As usual, we had a few “first time” at the meeting. It was the first time we approved minutes posted on line, rather than printing them for the meeting. Thanks to our Secretary Clare for this initiative. Members will need to check the accuracy of the minutes on the club Google Drive once Clare sends us a notice.
The Business Session was well handled by club Pres, Patti and
we promptly moved to the Educational Session and a second “first time” with our
Club Treasurer, Cynthia taking up the role of Meeting Toastmaster.
Congratulations Cynthia on a job well done. Having the
Agenda on the whiteboard didn’t help her because she had to keep looking over
her shoulder. Yet, she kept cool, calm and collected and connected the segments
with a smile on her face, explaining the segments.
Yassen was responsible for not one but two “first times”:
First time in charge of the Round Robin and First time as Table Topics
Evaluator.
After the break, our newest member (so far), Sahi was not
only welcomed to our club, she was also in charge of Ah-counting for the “first
time”.
Congratulations to all our “first timers”! Toastmasters is a
“learning by doing” program and just like you cannot learn to play the guitar
without “playing the guitar” you cannot learn the skills of public speaking and
communications without speaking in public and communicating.
We had three marvellous speakers on the night. First off the
rank was Patti with her Pathways Icebreaker speech. Although she is an
experienced speaker, she was also speaking for the “first time” in her Path.
This was an emotional speech where she told as about growing up as an adoptee
and finally, only a few short years ago, finding and reconnecting with her
birth mother and her blood sister and brother.
Nirupama (Rupa to her friends) spoke about the Fury of Fire,
something close to all Australians right now.
Clare closed the roster of speakers with her “first speech”
on level 2 of her path. She explained how all leadership styles are needed
depending on the time and stage of a project and she gave us the example of the
2021 Census.
We had 8 or 9 guests and at least 3 have expressed their
desire to join us within my hearing distance. I can say with confidence that
exciting times are ahead for the club.
The voting by members and guests produced these results:
Best Table Topic: Stephen
Best Evaluator: Paul Best Speaker: Patti
Congratulations to Stephen, Paul, and Patti!
Daniel, VPE