Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Meeting Minutes 5-17-16



Cromwell Community Toastmasters
Club 5908 ~ District 53
Tues April 17, 2016


Attendees:    Rob Dalo, Crystal Storo, Bill Sullivan, Danielle Payne, Sheetal Patel, Phil Mason, Winston Phillip

Guests
: Emily, Matt


Business Meeting

Toastmasters District 53 Spring 2016 Conference 
Friday May 20, 2016 Social and Networking
Saturday, May 21, 2016 Conference
Sheraton Hartford Hotel @ Bradley Airport
Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, CT 06096
Email Hollie Rose klekplo@aol.com if interested

There are two more meetings with the current officers
June 7, 2016 is officer elections
June 21, 2016 is new officer inductions

Current nominations
President- Sheetal Patel
Vice-president of Education- Danielle Payne
Vice-president of Membership- Winston Phillip
Vice-president of Public Relations- Heather Turner
Secretary-
Treasurer- Andrew Watt
Sargent at Arms- Phil Mason
Immediate Past President- Hollie Rose

Charlie Hubert is doing better. He has had trouble getting a ride.
Don Ostertag has moved to Arizona.


Toastmaster Winston Phillip


Invocation Winston Phillip

Winston read the Toastmasters International Club Mission Statement:
We provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth.


Table Topics Danielle Payne
Talk about ad from telephone book

Home Security Ad
1:51 Rob – There is not security system in my home. I leave my keys in the ignition and never lock the doors. If someone wants to get into my house they will. A security system only inconveniences me.

Aspen Dental Ad
1:25 Winston – I sat in on a dental class procedure. They were talking about the differences in digital versus analog picture. Digital is cheaper and faster. It also gives a better picture. I was scared but I hope they learn well.

Mortgage Ad
1:02 Phil – I am in contracting. When people get mortgages it is good for me because they may be remodeling their homes. They will call me and I will have business. It is a good time to buy a home because rates and prices are down.

Direct TV Ad
0:45 Matt – The only show I watch is House of Lies on ShowTime. My friend had Direct TV and it was a nightmare. They jack up the prices and have poor service. I would go with Xfinity.

Pluming Ad
0:43 Emily – I work at an engineer contracting building. If your pluming is messed up you will know it. This ad is worth the money they are open on weekends. If your shower or toilet is clogged you will need them. Often the engineer will get in trouble even if its not their fault.

Coffee Ad
1:59 Sheetal – Coffee is not good to me but tea is. There are many different kinds of tea. Particular people have particular types of tea. In northern India tea is popular. Different parts of India have different preferences on everything: tea, language, dressing and staple foods as well as temperature.

Waste Removal and Recycling Ad
1:21 Bill – Waste removal is so important. What if they didn’t pick it up every week? My dad used to tell me to pour the old car oil down the drain. Now there is a sticker on the drain that says it drains to the creek. We didn’t have recycling when I was a kid.

Speaker # 1:  Crystal Storro:  6:45
Manual/Project: Competent Communicator / Ice Breaker
Title: 2nd Time Around

I have been in Toastmasters for five years and have come a long way. For my first speech I was very nervous and was reading off a piece of paper. I had a hard time but I forced myself. By my 10th speech I  was much more confident. Toastmasters is about what you get out of it, feedback in a critical way. I taped my 10th speech. Today Tom Alvord came across the file and sent it to me. I’m proud. I had no notes but I did pace. I was able to see that I am more confident. Push yourself to the next level. We are all in fear and are figuring it out but I can embrace it. I am who I am because of Toastmasters.

Speaker # 2:  Phil Mason: 3:49
Manual/Project: Competent Communicator / Vocal Variety
Title: You Never know What’s Ahead

I bought a Challenger a few years ago. A friend of mine had a much more powerful one. I used to see him from time to time. It has been about 6 months since we saw each other when I ran into him in Home Depot. He said that he sold his car and had broken his neck. On Block Island he was riding around on a moped when some kids ran out in front of him. He swerved into the grass to avoid the kids and landed on his head. He woke up to see a bunch of surgeons who happened to be nearby. He was picked up by a helicopter and was in rehab for 6 months. The day I saw him was the first day  he had been out. You never know what’s ahead. Be safe and pay attention.

Speaker # 3:  Rob Dalo: 7:08
Manual/Project: Competent Communicator / Visual Aids
Title: Visual Aids That Have Guided My Life

I read 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. This book helped me explore what I wanted to be by beginning with the end in mind. I spent over one week concentrating on my personal mission statement. I will use these symbols to guide me at crossroads and road blocks. I came up with symbols and these helped me get when I am today. The symbol I focus on most in one circle in the middle with five circles around it. This represents my wife and my three daughters going out to dinner the day before each of my daughters go off to college. My two older daughters have gone to college and soon is will be Katie’s turn. This is very special to my wife and I. It is the culmination of 20 years. Visual aids are everywhere and they have guided me to this point in my life.

Evaluator # 1: Phil Mason 1:48

This is your second Ice Breaker. It was great to see what you have learned. At first you were nervous. It is great for the guests to see how you have grown. You did not have much time to prepare and crafted it on your feet. “You are who you are because of Toastmasters.” Great job.

Evaluator # 2:  Bill Sullivan 2:45

This is your second time working on a CC. The topic was vocal variety which you used when describing the crash. I would like to have seen more. You also could have described the car more. Don’t saw the title in your speech. You could start by asking what types of cars everyone has and then talking about the horsepower. It was a great story and I felt really bad. Great job.


