Food topics, Family National Holidays and Forbidden Apples - a raddling morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

DTM Jim D. had us reminiscing about food memories....

* TM Gail loooooves ice cream, eats the small cups by the half dozen but for health purposes has restricted herself to ONLY vanilla.

* TM Aleta absolutely positively resolutely determinedly makes no food restriction New Year's resolutions.  She's nuts about chocolate... with nuts.

* TM Paolo has regressed from being a good cook to throwing together cold cuts and bread strictly under duress, the rest of the time he's just thankful for a loving good cook wife.

* I, Ana, had my unseasoned unsalted filet mignon blatantly stolen from my plate by a rogue canine during a family barbeque.  I was definitely not thankful!

* TM Chris' favorite restaurant is Cooper's Hawk, they have joined the Wine Club and have wonderful dining and wining experiences there.

* TM Jose almost ate chop snake salad during a business trip to Taiwan but, as often in his life, was saved by the snake's raddle.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Terrt can remember a few badly prepared marital meals but fortunately her ex is no longer around and her sons are both good cooks.

Regarding the prepared icebreakers we had today...

* TM Pam interwove (3) November holidays - Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving and her birthday into a tale of family gatherings, memories and reminiscens.  Happy Birthday Pam!

* TM Marie has spent most of her life trying to force outcomes with futility and no longer becomes raddled as she is now Laissez Faire Marie, letting events unfold as they will and cheerfully eating a crunchy unknowledgeable apple.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Jose praised TM Pam for her clarity, and her sighing technique and suggested she may add some hand gestures to her delivery.  

* TM Paolo hailed TM Marie's speech as a masterpiece and asked that she work on her right angle lighting and try Gala apples instead of Granny Smith's.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the DAy was

RADDLED, adj

Broken down, worn

Confused, upset

Example: Grammar nerds were raddled by the spelling of what they thought was spelled rattled, which started being used in the 1900s versus raddled from the 1690s.  Raddled saves you having to mentally cross the t's.  

Here's the link to the recording

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0ft9ejL2qk

See you next week!

Ana I.

Raddled, Skedaddled and Befuddled

Recap Writer

Random questions, Wuthering Heights and Panama Crossing - an intricate extricate EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests, and Friends,

I, Ana, started us off with random questions.  We realized that...

* TM Pam is on a strict vegetarian regimen building up to December 1 cookies, cake and ice cream  

* TM Marie is going to save, spend and mostly give away her $5 million - she wants to be charitable while having fun, fun, fun!... She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Jim G.'s favorite movie is a composite of Finding Nemo, The Graduate and Forrest Gump.  Life is certainly like a box of chocolates or salt-water taffies and sexy older women.

* TM Chris wants to be known for having a good time - she and TM Jim G. are big fish in a small pond - she's been seen signing autographs for thankful alumni.

* TM Jose is most thankful for our health, the group's health and his ability to fly across the pond and to other destinations to enjoy new adventures and visit family.

Regarding prepared speeches....

* I, Ana, recounted my woes as a bullied tall person growing up in the land of vertically-challenged people.

* TM Chris recently went kayaking and snorkeling amidst the locks, chambers, Lakes of the Panama Canal, with plenty of mimosas on hand.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Jim G. officially named me the group's resident giraffe and suggested I will end up in Hell... but surrounded by boys, boys, boys.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM Pam asked TM Chris to please find a book (300 pages, tops) about snorkeling in the Panama Canal.

The Word of the Day was

EXTRICATE, verb

To free or remove yourself from an entanglement or difficulty.

Example:  It is virtually impossible to extricate oneself from a submerged car.

The link for today's recording is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsnU8V0fBX8

See you next week!

Ana I

Recap Extricator 

Spirits, Killers and Sanhain (pronounced Sawein), a ghoulish morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Ghosts, Ghouls, Goblins and Gretins,

TM Pam ghosted us with Table Topic apparitions.  We intuited that...

* TM Skull Jose, who has lost considerable weight and looks definitely skeletal, crushes the spirit that tries to penetrate his skull - he will not succumb to a good ole spirit.

