From intriguing guests to fascinating speeches and an
unconventional and highly successful Table Topics session,
tonight was a meeting not to be missed! “An exceptional turnout
considering the dark and blustery weather! 14 members and 6
guests!” Several members appreciated the “great theme” of “Road
Trips” suggested by Jim; it provided “lots of humour throughout
the evening.”
“I liked [Chairman] Jim’s instructive introduction re: to have
or not to have a theme.” “Jim’s pacing was excellent.” “I
enjoyed Jim’s well-made comments to open ‘our one-and-
three-quarter hour road trip’.” “Our Chairman had a good intro
to each person with a role; his question elicited interesting
answers!” Susan, who stepped in as Wordsmith at the last minute,
gave great examples of the chosen word [“peregrination”], which
was one member’s highlight. “Susan, you educated us, and you
made us laugh!” “I really liked Chairman Jim’s bridging, when he
commented that he thought ‘peregrination’ was a bird!” Jan K.
“worked her usual wizardry in her role as Wizard of Ahs.” “I
liked Jan K’s examples of ‘lip tsking’.” Timer Dave A.’s
“innovative use of rattling the piggy bank in the absence of a
bell” received praise from several members. “Rattling the piggy
bank was far less terrifying than his threat of blowing the
emergency ski whistle!” Another Toastmaster was more
appreciative: “I liked the Timer’s secret weapon!” Jokemaster
Jill “delighted us” with a rare occurrence: personal humorous
stories about her grandchildren in place of a memorized joke. “I
totally relate to the possessive attitude of her three-year-old
grandson: ‘Get your own T-Rex, Nana!’”
“Diane, our Table Topics Master, ran a very unique, interesting
and fun session.” The “terrifyingly hilarious” Table Topics
session was organized so that presenters were given a slip of
paper with the question they were to address two minutes before
presenting; the audience never heard the question, only the
response. “Her questions took us on a road trip to Peru,
camping, then with Thelma and Louise, then on a flamenco
pilgrimage, on a summer trip to Thunder Bay, then on a trip
organized by a ‘girl Friday’, and finally on a Greyhound bus to
Ottawa. It wore me out!” “The links to the theme of
peregrination were varied and endless, and the responses very
revealing!” “Diane definitely had a good command of her role.”
Christina “caught the warmth and humour” present in the speeches
in her Table Topics Evaluation. She was also highly praised for
her “great first-time Table Topics Evaluation.” “Christina gave
great individual praise, with lots of specific examples for each
speaker.”
“I enjoyed the cake during the break, celebrating both Jim’s
completion of his CTM #10 speech and Hilary’s wedding!
Delicious!”
After the break (and cake), Karen took us “off the beaten path”
and gave us some “great and humorous travel dos and don’ts”. “I
loved her advice to ‘resist confessional urges’ when on a road
trip. So true!” Ultimately, as Karen told us: “the road wants
what the road wants.” Karen “was well-prepared for her
introductions of the two speakers this evening.” Jane received
high praise for her second speech, “a persuasive and inspiring
speech in which she encouraged her audience to support the
Biscuit Fund in the SPCA.” For a speaker who used to seem
nervous at the lectern, “her poise was amazing.” “I really liked
Jane’s use of clear statistics to back up her arguments; very
convincing.” One member highlighted this quote from Jane’s
speech: “A society which takes care of animals becomes a more
humane society.” Kate gave “a positive and thorough evaluation”
of Jane’s speech.
The second speaker, Li-Ying, gave an advanced speech in praise
of Tony Parsons. “Her admiration for her subject really shone
through” and several of us “learned quite a bit about a figure
[we’ve] seen for years.” Li-Ying was praised for speaking
“without any notes”, and for her “good personal expression of
opinions.” Jessica, who evaluated Li-Ying’s speech, was lauded
for her “very competent and insightful handling of her
first-time speech evaluation.” “Jessica had some excellent
pick-ups, and used specific examples in both her praise and
constructive comments.”
Wing Lee’s General Evaluation “was delightfully entertaining and
humorous” – “even if it was a little unconventional!” He was
lauded for his “great gestures and wonderful turns of phrase.”
Indeed, his evaluation was an “hysterically funny way to end a
great evening!”
Club 1085
