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

Travel, Milk and Shopping Carts - no subterfuges in EarlyBirds this morning!

Dear Members, Guests, and Friends,

TM Christina led us with fun, travel-related Table Topics...

* TM The Tom's most memorable meal was a Chicago hot dog eaten at Wrigley Field during a game of the Chicago Cubs.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Jorge rode a bus from Bogota to Medellin, wondering for 7 hours if he was going to be taken hostage by the FARC guerrilla.  Thankfully he wasn't!

* TM BeckyJo nearly got ripped off by a cabdriver in flooded Prague who used subterfuge to overcharge her.

* I, Ana, would go back to French Polynesia,  island of Taha'a,  to the bungalow on stilts with a natural fish tank on the floor-  if I got a free airline ticket.  Maybe.

* TM Aleta is drawn to a country, Cuba, where natural beauty is abundant and people are nice but they live in abject poverty.

* TM Marie stated that wonders of the world are those right in front of our very eyes in that precise moment.

* TM Randolph's first impression of Tokyo, Japan, is that the Asian community puts up a great production!

As far as prepared speeches go...

* I, Ana, told the evolution of humans drinking Elsie The Cow's milk while trying to comb down our pesky cowlicks.  In a very contested vote, I Won Most Improved Speaker Award.

* TM Aleta alerted us that Shopping Carts of the World Will Unite! (Especially on the eve of May 1, Labor Day for the rest of the world).

And then came evaluations...

* TM The Tom enjoyed the history of milk and is perplexed by the multiple choices between almond, coconut, soy, oat, rice, hemp, cow, goat, buffalo, lactose-free, organic, whole, 2%, 1%, skim, raw...  All in a day's work....

* TM Marie praised TM Aleta for her excellent hand gestures, vocal variety and for making us realize that shopping carts have bodies and souls.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

SUBTERFUGE, noun

To use tricks to hide, avoid, or get something.

Example:  Subterfuge is the equivalent of manipulation.

Here's the link to the recording...

https://youtu.be/TMy6ySqtQCI

See you next week!

Ana

Recap Writer

Family Feud, Mobile Notifications and Y2K remembrance - an agentic meeting at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Marie started us off with an inspirational invocation.

TM Aleta introduced us to thought-provoking topics based on the old tv show, Family Feud.  We discovered that...

* TM Christina thinks fear is funny and different for all of us.  For starters, fear of public speaking is why we are all here....

* TM Jose thinks bakers call their wives honey, sugar and the like - all except the owner of Pan e Dolci bakery who was more like a Soup Nazi so God knows what he called his wife....

* TM David dislikes doing dishes and taking the garbage out, closely followed by French brooming and vacuuming.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Randolph got lightheaded just thinking of all the types of insurance exist,  and how little return one gets for the investment.   Ahhhhrrrggg!!!

* TM Pam would go to Australia (rather than Oz) to find a Koala and suggested we start calling vacumming 'sucking the floor'.

* TM The Tom talked about junk mail and wistfully contemplated the local city landfills brimming with it.

* TM Veronica stated that other mice are perplexed by Mickey's gloves, costume, voice to ask the owners to leave out some cheese for the night.

TM Jorge presided the meeting as Toastmaster of the Day and did an outstanding job!  Go Jorge!

Regarding the prepared speeches...

* TM David confirmed that mobile notifications have become digital spam, but prepared and sent with precision could create value messages, not noise.  He Won Most Improved Speaker Award.

* TM BeckyJo recalled Dec 31, 1999, purported Doomsday and the party she catered for 150 people with an overabundance of beets and no Y2K end.

As far as evaluations...

* TM Christina praised TM David for making a tedious subject lively, his vocal variety and suggested he make it more of a storytelling tale of useless pings.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM Randolph thoroughly enjoyed TM BeckyJo's humorous tale of celebratory End of the World with lots of humor... Viva los Beets!! 

The Word of the Day was

AGENTIC, adj

Able to accomplish results with autonomy, especially in Artificial Intelligence.

Example:  Agentics are not a chatbot.  They are powerful cloud agents with a full computing environment.  Huhhh?   Say what???

Madam La Presidenta encouraged us to bring a friend to the next meetings.  She will start by following up with (2) interested friends.

Here's the link to the recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDaKDYYb96w

See you next week!

Ana I.

Recap Writer

Earth Day, Job Interview and Conflict? What Conflict? A ubiquitous morning at EarlyBird

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

We true EarlyBirds were pleasantly surprised by a brief visit from seafarers Chris and Jim, presently in Indonesia, who stated they will soon join us for a full meeting.

TM Aleta improvised her invocation in her version of the Christian tradition.

TM Marie presented excellent slides to commemorate Earth Day and stimulate our ideas:

* TM BeckyJo thinks Earth Day is a great concept and should be called Everyday is Earth Day...

* TM Jorge sees the planted seedling as a symbol of our own incipient potential as human beings.

* I, Ana, embrace the concept of Beach Cleanup Day to get rid of all the trash that washes ashore and the trash that we humans dump on the pristine sands.

* TM Aleta sadly recognizes that trash is everywhere, not only on the beaches and we are responsible to keep our environment clean.

