Meeting 882 "Go for Gold"

President Annette & Area Gov Denise

We were pleased to welcome our new Area Governor Denise to our meeting, as well as our other visitors, Alan, Jack and Pauline.

Liz We

Liz We was Toastmaster for the evening. She kept us entertained with interesting facts about the Olympics.

The theme was "Go for Gold." so John S had chosen the word "Carat,"  which Melissa presented on John's behalf.

To practise for the contests next month, the Table Topics were 2 minutes each instead of our usual 90 seconds. We also had Instant Evaluations after each Topic instead of an assigned TT Evaluator. Table Topics Master Marlene called on Annette, Inge and June to answer her topics, "Pure gold need not fear the furnace," "What is your greatest achievement and what effort did you have to put into it" and "Could someone you know be described as having a heart of gold?" The evaluators were Liz Wo, Kylie and Robert.

Dave presented the next 3 Table Topics and asked Melissa, Sharyn and Kerry, "Which Australian athelete do you think will win at the Olympics?"
"Why is gold so expensive?" and "What makes gold such a desirable object?"  These were evaluated by Ernie, Maureen, and Del.

Amanda

In her Icebreaker speech, Amanda shared some amusing incidents from her life. We loved her humour.

Evaluator  John T had some encouraging comments for Amanda.

Ernie presented a speech "The Voice." which contained a lot of useful tips. It was evaluated by Kerry. It was hard to believe this was Kerry's first evaluation.

Ernie

Kerry

Jennine

Jennine's speech was "Caring for your Handknits." We will know think twice before throwing all our woollies into the washing machine! It was her 4th speech and was evaluated by Annette.

We all took time to fill in a Moment of Truth Survey.

Moment of Truth

Grammarian Maureen commented on word usage throughout the evening and Del summed up the meeting in her General Evaluation.

Marueen

Del

Annette wins raffle

Kylie's raffle (golden candles, etc.) was won by Annette.

Annette presented the evenings awards to Jennine (Best Speech,) Amanda (Personal Best,) Liz We (Best Contribution,) Kerry (Best Evaluator - tied with Annette) and Sharyn (Best Table Topic.)  Sorry, forgot to get Annette in the photo!


Remember there will be three weeks till the next meeting, since there are 5 Tuesdays in July. Next meeting 14th August. The theme will be "The Ekka."

It's Magic - Toastmasters Speech

What is magic? There's more to magic than just the "razzle dazzle".

To some people, it can mean Harry Potter or pulling a rabbit out of a hat, but through the eyes of a 6 year old child, there can be magic in almost everything.

Meeting 881 Winter

Kylie

It was the first meeting of our new Toastmasters Year. (1 July 2012 - 30 June 2013.)

We were pleased to welcome our guest, Jenelle.

Maureen, our new Sergeant at Arms, called the meeting smartly to order and handed control to new President, Annette.

Toastmaster Kylie  promoted the winter theme with a collection of beanies and scarves. She also had a supply of winter jokes.

Elizabeth proposed a toast to "Warmth."

Robert introduced the word "Antarctic" and it was used by some during Ernie's Round Robin. Ernie asked the question, "What would you do if you had gills?" This led to some creative answers.

Time keepers were Inge and John T. The first time for both of them in that role.

Dave

Maureen's Table Topics all related to winter. "A favourite memory of winter," "The first time you saw snow,"  "The coldest place you've worked in," and "A favourite winter meal."
Jennine, Robert, Harry and Del answered the Table Topics and were evaluated by Dave.

The raffle, donated by Annette, was an attractively wrapped mystery prize in a basket. Trish produced the winning ticket with a shriek that set Robert's guide dog barking.

We had two speeches. John T revealed a great sense of humour in his  Icebreaker speech, "My Passions" had us laughing all the way through.

Harry

Harry's speech, "The Powers of Presentation" was packed with useful information and demonstrated his excellent use of body language.

Evaluators Del and Jonathon had some encouraging remarks and points for improvement for John and Harry.

The Business Session was conducted by Liz We. It was her first time in this role and she was well prepared. The main items discussed were the upcoming Executive Training Sessions and our information stall at the Einbunpin Festival.

Trish

Trish evaluated the Business Session. She explained why all comments need to be made through the Chairman.

One of our speakers was absent with flu, so Marlene introduced an impromptu Role Playing Session, and called on several members to practice giving information to the "inquirers" at the Einbunpin Festival.

June collected some fines with her listening quiz.

The General Evaluation  was performed by Marlene.

President Annette presented the evening's awards to Kylie, (Best Contribution,) Jonathon (Best Evaluation,) Jennine (Best Table Topic,) Harry (Best Speech,) and JohnT (Personal Best.)                                        

Meeting 880 Change Over Dinner

Theme - Black & White  -  Books

New Executive Team

Welcome to the new executive for 2012 - 2013. They are, from left to right, Jennine (VPPR,) John S (Parliamentarian,) Melissa, (News Bulletin Editor,) Kylie (Treasurer) Sharyn - almost hidden (Secretary and IPP) Annette (President,) Marlene (VPE,) Liz We (VPM,) and Maureen (SAA.)

