Positive Leadership and Successful Investing - a Beguiling EarlyBird Meeting

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

 

In a wildly unprecedented induction with a beguiling and elusive Breakout Room, we welcomed our very own Toastmaster Lois.  Greetings, TM Lois!!

 

TM Carmine led us in Andy Rooney quotes for table topics.  We then learned that….

 

• TM Pam compares love to those beguiling puppy eyes when you first meet, then 40 years later when you question your choice, and then 20 years after that when you rejoice in your choice, if only you could figure out who is that other person with the beguiling puppy eyes you’ve spent your life with.
• TM Jose, zooming in from Fort Lauderdale, stated that every child comes with a loaf of bread under their arm… until the age of 12, when they become beguiling demanding monsters, which led him to get a Bank of Dad Is Now Closed T-shirt that he wears on his roughest days.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.
• TM Paolo informed us that sitting at the peak of the mountain is not only uncomfortable but also lonely.  The climbing is more fun although then you must inevitably hike down from the pike.
• TM Lois stated that she definitely improves her look inexpensively with a smile; in fact, she always smiles – even when it hurts.

 

 

In the prepared speeches….

 

• TM Marie reminded us that optimistic people work more, while pessimistic people worry more and at the end, it all boils down to 2 questions:  can I trust you?  Do you care about me?  Ah… therein lies the dilemma…. Until you find out, develop GRIT and look around with those beguiling puppy eyes….
• TM Jeff convinced me to implement new daily behaviors:   From now, I will resist market dips and swings, work on my risk tolerance, study the regulations of FINRA and SEC, manage volatility, give up trying  to outperform markets, remember that less friction yields better performance (also a good marriage formula) and will memorize the attached smart diversification prior to our next meeting.  He Won Best Speaker Award.

 

And along came evaluations…

 

• TM Randolph posed a critical question to TM Marie:  bullet points or pointed bullets?  The answer indicates whether her hand gestures were adequate.
• TM Aleta praised TM Jeff’s sincerity and credibility; however, some of us are not astute financial foxes, so please break down your speech into at least 10 individual speeches to help us accept and embrace the collective wisdom.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

 

The Word of the Day was

 

BEGUILING, adj.

Charming or enchanting, often in a deceptive way.

 

Example:  Beguiling Samantha of the TV series “Bewitched” moved heaven and earth with a simple wiggle of her nose.  Ah…. Life was so much simpler then!

 

Dates to Remember:

 

• Our Evaluation Contest will be held next Thursday, August 12, Breakout Rooms permitting.  TM Lois will double up as Test Speaker and Icebreaker Speaker.

 

• The Humorous Speech Contest will be held on Thursday September 16 so Kip can explain us the hows and whys of the contest after returning from a 2-week visit to a Breakout Room.

 

See you next week!

 

Ana

Recap Writer

 

 

 

 

Team Players, A Toast to Early Birds, Mr. Olive Oil and a Eulogy - a fabulous Early Bird meeting!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

Catching us totally off base, TM Marie raised baseball legend David Ross’s points about good teamplayers.  We discovered that…

• TM Randolph stays present and fully engaged by actually listening to his wife.   What a rare and precious gift!
• TM Jose is being a good teamplayer by assisting his attorney non-techie friend to reinstall WhatsApp which is critical for business in Spain.
• TM Joe stated that being a non-blaming problem-solver is the story of his life.  He is drawn to problems like a fly to the light.
• TM Chris stays positive, mainly because she doesn’t use FB too much.  She stated that No Whining Allowed is her motto, as TM Jim cleared his throat…
• I, Ana, build relationships with challenging, combative, cantankerous people by focusing on the commonalities and ignoring the rest.  I Won Best Table Topics Award.
• TM Tom explained that he is like a bee – attracted to the honey in flowers, not to vinegar in a salad – and he is fun and approachable himself.

We had some fabulous speeches today…

• Outgoing President TM Jeff gave a beautiful tribute to our EarlyBird club, mentioning each of us by name and listing our individual contributions for the good of the Club.  Where is the wizard?  As a true wizard, he came and went – maybe into the wardrobe? Thank you, Jeff.  You have been a great President!
• Master Chef TM Paolo gave a delicious demonstration of Genie in a Bottle, creating a symphony of flavors and a carnival in the mouth.  It’s called Mr. Olive Oil – and is soon to be available as an intravenous drip to dissolve pesky arterial plaque created by Denny’s Skillets.  He Won Best Speaker Award.
• TM Aleta delivered a heartfelt, emotional and humorous eulogy of a woman who could be called many names but not be called late for dinner. She had many sisters, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and lived a good life, leaving others enriched.  In a new career move, Aleta is now Eulogizer For Hire.  Free estimates, moderate prices.

