Change – February 17’s Meeting Recap

Most people do the same things over and over again, but expect different results. Toastmaster Bob reminded us that things will not change unless you do.  If you want things in your life to change, you need to change things in your life.

Why not start by complaining less?  Sarah learned that her complaining habit is changing her for the worst.  She is now aiming to complain less and finding herself much happier.   Who knew that it would be simple to be happy.  Simple, but maybe not so easy!  Try it for 30 days.  We dare you.  (Why can’t others complain less.. hey! 30 day starts now)

We can go a step further (or rather steps further) to love more and judge less.  Mireille gave us her part 2 of this life changing practice.  Focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses? Responding to hatred with love.  This is deep stuff here.  Just the thought of it is changing us already.
All this sounds difficult to do, or is it?  It is all in your imagination as James would say.  Make your imagination help you go towards your goal not away from it.

Thanks to our tabletopics master Camila, the theme change was incorporated in our tabletopics.  Congratulations our guest Andre for winning the table topics session!

Carrying out speakers’ advice can definitely change our lives and those around us.

And If Gandhi was here, he would be whispering to us, be the change you want to see in this world.  Are you ready to be that change?

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Discover your Strengths! Feb 8 Meeting Recap

Toastmaster Be carried out the meeting with the theme focused on strengths.  It starts by discovering our own strengths, which we did by examining Richard and Sarah‘s top 3 strengths.  For Sarah, it was about wooing, having command and being responsible of course.  We based this on strength finders:  http://www.strengthstest.com/strengths-finder-themes

Our three speakers, Bina, Alex and James explored strengths in different angles. Both Bina and Alex were doing their Ice breakers.

Bina spoke about her recent discovery of herself as an extrovert, after living most of her life as a misdiagnosed introvert. Opening herself to new experiences and people, she is embracing her new true self.  It was exciting her to speak as she stood proudly, smiling and radiantly in own her skin.

Then, Alex, showed us how to us to say yes to a zestful life.  She certainty does not do things half way, already a contestant and speaking on her first official meeting.

Lastly, James shared an ultimate secret to success, which is capitalizing on our strengths and building alliances with others.  This is called the mastermind (a term coined by Napoleon Hill).

We also inducted three new members.  Perhaps they know a secret or two about strengthening themselves (i.e. joining toastmaster?).

After our break, Wes led our table topics session with energetic and thought provoking questions.  Congrats Devin for being our table topics winner!

Connecting and summarizing it all: when we discover our strengths, mastermind with others, and say yes to your dreams, we can lead a zestful life!

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Welcome new members! Alex, Jueun and Camila

Alex, Jueun and Camila (in the middle between Be and Wes)

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This week’s winner: our guest, Devin!

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Olga Sannikov – Test Speaker at Shellbusters’ club contest, Feb 3

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Just go and do it! That’s all you need to know to go after your goals.  Olga certainly demonstrated it when she got out of comfort zone and stepped into the light as a test speaker at Shellbusters’ club contest.  This year, be like Olga and just go for it!

Thank you Olga for representing our club!
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International Contest Recap

International Contest Recap:

Feb 1 2017 was a night of fun and passion- and our International Speech Contest! Thank you everyone for making it such a fun evening. Our wonderful competition Chair Mireille Tchatchouang ran the show without a hitch. DSC09379.JPG

Our International Speech contest was first, with Bob Stewart and Mark Pilkington going head to head. In the end, Mark won for his third year in a row. Congratulations Mark!

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Next was the Evaluation Contest. Everyone began by having their seats set on fire and minds blown by a powerful speech by Kelly Parke. Thank you Kelly for bringing your A-game. It will not be forgotten.

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Our Evaluation Contest Speakers faced off in a 7 way battle. The results were as follows: 3rd place – Mark Pilkington, 2nd place- Wes Vick, and 1st place – John Krissilas.

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A big and special thanks to all the Judges, Speakers, and volunteers, this contest couldn’t have happened without you!

The next round, the Area Contest, is in about a month, hosted by Liberty Village Toastmasters!

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Sushi always

See you next week, or at sushi!

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Compound Effects – Meeting Recap January 25th 2017

Meeting Recap January 25th 2017

We had a busy and fun meeting, and if you were a lucky attendee, you definitely had a good time! Our Toastmaster James started us off with a speech about the compound effect, which was very motivating, and got us fired up and ready to run!

 

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Our Evaluation Guru Andrew led an informative and interactive workshop on giving a great evaluation! Thanks Andrew!

We also had a lot of “volunteers”  for Table Topics, led by Bina for the first time.

Our first time guest Jaden came away with a winning speech! Congrats!!!!

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Our Winner!

 

THIS WEDNESDAY is our INTERNATIONAL SPEECH CONTEST and EVALUATION CONTEST!!!! 

Don’t miss it, or you’ll be full of regret!

See you next week!

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