The Change Over Ceremony was inducted by incoming Division Governor, Ranjeet.

Ranjeet inducting  new Treasurer Kylie

Ranjeet

It was a thrill to see Leesa  acknowledged as "The Most Extraordinary Toastmaster." for her outstanding effort, helpfulness, and dependability.

                                     

Most Extraordinary Leesa

Toastmaster of the Year
Trish and Annette

Trish and Annette shared the "Toastmaster of the Year" award.

100 Percent Attendance. Leesa and Dave.

Leesa and Dave received an award for 100 percent Attendance.

Since it is the National Year of Reading, the theme was "Black and White, with a touch of "Read."

The Round Robin and Table Topics had a Book theme.

Jonathon

Harry

Trish

Rhys

Trish conducted a Book Trivia Quiz. Raffle Prizes were bundles of books. (Everyone had donated a pre-owned favourite.)

Incoming Area Governor Denise shared a joke with our out going president, Sharyn.

Denise and Sharyn

Melissa
Our News Bulletin Editor is keen to get started.

Next meeting 10th July.

Meeting 879 "Australian Pioneers"

Kylie CC

Congratulations to Kylie on obtaining her Competent Communicator award.

Kylie delivered her 10th speech, "Fabulous" and received a standing ovation from the club.

Annette 

Another achiever was Annette, who presented an informative Educational Session on Mentoring. This completed the requirements for an Advanced Leader award. Well done, Annette!

Jennine

Toastmaster for the evening was Jennine. It was her first time in this role, but she handled it with great aplomb, explaining each role so that our visitors Terry, Sarah and Danni could understand what was happening and challenging us with pictures of Australian Pioneers  to identify.

It was fascinating to see Robert read the Mission Statement from braille before he presented the toast.

Harry

Inge presented the Word "Tapferkeit,"  a German word meaning "Valour." It was used by some members during the meeting. 

Round Robin Master Trish asked us to imagine we were Australian Pioneers and to tell what three things we had brought from home and if we had needed them. This elicited some amusing answers.

Liz We

Amanda continued the Pioneer theme in her Table Topics. She asked  her "victims" to tell how they each met an Australian Pioneer at a Charity Ball and what they said to them. The pioneers she chose were Charles Kingsford Smith, Edmund Hamon Hargreaves, William Charles Wentworth, and Dame Mary Gilmour. Robert, John, Harry and Liz rose to the occasion with wildly imaginative and entertaining stories.

 They were evaluated by Nicole. 

Ernie wins raffle

There were two Raffles. One was presented by Jonathon  ( a book and "smelly stuff") and another by Inge (tea, coffee and mugs). Inge's raffle was won by Ernie. Forget who won the other one!

The Business Session was efficiently chaired by Leesa. Items for discussion were the Change Over Dinner on the 26th June and Club Officer Training on the 21st July.

Grammarian Harry commented on good word usage, and reported that the um's and ah's, had increased during the second half of the meeting -  probably due to the business session.

John S

In his General Evaluation, John S commended Jennine for her excellent introductions in her first time role as Toastmaster,  Amanda for her imaginative and well presented Table Topics, and Annette for her easy to read visual aids. Commenting on the business session, he reminded everyone to address the meeting at all times and not just one person.

President Sharyn presented the evening's awards to Kylie (Best Speech,) Nicole (Best Evaluation,) Liz We (Best Table Topic,) Amanda (Personal Best,) and Jennine (Best Contribution.)

Next meeting will be the Change Over. If you haven't indicated if you are coming and paid for your dinner, please contact Sharyn right aaway.

Meeting 878 Int. Reading & New Speaker Contests

Maureen

When Maureen prepared her Icebreaker speech, she didn't realise she had been entered for the New Speaker Contest. She bravely went ahead and surprised herself by winning first place with her speech, "Parental Influence."

Second place getter was another new member, John T, who presented a powerful  and thought provoking speech, "Advance Australia Fair - a Reality Check."

It was good to see our old friend Del, from Narangba Toastmasters who came to judge the contests, with several of our own members assisting with the judging.

Another guest was Sarah, who came for the first time. We explained to her that our regular meetings are not as chaotic as a contest night!

Marlene

There was a variety of readings in the Interpretive Reading Contest. Dave read an old Stanley Hollaway monalogue, "The Lion and Albert." 
Kylie read  "Mulga Bill's Bicycle."   by Banjo Paterson. Marlene read an extract from Elizabeth Jolley's
book, "The Well."  Ernie read a story written by his late wife, Diane, titled "Trees at Christmas."
Annette read an extract from "Dad in Politics" by Steele Rudd.

Place getters were Marlene, first, and Annette second.

Jonathon

There were quite a few members absent. Jonathon filled in as Sergeant at Arms and also as Toastmaster.

John S took on the role of Contest Chairman.

As Word master, Maureen challenged us to used the word "CONDUCIVE."

