The mission of a Toastmasters club
is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in
which every individual member has the opportunity to develop oral
communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster
self-confidence and personal growth.
Ada, president of Peace Speakers, opens our meeting referring to the red robin atop our agenda. She's noticed robins and geese returning to the area recently and wonders if their arrival is premature. In reflection, she says maybe the emergence of these birds right now is confirmation that spring actually is on the way. After all, birds are more in tune with nature. The season is changing (finally)! It'll be great to move away from polar vortexes and their wintery effects.
Putting the signs of spring atop our agendas is an ingenious way to escort in this seasonal change! Let's put the indicators of spring on all of our agendas until its foot is clearly in the door. (Ingenious, meaning clever, resourceful, or inventive, is our Word of the Day for this meeting.)
A Thoughtful Distinction about Our Club is Revealed
Ada introduces a guest today who walked all the way from Broadway to join us during her lunch hour. When Megan stands to introduce herself, she admits to being an introvert. Ada replies, "I'm happy to report we specialize in introverts. You're in the right place, Megan!" Many of us in this club are here to practice more extroverted behaviors, knowing that mastering them doesn't change our introverted natures but expands who we are.
Eva
steps in for Becki to share Psalm 147, verses 1-11, for our Invocation
today. It speaks like a hallelujah
chorus in praise of God. It reminds us that God builds us up, gathers in the
outcasts, and lifts up the downtrodden. God is great and powerful…able to make well our broken hearts and bandage our
injuries. It encourages us to sing
praises to God and be grateful for the creation of the clouds in the sky, the
rain on the earth, and the grass on the hills.
God cares for and feeds all creatures, so we are to be in awe and trust
in God’s steadfast love.
Robin, our VP of Education, gives us updates:
- March 14 is the make-up date for Staff Development Day. Our Peace Speakers club will host a session from 12:40-1:40. Check with Robin to see if you can fill any roles for that meeting!
- Our personalized Peace Speakers Banner and stand are on order. Our club will be featured in the February e-newsletter and also in the print edition of the international Toastmaster Magazine in April. This speaks loudly of our members' commitment to our club and the ingenious creation of our award-winning video submitted in November 2013.
- Robin reminds us that a membership building contest requires that we add 5 new or reinstated members by March 31. If we accomplish this, Peace Speakers will be recognized by Toastmasters International with a ribbon and a 10% store discount. We can do this! We all know friends or co-workers who would benefit and enjoy our club experience!
JOKE MASTER SHARES SOME FUN
A preacher dies, and when he gets to Heaven, he sees a New York cab driver who has more crowns. He says to an angel, "I don't get it. I devoted my whole life to my congregation."The angel replies, "We reward results. Did your congregation always pay attention when you gave a sermon?"
The preacher admits, "Once in a while someone fell asleep."
The angel says, "Right. And when people rode in this guy's taxi, they not only stayed awake, but they usually prayed!"
And in honor of the Winter Olympics, Betsy reads a joke heard on the Ellen Degeneres show today:
Why did the ice dancer always use coupons?
Because he was a cheap skate.
TOASTMASTER HELPS BRING IN SPRING
Eric, our Toastmaster for the day, begins the educational part of our program with an ingenious idea to help usher in the seemingly distant spring season. He pauses to ask each of us to share a word about spring. Answers flow like "melted snow, bike rides, spring flowers, warm breezes, and sunshine" (to name a few).
1ST PREPARED SPEAKER
Speech: "Express Yourself"
Project #5 - Your Body Speaks - Competent Communication Manual
Speech: "Express Yourself"
Project #5 - Your Body Speaks - Competent Communication Manual
When introduced, Betsy begins her speech in an atypical fashion. With shoulders slumped and her expression glum, she timidly walks to the podium. That was Take 1. But for Take 2 during her second trip to the podium, she beams with a smile and strides proudly up front exuding confidence and enthusiasm.
