Table Topics: Life Imitates Art

          “Table Topics,” the first segment of the evening’s program, was led by Topics Master, Donna Stewart. Describing “It’s a Wonderful Life” as her favorite holiday film, the enthusiastic, Ms. Stewart, posed a series of questions inspired by the values and sentiments found in the sixty year-old celluloid classic to the following WCTM members: Colin Giles, Alan Reveles, Vlada Dmytrenko, Glen Rankel, Ann Philippon, Jason Thompson, and Dennis Rowe, ATM-B. The Best Table Topics award went to Vlada Dmytrenko for her answer to the question, “If given the Holiday gift to be able to go anywhere. Where would you go?” Telling the group that as a youngster growing up in a small Ukrainian town, she frequently dreamed of going somewhere else. "Now, I have gone to the place I always wanted to go -- Los Angeles," she said.

Prepared Speeches: Exercise, Curry & the Cat with a Hat

The “Prepared Speeches” portion of the meeting program consisted of mélange of topics that taken together yielded a tasty confection that pleased both the mind and the heart. Leading off the voluble feast was Eva Barry with her version of speech #3 from the Communications & Leadership Manual (CLM), “Is Cardiovascular Exercise Hazardous to Your Heart?”  Sporting red workout attire, the toned and talented Ms. Barry told the group that a University of Missouri study has found that sustained cardiovascular exercise may take years off a person’s life by making the lungs and heart smaller. For great fitness, she advised the group to try a new workout program, Supra Aerobics. The regimen alternates “fast” running with “slow” jogging and features constant monitoring of the body during a workout. “If you want the look you desire, join me and go ‘Supra’,” Eva said in closing.   

 Two items that are dear to hearts of many men - beer and spicy food - formed the point of departure for Mohnish Sharma’s CLM speech #3, “How to Use Beer to Make Homemade Chicken Curry.” Blending Emeril with Drew Carey, WCTM’s Sergeant-at-Arms explained the five steps necessary to cook curry. In addition to combining the many ingredients (chicken, curry powder, spice), each step required the opening of another refreshing bottle of beer. Answering his own question, Mohnish concluded, “How did it turn out? After you’ve had five beers, who cares!”

The meeting’s final speaker, Shelly Bright, provided those assembled with an interpretive reading of the Dr. Seuss classic, “The Cat in the Hat” in fulfillment of the requirements of speech #6 from the CLM.  Displaying an extraordinary vocal range, our Ms. Bright portrayed the Cat, his friends (Thing 1 and Thing 2), Sally and her older brother through the exuberant chaos that reigned one rainy day while the children’s mother was out of the house. “Oh dear, you did not like our game,” exclaimed the Cat as the children banished him from the house seconds before their mother arrived home. Such a statement, however, could not be made  about Shelly’s performance which earned her the evening’s Best Speaker award.

Evaluations: Everything Was Right On!

          “Evaluations”, the evening’s final segment, was moderated by General Evaluator, Carolyn Goldman, CTM.  Describing the meeting in total, Carolyn said, “Everything was right on!” However, improvement is needed in term of cell phone protocol, “Please, turn off your phones and pagers during the meeting,” she implored. Individual evaluations were done by Maisie Lee (Eva Barry), Beverly Rankel, CTM (Mohnish Sharma), and Bill Anderson (Shelly Bright).  Beverly Rankel was voted the meeting’s Best Evaluator.

Announcements

Vlada Dymtrenko announced that she will be moving to San Jose to join her husband, Francisco, who recently took a job in San Francisco. “I want to say 'thank you' to each and every one of you. While at WCTM I have been blessed. I have developed friendships that will stay in my heart forever,” a tearful  Vlada said.

          In the spirit of the Holiday season and on behalf of WCTM, Rose Lane, DTM, presented holiday gifts to Warner Center Marriot Service staff members, Velma and Theresa, in recognition of the extraordinary service that they had provided the club over the past year. “We love them and appreciate very much what they do for us,” Rose said.