December 8, 2009 Weekly Meeting

Yolande was our TM and Moe, Carol, Roger and Stephen J were her assistants.  The theme was holiday foods.

Mike A spoke about a technique for planning a speech called mind mapping.  It is similar to brainstorming where you write down all ideas that pop in your brain about the subject at hand.

Gwen discussed using permanent cash value life insurance as one of the primary techniques to minimize the taxes you pay to the federal government.  If you invest $1800 per month at the age of 40 you will retire with $3.5 Million at the age of 67.

Jerry S gave a speech about his LASIK surgery that he had last week.  He discussed the decision process and used a little suspense by wearing very dark glasses throughout his speech until he took them off giving us the outcome.  Thankfully it was successful (the surgery, and the speech).

Sanjay led table topics with creative subjects for Rey (school childhood), Chuck (President of the US) and David (stranded in the desert).

Craig, Bill, and Andrew all did great jobs evaluating the speakers under Charles General Evaluator leadership.

Myron gave us a joke to end the hour.  Mike A was the best speaker, David was the best TT, and Bill was the best evaluator.

Elections were held and Chuck will be our new President.  Yolande will be our new V.P. of Public Relations.  Congratulations to our new officers.

December 1, 2009 Weekly Meeting

Marvin lead today’s meeting.  Bill B, Craig, Rey and Stephen J were his assistants.

Roger began the speeches with a topic of multi-tasking.  He described how we are much more efficient at work if we focus on one task in lieu of doing many things at once.

Morry completed his 10th speech.  Congratulations Morry; what a great accomplishment.  Morry discussed each of his speeches and what he learned from them.  He received a standing ovation.

Jeff discussed finding your passion in your career.  He gave examples of magazines and books that could help us find our passion.  If we do what we love we will love what we do.

Philip asked the table topic questions for the day, but in my haste to complete my evaluation, I missed this portion of the meeting.  Forgive me Philip and TT victims.

Alexis, Brian, and David evaluated the speakers, and Carol evaluated the meeting.  Comments were kept to a minimum as time was a little long.

Jeff won best speaker and Alexis won best evaluator.  Also, Shane visited PlanoTalkers after moving here from Utah.  We hope to see him next week again.  Officers Meeting is Thursday of this week at Corner Bakery at 7:00 am.

November 17, 2009 Weekly Meeting

Brian led our meeting today with a theme of Tinseltown.  Our participants, Gene, barbara, Jerry and Moe each talked about their favorite holiday.  Thanksgiving won that round of questions.

David discussed the structural portions of a courthouse in Waxahachie.  Yolande discussed her love of soccer and a recent collegiate game that made the headlines.  Phillip taught us to what steps to take now (while we are still employed) to help us find that next job.

Andrew, Carol, Rey and Bill were called upon by Alexis to answer Table Topics.

Justin, Marvin, and Bill helped the speakers to improve by evaluating their speeches.  Morry let us know that next week we may try the other side of the restaurant since we are packed in tight in the back room.

Yolande was best speaker, Marvin was best evaluator.  I can’t remember who was the best TT, they must have all been good.

Welcome Back Color (It’s Spring)

Marvin opened the meeting and Barbara lead the Invocation and Pledge.

Paul was our Toastmaster and introduced his assistants: Charles as Grammarian; Stephen B as Ah Counter; Ollie as Timekeeper; and Brian as Vote Counter.

Our Speeches:

Justin gave his Icebreaker Speech (after only two weeks, good job).

Bill talked about “Spring Cleaning” more than just your house.

Carol regaled us with her adventures in India. We all love elephants, Carol.

Chuck lead the Table Topics and called on Bill S, Brent, and Roger.

Morry was our General Evaluator and he said he liked the room arranged the way it was last week. He introduced Mary, Stephen J and Joe.

Awards were given for: Table Topics: Roger; Evaluator: Stephen; and Speaker: Carol.

Marvin announced the Toastmaster and speakers for next week and announced the Area contest to be this Thursday at 6:00 pm. He also reminded the Officers of Thursday’s meeting and invited all members to join us.

The meeting ended on-time.

Tell Me Something Good!

Paul began our meeting right on time and lead the Invocation and Pledge.

Mary added some color to our meeting with pink agendas and introduced her assistants: Grammarian: Charles; Ah Counter: Barbara; Timer: Paul; and Vote Counter: Marvin.

Our speakers:

Rick showing his vocal variety with a speech with no name.

Pete showed why being early helps with the projector discussed “The Start Up.”

Roger rehearsing his contest speech “Thanks Kiiye”. Nice suit!

Bill Butcher lead Table Topics and called on Morry, Joe and John.

Stephen J was our General Evaluator and he introduced Evaluators: Brian, Steve, and Chuck.

Awards were given for: Table topics: John; Evaluator: Chuck; Speech: Roger.

Announcements: the Area Speech Contest will be March 5th.

Paul ended the meeting on-time.

Cooperation is Synergistic

Paul began the meeting right on time and asked Barbara to lead the invocation and pledge.

