June 4, 2007 Minutes

From Austin Toastmasters (Balcones, Club #3407)

Balcones Toastmasters June 4, 2007

Chapter 3407 District 55

Minutes of Meeting

After a week off for Memorial Day, the June 4th meeting was opened by President Jake North.

• Steve Helmke served as Toastmaster. "Summertime" was the theme and we heard about simple and extravagant plans for the summer by fellow Toastmasters.

• Jonathan Huizingh led Prayer & Pledge and served as Sergeant at Arms.

• Harry Savio filled in as Timer.

• Darlene North was Grammarian and chose "Impassive" (meaning expressionless) for the word for the day. It was used by Matt, Rick, Jon Beall, Jim, Steve Helmke, Sonny, and Jack. She diligentsly count uses of "so", "um", "you know" and "um so"s by Steve, Harry, Jake, Lesley, Jack, Jennifer (and some by Anne after she gave her report).

• Steve Gonzales was One Minute Toastmaster - Steve astutely urged us to pick up on audience feedback by seeing, hearing and using our sixth sense.

Table Topics Master was Matt Carlin. Matt requested responses to variations of "don't you just love", "don't you just hate" and "don't you just hate but there's a silver lining"

• Rick Bradstreet - winner - Rick hates it when he feels he's the only one that has a clue as to what he's saying. He reminisced about a speech given in a wig honoring Jimmy Carter's sister but no one got it and he finished his 6 minute speech in 2 minutes.

• Jon Beall- Jon loves many things 1) cool summer mornings after a rain 2) riding his bicycle 3) coming to IHOP to attend Toastmasters

• Jake North - Jake hates that he couldn't compete in the Austin triathlon on Memorial Day weekend but the silver lining is that he did not have to swim in Town Lake

• Jim Comer - Jim hates how our society elevates the unimportant (American Idol) over matters that are really important (do you know who the Secretary of State is?) This gives him pause about the future.

Speaker #1 Dan Naden - winner - "Let's talk about the weather" - Dan told of growing up with his brother in a small town with similar interests until high school when his brother turned to science and weather. We followed his brother through college, interning with WGN's meteorologist Tom Skilling, working in the Severe Storm Lab in Oklahoma and now as a forest fire forecaster in Albaquerque.

Speaker #2 - Karen Bondy - "Why Mommy Works" - Karen emphasized the importance of women role models in her life. Her mother worked to support the family. Her older sister was a doctor, mother of 2 girls, one with serious disability. Now she is a mother of adopted twins and has learned to prioritize her life so the girls come first.

Speaker #3 Jennifer Wagner - "Choices" - Jennifer shared with us the decision making process she has been going through. She is searching for the perfect job. She made a decision to have the baby she is now carrying and be a proud single mom. She thus is changing her mind about the perfect job and is considering moving home to be near family. Wow!

General Evaluator was Sonny Sonntag.

• Table topics evaluator was Lesley Bradstreet - winner - Interesting topics, Matt. Rick gave a brief intro that pulled in Matt's question and the One Minute Toastmaster talk but he clasped his hands. Jon just started talking and as he relaxed each section of his speech expanded and got better. He too clasped his hands. Jake painted a grand picture of the triathlon but could have brought in the emotion of the tension of the event. Jim compared and contrasted. He was passionate but controlled and had a call to action.

• Evaluator #1 for Dan was Jack Frick - Dan's gestures started low but grew grander. He held us in suspense as to how brotherhood was going to segue into the weather. The closing could have tied back to the beginning.

• Evaluator #2 for Karen was John McMillan - Karen has a serene demeanor. She got personal about the influence of parent's and sibling's influence. She could have touched on the special needs of adopted children. Movement towards the audience would have been effective. He liked her "fabric of life."

• Evaluator #3 for Jennifer was Nancy Davis - Most Improved - Nancy's heart was touched by Jennifer's' honesty and openness with us on this very personal subject.

Timer and Grammarian gave their reports. Gordon Baker responded to Jim that Sangia was the winner of American Idol (the redeeming thing is that Jordin Sparks was actually the winner... according to Google). Gordon too is disgusted. Hollis Baker said it was good to be here. Steve Levering urged us to do something good. Mary Buker is "glad" to be back from Spain. Anne Child is excited about going to lobby Congress in DC next week.

Jake reviewed the schedule for our next meeting on Monday June 11th. Jon Beall volunteered to be the chair of the nominating committee for new officials for the next 6 months. Dan told us that we now have a camera on order for taping the speeches! It should be here by next week.

Future schedules are available at http://www.balconestoastmasters.org/schedule/.

Happy to be together again, we adjourned the first meeting of June.