Learning to Live with the Enemy

Tuesday, October 4, 2006
Attendance (9)
Time 12- 1pm

Bertha Bruner (Vice President of Education) pinch hit for Co-President Falan for today’s meeting and provided our invocation as well, "Safety and innocence are discovered when they are lost."

Tony Li provided our Word of the Day, “impromptu” and Jay Fisgus used it in his speech evaluation…

Drena Graham provided another top-notch set of thought-provoking table topics. With the Jewish Holy Holidays being observed, questions of spirituality challenged members to respond to questions about the meanings of life. Bertha was the winner with an interesting look at Violence in Society.

Our prepared presentation segment was very revealing and informational. I, (Joe Simpson, Vice President of Press Relations) shared something extremely personal with the group during my speech, Am I Cursed? Learning to live with the Enemy (#7 – Research Your Topic). Sharing the intimate details of my battle with disease (hypertension or high blood pressure) and a test procedure (MRA - an MRI using a dye to view internal organs) taken last week that brought home the seriousness of my battle to control it and live.

The speech was tied together with details using large numbers or graphics that were displayed as I moved through his presentation. A heart-felt thank you goes out to the group for allowing me to share my experience for the very first time with someone other than my family and very close friends. Although I felt very relaxed about what I was presenting, I was very apprehensive about how vulnerable doing presenting this topic made me feel.

Gene Hargreaves (Vice President of Membership) did his usual bang up job during his speech on How To Do an Evaluation. A great tool for new members, Gene outlined the keys to providing an effective review of a prepared speech. As with functionary duty performed during our meetings, evaluators should look at this task as a mini-speech.

Other key points were:

• Use the manual – each project has a series of questions you’ll need to complete, but speak about the key or most important points
• Provide positive encouragement with some constructive criticism – for beginners, give three good points for each item the speaker needs to work on
• Remember that each speaker is at a different level in their development
• Work with your evaluator or veteran members ahead of time to discuss points that you’d like to work and be evaluated on

As always, Gene presented the topic with a solid structure, animation and was very entertaining. For me personally, watching Gene is a learning experience in addition visually as well. Body gestures, posturing, using the floor and vocal variety are all things I note for incorporation into my future work.

Reminder: If you haven’t submitted your membership dues, contact Gene so we can submit them.

See you next week.