Showing posts with label PamSchrimsher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PamSchrimsher. Show all posts
Thursday, September 3, 2026
Thursday, August 13, 2026
Aug 13 2026: In Limbo
Table Topics
Becky Jo tried to get everyone to be insulting - but we were all just too nice, except for Gail!
Speeches
Jose - Fires in Spain
Pam - Garden Club Party
Notes: Chris Guld created this entry. Earlybirds needs to designate someone to regularly do this task - blogging. It's easier than it appears.
Friday, July 31, 2026
Tribute to Ana Illsen - July 30
A.I. Meeting Summary from Zoom
Meeting Introduction and Format Changes
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.
Thursday, June 4, 2026
Idioms, Monarchs and Officers - an intentional morning at EarlyBirds!
Dear Members, Guests and Friends,
TM BeckyJo inspired us with a grateful Invoication straight out of Facebook.
I, Ana, led with Idioms for topics... We learned that...
* TM Christina is the quintessential eager beaver who lives her life with initiative and intention.
* TM Randolph made everyone's mouths water with his vivid description of banana pudding... yummm
* TM Aleta holds her horses by not letting her life get away from her, especially now that she's in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
* TM Gail pondered where all these idioms originated, and came to the conclusion that the devil is in the details. She Won Best Table Topics Award.
* TM Jorge tries to get all his ducks in a row before life takes unexpected detours, once more.
* TM BeckyJo would like to stop eating carbs cold turkey, but is totally derailed by the aroma of freshly baked bread....
* TM David used to think that talk is cheap, but now with Toastmasters and his corporate environment, talk is persuasion, inference, communication, rhetoric... no longer cheap!
We heard (2) prepared speeches...
* TM Pam told us about the long migration of Monarch butterflies, those West of the Rockies fly to California to cast their vote in the current elections all while wearing fake eyelashes to float like Muhammad Ali. She Won Most Improved Speaker Award.
* I, Ana, told my tale of EarlyBird arrival and the various officer roles I've served which have expanded my self-confidence and leadership skills.
As far as evaluations are concerned...
* TM Christina liked the humor in TM Pam's speech and found the glueing of the eyelashes to be particularly tricky. She Won Best Evaluator Award.
* TM David encouraged me to change my background to something relevant to Toastmasters and put the speech text nearer the camera to avoid rapid eye movement (REM).
The Word of the Day was
INTENTIONAL, adjective
Done deliberately, on purpose, with a clear plan or goal.
Example: There's not a single word in that speech that is not intentional.
Our recording is floating like a butterfly up in the Cloud somewhere.... if it can be retrieved, I'll send it out separately. If not, use your imagination to remember the highlights. Be intentional. Use sunscreen.
See you next week!
Ana I.
Recap Writer
Thursday, May 7, 2026
MOMisms, Passion Pits and Speech Intros - a scrupulous morning at EarlyBirds!
Dear Members, Guests and Friends,
TM Aleta started us off with a heart-rending poem, "Time Goes By" by Crystal Lewis.
TM BeckyJo inspired us with MOMisms....
* TM Pam and her peers were not allowed in the house between June 1 and September 1, as pacted by Moms in Kafeeklatsches.
* TM Marie's Mom encouraged her to try things because "if others can do it, so can you."
* TM Tom still remembers his Mom's "early morning German" banging on the radiator to get Tom and his brother to come down for breakfast!
* TM Jorge hid shrimp in his pockets and dumped them outside and was caught by Grandma and his ploy was revealed - lots of pinches followed.
* TM Aleta had a saintly Mom who tried to teach her to be ladylike, but she was her Dad's daughter, learning to build, construct, fix engines, build tractors and the like.
* I, Ana, told my kids to go entertain themselves. My Mom asked me if I would jump off the bridge if my friends did and the answer was a rotund YES.
* TM Veronica had a great childhood outdoors and entertained herself, and is now instructing me to stop bingeing TV series and go play outdoors! She Won Best Table Topics Award.
* TM David's mother had a dream - husband and family- and did everything to protect and uphold that dream.
As far as prepared speeches go...