The evaluations….

• TM Tom praised TM Jeff for parceling out a well-crafted toast in a very short time and for his tenure as Prez of our Club.  Jeff served us well during a challenging transition from pre-virtual to virtual reality, and he did it all with a button-down shirt.  Great job, Jeff!  Early Bird Club thanks you!
• DTM Kip loved TM Paolo’s speech which he entitled “The Quest of the Holy Grail” and pointed out that (Mr.) Olive Oil is a male.  By Kip’s  own admission, as a gringo he can’t help but automatically focus on the gender of inanimate objects.
• TM Chris was inspired by TM Aleta’s humorous eulogy which lightened the mood and was chock-full of details in spite of not having personally known the decedent.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.   

The Word of the Day was

NARNIA, noun

Fictitious and magical land

Example: Russian witches sing Ochichornia (Black Eyes) when they fly on their brooms to Narnia to buy a new wardrobe for their pet lions.

Link to the recording - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6BY9bl4xTQ

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Captain Grammar, Acceptance and Memories - fun confusion at EarlyBirds

 

Dear Members, Friends and Guests,

 

TM Aleta started us off with popcorn-style eulogies at the funeral of Captain Grammar, lying lifelessly before our very eyes. 

 

• TM Pam reminisced about her favorite hero – Sleeping Beauty, who had to deal with Seven Dwarfs.  All Pam’s granddaughter wants to know is why can’t Granma cook?
• DTM Kip embarked on a dissertation of daily deficiencies as a husband which ultimately took the life of the dearly departed Captain.
• TM Tom pointed out that the Captain called his ex-wives Plaintiffs since he has forgotten all their names.  There’s just too much bourbon in Kentucky.
• TM Jeff is planning his bachelor party in St. Augustine where the Fountain of Youth recently gushes out bourbon.
• TM Jim G. does not imbibe bourbon and is Captain Grammar himself, alive and well.
• DTM Jim D. realized Captain Grammar died because he couldn’t follow Table Topic instructions, moved to Las Vegas and got heavily into debt.  DTM Jim pondered if Captain Grammar was assisted by another in his demise – as he was unable to pay his EarlyBird dues…
• DTM Mary Helen was appalled at the emotionally frozen paid mourners at this wake, and stated that Captain Grammar died because of the current state of the grammar lexicon.   She Won Best Table Topics Award.

 

Along came prepared speeches…

 

• TM Jeff accepted the Presidency of another Club where he wants to emulate a polifacetic member.  He Won Best Speaker Award.
• In a tandem ride, TM Jose and TM Ana took us down their memory lane, back to high school in the ketchup-deficient, Wonderless Bread, ice-cube averse, free-flowing beer tap miniskirt universe that was Madrid in the 60s.

 

Regarding evaluations….

 

• DTM Kip encouraged TM Jeff to rally the troops to support him since they’re a captive audience anyway.
• DTM Mary Helen praised TM Jose’s presentation skills and how they evoked her own shared memories of miniskirts, long haired musicians, drugs and rock & roll.  Tudo Bem, Tudo Bom, as they say in Portuguese.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.
• TM Tom missed the sex part in drugs and rock & roll in today’s speech but is looking forward to enjoying the sprinkles on a chocolate frosted doughnut while listening  to the sequel.

 

 

To add to the confusion, The Word of the Day was

 

LIE

As opposed to LAY, LIED, LAIN

 

Lay is a verb that commonly means “to put or set (something) down.” Lie is a verb that commonly means “to be in or to assume a horizontal position” (or “to make an untrue statement,” but we’ll focus on the first definition). In other words, lay takes a direct object, and lie does not. As for the misconceptions, well, when you look at the two verbs next to each other in different tenses, it becomes a bit more obvious where the confusion is.

 

Example:  We hereby officially declare childhood nursery rhyme “As I lay me down to sleep” and myriads of songs such as  “Lay, Lady, Lay” “As I lay down” FORMALLY CANCELLED.

