Category: Meeting Recaps

Another excellent meeting last Monday!  We were 14 in attendance, including Nevena, our E4 Area Director, who visited our club for the first time.

A few highlights:

Larry was the Toastmaster and chose the intriguing theme of “WHY”, which popped up all over the meeting.

Steve shared opening words by asking: why are we here? In his wise words, to find what we are passionate about and to serve others.

David gave a speaking tip on how to master the art of inserting a video in a PowerPoint presentation, which he illustrated with absolute perfection.

David returned to the stage for the first speech – an after dinner speech, where he bemoaned the many iterations of cell phones since the beginning of the century. He ended by asking why we carry phones if we don’t bother answering them anymore?

Alyce was the second speaker and piqued our curiosity on the topic of “Clean Meat”. She shared her investigation on recent breakthrough research on growing animal cells in the lab, which are reported to look and taste like the real thing.  P.S. This is not science fiction!

Eric gave his ice breaker speech from the Pathways program. He received a standing ovation for being the first Pros member to use Pathways!  After signing up for Pathways and answering a series of questions, the “Motivational Strategies” path was selected for him and he explained why this is indeed a very fitting path for him.

Grace led the discussion centered around the question “WHY”, which generated many thought-provoking and insightful answers from everyone.

Melissa was the General Evaluator and invited Anita, Michael, Carol S, and Nathan to evaluate our speakers, which they each did expertly.

Marie delivered the Rooney and pleaded with the audience to understand why so many people hate housework.  Although no substantive answers were found, everyone was pleased to finally meet my vacuum cleaner in all her sanitary glory.

Nevena offered her guest comments in Serbian, which allowed us all to learn how to say “wonderful meeting” in her native tongue.

We had another fantastic Presentation Pros meeting last Monday!  We were 17 in attendance, including Hiba, as our gracious guest.

Here are some of the highlights for you to relive the fun and to allow the few of you who missed the evening to catch a glimpse of it.

Grace was our masterful Toastmaster and chose the mysterious topic of “Eleven” for this meeting.

Martina shared opening words and introduced us to the “Art of Seduction”, a scholarly work, which reveals among others, that Cleopatra was not only beautiful but also had a mellifluous voice which she used to advance her rule of Egypt.  This story is a great reminder that the quality of our voice has great power and should be used accordingly.

Michael shared a simple yet clever speaking tip to help control nervousness.  He suggested we try to pretend being someone else or being a mannequin with a voice when nervousness sets in.  Definitively worth trying!

Carol S presented the first prepared speech, which was a practice of a five-minute presentation she will make at UCSB’s Campbell Hall to 600 teaching assistants later this month. She talked persuasively and passionately about the responsibility TAs have to report sexual harassment and sexual violence incidents they become aware of during their term at UCSB. She also brought up the “Green Dot” campaign designed to encourage the use of the 3Ds “Direct, Distract, Delegate” to help make the campus safer for everyone.

Steve was the second speaker and reviewed his principles for an Abundant Life, which are based on the “Success Principles” from Jack Canfield.  He presented many important ideas, such as taking 100% responsibility for one’s life, asking for honest feedback, using consistent self-discipline to reach one’s goals, practicing persistence and patience, and focusing on health, all of which promote an abundant life.

Carol GS was the third speaker and led a lively discussion on the topic of brainstorming followed by a real life demonstration of the principles she discussed.  She illustrated her ideas with a series of excellent slides (her tip to find images – google “clipart”) to make the point of what brainstorming is (neutral, encouraging, open) and is not (judgmental).  We then did a group brainstorm on ideas to increase laughter and humor, which was not only humorous in and of itself but uncovered many excellent ways to bring a daily dose of laugher.  Of course, attending Toastmaster meetings was a top contender 🙂

Randy led an interesting discussion on the topic of “Eleven”.  He dug up many stories of personal interest related to this number but also mentioned cultural, mystical, and magical references, all of which drew many varied and fascinating responses from the audience.  Sobering remembrances of 9/11 were discussed, but also quantum physics, numerology, lucky numbers, a beautiful wedding ceremony on 9/11, and Apollo 11, to name just a few.

After a great evaluation round led by Elaine as General Evaluator, and Eric, Larry, b and myself as evaluators, we were treated to a rousing Rooney by Sandra, who is getting very fed up with our mistreatment of the environment.  She has lived by the motto of “think globally, act locally” since the tender age of 11 and is not at all pleased with the fact that plastic is now everywhere, including in our water supply.  But the worst offense are the frozen blueberries, which are forced to travel all the way from Chili to her plate. She knows from personal experience how long and painful of a trip that can be, so she is now officially leading a blueberry boycott!