* I, Ana, recounted the origin and demise of Drive-In Movies, from inception to peak as Passion Pits to demise with the advent of color TV, DVDs, livestreaming and the rest.
* TM Pam emphasized the importance of speech introductions - control, credentials, attributes. Brag, boast, show off, make your Mother proud. She Won Most Improved Speaker Award.
Regarding evaluations...
* TM David liked my speech and suggested I upload the speech on my screen in Word so I can maintain good eye contact - or any eye contact with the audience, for that matter. I will definitely try it! He Won Best Evaluator Award.
* TM The Tom praised TM Pam for her carefully crafted speech on introductions and is taking her to another club where they are clueless about introductions.
The Word of the Day was
SCRUPULOUS, adj.
Careful to do what's honest and right
Careful to do something correctly
Example Our EarlyBird Club is scrupulous about our commitment to improve our speaking and leadership skills.
The link to the recording is...
See you next week!
Ana I.
Not-Always Scrupulous Recap Writer
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Your life as a product, Don't Fear Change, Birding - an intrepid morning at EarlyBirds
Dear Members, Guests and Friends,
TM Christina started us off with a lovely invocation reciting Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell.
TM David introduced us to Table Topics based on his last speech, Life as a Product. We found out that...
* TM Marie would be a version 7.9 flashlight and would shine her light in the somewhat unlit areas of her life.
* TM Veronica wants to improve and upgrade all parts of her life, mostly her attitude and become more intrepid.
* I, Ana, am grateful for every day of my life and my present surroundings, and my 5-year-goal is staying alive.... I Won Best Table Topics Award.
* TM Aleta is getting rid of stuff and intentionally building patience and an intrepid attitude.
* TM BeckyJo wants to make space which makes room for God's Grace.
* TM Jorge wants to focus on communication, one step at a time.
* TM Christina has been well served in life by being a doer, inherited from her grandmother, a hard worker who lived to 104 years old.
* TM Randolph stated that his OCD habits have helped him to go the extra mile and wash and rewash dishes till they're squeaky clean.
We had (2) excellent prepared speeches...
* TM The Tom revealed that his latest move has involved procrastination, extrication and intrepidness, letting go of things and being grateful for the pain of change. Stay positive!! He Won Most Improved Speaker Award.
* TM Pam taught us how to become a Birder in all its choices - equipment, money, people - or not. You can just look up in the sky and enjoy the birds.
As far as evaluations go...
* TM Jorge praised TM The Tom for giving a Buddhist-style presentation as an impromptu talk around a campfire, S'mores and all.
* TM Christina liked TM Pam's brief, concise slides and suggested in future she incorporate more bird slides for added emphasis. She Won Best Evaluator Award.
The Word of the Day was
INTREPID, adj.
Fearless, adventurous, resolutely courageous
Example: We at EarlyBirds have many intrepid members that take on daring adventures.
The link to the recording is
See you next week!
Ana
Recap Writer
Thursday, March 12, 2026
St. Patty's, 70 Cycles Around the Star and A Toast to Our Military - a not-laconic (loquacious) morning at EarlyBirds
Dear Members, Guests and Friends,
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.
The link to the recording is
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!!
See you next week!
Ana I.
Recap Writer
Thursday, February 26, 2026
Topic Wordplay, Meeting Roles and Wake Up Your Audience - an alleviating morning at EarlyBirds
Dear Members, Guests and Friends,
TM Veronica led us with an inspiring Invocation.
And, we voted for (following Robert's Rules of Parliamentary Procedure) and inducted our new VP Membership, TM Christina. Thank you!
TM BeckyJo brought us very original Table Topics, based on wordplay. We found out that...
* TM Pam's mother made bathtub gin and went to speakeasies during Prohibition and then became a teetotaler... nothing like extremes!
* TM David's kitchen in France exploded with Nutella and frogs while crushing the linoleum floor...
* TM Randolph has a lucky silk tie which endows him with extraordinary charisma.
* TM Jorge's rubberband pistol was confiscated by his teacher who called it a Weapon of Math Destruction. He Won Best Table Topics Award. Go Jorge!