She asks Fred and Eva which "take" they preferred, and both agree that the second one had a more positive effect, making them eager to hear what she had to share. Betsy lets us know in no uncertain terms, "Your body speaks! Actions speak stronger than words."
She admits that as a mother and
a grandmother, she uses a lot of actions...or sign language...or "body language" that is effective.
The first is (hands on hip with tilted
head). This one means, "I am not very pleased with what you are doing." Another is
(shaking finger). This one says, "No, no! Please do not do that."
Betsy thinks
her most effective signal is (hand crossing throat). This one in "GramB language" translates to CHILL! As a matter
of fact, she used this one recently in a first grade classroom on Grandparents Day. The little ones were wound up and running around in the classroom. Betsy made eye contact
with her grandson and just one "cut" hand-motion and he immediately
stopped what he was doing and came over and sat down next to her. What a good kid!
Expressing
yourself through body language can be an asset. It can get the attention of the one you are
speaking to and they pay more attention to what you are saying.
Another
great example of "body
Language" Betsy has witnessed was at
the Mary Kay Convention in Dallas, Texas. The ladies who made it across the stage to get
the keys for the new car they earned pranced, danced and swung their arms in excitement. And that was a contagious excitement, which brought everyone
in the arena up off their chairs swinging their arms, clapping their hands, and
cheering with the winners.
In conclusion, when talking to one person or to a group of people, use a
little bit of body language and put some excitement in your voice so they
will really hear what you are saying. Express yourself!
 |
| A closer view of Betsy's Take 1 sign |
Thank you, Betsy, for a really enjoyable speech. It was fun to watch! I remember a college co-ed giving a speech on this topic at a time when I would nearly faint if someone even called on me in class. Her poise and playfulness...just like yours...was admirable. We should never underestimate the power of our gestures and expressions while giving a speech or when talking with individuals.
2ND PREPARED SPEAKER
Speech: "The Pet Effect"
Project #7 - Research Your Topic -
Competent Communication Manual
Eric introduces Bethany who shares how pets influence our lives. Her speech is 5-7 minutes long, just like Betsy's. To save space, I've removed the specific names of the resources/studies that Bethany researched.
A cold nose nudging your arm, angling
for some cuddles. A destroyed pair of shoes in the middle of your living room.
A tail-wagging celebration of your homecoming, whether you’ve been gone eight
hours or 10 minutes. Endless hair shedding and vacuuming. Unconditional love.
Expensive veterinary bills. These are some of the many joys
and hassles that come with pet ownership. Anyone who has ever had a pet is
familiar with these situations and many more. But have you ever really thought
about the true emotional, physical and financial effects of pet ownership?
Today, I’m going to explore how
having a pet affects your mood, health and wallet. Research suggests a possible release of the hormone Oxytocin, which can lower stress hormone levels, when people are around their
dogs and other pets. Other studies have found that just being around a dog or
petting a dog can lower blood pressure. Even watching a Lassie movie was enough
to lower stress.
A critical factor in this finding is the relationship you
have with your pet. If there’s an animal in your household you don’t like,
being with that pet isn’t likely to reduce your stress levels. When it comes to the negative
emotional impact pets can have, almost nothing compares to the pain associated
with losing a pet. The death of a pet can leave a household feeling empty and deeply
saddened. Many people feel embarrassed
by the pain they feel after losing a pet. After all, it’s “only” a pet. And
that embarrassment can make people feel like they’re overreacting, which adds
to the pain and interrupts the cathartic grief process. Mourning pet owners can be comforted knowing that
the duration of pain after the loss of a pet is very short when compared to the
years of joy and companionship they bring.
When it comes to physical
health, a study of people on Medicare found that people who owned pets made
fewer trips to the doctor than those who didn’t. Some researchers discovered
that sound frequencies of purring cats between 20 and 50 Hertz can improve bone
density and speed the healing of bones and muscles.
