Meeting Minutes for 4/17/2012

On 4/17/2012 The Cromwell Community Toastmasters Club held their meeting at 5:30 PM at the Cromwell town Hall.

Ten Members and 3 guests attended.

Toastmaster was TOM ALVORD. He presided over the meeting and began with a review of A Toastmaster's Promise.

Invocation was presented by HEATHER TURNER. She referred to John Zimmer's discussion of "The Ripple Effect", and urged us to consider this powerful effect as we prepare and give our speeches.

Word of the Day was selected and presented by our guest AMY ANSAH.  "Carpe Diem" was used numerous times during the meeting with BILL SULLIVAN incorporating it most frequently.

Table Topics was led by BILL SULLIVAN. He used questions asked at Google job interviews to spark unwitting members give fun impromptu speeches.

5 prepared speeches were given and evaluated: 

SPEAKER : SHARON ROTH                                            

EVALUATOR: BILL SULLIVAN

SPEAKER : HEATHER TURNER

EVALUATOR: MARY TALBOT

SPEAKER : LOUIS NIZET      

EVALUATOR: CHARLIE HUBERT

SPEAKER : MARY TALBOT    

EVALUATOR: HEATHER TURNER

SPEAKER : JACQUELINE KIRWIN (guest from Middlesex Toastmasters)

EVALUATOR: JOSEPH LENART

LOUIS NIZET provided a general evaluation of the meeting. DANNY STRONG, AKSHAY DHOTE, CHARLIE HUBERT and MARY TALBOT filled the many other important roles and presentations that structure our meeting in the unique way that supports our having fun while we grow in our ability to stand up and speak confidently.  Our guest ANGIE ONDRIK joined our ranks at the end of the meeting. WELCOME TO ANGIE.

Minutes Respectfully submitted,

Mary Talbot

Our Area 34 Spring Contests were held this evening April 11, 2012 at 7:00.

They were held in a very nice room called the auditorium at Northeast Utilities in Berlin.  

There were seven contestants from four clubs.

Three Tall Tales and Four International contestants

from...

Cromwell

Cedar Hill (Newington)

Central CT Advanced Toastmaters

NorthEast Utilities Toastmasters

 

Results:

(They announced two places in each contest):

International:

1st place - Kevin Finn - gave a speech about "Dave", an man who is confined to a wheel chair.  He gave part of this speech at a Middlesex open house - maybe the one with Walter Beveridge?

2nd place - Nathan Jaycox - a very well organized speech about an "unseen mentor" - a relative of his who inspired Nathan years ago and who he only realized recently as a mentor.

The other two contestants were our own Louis Nizet and Helen Taylor.

There was one disqualification for time.

Louis gave a great presentation of the "I Believe" speech he gave at our club contest.  This time no notes, and he had all the items for each letter of "I B-E-L-I-E-V-E" down cold.  It was very interesting and educational, even inspiring! 

Tall Tales:

1st place - Patricia Martin from Cedar Hill who treated us with a very animated Tall Tale about witches, crab apples and fire.

2nd place - Richard Franz Jr. from CCAT - who was also very animated. 

Charlie Hubert and our own Sharon Roth (and Division C Governor!) were in attendance as was Nancy Green - a former member of Middlesex Toastmasters and a guest at Cromwell last fall!

Sharon gave a very inspiring speech at the end of the contest about the exciting Toastmasters club she is helping start in a prison!

Identity Theft Notes from a recent speech

This past week my speech was from one of the advanced manuals; Speaking to Inform, the title was Reputation Management and Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft in the Online World. I thought it would be helpful to post my handout online as Identity Theft can happen to anyone, toastmasters included.

Tips on Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft

§         When using online banking or any other sites (like Amazon.com) always type in the address or use a bookmark in your browser. Never click on a link received in an email.

§         Don't use obvious or the same passwords

§         When ordering online, make sure the site has an SSL certicificate, it will appear as a lock in the URL on a PC and down in the corner on a MAC. If the lock has a slash through it is insecure.

§         Keep antivirus and anti spyware software active and up to date

§         Check your credit report yearly

§         Sign up for online banking and if you use credit cards, online pay, check often at least weekly

Signs you might have a problem.