* TM Veronica visited a silkworm farm in Thailand and met some backward poets who write inverse.
* Guest Fernanda sometimes pushes the envelope and that has caused her to acquire writer's block. It's still stationery....
* TM Gail feels for puppies who give birth on the side of the road and get cited for littering.... Life isn't fair....!!
* TM Christine went to a farm and actually saw a meat grinder in action and managed not to get behind...
* TM Aleta saw many chickens crossing the road, getting decapitated by the cook, feathers plucked, and roasted in the oven. Poultry in motion...
Along came (2) fantabulous educational speeches...
* TM Pam presented us all the available roles in Toastmasters - from the sublime to the ridiculous, which make us outstanding speakers.
* TM Aleta shared some attention magnets to keep our audience engaged: "Here's the thing", "To be Clear", "My point is this", "Rest Assured", "Here's What Really Matters".... She Won Best Speaker Award.
And then the evaluations...
* TM David praised TM Pam for her amazing speech which was clear and organized in spite of encomapping a lot of information. Next time he suggested she use personal names to exemplify club roles. He Won Best Evaluator Award.
* TM Randolph called TM Aleta a Toastmaster in Top Form as she showed us once more how to master a room. No critiques were forthcoming!
The Word of the Day was
ALLEVIATE, verb
To make less severe
Example: Coffee alleviates headaches and morning grogginess.
Here's the link to the recording
See you next week!
Ana I.
Recap Writer
Thursday, January 8, 2026
On this day..., Face the Fear and Bloom Where You're Planted.. no procrastination permitted at EarlyBirds!
Dear Members, Guests and Friends,
TM Pam led us with a New Year inspirational invocation.
I, Ana, introduced some date-specific Table Topics. We found out that...
* TM Christina knows vaguely about Pete Repeat Galileo Galilei and loves to watch the stars at night much like he did.
* TM Jose reminisced about the Who's deaf guitarist who wildly swung his arm to the tune of My Generation.
* TM Aleta honors National Blood Donor Month by eating all the rare steaks she can get her canines on. High cholesterol? Who cares... she's now complying with the new food pyramid!
* TM Veronica went scuba diving with a deaf and blind group who used Braille and sign language under the ocean blue.
* TM BeckyJo practiced the art of the pivot by telling us about her blind friend who had a large-Braille Bible. She Won Best Table Topics Award.
* TM Jorge used to love country, rock, heavy rock, R&B music but now cherishes silence in the car.
Along came the prepared speeches...
* TM The Tom inspired us to stop procrastinating, step out of the cocoon of safety, get unstuck from sameness, face the fear and transform ourselves by acting 'as if'. He Won Best Speaker Award.
* TM Pam enrolled a few EarlyBirds to join her central Florida Bloom and Grow Garden Society - it sounds like great fun!!
Regarding Evaluations...
* TM David praised The Tom's great shirt and great background and suggested more pauses and more hand gestures - but keep asking questions of the audience for total engagement.
* TM Christina marveled at how TM Pam handled technical glitches, with equanimity, professionalism and blooming where she was planted. She Won Best Evaluator Award.
The Word of the Day was
PROCRASTINATE, verb
To delay or postpone doing something.
Example: "Taylor Swifties are those who do not procrastinate."
Here's the link to the recording...
See you next week!
Ana I.
Recap Writer
Thursday, December 11, 2025
The Grinch, Advanced Manufacturing and Marriage Encounters - an illuminating meeting at EarlyBirds!
Dear Members, Guests and Friends,
TM David, first-time Invocator, inspired us with thoughts about powerful communications.
TM Veronica was first-time timer - excuse the redundancy.
TM La Presidenta BeckyJo illuminated us about the lyrics of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. We soon discovered that...
* TM Pam sees nothing wrong with charming eels and black banana peels, in fact, they are her favorite. Eels are a delicacy in Spain, seriously.
* TM David loves ail (garlic in French, pronounced EYE) and cannot for the life of him comprehend why people run away when he's eaten plenty of it!
