What if...., 3D Metal Marvels, Burn Baby Burn! A meeting carried out with alacrity at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

Returning TM The Tom started us off with a heartfelt invocation and a hilarious Sherlock Holmes joke.  Welcome back, Tom!

TM David impressed us with some thought-provoking topics.  We discovered that...

* TM The Tom would choose to be The Joker, The Fool Who Does Drool, from all the zany things he's done in life - although he did some noteworthy ones too!

* TM Christina would choose to teach Astronauts for Dummies if she were ever remotely to consider being a teacher...

* TM Jorge thinks the worst thing that could happen at a wedding is for the younger sister of the bride to upstage the bride and make it all about herself.

* TM Marie would take a knife, her husband and an empty container if she were to be stranded in a (tropical, hopefully) deserted island.

* TM Jose reminisced about the 70s trendy Pet Rocks which created a $1 M industry and led him to proclaim "What a country!" as he walked his Pet Rock on a leash down the streets of Helena, Montana.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Gail thinks a skunk would definitely be the rudest talking animal, in line with the stinky odor they release seemingly without provocation.  They're usually drunk, too.

* TM Veronica has no pets to reveal naughty family secrets but she's seen plenty of kids who do so at the drop of a hat - or a missed allowance.

* TM Aleta had a momentary delusion about barging into a wedding and speaking up instead of forever holding her peace as the scorned 'other woman'.

* TM Pam would promptly pee in the yard if she woke up as the opposite gender and then would return to female and rest in her favorite recliner- also her cat's favorite activity.

* I, Ana, daydreamed of having a pillow fight -and more- with my favorite tv history character - Jamie Fraser of Outlander fame.  Ah... to be a damsel in 17th Century Scotland!!

We had (2) fascinating prepared speeches...

* TM Christina taught us about metal forging, casting, machining, the Laser Power Bed Fusion, Direct Energy Deposition (before a court of its peers), more similar to a glue gun and the marvels of 3D printing which lead to Raptor 1, 2, 3 - a precursor to the Ford Raptor.  She Won Most Improved Speaker.

* TM Jose took us on a journey down Valencia Fallas, the festival of art, colossal monuments and a pyromaniac's fiery dreams while enjoying hearty paellas.  EarlyBirds is chartering a flight next March!

As far as evaluations go...

* TM David praised TM Christina for her innate teaching skills and suggested she eliminate the introductory slide and get right to it, while slowing down to fullly explore her demonstrative passion and her organized flow.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM Gail appreciated TM Jose's grace under pressure when PPT refused to cooperate and he overcame the glitch.  She suggested he make bigger pictures for the slides so we can see each grain of rice in the paella and to maintain his visuals, gestures and vocal variety.

The Word of the Day was

ALACRITY, noun

Promptness in response

Cheerful readiness

Example:  EarlyBirds shows great alacrity in using Alacrity as often as possible during the meeting.

Here's the link to the recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGpon-3d3q0

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Seasons, Selfies and Follies - a non-kerfuffle meeting at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

Today is St. Joseph's Day and Father's Day in Spain (and Italy).  The invocation was in his honor.

TM Pam led us to table topics about seasons, since tomorrow is the Vernal Equinox.  We were amazed to discover that...

* TM Gail is kerfuffled by Daylight Savings Time and finds that Greenwich Mean Time is really mean.

* TM David tries to find equilibrium between his body and spirit - our mission in life.  Equinox = Equilibrium...

* TM Jorge likes laundry for spring cleaning and is training his son soon-to-be his laborer (as soon as he turns 4 years of age).  

* TM Aleta is doing Swedish Death Cleaning and everything in between to the tune of "Let It Go" from the movie Frozen...

* TM Veronica does not do New Year's Resolutions for the Persian New Year (Nowraz) or Lady Day in Europe, she makes daily resolutions instead...

* TM Cristina misses the seasons in Florida although she's learning to detect their subtleness by ordering pumpkin lattes in Fall and daiquiris in Summer.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Jose is planning his summer trip to Switzerland and most importantly, mapping all the electric car charging stations along the Route Napoleon....

We had (2) interesting prepared speeches...

