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Bo Song Takes 2nd at Area 24 International Speech Contest -- April 8, 2016

Bo Song wowed the judges and the audience taking 2nd place at the 2016 Area 24 International Speech Contest on Friday, April 8th.  He will compete in the Division B contest on Monday, April 18th if the contest winner, Chris Gaffney from the Wallingford Eagles' Club is unable to participate.   Ogewu Agbese was the Contest Master, and several other Middlesex members helped Contest Chair / Division B Director Crystal Storo as well.

Present to cheer Bo on, and to help him celebrate after his speech, were Mark Schultz, Jen Cimilluca, Lina Yisehak, Ann Meacham, Ogewu Agbese, Gia Khalsa, and Kim Price.

The Middlesex County Toastmasters next meet on Thursday, April 14, 2016 at 7pm.  The meeting will be held at Wesleyan University's Exley Science Center in the Woodhead Lounge.  The GPS address for Exley is 265 Church Street -- parking is available in Lot D off Lawn Avenue.    

The Middlesex County Toastmasters Club is pleased to announce that actress and playwright Mara Dresner will be our guest on Thursday, May 22nd.   She will be presenting "Behind the Curtain:   Using Acting Techniques for Your Best Performance."

Mara will be sharing breathing, vocalization, and relaxation techniques to help calm the butterflies in public speaking and turn your next speech into your best performance.

Middlesex County Toastmasters Meeting Notes January 23, 2014

Middlesex Toastmasters Meeting Notes January 23, 2014

Middlesex Community College, Middletown, CT

Presiding Officer Jennifer C began the meeting with club business.  2/27 will be a club contest, the categories are International and Tall Tales, and we will be hosting an area contest in March.

 

Meeting attendees (11):  John Bell, Jennifer Cimilluca, Maria Johnson, John Keppler, Michael O’Brien, Ramesh Padavala, Rob Schaff, Judy Thompson, there were two guests.  Mark returned from our last meeting, Ann, and our guest speaker, Ute Brinkman

Invocator- Judy Thompson

Toastmaster- Judy Thompson

Word of the Day- XX

Humorist-John B (Acorn growing up to be a tree)

General Evaluator- Rob S

Timer- Jennifer C

Ah-Counter- Ramesh

Grammarian- Ramesh

Table Topics- John Keppler, John presented members with a variety of topics.  Work ethic, e-mail etiquette, the economy, investments, how to make a better world, memories from high school, what is good about the cold?

 

Speakers:

Maria Johnson              CC Manual speech #7, Research your Topic, Title:  “Plagiarism: You Can’t Make This Up”

Maria told us about the challenges she faces as a teacher with Plagiarism.  Actual stories about her students, their misconceptions about “stealing” the work of others, and what we can do to avoid the offense.  Ann evaluated Maria’s speech.

Ute Brinkman                Specialty Speeches speech #1, Speak off the Cuff, Title:  “My Two Sons” 

Ute shared her inspiring story about personal commitment.  She has reached out to help 2 boys with shelter and education, and has a vision to grow her two boys to thirty boys.  Michael O evaluated Ute’s speech.

 

Jen asked our guests what they thought of the meeting.  All three enjoyed the welcoming aspects of the club.  Ute encouraged the club to fill ALL the speaking slots at every meeting.  Perhaps reach out to other clubs who may be short on speaking slots and invite them to our club for the opportunity.   Ute, our guest speaker, won Table Topics!

