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.
With great integrity, Ada, President of Peace Speakers, warmly welcomes members and visitors to our club today. Integrity is our Word for the Day, meaning sincerity, honesty, and of moral character.
Because we are coming upon the Memorial Day weekend where those who served in our military and died are honored, Ada offers us several "Feeding Your Soul" quotes to consider:
Because we are coming upon the Memorial Day weekend where those who served in our military and died are honored, Ada offers us several "Feeding Your Soul" quotes to consider:
"Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened." ~Billy Graham
"Each man is a hero and an oracle to somebody." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself." ~Joseph Campbell
"True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost." ~Arthur Ashe
INVOCATION BRINGS A SMILE
Catherine, our Invocation Leader for the day, encourages us to get out with our friends and families on Memorial Day and enjoy each other and the good food that often accompanies that day. She shares a "Story People" graphic that reads, "There are things you do because they feel right and they may make no sense and they may make no money and it may be the real reason we are here: to love each other and to eat each other's cooking and say it was good."
The print that Catherine shared excited me because I have this exact graphic framed in my kitchen, given by a loved one who has appreciated many wonderful gatherings and meals at our home. Love and food...what better combination is there?
To view a gallery of the Story People's artwork and playful thoughts, go to this link: http://www.storypeople.com/storypeople/PageInclude.do?path=/doc/dig/SPprints1-10.html I assure you that the prints are absolutely creative, moving, and fun!
JOKE MASTER SWITCHES THINGS AROUND
Unable to find jokes about Memorial Day, Ada decides
to use this moment to reflect on the holiday's meaning, reminding us that it's
more than a day off from work or enjoying a cookout with family. She asks us to each share the name of someone who is a hero to us. Many names of relatives are given as well as names like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Magic Johnson.
Two visitors are with us today: Kammaleathahh and Tanja, the latter of whom is here for a second visit this month. On a really high note, Tanja joined our club today! Her quick decision to do so denotes a keen desire to enjoy and grow herself with other Peace Speakers who are doing the same.
Two visitors are with us today: Kammaleathahh and Tanja, the latter of whom is here for a second visit this month. On a really high note, Tanja joined our club today! Her quick decision to do so denotes a keen desire to enjoy and grow herself with other Peace Speakers who are doing the same.
TOASTMASTER COMES ON BOARD
Perry, Toastmaster for the day, introduces the educational part of our program. He notes that our meetings follow a familiar framework. There is always the introduction of those individuals who have agreed to take on roles for this meeting, and they will each briefly share what that entails. Today we have a Speech Evaluator, a Timer, and an Ah Counter and Grammarian. Towards the end of the meeting, they'll each give short reports. This allows everyone to practice their speaking and leadership skills in ways that they choose.
PREPARED SPEAKER REVEALS HER TOPIC IN HER SPEECH
There is one prepared speaker today, and it's me (Kay)! Perry shares that my speech is #7 from the Competent Communication Manual, which focuses on "Researching Your Topic". I chose this topic to research because I was fascinated with how some people perceive the world so differently than others and how that plays out in life. I titled my speech "Misunderstood and Undervalued" and focused on a sector of society who fit that description.
Abraham Lincoln Steven Spielberg
Mother Teresa Gandhi
Sir Isaac Newton J.K. Rowling
Albert Einstein George Orwell
Rosa Parks Woody Allen
Bill Gates Emma Watson
Laura Bush Eleanor Roosevelt
Warren Buffett Vincent Van Gogh
I think we
can all agree that these people have made great contributions to humanity. Incidentally, the primary link among them is…
they’re all introverts! And since the 1920’s, American culture has
given introverts second class standing…
and in turn has celebrated the actions and personality style of
extroverts.
Introverts,
on the other hand, are too often overlooked
and undervalued despite the fact they
are a much needed and dynamic force in society.
For this reason, I say it’s high
time we cleared up some myths about introverts who’ve been repeatedly misjudged and underestimated.
Today I’ll
share some misconceptions people often hold about introverts. But first, let’s define the terms introvert
and extrovert. Back in 1921, Carl Jung coined
the terms introvert and extrovert in his groundbreaking book called Psychological Types. According to Carl Jung, introverts are drawn to the inner world of thought and feeling and typically
focus on the meaning they make of the events spiraling around them.
Extroverts, however, seek the
external life of people and activities and actively dive into the events
themselves. Introverts recharge their batteries by quiet time alone; while extroverts typically recharge by
socializing. According to Wikipedia, extroverts
are outgoing, talkative, and energetic, whereas introverts are more reserved
and solitary.
Carl Jung suggests that everyone has both an introverted and an extroverted side, with one more
likely dominant than the other.
Now according
to Carolyn Gregoire of the
Huffington Post, there are 5 misconceptions about introverts that people
commonly hold. The first misconception she's dispelling is...
1. Introverts
are shy people.