* TM Marie delighted us with a thought-provoking speech about cutting out the excessive selfies and focusing more on others, before we miss any more opportunities and learn to be present now.

* I, Ana, told the story of one of our eccentric pioneers, Henry Flagler, who built the Florida Railroad and was the successor of the Paris Folies Bergere by naming it "Flager Follies"....  I Won Most Improved Speaker Award.

Regarding evaluations...

* TM Jorge praised TM Marie for her good hand gestures in spite of zoom restrictions and good pauses but please don't say thank you at the beginning of the speech.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.  Go Jorge!

* TM David found my speech educational but suggested I imagine that Henry Flager was Cuban and put more passion into it, and stop reading the notes, parbleu!

The Word of the Day was

KERFUFFLE, noun

Commotion, fuss, noisy argument, chaos

Example:  Several members expressed a craving for a kerfuffle with whipping cream.

We had the pleasure of the visit of our District Director, Rachel B., who said our Club is a lot of fun - and no kerfuffle.

Here's the link to the recording...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmnPGCjZ0cU

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

St. Patty's, 70 Cycles Around the Star and A Toast to Our Military - a not-laconic (loquacious) morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM David started us off with a laconic yet inspirational invocation.

TM Christina then led us down greener pastures...

* TM David fondly recalls his first St Patrick's Day in NYC with lots of green green green everything and lotsa drinking drinking drinking.

* TM BeckyJo, ever the (legal) street hustler, honors her Irish heritage by selling junk of the Chinese manufacturing kind.

* TM Aleta spent the summers of her youth searching avidly for 4-leaf clovers... ahhh the lazy summers before technology took over!

* TM Randolph will throw the party of a lifetime once he finds that much-coveted pot of gold.  We're all invited!

* TM Veronica used to frequent certain Irish pubs but mostly likes her Cuban Mom's Shepard Pie...

* TM Jose discovered St. Patrick's Day and green beer in no less than the mountains of Montana.  He developed a taste for all kinds of ethnic foods.

* TM Pam exercises her lucky charms by playing Florida Lotto, after voting yes yes yes in spite of initial fears and trepidation.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Gail went to many local pubs in Ireland and thinks she thoroughly enjoyed her visit - ahhh if she could only remember - too much beer and too much song...

* TM Marie has evolved in her St Patty's traditions, from cooking typical dishes to focusing on the amazing story of St Patrick himself,,,

* I, Ana, found a 4-leaf clover before my first daughter was born, make an amazing Cuban Shepard Pie and was permanently impacted by a green Chicago River.

* TM Jorge's favorite shade of green is lime green and finds other colors flamboyant albeit conveying emotions and energy.

We had (2) fabulous prepared speeches...

* TM Jose took us on a fabulous journey of his 70 cycles around The Star, together with visual images and a song he authored about the miles he's walked.

* TM Pam offered a heartfelt toast to our military men and women who are scattered all over the globe and make this land free because it's home of the brave.  She Won Best Speaker Award.

As far as evaluations....

* TM Gail praised TM Jose's autobiography which has taken him from the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli...  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM Aleta loved TM Pam's speech, expertly delivered with grace and loquacity.  She suggested she lower the toasting glass till the end of the speech.  

The Word of the Day was

LACONIC, adj.

Using a minimum of words, concise to the point of seeming rude or mysterious.

Example:  Our Club Members are, for the most part, the opposite of laconic, after they've been with us for a period of time.

The link to the recording is 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqp7ONBmjyE

Notes from Business Meeting (in honor of St. Patrick's Day)

* After some discussion, we voted to contribute $20 per member to EarlyBirds Club.  Our Treasurer, TM Marie, will provide the Zelle or check instructions.  The funds will be used for banking expenses and marketing tools.  Thank you, EarlyBirds!

* We will change Best Speaker category to Most Improved Speaker category, which we had in the past.  We will try this until June 30th.

* Our Club performance to achieve Distinguished President Level:  we need (4) Level 1 completions; (1) Level 2 completion.  We need (3) new members and a total of (20) members in good standing.  Let's invite friends, acquaintances and strangers to our meetings!

* Our VP Public Relations, TM David, will explore new ways to promote our Club in Instagram, to attract working people to our Club wince it does not interfere with work schedules.

