Herrity

Guests: Ian Shippen, Charlene Gilbert, Kelly Gibb, Barabara Basabilbasco, Derek Campbell, Marilyn Soleta, Ty Carter, Anu Bedi

Sargent-At-Arms John Harman called the meeting together and after the pledge introduced VPPR Curtis Lassiter to the lectern as he was proxy for absent President Christy Gardner. Curtis welcomed the many guests present (8) and members and then introduced Toastmaster of the Evening (TMOE) Janet Krenn to lectern and take control of meeting.  Janet brought GE (general evaluator) Tim Tonkovic to the lectern where he then asked members of the evaluation team to stand and explain what roles they were fulfilling. 
TMOE Janet Krenn had the honor of introducing four speakers for the evening; John Harman, Zach Fauver, Danita Fox and Wade Miner.  John Harman's technical speech was a "dry run" delivery because he will give the presentation to about 100 peers next week. Zach Fauver, new member, introduced himself in the "ice breaker" speech and Danita Fox delivered a "dramatic talk" and Wade Miner concluded the speakers section of the meeting with a "hip pocket" speech about the "real secrect of life".
New Member Katherine Crawley used Black History Month as her inspiration for the table topics.  As Table Topics Master, Katherine had five participants speak "off-the-cuff" about various topics ranging from "peanut butter, to liposuction vs brain surgery, to a documentary about platapus".  Kudos to first timer guest Derek Campbell, who was the first volunteer to participate in the Table Topics portion of the meeting.
As General Evaluator, Tim Tonkovic and his evaluation team provided the necessary feedback for growth and improvement through speech evaluations, role reports and general assessment of meeting's affectiveness.
VPPR Curtis Lassiter brought meeting to a close by once again welcoming all the guests, calling for announcements and giving out ribbons. Announcements: Winter Leadership Institute Saturday Feb. 4th at ODU, 8:30am-1:00pm.

Ribbon Winners:

Best Table Topics -- Tim Tonkovic

Best Evaluator -- Frank Connelly

Best Speaker -- Danita Fox

Respectively submitted,
Danita Fox, club secretary