Profound thoughts and Preparing a Good Meeting - a rollicking morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Marie launched us with thoughts from Vietnamese peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh which reminded us to keep breathing in whatever we do - in case we forget!!

Flamingo emulator and Joke Master Kim is definitely putting her foot down...

And then TM Randolph gave us some picturesque thoughts to ponder....

* TM David concluded that perception is everything and leads to infinity, as parallel lines that never meet...

* TM Pam is practicing, practicing, practicing resting before she gets tired - it's a most non-productive habit, after all!  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* Guest Kim has difficulties finding clothes, let alone camouflage shirts, even in a town swarming with military.  She rollicks from store to store.

* TM Ellen loves to make a grand entrance - she causes whiplash from her fake eyelashes and dresses like an old hooker with a cane.  She Won Most Hilarious Use of Grammar and Imagery Award.

* TM Marie mused that whiteboards are indeed remarkable because everything changes and adults nowadays have the attention span of a gnat.

* TM BeckyJo tries to subtly let youngsters know that "she may know something about that" (particular pickle they've gotten into) but they throw it back at her.

* TM Aleta would jump from a moving van and break her ankle even if the boss didn't tell her to.... she's always considered herself lucky, except lately.

* Guest Manohar ("Mano") acknowledges you can't trust an atom cause they're everywhere but we must trust each other, except wild untamed animals to avoid stranger danger.

We had one outstanding prepared speech today...

* TM Aleta gave us 6 points to make a great meeting:  1)be prepared; 2) start/end on time; 3) respect timing requirements; 4) welcome guests; 5)Give focused intros and meaningful evaluations (no criticism on dry toast); 6) Keep members informed.  She Won Most Improved Speaker Award.

We had one evaluation today..

* TM Pam praised TM Aleta for giving an otherwise tediously challenging speech with great animation, rollick and a great sense of humor.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

ROLLICK, noun

To behave in a jovial manner, uninhibited, lively.

Example:  Our EarlyBirds meetings are always full of rollick.  If it's not fun, it's not Toastmasters!

The link to the recording will be forthcoming at some point.

See you next week!

Ana

Recap Writer

Re: Summer Days, Spirituality and Acceptance - an out yonder EarlyBirds meeting

Beckyjo will be in touch with you.

Best,

Ana

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 16, 2026, at 7:09 AM, Monique Scott <m_scott_702@hotmail.com> wrote:



Good Morning,

Excuse the late notice. I will not be able to make today’s meeting. But, I do want to join the group. 

Are there any additional steps besides what is listed online?

Get Outlook for iOS

---

From: Ana Illsen <aillsen7550@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, 09 July 2026 09:09:42
To: members-3659@toastmastersclubs.org <members-3659@toastmastersclubs.org>; earlybird3659.talkwell@blogger.com <earlybird3659.talkwell@blogger.com>
Cc: manohar0815@gmail.com <manohar0815@gmail.com>; m_scott_702@hotmail.com <m_scott_702@hotmail.com>
Subject: Summer Days, Spirituality and Acceptance - an out yonder EarlyBirds meeting

 

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Aleta started us off with an inspiring Invocation about respectful communication.

TM Christina presented us with very enjoyable summery table topics.  We discovered that...

* TM Pam's perfect summer day is gardening till it gets too dang hot and then floating in the pool with an imaginary pool boy...

* TM Marie became enamored with the ocean her first time in Atlantic City and remains enamored today...

* TM Ellen would travel to Tibet if she had an unlimited summer budget because she's been everywhere except Antartica and... the penguins are waiting!  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* I, Ana, would go back to French Polynesia, where the ocean is Listerine Blue and the bungalows on stilts are floating aquariums...

* Returning TM Kim's favorite summer vaca was time with family eating fish & chips and an awfully awful delicious dessert...

* TM Jorge's favorite summer food left him pondering about scrumptious foods and moveable feasts...

* Guest Monique's favorite summer drink is rosemary, pineapple and passion fruit-infused water, although she's considering adding pomegranate....

* TM BeckyJo's favorite summer tradition is to visit friends who live out yonder in the mountains to get away from South Florida's sweltering heat.

We had (2) excellent prepared speeches...