 

Elections are next week!  You must be present to decline.  Just sayin’…..

 

link to recording:    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VINws3Jxso

 

See you next week!

 

Ana

Recap Writer

Idioms, Icebreaker, Patio Control and The Hills of Tipperary, a fun morning at Early Birds

 

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

 

TM Carmine chose his favorite American idioms as Table Topics.  We discovered that…

 

• TM Jim G. is tired of all the red tape he encounters everywhere except when he wants to do some Christmas gift-wrapping – then it’s nowhere to be found.
• TM Paolo thinks in order to drive a hard bargain, in Italy you must practice the old Renaissance adage “qui la dura, la vince”.  He resolutely parla italiano until the red light appears.
• DTM Mary Helen has crushed some people’s Achilles’ heel but later mended fences by gifting them a free pedicure.
• TM Joe’s Dad thought Joe found his buddies and dates by scraping the bottom of the barrel.  Ahhhh those lovely teenage years….
• TM Marie likes dressing to the nines and dreams of her husband daintily carrying her from her beach chaise to the ocean, much like the beach boys did to Bo in the timeless movie “10”. 
• I (Ana) did not know the origin of passing the buck, I simply know that in Spain it’s a national pastime and you don’t have to scrape the bottom of the barrel to injure your heel.   I Won Best Table Topics Award For Most Incomprehensible Table Topic.
• DTM Jim D. prefers to be in the front seat, namely Harley, not Davidson.

 

And then came the anticipated speeches…

 

• TM Randolph delighted us with a lovely icebreaker, where his faith, loyalty, kindness and gentleness shone through.  Like many of us, he’s on a pilgrimage to find the User Manual for Parents.  He Won Best Speaker Award.
• TM Jeff was literally all hands on deck to fix his crumbling yard and patio, where his little dog stuck her paw.  PETA intervened, sent along Manuel and his Dos Amigos, who bought the equivalent of Mt Everest worth of sod, and the rest, as they say, is fodder for Pathways.
• TM Tom took us on a pilgrimage of his Pathways trajectory, starting with the sinking of the Costa Concordia to be blamed on the Captain’s paramour, a bella signora de la notte, only to realize that It’s a long way to Tipperary.

 

As far as evaluations…

 

• TM Tom praised TM Randolph for creating a strong emotional connection through the screen and delivering a nearly perfect speech ironically titled “Why I’m Not Perfect”.
• TM Marie commended TM Jeff for motivating us to take another look at our decades-long To Do Lists – and then set them aside.  Gusto will give it added zest!!  She Won Best Evaluator Award.
• DTM Kip said to TM Tom that the secret to success is to knock off a Pathways project conclusion a year, and the rest is a mere pilgrimage.

 

TM Paolo, as first-time Zoom Master, delivered a full baritono rendition of the opera O Sole Mio, A Virtual Background.  Congratulazioni!

 

The Word of the Day was

 

PILGRIMAGE, noun

The journey of a pilgrim, especially one to a shrine or sacred place.

 

Example:  In the olden days, Early Bird Toastmasters undertook a pilgrimage to The Shrine of Denny’s every Thursday morning, rain or shine - Thanksgiving Day (reluctantly) excluded.

 

 

Here’s the link to today’s YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a00CgAz96n8

 

 

See you next week!

 

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Quotable quotes, Fixing Healthcare and Lady in Pink - a good trifecta at Toastmasters!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

 

TM Aleta started us with inspirational quotes.  We soon realized that….

 

• TM Jim G. experienced a reverse career: he owned a restaurant but dreamed of being a waiter.  He had to fake it till he could make it – and those hefty tips came in handy too!
• I, Ana, usually practice “do what I’ve always done and I’ll get what I always got” until I get a bloody forehead from crashing against the same wall.
• TM Jim D. fondly reminisced about driving around Florida in his vintage Mustang convertible with the top down.  Now he’s into Harleys, so his whole body rides al fresco.
• TM Marie likes to sprinkle herself with pixie dust and head for an evening full of wonder and magic at the Disney channel.
• TM Lorena so enjoys those moments that take her breath away – a beautiful sunrise, a lovely sunset, the flowers in the garden, the joy of being alive!
• Soon-to-be EarlyBird TM Randolph fully concurs that the secret of getting ahead is to get started.  As the saying goes, “the journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step”
• DTM Mary Helen agrees that it’s better to keep your mouth shut and be taken for a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.  She’s lost a lot of friends for not practicing this.
• DTM Kip thinks the 20% left of the 80% that happens in a successful life is showing up at your Toastmasters meeting, even from a moving car and with no phone holder.
• TM Pam is married to someone from the (annoying) school of thought of “ask, search, knock” to find lost keys.  Note from author:  I, for one, am married to one of those too ….   She Won Best Table Topics Award.

 

And then came the prepared speeches….

 

• TM Jeff managed to fix our broken healthcare system in 5 to 7 minutes.  We unanimously vote to make him Secretary of Health and Human Resources ipso facto and be done with it.   He Won Best Speaker Award.
• I, Ana, managed to win the award for most egregious overuse of the word pink in a single speech in the history of Toastmasters International.

 

As for evaluations….

 

• TM Tom praised TM Jeff for his well-organized, vitally clear as mud speech and compared it to the banquets he, Tom, usually eats at 7Eleven.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.
• DTM Mary Helen, a faithful Mary Kay fan, liked the ironic tone of my speech and most importantly complimented my pink blouse.

 

TM Jose, first timer as Toastmaster of the Day, kept the meeting running smoothly and flawlessly.

 

The Word of the Day was

 

GRATITUDE, noun

 

The act of being humbly grateful.   The opposite of arrogantly greatful….

 

Ex.  Gratitude is a good deterrent for self-pity.

 

See you next week!

 

Ana I.

Recap Writer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quotable quotes, HOA Hedges and Networking Follies - a fun morning at EarlyBirds

 

 Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

Commemorating Black History Month, TM Marie raised some notable quotes.

• TM Joe often exudes confusion due to shyness and coaches no less than 125 rowdy kids that propel him onto his field of dreams.
• TM Paolo doesn't limit himself by the limited imagination of others and that's what successfully landed him in Miami 25 years ago, and counting….
• TM Lorena confirmed that timing is always right when you're taking care of yourself and not concerned about others.
• TM Carmine asked us to hold fast to our dreams and help each other fly.  He's tired of hanging out with turkeys.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.
• TM Chris is made to feel that what other people say or do is mostly not worth remembering. 
• TM Pam thinks character is power when you have time to use it – certainly not when raising kids and surviving.  Now she's finally thriving.

 

Along came the prepared speeches…

 

• TM Tom felt like the out spoke (no pun intended) of the wheel but an angel who shall remain nameless (for now) steered him into becoming President of his HOA.  Tom is currently focused on Hedge Trimming for Pathways.
• TM Jeff wrote a letter to a legendary favorite coach who taught him to eat the breakfast of champions! He Won Best Speaker Award.
• DTM (Dinosaur ToastMaster) Kip, speaking from a Honda Dealership on the Bay just north of Key West, gave us a 3-minute crash course on storytelling for non-profits.

 

As far as evaluations go….

 

• DTM Mary Helen revealed she is the angel protagonist of Tom's speech – or was it perhaps her twin?  Tom's HOA adventure is irrefutably called Hedging your Hedges.
• TM Joe exuded vulnerability revealing how TM Jeff's speech touched him at his core and, once again,  stirred up his lifelong addiction to the Jets.   He Won Best Evaluator Award.
• TM Pam praised DTM Kip for coming out of the dark (to the tune of Coming Out of the Dark by Gloria Estefan) and reflecting on his latest – never last - networking event.

 

The Word of the Day was

 

EXUDE, verb

 

1. To ooze out
2. To display conspicuously or abundantly.

 

Ex:  If a sticky substance abundantly oozes a pine tree smell, it's definitely a scented candle.

 

TM Chris took a poll about creating polls and the results surpassed polling expectations.  Now a speech is in the imminent future (ie next week).

 

Below is the link to today's recording:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KRL-lpm4fQ

 

Ana I

Recap Writer

 

My Way, Hand Gestures and The Proposal - a fun morning at EarlyBirds!

 I, (Ana) introduced Profound Revelations as Table Topics.  Hence we learned that…

 

• TM Marie does have a magical bed where To Do lists get promptly completed… and then she wakes up!
• TM BeckyJo wants to buy a home in Miami formerly owned by a Cocaine Cowboy and find a serious stash of bills buried under a tropical palm tree.   She Won Best Table Topics Award.
• TM Aleta thoroughly enjoys being in the best company – herself, and doing something productive -  I can think of knitting a coat out of dog hair?
• TM Paolo confessed that his favorite activity is sitting on a park bench laughing at joggers – as we all know, laugher is healthier than jogging.
• TM Denis suffered a panic attack at the thought of skydiving and instead got stuck in traffic on the way to Toast of Las Olas.
• Guest Lorena compared her life to falling into the same pothole repeatedly and euphemistically called it experience.
• TM Jim G. blames the pandemic for his morning drinking but still manages to keep accurate time at the group.  Hey, it’s five o’clock somewhere, especially with Zoom!

 

We heard some outstanding speeches from the renowned “Jingston Trio”…

 

• TM Jose took us on an amazing visual travelog to The Way (Pilgrimage Route for foodies to the burial site of St. James- aka Santiago).  Sign up for a tour at Jose’s virtual travel agency!  He Won Best Speaker Award.
• TM Joe made a clear distinction of what can be a friendly gesture anywhere and the same, not-so-friendly gesture in NYC.  It’s just a geopolitical zoning thing.
• TM Jeff succumbed to parental and societal pressure and proposed marriage (he calls it pulling the trigger) to his beloved at Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth.  So far it’s working – we all know it’s all about the design of the ring!

 

As far as evaluations go….

 

• TM Carmine was so impressed with TM Jose’s speech that uncharacteristically, he actually ended up his evaluation on time.  The room was speechless!
• TM Tom praised TM Joe for his wit, his eloquence and his screen share of the unforgettable Gina Lollobrigida. 
• TM Chris lauded TM Jeff for making the decision to propose and in so doing, has lightened the load for some of us – who at times do want to pull the trigger… on The Knot!  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

 

The Word of the Day was

 

PANDEMIC, adjective

Epidemic over a large area

 

Ex.  The pandemic has created pandemonium and the idle overuse of Immodium has caused an excess of acrimonium.

 

Here’s the link to the recording:

 

https://www.facebook.com/EarlyBirdToastmaster/videos/3357436951052480

 

See you next week!

 

Ana

Recap Writer

Obscure holidays, Greek Life, Teamwork and Around the World in 80 days

 

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

 

TopicMaster Jim G. helped us uncover and discover some obscure but highly meaningful December holidays, sadly overshadowed by the commercialism of the better-known ones.

 

• TM Denis – soon formally joining EarlyBirds and already voluntold to multitask – wistfully pondered about a world made of sidewalks lined with fruit trees to feed hungry children.  Then they would all grow up to be well-nourished Applebee’s servers.
• I (Ana) reminisced about crisis days in my past when a good friend would direct me to take relaxing bubble baths – if only to get me off the phone- until she discovered that I don’t have any bathtubs at home.  I am a bathtub-deprived member of American society and my mental health is solid proof of the dire consequences.
• TM Tom vehemently protested against the fact that there is only one single solitary National Cotton Candy Day and bitterly decries being so limited by arbitrary impositions.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.
• Guest Lorena gave us a mouthwatering description of childhood family evenings savoring grandma’s exquisite hot chocolate.  Great job, Lorena!
• TM Marie is baffled by the quandary of making up her mind about which of many projects to take on.   Clearing out her drawers or planting an orchard in her back yard* (*see first table topics).  More will be revealed.

 

We heard some fabulous prepared speeches…

 

• TM Jeff told us that after exerting himself pretending to be who he was not during his fraternity years, Greek Life taught him to be a results-oriented, proud introvert.  Authenticity is the name of the game.  Note from Recap Writer:  Did anyone else notice that he’s also somewhat obsessed with the Masters?  He Won Best Speaker Award.
• TM Pam – a.k.a. Woman of La Mancha - is leading a nearly impossible quest – to gather her family for a conflict-free double birthday party and Thanksgiving Day dinner.  Note from Recap Writer:  I can recommend some good Orlando-area mental health professionals for the aftermath.
• TM Chris led us in a bright and visual map of her life full of adventuresome destinations and she offered to dance the hula for us in the near future.

 

As far as evaluations go…

 

• TM Aleta praised TM Jeff for sharing another part of his life with us and pointed out the adage “To Thine Own Self Be True” by old Billy S.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.
• TM Tom extolled  TM Pam’s loyalty to those now seemingly passe virtues of love of family and of eating pumpkin pie with whipped cream for breakfast.
• TM Carmine highlighted TM Chris’ wanderer soul and looks forward to more speeches about lawful lobster-catching in the non-Caribbean seas.

 

 

 

The Word of the Day was

 

TRADITION, noun

 

A tradition is a belief or behavior passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past.

A component of folklore, common examples include holidays or impractical but socially meaningful clothes, but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as greetings.

 

Below is the recording for the meeting:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTTOiiRRgEE

 

See you next week!

Ana

Recap Writer

History, Bloggers and Mentoring, fun was palpable at EarlyBirds today!

 

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

 

TM Tom started us off with quaint expressions.  We learned that…

 

• TM Marie will build dream catchers to catch evil spirits… just for the devil of it!
• DTM Mary Helen likes to take on a dare if given half a chance, or was it her evil twin who didn’t chicken out?  We never know who’s who.
• TM Carmine thinks we are all pretty as a picture on the screen and marvels at the fact that our Timer (TM Jose) transcends space and time.
• TM Denis just threw out a bunch of old buckets this very week because they simply don’t hold water anymore.
• TM BeckyJo, like her mother did with her, asks her 150 foreign children “What part of No don’t you understand?” and in fact they don’t even understand the question because that’s why they’re foreigners.  “Mirror mirror on the wall, I am my mother, after all”. 
• I (Ana) and all the neighborhood dogs have picked up our ears at the piercing whistling of my husband’s old hearing aids.  Thankfully he got himself a new pair.  I Won Best Table Topics Award.
• TM Aleta pondered whether the inside track refers to planes, trains or automobiles, and after much pondering decided to stay on the inside track of Toastmasters.

 

As for the prepared speeches…

 

• TM Jeff gave us a history of his hometown Portland, CT, once the cradle of brownstone quarries but in more recent times, caved (no pun intended) to the advent of Portland Cement (which originates in the Isle of Portland, UK, not in Portland, Oregon, the latter being nothing more than palpable name plagiarizers of Portland, CT).
• TM Chris has discovered that the secret to success in blogging is not to repeat secrets, so listen carefully, she will only tell you once.
• DTM Kip said mentoring is the palpable dream of Toastmasters’ High Command and differs from New Member Orientation.  The answer is that when the teacher is ready, the student appears.   He Won Best Speaker Award.

 

And then we got to the evaluations….

 

• TM Carmine suggested more passion and vigor in TM Jeff’s fascinating tale of brownstone quarries and shipbuilding.
• DTM Jim D. was at a loss for words because TM Chris’s speech was a perfect oral blog and hence his evaluation skills were palpably superfluous.
• TM Joe thoroughly enjoys DTM Kip’s casual style delivery and will adopt Kip’s philosophy of total contempt for those who disagree with Kip.   He Won Best Evaluator Award.

 

The Word of the Day was

 

 

PALPABLE, adjective

 

A feeling so intense it seems almost plausible

Able to be touched or felt.

 

The camaraderie among EarlyBirds this morning was palpable.

 

Our Tech Host, TM Jim G., informed us that poll voting is anonymous, so let’s not be bashful - we can unabashedly vote for ourselves!!

 

In honor of Halloween, next week is our SPOOKY meeting.   Bring a spooky Table Topics, a spooky Speech, a spooky Evaluation.  Dress up or be your usual self – anything goes.  Seriously,  let’s have some spooky fun!!!

Herding Cats, Relationships and Old Dogs - a fun morning at Early Birds

 

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

 

TM Mildred flexed our claustrocovid muscles this morning.  Herein our “Closed Encounters of the Covid Kind”…. (Trademark owned by TM Aleta)

 

• I (Ana) self-designated homebody am thoroughly claustrofree as long as I don’t step into crowded elevators.
• DTM Jim D. is not claustrocovid as long as people keep a distance of 6 ft from him.  His breath of open space is a wild motorcycle ride he will take as soon as he leaves this meeting.
• TM Jim G. could safely tech host from a closed basement because he’s had ample training scuba diving in deep dark caverns.
• DTM Kip revealed that while on his honeymoon cruise, to avoid claustrocabin, he played things right on his wedding night by spending the night with his beloved up on deck.  It’s made the marriage last.  Securely enclaved by a Dungeons & Dragons or Game of Thrones backdrop, Kip said he simply looooves the light. Go figure.
• DTM Mary Helen grew up in open spaces; her many imaginary friends rescued her from small box enclosures and turned into an evil twin which occasionally interposes herself between Mary Helen and EarlyBirds.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

 

We then moved on to prepared speeches…

 

• TM Tom packed a wagonload of EarlyBird monkeys and took us to the Pathways circus.  The magic unfolded and several of us achieved multilevels in our Pathways journey.  Very sly, TM Tom!!
• TM Jeff regaled us with wise advice about healthy relationships… between his Corgi Queen, Daisy Mae, and her little brother, Roomba Dobby, who chases her hair all over the house.
• TM Pam confessed that her rogue cat is indifferent to learning time, he’d rather miaaaauuu loudly when hungry.  Pam is proving that you CAN teach an old dog (Pam) new tricks (Pathways) and that helps her to continue to like her hubby.  This too shall pass.   She Won Best Speaker Award.

 

As far as evaluations….

 

• DTM Kip admired TM Tom’s ability to herd cats (formerly monkeys, aka us) and teach us how to game Pathways.
• TM Marie expressed awe that TM Jeff’s Corgi Daisy barked on cue for his speech.  Ah,  these royal breeds are just so used to public speaking….  She Won Best Evaluator Award.
• TM Carmine praised TM Pam for her capacity to organize thoughts and reveal aspects of her life and times in a humorous, coherent way.  Sister Pam, TM Carmine loves you!! (In case you didn’t know).

 

The Word of the Day was

 

INTERPOSE, verb

 

1. Intervene between parties.
2. Place or insert one thing and another

 

Example:  DTM Mary Helen had some difficulty to interpose the WOD between her and her audience, but in the end she triumphantly screen shared it!

 

Below is the link for this week’s recording.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k62fjGDZ0iw

 

See you next week!

 

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Wisdom of the (S)ages, Non-Brutal Communication and Great Relationships, a fun morning at EarlyBirds

 Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

 

TM Carmine started us off with some wisdom for the (s)ages.  We thus learned that…

 

• TM Aleta was surprised by her rapacious dog Bogart who last night said to her, amid a cloud of cigarette smoke  “We’ll always have Paris”… She brought him to Toastmasters instead.
• I (Ana) confessed that after 39 years of marriage and 4 months of confinement,  it’s best not buy too much Miracle Gro for character defects, they have taken on a life of their own.
• TM Pam almost went the extra State when she missed an exit and instead of Gainesville, almost ended up in Georgia.  How’s a GPS to know the difference between two Gs???
• TM Joe conceded that he doesn’t act his age and gladly so because he doesn’t intend to, either.  He’s determined to continue growing young.
• TM Tom asks himself every day “What the kale is kale?” Here’s the good news, Tom.  You’re not alone - most of us do, too!
• DTM Mary Helen often ponders what her life may have been like had she made different mistakes.  The possibilities are endless.  She was not a good teenager and she does not consider herself a good oldager – so what’s next?  She is already working on a sequel to her unwritten memoirs.
• TM Jeff vehemently refuted the idea that millennials will write history with misspellings and no punctuation.  What is autocorrect for?
• TM Marie revealed that being an adult is realizing that you are Santa Claus. There’s nowhere else to turn.  Christmas is her favorite time of the year although it makes a deep hole in her pocket.   She Won Best Table Topics Award.
• TM Jose holds frequent staff meetings with the committee in his head – he calls the meeting to order, he listens, he answers himself. Lately he tries to bounce things off like-minded people who corroborate that he needs to emphasize the adjourning portion of the meetings.

 

 

In the prepared speeches….

 

• TM Joe has worked long and hard on Pathways to discover his communication style – it has now evolved from sarcasm and boredom while listening to others to dry humor and motivational one-liners.  The fashionable  face masks have helped Joe  to suppress yawns without getting noticed.  He Won Most Improved Speaker Award.
• TM Jeff shared his best advice for a successful relationship:  Get a dog that doesn’t shed while dancing the Roomba.   He Won Best Speaker Award.

 

And then came evaluations…

 

• TM Marie commended TM Joe for his clever way of making this Pathways project appealing and fun for the rest of us, thanks to his use of humor and his vivacious Italian hand movements which remind her of her husband. She Won Best Evaluator Award.
• DTM Kip gave a few tips to TM Jeff about making his speech less analytical and more of a kneeslapper with the use of a Furminator, starring a young Arnold Schwarzenegger.