* Please renew your membership at Toastmasters International if you have not already done so.  $60.  Thank you!!

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Colors, Cultures and Commitment - an ebullient morning at EarlyBirds!

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Gail started us off with a heartfelt invocation, and TM Pam followed with an ebullient joke.

TM Gail introduced us to thinking about colors.... We discovered that...

* TM Jose recognizes pink is not his favorite color for himself, but he once attended a great concert by Pink and he relished cotton candy, a precursor to diabetes.

* TM Aleta marvels at the orange dusks in Western Pennsylvania, which she attributes to the reflection from the green trees that line the scenery.

* TM Veronica reminisced about drinking beer in high school -ooops, college- a song blue, a restaurant near home called Blue Moon... She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Christina loves purple and is reminded of medieval times, royalty and it was definitely her favorite color when she was growing up....

* TM Pam quoted that "Nature's First Green is Gold" by Robert Frost, green bananas and jumped over to her daughter's wedding cake sprinkled in purple,

Along came our prepared speeches...

* TM BeckyJo talked about 100-year-old black eggs (yuk but survivable), gross alligator tips and Dutch worst candy in the world - liquorice on steroids. "If you can't travel the world, make the world come to you." She Won Best Speaker Award.

* TM Marie refreshed our memories about keeping the commitment we made when we joined Toastmasters, and use the precious Crib Sheets to learn and grow fulfilling different roles.  If It's not fun, it's not Toastmasters!

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Jose praised TM BeckyJo's speech delivery, voice fluctuations, ebullience and humor, and related to surviving eating 100-year-old eggs.  

* TM Aleta thoroughly enjoyed TM Marie's educational speech and encouraged her to use more voice variations in pitch and volume.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

EBULLIENT, adjective

full of energy and cheerful

Example: EarlyBirds is a club full of ebullient members.  Come join us!

The link to the recording is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAtH7wwlXNg

See you next week!

Ana I.

Ebullient Recap Writer

Topic Wordplay, Meeting Roles and Wake Up Your Audience - an alleviating morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Veronica led us with an inspiring Invocation.

And, we voted for (following Robert's Rules of Parliamentary Procedure) and inducted our new VP Membership, TM Christina.  Thank you!

TM BeckyJo brought us very original Table Topics, based on wordplay.  We found out that...

* TM Pam's mother made bathtub gin and went to speakeasies during Prohibition and then became a teetotaler... nothing like extremes!

* TM David's kitchen in France exploded with Nutella and frogs while crushing the linoleum floor...

* TM Randolph has a lucky silk tie which endows him with extraordinary charisma.

* TM Jorge's rubberband pistol was confiscated by his teacher who called it a Weapon of Math Destruction.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.  Go Jorge!

* TM Veronica visited a silkworm farm in Thailand and met some backward poets who write inverse.

* Guest Fernanda sometimes pushes the envelope and that has caused her to acquire writer's block.  It's still stationery....

* TM Gail feels for puppies who give birth on the side of the road and get cited for littering.... Life isn't fair....!!

* TM Christine went to a farm and actually saw a meat grinder in action and managed not to get behind...

* TM Aleta saw many chickens crossing the road, getting decapitated by the cook, feathers plucked, and roasted in the oven.  Poultry in motion...

Along came (2) fantabulous educational speeches...

* TM Pam presented us all the available roles in Toastmasters - from the sublime to the ridiculous, which make us outstanding speakers.

* TM Aleta shared some attention magnets to keep our audience engaged:  "Here's the thing", "To be Clear", "My point is this", "Rest Assured", "Here's What Really Matters"....  She Won Best Speaker Award.

And then the evaluations...

* TM David praised TM Pam for her amazing speech which was clear and organized in spite of encomapping a lot of information.  Next time he suggested she use personal names to exemplify club roles.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM Randolph called TM Aleta a Toastmaster in Top Form as she showed us once more how to master a room.  No critiques were forthcoming!

The Word of the Day was 

ALLEVIATE, verb

To make less severe

Example:   Coffee alleviates headaches and morning grogginess.

Here's the link to the recording

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH9xMZt0D10

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

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