Meeting Minutes for January 7, 2014

Cromwell Community Toastmasters

Club 5908 ~ District 53

January 7, 2014

“Go Big or Go Home”

Attendees:    members attended:  Bo Bogart, John Hart, Charlie Hubert, Carmen Jenkins, Elizabeth Landeen, Donald Ostertag, Catherine Rose, Crystal Storo CC, CL, William Sullivan ACB, ALB, Robin Thompson and Heather Turner ACS, CL

Business Meeting:

The meeting was called to order by Sergeant at Arms Charlie Hubert.  President Crystal Storo mentioned the January Jam taking place this Saturday (January 11.) Crystal also told us that Hollie Rose has been reporting on Toastmaster meetings that she visited during her travels. Hollie has been sharing her impressions on the Cromwell Community Toastmaster Facebook page.

Meeting Roles:

Toastmaster: Bo Bogart

Invocation: Charlie Hubert   - Toastmaster Promise

Word Master:  Robin Thompson

Word - of - the - Day:  ameliorate – to improve or make better

Table Topics Master:  Elizabeth Landeen

Theme:  New Year’s Resolutions   Elizabeth told us that New Years Resolutions were started by the Romans over 2000 years ago.  Bill Sullivan gave us his theory as to why this custom started and Catherine Rose reflected on whether 2014 will be better than 2013. Don Ostertag felt that a year was too long a time to give up chocolate, but he could give up potato chips.  Though the thought of a Bungee Cord Jump appealed to Heather’s sense of adventure, she also saw the down side.  When asked about changing something in the world Crystal talked about her trip to the UN and how it’s members change the world.

Speaker # 1:  Carmen Jenkins

Manual/Project: Competent Communicator/Project 1 Icebreaker

Title:  My Life 

Carmen told us she has four children and one grandchild. She is currently working towards a Masters Degree in Social Work.  Carmen is improving her life and wants to help other people improve their lives.

Speaker # 2:   Donald Ostertag

Manual/Project: Competent Communicator/Project 8   Getting Comfortable w/ Visual Aids

Title:  How Some Meetings are Conducted 

Don described how to conduct a detachment meeting.  He described the opening ceremony; who would be present; the various parts of the meeting and how correspondence and new business are handled. He discussed routines, reports and interesting facts.  He described the closing ceremony and then answered questions.

Speaker # 3:  John Hart

Manual/Project:  Competent Communicator/Project 1   Icebreaker

Title:  Looking back.  Looking forward.  

John told us about his New Year holiday and spending time with his girlfriend and family.  He also told us he works at a non-profit agency, The Hartford Defense League where he thinks public speaking skills would be useful.

Speaker # 4:  Heather Turner ACS, CL

Manual/Project:  Public Relations/Project Crisis Management Speech

Title:  Update on the Zombie Apocalypse 

Reporter Hollie Hobbie reported on the effects of the Zombie Apocalypse that had happened one year prior.  Electricity is a thing of the past; most people are either dead or zombified; food from aluminum cans has turned poisonous but on the bright side, the President has just starred in a new movie and a good use has been found for canned Spam.

General Evaluator: Crystal Storo CC

Evaluator # 1:  Elizabeth Landeen

Evaluator # 2:   Heather Turner ACS, CL

Evaluator # 3:  Charlie Hubert

Evaluator # 4:  William Sullivan ACB, ALB

Functionary Reports:

Ah Counter:  Carmen Jenkins

Grammarian:  William Sullivan ACB, ALB

Timer:  Charles Hubert

In closing Crystal thanked everyone for participating.  Both Carmen Jenkins and John Hart received Icebreaker Ribbons. It was another great meeting!  Now is the perfect time to sign up for roles for our next meeting.

Next meeting: January 21, 2014.

Respectfully submitted by

Bo Bogart, Secretary

[posted by Hollie Rose CC]