 

The Word of the Day was

 

RAPACIOUS, adjective

1. Having or showing a strong or excessive desire to acquire money or possess things.  Greedy.
2. Living by killing prey, especially in large numbers.
3. Taking things by force; plundering.

 

The meeting recording may be accessed here:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwQXM6VUACM

 

 

See you next week!

 

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Seclusion jubilation, Titan Toastmasters, Homebuying 101 and Amiguita, Drop Your Weapons - EarlyBird Zoomers

 

Dear Members, Guests and Friends:

 

DTM Jim D. stirred us awake with memories of seclusion while slowly re-emerging with jubilation:

 

• TM Joe has been vigorously doing pushups and situps but his 9-lb weight loss is a result of a professional haircut, aptly named HAIRVID-19. 
• Virtual reality has allowed TM Jim G. to synchronize Happy Hours with friends in other time zones – hey, it must be 5 o’clock somewhere – and besides, you just fall over anywhere in your house without any inconvenient driving, for Covid’s sake.  DUIs have significantly decreased with the advent of Zoom.
• Returning TM Ellen witnessed domestic violence from customers who went Postal at the Post Office – very apropos- and took it outside, the long line of customers following them  – forget shipping the package- to watch the unjubilant couple drive off with the wife sitting on the hood of the car.   Just goes to show the Post Office will always be the Post Office, quarantine or no quarantine.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.
• TM Aleta has lively conversations with her appliances, but she has some heated exchanges with her low bandwidth, unstable wifi computer that are not fit to print.  Beautiful flowers are a good tradeoff, though.
• Guest Terri has a stuffed pet which constantly reminds her she’s not alone.  After years of therapy, she  is considering getting a real pet soon.  Terri has reduced her Ahs by 50% since last week.  Go Terri!!
• TM BeckyJo pondered whether a hermit knows he’s actually in quarantine or not.  One of her friends – and we won’t mention any names – has inspired her to start a new 12-step program for Zoom addicts.
• If she only had the time…. TM Chris knows without the shadow of a doubt that there is simply never never never ever enough time, but that’s because Procrastination is her middle name.  More on that story, later… (pun intended).

 

Then came the prepared speeches…

 

• TM Jeff talked about how fortunate he is to have landed in EarlyBirds, a club that has structure and continuity.  As our incoming President, he is following in the steps of Titans, ie TM Carmine, and will lead the club to a hybrid, all- inclusive world of Denny’s skillets and geographically-challenged  Zoomers.
• TM Lisa compared selling/buying a home to riding a wave. She gave us very practical tips, namely depersonalize, detach, sniff for realtor selfishness, and concluded that just like the old adage “men are like buses, there will be another one in 10 minutes,” so are homes. She Won Best Speaker Award.
• TM Astrid transmitted peaceful thoughts and challenged us to let down our weapon of anger, which no longer serves us, to uncover our pain, sadness and confusion. She Won Most Improved Speaker Award.

 

We had great evaluations…

 

• TM Joe commended TM Jeff for a good speech and pointed out that the Rev Al Sharpton is shorter than he appears in our rearview mirror, so don’t count on him to reach up to high shelves.
• TM BeckyJo spoke on behalf of many of us by praising the cohesion and organization of TM Lisa’s speech. She didn’t have to remind herself to “Be Kind” because it was the opposite of a rambling speech. She Won Best Evaluator Award.
• DTM Mary Helen praised TM Astrid for the passion in her speech, her feelings were in plain sight for all to see, and her self-reflection and introspection shows a lot of jubilation (TM Carmine was in 7^th heaven with all the rhymes and alliterations).

 

An impromptu segment has been added to our meeting regarding Zoom Practical Tips.  Discussion ensued and no definitive conclusion was reached as to whether our camera presence ought to emulate TV anchorpeople or simply emulate British character actors on stage.  Both easy choices. More to follow.

 

The Word of the Day was

 

JUBILATION, noun

Feelings of great happiness

Ex. Queen Elizabeth II recently celebrated her Golden Jubilation (Jubilee?)

 

Please allow me to digress and ramble. In Spain, retirement is called Jubilacion (probable origin: jubilation one feels when retiring)

 

Here is the link to the YouTube recording, https://youtu.be/RxJEv1cobVA

 

See you next week!

 

Ana I.

Recap Writer