The Lexington Toastmasters Club

June 2007 Newsletter

2007-06-04T20:51:00.000-05:00

Dear Lexington Toastmasters,
It is hard to believe that this is the last newsletter I am writing to you as your President. It has been a privilege to represent this club and work with you on so many projects. I look back with great fondness of your participation and energy and how your continued support and feedback and appreciation fed my appetite to do the best.

In reflection, let me list some highlights that were part of our successful year:

- 3 Speak-Outs
- 1 Open House
- 2 Speech Contests
- Host of 1 Area Speech Contest
- 1 Backwards Meeting
- Close to 100% attendance of 7 Officers’ meetings
- 9 Officers attending Officer Training Sessions
- 2 Marvelous Social Parties and many Mini Celebrations
- Completion of the Advanced Track Guide
- Name Card Tents for each Member including Guests
- 11 Toastmasters Earning Awards this year, close to Double from the Previous
Year.

Congratulations to all, indeed it takes a strong community like ours to accomplish such a list. On June 14th, at our regular meeting, we will celebrate together a great year and give out awards to the 11 Toastmasters and more. We hope you can join us.

Last week we elected the new officers who will begin their one year term
July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008:

President ~ Duncan Stewart
VP of Education ~ Mev Barton
VP Membership ~ Galina Pekurovskaya
VP Public Relations ~ Kumiko Suzuki
Secretary ~ Marina Dvorkin
Treasurer ~ Eric Shen
Sergeant at Arms ~ Michael Ahlfont
Past President ~ Rudi Scheiber-Kurtz

Congratulations to the new officers and special thanks to our outgoing officers David Carnes, Carolyn Kingston and Steve Silva.

Again, thanks for giving me the opportunity to serve you as president, I have truly enjoyed it. I am looking forward to Duncan Stewart’s leadership and maybe I will have time to participate in another humorous speech contest!

With fondness,
Rudi
Rudi Scheiber-Kurtz, ACB, CL
President and Zoomer Woman
Lexington Toastmasters Club

Accolades:
Let me give my biggest thanks and gratitude to Kumiko Suzuki who again put together a fantastic and fun party. It was an impressive group of singers, musicians, conversationalists and cooks. Thanks to Linda and Bob Coyne for generously offering their house.

Many thanks also go to the Advanced Track group including Ann Burgess, Robert Isenberg, Carolyn Kingston, and Steve Silva who worked with me in getting this guide published. You have no more excuses now to delay your advanced speaking!

Celebrations Day:
Thursday, June 14, 2007
12noon – 1:30pm
We will acknowledge all the hard work and accomplishment of the past year with special awards! We will celebrate our strong community and the support we give each other. Light Refreshments.

Finding Comfort in Public Speaking
By Carolyn Kingston
As a member of Lexington Toastmasters Club I would like to offer some thoughts about what I have found most helpful in my vocal coaching of speakers and performers. One important key to successful public speaking is to realize that it is an art that requires both SKILL and RELATIONSHIP.

When you get up in front of a group to speak don’t be afraid to take a few moments to connect with your audience through eye contact. Take a few deep breaths as you look around the room. It is amazing how much time the audience needs to look at and settle in to listen to a speaker. Remember that your audience is there to enjoy your speech not to judge it. If you are feeling physical symptoms of nervousness - trembling limbs, racing heart, dry mouth - allow what you feel to be present. If you resist it, or try to control it, it will persist longer. Adrenaline is what makes a speech or performance exciting and it will serve you well if you allow it.

As you work through the Competent Communicator Manual you are building the skills essential to giving good speeches both in structure and presentation. One essential element to a good speech is vocal variety, and one speech is devoted to that skill. The most important tip I can give you in creating vocal impact in your speaking is to TAKE TIME TO BREATHE! The voice is a wind instrument and needs adequate breath supply to find its full resonance and inflection. Again, the audience will appreciate a pace that allows you to take an adequate breath – AND you will be better understood. This is particularly important if your native language is not English. The adjustments the listener has to make to the inflection and rhythm differences of a Japanese person speaking in English, for example, will be much easier if you take time to breathe and speak at a slow to moderate pace.

