Debating Debatables, The Love Boat and (Dis)organized crime in South Florida - a facilitated morning at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM David smoothly facilitated our meeting as a first-time Toastmaster of the Day.  Congratulations David!

TM Aleta led us in thought-provoking both sides of table topics... We discovered that...

*TM David thinks AI should be banned in war because it can destroy lives exponentially...

*TM BeckyJo says it should NOT be banned because the bad guys will use it anyway. So let everyone use it, destroy the planet and start over.  All we need are robots and gardeners to start the Garden of Eden.   She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Pam thinks mandatory age retirement should be banned.  Old people should be out working (except her)...

*TM Marie thinks it should NOT be banned - she still works, facilitates training, feels connected.  Rock 'em, sock' em, robots wedding cake.

* TM Christina recovered from her initial shock and stated she absolutely believes the moon landing was a hoax.  They put movie cameras in a basement and some decorative rocks.  Just ask Buzz Aldrin,,,

* TM Randolph thinks it was NOT an elaborate hoax.  What would we gain from believing it's a hoax anyway?  He's pragmatic above all.

* TM Veronica thinks a 4-day workweek improves productivity and increases wellbeing.  Less commuting, more time with kids and for appointments.

* Guest  Fernanda thinks a 4-day workweek would not work for certain industries - healthcare, restaurants, hospitals.  Definitely a no-no.  Good job, Fernanda!

We then proceeded on to the prepared speeches...

*TM Christina regaled us with a sweet story of her personal Love Boat adventure, where she met her husband-to-be amazing chef and they both learned together to distinguish between a rope and a line.  Jib the jab!!  She Won Best Speaker Award.

* I, Ana, told a juicy tale of (dis)organized crime in South Florida in the 40s, 50s and up to the 80s, amidst the sound of crashing waves, swaying palm trees and lots and lots of lime mojitos.

As far as evluations go....

* TM BeckyJo adored TM Christina's love story on the high seas and encouraged her to focus on her vocal variety since everything else is excellent.

* TM Pam empathized with the tale of La Cosa Nostra, Florida style, since she's a native Floridian and is familiar with Florida craziness.  She suggested I stick to 2 or 3 stories and expand on them.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

FACILITATE, verb

To make an action or process easier

Example: It's easy to facilitate any role in Toastmasters because we have our prized 'crib sheets' to guide us along.  Try it people!

Here's the link to the recording:

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

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer 

Cupid, Adventures and Smart Homes That Are Not Too Smart - a fun morning at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests, Friends,

TM Randolph started us off with a meaningful Invocation, and we were ready to start our Table Topics contest...

The topic was ADVENTURE.... and as we soon found out...

* TM Veronica stays in Toastmasters to master her hesitation with impromptu speaking and has embarked in this adventure.

* TM Pam's main adventure - at this stage of life - is exactly that, to have conquered another night stayin' alive...

* TM Jose's middle name is Adventure - he began getting into pickles at a very tender age and continued until caution became his second middle initial.  He Won Second Place.

* TM Cristina's life has been a total and complete adventure, seconded since a few years ago by her also-adventurous husband.  She Won First Place.

* TM Randolph's adventure plans includes riding his bike alone and aimlessly until his legs give out - hopefully near a Hyatt Regency.  He Won Second Place.

* TM BeckyJo's childhood adventures included commanding her entire 4th grade to follow her across the street to a park and serving 3 years' detention for it. But... she'd do it again in a heartbeat.

While the votes were being tallied, we had a prepared speech and a disruptive audience.

* TM David told us that "A smart house is not a silver bullet" and, among interruptions, comments and sneers, we realized that smart homes are simply endless set up instructions, compatibility issues, resetting passwords, wifi shutdowns and toilets that don't flush when the internet is down.  So beware of modern technology if you still want to have a quiet cup of coffee on weekends.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Jose praised TM David's speech and how he handled disruptions... before TM Jose himself was disrupted by a security technician intending to make my home a little smarter but not quite.

