Meeting Synopsis - October 7, 2015

Toastmasters Meeting October 7, 2015

Meeting Theme

Keeping the Commitment

Word of the Day

Starry-Eyed

Speaker of the Day

David was informed that the original speaker was not available, so he prepared a very poetic speech in about an hour. Although it was not the original speech, he stayed with the theme of Keeping the Commitment. As a member of toastmasters, we have all made a promise to commit to the meetings and make them the best they can be. David did that today. He spoke about three Romantic English poets who became famous around the French Revolution. They were Byron, Shelley, and Keats. Byron was the rock star of the Romantic poets. He was witty, popular and he did not like Keats. Shelley was starting to fall behind the shadow of Byron. Both Byron and Shelley had money and they were very influential. They were also able to have their poetry published. Then came Keats. Keats was one of four children and the family was poor. His dad died with he was eight years old. His mother also died of TB. Keats started working in an apothecary to take care of his family. He struggled through life. He was also very small in stature. He continued to publish his poems and books, which were starting to get noticed by the critics. His more famous poetry were Romantic Odes. Keats decided to take a walking tour and while he was on this tour, he developed pneumonia and a fever. He became very weak and he died at the age of 25. Shelley and Byron said that Keats died from the criticism he received for his poetry. David finished off his speech by reading and reciting “Ode to a Nightingale.” David won the Best Speaker ribbon.

Table Topics Master

Patricia

Patricia’s opening and explanation about table topics was very thorough, even if she left off the evaluation portion of the meeting. We had a good laugh. Patricia brought in a bag of penny’s and asked the participants to tell a story about an event that happened in the same year as the penny was made. Kori was the first contestant, who chose a penny made in 2012 and spoke about how that was a memorable year because of her first job as an attorney and it was the first year of dating her now husband. Corinne was the second contestant who chose a penny made in 1986 and spoke about how that was the year she graduated high school and how terrified she was to enter college. Linda first chose a penny made in 2014, but stated that was boring and she chose a penny from 1993. She spoke about how she was able to meet the case of Disneyland and go underground. She saw where they parked the floats, and the other activities the staff were able to partake in, like bowling. Both Corinne and Linda said the word of the day. Linda won the Best Table Topics speaker ribbon.

General Evaluator

Mellonie

Mellonie brought up that there is a third important aspect to the Toastmasters meetings and that is the general evaluation portion. Then she explained how she was going have the evaluator give his evaluation of the speech, ask for the grammarian’s report, and give her evaluation of the whole meeting.

Evaluator

Adam

Adam spoke to David about his love of Keats’s poetry as well. He also mentioned that David gave a very dramatic reciting of the “Ode to a Nightingale.” The one thing David can work on to be even more dramatic, is a longer pause after Keats’s death. Adam won the ribbon for Best Evaluator.

Mellonie first spoke about how Adam’s evaluation was very good and he is highly qualified to give an evaluation on a speech about poetry because of his love for the same genre. He also provided good examples of the good, the need for improvement and the good again (sandwich effect). Then Mellonie gave her evaluation of the whole meeting starting with describing the role. We started on time and requests were sent early for volunteers to fill the roles. She also mentioned how even though everything change an hour before the meeting began, other people stood up to the commitment of presenting a great meeting. Table topics master did a wonderful job and had a creative opening and how the questions related to the year of the penny.

Club Business

Speech and evaluation contest is this Friday Oct. 9. Many people have volunteered to fulfill roles of the contest. The people who volunteered should be there at 6:00, pot luck at 6:30, contest at 7:00.

Cal Speakers pot luck is Saturday Oct. 10 at Sarah’s house, so be sure to sign up for a dish.

The Area Governor came by today to observe our club and mentioned how good we were. How much fun she has with our club. Also, how there will be a monthly newsletter coming out, so be sure to read it.

Today we voted in a new member, Veronica. Welcome Veronica.

Best of the Best award went to David.