Meeting, Thursday, October 22, 2009 - Middlesex Community College, Room 808 D, Middletown, CT Middlesex Toastmasters Club #8340


Here are some highlights from the Middlesex Club meeting this past Thursday, 10/22.
It was a great meeting, and thanks to everyone that helped to make it a success!

Attendance -- total of 17

Members: Tom A., Ana B., Jennifer C., Charnaie G., Kay J., John K., Cheryl M., Pam M., Emily O., Michael O., Murugan P., Ramesh P., Michael P., Pete P., Rob S.
Guests: Nadine (Ana's friend), Murali (Ramesh's friend) – and Murali is now our newest member!

We started the meeting with sparkling cider and a toast to celebrate the 85th Anniversary of Toastmasters!
Candy corn and costumes also helped to make the meeting festive.

A special thank you and certificates were presented by Cheryl to the performers of the Variety Show held on October 15 at the Village at South Farms: Tom, Charnaie, Ramesh, Kay, (missing – Dianne, Ron)

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Our toastmaster for the evening was Tom Alvord, who led us through a very well planned meeting, with a dual theme: Halloween Ghosts and Goblins, and Toastmasters 85th Anniversary.

Invocation: Ramesh – inspirational quotes
Humorist: Ana – those friends that climbed 75 flights of stairs together were quite funny!
Word Master – Michael P. – disillusioned
Ah Counter: Kay
Grammarian: Pete
Timer: Murugan
General Evaluator: Michael O.

We had four prepared speeches:

Jennifer – CC Speech #5, Believing Without Seeing
Captivating story about some happenings that made her a "believer" !
Charnaie – Entertaining Speech, What I Wish I'd Have Known About The Future
Clever story about some things you just don't know when you're a kid!
Rob – The Leadership Excellence Series, Motivating People
Presented with Toastmasters handouts, and Rob's personal insight
Cheryl – CC Speech #9, Changing the Course
Stories and a message about when to get involved and help someone else

Table Topics were given by Pam, with a fun theme: ZOBMONDO! – Outrageous book of bizarre choices

Speech Evaluators: Kay, John, Pam & Michael O.

GE Comments: Michael O.,

· Great meeting quality – people put a lot of time and energy into the meetings, and it shows
· Favorable that everyone got to speak at the meeting, Table Topics Master (Pam) included others that didn't otherwise have speaking roles
· Suggest calling on guests to provide their comments and introduce themselves at the end of the meeting (rather than at the beginning, so they've had a chance to experience the meeting and get more comfortable)
· Suggest more consistency with applause for various technicians serving in the meeting roles
Business News:

Nov 3 Club Officer’s Meeting 6:30 - 8:00 pm, Location: Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown, CT (Only club officer’s need to attend this meeting, however, anyone can submit ideas for consideration)

Nov 5 Meeting 6:30 - 8:15 pm, Location: Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown, CT


Nov 7 Fall 2009 District 53 Conference, Holiday Inn - Saratoga Springs 232 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY (Note: If you have never been to a Toastmasters conference before, I urge you to go…it’s a wonderful experience. Please visit the website for more information and the registration form: http://www.district53toastmasters.org/conferences.html)

Nov 12 Meeting (Movie Night) 7:00 – 9:00pm, Location: Middlesex Community College, Chapman Hall Upper Level, Room #808D (Note: This will be a regular meeting but we will watch the DVD from the Toastmasters International Convention the last part of the meeting. This will be the last meeting we have during the month of November.)

November 14 Hike at Wadsworth State Park, 1:00 – 3:00pm. Note: Please see the attached flyer for details.

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