* TM Madhatter Marie's flesh is weak when it comes to chocolate, which she learned to evulliently steal from her father's gift boxes.

* TM Queen Roslyn is moved by the spirit of church music on weekdays.- why wait for Sundays?

* TM Cat Terri has heard that on Spirit Airlines it's likely they will fly you to the netherworld but hey, the price is right.

* DTM Mary Helen Cleopatra would go to Mexico for Day of the Dead to partake in the cemetery rituals and have a graveyard smash with lotsa tequila.

* I, Glenda Witch Ana, will reminisce about my days as Cruella De Ville on Halloween Puerto Rican style by downing a cauldron of rum-laced coquitos.  I Won Best Table Topics Award.

We had (2) spooky speeches...

* TM McDonald's Aleta met a rich cook at a logging camp near her house who got murdered by an envious diabolical Irish hunter and TM Aleta found the cook's moneybelt on her property.... We won't tell....

* TM Gail revealed that Celts started Sahmain (pronounced Sawein) by carving ghoulish faces on turnips till vampires realized they would not bleed and resorted to human hemoglobin.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Graduate The Tom praised TM Aleta's use of a hunter's hat and an ex to recount a tale from the crypt in her back yard.

* TM Barbie's Father Uomo Elegante Paolo marvels at the sinister trajectory of a pagan holiday into a multi-billion consumer industry.  He recommended that Gail wear camouflage next time.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

DTM Jim D. kept track of the witching hour every step of the way.

TM Party Pooper BeckyJo did manage to disappear on us.  She was last seen flying away on an Electric Mop.

The Word of the Day was

EBULLIENT, adjective

This seemingly innocuous word raised a passionate discussion about its pronunciation, first syllable?  second syllable?  Midwestern accent? Miami Cuban accent?  Pick your choice or alternate.

It means effervescent, appealingly lively and enthusiastic.

Example:  If you drink a carbonated drink, it will transform you into an ebullient soul.

Here's the link to the recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQBendGM8wE

See you next week!

Ana Illsen

VP Education

Strategic Topics, Six Degrees of Separation and The Bible Tells Me So - an intransigent meeting of EarlyBirds - NOT!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Marie led us in relationship explorations.  We were led to believe that...

* TM Roslyn's ability to be flexible and adaptable professionally is working well for her as she launched a singing career and health and wellness for seniors.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* DTM Mary Helen is an extroverted introvert who needs alone time with no distractions and thinks solitary confinement AT WILL would work well for her.

* TM Gail's strongest sense is her sight - she is a photographer of the animal kingdom and injects some good humor into her art.

* TM Paolo is adapting to change right now, having moved his  numerous offspring back to the US and they are all having to give up intransigence for teenage survival of the smart i-phoneless.

* I, Ana, have realized that I am not the center of anyone's universe because guess what? they are the center of their own universe.  Who knew???

* TM Jose is most confident about what he doesn't know, trivial facts that he pulls out of a mysterious compartment in his brain called improvisation...

* TM Terri treads carefully in the next chapter of her life while having fun with Humphrey (Bogart) her new guard dog in tow.

Along came two interesting prepared speeches...

* TM The Tom presented Part II of his speech about a psycho aviation board member who became his hospital roommate and life infused the former psycho intravenously with a dose of humble pie.

* .TM Aleta told us a biblical story about Elimelech. Naomi, Boaz the Intransigent Law Follower, Ovid, Jesse, David (pre Goliath) who lived in Moab (currently Jordan) and taught us that those who trust, head straight for the buffet dessert table.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

And lastly, we had excellent evaluations...

* TM Paolo called TM The Tom the Michelangelo of Speakers and reminded him to look at the camera instead of the multiple Zoom squares.

* DTM Mary Helen enjoyed TM Aleta's biblical story "A Different Kind of Love" which was not too racy but involved a land parcel which became a highrise condo as the years went slowly by.... and which we can apply to our modern lives.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

INTRANSIGENT, adjective

A person who refuses to compromise or abandon an often extreme position or attitude.

Example:  A person's intransigence may be another person's extravagance, but it is always riddled with insolence.   Huh???