Pets have positive effects on children’s
health, too. Evidence shows that kids who grow up with pets are less likely to
develop allergies to animals and other allergens like dust, ragweed and grass. Moreover,
children with a dog were less likely to be overweight. This can apply to adults as well. Dog owners were 60
percent more likely to go for walks in their leisure time than people who owned
cats or who didn’t own any pet, so if you want to shape up, dogs make better
walking buddies than humans do - perhaps because dogs don't make up excuses for
why they can't go that day.
In a somewhat disturbing finding, 30 percent of pet owners who
smoked said that they’d try to quit if they thought secondhand smoke could hurt
their pets. Less than 2 percent said the same thing for their children.
Owning a pet can have some negative
effects on your health as well. About 15 percent of Americans are allergic to
dogs or cats, and dogs can be very aggressive. 4.5 million Americans are bitten
by dogs every year, with 1 in 5 bites causing injuries that require medical
attention.
When it comes to your wallet, pets
definitely take a toll. Americans spent more than $55 billion on their pets in
2013, and this number is higher than the GDP for more than 60 countries. The average household spends about $500 a
year on pets, which is higher than the average amount spent on alcohol, men’s
clothing, or landline telephones.
On a more positive note, a new study
suggests that having a dog can actually boost workers’ productivity and job
satisfaction. Employers who allowed dogs in the workplace reported that their
employees exhibited more cooperation and increased morale while lessening the
stress levels that can lead to burnout and absenteeism.
As someone who is a lifelong dog lover,
this extensive research was interesting to me. Although I am likely to always
have a dog, it was fun to learn more about the positive and negative impacts
that owning a pet can have on our mental, physical and financial well-being.
This was such a well-researched and well-written speech...chock full of countless, interesting details. It would have been very difficult to deliver with less reliance on notes!
And Eric, your return to the podium with that woeful tale about your gerbil falling off the table certainly attests to the unexpected costs of having pets. That $140 vet fee for checking out your little friend was outlandish!
TABLE TOPICS MASTER GETS US TALKING
Ada, Table Topics Master
for the day, warns us that she's created some questions that pertain to
articles found in our recent Toastmaster Magazine. She walks towards
Fred and suggests he draw the first prompt for a 1-2 minute talk.
What skills are involved in being a good conversationalist?
Fred replies that a good conversationalist enjoys meeting people and is concerned about them and their welfare. He may ask about their pets, children, spouses, or other points of interest. It takes special skills to reach out to people and to give them attention. To be a good conversationalist, simply be interested in people and their welfare when you ask them questions.
You are at a conference and lunch is being served. How can you make sure everyone is included in the conversations?
Eva refers to Fred's previous remarks, reminding us to always be interested in others in order to draw them out. She admits to being an introvert, but what helps her include others in conversation is to forget about herself and be curious and genuinely interested in other people. She adds that we needn't be ingenious. Just draw them out with questions and listen to the interesting conversations as you talk with people around the room.
Eva refers to Fred's previous remarks, reminding us to always be interested in others in order to draw them out. She admits to being an introvert, but what helps her include others in conversation is to forget about herself and be curious and genuinely interested in other people. She adds that we needn't be ingenious. Just draw them out with questions and listen to the interesting conversations as you talk with people around the room.
 | ||||||
| The expression on Catherine's face indicates she doesn't agree with the situation this prompt is giving: |
My club experience seems to be getting stale, so I am considering trying new clubs. Name several ways you are going to do that.
Catherine admits that this isn't the case for her, but she'll play along. If she joined a new club, it would be an improv group. They seem like they're just a bunch of friends who hang out on stage for an audience. She says she's not an improv person typically but is good at off-the-cuff quips with friends. Joking around with others in an improv group might be a good move during her midlife crisis, and then she might learn she's not really an introvert!
How is a Toastmasters meeting like a brain gym?
Robin shares that a fitness gym works out different parts of your body. In the same way, a Toastmasters meeting is a brain gym because it helps you develop your brain and work out one's leadership and communication skills. This workout involves taking on new roles, challenging yourself, getting out of your comfort zone, being held accountable, and participating in order to be full-filled.