* TM The Tom expounded about photosynthesis, degraded/disturbed forests and deforested areas and the havoc we humans create.

* TM Jose revealed that in Spain they have hit people's pockets by charging for plastic bags so now everyone uses very quaint reusable bags.  Good strategy!

* TM Veronica sadly confirmed that we're in the middle of the largest extinction phase and we may never see some of these species again if they disappear.  She Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM David expressed awe for our beloved Planet Earth as recently photographed by Artemis II.

Along came prepared speeches...

* TM David gave a great example of an effective job interview by cleaerly responding to questions and... he got hired!  He Won Most Improved Speaker Award.

* TM Jose's presentation stated conflict is inevitable but disagreements do not have to be disagreeable.  If you think you're right - zip your mouth!

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Jorge praised TM David for his clear diction and for pointing out that he combines two critical areas - business sense and technology expertise.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

* TM The Tom very much appreciated TM Jose's speech on conflict resolution and the many helpful tips he gave for achieving this without losing friends.

Note:  It seems that both Evaluators today are working toward a  DTM (Don't Time Me) Level ....  Just sayin'....

The Word of the Day was

UBIQUITOUS, adj.

existing or being everywhere.

Example:  Wordiness was ubiquitous in today's EarlyBirds meeting.

Here's the link to the recording...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvKiT6YG6I0

See you next week!

Ana 

Recap Writer

Your life as a product, Don't Fear Change, Birding - an intrepid morning at EarlyBirds

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

TM Christina started us off with a lovely invocation reciting Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell.

TM David introduced us to Table Topics based on his last speech, Life as a Product.  We found out that...

* TM Marie would be a version 7.9 flashlight and would shine her light in  the somewhat unlit areas of her life.

* TM Veronica wants to improve and upgrade all parts of her life, mostly her attitude and become more intrepid.

* I, Ana, am grateful for every day of my life and my present surroundings, and my 5-year-goal is staying alive.... I Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Aleta is getting rid of stuff and intentionally building patience and an intrepid attitude.

* TM BeckyJo wants to make space which makes room for God's Grace.

* TM Jorge wants to focus on communication, one step at a time.

* TM Christina has been well served in life by being a doer, inherited from her grandmother, a hard worker who lived to 104 years old.

* TM Randolph stated that his OCD habits have helped him to go the extra mile and wash and rewash dishes till they're squeaky clean.

We had (2) excellent prepared speeches...

* TM The Tom revealed that his latest move has involved procrastination, extrication and intrepidness, letting go of things and being grateful for the pain of change.  Stay positive!!  He Won Most Improved Speaker Award.

* TM Pam taught us how to become a Birder in all its choices - equipment, money, people - or not.  You can just look up in the sky and enjoy the birds.  

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Jorge praised TM The Tom for giving a Buddhist-style presentation as an impromptu talk around a campfire, S'mores and all.  

* TM Christina liked TM Pam's brief, concise slides and suggested in future she incorporate more bird slides for added emphasis.  She Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

INTREPID, adj.

Fearless, adventurous, resolutely courageous

Example:  We at EarlyBirds have many intrepid members that take on daring adventures.

The link to the recording is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1vzeogLenY

See you next week!

Ana

Recap Writer

Choices, Life Statesperson and Fear Not - EarlyBirds extricates itself

Dear Members, Guests and Friends,

In what became known as Technology Thursday, TM Marie saved the day by figuring out the intricacies of logging in.  Thank you, TM Marie!

TM Randolph launched us like Artemis II with an inspiring invocation.

TM Jose responded 'on his feet and good to go' to the role of Table Topics.

We discovered that...

*I, Ana, would like to be both funny and smart but not the funniest or smarties in the room, all in moderation!

* TM Marie likes to count everything - welcome to the world of Obsessive-Compulsive-Order and her favorite character is Sesame Street's The Count.

* TM Becky imagined her Death Row Last Meal - a copious breakfast without sausage patties as she is watchful of her cholesterol....

* TM Randolph would like to have dinner with Oprah due to her wise remarks and with Barack Obama, due to his simplicity of  explaining his worldview.  He Won Best Table Topics Award.

* TM Jorge prefers mountains to oceans due to their wider variety in color, smells and the majestic wildlife of great preponderance.

We had 2 motivational speeches today...

* TM David advised us to become the statespersons of our lives, to redefine success and to challenge ourselves to 1 hour this week without external stimuli and watch what happens.  He Won Most Improved Speaker Award.

* TM The Tom inspired us with a heartfelt, spiritual speech about spirituality, which touched the heartstrings of many of us.

As far as evaluations go...

* TM Randolph exalted TM David for his masterful delivery, good pauses and encouraged him to change the slide color and use more vocal variety.

* TM Jose enjoyed TM The Tom's speech greatly and suggested Tom define spirituality more clearly and incorporate the fear part more into his speech.  He Won Best Evaluator Award.

The Word of the Day was

EXTRICATE, verb

To free or remove a person or oneself from a trap or a difficult situation.

Example:  Due to sheer incompetence, I had no other recourse but to extricate myself from the role of Tech Host/SAA at today's meeting.

Here's the link to the recording:

https://www.youtube.com/

See you next week!

Ana

Recap Writer

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