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All You Need is Love (Recap of WCTM’s February 8^th Meeting)

          Twenty-nine members and 11 guests gathered at the Warner Center Marriot for the February 8^th meeting of Warner Center Toastmasters (WCTM). The theme of the evening was Valentine’s Day and the good feelings that filled the room nicely reinforced this for one and all. WCTM’s President, Carolyn Goldman, CTM, greeted those assembled and kicked off the guest introductions with one of her own, introducing two fellow Toastmasters from Hollywood’s Renaissance Speakers, President, Jeff Harman, ATM-B and Vice President, Education, Debbie Ellish, DTM. She then turned the lectern over to WCTM’s Vice President, Membership, Eva Barry, who conducted an Induction Ceremony for one of WCTM’s newest members, Audrey Forte.

          The evening’s Toastmaster, Beverly Rankel, CTM, then, took control of the meeting. In her opening remarks, the vivacious Ms. Rankel took the theme of the evening in a new direction. Speaking directly to the Toastmaster experience, she observed, “There is another kind of love…caring about other people. We have that in this club. Everyone in WCTM is so supportive of each other. We have got the love! Do you feel it!!!???”

Table Topics: Where is the Love?

“Table Topics,” the opening segment of the evening’s program was led Topics Master, Rose Lane, DTM. Thanking the WCTM membership for the many expressions of love she received during her recent illness, the indomitable Rose went on to tell of her early start in the “romance department.” Her first crush, she remembered, was on Sy Evans, a boy in her 1^st grade class who gave her Wrigley’s Spearmint Gum. “I’ve liked it ever since!” she confided. With that WCTM’s Founder, questioned eleven club members about their experiences with both love and Valentine’s Day. Those called upon were: Lois Coburn, Stuart Juggler, Colin Giles, Audrey Forte, Norm Dornfest, CTM, Ken Slusser, CTM, John Graves, CTM / CL, David Wurth, Erin O’Neil, CTM, and Susan Mayberry, ATM-B.  The ribbon for the Best Table Topic went to Susan Mayberry for her response to the question, “What is the key to a lasting relationship?”

Prepared Speeches: Love the One You’re With

The Prepared Speeches portion of the meeting program was comprised of three offerings from the Communications & Leadership Manual (CLM) and one talk from the Advanced Manual. Eleonor Arellano led off with “Hand Washing Is a Must”, speech #3 from the CLM.  In it, Eleonor described how easily disease is spread by hand contact, “Everything we touch has germs on it!” Providing a detailed account of the best hand washing techniques and the consequences of ignoring them, she went on to observe, “Proper washing is very powerful. It can save lives.”

The hitherto unknown world of independent film finance was the subject of “The Independent Business Model”, Bill Anderson’s speech #3 from the CLM.  Beginning with a list of Oscar winning independent films that illustrated the quality and variety of independent product, he went on to explain the three elements of the sector’s business model: genre pictures, a focus on international sales, and film-by-film financing. “While the major studios can rely on their own deep pockets to finance their films, independents have to fund each of their films individually using pre-sales, incentives and ‘gap’ financing,” he told the audience.

Cate Bramble was up next with her CLM speech #5 entitled, “Get over Your Self!” In it, she humorously assailed our sense that human beings are “special”, telling the group that the animals with whom we live know better. According to Ms. Bramble, it’s not our big brains or our use of tools that account for our high opinion of ourselves. “Our real claim is that we have the best PR. After all,” she pointed out, “twenty-five percent of human genes are the same as those of a banana!" The evening’s Best Speaker award went to Cate Bramble.

Oktoberfest, a stolen beer tankard, and a young man fresh out of the army formed the core narrative of the evening’s final speech,  “Me, in Jail?”, a talk from the Advanced Manual by Dennis Rowe, ATM-B. In it, Dennis described his first brush with the criminal justice system, a night spent in a Munich jail as the result of a wrestling match with police over a beer tankard stolen by a fellow traveler from Oregon. Putting his hand through a pane of glass during the struggle, Dennis found himself in a cell complete with a burlap pillow and mattress. After reliving the night’s mayhem and mirth, he concluded, “I wouldn’t have done with out it, even if I could!” 

Evaluations: You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’

          Shelly Bright served as General Evaluator for the final segment of the evening’s program, “Evaluations”.  Summarizing the night, she said, “The meeting was humorous from start to finish. I learned something from every speaker.” Characterizing the night as a “great Toastmaster experience,” Shelly went on to urge improvement in several areas, “Remember to stick to meeting protocol. There was talking during several speeches and Table Topics. This is unacceptable and rude!” Individual evaluations were done by Eva Barry (Eleonor Arellano), Carolyn Goldman, CTM (Bill Anderson), Maisie Lee (Cate Bramble), and Dan Marzec, ATM-B (Dennis Rowe). Carolyn Goldman was voted the meeting’s Best Evaluator.