The link to the recording is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJa2y4FQpXg

See you next week at the Graveyard Smash!  

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Idioms, Meditation and Being Heckled - a fugacious morning at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Aleta inspired us with popular idioms about body parts.  We were surprised to learn that...

* TM Tom triumpantly reported the EMS personnel who were there in his time of need were a truly a sight for sore eyes.  Welcome back to our effervescent joy, Tom!  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* I, Ana, took a wild guess that using elbow grease refers to car mechanics deciphering the labyrinth of car parts in the engine and getting their elbows dirty.

* DTM Jim D. highly recommends that chickens and turkeys avoid sticking their neck out, especially around Thanksgiving.  Otherwise their lives will truly be fugacious!

* TM Gail is tired of all the politicians who speak with forked tongues and cannot wait for them to speak with knived tongues so they can chop their own tongues off, once and for all!

* TM Paolo has often had something on the tip of his tongue but it's ready to be spoken in Italian and he doesn't say it because his listener is monolingual (in English).

* TM Terri's father was a good man but very pessimistic so she keeps her chin up, especially about chocolate, which, as the old saying goes,"a minute in the lips, forever in the hips".

And then came the prepared speeches...

* TM Roslyn invited us to start our day by dropping - even if fugaciously - into meditation, to refresh and replenish our cluttered minds.

* TM Pam masterfully dealt with a disruptive audience - an interrupter, a chatterer, an arguer, a talker, an electronic device enthusiast, compulsively commenting in the chat. We had a great time and TM Pam humorously dealt with it.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

Regarding evaluations....

* TM Paolo praised TM Roslyn for her effective pace to allow us to discern, digest, process, metabolize and refresh, recharge and restart.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM Marie praised EarlyBirds for being the best hecklers on Planet Earth and also praised TM Pam for her effort to practice, practice, practice, putting up with us.

The Word of the Day was

FUGACIOUS, adjective

Lasting a very short time; ephemeral; short-lived, transient

Example:  Love's fugacious radiance wanes into a more stable companionship.

Dates to Consider:

Club Level Contests (to be conducted by January 14, 2024)

Tall Tales

Humorous Speech

District Level Contests 

Table Topics

Evaluations

International Speech - must have completed Level I and Level II in Pathways

Here's the link to the recording:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS7QII_AH9g

See you next week!

Ana I.

Sagacious and Perspecacious  but not Fugacious Recap Writer

Disasters, Old Siam and Wild Obsessions - an amply sufficient morning at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

DTM Jim  D. skyrocketed us into disaster topics...  We found out that.

..

* TM Jim G. puts outdoor furniture inside but mostly fixates on the omnipresent Cone of Uncertainty, hoping to send rain up to fill up TM Aleta's crick.

* TM BeckyJo has become overly cautious after Hurricane Wilma caught her off guard and she ended up kayaking through her neighborhood at the behest of Weatherman Bryan Norcross.

* TM Marie deals with the hurricane that forms in her mind when she realizes thoughts are spiraling like tornadoes. There is always calm at the center of toilet paper hoarding.She Won Best Table Topics. Award.

* TM Roslyn goes into the inner space of her windowless laundry room at the sound of tornado sirens.  No curiosity whatsoever to peek outside.

* TM Aleta's then-husband was The Lineman of the County ( to the tune of Wichita Lineman by Glenn Campbell) but restored his own power last.

* TM Chris has experienced earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes in her RV , and she prefers earthquakes rather than watching Jim watch the Cone of Uncertainty.

Along came prepared speeches...

* TM Jose took us down a fascinating tour of his future trip to Thailand, where he will visit Chung Rai, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, and last but not least, the PeePee Islands , where he will snorkel to watch Thai fish and attend a Black Thai gala where he will enjoy a Sukkhotai dinner.  We can't wait for the apres ski... errr, apres-tour.

* I, TM Ana, shared my adventures as a City Slicker surrounded by wildly obsessive bear fans in a visit to Big Sky Glacier Park.  I Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Paolo praised TM Jose for the clarity of his speech, so much so that TM Paolo is booking travel to Siam as we speak.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM BeckyJo corroborated my status as a City Slicker and encouraged me to stop reading my darned speeches and display imprompty tongue-in-cheek humor, once and for all.