* TM Randolph shared about his upbringing where spirituality played a big part and had him living in Grace - and that was besides his Auntie Grace who forced him to eat his vegetables.  He Won Most Improved Speaker Award.

* TM Marie asks God to help her surrender so that she is a presence of peace and love with her family members who are who they are - and not as she would like them to be.  

Along came the evaluations...

* TM Jorge praised TM Randolph for revealing more of his upbringing in a speech sprinkled with humor and suggested he sit further back from the camera for freedom of movement.

* TM Jose commended TM Marie for her clear voice projection and good use of pauses, calm and comfortable presence and recommended she change her voice pitch when talking to herself in the third person.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

YONDER, adverb

Over there, in the distance

Example:  We thought yonder was a Southern and Appalachian Mountain word and it turns out Shakespeare used it in Romeo and Juliet!  Who knew????

Here's the link to the recording...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiBrqxx0rDo

See you next week!

Ana

Recap Writer

Re: Summer Days, Spirituality and Acceptance - an out yonder EarlyBirds meeting

Good Morning,

Excuse the late notice. I will not be able to make today’s meeting. But, I do want to join the group. 

Are there any additional steps besides what is listed online?

Get Outlook for iOS

---

From: Ana Illsen <aillsen7550@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, 09 July 2026 09:09:42
To: members-3659@toastmastersclubs.org <members-3659@toastmastersclubs.org>; earlybird3659.talkwell@blogger.com <earlybird3659.talkwell@blogger.com>
Cc: manohar0815@gmail.com <manohar0815@gmail.com>; m_scott_702@hotmail.com <m_scott_702@hotmail.com>
Subject: Summer Days, Spirituality and Acceptance - an out yonder EarlyBirds meeting

 

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Aleta started us off with an inspiring Invocation about respectful communication.

TM Christina presented us with very enjoyable summery table topics.  We discovered that...

* TM Pam's perfect summer day is gardening till it gets too dang hot and then floating in the pool with an imaginary pool boy...

* TM Marie became enamored with the ocean her first time in Atlantic City and remains enamored today...

* TM Ellen would travel to Tibet if she had an unlimited summer budget because she's been everywhere except Antartica and... the penguins are waiting!  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* I, Ana, would go back to French Polynesia, where the ocean is Listerine Blue and the bungalows on stilts are floating aquariums...

* Returning TM Kim's favorite summer vaca was time with family eating fish & chips and an awfully awful delicious dessert...

* TM Jorge's favorite summer food left him pondering about scrumptious foods and moveable feasts...

* Guest Monique's favorite summer drink is rosemary, pineapple and passion fruit-infused water, although she's considering adding pomegranate....

* TM BeckyJo's favorite summer tradition is to visit friends who live out yonder in the mountains to get away from South Florida's sweltering heat.

We had (2) excellent prepared speeches...

* TM Randolph shared about his upbringing where spirituality played a big part and had him living in Grace - and that was besides his Auntie Grace who forced him to eat his vegetables.  He Won Most Improved Speaker Award.

* TM Marie asks God to help her surrender so that she is a presence of peace and love with her family members who are who they are - and not as she would like them to be.  

Along came the evaluations...

* TM Jorge praised TM Randolph for revealing more of his upbringing in a speech sprinkled with humor and suggested he sit further back from the camera for freedom of movement.

* TM Jose commended TM Marie for her clear voice projection and good use of pauses, calm and comfortable presence and recommended she change her voice pitch when talking to herself in the third person.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

YONDER, adverb

Over there, in the distance

Example:  We thought yonder was a Southern and Appalachian Mountain word and it turns out Shakespeare used it in Romeo and Juliet!  Who knew????

Here's the link to the recording...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiBrqxx0rDo

See you next week!

Ana

Recap Writer

Summer Days, Spirituality and Acceptance - an out yonder EarlyBirds meeting

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Aleta started us off with an inspiring Invocation about respectful communication.

TM Christina presented us with very enjoyable summery table topics.  We discovered that...

* TM Pam's perfect summer day is gardening till it gets too dang hot and then floating in the pool with an imaginary pool boy...

* TM Marie became enamored with the ocean her first time in Atlantic City and remains enamored today...

