Visuals, Soar Like An Eagle, The Rest of the Story - raconteurs at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Chris led us in a Daoist inspiring Invocation about Letting Go.

*TM Paolo incited us to stop acting like chickens and join the Mile-High Club.  He Won Best Speaker Award.

*TM The Tom told us the rest of the story about the Airport Advisory Board bully who became the Hospital Noise Abatement Challenger.   He Won Best Speaker Award.

* TM BeckyJo led us in Round Robin evaluations...

* TM Gail thought both speakers were the ultimate raconteurs.

* TM Marie praised TM Paolo for his passion and TM The Tom for his eloquence.   She Won Best Round /Robin Evaluator Award.

* TM Aleta soars like eagles and faces up to bullies.

* TM Terri liked TM Paolo's energy and TM The Tom's emphasis.

* DTM Mary Helen is going to read the referenced Awareness book again.

* TM Ana discovered she is hard of hearing...

* TM BeckyJo praised TM Paolo for reinventing himself and TM The Tom for reinventing the bully.

TM Terri led us in miscellaneous slides of Table Topics....

* TM Marie indicated that she wears her heart on her sleeve, not in her hand. It's all a matter of perception!

* DTM Mary Helen said glittering city lights remind her of telenovelas where the maid always elopes with the owner's son and lives unahappily ever after...

* TM Aleta told us through chattering teeth about the heavily weighted snowy branches in her icy driveway where the pizza delivery guy skidded his way to the door.

* I, Ana, reminisced about Lake Titicaca in the Bolivian Andes and Lake Michigan, in the icy shores of Chicagoland.  I Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Gail has taken many pictures of lighthouses while growing up by the sea, cherished memories of Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

* TM Pam is an easily diverted time waster who currently spends her precious time contemplating kitten watercolor painting techniques.  She promises to stop.

* TM BeckyJo used to play 'red light, green light' with Sunday school children and concluded that boys are wiggly and girls are staid until they discover boys and become wigglers too.

The Word of the Day was

RACONTEUR, noun

A person who tells anecdotes in a skillful and amusing way.

Example:  In Toastmasters we become witty raconteurs and effective public speakers.  Yes, sireeee!

The link to the recording is

recording,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxk6pM6uL-k

See you next week!

Ana 

Recap Raconteur

Summer, Frisella of Puglia, Eulogy and A Life Well Lived - a morning with moxie in EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests, and Friends,

We received the visit of our new Area Director, TM Marc Flanagan.  Welcome TM Flanagan!

The Tom Quinn started us with a self-composed inspirational invocation.  This was followed by very a propos Table Topics about Summer, led by TM Jarrett.

* TM Marc has foggy recollections of summer camps where he learned that he would not become a professional tennis player or polo player.

* TM Terri will soon regale us with Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

* TM The Tom recited a poem about summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowin' through the jasmine in my mind....   He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Randolph marveled at the moxie required to participate in the Summer Olympics, which were sparked by a nefarious Munich 1938 Nazi olympics.

* TM Gail is busy researching the meaning of dog days of summer.  Keep us posted, please!

* TM Jim G.'s summer school consisted of the School of Hard Knocks, where he learned a trade or the family business.

* DTM Jim D. has had summers of fun and sun - Hurricane Andrew was definitely not fun, but riding his Harley is and what tops it is his recent trip to Germany with DTM Mary Helen.

Along came (3) prepared speeches...

* TM Paolo delighted us with a local dish from Puglia called La Frisella - dry bread moistened in water, cherry tomatoes, basil, goat cheese and extra virgin olive oil.  This was paired up with an exquisite rose wine.  We are all preparing the recipe right now!

* TM Pam gave a eulogy for a family member whose vocation was to study bats, mice, critters hidden in black creeks - not glamorous but her absolute favorite!

* TM Chris gave us a hodgepodge of her life served with a smile - from huskies in Alaska to bi-coastal living to meeting her hero and travelling cross-country in a RV for 15 years.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

And then came the evaluations...

* TM Randolph admires TM Paolo's qualities as showman extraordinaire and has become a devoted rose wine connoiseur.

* TM Aleta liked TM Pam's eulogy and suggested maybe she add a little subtle humor to it to lighten it up.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

* DTM Jim D. was blown away by TM Chris' visual aids and was most impressed with TM Chris saving an injured pelican while kayaking off the coast of California.