TM Terri did a superb job as First Time Poll Maker.  Go, Terri!

The Word of the Day was

SUFFICIENT, adj

Enough to meet the needs of a situation

Example:  Sometimes I forget that I must have sufficient funds in the bank to go a-splurging.

Dates to Remember:  Thursday October 31 we will have a Monster Mash Halloween-themed meeting.

Here's the link to the recording:

https://youtube.com/live/6WMX513hgoU

See you next week!

Ana I.

Incomparable, intolerable, honorable, comfortable Recap Writer

Pink, Scuba Cuba and Taking Yourself - a morning with panache at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

We were delighted to be visited again by our Area Director, TM Marc, as well as (2) guests, Ann and Suzette.  And returning TM Manny regaled us with a heartfelt invocation...

TM Marie led us pink-themed topics.  We soon discovered that...

* TM Pam was a blonde girl and traumatized for life for having to wear lame faded pastel pink.  Pink does not  even exist in her wardrobe color palette. So there!

* Guest Ann, like most of us, knows women who have suffered from breast cancer, and  the pink bow logo inspires her to think positively.

* Guest Suzette likes Pink's old songs but no longer moves mountains by whispering to them, she only hums....

* TM Paolo has moved the wife and all the bambini to South Florida and wants to live fully before he dies or he'll die before he lives, as wisely stated by Inspector Clouseau.of Pink Panther fame.

* *TM Jose;s favorite band is Pink Floyd, censored in Franco's Spain - note from author: way before social media adopted the practice of censorship - and was Comfortably Numb with Just Another Brick in the Wall....  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

Along came the prepared speeches...

* TM Christine adored the virgin reef off Jardines de la Reina (Gardens of the Queen) where the Cuban sharks, Cuban groupers, Cuban moray eels sip Cuban cafecitos and guava pastries at the Cuban Reef Bar as they await their fake $150 visas  to exile themselves in Miami - so close and yet so far! 

* TM Mary Helen witnessed a half marathon in Hamburg, the cradle of our beloved hamburgers, and instead of running has started walking and meeting her neighbors, establishing connections and ensuring a long happy connected life.

Both speakers showed wanton disregard for the timing requirements but hey, it was well worth it for the rest of us.

And then came the evaluations...

* TM Terri praised TM Christine's good organization and panache in her yoga outfit to pet her new Cuban best buddy, the Mooray Eel (la Morena).  .  And blessed be the silence of technological disconnection!

* TM BeckyJo loved DTM Mary Helen's vocal variety and enjoyed the neighborhood connections in an environs where everything - and everyone?- loosk the same. She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

PANACHE, noun

Confident, flamboyant, dresses with style

A tuft or plume of feathers to be worn in a hat, helmet or headdress.

Example:  Runway models and fashionistas exude panache from every pore of their body and every seam in their attire.

The link to the recording is:

https://youtube.com/live/yPOKVwfkt10

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer 

* 

Word Ruses, PR for a Better Life and 37 Strangers - a great morning at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Aleta baited and rused us with unusual words.  We learned that...

* TM Gail is convinced that Barbie has strong core muscles of the rippled variety strictly because she overdoses on pink outfits.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Chris practices circular fashion by dancing the hula hoop while wearing bell bottoms.

* TM Randolph doesn't like greedflation which presents  the ruse of lower prices by smaller packaging and diminished product contents.  

* TM Roslyn explained that skiplagging is, for example, flying from New York to Cayman Islands by first stopping in Fresno, California.  All for a cheaper fare!

* TM Jim G. meditates in his bathtub with music, which makes life worth living, and induces him into a soundbath trance.

* TM Beckyjo stated that prebiotic is when AI converts her salt mill into a cat and furthermore,  prebiotic leads to neurotic - and that's all, folks!

We had one prepared speech today...

* TM Marie gracefully overcame technicalities and  informed us that she is hype-saturated and no longer seeks shadow comfort in hollow echo chambers.