 

The meeting started on time and ended at 8:30

Middlesex County Toastmasters Meeting Notes January 9, 2014

Middlesex Toastmasters Meeting Notes January 9, 2014

Russell Library, Middletown, CT

Presiding Officer After wishing everyone a Happy New Year, Jennifer C began the meeting with club business.  Jen congratulated Rob Schaff with a 7 year anniversary gift.  Our next meeting will feature a guest speaker.  1/25 is the next opportunity for officer training, 1/23 will be an officer meeting.  1/27 will be a club contest, the categories are International and Tall Tales

 

Meeting attendees (11):  John Bell, Jay Broderick, Jennifer Cimilluca, Siva Digavalli, Maria Johnson, Michael O’Brien, Ramesh Padavala, Judy Thompson, there were three guests, Emily, Mark, and Karen

Invocator- XX

Toastmaster- Siva D

Word of the Day- Jay B (Kegalater)

Humorist-John B (Mother in law Christmas present)

General Evaluator- Jennifer C

Timer-Emily O

Ah-Counter- John B

Grammarian- Judy T

Table Topics- Michael O, Michael asked members to talk about several topics.  What we would do at our local warming centers.  What would you tackle first, losing weight, exercising or quitting smoking?  What are your New Year’s resolutions?  What is your relationship with your library?

 

Speakers:

Ramesh Padavala         Entertaining Speaker speech #1, The Entertaining Speech, Title:  “My First Cruise Experience”

Ramesh took us on his first cruise to the Bahamas.  He went from his wife’s shopping preparations to the layout of the ship.  Promising to tell us more in a future speech, our appetites are whet.  John K I evaluated Ramesh’s speech.

Rob Schaff                   Specialty Speeches speech #2, Uplift the Spirit, Title:  “The Beginners Mind” 

Rob talked to us about seeing our world the way we do when we are new to a task, challenging us to be open to all possibilities and be engaged in the process.   Go ahead and embrace your discomfort while being gentle with yourself.  Jay B evaluated Rob’s speech.

Jen asked all two guest what they thought of the meeting and would they return.  Both said they would.   Mark, one of our guests, won Table Topics!

The meeting started on time and ended at 8:15

Middlesex Toastmasters Meeting Notes December 12, 2013

Middlesex Community College, Middletown, CT
Presiding Officer Jennifer C began the meeting at 7:05pm.

Club Business:   Our next meeting will be Thursday, January 9^th, from 7-8:15pm at the Russell Library (Hubbard Room, 2^nd Floor), as Middlesex Community College will be closed.   We’ll be back at the college on January 23^rd.  

District 53 training (Toastmasters Leadership Exchange, or “TLE”) for club officers and any other interested Toastmasters began on 12/7 and will be continuing at the Division and Area levels in January.   Dates to be announced as they become available.

The District 53 Leadership will be hosting a time of fun and networking at “Jan Jam”, to be held Saturday, January 11^th at the Church of Christ, Manchester.   More details to come.

Meeting attendees:   Jennifer Cimilluca, John Keppler, Michael O’Brien, Rob Schaff.   There was one guest, Ashley Oliver

Functionaries:

Invocator- Jennifer C

Toastmaster- Jennifer C

Word of the Day- Michael (assiduous:  

1.   constant; unremitting: assiduous reading. 2.constant in application or effort; working diligently at a task; persevering; industrious; attentive: an assiduous student.)

Humorist- Jennifer C (an accountant joke, with apologies to Jay and Kay)

General Evaluator- John Keppler

Timer- Ashley

Ah-Counter- Michael

Grammarian - Michael

Table Topics-  Michael offered some Thanksgiving and New Year’s-themed Table Topics in which all participated, including our guest, Ashley.

Speakers:

Rob Schaff                   Competent Communicator Manual speech #, 8 (Objective:  Get Comfortable with Visual Aids), Title:  “Bad Eye Contact” 

Rob used the story of Bokito, the “World’s Most Famous Gorilla” to remind us that not everyone has the same views about eye contact, and that while eye contact is important, there can be too much of a good thing.     http://nowiknow.com/gorilla-goggles/

Rob’s speech was evaluated by Jen.   With his speech on Thursday, Rob completed his fourth Competent Communicator manual.   With Judy’s CC earlier in the Toastmasters year, Middlesex now has four points in the Distinguished Club Program.

http://dashboards.toastmasters.org/ClubReport.aspx?id=00008340

Jen ended the meeting with words of inspiration from H. Jackson Brown, Jr., author of “Life’s Little Instruction Book”:   Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”   

 The meeting ended shortly after 8pm.