Category Archives: Meeting

February 5, 2015: President’s Report

Our February 5th meeting was exciting for more than one reason. First, we were all delighted to have returning Toastmaster Kara D join us. It’s good to have you back! Secondly, Kara joined us in time for Voyagers’ entry into the 2015 Toastmasters International speech contests. In addition to this, John S acted as Master of Ceremony / Toastmaster and the newly retired Donna G was Chief Judge for this special contest meeting.

Everyone there was witness as some of our best speakers competed in Table Topics and Public Speaking. For Table Topics we heard Mike R, Natalie M, Mark I, and Mark S discuss favorite teachers from their life and lessons learned. We then entered the prepared speech contest where Diana B spoke on “Light from the Darkness”, Alan H spoke on “Manage Your Paradoxes to Better Manage your Life”, and Mark I spoke on “A Pilot’s Pilot”. There was too much good material presented and I spent much of my time writing down quotes from each of the speakers.

Continuing on at the next level, the combine Area 12 and Area 21 contest will be held the evening of Friday, 06 March, at the CalTrans building at 4050 Taylor Street, Building 2, San Diego, CA 92110 (just down the street from us). For Table Topics, Mark I and Mike R will represent Voyagers at the Area 12 contest. But the night won’t over for Mr. I as he continues on in the Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking.

These contests have always been an excellent way for speakers to experience new ways to challenge themselves and the audience to see members strive to be their best. My thanks to all contestants and other participants for sharing with the other members of the club.

For the next meeting our returning member Kara D will be thrust into the limelight with the theme of “Shine”. Check your schedule to see if you have a role. As a warning to all members, the following week Joji P is considering having a “White Day” theme. If you are not familiar with it, you will have to look it up on Wikipedia.

January 22, 2015: President’s Report

Last week the theme of the meeting was “Rocks” so this week a softer approach was used and Toastmaster Donna G chose the theme “Pillows”. We discovered the history of pillows, the perfect number of pillows to have on your bed (turns out the number is 3), pillow fights, monkey pillows, and “The Proper Pillow” ( the website is http://properpillow.com/ ). It turns out that when the going gets tough, the tough get pillows.

Stack of 2 pillows
“Pillow Stack” Creative Commons image by Dana at Flickr.com

The speeches were very advanced since they both came from advanced manuals. Mike R spoke on “Auto Dealers versus Auto Brokers” from the Persuasive Speaking manual. Mike, although we learned a lot from your speech, I think you still owe the club a dollar for promoting your business. Diana B gave speech number 4 from the Humorous Speaking manual entitled “On Being a Grown Up”. Diana shared Woody Allen’s wisdom in the quote “80% of success is just showing up” as well as informing us that we need a “confident boss butt”. (Great! Since I’m president and supposed to be boss this means I’m going to have to work on keeping my butt confident).

Best Table Topics: Terry H
Best Evaluator: Cynthia P
Most Improved: Diana B
Best Speaker: Mike R

Welcome back visiting Voyager, Susan M. Please join us again. And a special shout out to Jerry and Beth for being drive-by Toastmasters and going out of their way to drop off items for the meeting. You were busy that morning so we appreciate the extra effort you made.

January 15 2015: President’s Report

President’s Message from John W from our January 15 meeting:

At this week’s meeting Nancy J really rocked with Rock and Roll, Chris Rock, and The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) in a Rock themed meeting. In addition to celebrity name dropping, she kept us entertained and informed with the physical and metaphysical properties or various minerals.

src=”https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B7raQ1hIcAA5XpN.jpg:large”Chris Rock, Crystal, River Rock, Nancy Jensen and Mark Epstein, Dwayne

It was also a meeting of first time leaders. Bernie L kept the evaluation portion of the meeting going as General Evaluator and Delores P had us all on our toes with her Table Topics.

Most Improved: Amy G
Best Table Topics: Alan H
Best Evaluator: Amy G
Best Speaker: Mark E

With my dazzling leadership I won the coveted Stick It award. The Huggie went to cutest couple Mark E and Amy F.

January 8, 2015: President’s Report

We had a very successful meeting this morning with an officer induction, and Ice Breaker, and an AC-Bronze qualifying speech. It would be difficult to pack more activity into a single meeting!

New Board of Directors, inducted by Area 12 Governor (and Voyagers Toastmasters member) Beth B:

President John W
Vice-President of Education Natalie M
Vice-President of Membership Felicia D
Vice-President of Public Relations Megan S
Secretary Chandler M
Treasurer Jerry M
Sergeant-at-Arms Terry H
Immediate Past President Mike R

There were 2 speakers this week. Kudos to Justin H for his first-time Ice Breaker, and to Beth B for her Advanced Communicator Bronze qualifying speech!

Best Table Topics Mark I
Best Evaluator Diana B
Best Speaker Justin H

Congratulations to the 5 First-Timer awards for people serving for the first time ever in their meeting role: Manshu A, Justin H, Natalie M, Lynn P and Carol V.