Meeting Minutes - Nov 30 2005
Century Toastmasters had a great meeting with 14 members and guests in attendance!
ATTENDEES:Joe Stewart, Frida Vissuet, Rhonda Walthall, Alan Landers, Alfred Balagtas, Camille Balagtas, Rob Cross, Dee Williams, Jose de la Torre, Jim Tucker, Molly Frisbie, Paul Pitt, Matt Greenbergs, and Byron Shovlain.12:10 President Joe Stewart came to the lectern, welcomed everyone, and lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
12:12 Due to the illness of our scheduled Toastmaster, VP of Public Relations, Matt Greenbergs stepped up and volunteered to be our Toastmaster. Matt emphasized that a successful club meeting can be held by being flexible. Since our prepared speakers had cancelled, Matt announced that the meeting would consist of everyone participating in Table Topics. Matt introduced the theme: It’s beginning to feel a lot like…and the WOW: Holidays. Matt asked each attendee to introduce themselves and to complete the phrase “It’s beginning to feel a lot like…”
12:20 Matt asked Jim Tucker to discuss next week’s Evaluation Workshop. Jim highlighted that as members of Toastmasters, we are trying to grow and become better communicators. We strive to stand before any group anywhere and feel comfortable speaking. We desire to connect to each member of the audience and provide value to them. Jim pointed out that we cannot grow if we only go by what we already know. In order to grow, we must internalize and improve. We need to develop thick skin and learn to give and accept constructive feedback. The Evaluation Workshop will be a 2 hour program condensed to 45 minutes. There will be a taped speaker and each workshop attendee will be an evaluator.
12:25 Matt introduced the Table Topics Master, Byron Shovlain. Byron explained how Table Topic helps to people to lean to think on their feet. Keeping with the WOW, Byron called on each attendee with a holiday related question. Byron spoke initially for 1:54 minutes.
Table Topics
“What was your most memorable holiday experience?”
Jose de la Torre – Spending Christmas 2004 with his newborn child and his wife. Jose spoke for 1:01 minutes.
“Would you rather stay at home or travel during the holidays?”
Dee Williams – Staying at home. Dee grew up with strong family and Catholic traditions. She enjoys merging the traditions from her youth into her current traditions with friends and family at home. Dee spoke for 1:20 minutes.
“What was your most memorable experience during the holidays as a child?”
Rob Cross – Getting a purple bicycle. Rob remembered fondly spending Christmas with his family in Oregon. He hopes to take his parents to Europe for Christmas some day. Rob spoke for 0:51 minutes.
“Do you give gifts by drawing names or do you make a list of names?”
Rhonda Walthall – By name. After being overruled by her mother, Rhonda buys gifts for everyone on both sides of her and her husband’s family, which makes it a very busy and expensive time of the year. Rhonda spoke for 0:58 minutes.
“Do you send Christmas cards to people even though they don’t send you a card or do you wait until they send you a card before you send them a card?”
Paul Pitt – He sends cards every year but he doesn’t keep his address book up-to-date. Paul spoke for 0:58 seconds.
‘What do you think of Christmas form letters?”
Joe Stewart – He doesn’t send Christmas letters. Even though he doesn’t particularly like form letters, he enjoys reading them. Joe spoke for 1:11 minutes.
“Where will you be during Christmas this year?”
Frida Vissuet – Home. Her children made her promise to stay home during the Christmas holiday this year. Frida spoke for 0:46 minutes.
“Does your family send out Christmas cards? If so, who sends out the cards?”
Matt Greenbergs – Yes. His wife publishes a Christmas letter on New Years Day and sends the letter with a family picture in each card. His responsibility is to collect the names and addresses. Matt spoke for 1:20 minutes.
“How do you decide what gifts to get for your children? Do you get them what they want or what you think they should have?”
Alfred Balagtas – His wife does all the shopping. He helps with decorating and cleaning after the festivities. She likes to buy multiple small gifts for people and she looks to him to decide how many small gifts is too many. Alfred spoke for 0:53 minutes.
