Nominations Committee slate

Proposed slate of officers for Peace Speakers Toastmasters Club, 2009–10:

President—Eva Stimson
Vice President for Education—Eric Darnell
Vice President for Membership—Becki Moody (second term)
Vice President for Public Relations—Perry Chang
Secretary—Joelle Anderson
Treasurer—Ada Middleton (second term)
Sergeant at Arms—Patricia Longfellow

Nominating Committee members: Eva Stimson, chair; Eric Darnell; Perry Chang; Patricia Longfellow

Glenn Lewis will serve as Immediate Past President and will be a member of the Executive Committee.

Humorous speech contest

Peace Speakers Toastmasters has an opportunity to send a contestant to a rescheduled Toastmasters International Area 66 Humorous Speech Contest, 5:30-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18, down the street above Vincenzo’s restaurant (in downtown Louisville at 5th and Market) (pictured above), in the Humana Conference Center Room 2A.

Any Toastmasters member is invited to give a funny speech on any topic. The speech must be an original speech (not used before) between five and seven minutes long. Click here for more information: http://www.toastofchicago.org/hsrules.htm

If more than one Peace Speakers member is interested, we would have a club contest, and the winner of this contest would go on to the area contest. The winner of the area contest will go on to the division contest, which will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 26.

President Glenn Lewis stressed at Wednesday’s meeting that members and others who are not competing are invited to be there to watch the contest. Join us for some great speeches or even give one of those great speeches yourself!

Congrats, Joan!

Congratulations to longtime club member Joan Richardson, who is retiring this month after working for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for 36 years. Stop by a celebration at 2 p.m. on Monday, June 8, in the Presbyterian Center Atrium to celebrate Joan’s transition.

Welcome, Joelle!

Belated welcome to new member Joelle Anderson. Joelle Anderson is a native of the Pacific Northwest who moved to Kentuckiana to work in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Research Services office, where she focuses on the U.S. Congregational Life Survey. Joelle is active at Southeast Christian Church.

May 6 meeting

President Glenn Lewis opened the meeting at 1:02 p.m., and introduced the invocation leader, Kim Kaberle. She read Proverbs 25:11 and an essay about the power of words.

Glenn led the Pledge of Allegiance and welcomed members to the meeting. He announced that the May 20 meeting had been cancelled due to a mandatory furlough of most employees at the Presbyterian Center that week. He said the officers would be meeting May 26, 1–2 p.m., in room 150 at the Presbyterian Center. A nominating committee has been appointed to prepare a new slate of officers for the next club year. New officers need to be in place by June 30. The nominating committee will give a progress report at the next Toastmasters meeting June 3.

Glenn then opened the business part of the meeting. The minutes for the April 15, 2009 meeting were approved as written.

Treasurer Ada Middleton said she had checked online to make sure everyone who paid dues in April was listed on the club membership roster posted by Toastmasters International. She said everyone was listed except Kim Kaberle, who just joined and will be added soon.
Glenn introduced Toastmaster Betsy Blocker, who invited members of the Evaluation Team to explain their responsibilities: Speech Evaluator #1—Ada Middleton; Speech Evaluator #2—Joelle Anderson; Table Topics— Patricia Longfellow; Timer—Becki Moody; Ah Counter/Grammarian—Gary Warren; Vote Counter—Eric Darnell.

Gary Warren introduced the word of the day, voluble (adjective). (1) Characterized by a ready and continuous flow of words; fluent; glib; talkative. (2) Easily rolling or turning; rotating. Example: She is a voluble spokesperson for the cause. Synonyms: articulate, garrulous, loquacious. Antonym: taciturn.

Betsy introduced Eva Stimson, who gave her Project #8 “Get Comfortable with Visual Aids” speech from the Competent Communication Program Manual. Eva gave a Powerpoint presentation on “Bible 101: Things everyone should know about the most influential book of all time.”

Betsy then introduced Valerie Mansfield, who gave her Project #1 “Ice Breaker” speech from the Competent Communication Program Manual. Valerie’s topic was “Surprise . . . this is my life!”

Betsy introduced Patricia Longfellow to lead Table Topics. She invited six people to “take a penny, leave a memory.” Each person drew a penny out of a bowl and spoke about something memorable that happened in the year on the penny.

Betsy then called for reports from the evaluation team. Speech Evaluator #1, Ada Middleton, said Eva Stimson’s speech was well researched, had a good introduction and did not rely too much on notes. She liked the use of humor and audience participation. She suggested that Eva vary her tone of voice, use more gestures, and place her laptop in a lower spot so it would not hide her face from the audience.

Speech Evaluator #2, Joelle Anderson, said Valerie Mansfield’s speech was engaging, funny and well constructed. Valerie appeared comfortable and did not rely on notes. Joelle suggested that she work on avoiding space fillers.