* TM Ellen would travel to Tibet if she had an unlimited summer budget because she's been everywhere except Antartica and... the penguins are waiting!  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* I, Ana, would go back to French Polynesia, where the ocean is Listerine Blue and the bungalows on stilts are floating aquariums...

* Returning TM Kim's favorite summer vaca was time with family eating fish & chips and an awfully awful delicious dessert...

* TM Jorge's favorite summer food left him pondering about scrumptious foods and moveable feasts...

* Guest Monique's favorite summer drink is rosemary, pineapple and passion fruit-infused water, although she's considering adding pomegranate....

* TM BeckyJo's favorite summer tradition is to visit friends who live out yonder in the mountains to get away from South Florida's sweltering heat.

We had (2) excellent prepared speeches...

* TM Randolph shared about his upbringing where spirituality played a big part and had him living in Grace - and that was besides his Auntie Grace who forced him to eat his vegetables.  He Won Most Improved Speaker Award.

* TM Marie asks God to help her surrender so that she is a presence of peace and love with her family members who are who they are - and not as she would like them to be.  

Along came the evaluations...

* TM Jorge praised TM Randolph for revealing more of his upbringing in a speech sprinkled with humor and suggested he sit further back from the camera for freedom of movement.

* TM Jose commended TM Marie for her clear voice projection and good use of pauses, calm and comfortable presence and recommended she change her voice pitch when talking to herself in the third person.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

YONDER, adverb

Over there, in the distance

Example:  We thought yonder was a Southern and Appalachian Mountain word and it turns out Shakespeare used it in Romeo and Juliet!  Who knew????

Here's the link to the recording...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiBrqxx0rDo

See you next week!

Ana

Recap Writer

Phrase Variations, Interdependence (Day) and Resident Cruiser - a morning rife with news at Early Birds!

Dear Members, Returning Members, Friends and Guests,

All the new officers did great on this Inaugural Meeting...

TM BeckyJo presented us with variations of the phrase including Told and Love...

* TM Jim's many admirers wished to tell him that they loved him during the cheese & crackers degustation at last night's sail-away....

* Guest (former Toastmaster) Kim said love is no big deal, our hearts can be broken or they can be filled with joy as she made it to the green light!

* TM Gail pondered why she told only him that she loved him because she definitely had many...

* TM Chris would not tell him she's the only one who loved him - is he not loveable?  She must love someone who is loved by all.  Otherwise, not a happy situation...

* TM Pam said men are soooo gullible.  "You're the one"... ahem.  Her sister and brother-in-law will go to separate nursing homes so they can each tell their (truthful) side of every story....  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

Along came (2) fantabulous prepared speeches...

* TM Pam is a proud, independent, apple-pie baking all-American woman.  During The Virus, she lost the habit of being social - and is slowly recapturing the essence of what gets things done - interdependence because she is standing on the shoulders of giants - not 1 but 56! 56! Yes, 56!  

* TM Chris described her seafaring life where half the time she thinks she's dreaming - stunning views, fresh bouffets, acting in a play, karaoke, line dancing, and zip lining and hiking on port days.  It's not for everyone, but it certainly is for TM Jim and her!  She Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Marie praised TM Pam for the structure of her speech and her clear-cut message that interdependence, not independence, is the name of the game!

* TM Aleta was still transported to halfway round the world -and the South China Sea- with TM Chris' adept use of slides and storytelling tales.  She Won Best Evalluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

RIFE, adj

Widespread, prevailing or happening frequently.

Example:  The world is rife with line dancers.

Here's the link to the recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEOurSoT1HE

Happy 250th Birthday to the best country on Planet Earth!🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

See you next week,

Ana

Recap Writer

Presentations, Icebreaker and Speak Slowly - an uplifting morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

Our seafaring TM Chris and Jim joined us today!  Welcome back!!  We have missed you!

TM Marie shared a few mishaps in last week's presentation before a large group and asked for our take on....

* Equipment failure - TM Jim informed us it's what happened to Janet Jackson at the Superbowl a number of years ago... Moral of the story: bring your own stuff...

* TM Chris has had echo echo echo in rooms with tiled floors and no curtains.  Make lemonades out of lemons.

