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Monday, April 4, 2011

 
SPEAKEASY NEWS
Online Newsletter of Toastmasters Club 1789
 
The time we do NOT look forward to has arrived.  We are losing seven members at this dues-renewal time, all of whom have had major changes in their circumstances and are unable to continue in Speakeasy.  We can hope, however, that they will eventually find other clubs, so as not to lose the important benefits of Toastmasters.  We truly do wish them well, and invite them to visit when they can.
 
I'm keeping everyone on the list at least this one time, and reminding those leaving us that they can reinstate in any club at any time, without any charges except for regular (proratable) dues.
 
We are now at 16 members, but I'm sure that will resume an upward climb as more find us on the Internet.  We should also be keeping an eye out for prospective members as we continue on our daily ways.  Mention Toastmasters when the opportunity presents itself, and create the opportunity when you can.  Dropping the TM name casually in conversation sometimes results in stirring up interest.  It happened to me over the weekend during a chat about something totally unconnected, but it broke the ice and who knows what might happen.
 
Any ideas for Toastmaster of the Year?
 
This Thursday is the Western Division International Speech Contest and Evaluation Contest.  I'm attaching the flyer with all details.  If you can make it, I guarantee you'll enjoy it.
 
Remember that I check my e-mails at 1:00 Wednesday for changes to the agenda that may pop up at the last minute.  It all helps.
 
Gordon Andersen
Editor, Speakeasy News
 
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Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Fw: Toastmasters contests March 9

 

SPEAKEASY NEWS
Online Newsletter of Toastmasters Club 1789
 
We continue to grow.  Please welcome John Kelly and Kristy Wisneski into our club.  One reason they happen to be joining at the same time is they will soon become a wedded pair.  Yes, they are "affianced," a word you don't hear often -- about as often as "betrothed."  Anyway, they have our congratulations and our sincere best wishes.
 
CONTESTS!  THIS WEEK!  ARE YOU READY?  Attached is the regular 3-week schedule, with this week's assignments for the International Speech and Evaluation Contests, to be held on this Wednesday.  Jessica has very carefully covered all positions, and it appears that the speech contest will come first, with one speech to be used as the target speech for the evaluation contest.  I will have official forms for both contests, so that everything will go smoothly.
 
So far, only Tony Osman has entered as a speech contestant.  If any other member is even thinking about entering, please do it.  We don't really need competition as much as we need participation.  Contests add spice to the Toastmasters experience, and present opportunities to speak before different audiences.  Trust me, you won't regret it.
 
In case you wonder what happened to the Word of the Week and Table Topics, we omit them on contest nights, unless there is a lot of time left.  In years past, we have had several contestants in both contests, and sometimes no time left of our 2-hour allotment.  I'd really like to see that happen again.
 
Most of you know that the Area 92 contests are on Thursday, March 24, and I've just now put it on my own pocket calendar.  I'll send the official flyer out again next week, but this time I'll just note that the contests will be held at 6700 Excelsior Blvd., which is better known as the "Stilts Building" on the corner of Excelsior and Louisiana Ave.
 
Dorothy will have my head if I don't mention that dues are due for the next six months.  They are $36.00, payable to Speakeasy Toastmasters and are being collected by Cori Judge in Dorothy's absence these 2 weeks.  Dues must be in to International HQ by April 1 and if takes a few days for the money to get to California (don't ask).  Help make Dorothy's job easier by getting your checks to Cori ASAP.  Your club thanks you.
 
I usually call for changes by 1:00 Wednesday, and if you intend on adding your name as a contestant, I can still get you on the agenda by that time.  Go for it!  See you Wednesday.
 
Gordon Andersen
Editor, Speakeasy News
 
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Sunday, February 13, 2011

Speakeasy News

 
SPEAKEASY NEWS
Online Newsletter of Toastmasters Club 1789
 
Closer, ever closer creeps the day of reckoning -- the day of the International Speech Contest in Speakeasy.  Are you thinking about it?  Are you preparing a dynamite speech?  You can use one you've already given if you rework it so that it's a new piece.  Speeches are supposed to be original, but that doesn't eliminate a topic, only the form of the first one.
 