Toastmasters meeting is a brain gym because it helps you develop your brain and work out one's leadership and communication skills. This workout involves taking on new roles, challenging yourself, getting out of your comfort zone, being held accountable, and participating in order to be full-filled.
Our Table Topics session has ended, and Catherine earns
the most votes for the best extemporaneous talk. She gets bragging
rights for the next two weeks 
as this trophy rests on her desk at work.
(Or, maybe she'll carry it in her purse to share with friends, family,
and strangers. To each his [or her] own!!!!)
as this trophy rests on her desk at work.
(Or, maybe she'll carry it in her purse to share with friends, family,
and strangers. To each his [or her] own!!!!)
SPEECH EVALUATORS SHARE THEIR PERSONAL THOUGHTS
Rhonda found much to enjoy from Betsy's speech. She loved the prop - the Take 1 sign - and how she 
involved the audience in her talk. The use of body language was extensive and appropriate. She shared her diverse expressions with ease. Excitement was evident and eye contact was continual. Her appeal and her message were contagious. She even slipped in the word of the day: ingenious!
involved the audience in her talk. The use of body language was extensive and appropriate. She shared her diverse expressions with ease. Excitement was evident and eye contact was continual. Her appeal and her message were contagious. She even slipped in the word of the day: ingenious!
Robin noted that Bethany's speech was very well-organized and highly descriptive. It was obviously well-researched. She liked hearing the positive and negative effects that pets have on us as some adopters forget about the downsides. She would have liked to see Bethany slow down the speech a bit and use effective pauses, but because it was so rich with information, this might have made her go over her time allotment.
At the conclusion of Robin's evaluation, Ada returns to the podium and admits that her dog wants to talk to her every day. She adds, "You miss a lot when you can't have their love." Then she quickly adds that a pet gerbil chewed up her dresses in the closet, so there probably wasn't too much love lost or sadness when that critter left the planet.
This blogger only get to enjoy dogs vicariously because my freedom is so greatly prized, but I remember well the precious experiences my family had with the quirky wiener dogs we enjoyed growing up. There are many life lessons to be learned with pet ownership!
At the conclusion of Robin's evaluation, Ada returns to the podium and admits that her dog wants to talk to her every day. She adds, "You miss a lot when you can't have their love." Then she quickly adds that a pet gerbil chewed up her dresses in the closet, so there probably wasn't too much love lost or sadness when that critter left the planet.
This blogger only get to enjoy dogs vicariously because my freedom is so greatly prized, but I remember well the precious experiences my family had with the quirky wiener dogs we enjoyed growing up. There are many life lessons to be learned with pet ownership!
 |
| Bethany, Catherine and Robin share a laugh |
Peace Speakers don't pretend to like each other...they do! Evidence of this is the fall-out from our meeting today...laughter...which is the best medicine. Need a little more laughter in your life? Want to expand your communication and leadership skills? Give us a try!
We are an open Toastmasters club,
MARCH 5 - Conference Room B
(Potluck & meeting 12:45 - 2:00)
MARCH 14 - 5th floor- Staff Development Session
(12:40 - 1: 40)
MARCH 19 - Conference Room B
(1:00 - 2:00)
so please pay us a visit!
OUR NEXT FEW 2014 MEETINGS:
MARCH 5 - Conference Room B
(Potluck & meeting 12:45 - 2:00)
MARCH 14 - 5th floor- Staff Development Session
(12:40 - 1: 40)
MARCH 19 - Conference Room B
Peace Speakers Toastmasters Club
Presbyterian Center
1st and 3rd Wednesdays (usually)
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
100 Witherspoon Street
Downtown Louisville, KY
Respectfully submitted,
Kay Chambers
VP of Public Relations for Peace Speakers
To access our previous blogs, here are the links:
(We kept running out of space and needed to start a new one!)
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