§         Bills that do not arrive as expected

§         Unexpected credit cards or account statements

§         Denials of credit for no apparent reason

§         Calls or letters about purchases you did not make

More information here as well: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/idtheft/idt04.pdf

The three major consumer reporting companies are required by law to give you a free copy of your credit report each year if you ask for it. The companies are: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax.

www.AnnualCreditReport.com is a central website, run by these three companies,

From the FTC website:

• Place a "Fraud Alert" on your credit reports, and review the reports carefully. The alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before they open new accounts in your name or make changes to your existing accounts. The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have toll-free numbers for placing an initial 90-day fraud alert; a call to one company is sufficient: 
• Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
• TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
• Equifax: 1-800-525-6285

Placing a fraud alert entitles you to free copies of your credit reports. Look for inquiries from companies you haven't 
contacted, accounts you didn't open, and debts on your accounts that you can't explain.

• Contract the security or fraud departments of each company where an account was opened or charged without your okay.

o                        Follow up in writing, with copies of supporting documents.

o                        Use the ID Theft Affidavit at ftc.gov/idtheft to support your written statement. 

o                        Ask for verification that the disputed account has been dealt with and the fraudulent debts discharged. 

o                        Keep copies of documents and records of your conversations about the theft.

• File a police report. File a report with law enforcement officials to help you correct your credit report and deal with creditors who may want proof of the crime.
• Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission. Your report helps law enforcement officials across the country in their investigations.
• Online: ftc.gov/idtheft 
• By phone: 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338) or TTY, 1-866-653-4261
• By mail: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580

Open House Report

We are totally delighted that Fourteen guests attended our Open House last Tuesday ... nearly out-numbering our eighteen members who attended this exciting evening of entertainment and inspiration!

This made for an extraordinary meeting which began early with members welcoming guests and everyone greeting each other, networking and enjoying refreshments.

Phil Mason our Sergeant at Arms called us together right on time,

Louis Nizet stepped up as Toastmaster and

Bill Sullivan shared inspiration from Dale Carnegie on how to Win Friends and Influence People.

Mary Talbot followed with the Word of the Day: Scintillating which means brilliant and stimulating.

RamManohar Rudravajhala then led us through his carefully chosen, insightful and entertaining Table Topics.

We are delighted that several guests participated along with members!

We then were treated to three excellently Prepared speeches:

Heather Turner regaled us with a very funny speech about her pet Rock and pet Rocks in general - a real education!

Charlie Huber practiced what he was preaching by turning those “ah”s, “um”s "you know"s,  etc. into golden silence!

and ...

Our guest speaker Michael Aron used humor to inspire us to consider that G.P.S. can mean Goals, Plans and Success!

Thank you Michael for your special appearance at our club!

Our General Evaluator Cheryl Mason introduced our speech evaluators: Elizabeth Landeen and Bill Sullivan;

and our technicians:

Ah counter: Crystal Storo

Grammarian: Mary

Word Master: Mary who noted that seven people had used “Scintillating”

and …

Timer Phil Mason

As Toastmaster Louis Nizet skillfully guided us smoothly through the entire evening!!

We even had a raffle with member and Division C Governor Sharon Roth organizing tickets and facilitating the drawing for 10 wonderful and useful gifts! Thank you Sharon and Heather for providing those great items!

We had plenty of delicious refreshments organized by Crystal Storo including provisions from several others including Rob Dalo who was unable to attend!

(Rob sent two guests to the meeting!)

Thank you Phil for arranging the use of the Arch Room at least two months in advance and to our VP of PR Heather Turner who generated tons of great publicity!

Finally - Congratulations to our VP of Education Cheryl Mason for masterfully guiding and inspiring all of us to put this hugely successful evening together! 

Let’s all encourage the guests who attended to join our club! Louis Nizet is leading the follow up with these guests and we are hoping to have several new members soon.

Congratulations to all of you! 

Personally inviting guests seemed a key motivation for them to attend. 

This attests to the service we all provide when we extend the Toastmasters opportunity to those we care about!