Our Word of the Day was

CUPID, noun

A cherub-like entity that throws arrows at people's hearts to allure them into romantic love and otherwise entices everyone to profess brotherly/sisterly love to their fellow humans.

Example:  Cupid played an important role in most couples' romantic involvements.

Overall, our Table Topics contest provided a morning of fun and laughter for us all.

And as they say.... "If it's not fun... it's not Toastmasters!"

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cawh2Cfo_g

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer 

Contest, Inspiration and Is It Fair? - a contested morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

We heard very inspirational speeches...

* 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.

Here's the link to the recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9wJWefpXwE

Next week, on to Table Topics Contest!!!

See you then!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Beach Snow, Design Tools and Cat Scratch Fever, an obdurate morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Pam launched us with a Unitarian Invocation about the Whip of Winter.

TM Christina introduced the tropical snowstorm concept to us...

* TM The Tom stated that Floridians are obdurate in avoiding snow-driven mistakes by migrating South from the cruel harsh northern winters.

* TM Veronica dreams of building beach snowmen, beach snow cones and posting the pictures on social media.

* TM Jorge was horrified at multiple-car crashes in MIami traffic when driven by a snowstorm.

* TM Aleta has found a good job for Florida teenagers experiencing a snowstorm... if they own a John Deere snow plow.

* TM Jose saw real snow in one year in Montana and when we first moved to Madrid from Cuba in the Navacerrada mountains surrounding the capital.

* TM Pam looks forward to winter olympics, mostly ice skating and ice racing, one a spring, one an obdurate sport.

* TM David laughs at Miamians' winter gear -including himself- when the thermometer hits 70 degrees fahrenheit.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM BeckyJo made a mistake as a 6-year-old by diving into snow in her flipflops. She had to be rescued by her compassionate uncle.

Along came prepared speeches...

* TM David presented a speech about his printing company and their sophisticated platforms to make customers and other businesses lives easier.

* TM BeckyJo emphasized her 2 degrees of separation from Ted Nugent by suffering her Cat Scratch Fever - and now she's immunized.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

Regarding the evaluations...

* TM Jose was impressed with TM David's speech, his great presentation and he suggested he explain what B to B and B to C stand for.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM The Tom thoroughly enjoyed TM BeckyJo's speech, her vivid descriptions of the feline scar on her finger and surviving Mersa.

The Word of the Day was

OBDURATE, adjective

Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action; hardened in fellings.

Example: The difference between obdurate and obstinate: Obdurate implies a hardened, unfeeling resistance to persuasion (often morally) while obstinate suggests a more willful, perhaps unreasonable, persistence in one's opinion, often linked to pride or pigheadedness, though it can sometimes be admired as tenacity.

Here's the link to the recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LflNAdjB9sc

See you next week at the Group International Speech Contest!

Ana I.

Obdurate Recap Writer

The Laughing Librarian, A Funny Thing Happened and The Invitation - great momentum at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM The Tom started us with a profound invocation about Father Fulton Sheen, known as the first Televangelist, soon to be canonized after a life of introspection.

TM BeckyJo introduced us to British children's analogies posted on FB's The Laughing Librarian.  We found out that...

* TM Pam wistfully reminisced about the Disco Era, when the walrus sang while making sounds like rusty farm equipment.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM The Tom's eyes twinkled like dew drops on the mustache of a man with a cold... And Won Best Laughing For The Duration of a Table Topics Award.

* TM Marie quoted "Sorry to see you leave and happy to see you go" as the reasoning behind magnetic back attraction and front repulsion.  Or something like that...

* TM Veronica compared the beauty and delicacy of a ballerina extending her leg at impossible angles and the strength of a dog lifting his leg at a fire hydrant.  Both are very impressive...

* TM Jose liked Canadian bacon while living in the US, which reminded him of one of his cars which had attractive back fenders and repulsive front benders.

* TM Aleta's cats get their ragged nails caught in her shag carpet and demand vacuuming often = the mustache topic reminded her of TM Jim G.