This is a very short overview of what I have observed in listening and working with speakers, and I welcome your feedback and any further questions you may have about voice in speaking.

You Are Invited
Wednesday, June 20, 7:30pm
Since music played a central role in our party, I wanted to invite you all to a free concert show in Lexington on Wednesday, June 20th. I will be performing in the show in both a solo number, and ensemble numbers. This show is put on annually by the studio of Diana Cole, and this year, the Theme is "Food".

I hope to see you there,
Arthur

BE OUR GUEST: A GOURMET MUSICAL TREAT

You are invited to a concert of classical and lighter 'fare' songs andensembles featuring the studio of Diana Cole on Wednesday, June 20 at 7:30in the acoustically splendid sanctuary of Follen Church. Follen Church is at 755 Massachusetts Ave, East Lexington. Most numbers will serve up the theme of food. Included are a scene from Hansel and Gretel, an aria from the Coffee Cantata by Bach and songs such as Tea For Two, Oh I Can Cook Too, and Ragtime Restaurant by Loesser, Berlin, Rodgers, Bernstein and others. The concert will be followed by a gala reception where we feast on our just desserts! This annual event is great fun for everyone involved. Admission is Free.

Calendar:
Thursday, June 14 12noon-1:30pm Celebration Day
Saturday, June 16 7:30am – 1:00pm Officer Training, Dedham
Wednesday, June 20 7:30pm Musical Treat, Follen Church

May 2007 Newsletter

2007-05-12T11:30:00.000-05:00

Dear Lexington Toastmasters,

Mothering is an important function in society, and it is also a 24/7 job. I am the proud mom of 8 children, to be exact, 3 children of my own, 3 stepchildren and 2 spouses of my children. Never did I realize my parenting commitment over the past 30 years as much as when my youngest, Natasha, went off to college. At first I was miserable, could not imagine life without the children, yet I have found a new me: Zoomer Woman! It is a new phase in my life that is exciting, exhilarating and just plain fun!

As a country girl growing up in a Swiss village of 1200 residents, I had a Mother’s Day tradition with my best friend and neighbor, Claudia. We would get up early Sunday, sneak out of the house, and collect the biggest bouquets from the fields around us, making sure we had a nice mix of colors, flowers and grasses. We especially looked for a special grass, called “Zitter Gras” or Quaking Grass (Briza Media). This was hard to find, but the very tiny, heart shaped grass was always a big hit for my mom.

Happy Mother's Day to all!

Again, we have some busy weeks ahead of us, so read carefully so not to miss out!

With fondness,
Rudi

Rudi Scheiber-Kurtz, ACB, CL
President
Lexington Toastmasters Club

Educational Bits Update:
A group of us have met and reviewed all the speech and leadership pamphlets that Toastmasters offers in the Advanced Track. We are working on a comprehensive plan for the website and also as a hand-out, giving an overall description of the different components on the path to Distinguished Toastmaster Member (DTM). David Carnes will be giving a presentation on the different advance track options on May 31st and we will unveil our work to you.

Open House at Cary Memorial Library, Lexington:
Monday, May 21, 2007 – Please note the date and time change!!!
6:45 – 8:45pm
Guest Speaker: Bo Bennett
Bo is truly an inspirational and professional speaker and you will enjoy listening to him and learn. His speech will be about “Success”, the same as our theme for the meeting. The rest of the evening will be a regular Toastmasters meeting with an educational twist. We will explain the purpose of each section of the meeting. We have invited Toastmaster Alums and many of them will be there! You will not want to miss this exciting event, meet old friends and greet visitors in the Toastmasters way! Refreshments will be served.

Nominating Committee and Club Election
Thursday, May 31
12noon – 1pm
The committee is working hard in forming a new slate of officers for the upcoming year. Our Election will take place during our regular meeting when you will be able to cast your ballot. We ask that all officers, outgoing and incoming make an effort to attend.

Party, Party, Party:
Saturday, June 2, 2007
7pm into the night
Another party is upon us, yeah! Kumiko Suzuki has been busy planning this next event. Mark your calendar and rsvp for Saturday, June 2 at Linda Coyne’s house at around 7pm. Another invitation will be mailed looking for your attendance or not, so that Kumiko can plan accordingly. For the newcomers, this is an ideal time to get to know your fellow Toastmasters better and without the stress of speaking in public! For the oldcomers, start thinking of your favorite dish to make and share with your toasties! We will also invite our alums to this event. This is a time to have fun and bring your friends, spouses and partners.