Stephen J was our Toastmaster and he introduced his assistants: Marvin as Grammarian; Paul as Ah Counter; Brent as Timer; and Charles as Vote Counter.

Our speakers were:

Mary who told about her fun time “Gaming in Tunica”

Brian who gave us a briefing on Agile Development Methods.

Mike who talked about “Captain Billy’s Whizbang”

Carol lead the Table Topics and called on Ollie, Jerry, Roger and Barbara.

Stephen B lead an evaluation team consisting of: Chuck, Morry, and Joshua.

Awards were given for: Table Topics: Roger; Evaluator: Chuck; and Speaker: Mary.

Justin submitted his membership application and John was a visitor.

Paul ended the meeting on-time.

Let the Contest Begin

Paul called the meeting to order and asked Joe to lead the Invocation and Pledge.

Due to the contest and the amount of speaking ahead, Paul quickly passed the meeting to the Chief Judge Marvin.

Marvin briefed the members on the aspects of judging the contest, passed out ballots, and then handed the contest over to the Contest Master Barbara.

The first contest was the table topics contest with the following question: “Who would you like to have a secret meeting with and why?”

Roger was up first and talked about a meeting with Barack Obama.

Mike  was up second and talked about (Well I wasn’t there and don’t know).

Stephen J was up last and talked about a meeting with Martin Gardner.

The votes were collected and while the vote counters and Chief Judge were out, Barbara regaled us with a joke.

On to the Speech Contest.

Mike was up first with his Speech “”, discussing the importance of critical thinking and how it is missing in today’s America.

Bill was up second with his Speech “The Best Deal I ever Made”, a speech centered on a story of a deal he walked away from, which turned out to be the best decision he could have made.

Roger was up third with his Speech “”, where he told us all of the things he had learned from his dog that he had obtained after his last child went off to college.

The votes were collected and while the vote counters and Chief Judge were out, Barbara brought up the contestants to have them tell a little bit about themselves.

Finally, the contest results were revealed.

Table Topics:

First Place: Stephen J
Second Place: Roger

International Speech Contest:

First Place: Roger
Second Place: Bill

The area contest for Area 46 will be on February 27th – Location to be announced.

Not a Tumultuous Meeting

Paul called the meeting to order with a full house, 20 members and 3 guests (Doug, Rick, and Justin). Bill S lead us in the Invocation and Pledge.

Our Toastmaster, Jerry, had a tumultuous weekend but he brought a full and complete agenda for the meeting. He introduced his helpers:  Timer: Steven B; Ah Counter: Roger; Vote Counter: Mary; and Grammarian: Paul.

Our speakers today included:

Chuck working in an Advanced Manual with “Watching the Game” and some dialog with Charles.

Brian with his #7 speech: “Just Say No to Waterfalls”

Ollie introduced his “Division Project for 2008-09″

Stephen J lead table topics and called on Charles, Joshua, and Sonya. For some reason, only one was able to stay up for a full minute.

Pete lead the evaluation team consisting of: Rick, Marvin, and Barbara.

Awards were given to: Table Topics: Sonya; Evaluator: Barbara; and Speaker: Chuck.

Joshua was our Jokemaster and we all had a good laugh.

Jerry turned control of the meeting over to Paul who reminded us about the Officer’s meeting on Thursday at a new location.

The meeting adjourned right on time.

One of Texas’ Best Assets

Paul called the meeting to order right on time and asked Chuck to lead the Invocation and Pledge.

Our very able Toastmaster, Mike, introduced his helpers: Timer: Sonya; Ah Counter Paul; Grammarian Brent; and Vote Counter Bill S.

Prepared speeches were given by:

Charles gave his Ice Breaker entitled: “Buicks and Railroad tracks.

Joe talked about “Egress.:

Joshua talked about “Misery.”

Bill B ran the Table Topics and included Carol, Chuck, Brian and Sonya.

Marvin was the General Evaluator and introduced Mary, Roger and Barbara.

Awards today to: Table Topics: Chuck; Evaluator: Barbara; Speaker: Joshua.

Reminder of the International Speech Contest and Table Topics Context on Feb 10th. For an icy day, we had a good turnout (17).

Enthusiasm was Omnipresent

Even though the importance of our meeting was overshadowed by the events of Inauguration Day, Paul called the meeting to order right on time. Morry lead the invocation and pledge. Out Toastmaster today is Bill.

Bill’s helpers today are: Timer: Mary; Ah Counter: Rick; Vote Counter: Jerry; Grammarian; Joe.

Our formal speeches today are:

Brent’s Ice Breaker: Just Enough to be Dangerous”

Barbara told us about “Holding Hands and Singing Kum-ba-ya.”

Stephen B. was “In Search of..”

Table Topics was lead by Chuck and included Stephen J, Marvin, and Mike.

Our General Evaluator was Marvin and he introduced Ollie, Pete and Paul.

Awards today for: Table Topics: Stephen J, Evaluator: Ollie, and Speaker: Barbara.

Control of the meeting was returned to our President and he called on our VP Education for next week’s Toastmaster and speakers. The meeting ajourned on time so we could get to work and watch the Inauguration.