Greg P. handled the Toastmaster duties with a theme of speaking multiple languages.  Word of the day was Intrinsic – belonging to a thing by its very nature.
 
Jim delivered a Toastmaster Leadership series speech entitled “Giving Effective Feedback”.  Effective feedback helps teams achieve goals, build confidence and pride, and succeed.  There are four steps:  1) Set clear and concise objectives; 2) Observe team members performance; 3) provide immediate feedback; and 4) recognize positive performance.  Ensure that your feedback is specific, that you’re speaking for yourself, delivered with sincerity, and emphasizes how actions affect the entire team.  End on a positive note.  Cynthia dovetailed on Lori’s “Love Language” speech of last week with “Turbo/Love Coaching”.  Coach is the title given to those that are tasked with improving the abilities of others.  We see it in sports, at Toastmasters, and in relationships.  She provided a demonstration in its use in prompting a member to use Turbobase and in a personal relationship with Gerry.  Anne, the evening’s winner batted cleanup with “You are Beautiful, Gwendolyn Brooks”.  Gwendolyn let others know that they are beautiful in their own right.  She like Anne enjoys working with jailed and rehab prisoners.  She also won a Pulitzer for one of her books.
 
Andrea was Table Topics Master.  Justin rambled on about the most challenging language with no clear conclusion.  Matt talked about how important it is to learn some of the language before visiting a foreign country.  Returning member Lou-Ap, the evening’s winner gave a humorous presentation of the three love languages:  French, Spanish, and Italian.  Marcus talked about how silence can often convey a message better than words.
 
Lori directed the Evaluations.  Brice reviewed Jim, Suzanne, the evening’s winner critiqued Cynthia, and Lee appraised Anne.  Mary-Catherine covered the grammar, Marcus reported the shilly-shallies, and Alyssa delineated the timing.
 
Announcements

• 3/11/17 1:30pm Briefing, 2:00pm contest: Division D Contest @ East Cobb Library Community Room, 4880 Lower Roswell RD, Marietta, GA 30068. I will be unable to attend due to Boy Scout event. WE NEED FOLKS to CHEER for Anne and Suzanne!
• 3/9/17 6 – 8pm: D44 Chief Judges Training @ Jackson Memorial Baptist Church 534 Fairburn Rd NW, Atlanta GA 30331 Phone: 404.312.3683. Registration begins 2/21/17.
• 4/29/17 8:30am – 12:30pm: Storytelling for Speakers Workshop @ Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church 37—Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth GA. The cost is $10. Please RSVP tocindycannon@accountsone.com by 4/21/17.
• 5/12/17 – 5/13/17: District 44 Spring Conference. Online registration is available atwww.d44conference.org. Conference cost is now $154 through 3/17/17. Hotel registration cost is currently $119 per night. All conference volunteers will receive $10 investment bucks from their Project Managers at the conference.
  • Volunteer sign-up: https://www.volunteersignup.org/KHJJW, dmkamara@gmail.com

Call for Presenters: http://d44conference.org/calling-for-presenters/
​

​Ken “toastmastered” the 18 members (including newest member Courtney Quarterman) and three guests with a theme of using one word to describe ourselves.  “If you’re not willing to risk the unusual, you’ll have to settle for the ordinary”.  Word of the day was Belie – give a false representation.
 
Marcus was the first speaker with his Ice Breaker entitled “My Mama Almost Named Me Ponce”.  It was a humorous and animated presentation that belied his representation of himself as a self-admitted dork and introvert.  The fifth born in his family, he was quite happy that his mother steered away from the sobriquet of Ponce to Marcus (war like).  Lori was up next with “Love Languages”.  She talked about the five primary ways people have of expressing their love:  1) Quality Time;  2) Physical Touch; 3) Acts of Service; 4) Receiving Gifts; and 5) Words of Affirmation.  Each of us has a primary type and often a secondary.  Being in touch with both yours and your significant others is important.  Anne opened with song as she launched her speech entitled “Dream of Freedom”.  She talked of meeting Carter G. Winston author of “The Miseducation of the Negro” while at the University of Tennessee.  She talked of the Tuskegee Airman and other interesting and significant events in black history and reminded us that education is the stepping stone to being successful.  Greg P., the evening’s winner showed his humorous side in “Receding Hairline”.  Do girls date bald guys?  He had always harassed his father about his lack of hair and is now finding that he’s the target now.  He asked for a moment of silence about his hairline.
 
Beverly handled the Table Topic duties.  Mitzi thought that Martin Luther King would probably be disappointed about what a divided people we’ve become.  Visiting Area Governor Audrey Shredrick thinks that one month for black history should not be the issue – it should be incorporated in the teaching of American History and not an artificial divide.  Suzanne says that teachers inspire and change lives and are worthy of higher pay than pastors.  Perennial visitor Zeal Okoger, the evening’s winner also talked about MLK and wished he were here to see what Barack Obama achieved.
 
