July16, 2007 Minutes
From Austin Toastmasters (Balcones, Club #3407)
July 16, 2007
TM - John McMillan Theme: What is your favorite summertime book or reading subject?
Guests: Amy, the friend of Jonathan's, for a second visit; and Jerry Barret, IBM engineer who visited last year and who came back for a second look. Jon Beall knows him as one of the organizers of the Davis Mountains Fitness Camp.
Word for the Day - Palpable (from Karen Bondy) Surprise! a lot of people other than Sonny used the word.
OMT - Jon Beall - Summer Reading - The Founding Brothers, a Pulitzer Prize book about critical players and moments during the formation of our country. OMT Topic - Make speeches more relevant by including references to members of the audience.
TT - Jonathan asked us to tell about the best selling books of which he gave us the titles. After their versions, participants 1. Mary - Water for Elephants 2. Jennifer - Chosen by a Horse 3. Amy - Three Cups of Tea 4. Harry - The Memory Keepers Daughter
After each speaker, Jonathan then told them about what the real book had to say.
Speakers -
1. Sonny - Life in the USA - During the depression a hamburger cost $.05, so did a double scoop of ice cream, and $.11 for a gallon of gas. His 14 classmates were so poor, only 3 could afford cap & gowns. They decided on gingham dresses and pin striped overalls instead. The town and people pulled through together by helping each other during the tough times.
2. Antoinette - Drinking Kava with the Chief - Fiji, as the gateway to Australia and New Zealand, provided her with a vacation stop on her recent vacation. She and her husband relaxed in paradise on Fiji Time. When she experience drinking kava with the Chief, she saw the 2 room house of the local Chief in a different way. Bula!
3. Steve Levering - Can't Take the Hill Out of Billy (Icebreaker) - He likes reading about military history and Vietnam. He's from Ohio, a state of foundries, pig farms, tire manufacturers, bricks and coal. His family were coal miners from Boone Hollow where his Dad kept beagles for dog trials, and he blew up outhouses with M80s. He was a multi sport athlete who wrestled at 175 lbs. then went on to the Pittsburgh Pirates Farm Team system. He was a teacher and coach and now works with Priscilla and Jack in the Risk Management training business.
Chief Evaluator - Jack Frick TTE - Steve Gonzales, likes crime scene mysteries & non fiction history 1. Phil Hallmark - Likes to read in the morning especially when its raining 2. Rick - 3. Scott - Currently spends time reading operating manuals at work.
Winners - Mary, Steve L., Scott and MI - Again Steve L.