Timer Becki Moody reported the following times:
Eva Stimson’s speech 8:34
Valerie Mansfield’s speech 5:50

Table Topics:
Susan EngPoole 2:00
Deborah Hoff 1:18
Glenn Lewis 1:32
Gary Warren 35 seconds
Perry Chang 2:16
Kim Kaberle 1:44

Speech evaluation #1 2:16
Speech evaluation #2 1:29

Ah Counter/Grammarian Gary Warren reported that the word of the day was used 2 times. He also counted 15 space fillers.

Vote counter Eric Darnell reported that Kim Kaberle received the most votes for best Table Topics speech. Patricia presented her with a prize and trophy to keep until the next meeting.

Following closing remarks, Betsy Blocker turned the meeting over to President Glenn Lewis. He congratulated everyone for having all 14 members present at the meeting. He announced that the next Peace Speakers Toastmasters meeting is at 1 p.m. June 3 in Conference Room B (not June 6 as listed on the program). He adjourned the meeting at 2:00 p.m.

-- Eva Stimson

April 15 meeting

President Glenn Lewis opened the meeting at 1:04 p.m., and introduced the invocation leader, Susan EngPoole. She read the Lord’s Prayer, as translated from Aramaic.

Glenn led the Pledge of Allegiance and welcomed members to the meeting. He announced that there would be an officers’ meeting April 21, from 1–2 p.m. in room 1050 at the Presbyterian Center. He said the officers would be discussing the appointment of a nominating committee to prepare a new slate of officers for the next club year. New officers need to be in place by June 30. Glenn encouraged all members to consider serving as officers.

Glenn then opened the business part of the meeting. Susan EngPoole made a motion to approve the minutes for the April 1, 2009 meeting as written. The motion was approved.

Eva said Treasurer Ada Middleton had asked her to tell club members to disregard any e-mail they may have received from the national offices about dues not being paid. Ada checked on this and was told the e-mail was sent out by mistake.

Perry reminded members about the Toastmasters International District 11 spring conference in Indianapolis, April 17–18, and encouraged anyone interested to attend.

Susan EngPoole invited members to attend programs by speaker Byron Katie April 22 and 23. She distributed a CD and booklet by Katie to everyone.

Glenn introduced Toastmaster Eva Stimson, who invited members of the Evaluation Team to explain their responsibilities: Speech Evaluator—Betsy Blocker; Table Topics—Joelle Anderson; Timer—Eric Darnell; Ah Counter/Grammarian—Patricia Longfellow; Vote Counter—Kim Kaberle. ers of the Evaluation Team to explain their responsibilities: Speech Evaluator—Betsy Blocker; Table Topics—Joelle Anderson; Timer—Eric Darnell; Ah Counter/Grammarian—Patricia Longfellow; Vote Counter—Kim Kaberle.

Patricia Longfellow introduced the word of the day, trepidation (noun). Etymology: Latin trepidation, trepidatio, from trepidare to tremble, from trepidus agitated, probably akin to Old English thrafian to urge, push, Greek trapein to press grapes. Date: 1605. Meaning: A fearful state; a state of hesitation or concern. Example: Timorous, uncertain agitation—trepidation about starting a new job.

Eva introduced Becki Moody, who gave her Project #4 “How to Say It” speech from the Competent Communication Program Manual. The topic of her speech was “When Love Goes Wrong” (domestic violence

Eva introduced Joelle Anderson to lead Table Topics. She invited six people to speak on topics related to the Kentucky Derby.

Eva then called for reports from the evaluation team. Speech Evaluator Betsy Blocker said Becki’s topic was very appropriate and her speech was informative. She used simple, clear words and made good use of examples. She said Becki seemed a lot more comfortable speaking then when she gave her first speech.

Timer Eric Darnell reported the following times:
Becki Moody’s speech 9:15

Table Topics:
Gary Warren 1:14
Perry Chang 1:34
Kim Kaberle 1:03
Susan EngPoole 1:46
Glenn Lewis 1:33
Patricia Longfellow 1:31

Speech evaluation 1:17

Ah Counter/Grammarian Patricia Longfellow reported that the word of the day was used 5 times. She also counted 16 space fillers and 3 sentence shifts.

Vote counter Kim Kaberle reported that Patricia Longfellow received the most votes for best Table Topics speech. Joelle presented her with a prize and trophy to keep until the next meeting.
Following closing remarks, Eva Stimson turned the meeting over to President Glenn Lewis. He announced that the next Peace Speakers Toastmasters meeting is at 1 p.m. May 6 in Conference Room B. He adjourned the meeting at 1:49 p.m.

-- Eva Stimson

Best wishes

Best wishes to Susan Engpoole, for her upcoming three-month (June 1-August 31) out-of-town sabbatical, and to Becki Moody, with her upcoming medical procedure (May 18) and six- to eight-week medical leave following that.

-- Perry