* TM Christina commiserates with seasick crocodiles because she suffers from it and likes to say "See you later, alligator; in a while, crocodile."
* TM Jose sees himself as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a coat of slightly green bananas instead of a sauerkraut with arsenic sauce triple decker.
* TM Aleta has driven off crooked horses quite frequently and mostly connects with loners and then drives them crazy with incessant chatter.
* TM Gail has always loved to swim but has found it hard to sink, sank, sunk due to chronic interference from pool enclosures, senior aerobics and such.
* I, Ana, wanted to buy a bottle of Citronella from the liquor store instead of Lemoncello and The Grinch lyrics are news to me. I Won Best Table Topics Award.
Regarding our prepared speeches...
* TM Christina, our resident rocket scientist, illuminated us with a byzantine circumlocution with esoteric, fatuous, inchoate references to metal powder, titanium plate nozzles and pressure sections which do not admit tergiversation. She Won Best Speaker Award.
* TM Pam displayed masterful conflict resolution skills learned at Close Encounters of the Third Kind (aka Marriage) while becoming an adaptive adult with wise child tendencies.
And then came our evaluations...
* TM David praised TM Christina for her mastery of an intractable topic for most mortals and encouraged the power of the metered arc in tomorrow's industries. He Won Best Evaluator Award.
* TM Aleta admired TM Pam's elocution and show of intellect while specializing in marriage obfuscation and pulchritudinousness.
The Word of the Day was
ILLUMINATE, verb
Help to clarify or explain
Light up
Example: The glitter bomb will illuminate the prank victim's face with pure chaos.
Here's the link to the recording:
See you next week!
Ana
Illuminated Recap Writer
Thursday, November 13, 2025
Engaging storytelling, Diffusiophoresis, Vaya Con Dios - a fantasticated morning at Early Birds!
Dear Members, Guests and Friends,
TM Marie led us in fantasticated topics...
* TM Jose transported us dreamily into owning his (and our) first car, when we were in awe of our newly-found autonomy and wanted to sleep in the car. He Won Best Table Topics Award.
* TM BeckyJo captivates her audience when she embellishes and that's why she had a hard time telling the truth as a child. Right, good excuse!
* TM Gail likes our local comedians, ie Beckyjo and Christine, but emulated her humor after Victor Borge's phonetic punctuation which got her kicked out of class.
* TM Christine recently broke into Auschwitz concentration camp and blended into a non-English speaking tourist tour group to see everything first hand.
* TM Randolph credits Toastmasters for not interrupting others and making good use of pauses. He's got a lot more friends now!
* TM David reminisced about after-dinner talks with family when growing up, and recalled when someone said Jesus was buried in their back yard....
Along came two great fantasticated speeches...
* TM Pam revealed that pelagic means living in the open sea, whether you're an albatross, a sardine or a large tuna, and diffusiophoresis is when things go from concentrates to equilibrium, for example, dishwasher detergent. Do your research, people, instead of relying on TikTok!
* TM Aleta found a fork in her road as she sang "There she was just walking down the street, singing du-wa-di-di-di-di-dum-di-di-du, and she has applied BeckyJo's mantra "Go With God or don't go" to all her choices, decisions, losses, as well as her fantasticated Cheshire cat. She Won Best Speaker Award.
As far as evaluations...
* TM David praised TM Pam's great setup of visual aids and suggested more gestures and pauses. Why? Because.... we're emotional people who like to fantasticate...
* TM Christine was riveted by TM Aleta's speech for attaining her goal of connecting with her audience. It will be a fantasticated church sermon. She Won Best Evaluator Award.
The Word of the Day was
FANTASTICATE, verb
to make or render fantastic
Example: In Toastmasters we learn to fantasticate - instead of obfuscate or prevaricate - our speaking skills.
Here's the link to the recording...
See you next week!
Ana I.
Recap Writer
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Prevarication, lies and untruths - a morning of embellishment at EarlyBirds
Dear Members, Guests and Friends,
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.
Here's the link to our recording:
See you next week!
Ana I.
