On Wednesday, November 11, 2009, we inducted our newest member, Amby Mafort.  Amby lives in Hillsboro with her husband, Mike.  Amby’s work experience is in Executive Administration, although right now she is in between employers.  She has her A.A.S. Degree in Office Systems.  She has been a Toastmaster in the past in another club.   Amby’s interest and hobbies are music, politics, religion and her family.  She listed as her goals and reasons for joining South County Toastmasters is to better all areas of communication in her life.  Welcome, Amby!

Here’s a good example of how a speaker uses his hands for gesturing.
He only holds them together in front of himself for 5 out of 90 seconds.

I shared this speech from my brother at our last meeting and thought others might enjoy it. – Tom T.

Most people look forward to Veteran’s Day as a day off and fail to reflect upon it’s true purpose, to appreciate those who have served and are serving in our military.  Reflecting back on my own years of service, I remember three very specific ways people showed their appreciation to me that left lasting impressions.

1.       In 1991 I was attached to the USS Saratoga, a carrier participating in Desert Storm.   One of my watch duties was to monitor all arriving aircraft; one, a C-2 aircraft was used to deliver personnel, supplies and most importantly, mail from the states.  Mail was called “pony” (a reference to the days of the “pony express”) and I would always ask the pilot how much “pony” he was carrying.  This was a very important piece of information to the crew of 5,000 who waited anxiously for a letter from home and the word that “2,000 pounds of pony” had arrived would spread like wild-fire throughout the ship.  The mail for the Operations Department came through my office and my Yeoman was responsible for distributing it to the various Divisions and Branches.  The sailors would line up at mail-call and respond excitedly when their name was called.  Many of them were disappointed when there was no mail for them.  That prompted me to write a “Letter to the Editor” of a couple dozen major newspapers and ask their readers to write a letter or send a “Care Package” addressed to “Any Sailor USS SARATOGA”.  Well the response was overwhelming and soon we had enough mail so no one was left out of mail-call.  When you’ve been at sea for 8 months, working 7 days a week, 18+ hours a day, there’s something very special about getting a letter and hearing how much the folks back home appreciate you.

2.      After Desert Storm, we returned home to a hero’s welcome, 10,000 people lining the docks and streets of Mayport, Florida. My family was waiting for me on the pier as the speakers played the “God Bless the USA” and other patriotic songs. Driving home through the streets lined with banners and cheering strangers I lost control and wept.  I wish every returning service member could have such a public show of support upon their return.  If you ever get the opportunity to attend a public show of appreciation to our vets, especially as they return from their tour of duty, do it.

3.       This last one only happened to me once in my career, but it was one of the most memorable events of my life. I was on a commercial flight into San Antonio Texas and was in my uniform. As I walked through the airport an elderly man approached me, reached out his hand and shook mine saying, “I really appreciate your service to our country.  Thank you.” We talked a bit and it turned out he was a World War II Vet.  We sat and swapped a few war stories then parted.  As I walked away, I realized that nobody had ever done that before to me; a total stranger walking up, shaking my hand and saying thank you.  It moved me so much that 20 years later, I still go out of my way to shake the hands of men or women in uniform.  You may not think it means much, but to those who serve, it means the world.

William James once wrote “The deepest human need is the need to be appreciated.”  This Veteran’s Day take the time to write a letter to a sailor, send a care package to a soldier, attend a Veteran’s Day rally or just shake a Vet’s hand and say a sincere “thank you”.  It will make their day….and yours too!

Andrew Krauska
LCDR, US Navy (retired)
ISS Tech Services QA
CCNP, CCIP, CCDP

Regular Meeting Minutes of South County Toastmasters Club # 1957

Theme:  Elections

Meeting Date: Wednesday November 4, 2009

Called To Order At: 7:00 pm CDT
Location: Cafeteria, downstairs

Presiding Officer: Rich Ullrich, President

Toastmaster: Rob VanWinkle
General Evaluator: Carl Hendrickson

Time Keeper:     Laura Zemann
Ah Counter:     Steve Hamm
Vote Counter:     Steve Winheim
Grammarian:     Joe Archembault      “Punctilious”
Invocator:     Paul Ferguson
Camera Operator: Kathy Denton
Table Topics:     Don Clair
Joke Master     Brent Stewart
Hot Seat:     Bill Collier
Greeter:

The minutes from last week’s October 28h meeting were accepted as sent via e-mail to all members.

