Compassion

For the March 4th Bolton Banter Toastmasters meeting, chair Catherine Keyes chose "Compassion" and  "I Understand" as theme and word of the meeting.  The theme of compassion carried through into Andrew Morgan's toast and into one of the prepared speeches this evening.  We were happy to welcome two guests, Karina Garcia and Amanda Squire. 

Jim De Carolis was the evening's Table Topics Master.  Jim described table topics as the "mini muffins" of speeches and brought along a package of yummy little muffins for us to munch on.   He had participants speak to chosen topics such as retirement and parenthood. 

Area 15, of which Bolton Banter is a member, is having its area contest on March 10th in Alliston, commencing at 7 p.m.  The venue is Grace Baptist Church at 354 Victoria St. E. in Alliston.   Judges, timers and ballot counters are needed.  Please step up and help out.  It should be an evening of great speeches and evaluations. The winners this evening will compete at the Division M contest on March 20th in Newmarket.  This contest starts at noon and wil take place in the York Regional Administration Building located 17250 Yonge Street in Newmarket. 

We heard three speeches this evening.  Elena Nistor, in her second speech, spoke about her daughter's experiences volunteering in Nicarauga in her presentation "How we understand compassion".  Bondy Nair, working from an advanced manual, made a strong plea for living together after marriage, not before in his speech, "Living together".  In "Life through a humourous lens", Minnie Grewal told a charming story that simply shows that feelings are the same the world over. 

Congratulations to Alan Lee who assumed his first role this evening as a new member, to Catherine Keyes who chaired for the first time and to Andrew Morgan who gave his first evaluation.   Well done.  Thanks also to Jim De Carolis for the mini muffins and to Laurie Stapleton for the yummy chocolates. 

Minnie Grewal was voted best speaker of the evening and Brendan Dineen the best evaluator.  Lorraine Van Wagner won the ribbon for best table topics speaker. 

Remember the area contest in Alliston on March 10th and the division contest on March 20th. We look forward to seeing everyone at our next meeting, March 18th.  Remember, it's our St. Patrick's Day meeting - wear green!  The leprechauns will be watching.

Cheers and regards - Lorraine Van Wagner, Webmaster