Recap Writer
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Visuals, Innovation and Mutual Help - a morning of symmetry at EarlyBirds
Dear Members, Guests and Friends,
Battling the forces of nature in search of WiFi, the indomitable TM Aleta led us in visual Table Topics with assorted stunning pictures. We learned that...
* TM Christine S. has the World Trade Center workers planting the flag among the ruins of 9/11 etched in her mind.
* DTM Mary Helen is awed by the heroic water landing of a United flight on the Hudson River and everyone miraculously survived.
* TM The Tom nearly identified hanging out at a Publix in the midst of a treacherous snow storm in 2014.
* TM Christina K. had Niagara Falls as her backyard and took family friends to visit during all seasons; this winter picture portrayed them frozen and angry. She Won Best Table Topics Award.
* TM Jorge was reminded of Russians doing feats in high buildings by workers having lunch with no personal protection on a 69th floor.
* TM Veronica is impressed by the daunting picture of Earth as seen from the Moon and is reminded of our human vulnerabilities.
* I, Ana, recognized the picture of the blimp ablaze but could not clearly remember its Hindenburg name.
We had (2) excellent prepared speeches...
* TM David presented a professional speech identifying his credentials as an IT innovator who is working on the democratization of orders for his company.
* TM Pam took us back to the Stone Ages where mothers helped each other much like fellow Toastmasters help each other today. She Won Best Speaker Award.
Along came evaluations...
* TM Jose praised TM David for his clear, concise slides, well-focused speech and suggested if aimed at the general public, please simplify and explain the terminology for better clarity of IDEAS. He Won Best Evaluator Award.
* TM The Tom thanked TM Pam for taking us back to the land before I-Phones and reminding us that even with our current technology, breast feeding is limited to women only.
First-time General Evaluator TM Christina K. did a fantabulous job and seemed as comfortable as a pro.
The Word of the Day was
SYMMETRY, noun
The quality of having parts that match each other, especially in a pleasing or attractive way. Similarity of shape or contents.
Example: The symmetry of a person's face contributes to our perceptions of beauty and trustworthiness.
Here's the link to the recording:
See you next week!
Ana I.
Asymmetrical Recap Writer
Thursday, August 28, 2025
Salsa, Salsa, Salsa, Evaluations and Labor Day - a fun contest at Early Birds
Dear Members, Guests and Friends,
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!
Here's the link to the recording:
See you next week!
Ana I.
Recap Writer
Thursday, August 7, 2025
Idioms & Proverbs, Leadership Styles and Unsung Heroes - a peopled meeting at EarlyBirds!
Dear Members, Guests and Friends,
In honor of our late TM Carmine, TM Randolph led us in idioms and proverbs. We soon learned that...
* TM The Tom usually bites more than he can chew and tries to make sense of it while speaking Gaelic.
* TM Veronica recalled this was one of her Dad's favorite expressions but if you enjoy something, do it often instead of once in a blue moon!
* TM Gail has counted her chickens before they hatched plenty of times and learned that it only leads to broken plans and disappointments. Life is what happens while we're busy making other plans, as John Lennon used to say...
* TM David's grandpa used to say be happy with what you have instead of wishing for what you don't - bird in hand is better than 2 birds in the bush. He Won Best Table Topics Award.
* TM Christina's Dutch ancestry makes her avoid beating around the bush and she is very direct even if it's hard on the other person, but her Canadian side softens it up.
* TM Jorge ate plenty of pasta while spending time in Rome and doing as the Romans do....
* I, Ana, mused that words are empty when not backed by loud actions....
* TM Cory thinks he will build muscle by buying books on bodybuilding and stacking them neatly on his bookshelf. Don't we all wish...
We had (2) excellent speeches...
* TM Pam described several leadership styles - coaching, innovative, authoritative (her favorite) and democratic while cajoling her youngest daughter to learn how to ride a bike in Long Key State Park. She Won Best Speaker Award.
* TM Aleta inspired us with the kindness of strangers who helped her untangle the chaos produced by an Act of Nature.
Along came evaluations...
* First-time evaluator TM Christina loved TM Pam's speech and as a child growing up in a helmetless world, she related to Pam's daughter... Great job, Christina!