Yours truly handled the General Evaluator duties.  Lee appraised Marcus, Carin assessed Lori, Justin, the evening’s winner critiqued Anne, and Jim reviewed Greg P.  Cynthia covered the grammar, Mitzi reported on the shilly-shallies, and Andrea delineated the timing.

​provided a few examples of famous people and their mentors.  Oprah Winfrey was mentored by Maya Angelou.  Mike Zuckerberg traced much of his success to Steve Jobs.  Warren Buffet helped Bill Gates along the way.  Word of the day was Hearten – to make more cheerful or hopeful.
 
Alyssa was first up with her Ice Breaker entitled “Assumptions”.  She opened with a Buddhist chant useful for eradicating negative karma.  She went on to wonder at the lack of receptiveness of her commitment to Buddhism by her Christian friends and their efforts to convert her.  Accept me for who I am.  Isn’t that what it should be about? 

Andrea followed with “What I Learned from Kevin”  Her cousin, once a down and out young man who had been raised in an abusive home.  He got a job at a fish farm and worked his way up to manager and great financial success.  It’s easy to make judgments about someone.  Get to know their story and you might be surprised. 

Beverly, the evening’s winner delivered “Moments that Matter”.  After some background on her introduction at a young age to the Ku Klux Klan, she went on to talk about Jeffrey, an arrogant, obnoxious bigot with whom she had to work.  A number of years later, he returned to apologize on his way to Iraq.  He never returned.  Beverly’s message:  Be kind to those that are unkind because they need it the most. 

​Cynthia’s title was “No Victims Here”.  She talked about how she and Jerry raised their children to be problem solvers, not victims.  The approach – 1)  State the problem; 2) Tell what you’re feeling about the problem; 3)  Try to specify and immediate solution; and 4)  Describe the consequences if that solution won’t work.  Speak up and ask for a response to your solution.
 
Mary-Catherine brought a potpourri of items to use for Table Topics.  Marcus showed us how a banana was the latest in fashion.  Returning guest Zeal Okoger used a spatula to discuss corporal punishment in his elementary school.  First time guest Claudius Wood, the evening’s winner had everybody laughing about snot, flies, and a plastic spoon fly remover.
 
Ken handled the General Evaluator tasks.  Anne, the evening’s winner assessed Alyssa, Justin critiqued Andrea, Brice reviewed Beverly, and Greg P. appraised Cynthia.  Theresa reported on the timing, Lori covered the grammatical apogees and perigees, and Lee summarized the shilly-shallies. 
 
Thanks to all who have made it possible.  We have once again achieved all ten objectives to become a President’s Distinguished club for the 13th consecutive time.
 
Congratulations to Cynthia on her early retirement.  The timing is still unclear, but sadly she will be leaving us in the not too distant future for her permanent home in Florida. 

T-Toasters of Vinings would like to congratulate Cynthia on her retirement.  We wish you all the best, Cynthia.  You will be deeply missed.

​Anne ably handled the "toastmastering" duties for the 19 members and five guests in attendance.  Anne's theme was "Rise Up" urging support of the National League champion Falcons in their quest to win the Super Bowl this Sunday.  Word of the day was Brusque - Abrupt and curt in manner of speech; discourteously blunt.
 
Kristina was the first of three planned speakers with her Ice Breaker entitled "The Girl Next Door".  She describes herself as vibrant and sassy with a splash of Georgia peach.  She grew up in south Florida where she developed a love of other cultures and liberal and colorful people.  She moved to Atlanta at the age of 15 and has been privileged to grow up in a family where displays of affection were the norm.  She sought out and attended an historically black college.  Lori gave a humorous "Top Ten Tips for Your Tonsillectomy".  Some of the more interesting ones were: 1) Don't do it; 2)  Get a time machine and go back to being eight;  4) Don't lose your pain med prescription;  6) Avoid yelling at your children beforehand because they'll get you back; 9) Be careful of what you watch on TV because Oxycodone makes for vivid dreams; and 10)  Hold off on scheduling a speech until you've healed.  Beverly, the evening's winner was third with a riveting, and animated "The Folk Tale".  She told the story of rail worker Henry James and his experience with the ghost funeral train of Abraham Lincoln.  Not only did the train's passing have the effect of slowing the clocks by six minutes, but the experience itself was surreal.  Cynthia batted cleanup with "Cashing in on Criticism".  We typically deal with criticism in one of three ways:  1)  sulking or withdrawal which harms one's self and public image; 2) rationalization resulting in a loss of credibility; or 3) counter attacking which builds conflict and resentment.  Better to analyze the criticism and benefit from that portion which may be truthful and beneficial.
 