Celebrations Day:
Thursday, June 14, 2007
12noon – 1:30pm
We will acknowledge all the hard work and accomplishment of the past year with awards! We will celebrate our strong community and the support we give each other. Light lunch will be served.

Calendar:
Monday, May 21 6:45pm – 8:45pm Open House, Cary Library
Thursday, May 31 12noon-1pm Election of new officers
Saturday, June 2 Evening Toastmasters Party Social
Monday, June 4 12noon-1:30pm Officer Meeting (new and old)
Thursday, June 14 12noon-1:30pm Celebration Day

April 2007 Newsletter

2007-04-01T16:32:00.000-05:00

Dear Lexington Toastmasters,

We have officially moved into April today with a beautiful, warm day! If you missed it, last Thursday we had an unusual meeting; it was in fact a backwards meeting! The words of the day included: “Spontaneity – Flexibility – Humor”, this was of course taken to the limits!! Milip Dathur prepared Toble Tapics that were a bit on the edge. He chose three sets of Toastmasters to come up and propose to each other. The audience was to ‘egg’ them on; we basically forced Robert Isenberg to get down to his knees to propose to our newest member Fatemeh Mojtabai!! El Presidente had a very important announcement to make, which I will share with you here:

“It is my privilege as your president to announce this very exciting news! We have chosen our next Toastmasters President for our club. She has just accepted as of this morning. Her name is Dr. Frueschi Beerli, from South Africa and an expert in Women’s Leadership. I wanted to make sure we continue with the Women Power thing and find the best, possible woman, whether Toastmaster or not. She will fly into Boston in the next few weeks to meet you all”!

Pristine Kinney did an excellent job with the timer cards, showing red first to let you us know that there was no stopping now! Stuncan Dewart brought his very own wit to the meeting and explaining is not necessary. We adjourned the meeting with Bev Martin’s beginning as Sergeant at Arms. All in all, a left-handed handshake sort of meeting!

Happy Spring!!

Rudi Scheiber-Kurtz, ACB, ALB
President
Lexington Toastmasters Club

Now back to work and heads up to what’s ahead!! Please read carefully……

Dialogue Play "Plane Talk":
Friday, April 13, 2007
Our very own Robert Isenberg placed first with his play in the "slam" in Downtown Boston last year. It will be performed in Medford on Friday, April 13 at the "Bestsellers Book Store" at about 8:30 PM. No charge and all are welcome.
Editor’s note: I am told that is for adults only!!

Accolades:
Between December and March we had two Toastmasters receiving an award: Michael Tom for ACB (Advanced Communications Bronze) and Robert Isenberg for ACG (Advanced Communications Gold). Congratulations to both of you! We have some hopefuls coming up who are close and working on their next award. They have been contacted and encouraged to schedule their speeches now!

Educational Bits:
Sunday, April 19, 2007
A group has formed to create our own ‘Succession Plan’ with Toastmasters’ material. After you finish your first ten speeches, it can get difficult to choose a path to the next level. Carolyn Kingston, Ann Burgess, Steve Silva, Robert Isenberg and I are currently reviewing the booklets.
A review meeting for the sub-committee is scheduled for Sunday, April 16th at 4:30pm at my house, 23 Dewey Road, Lexington. Suggestions and ideas may be shared with any of us prior to the meeting.

International Speech Contest
Host: Lexington Toastmasters
Monday, April 23, 2007
This will be the third round at the district level. We are hosting this event at the Cary Memorial Library and Robert Isenberg is organizing the event with Ray Gatti, Division B Governor. We hope that many of you will attend and hear some good speeches. If you want to participate, please contact Robert Isenberg and let him know.