Actually, many
introverts are not shy. A lot feel confident and at ease around people
but simply require more time alone to balance out the energy they expend in
social situations.
2. Introverts don't like to be around people.
The truth
is… introverts might favor one-on-one
interactions over the bigger gatherings.
Or, they might enjoy large parties but prefer to sit and watch the
action from the sidelines. This activity of observation is fun for introverts!
3. Introverts don't make good leaders or good public
speakers.
The fact
is, many introverts enjoy and excel in leadership roles and public speaking. My list here shows numerous leaders throughout history who are classified as
introverts!
In Susan
Cain’s book, Quiet, she notes that
roughly 4 in 10 top executives are introverts.
Research shows that introverted leaders can actually promote a better team environment by encouraging
more creativity and productivity.
And when
it comes to public speaking,
introverts are not shrinking violets. Because
they focus on preparation and thoroughly think things through before they act,
they can be excellent speakers…just like author Susan Cain giving her charismatic
TED talk on her book, Quiet).
4. Introverts
have more negative personalities.
They’ve
probably earned this stereotype because they actually like
being alone, giving them the reputation as having more depressive
or negative personalities. But introverts don't generally associate solitude with depression or loneliness, and neither should we.
5. It's easy to tell if someone is an introvert.
Not
always! Many introverts could easily go
out to a party and talk to everyone in the room and enjoy doing it. But, at the
close of the gathering, they'll look forward to restoring their energy in a
solitary manner.
In Sophia Dembling’s book, The Introvert’s Way, she notes that given our culture's love affair and bias
with extroverts, many introverts have resorted to playing a role contrary to
their real nature by acting more outspoken and gregarious than they feel on the
inside. But afterwards, introverts will
slip away to fulfill that need for time alone to recover.
Now don’t be
misled. I love
extroverts! “Why even some of my best
friends are extroverts!” They add zest to my life and often
turn a casual situation into a memorable life experience. The joy I feel around extroverts is
genuine. However, I need to habitually
retreat and recuperate from their constant engagement and activity.
I’d like
to leave you with this thought: value
comes in all packages and varieties…so honor the introverts as much as the
extroverts. And, if you’re not an introvert, you are surely
raising one, working with one, or are dating or married to one. Remember…each
person is a moving tower of human power, and introverts are just as dynamic and indispensable to the universe as the extroverts.
I left the audience with a handout that includes some
distinct advantages to being an introvert, as time didn't permit I include them in my speech. I also recommended the book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Won't Stop Talking. It's a phenomenal book about the world of introverts, and it's for anyone
who cares about how people think, work, or get along in this world. It’s a real eye-opener and page-turner!
I'd like to personally thank Catherine for taking pictures of me with my big, bulky camera while I gave my speech. I admire her initiative to jump in there and do what it takes to get the job done!
EXECUTIVE ROLES ARE SHARED DURING TABLE TOPICS
Our Peace Speakers are fast approaching the upcoming nominations of the members of our Executive Committee. Because of that, Table Topics today involves the current members of the Executive Committee sharing what their roles entail and giving personal accounts of their experiences. Each member drew a prompt to begin sharing.
What advice would you give to the next PRESIDENT of our club?
Ada shares that a good president doesn't have to be the smartest person, but they do have to be able to lead. The president must be able to start a meeting, keep it flowing, and wrap it up. She feels that she's had a very productive year, and knowing that the club takes on the personality of the president makes it a very important role.
What is the most challenging aspect of your role as the VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATION?
Robin admits that she's basically the planner of the meetings - she secures the roles and the speeches - so it's critical to do this in advance. She learned early on that taking the initiative to do this well before the meeting makes this job pretty easy. Sometimes this means she takes on whatever role is left-over (what other members that week didn't choose), but that's okay! As the VP of Education, she also assists new members in finding a mentor, if they so desire.
What do you like best about being the VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIP?
Robin admits that she's basically the planner of the meetings - she secures the roles and the speeches - so it's critical to do this in advance. She learned early on that taking the initiative to do this well before the meeting makes this job pretty easy. Sometimes this means she takes on whatever role is left-over (what other members that week didn't choose), but that's okay! As the VP of Education, she also assists new members in finding a mentor, if they so desire.
Betsy admits that she likes corresponding with the people who are curious about or interested in joining Peace Speakers, and then she gets to meet them in person. It's fun receiving messages and inquiries about our club and Toastmasters. Basically, it has been an easy role for her to do, and she took it last year because we were having difficulty filling the positions.
What do you find most fulfilling about being a club officer?
As VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC RELATIONS, it's very fulfilling to work with the other club officers, and when I'm told that something I've done makes a difference, it's very satisfying. My job is to promote Peace Speakers to the outside world, and I see to it that Business One Magazine and the Courier-Journal Newspaper both list our meeting dates, times and places for our future meetings as well as our contact information. I also share the meeting dates online in my blog about our meetings and have started building our Peace Speakers website. Whoever takes this role next does not have to continue the blog I've kept. There are others ways to promote our club to the outside world, and you can use your strengths and interests to decide how you might best do that.
