Meeting 6/25/2009

Fellow Toastmasters!

It was an eventful evening at our Middlesex County Toastmasters Club meeting as we celebrated the Induction Ceremony of our newly elected officers, the President gave an award, and the theme for the evening was “Toastmasters Tributes.”

Members Present: Tom Alvord, Ron Brunelle, Jennifer Cimilluca, Craig Fresher, Charnaie Gordon, Kay Jeyapalan, John Keppler, Cheryl Mason, Pam Mulready, Emily O’Brien, Michael O’Brien, Dianne Olsen, Alex Piccinni, Peter Plotica, Rob Schaff, and Sreeni Voleti. Guests: Jason Andrade, Janice Colandrea, and John Venduras.

The Induction Ceremony began with Tom Alvord introducing the current officers ending the year 2008/2009. There was a big round of applause for all the outgoing officers (present and not present) for their service over the last year! Then President Rob Schaff, who will be the new Area Governor, swore-in this coming year’s officers. They are: President: Cheryl Mason; Vice President Education: Charnaie Gordon; Vice President Membership: Michael O’Brien; Vice President Public Relations: Kay Jeyapalan; Secretary: Dianne Olsen; Treasurer: John Keppler; and Sergeant At Arms: Peter Plotica. Congratulations to our newly elected officers for 2009/2010!

President Rob Schaff presented Cheryl with the Middlesex County Toastmasters President’s Award for Outstanding Member 2008/2009! Congratulations Cheryl for this very well-deserved, prestigious award! For other business Rob commented that we had 19 new members this year! Wow!

Dianne Olsen was the Toastmaster. She led the meeting with the theme of “Toastmasters Tributes” honoring our servicemen for putting their lives on the line so that we can enjoy our freedom as it is today and also honoring all the members of our club for their participation in earning us the President’s Distinguished Club! This is the fourth year in a row our club has been a President’s Distinguished Club and much of that has been driven by the dedication of Rob Schaff and Cheryl Mason. As Uncle Sam says, “We need you!” We need you this year to help us win that award for the fifth year in a row!

For Table Topics, Michael O’Brien interestingly tied in our theme with questions to better our club, based on the book, “Good to Great” by Jim Collin. Several members participated as well as guest: John Venduras.

Our speeches were as follows: Charnaie Gordon, “The 30-Second Commercial”; Tom Alvord, “Independence Day”; Pam Mulready, “EMDR Therapy”; and Cheryl Mason, “Evaluate to Motivate.” Evaluating them were: Sreeni Voleti, Michael O’Brien, Craig Fresher, and Peter Plotica, respectively. Super speeches and evaluations by all our speakers! John Keppler, General Evaluator, did a wonderful job commenting on all the meeting, evaluation speeches and roles: Invocator, Cheryl Mason; Humorist, Kay Jeyapalan; Word Master, Pam Mulready; Grammarian, Charnaie Gordon; Ah Counter, Alex Piccinni; and Timer, Emily O’Brien. Great job everybody and that’s no “trope!”

Before closing, Vice President of Education, Cheryl Mason presented Charnaie Gordon with her ½ CC Completion Award. Charnaie has already completed half her Competent Communication manual and has only been with us since January. That’s determination at its best! Congratulations Charnaie!

Reminders:
Our meetings for July and August will be held at the Village At South Farms (it is now a yellow building), 645 Saybrook Road, Middletown.

Dianne Olsen went to the volunteer training and gave a quick talk about becoming a volunteer at the International Toastmaster Convention at Foxwoods, August 12 – 15. The best speakers from 80 different countries around the world will be presenting in our own state! This may never happen again in our lifetime! For volunteers they need greeters, monitors, reception areas, luncheons, registration, flag ceremony, dance, airport greeters, information desk, and on and on. Go to http://tm2009volunteers.wetpaint.com You don’t want to miss this opportunity!

Respectfully,
Dianne Olsen, Secretary
Middlesex County Toastmasters Club