Meeting, Thursday, October 8, 2009 - Middlesex Community College, Room 808 D, Middletown, CT Middlesex Toastmasters Club #8340
Hello Fellow Toastmasters!
We had quite an exciting meeting last night! Kevin Wortman, of the Danbury WestConn Club delivered an outstanding educational presentation on “Speaking of Speaking for Evaluations.” Last summer our club filled out a survey on what people thought was most needed for our Club development, and most people responded: help with giving evaluations. President Cheryl Mason answered that call and asked Kevin to come and help us with that development. It was obvious to everyone in the room that Kevin was the best of the best!
The room was filled with 20 people. Members present: Tom Alvord, Ana Bowman, Ron Brunelle, Anne-Marie Cannata, Jen Cimilluca, Craig Fresher, Charnaie Gordon, Kay Jeyapalan, Cheryl Mason, Emily O’Brien, Mike O’Brien, Dianne Olsen, Murugan Pachaiyappan, Ramesh Padavala, Mike Perlman, Pete Plotica, Kim Price, and Rob Schaff. Our Guests were: Bill O’Donnell and Kevin Wortman.
The meeting started off with President Cheryl making announcements:
· Two new members received a pin, Ana Bowman and Mike Perlman. Congratulations and welcome to the Club!
· Tom and Jen were recognized for their achievements in the recent contests. Tom went all the way to the districts competing in the Evaluations Contest. Congratulations Tom! This was Jen’s first time competing in a competition and she went to the Area Contest for her humorous speech. Congratulations Jen!
· Everyone got their dues in on time – putting our Club on record for Distinguished Club. Our next goal is 4 new members. Tonight we welcomed two of them!
· The District 53 Fall Conference will be held on Saturday, November 7th at Saratoga Springs, NY. There are at least 5 people going from our Club to date.
· Tom is putting together a Variety Show to be held at The Village At South Farms on Thursday, October 15th. So far 9 people have volunteered to do a variety of entertaining such as: sing, recite poems, play instruments and/or give a speech. If you haven’t already signed up, contact Tom and join in the fun. There will also be a sing-a-long for audience participation – so we need you!
· Charnaie is organizing the Club Outing.
o She recently took a survey and most people responded that they would like to go on a local walk or hike. Charnaie is looking at 2 Saturday dates, October 17th or November 14th. A vote last night ended in a tie-breaker, so Charnaie will have to get back to us on the actual date.
o There will be a “Movie Night” planned for our November 12th meeting. Mike has a video of the 2009 International Speech Contest and he will share it with us. Please volunteer to bring in refreshments on this evening.
o On November 5th we will hold a special meeting to replace our meeting that falls on Thanksgiving Day. It will be held at the Russell Library.
Our Toastmaster was Area Governor, Rob. His theme of “Improvements: Getting Better” carried throughout the evening. There was plenty there to benefit everyone.
Cheryl was the TableTopics Master. Her topics appropriately carried the theme and we heard a variety of humorous and heartfelt mini speeches; void of any “raffish” remarks. Even our 2 guests, Kevin and Bill participated!
In addition to the presentation that Kevin gave on evaluations, we also had two great speeches given by Dianne and Craig. Dianne’s speech was “Autumn Flashbacks” and she told us about different experiences she did when leaf peeping. Craig gave an informative speech on “Health Care Reform – For or Against, Know the Points.” He gave the audience plenty to think about on this national topic.
It was tough for the Evaluators to come forth after Kevin’s dynamic speech. But they all made us proud! Charnaie did a great job as General Evaluator and the evaluators followed suit. Pete evaluated Dianne and Mike evaluated Craig.
Invocation: Jen, she recited a poem by Mother Theresa
WordMaster: Ana, “raffish” means crudeness or rowdiness
Humorist: Murugan
Ah Counter: Jen
Timer: Kay
Cheryl presented Kevin with a certificate and then closed the meeting on time.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Meeting, Thursday, September 24, 2009 - Middlesex Community College, Room 808 D, Middletown, CT Middlesex Toastmasters Club #8340
Hello Fellow Toastmasters!
September 24th meeting with the theme (provided by Charnaie Gordon) Back to School was “abundantly” attended by many guests and members.
Members present: Tom Alvord, Ron Brunelle, Jen Cimilluca, Craig Fresher, Charnaie Gordon, Kay Jeyapalan, John Keppler, Dianne Olsen, Cheryl Mason, Michael O’Brien, Murugan Pachaiyappan, Ramesh Padavala, Pete Plotica, and Rob Schaff.
Guests: Anna Bowman, Ashley Mason (Cheryl’s daughter), Maureen McHugh, Hero Man (friend of Charnaie), and Chozhan and Chezhiyan Pachaiyappan (both sons of Murugan).
It was Pete Plotica’s first time as Toastmaster but he lead the meeting like a veteran! It was well-structured and on time. In keeping with the theme, Pete brought a bag of apples to share with everyone!
President Cheryl Mason began her announcements with a warm welcome and pin to our newest member: Murugan Pachaiyappan. Congratulations Murugan! Other announcements:
· In addition to the $50.00 allotted from our budget to Middlesex Community College Foundation, members gave additional donations totaling $200.00. Very nice Toastmasters!
· If anybody has any old Toastmasters magazines lying around, please to bring them in so she can share them with visiting members
· PLEASE send your dues to John ASAP so he can send them into headquarters by the due date!