The Word of the Day was

MOXIE, noun

= Courage and determination

_ Enery and pep

- Know-how

Example:  It takes a lot of moxie to circumvent life's curves.

Here's the link to the recording:

https://youtube.com/live/MIXvGlCACgE?feature=share

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer 

Heartfelt Tribute, No Memory Recall, Toastmaster Family Feud - not a morning for ragamuffins at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Gail started us with a beautiful invocation in the Christian tradition.

TM Marie introduced us to various aspects of Memorial Day Observed tributes.  We learned that...

* TM BeckyJo's father was a Pearl Harbor survivor; her veteran uncle spent the rest of his life keeping the Pearl Harbor memory alive.  Patriotism is paramount. She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* DTM Jim D. observes flag protocols and Memorial Day is a very emotional time for him.

* TM Zanya uses 3-day weekends to connect with friends and family and indulge in midnight chocolate binges.

* I, TM Ana, recalled a very moving ceremony in Fort Lauderdale Cemetery where our former TM Jerry Newcombe delivered a moving speech (in 100 degree weather on the shady bleachers)!!

* TM Pam revealed that her father was also a Pearl Harbor survivor and her grandfather was a Rough Rider with Teddy Roosevelt in the Spanish-American War and is buried in Arcadia, Florida, just because he happened to die there!

* TM Randolph strongly believes it's our duty to honor those who fought for our country and to observe a moment of silence at 3 pm on Memorial Day Observed.

* TM The Tom observed that we enjoy privileges won by men who died so we could have them, and movingly recalled a good marine who died in VietNam

Regarding prepared speeches...

* DTM Mary Helen shared with us that as we age, memories become more precious and one of the 7 ways to preserve them is to share them with other people, hence our tendency to repeat ourselves.

* TM Paolo described the ultimate Toastmaster Family Feud he and his wife engaged in which had a happy ending in 2 different Districts and told us the difference between a presentation and persuasion, ie Cicero of Rome who got accolades and Demostenes of Greece, who overcame stuttering to lead multitudes to battle.  Let's march!

As far as evaluations are concerned...

* TM The Tom praised DTM Mary Helen for her clear presentation which was interrupted by an internet power out and asked her to please stop dancing the rumba when she speaks.

* TM Jose noticed that TM Paolo wore casual clothes to differentiate with his speech contest video where he was dressed to the hilt - as he usually is - and how he tied historic orators to the benefits of Toastmasters to overcome fear of public speaking.. in dry pants!  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

RAGAMUFFIN, noun

a person, typically a child, in dirty scruffy clothes.

Example:  Celebrities and influencers expensively dress as ragamuffins.

Here is the link to the recording

https://youtube.com/live/izZpn9jSKus?feature=share

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

National Days, Progress Not Perfection, Find Your Voice, Let's March! A libertarian meeting of EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

Our International Speech Contest took off with a great invocation by TM Terri about 

C L A R I T Y !!!

Voting was a real challenge because all our contestants were fabulous!!

* DTM Mary Helen focused on New Year's Resolutions, after concluding that growing up she was a Rebel Without A Clue.... and she still writes grocery lists while riding Uber to the airport.  She Won Third Place.

* TM Chris became a lawyer in flower power Berkeley, handled divorces in Haight-Ashbury and finally found her passion in computer teaching and soulmate TM Jim G.  She teaches while singing a capella.  She Won Second Place.

* TM Paolo related to Roman Cicero and especially the Greek Demostenes, who overcame stuttering and commanded the masses to march into war while eating moussaka and gyros.  He Won First Place and will represent our Club in the February 24 Area Contest.  Congratulations Paolo!!!

While the votes were being counted and recounted (after all, some of us are in Florida), TM Marie delighted us with some National Day table topics.  We discovered that...

* DTM Jim D. reminisces about Vernors' Ginger Ale, Sanders'  Ice Cream and Hot Fudge, but Detroit is waaay too snowy, icy, frosty and coldy for him.  Hello, Florida!  Bye Bye Michigan!!  

* TM Jose thoroughly practiced Know Your Customer while in Sales, but now he's become a Libertarian who hangs up on telemarketers while feeling lots of compassion for them.  Ahhh the joys of retirement!!  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* I, Ana, a self-designated wordsmith, have a neurotically keen eye for detecting typos and misspellings (except my own) and will emulate TM Marie in reading segments of Roget's Thesaurus every night before bedtime while using one of Roget's slide rules.

* TM Terri likes Dunkin Donuts coffee, not only on National Gourmet Coffee Day but every day - although she is switching to tea for medicinal... oops. meditative purposes.  Her new motto is "It's tea for me!"

* TM Aleta credits her avoidance of yo-yo weight gain/loss to her intensive woodchopping, brush clearing, timber logging, bonfire building, mulch distributing... while doing jumping jacks and cartwheels on her property.  It works!

* TM Ricardo's motto for 2024 is "Avoid Procrastination" and he plans to get started... some time... later... much later.

Our next TLI (Toastmasters Learning Institute) is scheduled online for:  Saturday February 3 in the morning hours.  Login details to be forthcoming.

The Word of the Day was

LIBERTARIAN, noun

Someone who is more culturally liberal than a Democrat, and more fiscally conservative than a Republican.  Methinks.  They believe in a limited role of government.

Example:  Rand Paul and John Stossel are well-known Libertarians who resist the expanding, all-encompassing role of Big Brother in our lives and other aromatic by-products.

The Contest ran very smoothly, the ballot submissions were flawless and our Club moves forward.... Let's March!!!

Here's the link to the recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuP0CReLG8g

With a libertarian flavor,

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Improv, Speech Contests and Brain Freezes - all in a day's work at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Friends and Guests:

Always a master at innovation,  DTM Kip led us with an intro speech about the Rules of Improv.  Who knew there were any??  It turns out improv is as premeditated as it gets...

Then he led us in improv Table Topics.   We found out that...

* DTM Kip's wife gives him a light breakfast which prompts him to head to his favorite grocery store in search of mystery meat to feed his hunger...

* I, Ana, select low salt mystery turkey and head for my car to eat it to gather energy for endless errands to be completed;

* TM Scott overcomes mystery meat indigestion by heading for Costcoooo, where shopping is the REAL pleasure...

* TM Aleta instead heads to Pam's Club where shopping is truly a chimera...

* DTM Jim D. eats tofu in disguise and shoots iguanas, which by the way taste just like chicken...

* TM Jim G. backpacks it down the hill to the Italian market, where road signs are only suggestions and hand gestures prevail.

* TM Paolo says forget big grocery chains in Italy, simply listen to the calls for "Pesce fresco, insalata fresca" and make it a family event...He Won Best Table Topics award.

* Guest Val will start food shopping at the international market, where turkey smells like turkey and not like mystery trypto-cellophane.

* TM Pam became DTM Kip's improv wife who sends him out to float around the universe while she engages in mystery activities at home.

In the prepared speeches...

* TM Paolo reminisced about his off-the-charts adrenalin rush while soaring like an eagle and riding a gondola at the speech contests.

* TM Tom had a brain freeze, was rescued by improv mentors and grew where he was planted.    He Won Best Speaker Award.

Regarding Evaluations....

* TM Pam encouraged DTM Kip to re-tell his speech and join Miami City Ballet as an improv primo ballerino.

* TM Scott marveled that TM Paolo's contest prize was transformation into mic checker expertise.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM Aleta officially appointed TM Tom name successor of legendary actor John Fayne.  

The Word of the Day was

CHIMERA, noun  (Kye-mee-rah)

An illusion, improbable

Example:  Today's EarlyBird meeting was decidedly a good chimera.

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

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer 

Opposites Attract, Icelandicspeak and A Gondola Ride - all in a morning's meeting at Early Birds!!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends:

 

For starters, TM Paolo officially named us The Meeting of Meetings and The Peak Of The Week.  Your choice.

 

TM Carmine led us to explore opposite table topics.  We learned that….