* TM Gail praised TM Marie for preparing ahead of time and having the foresight to test ahead in order to achieve best audience connection.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Pam indicated the goal is to have slides - both the good point and the bad point are the slides - enlarge the letters so those in the back can see, darn it!

* TM Christina used to dress for success, now is professional casual as an engineer must, but she will dress up for Australian zoom audiences to avoid criticism.   Jeez!!

* TM Veronica has always practiced, practiced, practiced but is now practicing how NOT to practice.  Improvise, improvise, improvise.

* TM BeckyJo is a pivoting pro.  Children's theater helped her learn to embellish and have humor - they can fact-check you later....

Along came the prepared speeches...

* I, Ana, reminisced about my traumatic exit from Cuba with several glitches which led me to join in the 250th Celebration of the Best Country on Earth.  I Won Most Improved Speaker Award.

* TM Aleta emphasized the importance of comic timing and pause before the punchline.  Dare to be quiet!  And "Take my wife..... PLEASE!"

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Christina praised my inspirational speech and encouraged me to dramatize the fact that the secret police took my father away from the line... momentarily.

* TM David stressed that this speech is very important to us as public speakers and slowing down is critical because it takes the audience twice as long to absorb the message as it does the speaker to present it.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

UPLIFTING, adj.

Something that makes you feel happier, more hopeful or spiritually and emotionally elevated.

Example:  The uplifting speech was very invigorating.

The link to the recording is here...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEkN1DVK0uM

Our new officers are officially starting next week, July 2.  Welcome aboard!

See you next week!

Ana

Recap Writer

Solstice, World Cup, Growth Mindset - a morning that resonates at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Pam inspired us with a Summer Solstice invocation...

TM David led us with very well-thought-out Table Topics about the current World Cup...

* TM Jose warned soccer teams to be humble and not rest on their laurels or they will tie with an unheard-of team from Cabo Verde as recently happened to Spain.

* TM Aleta took a 100 m sprint and had to deal with Charley Horses by drinking pickle juice with yellow mustard.  Yummmm, how appetizing!

* TM Pam broke a national swimming record and profusely and humbly thanked everyone and daydreamed about becoming a movie star. She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Veronica was shocked to receive a Red Card at her soccer game and told the referee that red didn't match her uniform color scheme.

* TM Christina would wear moonboots to be taller and stand a better chance at the NBA playoffs.  Basketball was created in Canada, by the way....

* TM Jorge would artfully and craftily evade a basketball defense keen on stopping him - it's nothing but a slam dunk!

* TM Marie won a silver medal in gymnastics and enviously pondered why that other gymnast won gold.  She, TM Marie, was the one who deserved it!

* I, Ana, most of all love the birdies that fly around over golf courses and would definitely use golf carts to travel from one hole to the next, defeating the purpose of bodily exercise.

We had (1) prepared long speech today,,,

* TM Marie gave an outstanding speech about Fixed vs Growth Mindset, to which the whole audience could relate.  Vivid examples of both - (Growth Muhammad Ali, Christopher Reeve, Mia Hamm) (Fixed Lee Iacocca, John McEnroe).  She Won Most Improved Speaker.

As far as the evaluation goes...

* TM Aleta praised TM Marie for her inspirational speech and her extraordinary slides.  She encouraged her to put more passion into her vocal variety..  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

RESONATE, noun

To connect with something or someone on a deep personal or emotional level.
Example:  I really resonate with the lyrics of many songs from the 60s and 70s.

Here's the link to the recording...

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

See you next week!

Ana

Recap Writer

Re: Sports, Growing and Moving - a galvanizing morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Veronica led us in a very inspirational invocation.

We had our Club Elections.  Thank you to the Outgoing Officers for your labor of love.  Welcome to our New Officers (effective July 1)

Sargeant-at-Arms:  TM Christina Kurth

President:  TM Randolph Bastien (6 months)

VP Education:  TM Aleta Richmond

Secretary:  TM Pam Schrimsher

Treasurer  TM Marie Rock

VP Public Relations:  David Raleche

VP Membership:  TM BeckyJo Bean

Immediate Past President:  TM BeckyJo Bean

Assistant Sargeant-at-Arms: TM Veronica Winninger

Recap Writer:  TM Ana Illsen

CONGRATULATIONS, New Officers!