“Do you still spend the holidays with your family and parents and if not, when did you decide to stop?”
Jim Tucker – He always enjoyed spending the holidays at his mother’s house in Texas with his two brothers and his sister. His mom would bake a special dessert for each person. Hint: Jim loves German Chocolate Cake. Jim spoke for 1:43 minutes.
“What are you going to do for Christmas this year?”
Molly Frisbie – She and her boyfriend Eric will be spending the week before Christmas with her family in Washington. They will spend Christmas Day with his family so she is busy helping with buying “real gifts” for his family. Molly spoke for 1:11 minutes.
“What would you like to say about the holidays?”
Alan Landers – As a child, his family was too poor to celebrate Christmas. His parents told him that there was no such thing as Santa Claus and that the holiday was invented by rich people who wanted to make more money. As his children were growing up, he made sure that they had a nice Christmas each year. Today, he celebrates Christmas with his family in large family gatherings. Alan spoke for 1:31 minutes.
12:50 Matt returned to the lectern and invited the General Evaluator, Joe Stewart to lead the Evaluation portion of the meeting. Joe was pleased to see how well the meeting had gone despite deviating from the planned agenda. Joe spoke for 1:46 minutes. Joe introduced Molly Frisbie who gave the Grammarian / Ah Counter’s Report. Molly spoke for 0:31 minutes. Joe then introduced Alan Landers, who gave the Timer’s Report.
12:53 Matt asked everyone to vote for the Table Topics speaker and the winner was Alan Landers.
12:54 Joe reminded the newly elected officers that early bird training will be held on Wednesday, Dec 7 from 6:30-9:30pm at Solar Turbines on Ruffin Road in Kearny Mesa.
12:55 The meeting was adjourned.
Sincerely submitted,
Rhonda Walthall, Secretary
Century Toastmasters Club #9273
Visit our website at
http://www.centurytoastmasters.com
for more information.
ATTENDEES:Joe Stewart, Frida Vissuet, Rhonda Walthall, Alan Landers, Alfred Balagtas, Camille Balagtas, Rob Cross, Dee Williams, Jose de la Torre, Jim Tucker, Molly Frisbie, Paul Pitt, Matt Greenbergs, and Byron Shovlain.12:10 President Joe Stewart came to the lectern, welcomed everyone, and lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
12:12 Due to the illness of our scheduled Toastmaster, VP of Public Relations, Matt Greenbergs stepped up and volunteered to be our Toastmaster. Matt emphasized that a successful club meeting can be held by being flexible. Since our prepared speakers had cancelled, Matt announced that the meeting would consist of everyone participating in Table Topics. Matt introduced the theme: It’s beginning to feel a lot like…and the WOW: Holidays. Matt asked each attendee to introduce themselves and to complete the phrase “It’s beginning to feel a lot like…”
12:20 Matt asked Jim Tucker to discuss next week’s Evaluation Workshop. Jim highlighted that as members of Toastmasters, we are trying to grow and become better communicators. We strive to stand before any group anywhere and feel comfortable speaking. We desire to connect to each member of the audience and provide value to them. Jim pointed out that we cannot grow if we only go by what we already know. In order to grow, we must internalize and improve. We need to develop thick skin and learn to give and accept constructive feedback. The Evaluation Workshop will be a 2 hour program condensed to 45 minutes. There will be a taped speaker and each workshop attendee will be an evaluator.
12:25 Matt introduced the Table Topics Master, Byron Shovlain. Byron explained how Table Topic helps to people to lean to think on their feet. Keeping with the WOW, Byron called on each attendee with a holiday related question. Byron spoke initially for 1:54 minutes.
Table Topics
“What was your most memorable holiday experience?”
Jose de la Torre – Spending Christmas 2004 with his newborn child and his wife. Jose spoke for 1:01 minutes.