 

• TM Scott censored his first thoughts about shrinking and enlarging items at this early hour and instead referred to shrinking brains and enlarging joie de vivre….
• TM Paolo froze as he had his foot already on the gondola but he cannot turn down a table topic request about being frozen and thawed.
• I, Ana, talked about the true vs the false self, which consists of dying my hair this color and that color – now I save lots of money by being authentically gray.
• DTM Kip said that being a double dipper is like being a gunfighter at the EarlyBird Corral and avoiding ricochets at all costs.
• TM Tom has come from Alabama with a banjo on his knee and focuses on the joy while fretting the banjo.  We are looking forward to a live Zoom performance!
• TM Randolph reflected that stagnation is the beginning of decomposition – and that’s a dangerous non-movement thing!
• Guest Val said giving and receiving are spiritually the same – the intent to give joy creates joy within you in a wonderful synergy.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

 

We enjoyed two excellent speeches today…

 

• TM Scott inspired us to book our flights to Reykyavik to see the fiords, lava boulders, stark and stunning fog and guardrail-less driving straight to the Language School to learn to say eyjafjallajokull (E 15 for short) in our quest for Iceland’s 269 yuhkitls.  Easy as Eskimo Pie! 
• TM Paolo regaled us with the full scope of Italian gestures as he rowed the Grand Canal in Venice looking for an espresso bar – ma che cosa????   He Won Best Speaker Award.

 

As far as evaluations go…

 

• DTM Mary Helen thoroughly enjoys TM Scott’s intelligent witticisms and will now convert the Broward Bilingual Club into English-Icelandic.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.
• TM Tom praised TM Paolo for his virtual setting, his singing voice and above all his striped t-shirt.   Paolo will go all the way to the Gondolieri Hall of Fame for sure!

 

The Word of the Day was

 

QUINTESSENTIAL, adj.

Representing the most typical example of a quality or class.

 

Example:  Apple Pie A La Mode is the quintessential American dessert.  Yummm….

 

Here’s the link to the recording:

 

 

https://youtu.be/UfLHAZmPaJE

 

Dates to Remember:

April 29 – at 8:00 am – TM Paolo will represent our Club in the District 47 Contest.

May 12 – Tall Tales Early Bird Meeting – Bring Everything But The Truth!

 

See you next week!

 

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Soaring, Reminiscing and Love In The Time of Cholera, an intense speech contest at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

 

The level of intensity of our EarlyBirds Club international speeches has soared to unprecedented profound heights.   All speeches were magnificent!

 

• Our President, TM Paolo, reminded us that we are all potential eagles even if we are living like chickens.  Have vision, be fearless and remember that fortune favors the bold.  He Won First Place Speaker Award and will proudly represent our Club here, there and everywhere!

 

• DTM Mary Helen revealed the truth about her evil twin, Maureen, who in reality is a fictional character with a real name.  In the interim, MHD is laser-focused on what will be the message on her billboard?  She Won Second Place Speaker Award.

 

• TM Chris wouldn’t have minded being stuck in the Maldives although it would have broken the Bank of G.; but in these times of Cholera, err… Covid, they had to settle for pupusas and lotsa wine delivered by room service in the country of The Savior, Central America.

 

While our profoundly polifacetic Sargeant-at-Arms/Judge/Ballot Counter/Tech Guru (and more) TM Jim G. counted -and recounted- the votes, we had time for timely Table Topics, ably led by TM Marie.

 

Here are interpretations of quotes from recently commemorated Rev. Dr. Luther King, Jr.:

 

• TM Carmine waxed and rewaxed poetic and philosophical and concluded that the time is always right to publicly declare that we are all brothers and sisters in Public Speaking adventures.
• TM Tom believes that  the goal of education is to acquire the ability to discern that the answers are truly within us – and stop looking outside of ourselves!
• TM Lois stated that her life consists of both quality and longevity and she has never ceased in her quest to learn something each and every day.  Go Lois!
• TM Jose would rather love intensely and enjoy life to the fullest and end it by skidding on the road less traveled at extremely high speeds.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.
• I, Ana, avoid future-tripping in fear by remembering that the acronym stands for Future Events Appearing Real, and praying, praying, praying.
• TM BeckyJo sadly stated that our education system teaches us to be uniform instead of being taught to be critical thinkers.  Profound thinkers of the world, rebel!
• DTM Jim D. believes that we need to forgive our neighbor although we do not forget, but we must be accountable and quit being blamers.
• DTM Kip has slipped many a time in the dark going down the steps – there’s always one less or one more than he anticipates – and has taken the wall paintings right with him on his way to the floor.  This has led to a full redecorating of his house.

 

Although we had no official Word of the Day today, PROFOUND was the unspokenly and unanimously adopted term in the collective consciousness – to quote TM Carmine.

 

Here is the link to the recording:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k8mQQ4nK40

 

See you next week!

 

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Choices, Flights and Timing - a true celebration at EarlyBirds!

 

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

 

TM Chris started the morning with Table Topics choices:

 

• TM Tom waxed poetic when choosing mountain or beach vacay …”the reason for the season – to wander thereabouts….”
• TM Lois likes choosing personal gifts while gift cards are best for students – and visiting a neighbor during Christmas definitely takes the cake.
• TM Carmine chooses bed over lazyboy or couch, as his lazybed is where he does his best thinking, his best reading and, let’s face it, his best lazying.  
• TM Pam chooses both vegetable and flower garden. Just please get rid of the chemically-induced South Florida lawns which in turn will drive local leaf blower companies out of business. Oh well….   She Won Best Table Topics Award.
• TM BeckyJo gave us a handy life formula:  comedy = tragedy + time.  She binge-watches Frasier, a timeless show with a crazy cast for crazy audiences.  To a tee.

 

We had outstanding prepared speeches today…

 

• TM Paolo’s motivational speech encouraged us to soar like an eagle with vision, focus, fearlessness, training hard and performing extracurricular activities in midair – for the latter, we humans must join the highly unofficial Mile High Club.  He Won Best Speaker Award.
• TM Aleta courageously delivered a speech about whether to plod like a turtle or race like a rabbit, while dealing with repeated interruptions from a rambunctious audience.  In humorous speeches, to pause before the punchline… or… after the punchline?  That, my friends - as Billy Shakespeare would say-  is the question.

 

And then came our evaluations…

 

• TM Jim G. praised TM Paolo for his excellent speech delivery and generous hand and body gestures while intently keeping and eagle-like laser-focused eye contact with the camera lens.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.
• DTM Kip praised TM Aleta for actually delivering a useful speech while effectively managing a bunch of crazies – call them bulls in a china shop or an unruly mob of muppets.

 

 

The Word of the Day was:

 

CELEBRATION, noun

 

the action of marking one's pleasure at an important event or occasion by engaging in enjoyable, typically social, activity.

 

"The Empty Nest syndrome actually turned out to be a cause for celebration" – a quote attributed to United Burned Out Parents Of The World, LLC.

 

This week’s recording can be accessed on this link:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUrpdhqM8tk

 

See you next week!

 

Irreverently yours,

 

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Humor x 5 and Rain - The Humorous Speech Contest at EarlyBirds

 

Dear Members, Friends and Guests:

 

Aptly led by Contest Master Pam and persnickety Chief Judge Kip, we enjoyed our Humorous Speech Contest:

 

• I, Ana, related the true sea (mis)adventures of Captain Wacky and The Motley Crew, who were on first-name basis with the Fort Lauderdale Coast Guard.  I placed Third.
• TM BeckyJo reminisced about the panic of Y2K and catering a multitudinous World-Ending Party where To Beet Or Not To Beet became the ultimate question.   She placed Second.
• TM Tom reflected on his coal miner grandpa, who stemmed from Pittsburgh, Kansas (why do multiple cities have the same names?  To confuse foreigners, no doubt) and had to send telegrams to his wife to please hang up the phone and get the $100 chocolate cake recipe going in the oven, once and for all.
• Gondolier TM Paolo regaled us with the song “Volare…. Ooooh… Cantare…. Oh-Oh-Oh-O” while he gesticulated his way through a 5 to 7 minute body language demonstration of a few inimitable Italian gestures.   Ma che cosa???  (learned in utero by Italian babies)….   Nel Blu, Dipinto di Blu…..”   He Won First Place.  Go, Paolo!  You will represent our Club well.
• TM Aleta vividly pictured tough love from one of our Toastmasters pioneers, VH, who passed down invaluable lessons, was at times a mentor, at times a demontor and at times a tormentor.  She is fondly remembered by those who survived and stopped using unnecessary fillers.

 

While ballots were counted, recounted and inspected for hanging chads, TM Carmine introduced rainy Table Topics….

 

• TM Marie turned Italian in front of our very eyes and gesticulated her way through the concept that into each life some rain must fall.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.
• DTM Mary Helen grew up in a farm with a shallow well where she enjoyed outdoor showering with rainwater and invented the trendy GlamCamping.
• TM Jeff thinks moderation is key – his newly planted lawn got too much rain and now he’s had to switch careers to mushroom farmer.
• TM Lois loves the fact that the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plains and feels fragant and loving when she watches spring flowers thriving.
• DTM Jim D. aka Wichita Lineman revealed that Wichita has Dimpled Car Sales and tiny houses have 4-car garages to protect autos from the inevitable pelting hale.

 

Here’s the link to the recording:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NA6ykeBcfo

 

See you next week!

 

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Leaders are Well Groomed and Well Traveled - an intriguing morning at EarlyBirds!

 

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

 

First-time Invocator and new TM Lois said a beautiful morning prayer and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, waving her own flag.  Great job, TM Lois!

 

TM Marie led us in inspirational quotes on Leadership.  We found out that…

 

• TM BeckyJo believes that trust is not deserved; it’s earned – by behavior and example.  Dignity is man’s best asset.   She was one of the Table Topics Trifecta Winners.
• TM Carmine’s consciousness evolves by currently reading from the Buddha and he’s achieving wholeness and harmony.
• I, Ana, create connections by inviting people to activities I enjoy and benefit me – Toastmasters is at the top of my list.
• TM Lois muffles the crazy noise in her head by attending Toastmasters and sharpening her listening skills.  She was one of the Table Topic Trifecta Winners.
• TM Randolph likes words of affirmation and expressions of personal admiration from others which reinforce his own self worth.
• TM Aleta pursues excellence and has fun while following the rules.
• TM Pam stopped the bickering between her daughters and achieved a clean house in the process although she did get some “I hate you”s along the way – a clear sign of mothering success.  She was one of the Table Topic Trifecta Winners.

The theme for today’s prepared speeches was “Well groomed, well travelled”….

 

• Impeccably dressed TM Paolo told us how to dress for success:  emphasize assets, conceal shortcomings.  Project confidence, assurance, success, sexiness before even opening your mouth.  A well-fitting man’s suit is to a woman what lingerie is to a man….    Stay stylish, my friends!  He Won Best Speaker Award.
• DTM Kip gave us a visual travelog of his recent trip to Alaska, aplenty with reindeer (caribou in the wild), eagles, napping otters, muskox, rugged individuals, waterfalls, dumb moose locking horns symbolizing male stupidity and most importantly, glacieritas galore – margaritas with a touch of glacier.

 

As far as evaluations go…

 

• TM Pam stated that TM Paolo gets the sale simply by looking the part.   He just looks dang good!  She Won Best Evaluator Award.
• TM Carmine praised DTM Kip for poetically teaching us not to spit in Alaska in the winter or we’ll crack the pavement. 

 

TM BeckyJo stepped in to be General Evaluator and made keen observations of the entire meeting.  She suggested we put the Word of the Day in the chat for those who arrive late and for those of us who arrive early and are forgetful.

 

The Word of the Day was

 

ACCLIMATE, verb

To become accustomed to a new climate or to new conditions.

 

Example:  We can quickly acclimate to drink glacieritas instead of margaritas near Alaskan waterfalls, surrounded by male (moose) stupidity.

 

The only correct plural of moose is moose. Sometimes, people add an S to moose, but that is incorrect. Moose derives from Algonquian, a Native American language. . My favorite animals are mooses and octopuses.

 

Dates to Remember:

 

Speech Evaluation Contest:  August 12

Humorous Speech Contest:  September 2

 

See you next week!

 

Ana

Recap Writer

 

 

 

 

Spanish Phrases, Espresso Yourself and Unlikely Friendships - an international morning at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

 Outgoing President Jeff thanked the outgoing officers and officially installed the new officers for this coming year:

• TM Paolo, President
• DTM Jim D., Treasurer
• TM Tom, Secretary
• TM Chris, VP Public Relations
• DTM Mary Helen, VP Membership
• DTM Kip, VP Ed
• TM Randolph, Sargeant-at-Arms

 Welcome on board! Looking forward to an exciting year!