TM Pam introduced some galvanzing sports topics to our consciousness levels.  We soon learned that some of us are galvanized by sports, some of us have rusty sports pipes.

* TM Gail knows The Knicks are the original Knickerbokers which originated in the Dutch.  A galvanizing game last night indeed... She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Aleta loves The Spurs because it's the cowboy boot accessory used to control horses and brings her back to her barrel racing days....

* I, Ana, am clueless about predictive markets and online gambling.  It's a mystery to me, although I wish I got a clue so I could make some money!

* TM Veronica's happiest college memories are from pre-game and game parties in the days of wine and roses, and beer and pretzels.

* TM Marie's weak ankles flared up while trying to skate in Western Pennsylvania - she's a swimmer, for heaven's sake, and prefers figure skating to ice hockey, anyway!

* TM Jorge pondered about hat-tricks and rat-tricks - the former being when 3 goals are served by one person and throwing the hats on the rink; the latter being when 3 goals are served by one rat.

Along came (2) galvanizing prepared speeches...

* TM David told us if we're perfectly comfortable in our day-to-day, we are perfectly unchallenged.  Research the power of WHY WHY WHY....

* TM Aleta told us WHY - moving on down on size, complications and discovering gardening without Ibuprofen.  Freedom, freedom, freedom rings!  She Won Most Improved Speaker Award.

As far as (galvanizing) evaluations are concerned...

* TM BeckyJo praised TM David for his perfect diction, deliberate messaging and chock-full of informatino speech.  Work on changing tempo and modulation - ask WHY WHY WHY?

* TM Marie clearly valued how TM Aleta brought us down and lifted us up with the help of extraordinary cartoon maps.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

GALVANIZE, verb

1) To shock, excite or stimulate someone into suddenly taking action.

2) Steel pipes covered with zinc.

Example:  The prepared speeches today were galvanizing and they covered our tracheal pipes with zinc lozenges while listening to Steely Dan.

The link to the recording is here...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HsTy3JJX_k

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

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

In the year 2040..., Fate or Random Life Events? and Growth Mindset - an ingratiating meeting of EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Friends, and Guests,

TM David started us off with very intriguing future time travel....

We learned that...

* TM Veronica would use her extra 6 hours a day -thanks to robotic housework- buying fresh groceries, cooking healthy meals, tending her garden (what plants?) and sleeping more, for sure!

* I, Ana, would like ingratiating scientists to prolong life to 150 years in a healthy condition and I would give my kids money periodically to avoid getting arsenic in my coffee...

* TM Marie is concerned that her STDs may be publicized in LinkedIn... who cares about her cholesterol???  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Pam realizes that we can't understand the life before our time - she went from an early calculator to talking to her bathroom fixtures - who cares about passwords?

* TM Aleta stated that her best years were from 45 to 55, old enough to know best, young enough to enjoy things...

* TM Christina would investigate new hobbies, volunteer, train, travel (locally?) if she had 11 extra hours a day due to hologram meetings instead of the current tedious in-person ones.

* TM BeckyJo would sing nursery rhymes if brain to text technology came about, to keep her internal monologue from getting out... because her mind is a dangerous place!

Along came the prepared speeches...

* TM Jose explained that our minds love narrative patterns and we give meaning to chaos.  We at times suffer from apophenia - making connections that don't exist.  Along came Sartre and Camus and complicated things with their existentialism, for Pete's sake!

* TM Marie calmly set forth how we need to have a growth mindset because otherwise we practice self-imposing limitations.  She did a great job in spite of some pesky talkers, interrupters and arguers in the audience.  She Won Most Improved Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Randolph commended TM Jose for his good vocal variety and encouraged him to repeat the speech with his legendary PowerPoint slides and adding specific scenarios.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM BeckyJo praised TM Marie for being calm and steady in the face of disruption, "nothing rocks the Rock" and, in an attempt to incite more chaos in the group, TM BeckyJo suggested that in the future an unscripted member interrupts the speech. 

 

The Word of the Day was

INGRATIATE, verb

To gain favor or approval by being or doing what (we think) others want us to be.

Example:  As I get older, I no longer actively seek to ingratiate myself with others as much.  

Here's the link to the recording...