Greg P. handled Table Topics.  Due to time constraints, only two were able to participate.  Justin finds that he's getting older and suffers after a pickup basketball game.  Carin's favorite Girl Scout cookies are Tag-a-Longs and Shortbread.
 
General Evaluator duties were under Mary-Catherine's purview.  Theresa reviewed Kristina, Gregg H. assessed Lori, Jim, the evening's winner critiqued Bev, and Brice appraised Cynthia.  Carin covered the grammar, Ken itemized the shilly-shallies, and Marcus delineated the timing.
 

​ontest Chair Jim and Contest Master Beverly presided over this year's Table Topics Contest.  Twenty-three members including newest member Marcus James and five guests including former members Sandy Shah and Sarah Smith were in attendance.  Nine members competed in the contest.
 
The order of the participants was determined prior to the start.  All contestants were ushered out of the meeting room and were called when it was their turn.  Beverly read the following question to each contestant:  "If you could go back in time and speak to a younger version of yourself, what one piece of advice would you give yourself?"
 
Lee would tell herself not to sweat the petty things and don't pet sweaty things.  Mark, the first runner up would advise himself to focus on education and not become distracted.  Anne, the second runner up would advocate for relying on people, surrounding herself with positive people, and to take more risk.  Suzanne, the contest winner recommends being kind to boys.  It's easier to get sugar from people if you've been kind to them.  Gregg H. talked about circles.  Over the years he has found that the best things happen in groups (a.k.a. circles).  Andrea would tell her teenage self to learn to like herself and not worry about what others think.  Carin would tell younger Carin that she is good enough exactly the way she is and not to waste her time comparing herself to others.  Matt says keep on doing what you've been doing.  He's thankful for all the rich and varied experiences he's had and wouldn't trade them for anything.  Brice would tell his high school self to look for something more than his sports accomplishments.  Something nonmaterial that won't be gone so quickly.
 
As the judges votes were tallied, Bev conducted some brief interviews with the candidates.
 
The International Speech contest at next week's meeting will be followed by Post Toasties at a location to be determined.  Don't forget TLI.

​Matt hosted the 19 members (including newest member Alyssa Gagnon) and five guests with a theme of “David, Elvis, Steven, Kim, and Blair”.  Throughout the meeting he presented some interesting insights into the lives of David Robert Jones (a.k.a. David Bowie), Elvis Presley, Steven Hawking, Kim Jong-Un (Supreme Leader of North Korea), and his own son Blair.  A rather unusual potpourri of individuals.  Word of the day was Magnanimous – Generous, understanding, & tolerant; Noble & generous in spirit.
 
Mary-Catherine was the first of three planned speakers with “Get a Job”.  She provided clues and insights for a successful job hunt such as a resume written to accommodate scoring by management software; the role of recruiters in first line filtering; and the importance of networking and keeping your network up to date.  Today’s methods and strategies are markedly different from just a few years ago.  Lee, the evening’s winner followed with “Diamond in the Rough”.  She led us to believe that she had cashed in all of her assets and invested them in a diamond ring which she lost.  A fisherman found a ring which may or may not have been hers and it provided the means to significantly change his family’s life.  What would you do if you found a diamond ring?  The story teaches one to consider what’s really important to them.  Really, what would you do?  Jim batted cleanup with an improvisational speech entitled “What’s a Speech Contest”.  It was meant to educate all on the four annual Toastmaster speech contests and their importance in helping each of us to take our speaking abilities to the next level.  He challenged all members to step up and compete.
 
Carin directed Table Topics.  This evening’s session had the most participants that I can remember.  Gregg H. figured that his ongoing ability to inspire others would be key in the hiring process.  Anne talked about the value of public speaking.  Justin says that passion speaks to him more than anything.  Guest David B. talked about is interest in flamenco guitar and developing a local Spanish translation service.  Guest Andy Wu opts for cruises as his favorite type vacation.  Guest Kevin Watts job goal would be something that benefits both him and his family.  Guest Zeal Okogeri, the evening’s winner is writing a book on kindness which is literally love in action.  Guest Marcus James diplomatically responded to the dust up between Meryl Streep and Donald Trump.
 
General Evaluator Greg P. lead the last portion of the meeting.  Lori assessed Mary-Catherine and Chad, the evenings winner critiqued Lee – Jim’s speech was not evaluated.  Andrea addressed the grammatical apogees and perigees, Sharie reported on the timing, and Bev enumerated the shilly-shallies.
 
Annual Table Topics contest next week followed by the International Speech contest on January 25th.