* TM David loved TM Aleta's phrase "Hope is never washed away" because perfect strangers become friends when disaster strikes. He Won Best Evaluator Award.
The Word of the Day was
PEOPLED, verb
To populate, inhabit
PEOPLED, adjective
To be filled with people
Example: It is people who are peopled by constantly peopling those peopled.
We had a plesantly surprising visit from TM Chris and TM Jim all the way from Japan, where cities are densely peopled! Great to see you, friends!
Next week we will receive the visit of our Area Director.
Here's the link to the recording....
See you next week!
Ana I.
Recap Writer
Thursday, July 3, 2025
Idioms, Interdependence and Independence - a liminal day at EarlyBirds
Dear Members, Guests and Friends,
Today was a liminal day at EarlyBirds: We thanked our Immediate Past President and former Officers for their work; we installed our new Officers in their new roles and we inducted our newest member, TM Christina. Welcome to EarlyBirds, everyone!
TM Veronica did a superb job as first-time Sargeant-at-Arms. TM BeckyJo took the baton from our Immediate Past President, and was particularly helpful in informing and welcoming our newest member and our guest, Kristian, and reporting to all of us the good news about TM Aleta who is thankfully overcoming a natural disaster suffered by her home. We missed you TM Aleta, and hope you return soon....
DTM Mary Helen led us with very thought-provoking idioms. We found out that...
* TM Gail is counting her chickens before they're hatched but hopefully this 3rd time is a charm and she will be boarding her cruise in Roma, Citta Eterna (per parlare della sua natura infinita).
* Returning TM Jarrett gave his wife a surprise anniversary trip to the Keys including a loggerhead turtle and a Goliath grouper in their scubadiving. Actions speak louder than words! He Won Best Table Topics Award.
* TM Jorge is happy he joined EarlyBirds when he did because it's definitely better late than never!
* TM Jose always chased the grass that was greener on the other side of the fence and found out that it was on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean!
* TM Veronica likes to look before she leaps but sometimes looking turns into staring and she wants to learn to shorten the observation stage.
* TM Christina believes that honesty is the best policy because frankly, she's a bad liar and she always gets caught...
* TM Cory is risk-averse and prefers a bird in hand than two in the bush.
* TM BeckyJo knows the early bird catches the worm because worms are out early morning before it gets too hot and besides, her neighbor's grass IS always greener than hers - or most of the year anyway.
* TM David knows that when in Rome you must do as the Romans do, or as our guest Kristian would say "when in Milan, have a veal milanese."
We had two fabulous speeches today...
* TM Pam related the history of EarlyBirds and how our interdependence has gotten us through liminal moments to how we are thriving today. She Won Best Speaker Award.
* TM The Tom gave a suspenseful speech about Gouverneur Morris, who hand-wrote The Preamble and the Constitution, created the street grid of Lower Manhattan and was homesteaded in a certain Gettysburg Address.
And then came the evaluations..
* TM David complimented TM Pam for her well-presented history of EarlyBirds and finding out about the Creator of the Peak of the Week.
* TM Christine praised TM The Tom for keeping the main character of his speech as a Mystery Man with an unusual French name and, as Tom predicted, nobody had heard of him before. She Won Best Evaluator Award.
The Word of the Day was
LIMINAL, adj.
Occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold.
Relating to a transitional or initial stage of a process.
Example: TM Jorge hit the bullseye choosing this Word of the Day as our EarlyBirds Club is in a liminal stage. Good job, Jorge!
Here is the link to the recording....
See you next week!
Ana
VP Education
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Looking back, The Model Prayer and Let It Go - a gallant morning at EarlyBirds
Dear Members, Guests and Friends,
TM David launched us off by having us take a look at our past....
* TM Gail would tell her younger self to take the job she turned down, although in hindsight, it turned out to be the right choice!
* TM The Tom made a turning point decision to write down his memoir for his children to enjoy. He Won Best Table Topics Award.
* Guest Kimberly would not compare herself to others if she could change one thing about her life. She would focus on her own life!