OFFICERS’ REPORTS:

President:

VP of Education: Kevin Wilson announced that there will not be a meeting on November 25th (the day before Thanksgiving), and instead, the November speech marathon will be on Nov 18th.  Kevin also announced that in December, there will only be meetings on the first two Wednesdays, with the third being a Toastmasters party.  Clarification will be announced during an upcoming meeting.

VP of Membership:
VP of Public Relations:
Treasurer:
Secretary:
Sergeant of Arms:
Officer at Large:

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE:
NOMINATING COMMITTEE:
MARKETING COMMITTEE:
SCHEDULING COMMITTEE:
FILL-IN COMMITTEE:

OLD BUSINESS:

NEW BUSINESS:

Motions were introduced regarding speaking-order and awards structure for the monthly speech marathons.  The first motion was to have two groups of winners (before and after the break), with one group being experienced Toastmasters, and the other being less-experienced members.  An amendment was added to the first motion for members to choose which group they wanted to be included in.  Both the amemdment and this motion failed.
The second motion was to have 1st and 2nd place winners, and not to have separate groups.  This motion passed.

During discussion on the two motions, Bill Collier mentioned that it is difficult and time-consuming to intersperse video-recorded speeches with non-recorded ones, and that we should try to make a point of scheduling video- recorded speeches at the beginning of the marathon so the camera-operator can finalize the disks during the later non-recorded speeches.

CORRESPONDENCE & ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Please contact Carl Hendrickson if you are interested in assisting a public-speaking workshop for Cardinal Ritter Prep H.S..  The message received/forwarded by Carl Hendrickon to the secretary on 11/6/09 is as follows:

Carl,

I hope all is well with you. Since we last spoke, a few of our students
participated in the Youth Leadership Program facilitated by Albert Fields
and Jim Salih. It was a great experience for them. We still haven’t started
the Gavel Club yet but we hope, too. Unfortunately, speech class has been
dropped from our curriculum this year. May I interest your group in
conducting a public speaking workshop on Tuesday, December 15 @ 10:00 am?
The target market is college freshman. I am expecting at least 20 students.
Please let me know your availability.

April D. Cotton
Director, Intern Leadership Program
Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School

GUESTS:
Amby Mafort

ATTENDANCE:

Joe Archembault
Jack Bettag
Howard Brandt
Don Clair
Bill Collier
Kathy Denton
Sue Dickemper
Mike Dobrich
Paul Ferguson
Alica Flamm
Erin Gissel
Steve Hamm
Carl Hendrickson
Richard Hiers
Alan Kirby
Adam Kutell
Petrina Monti
Mark Roling
Jim Ruzicka
Nilsa Scott
Brent Stewart
Rich Ullrich
Rob VanWinkle
Dave Welshon
Gina Willard
Kevin Wilson
Steve Winheim
Laura Zemann

(Total:  28 members plus 1  guest)

SPEAKERS & EVALUATORS:

Speaker 1: Sue Dickemper
Speaker 2: Howard Brandt
Speaker 3: Alicia Flamm
Speaker 4: Bill Collier

Evaluator 1: Nilsa Scott
Evaluator 2: Jim Ruzicka
Evaluator 3: Mark Roling
Evaluator 4: Gina Willard

AWARDS:

Most Improved: Sue Dickemper
Best Evaluator: Jim Ruzicka
Best Table Topics: Carl Hendrickson
Best Speaker: Bill Collier

OTHER:

Rating for the meeting: 8.5
Meeting adjourned at 9:06 pm CDT

Respectively Submitted, Adam Kutell: Secretary

Richard Hiers is the newest member to join South County Toastmasters. Richard lives in South County with his wife, Anne. He works for Covenant Seminary as Director of the IT Department. His educational background includes a bachelor of arts degree from Oral Roberts University, and he has earned a graduate certificate from Covenant Seminary. Richards hobbies and interests are church activities, outdoor activities, reading and spending time with his family. He lists his reasons and goals for joining SCTM as improving his communication skills in formal and informal settings. He looks forward to these newly acquired skills in helping him in his professional advancement.

Carl Hendrickson has graciously accepted the post of “Last Minute Speaker Committee Chairperson.” His job is to find last minute fill-in speakers for the regular Toastmaster meeting.  Ideally these might be educational speeches and/or topics which have been suggested by our last club survey. Those topics are listed at the bottom of this posting.

Here are the speeches which have already been given:

Barb Sapienza on the Competent Leadership Manual
Howard Brandt on Robets Rules
Carl Hendrickson on Mentoring
Alan Kirby on Humor
Brent Stewart on Current Affairs

Many of the topics contain so much information that additional speeches may
be given on these subjects — Barb is talking about Leadership 102, Howard
on Advanced Roberts Rules, and I on Mentoring 102.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Club Survey July 2009 Topics/Training Suggested

- Club officer duties
- Train on CL, ACB etc. – Barb S did  Competent Leadership Manual
- Evaluating
- Camera operation
- Speaking Techniques – Vocal Variety – writing a speech, etc
- Interviewing
- Sales Presentations
- Public Affairs
- Starting your own business,
- Professional speaking
- DCP
- Contest Judging
- Meeting roles
- New member training
- Books and how they should be used
- General communication skills
- Impromptu speaking
- Storytelling
- Using humor – done by Alan K.
- Mentoring training -done by Carl H.
- Parliamentary procedure – done once by Howard B.

Jay Leno. David Letterman. Conan O’Brien.  Jim Ruzicka?  Though he can’t lay claim to fame as a talk-show superstar, South County Toastmaster Jim Ruzicka skillfully entertained his audience at the Division A Humorous Speech Contest recently held at Jefferson College.  Jim’s comedic account of the unusual people and places he encountered during a Greyhound bus ride garnered a SECOND place trophy.  He will advance to the next level only if the first place winner cannot be in attendance.  That competition, the District Contest, is part of the Toastmasters District 8 Fall Conference to be held at Crowne Plazain Clayton, MOon November 20-21.  Jim did place first in his club’s Humorous Speech Contest – and at the Area 4 Contest – which allowed him to proceed to the Division level.

Theme:  Happy Birthday Toastmasters

Meeting Date: Wednesday October 21, 2009

Called To Order At: 7:00 pm CDT
Location: 107-C Right

Presiding Officer: Rich Ullrich, President

Toastmaster: Kevin Reichardt
General Evaluator: Kathy Denton

Time Keeper:     Alan Kirby
Ah Counter:     Sue Dickemper
Vote Counter:     Joe Archembault
Grammarian:     Diane Fawcett      “Milestone”
Invocator:     Steve Hamm
Camera Operator: Judy Sowers
Table Topics:     Adam Kutell
Joke Master     Dick Shields
Hot Seat:     Jim Ruzicka
Greeter:         Brent Stewart

The minutes from last week’s October 14th meeting were revised to show an ending time of 9:00pm. Otherwise the revised minutes were accepted as sent via e-mail to all members.

OFFICERS’ REPORTS:

President:

VP of Education: Kevin Wilson announced that the November schedule would be completed and updated online by 10/22 (Thursday).  Kevin also announced that there will not be a meeting on Wednesday the 25th (the day before Thanksgiving)

VP of Membership:  Sue Dickemper read the latest updates to the guest-calls she has been working with to get guest and prospective member feedback.  A copy of the responses are being held by the secretary.

VP of Public Relations:
Treasurer:
Secretary:
Sergeant of Arms:
Officer at Large:

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE:
NOMINATING COMMITTEE:
MARKETING COMMITTEE:
SCHEDULING COMMITTEE:
FILL-IN COMMITTEE:

OLD BUSINESS:

Rich Ullrich announced that the Division “A” contest will be held on Saturday October 24, 1pm at Jefferson Area College.

NEW BUSINESS:

Max Kaiser announced that the Webster University speakers schedule will be given to Max who will have it posted.  Max said that all members can act as judges and get paid an honorarium and a free meal.

CORRESPONDENCE & ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Max Kaiser announced that former member Charlie Simmons is recovering well from his recent surgery.

