Meeting Minutes November 19, 2013

Cromwell Community Toastmasters

Club 5908 ~ District 53

November 5, 2013

“Go Big or Go Home”

Attendees:    members attended:  Bo Bogart, Micheal Brillas, Robert Dalo, Miroslav Grajewski, Cheryl Mason DTM, Phil Mason CC, Donald Ostertag, Sheetal Patel, Hollie Rose CC, Crystal Storo CC, CL, Heather Turner ACS, Andrew Watt and Carmen Jenkins.

Guest: John Hart

Business Meeting:

The meeting was called to order by Donald Ostertag.  New name tags were distributed to all members. President Crystal Storo CC, CL had all the club members introduce themselves and tell how long they’ve been members of Cromwell Community Toastmasters.  Crystal went over the Distinguished Club Program goals. Cheryl Mason DTM was presented with her 7^th (WOW) CC award.  Congratulations Cheryl!  John Hart told the club his reason for coming to Toastmasters and shared with us that he is joining tonight

.

Meeting Roles:

Toastmaster: Hollie Rose CC

Invocation: John Hart   -  Toastmaster Mission Statement.

Word Master:  Micheal Brillas

Word - of - the - Day:  Ubiquitous – to be found everywhere

Table Topics Master:  Cheryl Mason DTM

Theme:  Cheryl‘s questions came from a special deck of cards designed for asking Table Topics questions.  Phil told us of his dream house.  He builds houses and has seen all sizes and styles but his ideal would be on the Connecticut River.  It would have a boat house underneath filled with high powered boats.  When asked where, out of any place in the world he would like to spend New Year’s Eve Miroslav told us about last New Year’s Eve in Quebec City.  He described the big blizzard and all the snow and thought maybe this year warm sunny Florida would be a good choice.  The holiday that Micheal would like to celebrate every six months is the 4^th of July.  Simply put, he likes to blow things up. An exciting new ride at Disney that Rob would like to create had the rider getting a sensational manicure while riding past ubiquitous displays of shoes and having ghost shoes appear on their feet. When asked how he cheers himself up when having a bad day, John told us he is fortunate to have an office door, he closes that door and plays music and/or games.  Don shared that his ideal high temperature would be 75 degrees but thinks his wife would prefer 45 to 50 degrees.

Speaker # 1:  Crystal Storo CC

Manual/Project: Educational Leadership Series/Project 6 Building a Team

Title:  Team Spirit! 

Crystal defined team and differentiated between leaders and managers; leaders motivate and managers coordinate. She told us why teams are important and described some factors in building a team - being genuine, including everyone, and open communication.  Team building is important for moral, “Nothing great was ever achieved without motivation.”  Crystal hung up three foot wide sticky note showing the composition of TEAM –Together Everyone Achieves More.

 Speaker # 2:   Andrew Watt

Manual/Project: Competent Communicator/Project 4   How to Say It

Title:  Why I Love Sewing   

Teaching at a school where children can design and construct things to learn how the world works, Andrew noticed that mostly boys signed up for certain courses.  Wanting to know how to get more of the girls involved he paid attention to what interested them and he decided to learn to sew. After taking some lessons he constructed a lunch bag and pencil case.  He now has a 3:1 ratio of girls to boys in his sewing group.  As satisfying as that is he has also made his own Hallowe’en and Renaissance Fair Costumes and finds, to his surprise, that he loves sewing.

 Speaker # 3:  Sheetal Patel

Manual/Project:  Competent Communicator/Project 7   Research Your Topic

Title:  Corporate Social Responsibility   

Outsourcing and globalization started growing in the 1970’s; factories are ubiquitous in China and the United States.  Sheetal spoke of problems caused by outsourcing including slavery, transit and pollution. She spoke of social, health and environmental auditing.  After listing four reasons for Corporate Social Responsibility she stated there are now 7.125 billion people on this planet and everyone has a stake in Corporate Social Responsibility. 

General Evaluator: Heather Turner ACS

Evaluator # 1:  Rob Dalo

Evaluator # 2:   Phil Mason

Evaluator # 3:  Bo Bogart

Functionary Reports:

Ah Counter:  Miroslav Grajewski

Grammarian:  Andrew Watt

Timer:  Don Ostertag

In closing Crystal thanked everyone for coming.  John said he enjoyed the meeting and filled out a member application.  It was another great meeting!  Now is the perfect time to sign up for roles for our next meeting.

Next meeting: December 3, 2013.