* TM BeckyJo took longer to learn math, which she thought was irrelevant, and it turned out to be present everywhere in her life. 2 + 2 = 4
* TM Jorge regrets having dropped out of high school although he later made out all right!
* TM Veronica's most valuable lesson has been not to get distracted by distractions and focus on being herself.
* DTM Mary Helen wishes she had learned to ski as a girl, learned a musical instrument, although she became a professional astrologer while playing the ukelele and signing German songs.
* I, Ana, would have chosen to study a career instead of wasting my time figuring out how to buy myself trendy clothes.
Then we listened to prepared speeches...
* TM Aleta presented a detailed description of The Lord's Prayer, where we pour out our hearts to God instead of using it as a private wish factory.
* TM Pam redid her Let It Go speech about purging holy family relics by storing them in Nostalgia Plastic Bins. She Won Best Speaker Award.
Regarding our evaluations....
* TM BeckyJo commended TM Aleta for speaking at a moment's notice and urged her to watch prolific speakers to improve her vocal variety. She Won Best Evaluator Award.
* TM The Tom praised TM Pam's ability to purge her belongings while singing Let It Go in B-minor and assigning her husband one storage drawer in the entire household.
The Word of the Day was
GALLANT, adj
brave, heroic
Example: At EarlyBirds we learn to be gallant while improvising different tasks.
The link to the recording is here:
See you next week!
Ana
VP Education
Thursday, May 1, 2025
The Wild Wild West, Do You Hear Me? Tree chainsaw massacres - a Nolens Volens morning at Early Birds
--No Video Available--
Dear Members, Guests and Friends,
We formally inducted our returning Toastmaster Veronica. Welcome aboard!
TM Randolph led us in Nolens Volens Table Topics. We were soon to discover that...
* TM BeckyJo keenly watches her cat while she also watches British, Swedish, German and French crime dramas. American crime dramas are just too preachy!
* TM The Tom frequents Mom's Kitchen, a family joint where the longtime waitresses are good flirts and the food is second to none. He Won Best Table Topics Award.
* TM Marie's faith is her bedrock, gives her courage and trust to face any challenges she encounters while doing mental acrobatics about Polls. Great job, Marie!
* TM Veronica enjoys life being lived in the moment and has found the way to be happy while working toward future goals.
* TM Jorge has learned to never say never and finds more joys than frustrations in being a software engineer.
* TM David's big ego tells him he's the smartest in the room but he's aiming to be the funniest in order to release tension in his environment.
* TM Pam was thinking of AI this morning regarding microbes and cancer-sniffing beagles who will just have to return to being pets.
* TM Jose had great athletic talents in his early days but tore his meniscus and now simply walks 700 kilometers of the Camino like he eats a piece of cake!
We had (2) excellent prepared speeches...
* TM David explored his communication style - his forte being direct, which has caused him some family tensions, so now he practices supportive, which is much more conducive to happy endings.
* TM Pam taught us how to avoid tree-trimming scams by requesting the permit to solicit, the ISA certification and thus avoid neighborhood chainsaw massacres. She Won Best Speaker Award.
Along came evaluations...
* TM Randolph praised TM David for his organization and encouraged him to add more personal stories next time he gives this speech.
* TM The Tom, evaluating from a closet, pointed out that TM Pam's speech was well-knit and she urged us to avoid falling willy-nilly for tree scams. He Won Best Evaluator Award.
The Word of the Day was
NOLENS VOLENS, noun
Something that happens whether a person wants it or likes it or not.
(Can be used either/or Nilly-Willy)
Example: The dog was dragged, nolens volens, to the groomer for a much-needed wash.
Here's the link to the recording:
We overcame temporary and longer absences, rose to the occasion and had a great meeting as always! Thanks everyone for the teamwork!
See you next week!
Ana
VP Education
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Iffy Situations, Sensical Numbers and Seeking Help - an opulent morning at Early Birds
Dear Members, Guests and Friends,
DTM Mary Helen started us off with iffy situations we encountered in life. We found out that...