* I, Ana, pondered about the medical uses of lampshades as an instrument of isolation for dogs when licking wounds is not permitted.

Regarding prepared speeches...

* TM Christine gave her speech from a plane seat and recounted when one of the dogs in her care gave birth to 2 puppies in her shag carpet while she was flying back from LA - it turned out the doggy daycare is somewhat of a dog promiscuity center.... She Won Best Speaker Award.

* TM Marie wrote her speech in less than an hour this morning and highlighted the impact that accepting certain invitations has had in her life - Toastmasters, Al-Anon, Centering Prayer....  more will be revealed!

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Aleta thoroughly enjoyed TM Christine's speech and found it very hilarious - so much so that she totally ignored any (superfluous) time constraints while she laughed and laughed and laughed...

* TM BeckyJo praised TM Marie for her superb speech crafted last minute and delivered in such a profound lasting way.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

MOMENTUM, noun

Force that keeps something moving forward, progressing.

Force or speed of a moving object, calculated as mass + velocity.

Example:  This morning's meeting gathered momentum once we shifted all the roles around several times.

Here's the link to the recording...

https://youtube.com/live/WdM3xaJxXzA?feature=share

Note:  The International Speech Contest has been postponed till February 5th.  

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Florida Arbor Day, Traditions and Idioms - a jocund morning at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

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.

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSx9ahC4s3E

Date to Remember:  International Speech Contest at EarlyBirds will be held on Thursday, January 29.  Get your speeches ready!

See you next week!

Ana I.

Jocund Recap Writer

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...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFqSvmsRqx0

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Memorables, Marriage, Cuban Style and Blink And You Missed It - we espoused the EarlyBird meeting

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM The Tom launched us off on fun table topics...

* TM Christina's favorites are software innovations but she wishes for more manufacturing inventions.

* I, Ana, travelled to a small town in Baja California and had a drink at a Hotel where you can check out any time you want, but you can never leave....

* TM Veronica would not block anyone from social media but she does not take new friends, either.

* TM Aleta can never have a Harvey Wallbanger (vodka, orange juice and a float of Galliano liqueur) because she can't afford to recarpet her entire house.

* TM Gail's celebrity couple that males no sense is Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey although she wishes them well in their espousing each other.

* TM Jose's hardest learned life lesson is that you can't force solutions, although sometimes he tries... while attempting to have others espouse his cause!

* TM Marie's friend's 5-yr-old dressed up as Santa for Halloween and ended up winning first prize! Moral of the story, be true to yourself even if others mock you. She Won Best Table Topics Award.

Along came prepared speeches....

* I, Ana, told the tale of love and betrayal of Margarita Conchita Josefa and Juan Manuel Roberto Gonzalez, who espoused Santeria and bolstered the Botanicas business in Miami and mutually espoused the marriage commitment.  I Won Best Speaker Award - (for fear of retaliation?)

* TM Aleta alerted us that if we blinked, we missed it.  2025 went by like a movie played at double speed and flew by like a speeding train, leaving little time for negotiation.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM BeckyJo got so captivated by Love Potion # None that she forgot to evaluate, but she found the speech very entertaining and a full reflection of reality.

* TM Jose asked TM Aleta to expound on the 4 styles of negotiation while reminiscing about Mutiny on the Bounty and The World According to Aleta.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

ESPOUSE, verb

Adopt or support a cause, belief or way of life

Marry

Example:  The members of EarlyBirds espouse the value of public speaking and leadership while having fun.

The link to the recording is

https://youtube.com/live/UQASD1yxE1c?feature=share

Feliz Navidad y Prospero 2026!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Joyeux Noel 

Mele Kalikimaka

See you on January 8th!

Ana

Recap Writer

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:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X73Vx1uJv5I

See you next week!

Ana

Illuminated Recap Writer

Rock Around the Clock, Spain's Passport and the Toastmasters' Promise - a day of advent in EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

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.

Here's the link to the recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1C7ugWdg38

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Giving thanks, Death of a Penny and Contemplative Prayer - a grateful meeting of EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Marie started us with an invocation of gratefulness.