Respectfully submitted by

Bo Bogart, Secretary

[Posted by Hollie Rose CC - VPPR]

Meeting Minutes November 5, 2013

Cromwell Community Toastmasters

Club 5908 ~ District 53

November 5, 2013

“Go Big or Go Home”

Attendees:    members attended:, Tom Alvord ACB, ALB, Bo Bogart, Micheal Brillas, Robert Dalo, Miroslav Grajewski, Charlie Hubert, Elizabeth Landeen, Cheryl Mason DTM, Phil Mason CC, Donald Ostertag, Catherine Rose, Hollie Rose CC, William Sullivan ACB,ALB, Brian Terry, Heather Turner ACS,  and Andrew Watt

Guests: John Hart, Jeff Naples, Robin Thompson and Carmen Jenkins

Business Meeting:

The meeting was called to order by Sergeant at Arms Charlie Hubert.  (Welcome back Charlie!) Vice President of Education – Elizabeth Landeen gave opening remarks and invited Rob Dalo to talk about the recent Division Contest held Oct. 16 at Northeast utilities in Berlin, CT.  Rob won 3^rd place in the Speech Evaluation Contest!  Congratulations Rob! Heather Turner spoke about the enthusiasm and encouragement found at Toastmaster meetings.  She explained how Toastmasters helps develop public speaking and leadership skills, and that members work at their own pace.

Meeting Roles:

Toastmaster: Brian Terry

Invocation: Phil Mason – Phil shared a number of inspiring quotes from Teddy Roosevelt. Two of the quotes were “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care” and “Keep your eyes to the stars and your feet on the ground.”

Word Master:  Catherine Rose

Word - of - the - Day:  Superfluous – being more than is sufficient or required, excessive, unnecessary or needless

Table Topics Master:  Heather Turner ACS

Theme:  Dining in the Dark – Heather had been to a dinner where the diners were blindfolded.  She brought a box full of objects and had the Table Topic speakers choose and discuss their object while blindfolded.  Andrew Watt described an object with a ball joint, plastic protuberances and an empty battery case.   He deduced it was a radio or walkie talkie. Charlie Hubert described a glass paperweight, he embellished saying it might be the type with a snowstorm and snowman or maybe Jesus.  Rob was fortunate to choose the device he most needed in his life.  He discussed how the hand sized, pillow shaped object was a great stress reliever; he could squeeze it when technology wasn’t working the way he would have liked.  Don Ostertag pulled a slinky from the box.  He reminisced about having one as a child and playing with it on the stairs.  Robin Thompson enthusiastically told us how much she liked the little odd shaped brush that she had pulled from the box and she described the unusual shape of its handle.

Speaker # 1:  Elizabeth Landeen

Manual/Project: Competent Communicator/Project 4  How to Say It 

Title:  Start Now, Don’t Wait        

Elizabeth described to us how she plans to spend her next birthday – doing the Tough Mudder obstacle course.  She has already started training for the 10 - 12 mile race held in VT.  She showed slides and described different obstacles in the race including the: Arctic Enema; Cage Crawl; Funky Monkey; Electric Shock Therapy; Wall Climb and Firewalk

 Speaker # 2:   Micheal Brillas

Manual/Project: Competent Communicator/Project 2  Organize Your Speech 

Title:  Transitions    

Subscribing to 5 year plans – after returning from a trip Micheal started life from scratch. He had a well paying job but hated it, he found the money was superfluous and he convinced himself that he had 5 years left to live. He was a dedicated non breeder wanting his life to unfold in a way that could happen only if he didn’t have a family.  He lived life and had a great time, remembering about his 5 year cut off only the night before he originally thought he would die. Living through the day, he appreciated many things and now celebrates every November 3^rd.  Because of the angle from which Micheal views the world he feels he can help others overcome their fears.

 Speaker # 3:  William Sullivan ACB,ALB

Manual/Project:  Successful Club Series/ Project Evaluate to Motivate 

Title:  Evaluate to Motivate  

Bill told us that evaluations can be harder than speeches; they are incorporated in every aspect of our lives, and are composed of opinions and honest reactions.  An evaluation style called the Sandwich Method involves saying something positive, suggesting an improvement and noting some other positive aspect. Some pointers for giving evaluations include focusing on a few key points, evaluating the speech not the person, mentioning how the speech made you feel, and promoting the speaker’s self esteem.

General Evaluator: Rob Dalo

Evaluator # 1:  Cheryl Mason DTM

Evaluator # 2:   Andrew Watt

Evaluator # 3:  Tom Alvord, ACB,ALB

Functionary Reports:

Ah Counter:  Bo Bogart

Grammarian:  Micheal Brillas

Timer:  Don Ostertag

In closing Elizabeth asked our guests for comments.  John said he enjoyed the meeting; Jeff had thought it would be intimidating with spotlights and people making him speak, but he found it was all calm.  Robin and Carmen decided to join our club.  Welcome Robin! Welcome Carmen!

Rob Dalo suggested we all have name tags. Charlie thanked everyone for their cards and good wishes.  Hollie announced that she was selected for an Ambassador position with Toastmasters International's Revitalized Education Program.  Congratulations Hollie!

Next meeting: November 19^th 2013.