Inge's Round Robin was "Repair or Replace." Everyone seemed to find it easy to speak for 30 seconds on that theme. Some even managed to use the word "Conducive."

Dave's Table Topics, were appropriately based on the theme of books and reading. Amanda, John T, Maureen and John S were given the Topics, "What book has impressed you?" "What author would you like to have lunch with?""What book would you take to a desert island?" and "What kind of book would you like to write?"

John S

John T

Maureen

Amanda

Sharyn - Rafflemaster

They all received the same number of votes, so it was a dead heat! 

The Table Topics were evaluated by Kerry. Leesa conducted the General Evaluation.

Sharyn's "Purple Pamper Pack" Raffle was won by Marlene.

Don't forget there are 5 Tuesdays in this month, so it will be 3 weeks before our next meeting. See you all on the 12th June.

And the following meeting, 26th June will be our   Change Over Dinner.

Interpretive Reading

We are having our Interpretive Reading Contest next meeting.There are guidelines on a new section of our Blog.

There will also be a New Speaker Contest, which is open to any member who has completed less than 5 speech projects from the Communication and Leadership Manual.

Meeting 877 "Magic" & Elections

Congratulations to our newly elected Club Officers, who will take on their new role from 1st July.

President: Annette
Vice President Education: Marlene
Vice President Membership: Liz We
Vice President Public Relations: Jennine
Secretary: Sharyn
Treasurer: Kylie
Sergeant at Arms: Maureen
News Bulletin Editor: Melissa
Parliamentarian: John S
Web Site Coordinator: Marlene

The theme of the meeting was "Magic." Maureen proposed a toast to the Magic of Toastmasters.

Trish presented the club with two new ribbons to attach to the club banner, one for attending the District Convention, and one for achieving Distinguished club status by April.

Nicole's word for the evening was "Illusion" She gave some examples of illusion, including the fact that if you cross your index and middle fingers and rub your nose, it gives the illusion that you have two noses. Of course, some people had to try it out.

Rhys continued the theme in his Round Robin, asking us to speak alternately on the positive or negative aspects of magic. This evoked many unusual topics, ranging from the syzygy of the moon to the Federal Budget. 

 It was a very full programme and Dave proved to be an efficient Toastmaster of the evening, keeping things moving along briskly, but still slipping in interesting information about magic.

Sharyn's Table Topics were a challenge for her victims Jennine, Marlene, John T and Amanda. "With a little bit of Magic I could...," "Shazzam, just like Magic!" "Starlight, Starbright, first star I see tonight," and "A Magical piece of Music, Movie, or Book."

Table Topics Evaluator Liz We had encouraging comments for all participants.

There were three speeches. Inge presented her Icebreaker speech, which was a moving account of her early years in Germany, when the war interrupted her happy childhood, and some members of her family were killed and others sent to prison camps. Inge ended her speech on a happy note, telling how she met and married her husband.

Melissa's speech was "Urban Myths and the Illusion of Everybody." It was her third speech.

Trish's speech was also topical. "It's Magic." Trish is an advanced Toastmaster and is working on yet another Communication and Leadership Manual.

The speeches were evaluated by Leesa, Kylie and Harry. 

The Business Session was chaired by John S, who kept firm control and insisted that any remarks be addressed through the Chairman.

Ernie told a joke about Van Gogh's Family Tree, which includes a dizzy aunt, "Verti Gogh," his brother who ate prunes, "Gotta Gogh," Grandfather from Yugoslavia, "UGogh," a bird loving Uncle,"Flamin Gogh," a Disco Dancer, "Go Gogh" etc.

Grammarian Annette commented on the Ums & Ahs, also the use of  "and" as a filler. She commended Melissa on her use of words in her speech. 

Elizabeth's raffle was won by Liz We. It was a bag of assorted items, perfume, scented candle, tea towel ...and packets of cold water jelly.

Time Keeper Del warned that we were running overtime, so Jonathon was concise with his General Evaluation, but still managed to cover everything, and make constructive suggestions.

President Sharyn presented the evening's awards to John T (Best Table Topic,) Trish (Best Speech,) Kylie (Best Evaluation,) Inge (Personal Best,) and Dave (Best Contribution.)

Next meeting we will have our Interpretive Reading and New Speaker Contests.

District 69 Convention

It was very disappointing that the Humorous Speech Contest was changed from Saturday to Sunday.  Sharyn, Annette, Leesa,  Nicole & I were only able to attend on the one day. Besides the Humorous Contest, there were only the four hours (!!!!) of  Business and Elections. Sharyn attended the President's Breakfast.

Trish, Sharyn, Annette, Marlene

The Humorous Speeches were funny and entertaining. Sorry, we didn't bring the trophy home. The competition was just too stiff. The winner was very very good and deserved to win. The second and third place getters were also very good.

                                                               

Phew, the contest is over!

 2 long term members. Annette & Betty Smout

. We were delighted to meet & talk with Betty Smout from the Adventurers Club. Betty has been a Toastmaster  for 37 years. Her husband (who passed away last year aged 105)  was Arthur Smout, the brother of well known local identy, Ted Smout.