Welcome Back Ms. Lane

          One happy part of the February 8^th meeting was the return to club activity of WCTM’s Founder, Rose Lane, DTM. Fully recovered from her recent illness, WCTM’s Spiritual Center came back as the trooper that she is, filling in for club Treasurer, Arnold Arch, who could not attend the meeting. Welcome back Rose!  

   

February 22, 2007                                         Club #2966                                      Editor: Bill Anderson
Theme: "Let the Games Begin"

Announcements

Club Contests

Erin O’Neil, CTM, Vice President, Education, announced that WCTM will hold its club Evaluations Contest and International Speech Contest at its next meeting on February 22^nd. The winners of these contests will represent WCTM in the Area contest to be held later in March and, hopefully, the Division, District, regional, and International contests to follow.

Call for Old “Toastmaster Magazines”

Eva Barry, Vice President, Membership reminded members to recycle old issues of “Toastmasters Magazine” by donating them to WCTM. The magazines will be included in a new information packet that is being given out to prospective club members.

Record Your Speeches

John Graves, CTM / CL announced that the WCTM has acquired a digital video camera that will be used for recording member speeches on CD. A great way to improve performance, the only cost to members will be reimbursing the club for the cost of the blank CD. Anyone wishing to have a speech recorded should contact John for further information.

Yahoo Groups

Sunit Nangia reminded WCTM members to sign up for the club’s Yahoo Discussion Group. For more information on the Yahoo Group, contact Sunit directly.

New Members

      Warner Center Toastmasters extends a warm welcome its newest member, Jill Pye. Jill works in Customer Service at AT&T and decided to take the plunge and join up for the WCTM experience after our last meeting. This brings our total membership to 52. We’re happy to have Jill on board!

Upcoming District 52 Events

          District 52 Spring Conference –

Saturday, May 19. Where: Beverly Garland Holiday Inn; 4222 Vineland Avenue, North Hollywood, CA. For more information go to the District 52 Web Site: http://www.district52.org/.

Winter Officer Training Sessions –

            Saturday, February 24 (9AM – 1PM). Where: Glendale Central Library, 

222 E. Harvard St., Glendale, CA. What: (Officers, Judges and Chief Judges). 

Contact:  Div C Governor Jorge Ribeiro at division.c@district52.org

            Wednesday, February 28 (5:50 – 7PM). Where: Garland Building, Downtown LA. 

What:  (Officers’ training only). Contact:  Div D Governor Andrea Sebera at 

division.d@district52.org

READ OUR SPEECHES 
 

MEETING ARCHIVES

For many, the ability to speak in public is absolutely vital for success and, at the same time, one of the most frightening skills they have ever tried to master. Where and how do you acquire this knowledge and skills? You can read about it in a variety of books on the subject, but where and how do you take action that puts the principles you’ve learned into practice? Where can you do this in an environment that is both supportive and challenging? The answer is Warner Center Toastmasters (WCTM).

WCTM has been enhancing careers and enriching interpersonal communications for our members for more than two decades. From Granada Hills to Calabasas, Santa Monica to Chatsworth, we have active members from all over the area.  WCTM is dedicated to helping you overcome your fear of public speaking, to improve both your self-image and your self-confidence, and to do so amongst friends - your fellow club members. Think of WCTM as a communications laboratory, a forum for experimentation, a place to work on your own, personal style. 

It all comes together in a clearly defined and well-supported program of speeches and exercises that help you to sharpen your verbal skills, organize your words and gestures, and make you fast on your feet. Lose your fear of speaking in front of a large group, and you'll feel more relaxed speaking to anyone! Why leave great speaking skills to politicians and CEO's? You too can speak like a pro, and we'll show you how.

When We Meet

If this sounds good to you, then come join us for a light buffet and some great speakers at the Warner Center Marriott Hotel in Woodland Hills. We meet every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month without fail (except Xmas). Meetings begin at 6:30pm with gavel at 7 pm. Meetings conclude at approximately 9 pm. Guest fee: $5. 

Among the most prestigious and popular Toastmasters meeting locations in greater Los Angeles, the Marriott provides a wide variety of superb meeting rooms for one of Los Angeles' finest Toastmasters organizations. The Warner Center Marriott is located at 21850 Oxnard Street at the corner of Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Woodland Hills. The Marriott offers visitors valet parking for a $12 fee. However, parking is also available on the side streets of Oxnard, Vassar Avenue, and Califa which border the hotel.  

This site is updated twice a month with forthcoming meeting details, so check back often.  For more information on WCTM or its meetings, please contact: