The meeting began with introductions and welcoming attendees, including Marie's daughter Valentina. Pam led the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, followed by Gail sharing a joke. Randolph announced that the format would be different, including a word of the day ("courage") and self-introductions, starting with Marie Rock.
Anna Tribute and Celebration Meeting
The meeting was a tribute to Anna, with Toastmasters and guests sharing memories and expressing admiration for her courage and contributions. Many speakers highlighted Anna's strength, authenticity, and the wisdom she shared about Cuban history and personal experiences. The gathering served as a celebration of Anna's life and the impact she had on those around her, with participants expressing gratitude for her friendship and leadership. The conversation ended with plans to start the formal agenda, including a video presentation.
Anna's Speech Compilation Presentation
Marie Rock presented a 13-minute video compilation of Anna's speeches, which Chris Gould and Jim Gould had created by collecting recorded speeches since April 2020. The video showcased Anna's legendary recaps and humorous moments from Early Bird Toastmasters meetings, including her stories about wearing masks, the origin of Fort Lauderdale's nickname, and her journey to joining Toastmasters in 2009 after receiving encouragement from friend Peggy Gallagher.
Early Birds Toastmasters Club Meeting
The video shared Ana's journey with the Early Birds Toastmasters club, describing how she joined after being impressed by the meetings and eventually held multiple leadership roles. She then shared personal stories about her Cuban heritage and family traditions, including how her mother used food to express love and care, and how her health habits evolved over time. Randolph Bastien and Chris discussed the video presentation, with Chris suggesting they should have arranged to serve flan in honor of the occasion at their former Denny's meeting location. The meeting then continued with Veronica Wininger's eulogy for Anna, describing her as a wordsmith who wrote three books and shared her experiences from Cuba, Spain, and America.
Anna Ilson Memorial Tribute Meeting
The meeting was a tribute to Anna Ilson, a long-standing member of Early Bird Toastmasters who passed away recently. Several speakers, including David, Aleta, Marie, and Becky Jo, shared memories of Anna's dedication to the club, her role as Vice President of Education, and her legendary meeting recaps. The speakers highlighted Anna's values of connection, generosity, and authenticity, as well as her impact on welcoming new members and fostering a sense of community within the club. The conversation ended with reflections on Anna's legacy and a commitment to continuing her spirit through the club's activities.
Anna Ilson Toastmasters Tribute Meeting
The meeting was a tribute to Anna Ilson, a beloved member of the Toastmasters club who passed away recently. Distinguished Toastmasters Mary Helen Day and Pam shared personal memories of Anna, highlighting her dedication to the club, her meticulous speech preparation, and her unique humor. RandolphBastien, the meeting president, expressed gratitude for Anna's courage and leadership, especially during Kip Barkley's transition, and encouraged the club to continue shining in her memory. The conversation ended with a message of support to Anna's family and friends, emphasizing the importance of finding strength in the face of loss.
Anna Memorial Tribute Meeting
The meeting was a tribute to Anna, with participants sharing memories and expressing gratitude for her impact on their lives. Jose shared a story about Anna's love for birdwatching at Lake George, comparing it to how her presence and "beautiful call" would be missed. The group discussed plans for Anna's memorial service on Saturday, with Jose promising to share a link for those who cannot attend in person. The conversation ended with thanks to RandolphBastien for organizing the tribute and plans to reconvene for the next meeting agenda at a later time.
TM David started us off with very intriguing future time travel....
We learned that...
* TM Veronica would use her extra 6 hours a day -thanks to robotic housework- buying fresh groceries, cooking healthy meals, tending her garden (what plants?) and sleeping more, for sure!
* I, Ana, would like ingratiating scientists to prolong life to 150 years in a healthy condition and I would give my kids money periodically to avoid getting arsenic in my coffee...
* TM Marie is concerned that her STDs may be publicized in LinkedIn... who cares about her cholesterol??? She Won Best Table Topics Award.
* TM Pam realizes that we can't understand the life before our time - she went from an early calculator to talking to her bathroom fixtures - who cares about passwords?
* TM Aleta stated that her best years were from 45 to 55, old enough to know best, young enough to enjoy things...
* TM Christina would investigate new hobbies, volunteer, train, travel (locally?) if she had 11 extra hours a day due to hologram meetings instead of the current tedious in-person ones.
* TM BeckyJo would sing nursery rhymes if brain to text technology came about, to keep her internal monologue from getting out... because her mind is a dangerous place!
Along came the prepared speeches...
* TM Jose explained that our minds love narrative patterns and we give meaning to chaos. We at times suffer from apophenia - making connections that don't exist. Along came Sartre and Camus and complicated things with their existentialism, for Pete's sake!
* TM Marie calmly set forth how we need to have a growth mindset because otherwise we practice self-imposing limitations. She did a great job in spite of some pesky talkers, interrupters and arguers in the audience. She Won Most Improved Speaker Award.
As far as evaluations go...
* TM Randolph commended TM Jose for his good vocal variety and encouraged him to repeat the speech with his legendary PowerPoint slides and adding specific scenarios. He Won Best Evaluator Award.
* TM BeckyJo praised TM Marie for being calm and steady in the face of disruption, "nothing rocks the Rock" and, in an attempt to incite more chaos in the group, TM BeckyJo suggested that in the future an unscripted member interrupts the speech.
The Word of the Day was
INGRATIATE, verb
To gain favor or approval by being or doing what (we think) others want us to be.
Example: As I get older, I no longer actively seek to ingratiate myself with others as much.
We true EarlyBirds were pleasantly surprised by a brief visit from seafarers Chris and Jim, presently in Indonesia, who stated they will soon join us for a full meeting.
TM Aleta improvised her invocation in her version of the Christian tradition.
TM Marie presented excellent slides to commemorate Earth Day and stimulate our ideas:
* TM BeckyJo thinks Earth Day is a great concept and should be called Everyday is Earth Day...
* TM Jorge sees the planted seedling as a symbol of our own incipient potential as human beings.
* I, Ana, embrace the concept of Beach Cleanup Day to get rid of all the trash that washes ashore and the trash that we humans dump on the pristine sands.
* TM Aleta sadly recognizes that trash is everywhere, not only on the beaches and we are responsible to keep our environment clean.
* TM The Tom expounded about photosynthesis, degraded/disturbed forests and deforested areas and the havoc we humans create.
* TM Jose revealed that in Spain they have hit people's pockets by charging for plastic bags so now everyone uses very quaint reusable bags. Good strategy!
* TM Veronica sadly confirmed that we're in the middle of the largest extinction phase and we may never see some of these species again if they disappear. She Won Best Table Topics Award.
* TM David expressed awe for our beloved Planet Earth as recently photographed by Artemis II.
Along came prepared speeches...
* TM David gave a great example of an effective job interview by cleaerly responding to questions and... he got hired! He Won Most Improved Speaker Award.
* TM Jose's presentation stated conflict is inevitable but disagreements do not have to be disagreeable. If you think you're right - zip your mouth!
As far as evaluations go...
* TM Jorge praised TM David for his clear diction and for pointing out that he combines two critical areas - business sense and technology expertise. He Won Best Evaluator Award.
* TM The Tom very much appreciated TM Jose's speech on conflict resolution and the many helpful tips he gave for achieving this without losing friends.
Note: It seems that both Evaluators today are working toward a DTM (Don't Time Me) Level .... Just sayin'....
The Word of the Day was
UBIQUITOUS, adj.
existing or being everywhere.
Example: Wordiness was ubiquitous in today's EarlyBirds meeting.
Returning TM The Tom started us off with a heartfelt invocation and a hilarious Sherlock Holmes joke. Welcome back, Tom!
TM David impressed us with some thought-provoking topics. We discovered that...
* TM The Tom would choose to be The Joker, The Fool Who Does Drool, from all the zany things he's done in life - although he did some noteworthy ones too!
* TM Christina would choose to teach Astronauts for Dummies if she were ever remotely to consider being a teacher...
* TM Jorge thinks the worst thing that could happen at a wedding is for the younger sister of the bride to upstage the bride and make it all about herself.
* TM Marie would take a knife, her husband and an empty container if she were to be stranded in a (tropical, hopefully) deserted island.
* TM Jose reminisced about the 70s trendy Pet Rocks which created a $1 M industry and led him to proclaim "What a country!" as he walked his Pet Rock on a leash down the streets of Helena, Montana. He Won Best Table Topics Award.
* TM Gail thinks a skunk would definitely be the rudest talking animal, in line with the stinky odor they release seemingly without provocation. They're usually drunk, too.
* TM Veronica has no pets to reveal naughty family secrets but she's seen plenty of kids who do so at the drop of a hat - or a missed allowance.
* TM Aleta had a momentary delusion about barging into a wedding and speaking up instead of forever holding her peace as the scorned 'other woman'.
* TM Pam would promptly pee in the yard if she woke up as the opposite gender and then would return to female and rest in her favorite recliner- also her cat's favorite activity.
* I, Ana, daydreamed of having a pillow fight -and more- with my favorite tv history character - Jamie Fraser of Outlander fame. Ah... to be a damsel in 17th Century Scotland!!
We had (2) fascinating prepared speeches...
* TM Christina taught us about metal forging, casting, machining, the Laser Power Bed Fusion, Direct Energy Deposition (before a court of its peers), more similar to a glue gun and the marvels of 3D printing which lead to Raptor 1, 2, 3 - a precursor to the Ford Raptor. She Won Most Improved Speaker.
* TM Jose took us on a journey down Valencia Fallas, the festival of art, colossal monuments and a pyromaniac's fiery dreams while enjoying hearty paellas. EarlyBirds is chartering a flight next March!
As far as evaluations go...
* TM David praised TM Christina for her innate teaching skills and suggested she eliminate the introductory slide and get right to it, while slowing down to fullly explore her demonstrative passion and her organized flow. He Won Best Evaluator Award.
* TM Gail appreciated TM Jose's grace under pressure when PPT refused to cooperate and he overcame the glitch. She suggested he make bigger pictures for the slides so we can see each grain of rice in the paella and to maintain his visuals, gestures and vocal variety.
The Word of the Day was
ALACRITY, noun
Promptness in response
Cheerful readiness
Example: EarlyBirds shows great alacrity in using Alacrity as often as possible during the meeting.
TM David started us off with a laconic yet inspirational invocation.
TM Christina then led us down greener pastures...
* TM David fondly recalls his first St Patrick's Day in NYC with lots of green green green everything and lotsa drinking drinking drinking.
* TM BeckyJo, ever the (legal) street hustler, honors her Irish heritage by selling junk of the Chinese manufacturing kind.
* TM Aleta spent the summers of her youth searching avidly for 4-leaf clovers... ahhh the lazy summers before technology took over!