Evaluator # 3:  Crystal Storro 2:47

Thank you for the impromptu speech. You have evolved. We joined Toastmasters at the same time. Great message. You talked about something near and dear to you, your daughters. You showed the symbols and we connected with you. The last picture was very emotional. I felt something in my throat. I want to hear more. You have one more speech to go for your CC.

Officials’ Reports:

WordMaster: Rob Dalo

Gaucherie-
a lack of social grace

Timer:  Hollie Rose

Times given, See above.


Ah Counter: Emily

Winston – “um” - 3 repeats
Crystal Storro – 3 “um” – 2 “you know” – 1 repeat
Phil Mason – 1 “ah” – 1 “um” – 4 “you know”
Danielle Payne – 1 “um”
Rob Dalo – 6 “um” – 2 “you know”
Bill Sullivan – 1 “ah”
Matt – 1”ah” – 3 “um”
Sheetal Patel – 1”ah” – 1 “um”  

Grammarian:  Sheetal Patel

Crystal Storro – “him and I” should be “he and I”
Rob Dalo – “hook line and sinker”



General Evaluator: Rob Dalo

Tonight was Winston’s first time as Toastmaster. Great job Winston. Thank you.
Danielle Payne- Next time just pick someone for table topics instead of waiting for people to volunteer
Phil Mason – Thank you for the signs


Closing: Hollie Rose

Toastmasters District 53 Spring 2016 Conference 
Friday May 20, 2016 and Saturday, May 21, 2016 Conference



Next meeting: June 7, 2016


Respectfully submitted by
Danielle Payne, Secretary

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Meeting Minutes 5-3-16



Cromwell Community Toastmasters
Club 5908 ~ District 53
Tues May 3, 2016


Attendees:    Rob Dalo, Bill Sullivan, Danielle Payne, Winston Phillip, Andrew Watt, Phil Mason

Guests
: none

Business Meeting

Two members we tapped for possible executive positions for the upcoming year.

Nominations will be talked about next meeting.

Toastmasters District 53 Spring 2016 Conference 
Friday May 21, 2016 Social and Networking
Saturday, May 21, 2016 Conference
Sheraton Hartford Hotel @ Bradley Airport
Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, CT 06096
You can register through the District 53 website

Toastmaster Andrew Watt

Invocation Danielle Payne

“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” – Jack Welch

Table Topics Andrew Watt
Everyone read an excerpt from one of Shakespeare’s plays and then discussed Shakespeare.

Bill Sullivan – A moment of honesty, I  never read Shakespeare. I don’t understand him and my mind drifts.

Winston Phillip – I never paid attention to him. I don’t understand it.

Phil Mason – I am with Bill. I don’t understand it. I find that I need to understand the language he used.

Danielle Payne – I was dreading having to read Shakespeare in AP English Lit class but luckily it didn’t fit into my schedule. I was so relieved.

Rob Dalo – My daughter is in the arts and she got me to experience theater and opera. Broadway is like nothing else. I went to see Romeo and Juliet. We ended up getting good seats but I fell asleep.

Andrew Watt – Sonnet 65 is my girlfriend’s favorite part. In ninth grade I was in the play Hamlet. That was the first time Shakespeare meant anything to me. It actually made sense because it lived through the great teacher that I had.


Speaker # 1:  Andrew Watt
Manual/Project: Competent Communicator, Project 6
Title: Becoming a Poet

Because of the small group size Andrew shared a sonnet of his and taught everyone how to write one. In about 15 minutes everyone had created their own sonnet. Each line has to have ten syllables and there is a pattern to the way the words rhyme. For a beginner, start with the rhyming end words and then go back and fill the rest in. Its ok if it doesn’t make sense. After about six to ten time of doing this you will train you brain and be able to write a sonnet from start to finish the regular way.


Speaker # 2:  Rob Dalo : 8:15
Manual/Project: Competent Communicator: Research Your Topic   
Title: The Four Questions

At Subway there is a specific way we go about interviewing employees. First we look over the application. The person is usually 16 years old, dropped off by their parent and very nervous. We look for them to be clean and well dressed. We only ask four questions. First, tell me about your family. Do they have anything positive to say? Second, what will (reference) say when I call him or her? Are they positive? Third, if I hire you and give you the day off, what will you do? Do they have an action plan or are they indecisive? Finally, tell me the story about the three little pigs. Are they excited and expressive or dull and boring? If they have a positive outlook we can train them.

Evaluator # 1: Phil Mason

We could not have done the activity with a larger group. You showed true TM skills by shooting it off he hip and improvising. I enjoyed it. Thank you.

Evaluator # 2:  Danielle Payne

You did a great job of speaking without the chance to prepare. Your speech was very well organized with the four questions. It was also very interesting. To improve you could have established your authority on the topic. Talk about how long you have been working at Subway.

Officials’ Reports:

WordMaster: Rob Dalo

Invincible – adj. incapable of being
conquered, defeated, or subdued 

Everyone used it. Great job.

Timer:  Winston Phillip

Times given (some forgot to time for), See above.

Ah Counter: Phil Mason

Danielle Payne – ums, so like, so um
Rob Dalo – um
Winston Phillip - ums

Grammarian:  Bill Sullivan

Andrew Watt – clichéd terms

General Evaluator: Rob Dalo

Thank you for carrying the meeting Andrew.
Thank you for the signs Phil.

Closing: Andrew Watt

Bill finished his Competent Communicator. Congratulations.

Thank you everyone for a great meeting.

Next meeting: May 17, 2016


Respectfully submitted by
Danielle Payne, Secretary