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

NOTE:  Officer Elections will be held in 2 weeks, June 11.  Please be thinking of this growth opportunity and which role you would like to fill.

Roles to fill:

Sargeant-at-Arms

VP Education

VP Public Relations

VP Membership

Treasurer

Secretary

President

Training will be available from former officers.  Term is one year.

See you next week!

Ana

Recap Writer 

Transitions, A Rose is a Rose and Life Cycles - no confabulations at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Marie led us in practicing Transitions -to avoid non sequiturs- in Table Topics...

* TM BeckyJo grew up in Hawaii amidst the remnants of bunkers from Pearl Harbor days...

* TM Jose will soon inaugurate a Memorial Day Spanish style - lots of jamon and vino vino vino.  Red red wine.... (sung to the tune of Red Red Wine)...

* TM Randolph is (graciously) struggling to let his father-in-law take over the grill and grilling implements during this coming Memorial Day...

* TM Jorge reminisced about visiting the Normandy beaches where it all happened and shudders to think what the alternative would have been....

* TM Veronica always loved summers as a kid growing up in Florida and it brings back those endless summer vacations of yore...

* TM Christina commemorates Memorial Day with a mixture of happiness for the time off and sadness for the somber aspect of those who fell while on duty.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

Along came two magnificent prepared speeches...

* TM Christina regaled us with a tale of The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, a lesson on seeing life with our hearts instead of our minds.

* TM Veronica had a transitional moment in Lake Tikal, Guatemala, when a supposedly trivial conversation became a pivotal moment in her next life cycle.  She Won Most Improved Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Jose will buy and re-read The Litte Prince which taught him important life lessons in his youth and suggested TM Christina shut the blinds to avoid stripes of light on her face.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM BeckyJo is perfecting The  Art of Evaluating While Driving and commended TM Veronica for mastering reading notes without even looking at them.

The Word of the Day was

CONFABULATION, noun

An unintentional memory error without intent to deceive.

Example: Confabulation is also known as "honest lying."  Ahem....

Here's the link to the recording...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86Xkbkf0uUM

Thank you to everyone who stepped up at the last minute to multitask.

See you next week,

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Being famous, Parenting and Self-Talk - no imbroglios in EarlyBirds today!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM BeckyJo, aka La Presidenta, improvised a childhood poem as an Invocation.

TM David improvised Table Topics, courtesy of AI...

* I, Ana, am already a legend in my own mind... among my family members, and would probably be a world=famous writer if it were in the cards.

* TM Veronica's imaginary paparazzi would only see her wearing yoga pants going to the UPS return store if they were to stalk her...

* TM BeckyJo's tabloid scandal headline would be "Starlet Kills Business Partner" - this dastardly thought has crossed her mind many a time.

* TM Gail would blow fragranced airplane passengers on an 11-hour flight out of their fragrance... and out of the plane, too!

* TM Marie's tv reality show would proclaim that AI is here to stay and we need to use it, much as TM David did today!

* TM Randolph's AI assistant, Athena, secretly complains that Randolph does not speak to her quite enough.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Jorge surmised that the biggest possible imbroglio between a human baby and an infant AI baby is that the AI baby knows everything...

* TM Jose's Chat GPT would roast him for being a perfectionist but a cheap one at that that - he digs deeper into it until it's time to pay up!

And along came prepared speeches...

* TM Randolph described how different of a Dad he was to his firstborn - a quasi avatar - and to his lastborn - the family talker- since the adults create the narrative.

* TM Marie encouraged us to stop our limiting self-talk, since we are capable of anything and failure is only a huge part of learning.  She Won Most Improved Speaker Award.

Regarding the evaluations...

* TM Jorge loved TM Randolph's humor sprinkled throughout his speech and encouraged him to give it more structure, a strong start and end.

* TM Gail praised TM Marie's uplifting and inspiring speech, great eye contact, positive hand gestures and good command of notes.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

IMBROGLIO, noun

A complex dispute or argument

Entanglement, confusion

Example:  Dangerous liaisons usually involve some convoluted imbroglios.

The link to the recording...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGLs2bdxX_c

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

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...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoMFPq8FLlU

See you next week!

Ana I.

Not-Always Scrupulous Recap Writer