 DTM Mary Helen led us in Table Topics translated from Spanish expressions:

• DTM Jim D. emphatically questioned “can you ask the question?  Why this question? Why here?  Why now?”  More will be revealed….
• TM Tom wisely stated that wisdom comes from not answering the question so commitment to evidence is avoided.  Translation:  “My mind is made up, don’t confuse me with the facts”.
• I, Ana, will indeed take it the wrong way, depending on how cranky I am when you hurl out your direct criticism under the veiled guise of humor.
• TM Jose does not really want to talk about it, mainly because he’s losing his mind on an empty stomach while creating polls, keeping time and stressing out.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.
• TM Randolph thanked imaginary people for letting him know that dinner was at 7 after he showed up at 8, and for announcing that he was having mayo-less sandwiches for lunch so he could bring his own mayo.
• TM Jeff often says I’ve heard enough because ever since he was a teenager, he’s had strong opinions and is definitely not a nuanced person.
• Guest Lois thanked the Topic Master for calling on her so she can learn to process her thinking and avoid going on and on.  Good job, Lois!
• DTM Kip’s wife has helped him shape his lips to say “I’m sorry” even though internally he knows he did NOT make a mistake.  Apologizing is such a bother…
• TM Marie practiced being a locavore when growing up,  as her father showed up with cases upon cases of strawberries and her mother was forced to make cases upon cases of little jars of strawberry jam.  Botulism was simply not permitted.

 

And then came the prepared speeches…

• TM Paolo espressoed himself with a live demo of a palate massage with fragrant, creamy home-made espresso.  When visiting Italy, try a small town espresso bar and order either lungo, correcto, macchiato, ristretto, doppio and drink it standing at the counter while engaging in elaborate conversations with friendly Italian locals.   Never, never, never order Capuccino after 11 am… unless you’re a gringo tourist.  Then, anything goes.  He Won Best Speaker Award.
• TM BeckyJo told us about her unlikely friendship with Ellie, a Dutch-born Holocaust survivor who, through the kindness of angels put in her path, managed to escape death and became a fashion designer for high-end large U.S. retail giants in the Sixties. 

 

As for the evaluations…. 

• TM Jeff was so inspired by TM Paolo that he compared him to his all-time favorite soccer star, Cristiano Ronaldo, an avid espresso drinker himself.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.
• DTM Kip praised TM BeckyJo’s storytelling skills and encouraged her to next time raise the camera so we can see something other than her forehead.

 

TM Marie Toastmastered us smoothly and humorously; TM Aleta General Evaluated us accurately and admiringly; TM Jose timed us, polled us and somehow managed to smile through it all; DTM Kip Tech Evaluated us flawlessly and can’t wait to hightail it to Alaska.   We’ll hold the EarlyBird fort, Kip! 

The Word of the Day was

LOCAVORE, noun

A person who eats only locally-grown produce or food.

Ex.: During mango season, I am definitely a mangovore locavore.

 

See you next week!

 

Ana

Recap Writer

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

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

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

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

We had some fabulous speeches today…

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

The evaluations….

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

The Word of the Day was

NARNIA, noun

Fictitious and magical land

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

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

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

April Fools, Rose All Day, Greek and Unwanted - what a morning at Early Birds!

Dear Members, Friends and Guests,

 

In honor of April Fools’ Day, I started us off with some pertinent Table Topics:

 

• TM Jose confessed that he laughed when others fell in icy Madrid, only to find himself landing on the cold hard ice and being the object of derision from others.  Oh that pesky Karma!!
• TM Joe tricked his now wife into thinking that their date was a bet, and now, after 20 years of (happy) marriage, she knows that he married her on a bet!!
• TM Lorena has been able to switch her work schedule so she can stay till the end of our meetings.   Her bosses think it’s just a prank on April Fools’ Day!
• TM Jim G. solemnly stated that he will not attempt to trick the IRS on April 15, especially since the IRS has postponed tax filing day till June!   He Won Best Table Topics Award.
• TM Chris started an April Fools’ Blog last year inspired by the pandemic, but her wildest imagination could not have matched the reality of what was to come!
• DTM Mary Helen lives by  the phrase ‘fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.”  She’s a big fan of renowned prankster George Clooney, who was recently pranked by his wife with a dirty diaper switcharoo in complicity with their alert twins.

 

And then came amazing prepared speeches….

