December 2006 Newsletter

Dear Lexington Toastmasters,

In middle of the Holiday Season, gift giving spirit and carol singing, let us also acknowledge that this can be a time of great loneliness and missing of loved ones no longer with us! Worldwide, many countries are at war, including our own. Today, I purchased a bottle of “Olive Branch Extra Virgin Olive Oil”, a product of Palestine in support of a Palestinian Relief Committee. Here is what caught my eyes and heart on the back of the bottle:

“If the olive trees knew the hands that planted them, their oil would have become tears…” - Mahmoud Darwish, Palestinian Poet

On a positive note, this is the season of GIVING, something that makes us feel better knowing that we make a difference for someone!

On another positive note, we will celebrate our Toastmasters community and the support we give each other throughout the year! This will take place Thursday, December 21 from 12noon until 1:30pm. We will have a shorter meeting first and then move into celebration with a light lunch. Hope you can join us!

Our group is indeed a very talented bunch, I thought this would be a good time to share, with his permission, a Limerick that Harald wrote a few months ago.


Ode to Lexington Toastmasters
By Harald Horgan

There once was a club of Toastmasters;
Good speakers, but none were broadcasters.
Their objective was clear;
Twas to conquer their fear,
And avoid any verbal disasters.

The meetings take place in a bank;
In a basement that’s airy, not dank.
We meet once every week,
To have our chance to speak;
Which might feel like walking the plank.

The toastmaster cannot be a mime;
Though for some this might be sublime.
The toastmaster’s place,
Is to keep things on pace,
So we end every meeting on time.

The thought/joke gives us an occasion,
To start the event with elation.
It can sparkle with wit;
But at times, I admit,
It is also a great inspiration.

The grammarian can make us feel glum,
As she counts every ah and each um.
We must all find a way,
For the word of the day,
To be spoken with grace and aplomb.

We all seem to dread table topics;
Which sometimes produce full-fledged panics.
With our thoughts incomplete,
We must think on our feet,
And avoid slipping into hysterics.

The speakers have their role to play,
With a manual to show them the way.
It is everyone’s chance,
To improve and advance;
We all want to hear what they say.

The timer just quietly sits;
Not caring if speakers are hits.
For his only concerns,
As the second hand turns,
Are speakers exceeding their limits.

There are people who evaluate,
All the speeches, which often are great.
Then we end with reports,
That might point out our warts;
And next week all the roles will rotate.

Now, you might think these verses too clean,
Since limericks are often obscene.
If I did have the pluck,
You might all come unstuck;
And I’d quickly become a has-been.


Snow Day Policy for the Lexington Toastmasters Club
The snow policy for the Lexington Toastmasters Club is that we will not meet on days when the Lexington Public Schools are closed due to snow. To find out if the Lexington Schools are closed, you may try one of three options:
• Go to the Town of Lexington website and click on Public Schools in the left column. The resulting page should indicate whether schools are closed due to snow.
• Call the Lexington Schools at 781-861-2580. This number should have recorded information about school closings.
• Check your local TV station, 4, 5 or 7, which will announce school closings on snow days.

"Speak-Outs"
Our next event will be on Monday, January 22 at 7pm downstairs at Cary Memorial Library in Lexington. Take this opportunity and give another speech and email Duncan Stewart

Our fourth “Speak-Out” will be Tuesday, May 22 (not confirmed). I do hope that you will take advantage of these additional speaking options with the idea to help you reach your goal in public speaking.

POT LUCK Dinner and YANKEE SWAP
District Celebration
Just a quick note to let you know about the district celebration on
Wednesday, Dec 13th at 7-9pm in Wellesley MA
Optional participation in the Yankee Swap with a $5-10 gift.
Directions and more details - click here

Bring your favorite dish (entrees, dessert, salad) and join the fun. We
will have the shortest exec meeting on record (15 min) and then the
festivities will begin!

Calendar
Wednesday, Dec 13 7:00-9:00pm District 31 Potluck Dinner/Yankee Swap
Tuesday, Dec 19 6:30pm World Champ Event – click here
Thursday, Dec 28 12noon-1:00pm Regular Meeting
Thursday, Jan 4 12noon-1:00pm Regular Meeting
Saturday, Jan 20 8:30am-1:00pm Club Officer Training – click here
Monday, Jan 22 7:00pm–9:00pm Speak-Out, Library