No speech?  How about the evaluation contest?  We need to send one speaker and one evaluator to the area contest on March 24, having had our club contest on March 9.
 
Remember, only the speech contest requires 6 completed manual speeches.  Anyone may compete in the evaluation contest.
 
 
We'll also need a Toastmaster, a chief judge, a target speaker for the evaluation contest, 1 or 2 timers, 2 ballot counters, and a handful of judges.  That's a lot, you say?  We've handled much worse regarding bodies to fill the various positions, and we can do it again.  For example, speech contestants can be evaluation judges, and vice versa.  Trust me, it'll work.
 
I'd mention officer training, but Gene has kept officers informed.  We need 4 officers trained before sometime in February, I think.
 
Jessica has put together the next 3 weeks schedule, which I am attaching herewith.  If you see any need to change anything, be sure to let me know by 1:00 Wednesday, and Jessica before then, if possible.  It's always good to have a clean agenda (bad choice of words?).
 
Heard a good joke lately?  We need more than one per meeting, I'm sure you'll agree.  I get mine from the Internet, courtesy of several friends who send me mostly stuff I can't use, but once in a while there comes a good one.  This week?  Well, we'll see.  See you Wednesday, that is.
 
Gordon Andersen
Editor, Speakeasy News
 
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Monday, January 31, 2011

 
SPEAKEASY NEWS
Online Newsletter of Toastmasters Club 1789
 
Let's hear a big hello to Code Sternal, our newest member.  Code is joining Toastmasters as part of his preparation to take on a new job later this year in New York City.  You'll see on the attached schedule that he's jumping right in and giving his icebreaker this week.  That's what we like.  Welcome, Code, and may your Toastmasters career be everything you hope it will be.
 
(Code brings our membership up to 19, highest in quite a while.)
 
I'm adding two more attachments this week.  One is an invitation to a job-seeking seminar, and there is no cost.  If you, or someone you know, are looking for employment (or a better job), it could be well worth your time.
 
The other has to do with individual and club progress, particularly concerning the Distinguished Club Plan (DCP).  When an individual Toastmaster achieves, the club achieves as well.  The two main benefits we derive from TM are personal satisfaction in improving our skills, and the recognition by our organization and by our peers.  Mostly, though, it's the pride we take in our accomplishments.
 
Remember that there are contests coming up, sooner than we think.  Let's all really consider taking a part, whether it be actually competing, or serving in other capacities, such as judges, timers, etc., or even as Toastmaster or chief judge at club, area, division, and district contests.  The International Speech contest is the one leading to the crowning of the World Champion of Public Speaking, and that champion is right now in some club somewhere, and it could be here.  How about that?
 
The HPL mentioned on one of the attachments stands for High Performance and Leadership project, and we have the materials to take it on.  Gene will explain more as we consider it.
 
Wednesday, 1:00, is when I go online to look for e-mails from members needing to change the agenda.  Then it's off to the printer.  I hope to see as many members as possible that night.  More guests, too.
 
Gordon Andersen
Editor, Speakeasy News
 
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Wednesday, January 19, 2011

 
SPEAKEASY NEWS
Online Newsletter of Toastmasters Club 1789
 
This week, Area Governor Nancy Knoth will honor us with her semiannual official visit.  Through her, the district keeps track of our progress as a club, mainly to see if we are doing OK and to offer help if we need it.  Our club is part of an international organization that has a great reputation even among nonmembers, with several "celebrities" as former or current members.  Nancy will not only participate in our meeting, but will present announcements of future activity, in our area and in our district (6).
 
Have you thought about entering the upcoming contests, either as a speaker or as an evaluator?  It's a great experience, with many personal rewards just for taking the plunge.  There are no winners or losers per se, because everyone wins just by competing.  Trust me.
 
This week, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed, we should be in our regular meeting room, the Community Room.  Last week I had a look inside and all it really needed was a good vacuuming, as all the stuff that was being worked on was mostly gone.  Shouldn't be a problem.
 
Are you remembering that there are two tracks in Toastmasters?  There's the speaker track, and there's the leadership track.  It's the leadership manual that members are most likely to leave at home, where it's of little use.  Bring it along and get credit for just about every function during a meeting.  Complete the assignments and you'll receive a very nice certificate from international headquarters, suitable for framing.  Really, it is classy.  Do you know where your manual is?
 