* TM Randolph will throw the party of a lifetime once he finds that much-coveted pot of gold. We're all invited!
* TM Veronica used to frequent certain Irish pubs but mostly likes her Cuban Mom's Shepard Pie...
* TM Jose discovered St. Patrick's Day and green beer in no less than the mountains of Montana. He developed a taste for all kinds of ethnic foods.
* TM Pam exercises her lucky charms by playing Florida Lotto, after voting yes yes yes in spite of initial fears and trepidation. She Won Best Table Topics Award.
* TM Gail went to many local pubs in Ireland and thinks she thoroughly enjoyed her visit - ahhh if she could only remember - too much beer and too much song...
* TM Marie has evolved in her St Patty's traditions, from cooking typical dishes to focusing on the amazing story of St Patrick himself,,,
* I, Ana, found a 4-leaf clover before my first daughter was born, make an amazing Cuban Shepard Pie and was permanently impacted by a green Chicago River.
* TM Jorge's favorite shade of green is lime green and finds other colors flamboyant albeit conveying emotions and energy.
We had (2) fabulous prepared speeches...
* TM Jose took us on a fabulous journey of his 70 cycles around The Star, together with visual images and a song he authored about the miles he's walked.
* TM Pam offered a heartfelt toast to our military men and women who are scattered all over the globe and make this land free because it's home of the brave. She Won Best Speaker Award.
As far as evaluations....
* TM Gail praised TM Jose's autobiography which has taken him from the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli... She Won Best Evaluator Award.
* TM Aleta loved TM Pam's speech, expertly delivered with grace and loquacity. She suggested she lower the toasting glass till the end of the speech.
The Word of the Day was
LACONIC, adj.
Using a minimum of words, concise to the point of seeming rude or mysterious.
Example: Our Club Members are, for the most part, the opposite of laconic, after they've been with us for a period of time.
Notes from Business Meeting (in honor of St. Patrick's Day)
* After some discussion, we voted to contribute $20 per member to EarlyBirds Club. Our Treasurer, TM Marie, will provide the Zelle or check instructions. The funds will be used for banking expenses and marketing tools. Thank you, EarlyBirds!
* We will change Best Speaker category to Most Improved Speaker category, which we had in the past. We will try this until June 30th.
* Our Club performance to achieve Distinguished President Level: we need (4) Level 1 completions; (1) Level 2 completion. We need (3) new members and a total of (20) members in good standing. Let's invite friends, acquaintances and strangers to our meetings!
* Our VP Public Relations, TM David, will explore new ways to promote our Club in Instagram, to attract working people to our Club wince it does not interfere with work schedules.
* Please renew your membership at Toastmasters International if you have not already done so. $60. Thank you!!
* TM Marie expressed to us how the most important gifts we receive in life are those invitations we accept.... She Won First Place
* TM Veronica clearly showed us how life happens while we're getting prepared so we must reverse course and take action first! She Won Second Place
* TM Jose reiterated that we are responsible for our own actions and we need to actively build a healthy life and determine what we refuse to tolerate.
* TM David declared that life marches along and we must not allow any small hiccup to cause upheavals. That's why he goes to Toastmasters. He Won Third Place.
* I, Ana, gave a bird's eyeview of life from the shoreline instead of focusing on one finite point in my realm.
* TM Aleta explained to us what a modern pioneer woman is - perseverance, stamina and WiFi! Go Starlink!
While votes were being tallied, we had outstanding Table Topics led by TM Randolph - is life fair and does money make a difference?
* TM Jose's life indeed changed by the lack of money when he learned to hunt and cook and then as he made more money, expenses always caught up!
* TM Veronica found herself in Costa Rica, 21 years old with no money but she had generous friends who spotted her till she got back home.
* TM Aleta said you can't depend on what you learn in college because life itself is the best teacher.
* TM Pam stated that no, life is indeed not fair, but hey people, learn to be empathetic to those below - it needs to become trendy again.
* TM BeckyJo said it's fair to cut in line if you pay Premium but it's not fair to cut in line for organ donation just because you're wealthy. No sireeee...
The Word of the Day was
CONTEST, noun
An exercise to determine one's place in a competition.
TM Marie got us started with an invocation by Walt Whitman. TM Pam inspired us with Arbor Day topics... we uncovered and discovered that...
* TM The Tom planted a tree when his dear Mother passed away, which still brings back bittersweet memories of his loss.
* TM Aleta plants trees so she can grow her own firewood and spends most of her days watering them. She Won Best Table Topics Award.
* TM Christine currently has a job that requires her to climb a ladder and dust off otherwise unreachable cabinets in newly-remodeled houses.
* Guest TM Vika explained that there are lots of Argentinian woods to walk and discover in Argentina, where she's been living for 10 years.
* TM Veronica described her favorite Argentine tree, the jacaranda, which offers an explosion of lilac coloring to Buenos Aires twice a year.
We had (2) prepared speeches...
* TM Jose made our mouths water with a visual presentation of the scrumptious mid-morning snack in Valencia, Spain, called Esmorzaret. Ah to be Spanish and thin....
* I, TM Ana, described some of the often used but rarely understood hundreds of idioms that color our everyday language. I Won Best Speaker Award.
As far as evaluations...
* TM Veronica - first time evaluator- praised TM Jose's clear, confident voice, the good speech structure and descriptive food language. She asked him to please Fedex her a huge bocadillo for practicing Valencia traditions. She Won Best Evaluator Award. Great job, TM Veronica!
* TM Christine loved my speech, chock-full of idioms, and asked that I stop rustling my notes so close to the microphone or altogether discard them so I can make more hand gestures. Just sayin'....
The Word of the Day was
JOCUND, adj
cheerful, merry, lighthearted
Example: EarlyBirds is a jocund group on any given Thursday morning.
TM Marie led us in a thoughtful invocation, followed by timely Table Topics.
We soon found out that...
* TM David makes time to be happy, take care of his wife and son and watch his favorite tv series, Landman.
* TM Pam does not make dinner, and gladly announced it to her then-retiring husband who was hoping to be the Dinner Planning Contriubutor and has become the Full-Fledged Cook. She Won Best Table Topics Award.
* TM Veronica practiced making up stories and adventures as a little girl and has continued her practice into adulthood, so... never a dull moment for her!
* TM BeckyJo could not make magic by clicking the unmute button.
* TM Christine makes a wish that her Mom will bring pizza, or she will find a special present under the tree. Her husband is also a Full Time Cook.
* TM Gail is forever grateful for her new host of friends in Church and in EarlyBirds which keep her from getting bored and isolating.
*I, Ana, learned to ask God to remove my resentments so I can make peace with myself and my fellows.
Next came our prepared speeches...
* TM Jose presented us with a mouth-watering array of Spanish culinary delights, from Jamon Iberico which lowers cholesterol to Tortilla de Patatas (Spanish Frittatta) and on to the ineffable Paella. He Won Best Speaker Award.
* TM Aleta educated us on the promises of Toastmasters, which can be fulfilled if we participate, participate, participate.
As far as evaluations are concerned...
* TM Christina showed surprising knowledge of Spanish history, mentioning King Juan Carlos I as a fan of Spanish gourmet food. Christina was last seen mixing the ingredients for a flourless Spanish Tortilla. She Won Best Evaluator Award.
* TM Gail praised TM Aleta for excellence built over the years and asked her to make a video for new members on how to embark on Pathways.
The Word of the Day was
ADVENT, noun
The beginning of an event, invention of something or the arrival of a person.In lowercase.
In Christianity, the 4 weeks before Christmas. In uppercase.
Example, The advent of the Gregorian calendar marked the start of Advent for Christians everywhere, including calendars and other rites.
TM Pam inspired us with an embellished invocation.
We then proceeded to hear Tall Tales, Untruths and Other Prevarications from our group.
* TM Aleta finds old coins, arrowheads and other antique relics when excavating her back yard and told the tale of Sugarfoot, who was murdered by Tom Quinn, who buried the money and never found the money because TM Aleta has it.
* TM BeckyJo, aka Queen Marley, is a redheaded Royal Hawaiian, a descendant of the Goddess Pele of the Volcano who has flashes of temper from time to time, just like she does....
* TM Christina saved Space Camp Canada when the simulator crashed and they lost power to Quebec - she won the ribbon for such accomplishments.
* TM Pam kayaked with her pet alligator, Eleanor, and eventually got rid of the pet and invented standing paddle board on a gator. She Won Best Tall Tales Speaker Award.
* I, Ana, resorted to a psychic in Madrid who transformed my ex into a pigeon which flew back to Bolivia in the wings of a 747 with a pigeonesque logo tatooed on his forehead.
* TM Randolph, radiotransmitting today from Australia, had no car and no job on his first date and a mother who won the Lotto. He had to buy his date a new car after drowning her car in Slushies. And only then she agreed to marry him...
* TM Veronica lived a gothic soap opera in a French Chateau surrounded by bats, liver pate and duck during a hideously dehydrating weekend. No fromage in sight....
* TM The Tom had his first legal case in Homestead (aka Dysfunction Junction) in the 60s where the charges were dismissed due to the Judge's hilarity attack.
* TM Jose drove his Harley up a mountain, met up with Pedro, the insomniac chef of a 2-star Michelin restaurant who donated Bon Am to Jose, who has now enlisted all of EarlyBirds to fly his private jet and go run the restaurant with him. We're all headed to Fort Lauderdale airport as we speak!
The Word of the Day was
EMBELLISHMENT, noun
A detail, especially one that is not true, added to a statement or story to make it more interesting or entertaining.
Example: At EarlyBirds today, we did not let pesky facts get in the way of our embellishments.
Due to last-minute absences, we scrambled with tenacity to fetch our multiple hats from our respective hall closet and ... we made it!
TM BeckyJo led us in Johnny Carson-themed table topics, inserting gems along the way. For example, did you know that he and Ed McMahon originally brainstormed the show at the Mai Kai in Fort Lauderdale while sipping rum drinks with tiny umbrellas???
Besides that, we soon discovered that...
* TM Jose decided to launch a space rocket while dining lightly-battered squid and paella at a local restaurant in Javea. Because "In the end... the spacewalk we make is equal to the moonwalk we take.... (sung to the tune of The Love We Take is Equal To The Love We Make) by the Beatles.
* TM Veronica discusses business while drinking sparkly non-alcoholic beverages so she can remember the discussion and not have to pay for the joy in the morning...
* TM Randolph knows for a fact that when his kids are gone, he will get a female rottweiler (familiarly known as rottie) because he bonds with that breed and gender. He Won Best Table Topics Award.
* TM Aleta would let Carson start the conversation and take it from there. Otherwise, what are all her years doing Table Topics for??? She watches hilarious clips of interviews with Robin Williams and other crazy funny guests.
* TM Pam's favorite comedian is Gallagher because he uses clever word play while busting watermelons on stage. No late night comedy for her, though.
* I, Ana would show off my non-existent knowledge of Latin and impress Johnny in order to watch his priceless silent expression of shock and hilarity.
Along came (2) pilgrimage speeches today...
* TM Jose led us down the last 100 kilometers of the Camino, which took him, his wife and (2) Texan friends to the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, along with the swaying of the gigantic butafumeiro (incense urn). Where's Waldo? Errr. Where's Saint James???
* I, Ana, related my life of 75 years into highlights and lowlights as a journey splashed with blind curves, topsy turvy hills and serenely serene plateaus. I Won Best Speaker Award.
Lastly, we had great evaluations...
* TM BeckyJo's feet hurt; she commended TM Jose for his visuals and suggested he insert a dissonant jazz voice in his melifluous, smooth contralto. And where's the Camino bathroom please?? She Won Best Evaluator Award.
* TM Pam recommended that I use more hand gestures within the tiny Zoom square and praised me for avoiding the tedium of explaining the banality of my birth on a cold and rainy night.
The Word of the Day was
TENACITY, noun
The quality or fact of being determined, no matter the obstacles or setbacks.
Origin: the latin tenacitas.
Example: It takes tenacity to walk the 600 + miles of El Camino without even acquiring a blister. Go Peregrino!
Next week, EMBELLISH, LIE, PREVARICATE Is the incontrovertible theme of the day. Tall Tales Meeting. Everyone is expected (but not required) to give a 4-6 minutes Table Topics. As DTM Kip said and Randolph continues to say: "Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story!"
With deep gratitude and heavy hearts, we said our Farewells to our Club Founder and lasting friend, DTM Mary Helen, who has chosen to pursue other life paths.
TM Marie recently had the urge to purge and led us in uncovered gems found in her closet:
* TM Gail evoked the days of cursive writing and hopes, like many of us, that it will come back. In the interim, we can write anything and know youngsters will not understand a word - known as 'under cover of cursive."
* TM Aleta always visualizes her giving a speech and most importantly, foresees a successful outcome. And... it never fails!
* TM Christine's first and longer-lasting mentor was her 4th grade teacher, who believed in her, trusted her, and holds a special place in her life even today. She Won Best Table Topics Award.
* TM Christina has always aimed for self-control ever since Parent Open Houses in elementary school. She's persistent and opinionated and it has served her well in many respects.
* TM BeckyJo displayed a classic Mary Helen pivot into fascinating her audience by pondering about the essence of life, and who is she now anyway???
* TM The Tom despises passwords and lives in password chaos ad infinitum. He much more enjoys cursive logos such as Coca Cola and Ford.
* TM Jorge looks at his child straight in the eyes and sees gratitude and questioning. He vows to support his son in any life script his son chooses to pursue.
* I, Ana, do believe in Love - which is, as we all know, a many-splendored thing and manifests in many different forms.
We had (2) outstanding prepared speeches...
* TM Randolph polished his earlier speech about Intentions and Flow into a steak with lots of marbling and juicy tidbits. He will because he wants.
* TM Jose showed his own brand of leadership in walking the Camino in his own way - for health, spirituality and great food. 800 kilometers to hug St. James. He Won Best Speaker Award.
Along came evaluations...
* TM The Tom praised TM Randolph for his amalgamation of info into a more cohesive, well-developed speech. Now a steak, next a roast beef. He Won Best Evaluator Award.
* TM Aleta admired TM Jose's emblematic smooth voice and she encourages him to add more vocal variety, especially in the delicious food slides.
The Word of the Day was
MARY HELEN, noun
An adventurous, committed multilingual fan who is an example to her peers.
Example: EarlyBirds has many Mary Helen wannabes in its midst.
MARY HELEN, adjective
Emulating the qualities of DTM Mary Helen.
Example: TM Aleta's speech Mary Helened in unsuspected ways.
On this memorable day of The Tom's Birthday, we send hearty congratulations and best wishes to our good member.
TM Pam launched us on a centennial remembrance...
* TM Aleta has not read The Great Gatsby but indeed watched the movie and swooned over the late Robert Redford. Old Gatsby, Old Sport!
* TM Gail sang onstage at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and silently hoped Dolly showed her boobs and her songs with her. She Won Best Table Topics Award.
* TM Marie missed the Goodyear Blimp ride, tried helicoptering to a dogsled ride in Alaska and missed it due to low visibility. A lunar landing may be next....
* TM Randolph is secretly hoping his wife will not get one of the latest TVs where the screen image is realer than real - he prefers the ventriloguist dummy of 1925's first tv image.
* TM BeckyJo cleaned up the beach in Boca Raton as a teenager and chased the garbage dumpers with their garbage in hand.
* TM Jorge can't recall marching in a parade but will call 1-800-Goodyear Blimp to reserve a spot and fly over Fort Lauderdale Beach.
* TM Veronica loved doing book reports and science projects in trifled boards and those fun times brought a smile to her face.
We had (2) fantastic prepared speeches...
* TM David regaled us with "To Become", based on a quote by French feminist Simone de Beauvoir (precursor of second-wave gringo feminists Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan) and we become women based on culture, tradition, stories and the legenday Edith Piaf (the little sparrow). He sang a bit of Padam Padam for us. He Won Best Speaker Award.
* TM Jose took us on a personal tour of his own 70 cycles around his star, where life accelerated more and more as the years rolled fastly by and he found his perfect life of abundance and gratitude which continues to swoon him.
And then came evaluations...
* TM Christine timely realized that evaluations are about delivery, not content; the evaluator stays neutral and opinionless regarding the nature of the speech. She suggested TM David to insert English sub-titles in his PowerPoint slides until she masters French Duo Lingo.
* DTM Mary Helen was totally engaged with the topic of TM Jose's speech and praised his organization, his pauses and his reminiscences of life by decades in such a masterful way. She Won Best Evaluator Award.
The Word of the Day was
SWOON, verb
Faint from extreme emotion
A state of bewilderment or ecstasy
Example: The Heavenly Angels will swoon when Robert Sundance Kid Redford shows up at the Pearly Gates.
Clarification: Adither exists. It's a word that describes a state of confusion, excitement, or anxiety, often combined with a sense of expectancy. Example: I was adither going hither and thither.
We had our Evaluations Contest today! What a huge success!
Our Test Speaker, TM Yolanda, delighted us with a fun, upbeat speech about her passionate love affair... with SALSA! ("The rythm is going to get you, the rythm is going to get you!) (sung to the tune of Gloria Estefan's Rythm is Going To Get You...
She followed her friend's father's wise adage "If you don't swing the bat, you won't hit the ball!" and she swung the bat and hit the ball all right! Inspired by the movie "Dance with me" she began as a shy observer and progressed to Salsa Casino, Salsa Club, Salsa Congress, Salsa Competition...
By the end of her speech, we all wanted to sign up for Salsa lessons.
And then came the evaluations...
* TM Pam praised TM Yolanda for the connection between love affairs and dancing.
* TM Jose was enthralled with TM Yolanda's self-assurance and her evolution from bystander to salsa expert. He Won Third Place.
* TM Christine so related to the light hearted tone of the speech and TM Yolanda's ebullient nature.
* TM BeckyJo was inspired by TM Yolanda's zest for best and vows to create an EarlyBird Salsa Contest at our old Denny's. We will fly the non-locals in. She Won First Place
* TM David thoroughly enjoyed the essence of the speech and praised TM Yolanda for overcoming her initial insecurity with an intrepid salsa spirit.
* TM Marie admired TM Yolanda's strong start and non-glare glasses as well as her joyful disposition. She Won Second Place.
While the votes were being tallied, we had Table Topics about the upcoming Labor Day...
* TM David firmly declared that he will wear white or any color he chooses after Labor Day. So there!
* TM Jorge lived in South Beach for a while and did not go to any Labor Day Beach Bash parties, thank you very much!
* TM Christine is torn between a backyard barbeque and a picnic because she loves both soooo much.
* TM Yolanda has gone to the beach plenty of times but has not engaged in water sports, boating or swmming. She prefers to watch the waves from the shore...
Reminder frrom TM Marie, our Treasurer:
Dues are due! Please go to toastmasters.org and follow clear instructions. Thank you!
Next week, September 4, will be a standard Early Birds meeting. The Humorous Speech Contest has been pushed back until further notice.
Next week, September 4, we will have a brief business meeting right after our regular meeting to discuss items of interest. Club Officers need to be there but everyone is welcome to stay!
TM Randolph pushed our melomaniac (passionate, sometimes obsessive, love for music) genes. We soon found out that...
* TM Jose is a Professor Emeritus on Led Zeppelin and The Forbidden from the University of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. He Won Best Table Topics Award.
* TM Christine S. is sometimes a firework, sometimes the guest who wonders if her pyromaniac friends will set their back yard ablaze to light up the night sky...
* Guest Beatriz name-dropped her park bench acquaintance with Queens native Art of Simon & Garfunkel fame gazing at a bridge over troubled waters...
* TM BeckyJo is a complete unknown and thankful for having sowed her wild oats pre-computer and pre-iphone and pre-social media. No proof exists!
* TM Veronica, a boombox melomaniac, obsessively played and replayed Eminem songs to memorize what turned out to be garbled lyrics.
* Guest Kristian is frankly way too young to catch a grenade for anyone, with places to visit, people to meet all while listening to Bruno Mars' s three-octave tenor vocal range.
* Guest Alissa recognizes that John Legend is indeed a R&B and Soul blender legend but certainly not in her time. He's 48 years OLD OLD OLD...!
Along came our newest member's ICEBREAKER..
* TM Christina revealed she shares her hometown Newmarket, Canada with none other than celebrities John Candy and Jim Carrey. An aerospace designer by trade, she and her gourmet chef husband sailed on a yacht "From Capri to Amsterdam, Honolulu to Siam...." She Won Best Speaker Award. Go Christina!
Followed by a reading about Cuba: Then and Now..
* TM Jose flawlessly read the tragic history of Cuba, the island that meant to have a political revolt to overthrow Batista's dictatorship and got cheated into a social revolution which plummeted the island from the top of the tier to the bottom of the barrel... and counting. Let this horror story reverberate to others ....
Along came evaluations...
* TM BeckyJo had some practical tips for TM Christina and suggested she not screenshare her points in a slide but work on using PowerPoint for future speeches. She congratulated Christina for marrying a handsome man who cooks. That fact alone outranks those rocketship designs... She Won Best Evaluator Award.
* DTM Mary Helen was surprised that TM Jose dispensed of his now-famous PowerPoint presentations and was glad that he read the speech in his melodious voice.
TM Veronica handled her tasks as SAA and Pollmaker seamlessly. Good job, Veronica!
The Word of the Day was
REVERBERATE, adj
Repetition of an echo
Repeated sound
Example: The woman's shrill laughter reverberated throughout the movie theater.
TM BeckyJo gave us intriguing literary first liners. We soon discovered that...
* TM Gail is living in the best of times and the worst of times but through it all we need to help and serve each other.
* DTM Mary Helen wishes her benign, frail grandmother had exploded and been a stronger role model in her life...
* TM Randolph really envisioned his imaginary twin children meeting up with dragons in the vegetable garden. He Won Best Table Topics Award.
* TM David segued impeccably from getting the willies to living in the best of times and the worst of times. Well done, TM David!
* TM Jorge agrees that families are not uniformly unhappy and parents are responsible for making a positive or negative impact on their kids.
* I, Ana, knew that my topic came from a bright cold day somewhere in Europe because it used the ever-confusing military time.
We had (2) outstanding prepared speeches...
* TM Jose educated us about Pilates, formerly known as contrology but too controlling of a term to prevail and reform the core of your inner sanctum.
* TM Marie talked about the fleeting fame of influencers and the lasting community of true world restoration. She Won Best Speaker Award. Note: Her story is from The Birthday of the World by Rachel Naomi Remen.
Along came evaluations...
* TM David praised TM Jose for his educational, masterful speech delivered in a smooth soothing voice. TM David may heed the call to action and sign up for concentration, control and breathing. Go Pilates! He Won Best Evaluator Award.
* TM Randolph admitted TM Marie's speech captivated him from the start and this will be a praiseful evaluation, and he kept his word!
The Word of the Day was
CURATE, verb
To select the best or most appropriate for presentation.
Example: It is wise to curate our clutter when we are planning to move.
TM Gail led us with a heartfelt Mother's Day invocation, and TM Jorge brilliantly displayed the US flag for our Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you, Jorge!
TM The Tom introduced us to Table Topics' quandaries:
* Singer or Writer? I, Ana, love both of these activities and although not a gifted singer, I choose to write while I sing when I'm not in the shower.
* Blimp or Hot Air Balloon? TM Beckyjo loves riding in both - and has actually sailed the friendly skies on more than one occasion, enjoying the scenery below!
* Rancher or farmer? TM Aleta faces a dilemma, but ultimately chooses to grow tomatoes over being a cattle rancher in Western Pennsylvania.
* Soggy cereal or crunchy cake? Another dilemma for Frenchman David, forever bound to soggy cereal prepared by himself with chocolate milk while watching tv as a youngster. He Won Best Table Topics Award.
* Sightseeing in Africa or shopping in Milan? DTM Mary Helen will go shopping in Milan en route to a sightseeing tour of Africa. She wants the best of both worlds.
* Raise cows or sheep? TM Jorge chose raising sheep because he can use their fleece to make himself a jacket.
* Hang gliding or sky diving? TM Marie says "Not today, thanks, I've got a headache". Instead she'll lovingly prepare a healthy oat bar for her husband's birthday.
We had a great Icebreaker today...
* TM Veronica delighted us with her topsy-turvy world of exotic vs ordinary and took us down a travelogue of various parts of the world. She Won Best Speaker Award.
And we had a power outage reality check of a speech...
* TM Jose recounted the painful experience of having "Lights Out!" not to the entire college dorm, but to the entire country. Yikes! After several near misses, he was able to emerge unscathed but alert to potential repeats.
And then came the evaluations:
* TM David enjoyed TM Veronica's speech and completely related to her trainhopping, a national passtime in France.
* TM Pam enjoyed TM Jose's Tales of Dark Days in a Green Country and made a call to action for him to masterfully use slides as prior to today. She Won Best Evaluator Award.
The Word of the Day was
CARDINAL,adjective
Of prime importance, principal
Example: It is cardinal that the sequestered Cardinals elect the next Pope while there's still wood to be burned in the Conclave.
TM The Tom moved us with a very loving invocation inspired on our late DTM Jim D.
I, Ana, presented assorted topics pertinent to the month of March. We discovered that....
* TM Jorge is not quite sure whether he likes Daylight Saving Time or not - sometimes he does, other times he doesn't. Overall, he'd probably rather live without changing the time. Or perhaps he would like to get darker later, but then you have to wake up when it's dark. What a dilemma....You're with 50% of the world's population, Jorge!
* TM Paolo has nominated his wife as Good Samaritan of the Day and Year, because it takes a Good Samaritan to deal with a rowdy bunch of young kids, especially bright and early in the morning. He can't wait to have some peace and quiet, even in the midst of rush hour traffic.
* TM The Tom reminded us that nothing, nada, niente, compares to the joyful boisterousness and mesmeric routines of St Patty's Day for a Fightin Irish like himself. The Equinox can go find a four-leaf clover for all he cares....
* TM Marie shared EarlyBird shenanigans - she blatantly misled and mesmerized her innocent husband by bringing him a cookbook authored and personally autographed for him by none other than Sofia Loren at the Toastmasters Contest - in authentic Italian provided by our very own TM Paolo. She Won Best Table Topics Award.
* TM BeckyJo disputed the discovery date of Pluto - Pluto was discovered after Mickey and before Uranus - although Pluto is not a planet anymore, Pluto will always be a standup dog. That's all folks!
We had one mesmeric speech....
* TM Jose dazzled us with his Thailand - Part II, mainly about the Thai archipelago - Koh Tao - Nguyen Islands and coral reefs Twin Peaks and Japanese Gardens, Krabi - Railay Beach - get there by boat only and rent a chaise/umbrella combo for $2/day, visit Chinatown in Bangkok to see a REAL Chinatown and learn to cook Thai food in the city within the city. November 23 2026 - we're all coming to visit the Gulds on their cruise stopover in Thailand!! He Won Best Speaker Award.
* TM The Tom evaluated this second part of TM Jose's Thailand adventure and... The Tom wants MORE, MORE, MORE. He suggested TM Jose expand his speech into a 12-15 minute more detailed description of island-hopping, scuba dives and dining experiences. He Won Best Evaluator Award.
* TM Chris put together a moving, mesmeric tribute of our late DTM Jim D. Categorized by various aspects of his personality, we were reminded of our loss of a friend and valuable member of our Club. Thank you TM Chris for this extraordinary remembrance.
Our newest Toastmaster and first-time Ah Counter TM Jorge, did an outstanding job of listening for Ahs, Ehrs, You Knows, Ummms and other fillers. Way to go, TM Jorge!
The Word of the Day was
MESMERIC, adj
Hypnotic induction held to involve animal magnetism
Hypnotic appeal
Our EarlyBird meetings have a mesmeric quality to them.
TM Chris, shaker and mover, got us moving in various directions. We found out that...
* TM Terri does not have moving in her genes but treasures her childhood pictures which miraculously made it out of Hersheytown, Cuba.
* TM Aleta's longest moves were back and forth between Pennsylvania and Florida, with lots of uncluttering along the way.
* TM Cory's shortest move was at age 20 when he moved 2 blocks from his Mom who visited every day, till he springboarded to Portland, Oregon.
* TM Paolo just went through a harrowing transatlantic flight with 6 bambini in tow so he wants to stay put for a while.
* Guest Jean's easiest move was from Europe to Florida. His father helped and besides, he had beaucoup des francs a depenser (translation: quite a bunch of French francs to convert to dollars).
* I, Ana, do NOT like to move - miscellaneous objects live in perpetuity in my home so the Gulds are bringing their rnadoms and extras over. I Won Best Table Topics Award.
Then came the outstanding prepared speeches...
* TM Jose took us on a scintillating trip aided by seamless visual/audio aids to Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (coloquially known as Thailand) and a few of the islands they visited - they had 1400 to choose from, as well as near-passing trains. TM Jose and the entire Club is planning to visit the Gulds' Cruise in Phuket in November 2026. Jose won Best Speaker Award.
* TM Marie expertly showed us ways to turn our energy from negative to positive, ignore the external narcissism and find the silver lining in every storm cloud.
Regarding the evaluations...
* The Tom Quinn praised TM Jose's presentation skills as simply magic. He wants MORE, MORE, MORE! He Won Best Evaluator Award.
* First-time Evaluator TM Cory admired TM Marie's self-confidence, great energy, audience engagement and the ability to pose serious questions in a very gentle tone. Great job, Cory!
ALERT FOR TM BECKYJO: The Oxford Dictionary has officially recognized -and listed- the formerly slangy GONNA.
The Word of the Day was
SCINTILLA, noun
Very small amount of something
Spark, flash
Example: EarlyBirds has way more than a scintilla of humor and joy to start us right on any given Thursday morning.
TM Chris led us in thought-provoking topics. We discovered that....
* I, Ana, think every age has a different charm and is ideal to meet the ups and downs of life.
* TM Pam would like to circumvent the world in a hot air balloon but for now will limit herself to the Gulf of Mexico, the Washington Tulip Show or The DownUnder.
* TM The Tom, a true Irishman, is funny, smart and athletic and adds liquidity to neuroplasticity with lotsa Irish coffees.
* TM Gail most resembles her grandmother, born in 1890, who was very close to her and very inspirational in her life.
* TM Aleta only blocked one longtime friend on FB for siding with a third friend who nastily refuted Aleta's point of view.
* TM Marie's most rewarding work was teaching swimming to infants and toddlers and watch them transform from terrified screechers to little mermen and mermaids. She Won Best Table Topics Award.
And then came the prepared speeches...
*TM Jose delighted us with the inside scoop on The Three Magi, Melchior, Gaspar and Baltazar, scholars from Persia and Babylon, who brought gold, frankincense and myrrh to Baby Jesus. This feast is highly commemorated on the night of Jan 5 - 6 in Spain and Latin American countries.
* DTM Mary Helen, undeterred by Central Time, shared the emotions the Season brings and the many uses of FB which keeps friendships and relationships alive through the veil of time, distance and transit to the other side. She Won Best Speaker Award.
As far as evaluations...
* TM The Tom highly praised TM Jose for his excellent opening with a powerful backdrop, for his Spanish pronunciation and for revealing the true story of the Three Magi. He suggested TM Jose avoid reading to add power to the speech and asked him to shorten his trip to Thailand for the sake of EarlyBirds.
* TM Aleta appreciated DTM Mary Helen's emotive speech about the many facets of FB which keeps memories alive and deceased people alive in our hearts and minds. She Won Best Evaluator Award.
The Word of the Day was
NEUROPLASTICITY, noun
The brain's capacity to continue growing and evolving in response to life experiences.
Example: Attending EarlyBirds meetings is a good way to keep our neuroplasticity up and running.
