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The Games People Play (Recap of February 22^nd Meeting)

          Warner Center Toastmaster’s (WCTM) all-club “International Speech Contest” and “Evaluations Contest” were the order of the day as twenty-nine members and four guests gathered at the Warner Center Marriot on February 22^nd for the club’s regularly scheduled meeting. The theme of the evening was "Let the Games Begin”. The evening’s Toastmaster, Erin O’Neil, CTM, introduced the meeting program with a nod toward the anxiety that many feel about contests, “Every time I talk of contests, people run.” Putting public speaking contests in perspective, she added, “It’s the experience, not if you win or lose.”

Table Topics: Is that Question Loaded?

            Sunit Nangia served as Topics Master for the “Table Topics” segment of the evening’s program. “Tonight’s questions are drawn from ‘Loaded Questions,’ my favorite board game,” he told the group. WCTM’s Sergeant-at-Arms then peppered a dozen club members with questions that “nailed” their psyches to that “board”. Participants included: Glen Rankel, Mohnish Sharma, Anne Philippon, Eva Barry, Jonathan Krausche, David Wurth, Bill Anderson, Donna Stewart, Maisie Lee, Jill Pye, Audrey Forte, and Stuart Juggler. The ribbon for the Best Table Topic went to Bill Anderson for his answer to the question, “If you were to start a collection, what would it be?”

International Speech Contest: It Really Is…How You Play the Game

Toastmaster O’Neil then returned to the lectern to moderate WCTM’s International Speech Contest which featured two of the club’s most accomplished speakers, John Graves, CTM / CL and Susan Mayberry, ATM-B. As the contest was to be judged by those club members present, she explained, “The difference between the contest and a regular meeting is simple. For the speech contest you leave off the Toastmaster titles (CTM, ATM, etc.) and put the contest performance itself first.”

John Graves led off the contest with, “The Eyes Have It,” a both practical and philosophical discussion of the use of the teleprompter by the mass media. “We not only seek out eye contact, we are vulnerable to it,” he told his audience. The teleprompter’s “illusion” of eye contact is used by advertisers, politicians, and others to win viewer trust and thus promote all manner of ideas. “What do we take away from this?” WCTM’s resident media maven asked. “Beware of smiling faces coming out of glass rectangles!”

“Stickiness: A Heartfelt Resolution” was the title of Susan Mayberry’s contest speech. Using her own New Year’s Resolution – to walk for 30 minutes, five times per week – the engaging Ms. Mayberry described the difficulty many encounter in sustaining a commitment to any self-promise, even one that  involves important health considerations. It took the return of an errant soccer ball to a group of second graders at Knoll Wood School to show her the way. Their shouts of “Play - Play on!” upon getting their ball back, plainly illustrated the key ingredient in any successful human endeavor – Passion. “It is the intensity of the passion that makes resolutions stick. If you have 30 minutes of recess, will you ‘Play - Play on!’?” she asked her audience.

Evaluations Contest: Differences in Feedback

          The meeting’s General Evaluator, Rose Lane, DTM then took over the lectern and introduced the Evaluation Contest’s Test Speaker, Norm Dornfest, CTM who spoke on what he described as, "the growing problem of civil laws taking over this country.” Illustrating his thesis, he informed the group that some 910 new laws went into effect in California as of this past January 1^st.  Urging the audience to fight back, Norm suggested several courses of action, chief among them was to not vote for any law that doesn’t have a clear benefit. “We need to stand back and say, ‘Enough is enough’,” he concluded.

Returning to the lectern to moderate the Evaluations Contest, Rose Lane began by telling the audience that the Test Speech would be critiqued by three WCTM members. “It will be interesting to see the differences in the suggestions given,” she added. First up was Shelly Bright who called for more volume and vocal variety as well as a personal anecdote to illustrate the effect of the many laws. Carolyn Goldman, CTM followed and added that the visual aids should be set up ahead of time. Susan Mayberry completed the contest, suggesting that Norm’s movement about the lectern be more tightly orchestrated. All three evaluators praised the organization and structure of the speech as well as the quality of its research.

And the Winner is….

For both her “passionate” talk and her fine evaluation, Susan Mayberry was voted the winner of both the Club International Speech Contest and the Club Evaluation Contest. She will represent WCTM in the Area contest to be held on March 17^th in Agoura Hills and, hopefully, the Division A, District 52, and International contests to follow. Congratulations go out to Susan and to all of the competitors. WCTM is proud of your efforts!

   

March 8, 2007                                                         Club #2966                              Editor: Bill Anderson      
Theme: "24th Anniversary"

Announcements

          Area Contests

          Area 13 Governor Soraya Deen, CTM announced that Area 13 and Area 10 will combine for their “Area” International Speech and Evaluation Contests which will be held on Saturday, March 17^th from 1 – 5 p.m. at Country Wide Home Loans in Westlake Village. A total of 16 clubs will be represented at the event.  For more information, contact Soraya directly.

Dues Renewals & Room Fees

          WCTM members are advised that six month (April 1 – September 30, 2007) membership dues ($45.00) and meeting room / buffet fees ($110.00) are due. Statements for the total ($155.00) will go out shortly and club members are asked to make payment no later than March 22^nd.  Payments may be sent via post to Rose Lane or may be given to club Treasurer, Arnold Arch at the March 8^th or March 22^nd meetings. Please make checks payable to "Warner Center Toastmasters".

New Members

      Warner Center Toastmasters extends a warm welcome its newest member, Michelle Manzi. Currently employed at Countrywide Home Loans where she serves as First Vice President, National Production & Strategic Management, Michelle signed up for the WCTM family after our last meeting. This brings our total membership to 53. We’re happy to have Michelle on board!

Letter from the President

Dear Warner Center Toastmasters,

This month is the 24^th Anniversary of our wonderful club! Can you believe that – 24 years!  A momentous occasion for any club, but one most fitting for such a vibrant and professional club as Warner Center Toastmasters!

This month is also my anniversary in Warner Center Toastmasters. My first meeting as a member was the 21^st Anniversary held on Thursday, March 11, 2004. I immediately knew I had made the right choice in choosing this club. Three years later, I still feel the same way!

We have an exceptional club with friendly and caring members. We are also lucky to have an extraordinary Founder who, through her dedication, has helped keep this club alive and make it what it is today. Not only has Rose Lane been the cornerstone of our club, but she has been my cornerstone, encouraging me to reach greater heights than I would have ever imagined just three years ago!

This Thursday, March 8, we will celebrate our anniversary with champagne and entertainment, as well as our usual exciting program. So, put on your party best, top hat and all! Join us for an evening of fun as we commemorate the 24^th Anniversary of Warner Center Toastmasters, the best Toastmaster Club in District 52!

Your President,

Carolyn

Upcoming District 52 Events

Areas 10 & 13 International Speech and Evaluations Contest –

          Saturday, March 17, 1 – 4 p.m. Where: Country Wide Home Loans, 31303 Agoura Road, Westlake Village (take the Lindero Canyon exit). For more information contact Area 13 Governor, Soraya Deen at 818-395-2032 or sorayaspks@sbcglobal.net.

Division “A” International Speech and Evaluations Contest –

Saturday, April 28, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Where: 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/.

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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).