Open House:
Tuesday, May 22, 2007Guest Speaker: Bo Bennett
This event will be a little different from the past ones! We will have an “Open House” and publicize it in the local papers inviting the public to attend. Bo Bennett has already kindly accepted the invitation. He is truly an inspirational and professional speaker and you will enjoy listening to him and learn. You might want t o check him out at his two websites: http://www.yeartosuccess.com/ and http://www.bellado.org/ . The rest of the meeting will be a modified Toastmasters meeting with an educational twist. We will explain the purpose of each section of the meeting. Put this date on your calendar! You will not want to miss this exciting event!

Party, Party, Party:
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Another party is upon us, yeah! Kumiko Suzuki has been busy planning this next event. Please note the date change; it will be on Saturday, June 2 at Linda Coyne’s house at around 7pm. Invitations will be mailed with all the details. For the newcomers, this is an ideal time to get to know your fellow Toastmasters better and without the stress of speaking in public! For the oldcomers, start thinking of your favorite dish to make and share with your toasties! This is a time to have fun and bring your friends, spouses and partners.

Snow Day Policy (Last posting!):
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.

Calendar:
Friday, Apr 13 8:30pm Robert Isenberg’s Play
Sunday, Apr 19 4:30pm Sub-Committee Meeting @ Rudi’s
Monday, Apr 23 6:30pm International Speech Contest
Saturday, May 5 8am-5pm D 31 Spring Conference-see link
Tuesday, May 22 7pm – 9pm Open House, Cary Library
Saturday, June 2 Evening Toastmasters Party Social

March 2007 Newsletter

2007-03-12T21:32:00.000-05:00

Dear Lexington Toastmasters,

With last week’s deep freeze it’s hard to believe that spring is just around the corner! However, spring always does arrive. My friend’s snowdrops did not bend a bit during the cold spell, she was worried they would not survive. The strength and will of nature in the spring amazes me every year; just watch the crocus push through ice and snow and appear in glorious color.

Let’s hope that spring does not only bring us a renewed sense of being, but also lots of energy! We have a lot of things lined up for you. At our last meeting, many of you participated in the International Speech contest. The courageous contestants were Ann Burgess, Steve Silva and Duncan Stewart. And the lucky winner is Steve Silva! Congratulations! He will compete at the AreaB5 competition on Monday March 26th at 6:30pm at the Cary Memorial Library in Lexington. Join me in supporting Steve at his next round. If you are interested in helping with a task, please contact David Carnes .

Special Meeting:
Thursday, March 29, 2007
You do not want to miss this “regular’ meeting! We will have some speeches, but the rest will be a surprise. I think routines are comforting, but sometimes they get in the way of spontaneity, so we are trying it out on you! In Switzerland people organize trips “into the blue”; you sign up and let the day happen. So I encourage you to show up and let the hour happen. We will have lots of fun!

Open House:
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Guest Speaker: Bo Bennett
This event will be a little different from the past ones! We will have an “Open House” and publicize it in the local papers inviting the public to attend. Bo Bennett has already kindly accepted the invitation. He is truly an inspirational and professional speaker and you will enjoy listening to him and learn. You might want t o check him out at his two websites: http://www.yeartosuccess.com and http://www.bellado.org . The rest of the meeting will be a modified Toastmasters meeting with an educational twist. We will explain the purpose of each section of the meeting. Put this date on your calendar! You will not want to miss this exciting event!

Educational Bits:
In the last newsletter I mentioned that a group is forming to create our own ‘Succession Plan’ with Toastmasters’ material. This would apply after you finish your first ten speeches. Many of us have found the new tracks, communicator and leadership, a little confusing. I have ordered the entire set of advanced speech booklets for $50; now we can sit down and evaluate the booklets and hopefully come up with a plan that is easier to follow and keep you speaking in front of the public. Carolyn Kingston and Ann Burgess are on the committee. Join us and/or share your ideas in how to best approach this task!

Party, Party, Party:
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Another party is upon us, yeah! Kumiko Suzuki has been busy planning this next event. Please note the date change; it will be on Saturday, June 2 at Linda Coyne’s house at around 7pm. Invitations will be mailed with all the details. For the newcomers, this is an ideal time to get to know your fellow Toastmasters better and without the stress of speaking in public! For the oldcomers, start thinking of your favorite dish to make and share with your toasties! This is a time to have fun and bring your friends, spouses and partners.

Snow Day Policy:
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.