What do you find most challenging about your role as SERGEANT AT ARMS?
Eva (standing in for Fred today) shares that in this role you don't have to be out front and speaking like you do in other roles. It's a behind-the-scene job but is still very important. What used to be most challenging for her was carrying from her car both the wooden podium and the box of items needed for set-up at meetings, but now those items are kept in the building. The advice she'd give to the next person who takes this role is to show integrity. Get set up before the meetings begin and keep the name tags updated.
Name one thing you've really enjoyed about being the SECRETARY.
Catherine shares first that her role requires that she takes the minutes during our Peace Speakers meetings. She records who attends, keeps track of the times for speeches (which the Timer gives her), and types up a short review that she distributes to everyone online. What she has really enjoyed is the accountability and the ownership that comes with being the secretary. She's less likely to skip meetings unless she absolutely cannot be there.
What has being a club officer taught you about being a leader?
Perry's role as TREASURER involves managing the money and taking in membership fees. Other times he pays out dollars to Toastmasters International for purchases and club fees. He reaches out to members about continuing their memberships every year. What it's taught him about leadership is the power of working on a team and that the integrity of the Treasurer is very important. You don't steal the club's money!
Each of the officers in our Toastmasters club has duties to fulfill in support of the members of our Peace Speakers club. Toastmasters clubs have multiple officers both to spread the load and to expand the leadership opportunities at the club level. Filling an officer role does not mean that you do the job alone; it means you are responsible to see that the job gets done. Attending the training gives you the support you need to better serve your club, and the officer leaving the position will train you as well. Peace Speakers, please think about how you might serve in one of these executive roles in the coming year to grow your skills considerably!
Eva, evaluator of Kay's speech about introverts, admits that she's an introvert and at one time wondered what was wrong with her. It wasn't until she took the Myers-Briggs Test that she learned this was just her personality type. She adds that Kay's topic was well-researched and relevant for our Toastmasters group. She felt that Kay skillfully used various resources to support her main points. Delivery was dynamic and forceful with good connection to the audience. Kay also effectively used a visual aid and a handout. However, Eva would have liked to hear Kay share a personal account and talk about her own experience with introversion.
Thank you, Eva, for your very thorough evaluation. I can always depend on you to thoughtfully address many avenues. I feel heard and affirmed, and your suggestions are always poignant.
Ada, our president, closes our meeting reminding us to enjoy the extended Memorial Day weekend but also remember with compassion those who have lost their friends and family members to war. May a sincere pledge be made to seek peace and nonviolent solutions to world conflict.
And if you're a visitor to this blog, drop in sometime and visit us! See if we're a good fit for you. We enjoy our time together while growing our speaking and leadership skills, and we always welcome newcomers. Come see what Toastmasters is all about and watch yourself change in ways that may surprise you!
June 4 - Conference Room B
June 18 - Conference Room B
Eva (standing in for Fred today) shares that in this role you don't have to be out front and speaking like you do in other roles. It's a behind-the-scene job but is still very important. What used to be most challenging for her was carrying from her car both the wooden podium and the box of items needed for set-up at meetings, but now those items are kept in the building. The advice she'd give to the next person who takes this role is to show integrity. Get set up before the meetings begin and keep the name tags updated.
Catherine shares first that her role requires that she takes the minutes during our Peace Speakers meetings. She records who attends, keeps track of the times for speeches (which the Timer gives her), and types up a short review that she distributes to everyone online. What she has really enjoyed is the accountability and the ownership that comes with being the secretary. She's less likely to skip meetings unless she absolutely cannot be there.
Perry's role as TREASURER involves managing the money and taking in membership fees. Other times he pays out dollars to Toastmasters International for purchases and club fees. He reaches out to members about continuing their memberships every year. What it's taught him about leadership is the power of working on a team and that the integrity of the Treasurer is very important. You don't steal the club's money!
OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AVAILABLE!
SPEECH EVALUATOR SHARES HER OPINION
Thank you, Eva, for your very thorough evaluation. I can always depend on you to thoughtfully address many avenues. I feel heard and affirmed, and your suggestions are always poignant.
Ada, our president, closes our meeting reminding us to enjoy the extended Memorial Day weekend but also remember with compassion those who have lost their friends and family members to war. May a sincere pledge be made to seek peace and nonviolent solutions to world conflict.
And if you're a visitor to this blog, drop in sometime and visit us! See if we're a good fit for you. We enjoy our time together while growing our speaking and leadership skills, and we always welcome newcomers. Come see what Toastmasters is all about and watch yourself change in ways that may surprise you!
We are an open Toastmasters club,
so please pay us a visit!
OUR NEXT FEW 2014 MEETINGS:
June 4 - Conference Room B
June 18 - 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 new ones!)
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