· At our next meeting, Kevin Wortman from the WestConn Club in Danbury will be speaking on evaluations
· District Conference will be held in Saratoga Springs on Saturday, November 7th at the Holiday Inn
Area Governor Rob Schaff brought us a new ribbon to hang on our banner. This is the first time our Club ever won the “Training Excellence” ribbon for having all seven of our officers present at the training in Manchester! Rob also announced that the Area Club Contest will be held Wednesday, September 30th at the Aetna Club in Middletown. Please come out and show your support for Tom and Jen!
Tom Alvord gave a reminder for the Variety Show which will be held on Thursday, October 15th at the Village at South Farms. Since they allow us to hold our meetings there all summer, this will be a way for our Club to do something for them. So far those participating will be Kay, Tom, Dianne, Charnaie, Ron & his wife, and Ashley (Cheryl’s daughter). If you would like to participate please contact Tom. And if not, please come anyway because we will need people in the audience to “move” the crowd along.
Charnaie Gordon was the Tabletopics Master and she awarded “Superlatives” to different members. It was fun! One of our guests, Maureen McHugh even came up and gave it a try!
We had 4 super speeches! Ron Brunelle, “Made in the USA,” very useful information about what’s made in the USA; Dianne Olsen, “A Vacation of Opportunity” all about her experience at the International Convention; Rob Schaff “Van Halen and the Brown M&M’s” and the cool cat passed m&m’s out to everyone; and Michael O’Brien, “One Bite At A Time” based on the book Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink. There was a lot of information and good humor!
Kay Jeyapalan gave her first try at General Evaluator! She was calm and relaxed and was a natural at it! Evaluators for the speakers were as follows: Craig Fresher for Ron; John Keppler for Dianne; Tom Alvord for Rob; and Ron Brunelle for Michael. Great job evaluators!
Other roles:
Ah Counter: Cheryl (and Ashley)
Grammarian: Jen Cimilluca
Timer: Craig
Invocator: Charnaie – she recited a nice poem on education to go with our theme
Humorist: Ramesh told 2 jokes!
Word of the Day: Ramesh: “abundantly”
In keeping with our theme, “Back to School” Ashley went around and gave everyone a fun sticker at the end of the meeting!
Hello Fellow Toastmasters!
September 24th meeting with the theme (provided by Charnaie Gordon) Back to School was “abundantly” attended by many guests and members.
Members present: Tom Alvord, Ron Brunelle, Jen Cimilluca, Craig Fresher, Charnaie Gordon, Kay Jeyapalan, John Keppler, Dianne Olsen, Cheryl Mason, Michael O’Brien, Murugan Pachaiyappan, Ramesh Padavala, Pete Plotica, and Rob Schaff.
Guests: Anna Bowman, Ashley Mason (Cheryl’s daughter), Maureen McHugh, Hero Man (friend of Charnaie), and Chozhan and Chezhiyan Pachaiyappan (both sons of Murugan).
It was Pete Plotica’s first time as Toastmaster but he lead the meeting like a veteran! It was well-structured and on time. In keeping with the theme, Pete brought a bag of apples to share with everyone!
President Cheryl Mason began her announcements with a warm welcome and pin to our newest member: Murugan Pachaiyappan. Congratulations Murugan! Other announcements:
· In addition to the $50.00 allotted from our budget to Middlesex Community College Foundation, members gave additional donations totaling $200.00. Very nice Toastmasters!
· If anybody has any old Toastmasters magazines lying around, please to bring them in so she can share them with visiting members
· PLEASE send your dues to John ASAP so he can send them into headquarters by the due date!
· At our next meeting, Kevin Wortman from the WestConn Club in Danbury will be speaking on evaluations
· District Conference will be held in Saratoga Springs on Saturday, November 7th at the Holiday Inn
Area Governor Rob Schaff brought us a new ribbon to hang on our banner. This is the first time our Club ever won the “Training Excellence” ribbon for having all seven of our officers present at the training in Manchester! Rob also announced that the Area Club Contest will be held Wednesday, September 30th at the Aetna Club in Middletown. Please come out and show your support for Tom and Jen!
Tom Alvord gave a reminder for the Variety Show which will be held on Thursday, October 15th at the Village at South Farms. Since they allow us to hold our meetings there all summer, this will be a way for our Club to do something for them. So far those participating will be Kay, Tom, Dianne, Charnaie, Ron & his wife, and Ashley (Cheryl’s daughter). If you would like to participate please contact Tom. And if not, please come anyway because we will need people in the audience to “move” the crowd along.
Charnaie Gordon was the Tabletopics Master and she awarded “Superlatives” to different members. It was fun! One of our guests, Maureen McHugh even came up and gave it a try!
We had 4 super speeches! Ron Brunelle, “Made in the USA,” very useful information about what’s made in the USA; Dianne Olsen, “A Vacation of Opportunity” all about her experience at the International Convention; Rob Schaff “Van Halen and the Brown M&M’s” and the cool cat passed m&m’s out to everyone; and Michael O’Brien, “One Bite At A Time” based on the book Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink. There was a lot of information and good humor!
Kay Jeyapalan gave her first try at General Evaluator! She was calm and relaxed and was a natural at it! Evaluators for the speakers were as follows: Craig Fresher for Ron; John Keppler for Dianne; Tom Alvord for Rob; and Ron Brunelle for Michael. Great job evaluators!
Other roles:
Ah Counter: Cheryl (and Ashley)
Grammarian: Jen Cimilluca
Timer: Craig
Invocator: Charnaie – she recited a nice poem on education to go with our theme
Humorist: Ramesh told 2 jokes!
Word of the Day: Ramesh: “abundantly”
In keeping with our theme, “Back to School” Ashley went around and gave everyone a fun sticker at the end of the meeting!
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