* TM Jose tried to steal a vinyl (formerly known as LP) as a budding teen, got caught and learned his lesson - wait 6 months for the coveted LPs to reach the Spanish market. He Won Best Table Topics Award.
* I, Ana, was usually the one to get others in trouble to cover up for lying to my unsuspecting parents.
* TM Gail the pilot learned to make flight plans and adhere to the ETA, except this morning when she broke her lifetime rule - but made it anyway!
* TM Christine prayed over a newly-minted police officer and ended up being hauled away in handcuffs. The twists and turns of life...
* Guest David's first car was a Honda Civic and remains forever in his heart, especially the coveted sunroof.
* TM Jorge took a wrong direction by stealing school supplies as a youngster but quickly corrected course at the sight of his father's timely appearance.
* TM BeckyJo saw her ex-partner's theft in the books and sadly what was seen cannot be unseen so her goal for 2025 is to pursue legal action and get her money back!
We had an outstanding ICEBREAKER today...
* TM Cory engaged the audience with TM questions and as a data analyst encouraged us all to join one of 182 lifetime La Vie cruises that will accommodate 56% of female Toastmasters and 44% of male Toastmasters. The data analysis conclusion is 0% privacy for the Gulds. He Won Best Speaker Award.
* TM Pam backed with data the fact that she's smart, educated, charming, creative and she comes from a long line of educated, charming, creative and smart family members. From doing it her way she transformed into leaning onto others to make life easier.
Then came evaluations...
* TM Chris praised TM Cory for his creative Icebreaker which, truthfully impressed everyone with his personalized statistics. She Won Best Evauator Award.
* TM The Tom related to TM Pam's opulent arrogance as a boss but age has a way of humbling us.
The Word of the Day was
OPULENT, adj.
Rich, luxurious, lavish
We at EarlyBirds like opulent - and succulent - lunches and dinners!
First-time Grammarian TM Jorge brought us a fantastic Word of the Day and captured the rich language used by our members. Way to go, TM Jorge!
For tips on Poll-Making and other important tidbits, please visit earlybirdtm.blogspot.com
The link to today's recording is
See you next week!
Ana
Recap Writer
Thursday, February 20, 2025
Sports Idioms, Downsizing and Blinding Love - the opposite of obtuse at EarlyBirds
Dear Members, Friends and Guests,
Our new TM Cory dove right into the program and led us with an inspirational invocation followed by The Pledge of Allegiance.
We inducted our newest member, Jorge (George). Welcome to EarlyBirds, TM George!
TM Aleta led us with very creative graphic slides of sports idioms. We found out that...
* TM Chris is looking forward to a spectacular kickoff in her new fantasy life.
* TM BeckyJo was a slam drunk in younger years and now has tiny little toes and is an anomaly as a short person. She Won Best Table Topics Award.
* TM Randolph is into the latest hockey hoopla and will definitely not drop the gloves.
* TM Cory says tackling Table Topics is par for the course regarding public speaking.
* TM Jorge definitely does not jump the gun to resolve an issue. He'd much rather use the synonym - get ahead of himself.
* TM The Tom is a devout front runner, much like his Alma Mater, Notre Dame, was, is and will forever continue to be...
* TM Terri's father was a boxing fan and although she finds it gross, she is also a fan who will not throw in the towel except to clean the blood.
We had, again, two fabulous speeches....
* TM Pam gave a rendition of Let It Go and stated categorically that her family are not hoarders, simply people with lots of hobbies and a big garage. She Won Best Speaker Award.
* DTM Mary Helen gave us some valuable tips for finding "the one" in a banquet of "the many", ignoring information overload.
And then came the evaluations...
* TM Paolo praised TM Pam for being a bird singing in the early morning and for her abundance of humor. He Won Best Evaluator Award.
* TM The Tom was inspired by DTM Mary Helen's tips for virtuosity in others - kindness, respect and money in the bank for expensive dinners.
The Word of the Day was
OBTUSE, adj.
Someone who can't understand something clearly.
Example: I was obtuse when it came to obtuse angles in Geometry. Do the math....
Here is the link to the recording...
See you next week!
Ana I.
Obtuse Recap Writer
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