Do you want the scuttlebutt, the 411, the news, about today’s Toastmasters meeting?

Read on!

Early in the meeting, which was attended by 7 regular members and 3 guests, we were educated with the word of the day: scuttlebutt.

A few minutes later, we were entertained by another round of Joe Simpson’s musical Table Topics, won, with a marginal lead in the polling on this Super Tuesday, by Raynard Price. Say, wasn’t he last week’s Best Speaker ribbon winner? Is this a trend? Go Raynard.

Toastmaster Paul Burke kept the meeting running on schedule, introducing and transitioning with his usual flair for entertaining and energetic commentary.

He introduced our first speaker, President Joe Simpson, for “Show and Tell” who shared some ideas for a membership building activity, and called for suggestions and comments. Discussion of this topic is to be continued over the next few weeks.

Kathy Hendry was introduced next, by name only, because she didn’t have a title for her presentation. Her speech turned out to be an extemporaneous disquisition on the importance of knowing your audience, and tailoring your topics appropriately. She talked about how the Table Topics experience can help prepare you for those occasions when you are called upon to speak before a group without advance preparation. Particularly appropriate, in this case, since 30% of her audience were visitors new to the Toastmasters experience.

All in all, it was a pretty typical Toastmasters at Metro meeting. We laughed, we learned, we practiced our skills, and we laughed some more. Come on up and join us soon!

Kath

Learn a new language in ten minutes!

Tuesday February 26, 2008
Word of the Day - Misremember
Attendance - 7

There is a old saying -- if you live long enough, you'll see just about everything. At last Tuesday's meeting I REALLY must be old because I witnessed one of the most unique speeches I've seen in as a Toastmaster! Paul Burke, CC (Vice President of Education) presented Spanish 101 from the Advanced Communications Manual.

Now it is difficult enough presenting your topic in five to seven minutes, but doing a ten minute speech is quite a challenge. But the icing on the cake was that his speech was delivered totally in Spanish! The gist of the speech was the learning Spanish wasn't difícil at all; he compared how words in English have multiple spelling and enunciation which are often confusing for the non-English speaking; how living in Los Angeles makes it easier because of the diversity of languages and cultures, illustrating these points behind humorous examples.

By the end of his speech, even the non-speakers in the audience (all of us but one) could follow his "teaching" method. And to think, with this refresher, I could have been fully fluent (if I hadn't forgot those two years of high school Spanish growing up in Michigan)! Very imaginative and entertaining indeed. Don José signing out...


Join us this week for the second installment of Musical Table Topics and a look ahead to what our next event will be. Bring a friend and your lunch and we'll see you there.