I, Ana, introduced Thanksgiving-related topics.  We learned that...

* TM Aleta is grateful for the current local weather and for too many things to list in 2 to 3 minutes with a 30-second deviation only at the end to qualify.

* TM Christina has (2) Thanksgivings, Canada and US, her parents are coming and she's accomplished great things at work this past year.

* TM Pam ran the Marine Corps marathon with an untrained friend and her feet, totally compliant during trials, started to hurt for no good reason. She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM BeckyJo would invite Tiny Tim to her Thanksgiving Dinner as he could probably keep the crazies in line.

* Our guest, Naomi, would like to learn the skill of patience in the next year.  Go Naomi!

* TM Jose dropped a screwdriver owned by the dockmaster to the bottom of the ocean, who will try to retrieve it with a long line and a magnet attached to it.

* TM Randolph is looking with great hope to take a family trip this coming year, possibly to Orlando but still to be confirmed.

We had (2) outstanding speeches today...

* TM Gail memorialized our recently defunct US penny - although there are still 300 billion of them in circulation, so it will be a while before they disappear and go back to heaven, where they originally came from to be worn in penny loafers.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

* TM Marie is setting the groundwork for peaceful holidays by practicing Centering Prayer, using heartfulness vs mindfulness, inhaling acceptance, exhaling surrender and letting go of unpleasant memories with overbearing family members.

Regarding our evaluations..

* TM Christine praised TM Gail's speech for its rich history, Bing Crosby songs, penny earned is a penny saved, lucky pennies, and the rich tapestry of our legendary penny which now costs 3 cents to produce and had to be discontinued.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM BeckyJo admires TM Marie's calm delivery of a speech on serenity and peace, the open loving of God, and for being the essence of calmness herself.

The Word of the Day was

GRATEFUL, adj.

To be pleased about something

Example:  I left our EarlyBirds meeting today unexpectedly moved, deeply grateful and with a sense of privilege for having been there.

Here's the link to the recording

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF82nMBkeps

See you in TWO WEEKS, on December 4 

Ana I.

Recap Writer

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...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcCb84z48Fs  

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Your Favorite Things, Driving-Italian style and A Feline Farewell - a conciliatory morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

First-timer TM Veronica led us with an inspiring invocation - go TM Veronica!

TM Aleta presented choices of some of our favorite things ...

* TM Christine got caught dancing in the rain in Poland, where nobody knows her and she did not care what anyone thought of her.

* TM Veronica goes on vacation to tropical places during rainy season - less expensive and less crowded - and she gets caught in the rain quite often.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Jorge once rode a Tennessee horse which was described as a compliant, obedient horse and turned out to have a will and a gallop of his own!

* TM David was not familiar with schnitzel - although thanks to Mr. Google, we are all now experts in schnitzel - and likes to go swimming in his pool when it's raining.  No lightning or thunder, please!

* TM The Tom avoids blue satin sashes lest they get in his eyelashes, so he guesses but no messes with girls in white dresses.

* I, Ana, have not been bitten by a dog - mostly because I avoid them- or stung by a bee although they proliferate in swimming pools in Madrid.

And then came our prepared speeches...

* TM BeckyJo revisited her near-death experience as a passenger in Simonetta's reckless driving to Miami, to Naples and almost to the next world...  Ah la bella Italia!!

* TM Marie shared a heart-rendering visual story of Sammy Miami, who lived a privileged life and crossed the rainbow arch leaving loving memories behind.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Jorge loved TM BeckyJo's speech, her energy, the way she acts her speech and he suggested that next time, she face the camera and her audience.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM The Tom, a cat person himself,  was deeply touched by TM Marie's experience parting with a beloved pet.

TM Christina excelled as a first-time Toastmaster - go TM Christina!

The Word of the Day was

CONCILIATORY, adj.

Intended to gain goodwill or favor or to reduce hostility.

Example: It is more conciliatory to catch flies with lemonade than with pure bitter lemons.

Here's the link to the recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zPelKb9heg

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer