Happy New Year 2012!
Our new Club President David Williams started the meeting off on time with Rose Custodio providing the invocation and pledge. We had 5 guests attending; what a great way to start the year. I only recorded the first names of some of the guests: Rosalie Custodio (Rose’s daughter), Doug Johnson (Margaret’s husband), Martin, Rick and Maggie.
Margaret Johnson as first time Toastmaster, presented the theme, “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” She introduced her helpers; Marta Soncodi as Grammarian with the word of the day “elusive”, Jerry Bessette as Ah Counter, Stephen James as Timer and Marvin Petsel as Vote Counter.
Margaret then introduced the prepared speeches and evaluators.
- Jeff Butcher told us about breaking down impossible barriers with a story about Roger Bannister breaking the 4 minute mile in 1954 and how we should look at breaking down our own barriers. He did refrain from singing “Impossible Dream” at the end of his speech.
- Brian Steed regaled us with another of his hunting stories about hunting deer and hogs and a mysterious visitor to his hog blind in the middle of the night.
- Barb Petsel used visual aids to great affect relating to us how pipe cleaners and conversation can help a child or anyone through the loss of a loved one.
The timer’s report was requested with all speakers qualifying.
Charles Johnson took over as Table Topics Master:
- David Williams providing his views on improvements to Plano Talkers as VP of creativity
- Carol Kepner relating why she had written a poem as to why she was the best toastmaster in the club.
The timer’s and grammarian’s reports were requested with both speakers qualifying.
Allen Krom led off the evaluation portion as the General Evaluator:
- Chuck Ferguson evaluated Jeff Butcher’s speech commenting on Jeff’s ability to recall so many facts without notes.
- Rey Flores evaluated Brian Steed’s speech remarking on the many expressive gestures he used in his speech.
- Chad Allison evaluated Barb Petsel’s speech admiring her ability to speak to visual aids as they were automatically advance on the screen.
The timer’s report was requested with all speakers qualifying.
Allen Krom finished with his evaluation calling, again, for someone to present a speech on the Ah Counter’s role.
Margaret called for the Ah Counter’s and grammarians report’s.
Carol amused us with a genie that knew it was easier to build a highway to Hawaii than to give a man the ability to understand women.
Awards were presented by Margaret to Best Evaluator: Rey Flores, Better Table Topics: David Williams and for best speaker: Barb Petsel.
David Williams closed out the meeting with guest comments, next week’s schedule and the schedule for the Club contests coming up in February.
A great way to start 2012.