* By video we watched TM Luisa, winner of the 2024 international speech contest, who revealed that her 6-minute death episode provided the best sleep she's had in hears.  Forget Ambien!

Regarding our evaluation...

* Third time evaluator TM Gail found TM Marie's speech exemplary, exemplary and lastly, exemplary.  Gail will personally implement a morning thanksgiving exam.  

We had round robin feedback.about the International champion speaker:

* TM Gail liked learning that St. Peter has an IPad.

* TM Aleta pointed out that the final speech was very different than the original one.  She demands a recount! 

* TM Randolph likes humor to be interjected with tragedy.  He likes to laugh and cry at the same time.

* I, TM Ana, played Skeptic Sally.  Was the wheelchair a prop?  Can speakers tell their tales of personal tragedy and be on a level playing field with other speakers?  More will be revealed (maybe).

The Word of the Day was

RUSE (pronounced ROOZ) noun

Action intended to deceive

Example:  New couples are on best behavior as a ruse to seduce...

Due to other techniculties, the link to the recording will be sent out later on today.  Be on alert!  It's not a ruse!

See you next week,

Ana Illsen

Recap Writer

Moments in Time, Hidden Treasures and Count DeMonay - persistence is the name of the game at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

Our persistent group showed grit and determination to overcome technological glitches and reduced attendance - today we were few  but mighty nevertheless!

TM Marie led us with fun topics about moments in time.  We thus realized that...

* TM Gail is a leaf-peeper and adores the turning of the leaves up North.  She substitutes in Florida by admiring her croton plants all year long.

* TM Aleta is affected by shorter days and longer nights while pondering about the arriival of spring in Western Pennslvania.

* TM BeckyJo uses chocolate to counteract sadness, and ginormous Dandee Donuts to appease anger.  The Club is offering her a box of Dundees as a gift.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Terri welcomes snowbirds in Miami but shudders at the onslaught of traffic - she departs one hour early for a trip to the corner grocery store.  

* DTM Mary Helen is flexible with family celebrations except the major ones which fall on a specific date, when she insists and persists they must be held on exactly the right phase of the moon.

* DTM Jim reminisced about Women's Day in Russia, which had to be observed by EVERYONE. or else, if you're male, risk execution on Baltic Unity Day, which encompasses the countries of Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland.

Along came speeches...

* I, Ana, told the tale of  South Florida's rich history of bucaneers, pirates, treasure divers and other colorful characters that are displayed in Museums but do not seem to appear in city plaques. I Won Best Speaker Award.

*DTM Jim prepared a speech in under 2 minutes flat and told us about his duties as a Treasurer.  The main requirement is persistence to deal with dormant bank accounts and slow renewing members.  He keeps us as financial Distinguished President's Club.  Thank you Jim!

And along came the evaluations....

* TM Terri appreciated  me putting South Florida's history on the map but was mesmerized by the blinding light beaming up from my skull in a recreation of an intergalactic adventure.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM Gail lauded DTM Jim for explaining his duties as Treasurer and has started a movement to have other club officers explain their duties to achieve cross training.  Great idea, Gail!

The Word of the Day was

PERSISTENCE, noun

 Firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulties or opposition.

The link to the recording will be available next week.  Thanks!

See you next week,

Ana I.

Recap Writer 

Celebrations, Salt or No Salt and the Courage of Robert Smalls - a fraternal EarlyBirds meeting

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

Our TM Gail led us in intriguing Table Topics.  We discovered that...

* TM BeckyJo defies Superstition Defying Day by not practicing any superstition. on ANY day.  As a kid, she stepped on cracks which didn't breat her mother's back -which was good,  since she loved her mother anyway (most of the time).

* DTM Mary Helen is determined to master the neutral gender of the German language so she can fraternize with Fraus, Frauleins and Herrs who speak back in impeccable English.

* Guest Nysir has learned a lot online and is currently taking a Christianity History online calls. Go Nysir!

* TM Jim G.'s favorite wife and favority diving partner since 1993 has stated that she will dive Mexican cenotes (water-filled sinkholes) in the Yucatan peninsula for her 80th. Jim reminded us that everyday is Wife Appreciation Day!  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM The Tom is his own favorite barber - ever since he was in the military - but everyone was left wondering how he cuts the back of his hair.  We need a lesson, please, as we all want to save some money too!

