The Un-Secret

At our December 4th meeting, we were pleased to welcome Division Governor Bill Martin, Area Governor Theresa Murray and guest Vince who stepped in to see what Toastmasters is all about.   

Trust Eric Solowka to dream up a unique theme for a meeting.    Eric, as chair, chose "the un-secret" and "challenge" as the theme and word of the meeting.  Eric noted that you must have a positive attitude in order to inter-activate with others to make the world go round.  We all need goals - this is the un-secret.  This was a fitting prelude to the evening when three members of our club delivered their tenth speeches, thereby realizing their goal of earning the Competent Communicator designation.  Congratulations to Jillian (size zero) Lucas, Jane (spice of life) Collier and Carol (camp girl) Dowell. 

Table Topics Master Eva Britton (also an Area Governor) gave us the task of describing, in one minute, a typical day in the life of various objects ranging from a light bulb to a Ferrari to a set of traffic lights.  The mini speeches were inventive and truly funny. I'd say most of us would prefer a day as a Ferrari.   Who would want to spend a day as a snowplow?

During announcements, Carol reminded us of the District 86 spring conference to be held in Burlington in April 2009.  There will be officer training on January 14, 2009 at the Simcoe Shores Club and on January 21, 2009 at the Talk of Alliston Club.  The Division International Speech Contest will be held April 4, 2009.  Mark your calendars!

Jillian Lucas spoke about the power of positive thinking in her speech entitled, "Half Full".  Jane Collier paid touching tribute to her remarkable and resourceful mother in "Simply the Best".  Did you know that Paris' famed Eiffel Tower contains two and half million rivets?  Carol Dowell's speech, entitled "A Riveting Structure", was full of such interesting facts about this Parisian landmark. 

Ribbons went to Brendan Dineen, Minnie Grewal and Lorraine Van Wagner in a three way tie for Table Topics.  Jane was named best speaker and Lorraine and Dan O'Reilly tied for best evaluator.

Our next and last meeting prior to the holiday season will be held on December 18th.  The theme, fittingly, will be "Home for the Holidays".  We will have an abbreviated meeting at our usual location and then reconvene at Sheelagh Rennie's home for Table Topics and a dose of Christmas cheer.  We look forward to seeing you all.

Lorraine Van Wagner - Webmaster