Respectfully submitted by

Bo Bogart, Secretary

[Posted, with minor corrections, by Hollie Rose, CC]

Meeting Minutes 10-15-2013

Cromwell Community Toastmasters

Club 5908 ~ District 53

October 15, 2013  

Attendees:    members attended: Eileen Baird, Bo Bogart, Micheal Brillas, Robert Dalo, Miroslav Grajewski, Elizabeth Landeen, Donald Ostertag, Hollie Rose CC, Crystal Storo CC, CL, Brian Terry, Carolyn Warner, and Andrew Watt

Guests: Nathan Jaycox - Area 32 Governor, Robin Thompson

Business Meeting:

The meeting was called to order by Donald Ostertag.  President Crystal Storo spoke of the recent Area Contest and upcoming Division Contest. Rob Dalo won first place in the Area Evaluation Contest. Way to Go Rob!  He will be in the Division contest held Wed. Oct. 16^th at North East Utilities on the Berlin Turnpike in Berlin.  Congratulations to Andrew Watt who won second place in the Area Humorous Speech Contest.                                 

VP of Education, Elizabeth Landeen discussed the Competent Communicator and Competent Leader Charts to track club members progress towards goals.  She reminded us to fill in the charts with our accomplishments and to have Competent Leader Manuals signed when completing a meeting role.

Meeting Roles:

Toastmaster: Andrew Watt

Invocation: Andrew Watt – Reach Beyond Yourself   Andrew spoke of reaching above and beyond to become greater than we are but not to neglect reaching low, to our toes, so that we remain grounded.

Word Master:  Micheal Brillas

Word - of - the - Day:  Apoplectic – Overcome with anger and rage

Table Topics Master:  Carolyn Warner

Theme:  Chinese Fortune Cookies     Carolyn had each speaker take a fortune cookie, read the fortune out loud and discuss it.  

Bo Bogart’s cookie foretold Romance in Future.  She didn’t think it would be between her cat and tenant’s dog, but maybe one of the people who stop to gawk at the silver styrofoam heads in her garden.  Andrew Watt’s fortune had the Chinese word for chocolate and he launched into a passionate portrayal of Augustus Gloop from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Wonderful sound effects were included.  Miroslav Grajewski spoke effortlessly explaining how public speaking matched his fortune “Your skills and talents are called on in unusual areas.”  Nathan Jaycox ate his cookie; told us not to talk with a full mouth; and admonished us to put our brooms away so we aren’t swept away by our passions.  His fortune was - Your passions sweep you away. Last but not least, Robin Thompson gave a delightful talk about her fortune “Focus on good.”

Speaker # 1:  Eileen Baird

Manual/Project: Competent Communicator/Project 1 Ice Breaker 

Title:  Why I Can Never Become President     

Both Eileen’s parents are American citizens, and were living on a Military Base in Germany when Eileen was born.  Due to an administrative mistake Eileen was a German, not American citizen for the first five years of her life.  She became a naturalized American citizen but is not eligible to become President.  She did point out that she is eligible to become Secretary of State.

Speaker # 2:   Micheal Brillas

Manual/Project: Competent Communicator/Project 1 Ice Breaker 

Title:  How I Became Mike   

Born Ryan Gregory, his parents didn’t want the attending Dr. Ryan to think their baby was named for him and changed their baby’s name to Michael Justin.  The creative spelling of Micheal’s first name created problems and made him apoplectic so he used his middle name Justin. Entering work he was told he had to use his first name, and he found it easier to go by the nick name Mike.

Speaker # 3:  Hollie Rose CC

Manual/Project:  The Professional Speaker/ Project Keynote Address 

Title:  The Serendipity of Being Me  

Hollie told us when you’re open to it, it will happen.  She gave us examples of how many things seem to be amazing coincidences but people are more connected with events and each other than they are aware of.  She told of camping in Oregon, how in the middle of the night a sleeping stranger heard someone in her group laugh and commented it sounded like someone he knew in Atlanta named Yvette.  Her friend Yvette looked to the sleeping stranger and said, “Mike?” It was. She spoke of finding west coast friends on Cape Cod behind a deserted beach dune.  She spoke of unexpected gifts and of things lost and found where least expected. Hollie told us to be open to wild and crazy things, expect a miracle and remember the magic.

General Evaluator: Elizabeth Landeen

Evaluator # 1:  Rob Dalo

Evaluator # 2:   Crystal Storo CC, CL

Evaluator # 3:  Round Robin

Functionary Reports:

Ah Counter:  Donald Ostertag

Grammarian:  Rob Dalo

Timer:  Brian Terry

In closing Crystal gave Ice Breaker candies to Eileen and Micheal.  Crystal asked our guests for comments about tonight’s meeting.  Robin said she like the meeting very much.  Area Governor Nathan Jaycox took the stage for a few minutes and told us about his function in visiting the six clubs in his Area, and the reports he’s required to file. He shared with us some of the things he would put in his report of his visit to our club. He found our club very enthusiastic and encouraging and never heard people clap so loudly.  He thought the Table Topics unique and creative and the evaluations outstanding.  He mentioned he had seen the Round Robin evaluation only done at Advanced Toastmasters Club meetings. 

After the meeting some members stayed to socialize. 

Now (while you’re thinking of it) would be a great time to sign up for roles at the next meeting.

Next meeting: November 5^th 2013.

Respectfully submitted by

Bo Bogart, Secretary

[posted by Hollie Rose]