Along came prepared speeches...

* TM Jose made clear the difference between fresh water chlorinated pools and salt water pools.  Advantages are lower annual pool maintenance costs and great savings in body lotion to offset brittle skin from chlorine.

* TM Chris told a fascinating tale of courage of Robert Smalls, born to slavery, rented out and put to work in docks, who ingeneously managed to escape slavery, eventually bought back the plantation and allowed his slaveowner's widow to live in it till she died.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

Regarding the evaluations...

* TM Jim G. was riveted by TM Jose's speech because he, TM Jim G., is riveted by salt-water pools and the internet of things.  He encouraged TM Jose to use a couple of pictures for illustration or show a selfie video swimming in the salt water pool.

* TM BeckyJo asked TM Chris to avoid Spoiler Alerts and keep us guessing if the hero will survive till the end. Also, please stimulate our senses with vivid imagery (the crashing of the waves, the deafening explosion of the cannos, the swaying sails of surrender.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

FRATERNIZE, verb

To be friendly or spend time with someone in a friendly way.

Origin of the word is latin FRATER (brother)

Example: To keep my friends close, and my  enemies closer, I need to fraternize with all of  them.

Here's the link for the recording

https://youtu.be/UHPtIdlVcBQ

See you next week!

Ana Illsen

VP Education

Fraternal Recap Writer

Olympics, Accidental Singer and Pogue Mahone - meritocracy rules at Early Birds!

Dear <e,bers. Guests and Friends,

TM BeckyJo led us in well-documented topics.  We discovered that...

* TM Jose displayed great courage in moving to the US from Spain and 25 years later moving from the US to Spain, break dancing across the pond and eating lots of Tiramisu.

* TM Marie would add a sport for courage to the Olympic refugee team who have no homes to return to.  

* TM Marc was confronted about the Brazilian torpedo who swims without arms by revealing that he was a snake handler and contrary to popular belief, snakes are not slippery unless wet.

* TM Paolo said "Porca miseria!" "Im incredible" when he gave his speech at a District Toastmaster Contest and placed third.  He's seeking that adrenalin rush again and will repeat the speech.  Grazie mille!

* DTM Mary Helen declared that Al-Anon and astrology have helped her realize that she was blind but now can see.  Like the Olympic break dancer, she focuses on joy.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

^ TN Terri focuses on spirituality and also in Al-Anon learned she is powerless over people, places and things, but there's been joy even in the hardships.

We moved on to prepared speeches...

* TM Roslyn gave an amazing icebreaker where she revealed she was an accidental singer who is now a conduit for healing and whose voice is her superpower.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

* TM The Tom talked about his family of origin who said the quintessential Irish expression Pogue Mahone - not apt for children - but sadly was a world apart from 40% of today's families.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Marc praised TM Roslyn for her well-organized icebreaker and is a fellow fan of Ella Fitzgerald, Lady of Scat,

* TM Marie enjoyed the tale of TM The Tom's unpredictable family of origin, which includes cowboys, shooters, Irish blessings and suggested a softer way to connect it to today's topsy-turvy world.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

MERITOCRACY, noun

A social system, society or organization where people are successful or have power because of their abilities, not their money or social position.

Example:  Toastmasters is truly a meritocracy.  Its synonym is Pathways....

Here's the link to the recording...

https://youtube.com/live/-QlokiS905c

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer 

Hard Topics, Communication Styles and Living in a Tree - a penchant for adventure at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

We inducted our newest member, TM Roslyn - Welcome aboard!

TM The Tom gave us a choice between hard topics and easy peasy topics, and guess what we picked...

* I, Ana, am grateful of the alphabet A to J and fully cognizant of the easy peasy life that I enjoy.

* DTM Mary Helen overcame her reluctance to physical activity and became a runner and is now a walker.

* TM Jose asserts people can change on their time, not anyone else's.  He quit smoking, moved to Spain and regained spirituality - not necessarily in that order.

