Settling for Good Enough?

Tuesday, February 27, 2007
8 attendees

Club President Falan Guan completed her tenth project in the Communications and Leadership program (CONGRATULATIONS, FALAN!) entitled “Inspire Your Audience”. The topic of her ensuing speech was incredibly eloquent and thought-provoking.

She discussed how society pressures us to achieve high goals but what if we don’t? Can we find contentment in just being ordinary? Falan peppered her presentation with engaging stories of her son’s elementary school janitor who turned her son into an excellent chess player and an anonymous donor at USC who asked that the school’s new arena bear not his name but a friend’s. This friend who didn’t achieve what many deem as success still made a terrific impression on his wealthy friend, just by his daily actions. She finished the speech with a wave anecdote (knowing when to ride it; when to avoid it and staying balanced on it) that tied the entire speech together.

Speech Evaluator Sergeant at Arms Kathy Hendry gave the presentation a glowing review. She mentioned how Falan’s gestures and tone made her delivery more powerful and commanded her audience’s attention. A great climax indeed to an interesting journey through the Toastmaster’s manual.

The core presentation followed a ‘Visit to the Art Gallery’ with Vice President of Public Relations, Joe Simpson. This ‘visit’ disguised as Table Topics revolved around certain notable works of art and each member’s reaction to them. As an art history minor in college, he spent many a winter’s day in dark auditoriums discussing the merits of various artists' work and this exercise was a throw-back to this earlier time in his life.

Vice President of Education Bertha Bruner started the discussion with the debate over whether the National Endowment for the Arts (The Fountain by Marcel Duchamp) or the Artist should have ultimate say as to what is deemed acceptable to be shown in galleries; Kathy Hendry told us whether DiVinci’s Mona Lisa was smiling or not; Member Richard Perez talked about what his lasting legacy would be (Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh); Club Secretary Gayle Anderson described the beauty of her desert experience (Red Canna by Georgia O’Keefe); Member Paul Burke discussed whether art should be purchased in your local Wal-Mart or viewed in a gallery setting (Andy Warhol, Marilyn Monroe) and winner Cynthia Jimerson talked about whether she preferred to view an unsettling work of art or a pretty one (The Cry, Edvard Munch).

Remember that tonight Toastmasters, Int’l is hosting the last officer training session for the current officer term. If you are interested in learning more about a new or future position, contact Falan for more information.