Tom  Alvord

President

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.365457986806380.89035.221946664490847&type=3

Helpful How to be a better Evalulator links

Evaluation I: A Simple Structure for Evaluating Speeches: http://messagemasters.squarespace.com/articles/speech-evaluation-i-a-simple-structure-for-a-speech-evaluati.html

How to Give a Killer Evaluation: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/management/how-to-give-a-killer-evaluation.html

Evaluator: Evaluate to motivate!

http://www.toastmasters.org/members/memberexperience/meetingroles/evaluator.aspx

Keep Your Evaluations on Target

http://www.toastmasters.org/Members/SpotlightArticles/SpotlightArticle_1.aspx

The 3Rs of Evaluating:  Review, Reward, and Respond

http://www.toastmasters.org/toastmastersmagazine/toastmasterarchive/2007/november/the3rs.aspx

What? A Standing Ovation for an Evaluation? Thoughts on giving an exceptional evaluation.

http://www.toastmasters.org/ToastmastersMagazine/ToastmasterArchive/2007/November/Articles/StandingOvation.aspx

Assessing Your Evaluations: Maximize the help, and minimize the hurt.

http://www.toastmasters.org/ToastmastersMagazine/ToastmasterArchive/2007/November/Articles/Evaluations.aspx

Viewpoint: The Gift of Evaluation: A message from our International President

http://www.toastmasters.org/ToastmastersMagazine/ToastmasterArchive/2011/April/Departments/ViewpointTheGiftofEvaluation.aspx

Effective Evaluation

http://www.toastmasters.org/EffectiveEval

Challenging the Advanced Speaker

http://www.toastmasters.org/ToastmastersMagazine/ToastmasterArchive/2007/February/Articles/AdvancedSpeaker.aspx

Cromwell Community Toastmasters Upcoming Events

1.      Open house

·      February 21^st - 5:30 – 7:30

·      At the Town Hall in The Arch Room on first floor near the library.

·       Please bring at least one guest whether they’ve expressed interest in Toastmasters or not.

2.      Toastmasters Leadership Exchange (especially for officers, open to all)

·      February 23^rd  -  6-8PM

·      65 Wooster St., Shelton, CT

3.      Regular meeting

·      March 6^th  - 5:30 – 7:30

·      At the Town Hall Room Rm 222 – (same room as tonight 2/7)

·      Please sign up early for a role. 

·       If you are a speaker please email your introduction to the Toastmaster by Friday March 2^nd.

4.      Tall Tails and International Club Contests

·      March 20^th 2012  - 5:30 – 7:30

·      Here at the Town Hall (room TBA)

Consider giving a speech in the contest.  A Contest is just another opportunity to practice communication and leadership skills. Those judged to have given the best speeches are eligible to compete at the Area Contest. 

There are four clubs in our Area 34. Winners of the Area Contest may then advance to the Division C Contest and Division Contest winners may advance to the District Contest 53 and the Winner of the District *International Contest is eligible to Compete at the International Contest.  

Our Division C has about 27 clubs.  Our Division C Governor is our very own Sharon Roth.  Our District 53 has approximately 140 clubs in CT, Western MA and part of Upstate NY. 

The *International Speech contest is called such because it is the only Toastmasters speech contest in which the winner has the opportunity to advance to the International Contest for the World Champion of Public Speaking. The speeches are 5-7 minutes in length and can be any topic the speaker desires. There are over 200,000 Toastmasters world wide in approximately 13,000 clubs.   

The Tall Tales Contest speeches are 3-5 minutes.  The Tall Tale is an original story of a highly exaggerated, improbable nature with a theme or plot.

 

5.      Mentoring:  Return forms

6.      Hike with Toastmasters at Sleeping Giant

·       April 14  1:00 – 3:00

7.       Special Guest  Marilyn Jess via Skype:  “How to interview over the phone.”

·       April 17  Regular meeting 5:30 – 7:30

8.       District 53 Spring Conference 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Hartford Plaza Hotel 100 East River Drive East Hartford, CT

A wonderful day of...

·       Education

·       Inspiration

·       The Best Speeches in District 53 (140+ clubs)

·       Networking

·       Fun

Cromwell Toastmasters Open House