* TM Jim G. has a fantastic wife and hence also has a fantastic life.  The secret is Stayin' Alive (sung to the tune of Stayin' Alive by the Gree Gees)

* TM Roslyn worked hard to chase the close - money, property, prestige.  Now she has slowed down and finds time to smell the flowers.

* TM Marie has nothing to stop her from getting what she wants and she's grateful for unplanned blessings of yesterday - dancing impromptu with husband Guy right in front of the dinner casserole bubbling on the stovetop.  She Won Best TAble Topics Award.

Along came the prepared speeches...

* TM Gail used multiple communication styles while discharging her duties as a Catholic Diocese High School Principal - addressing the elephant in the room - how to pronounce plural diocesiseseses....  She Won Best Speaker Award.

* TM BeckyJo, consummate storyteller, who is self-banned from bookstores, lived an adventure read in a book while at Hanahau'oli School in Makiki Street, Honolulu, and leading 3 classmates to learn to live in a tree in the Makatuki Mountains while hitchhiking in the opposite direction and running into Principal Gail West. She Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations are concerned...

* TM Randolph is fascinated by TM Gail's rich life while dancing at a Salsa Party with her Cuban guidance counselor and would recommend more vocal variety while singing "My Hips Don't Lie"...

* DTM Mary Helen praised TM BeckyJo's passionate, creative tale of escapism in the jungles of Hawaii and suggested BeckyJo play around with her camera so she can make eye contact with her audience during storytelling.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

PENCHANT, noun

Strongly marked taste in a person or an irresistible attraction in the objection

Example:  Wolves have a penchant for howling at the full moon.

Here is the link to the recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNViqvL-7Ek

See you next week!

Ana Illsen

Recap Writer

Fwd: Assorted topics, Parenting and Public Relations - a prolific morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

DTM Jim D. led us in assorted table topics.  We discovered that...

* I, Ana, have occasionally ventured out to other grocery stores, but inevitably I circle back to the old familiar aisles of my closest Publix.  Floridian to the core!

* TM The Tom conveniently gets gas at a station behind his favorite Publix store.  A full tank lasts him about six months from all the driving he does!

* TM Gail ran her family's restaurant at the tender age of 6 - hostessing, managing the cash register and making sure the business got repeat customers who returned in awe of her. She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Jim G. has driven his RV to all 50 states (except Hawaii, since it was not amphibious) and his favorite is Florida, while his least favorite is the Rio Grande Valley, epicenter of  the sci-fi  film Chaos for the Hoarder.

* TM Marie has no cities or airports to avoid because her philosophy is to go with the flow and turn adversities into blessings.

* TM Preeti praised LL Bean for their outstanding customer service- they take 1-year-old returns without blinking and you actually get a live person when you call in - imagine that!!!

* TM Chris's best customer service was the divemaster in Cayman Islands who dove into the depths of the ocean to retrieve Chris' prescription diving mask.  That's impressive!

* TM BeckyJo looooves Cherry Garcia, Cherry Garcia, Cherry Garcia - whiichever size she gets, she eats!  She's in a predicament when pints are buy one get one free..

Along came the prepared speeches....

* TM Randolph was voluntold by a certain DTM for this speech to tell the story of how different we are as parents with our firstborn and our baby.  We can't help but remember that insanity is hereditary - we get it from our kids!

* TM Aleta reinforced that trust and credibility are the foundation for any good Public Relations plan - and toss aside the by-laws if possible before you read them!  She Won Best Speaker Award.

In terms of the evaluations...

* TM Terri praised TM Randolph's parenting skills in finding a balance between having dreams for our kids and pushing those dreams on our kids.  Big difference!

* TM BeckyJo praised TM Aleta's spot-on facial expressions and her commitment to excellence.  She was left pondering how many coffees has Aleta had beore she signs on to EarlyBirds?? She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

PROLIFIC, adjective

Producing or able to produce large amounts

Example: When we join Toastmasters, most of us are prolific users of Umms Errs and other fillers.

Here's the link to the recording......

https://www.youtube.com/live/uBjqUSIytAU

See you next week!

Ana Illsen

VP Education