GUESTS:
Richard Hiers
Gintana (Steve Winheim’s Fiancé)

ATTENDANCE:

Joe Archambault
Howard Brandt
Kathy Denton
Sue Dickemper
Diane Fawcett
Steve Flick
Erin Gissel
Steve Hamm
Max Kaiser
Alan Kirby
Adam Kutell
Petrina Monti
Kevin Reichardt
Jim Ruzicka
Nilsa Scott
Dick Shields
Judy Sowers
Brent Stewart
Rich Ullrich
Rob VanWinkle
David Welshon
Gina Willard
Kevin Wilson
Steve Winheim
Laura Zemann

(Total:  25 members plus 2 guests)

SPEAKERS & EVALUATORS:

Speaker 1: Steve Winheim
Speaker 2: Rob VanWinkle
Speaker 3: Gina Willard
Speaker 4: Kevin Wilson

Evaluator 1: Steve Flick
Evaluator 2: Nilsa Scott
Evaluator 3: Erin Gissel
Evaluator 4: Max Kaiser

AWARDS:

Most Improved: Joe Archembault
Best Evaluator: Erin Gissel
Best Table Topics: Jim Ruzicka
Best Speaker: Steve Winheim

OTHER:

Rating for the meeting: 8.0
Meeting adjourned at 9:09 pm CDT

Regular Meeting Minutes of South County Toastmasters Club # 1957

Theme:  Unforgettable Mentors

Meeting Date: Wednesday October 14, 2009

Called To Order At: 7:01 pm CDT
Location: 107-C Right

Presiding Officer: Rich Ullrich, President

Toastmaster: Gina Willard
General Evaluator: Nilsa Scott

Time Keeper:     Mary Ann King
Ah Counter:     Steve Flick
Vote Counter:     Petrina Monti
Grammarian:     Steve Hamm        “Legacy”
Invocator:     Steve Flick
Camera Operator: Kevin Wilson
Table Topics:     Carl Hendrickson
Joke Master     Howard Brandt
Hot Seat:     Rich Ullrich
Greeter:         Kevin Reichardt

The minutes from last week’s October 7th meeting were accepted as sent via e-mail to all members.

OFFICERS’ REPORTS:

President:

VP of Education: Kevin Wilson announced the first winner of the Full Circle award and the club honored Sue Dickemper for this achievement.

VP of Membership:
VP of Public Relations:
Treasurer:
Secretary:
Sergeant of Arms:
Officer at Large:

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE:
NOMINATING COMMITTEE:
MARKETING COMMITTEE:
SCHEDULING COMMITTEE:
FILL-IN COMMITTEE:

OLD BUSINESS:

Rich Ullrich announced that the Division “A” contest will be held on Saturday October 24, 1pm.  The division needs volunteers and our club is sending two members to this club so members are encouraged to come to cheer them on.  More information will be announced and is available from Rich Ullrich.

NEW BUSINESS:

A resolution was passed for Adam Kutell to purchase 36 more recordable DVDs for the club’s camcorder.
The club inducted two new members: Paul Ferguson and Joe Archambault.  Welcome Paul and Joe!

CORRESPONDENCE & ANNOUNCEMENTS:

GUESTS:
Richard Hiers
Barry Hammond
Crystal Walton

ATTENDANCE:

Joe Archambault
Howard Brandt
Karen Busch
Don Clair
Sue Dickemper
Mike Dobrich
Carole Embree
Rick Favolaro
Diane Fawcett
Paul Ferguson
Steve Flick
Erin Gissel
Steve Hamm
Carl Hendrickson
Mary Ann King
Adam Kutell
Petrina Monti
Kevin Reichardt
Nilsa Scott
Dick Shields
Judy Sowers
Tom Terrific
Rich Ullrich
Gina Willard
Kevin Wilson
Laura Zemann

(Total:  26 members plus 3 guests)

SPEAKERS & EVALUATORS:

Speaker 1: Tom Terrific
Speaker 2: Judy Sowers
Speaker 3: Laura Zemann
Speaker 4: Dick Shields

Evaluator 1: Mike Dobrich
Evaluator 2: Diane Fawcett
Evaluator 3: Carole Embree
Evaluator 4: Sue Dickemper

AWARDS:

Most Improved: Diane Fawcett
Best Evaluator: Sue Dickemper
Best Table Topics: Erin Gissel
Best Speaker: Tom Terrific

OTHER:

Rating for the meeting: 9.5
Meeting adjourned at 9:03 pm CDT

Respectively Submitted, Adam Kutell: Secretary

South

County

Toastmasters

NOVEMBER

2009

Schedule