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March 22, 2007                                   Club #2966                                         Editor: Bill Anderson
Meeting Theme: "Springtime"

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She’s on Her Way

Susan Mayberry Takes Area 13 International Speech Crown

             Warner Center Toastmasters’ Susan Mayberry, ATM-B / CL cleared the second hurdle in the annual Toastmasters International Speech Contest sequence taking first place at the Area 13 competition held on Saturday, March 17^th at Countrywide Home Loans in Westlake Village. Reprising the speech that won the WCTM club competition, “Stickiness: A Heartfelt Resolution”, Susan wowed the crowd with a performance that highlighted both her technical virtuosity and the naturally warm personality that her fellow club members have come to appreciate at each and every meeting. Next up is the Division “A” International Speech Contest which will be held on April 28^th in Sherman Oaks. Susan was also a competitor in the Area 13 Evaluations Contest held the same day. Here, she finished a strong second.

Happy Anniversary! (Recap of March 8^th Meeting)

          With its meeting room at the Marriott festooned with balloons, candy hearts, and other assorted decorations, Warner Center Toastmaster (WCTM) used its regularly scheduled meeting of March 8^th to celebrate both its longevity and the love and caring that has become the very fabric of the club. The theme of the evening was "24^th Anniversary” and what a celebration it was! Thirty-six members and seventeen guests including seven former members, seven former club Presidents, and three still-active charter members gathered at the Warner Center Marriott for an evening of fun that included both a full Toastmasters program and a special program celebrating times gone by.

Welcome Back / Sing a Song / Recite a Poem

Club Founder, Rose Lane, DTM served as Toastmaster for the evening. Opening the meeting, WCTM’s spiritual center and resident mentor welcomed returning WCTM members by saying, “You’ve honored us by being here tonight. Welcome back former members! You are the ones that have made this club a success!” She then asked both former members and several current members to introduce themselves and share with one-and-all, how Toastmasters has helped them to develop. Those speaking included – Former Members:  Norm Cooke (President, 1998), Tim Foley (President, 1996), Andrew Martonyi (President, 1990), Irma Martonyi, Andy Slayman, Harvey Youngman (President, 1993), and Kathy Youngman – Current Members: Tess Asiala (President 1992), Loan Carrison (15 year member), Maya DeBus (charter member), John Graves (President, 2006), Susan Mayberry (President, 2000), and Ken Slusser (charter member & President, 1989). Current officers, President, Carolyn Goldman and Treasurer, Arnold Arch then presented our Ms. Lane with a dozen red roses in recognition of her Herculean efforts down through the years in first founding WCTM and then nurturing it into one of Toastmasters International’s finest clubs. Special guests, The Last Chance Quartet, followed with a raucous musical program that featured both barbershop harmony and the kind of “schtick” not seen on stage since the demise of vaudeville. In a salute to WCTM’s continuing sense of camaraderie and fun, Andrew Martonyi concluded the festivities with a recitation of “Oh, Yes Tess!,” the witty, rhymed rebuttal he gave in response to the “Roast” that the club gave him upon finishing his year as President.  

Table Topics: The Joy of Toastmasters

          Susan Mayberry, ATM-B / CL served as Topics Master for the “Table Topics” segment of the evening’s program. In keeping with the spirit of the evening, the ever ebullient Ms. Mayberry peppered nine WCTM members with questions that explored the theme, “Celebrating Our Toastmasters Journey.” Those questioned included: Larry Blackford, Soraya Deen, ATM-B, Marc Cohn, CTM, Arnold Goldman, Maisie Lee, Audrey Forte, Anne Philippon, Geza Kalman, and Jill Pye. The ribbon for the Best Table Topic went to Soraya Deen for her answer to the question, “Why did you join WCTM? Why do you stay?”

March 22, 2007                                   Club #2966                                         Editor: Bill Anderson
Meeting Theme: "Springtime"

Prepared Speeches: The Pleasure of Giving and Receiving

          The “Prepared Speeches” portion of the evening provided both current and former WCTM members with an opportunity to participate in the two “core” WCTM experiences, performing before a supportive audience of peers and appreciating the work of others. The three talks on the program ranged from the entertaining, to the inspirational, to the informative. Up first was Eva Barry with “The Dating Game,” her speech #5 from the Communications & Leadership Manual (CLM).  Describing herself as the “the world’s leading dating authority,” Eva provided the group her four rules for successful dating. (“You may want to take notes,” she advised.) But when she met her husband, she admitted, none of them worked. “He didn’t seem to understand my rules!” Describing her hard won realization that tactics are useless when it comes to “real” affairs of the heart, she concluded, “Forget about strategy! Follow your heart. Only it will lead you to a true winner.”

Shelly Bright then took the lectern, with speech #7 from the CLM entitled, “Litigation, Remove the Handcuffs!” Using the famous $400,000 hot coffee spill at McDonalds to illustrate her thesis, Shelly described the societal problems that have arisen as a result of “out-of-control" litigation. One of the most salient is the erosion of the doctor / patient relationship. “In 80% of lawsuits for medical malpractice, there is no negligence,” she said. Calling upon her audience to contemplate a society where lawmakers consider constituents first, Shelly wound up her talk with a call to action, “We can take back legal system. I don’t think the person who spilled coffee on their lap deserves $400,000. Do you?”

The often “Byzantine” world of consumer credit ratings was the subject of, “How Do You Score?” a speech from the Advance Manual given by Beverly Rankel, CTM.  In it Beverly explained both the structure of the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) credit scoring system and its importance to the consumer. “A late house payment can take a FICO score down over 100 points. It will take over a year for it to recover,” she informed her stunned audience.  “It is important that you educate yourself,” she advised.

These three great speeches made the voting for the meeting’s Best Speaker award especially difficult for WCTM Members. Rising to the occasion, they voted the award it to Eva Barry.

Evaluations: Needed Now More Than Ever

          John Graves, CTM / CL served as General Evaluator for the final portion of the evening’s program, “Evaluations”.  Opening the segment with one of his always trenchant social observations, Mr. Graves spoke of the challenge that the many “quick and dirty” technological forms of communication now present. “We are in danger of becoming non-verbal human beings. If Toastmasters seems ‘retro,’ there is a reason!” he told the crowd. Summarizing the night, he observed, “We had a wonderful time, didn’t we???!!!.” Individual evaluations were done by Art Hugon (Eva Barry), Don West, CC (Shelly Bright), and Loan Carrison, ATM-B (Beverly Rankel). Art Hugon was voted the meeting’s Best Evaluator.

Announcements

Reminder: Time to Pay Dues / Room Fee

          WCTM members are reminded that the six month (April 1 – September 30, 2007) membership dues / meeting room fee are due by March 22^nd.  Payments may be sent via post to Rose Lane or may be given to club Treasurer, Arnold Arch at the March 22^nd meeting. Please make checks payable to Warner Center Toastmasters.

Upcoming District 52 Events

Division “A” International Speech and Evaluations Contest –

Saturday, April 28, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Where: Sherman Oaks (exact location TBD). For more information contact Division “A” Governor, Erin O’Neil at egtoneill@yahoo.com.

          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/.