I hear through the grapevine that one of our members is about to give a speech to another organization, or maybe has done so already.  This is a way of broadening the Toastmasters experience by putting ourselves in front of an audience of complete strangers.  It's a real challenge, one that I hope we'll all one day accept.  There is a district Speakers Bureau, and any member can be added to its list of presenters.  And no, you don't have to be of professional caliber; all you need is a message you feel would be of benefit to the audience, or at least informative.  If you're interested, go the district Web site for more details.
 
The schedule is attached.  Changes to me by 1:00 Wednesday, please.
 
Gordon Andersen
Editor, Speakeasy News
 
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Monday, January 10, 2011

Speakeasy News

 
SPEAKEASY NEWS
Online Newsletter of Toastmasters Club 1789
 
OK, so we had to trudge upstairs again last week, but I have been assured (?) that our regular room will be available to us this week.  But, well, we will cope, no matter what happens.  Nothing can stand in the way of a Speakeasy meeting.  So there!
 
The AG is coming!  The AG is coming!  AG stands for area governor, and our Area 93 governor, Nancy Knoth, will pay an official visit on January 19.  Hey, that's next week.  Nancy will sit down with President Gene and EdVP Jessica to prepare a report to the district office on how and what we as a club are doing and what we expect to accomplish in the next few months.  These visits take place twice a year, and we can expect a few announcements from Nancy, if only as reminders and invitations.
 
Nancy will also be seeking likely candidates to replace her on July 1.  I've been an AG and it's very easy (the way I did it).  Consider it.
 
If I may have your undivided attention, I will announce a few particulars of the upcoming International Speech Contest.  Our club contests will be on March 9, and the Area 93 contests will be on Thursday, March 24, at the Stilts Building (not its real name) on the corner of Excelsior Blvd. and Louisiana Ave., just west of Methodist Hospital.
 
The subsidiary contest this time will be an Evaluation Contest.  Here's how it works:  All contestants hear what is called a "target" speech.  All contestants except the first contestant are escorted from the room.  This is so that no contestant hears another contestant before his or her turn comes.  Back they come, one at a time, escorted by the contest sergeant-at-arms.  I say that because our elected sergeant-at-arms may wish to enter the contest, in which case someone else would have to serve in that capacity.  Clear?  Good.
 
The schedule is attached, because I remembered to attach it before I started writing this.  Good thinking, no?  If you have any changes to it that we can use to our advantage, please get them to me by 1:00 Wednesday p.m.  We've been a bit short on speeches lately, so see if you can add another to your busy schedule.  We'll always have at least one, but more is better.  See you at the meeting.
 
Gordon Andersen
Editor, Speakeasy News
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Monday, January 3, 2011

Fw: Toastmasters January 5

 
----- Original Message -----
From: Gene Welch
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2011 9:32 AM
Subject: Re: Toastmasters January 5

If you need the TELI presentation application go to http://www.d6tm.org - Gene
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2011 12:56 AM
Subject: Toastmasters January 5

SPEAKEASY NEWS
Online Newsletter of Toastmasters Club 1789
 
Do I really have to say Happy New Year again?  Looks like I just did.
 
We are back in action after a holiday rest (?) and ready to step up to the speaker's lectern.  Jessica has provided a schedule for the next few weeks so that everyone can plan ahead.
 
Speakers are still needed for the upcoming TELI, I think.  I can't get the attachment to open, so I'll attach it here and hope it makes it to you.  If it's too late, well, I tried.
 
The International Speech Contest is not as far off as one might think.  I don't have all the details yet, but stay tuned.  They're coming.
 
This week we should be returning to our regular room.  I'll stop in on Monday and double-check.
 
I hope you don't mind if I keep this short this time.  I've had a very bad day with a mistake I made on eBay.  Take my advice:  Don't hit the wrong button -- you could get lost in the depths of the online void.
 
Changes?  Get them to me by 1:00 Wednesday.  See you at the meeting.
 
Gordon Andersen
Editor, Speakeasy News
 
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