“Would you rather stay at home or travel during the holidays?”
Dee Williams – Staying at home. Dee grew up with strong family and Catholic traditions. She enjoys merging the traditions from her youth into her current traditions with friends and family at home. Dee spoke for 1:20 minutes.
“What was your most memorable experience during the holidays as a child?”
Rob Cross – Getting a purple bicycle. Rob remembered fondly spending Christmas with his family in Oregon. He hopes to take his parents to Europe for Christmas some day. Rob spoke for 0:51 minutes.
“Do you give gifts by drawing names or do you make a list of names?”
Rhonda Walthall – By name. After being overruled by her mother, Rhonda buys gifts for everyone on both sides of her and her husband’s family, which makes it a very busy and expensive time of the year. Rhonda spoke for 0:58 minutes.
“Do you send Christmas cards to people even though they don’t send you a card or do you wait until they send you a card before you send them a card?”
Paul Pitt – He sends cards every year but he doesn’t keep his address book up-to-date. Paul spoke for 0:58 seconds.
‘What do you think of Christmas form letters?”
Joe Stewart – He doesn’t send Christmas letters. Even though he doesn’t particularly like form letters, he enjoys reading them. Joe spoke for 1:11 minutes.
“Where will you be during Christmas this year?”
Frida Vissuet – Home. Her children made her promise to stay home during the Christmas holiday this year. Frida spoke for 0:46 minutes.
“Does your family send out Christmas cards? If so, who sends out the cards?”
Matt Greenbergs – Yes. His wife publishes a Christmas letter on New Years Day and sends the letter with a family picture in each card. His responsibility is to collect the names and addresses. Matt spoke for 1:20 minutes.
“How do you decide what gifts to get for your children? Do you get them what they want or what you think they should have?”
Alfred Balagtas – His wife does all the shopping. He helps with decorating and cleaning after the festivities. She likes to buy multiple small gifts for people and she looks to him to decide how many small gifts is too many. Alfred spoke for 0:53 minutes.
“Do you still spend the holidays with your family and parents and if not, when did you decide to stop?”
Jim Tucker – He always enjoyed spending the holidays at his mother’s house in Texas with his two brothers and his sister. His mom would bake a special dessert for each person. Hint: Jim loves German Chocolate Cake. Jim spoke for 1:43 minutes.
“What are you going to do for Christmas this year?”
Molly Frisbie – She and her boyfriend Eric will be spending the week before Christmas with her family in Washington. They will spend Christmas Day with his family so she is busy helping with buying “real gifts” for his family. Molly spoke for 1:11 minutes.
“What would you like to say about the holidays?”
Alan Landers – As a child, his family was too poor to celebrate Christmas. His parents told him that there was no such thing as Santa Claus and that the holiday was invented by rich people who wanted to make more money. As his children were growing up, he made sure that they had a nice Christmas each year. Today, he celebrates Christmas with his family in large family gatherings. Alan spoke for 1:31 minutes.
12:50 Matt returned to the lectern and invited the General Evaluator, Joe Stewart to lead the Evaluation portion of the meeting. Joe was pleased to see how well the meeting had gone despite deviating from the planned agenda. Joe spoke for 1:46 minutes. Joe introduced Molly Frisbie who gave the Grammarian / Ah Counter’s Report. Molly spoke for 0:31 minutes. Joe then introduced Alan Landers, who gave the Timer’s Report.
12:53 Matt asked everyone to vote for the Table Topics speaker and the winner was Alan Landers.
12:54 Joe reminded the newly elected officers that early bird training will be held on Wednesday, Dec 7 from 6:30-9:30pm at Solar Turbines on Ruffin Road in Kearny Mesa.
12:55 The meeting was adjourned.
Sincerely submitted,
Rhonda Walthall, Secretary
Century Toastmasters Club #9273
Visit our website at
http://www.centurytoastmasters.com
for more information.
posted by Rhonda Walthall at
5:11 PM