 

• TM Paolo delighted us with an early morning degustation (aka Rose Renaissance)  of Cote de Roses, which goes through a short process of maceration of seeds, stems, crushed red grapes and Paolo can’t bring himself to throw away the beautiful empty bottles.  A questo punto, he has had to buy a Public Storage facility to keep the empty bottles.  Mamma Mia!

 

 

<![if !supportLists]>·     <![endif]>TM Tom impressed us with his solid knowledge of Greek στάθμευσε το αυτοκίνητό σου 

Which he used on his eccentric rogue Polish neighbor but alas, it impressed the Pole too  – after 20 years, the covered car disappeared from the street never to be seen again.  Go Condo HOA!!

• Guest TM JOB Mogire made a heart-rendering speech about the hardships and isolation he endured growing up and how he was able to let the pain instruct him, rather than destruct him.  Good luck in the contest!  You are well on your way to a win!  Come visit us again.  He Won Best Speaker Award.

 

As for evaluations…

 

• TM Aleta absolutely loved TM Paolo’s wine tasting class and was subsequently spotted headed for the nearest Wine & Spirits in West Pennsylvania.
• DTM Kip is brimming with pride that TM Tom has reached Level 5 of Pathways, and is proposing Lasik surgery for Tom to avoid eyeglass glare on the camera lens.
• Back with great gumption, TM Carmine praised Guest TM JOB for his touching speech and will propose  to TM International to start giving out prizes to Mentors of Speech Winners at Contests.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

 

The Word of the Day was

 

GUMPTION, noun

 

shrewd or spirited initiative and resourcefulness.

 

Example: 

 

It takes gumption to be the minority opinion in any controversial discussion.

 

Recording for the meeting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrkwlt-5dhw

 

See you next week!

 

Ana

Recap Writer

This or that, days of wine and olives, panel on leadership - very accountable morning in EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

 

TM Jim G. made us ponder about the imponderables of life – would you rather this or that?  And thus we learned that…

 

• TM Randolph chooses Time over Money simply because with more Time, he would figure out a way to make more Money….
• I, Ana, have been stuck in a ski lift, swinging in mid air, wondering why, as a hot-blooded Cuban, I didn’t get stuck parasailing in the Caribbean instead!
• DTM Mary Helen would rather be an adult with childlike enthusiasm or be a child to get to meet her parents again – with the perspective of an adult.  Oh this is very clearly confusing!
• TM Pam would rather slowly move forward because there’s been enough dang Pause in 2020.  Besides, she’ll be on Pacific Time next week with her grandkids so she will definitely be in a time zone warp.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.
• TM Tom would rather speak with (interesting) animals than learn all the world’s languages.  He has antipathy for Wally Gator, though, for some reason he chose not to reveal until Level 5 in Pathways.

 

With regard to prepared speeches…

 

• TM Paolo, born in Puglia region (Apulia for gringos) on the heel of the Italian boot (see attached map), reminisced a sotto voce that his mother had a parto difficile, but nothing compared to his move to Miami 25 years ago dreaming of becoming Miami Vice’s “Sonny” Crockett.  Allora, a wife, 6 children and a prosperous clothing business later, we look forward to hearing his many adventures as he lives out his plans.
• TM Marie is whetting our appetite to fill our Club’s upcoming officers’ slate – while cleverly conquering Mt Everest Pathways Level 5.  Her panelists explained that the President has terrific backup, the Secretary only has to show up and have good legs and the VP Ed -in our club at least- does pretty much everything.  Ah… the secret is out!  There are no term limits.  The initials are DTMKB.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

 

As for evaluations….

 

• TM Chris is booking her flight to Puglia as we speak, where she hopes to take a 25-year vacation and live out her dream of being Sofia Loren – she will take her caro marito Giacomo Guld with her, though.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.
• TM Aleta thoroughly enjoyed Moderator of the Day TM Marie’s speech and finds it mathematically impossible to evaluate a 20-minute speech in 2 minutes, darn it.   She remarked that TM Marie’s new haircut is largely accountable for a Level 5 impact.

 

The Word of the Day was

 

ACCOUNTABILITY, n.

 

Quality or state of being accountable; willingness to accept responsibility for one’s actions.

 

Example:  A certain someone takes personal accountability for banana peels carelessly dropped on the ground by irresponsible muppets and hillbillies.

 

 

Recording of this meeting - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgkkrrxoXjQ

 

 

See you next week!

 

Ana

Recap Writer