Calendar:
Monday, Mar 19 12noon-1:30pm Officer Meeting at Rudi's
Monday, Mar 26 6:30pm International Speech Contest
Thursday, Mar 29 12noon – 1:00pm Special Meeting
Tuesday, May 22 7:00pm – 9:00pm Open House
Saturday, June 2 Evening Toastmasters Party Social

February 2007 Newsletter

2007-02-04T23:10:00.000-05:00

Dear Lexington Toastmasters,
In middle of vacation preparations, I want to be certain to leave you with the February newsletter! Michael and I decided a few months ago that February would be ideal to visit Arizona! It just seems the coldest month of the year, and yes, it surely is right now, so going somewhere warm was very appealing! We are leaving for Arizona early Tuesday, however in the Grand Canyon last week the temperature was 1 degree!! Phoenix and Tucson are much warmer, so I guess I will need to pack the whole closet!!

From various past speeches I have learned from your experience in visiting the Grand Canyon and what it meant to you! This is my first time and I will be thinking of you all.

Below are a few things that might be of interest and yes, we continue with a bunch of firsts. We want to make sure that you are challenged, but with a dose of fun!! Kumiko Suzuki is planning another party for May 12th or 19th! If you would like to offer your house and put up 50-60 people, please give her a call.

We are forming a group of Toastmasters to work on Succession Plan after finishing the first ten speeches. The different tracks, communicator and leadership, are a little confusing and we want to design a venue for an optimal speech build up. If you are interested in working with this group, please let me know.

International Speech Contest
Thursday, March 8, 2007

Lexington Toastmasters Club is holding our very own International Speech Contest! This one leads all the way up to the crowning of the "World Champion of Public Speaking" which is awarded to the final winner at the annual international conference which is held each year in August.

So, how about you? We want you to consider this worthwhile experience, remember the contest aspect adds a whole other dimension to public speaking. We are looking for about 6 contestants with an original speech of 5-7 minutes. Call or email Duncan Stewart at f.duncan.stewart@gmail.com today to save your spot, remember, you don’t even have to be funny in this one!

We will use a similar format to the humorous contest, blocking off the entire meeting to allow up to 6 contestants. Every attendee will be a judge (if you are late however, you may not vote and will be disqualified from any judging) and all evaluations will be done privately after the meeting. If you would like to be a timer or counter, kindly let Duncan know at f.duncan.stewart@gmail.com.

Lexington Toastmasters Club OPEN HOUSE
Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Guest Speaker: Bo Bennett
This event will be a little different from the past ones! We will have an “Open House” and publicize it in the local papers inviting the public to attend. Bo Bennett has already kindly accepted the invitation. He is truly an inspirational and professional speaker and you will enjoy listening to him and learn. You might want t o check him out at his two websites: http://www.yeartosuccess.com/ and http://www.bellado.org/ . The rest of the meeting will be a modified Toastmasters meeting with an educational twist. We will explain the purpose of each section of the meeting. Put this date on your calendar! You will not want to miss this exciting event!

Educational Bits:
Linda Coyne agreed to write up step-by-step guidelines in how to properly manage Table Topics. Please read them carefully. Thank you Linda for providing us with these useful tidbits for our newsletter.

Six Points in How to Do Table Topics!

1) Have the timer explain the cards.

2) Be brief - the objective is to get as many people up there to talk as possible

3) Don't ask for volunteers - this prevents members from having true TT learning experience. (The idea is to get experience trying to sound cogent and lucid when you're put on the spot, and if you volunteer, you're not put on the spot. You have a story to tell, one you may have told several times before.)

4) Announce the topic before choosing the speaker - this gives all listeners a little bit of TT learning experience, because we're all sitting there (or should be!) trying to think of what we'll say if we're called on. If the speaker is identified first, we all shut down.

5) Choose speakers who are not speaking that day, if possible those you know haven't spoken recently. For myself, I prefer to give members rather than guests this opportunity, but if you choose to call on guests, be sure they've had a chance to see a couple members do it first.

6) Shake hands with each person. Keep the podium covered.

Snow Day Policy:

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.

Calendar:

Thursday, Mar 8 12noon – 1:00pm International Speech contest

Saturday, May 12th/19th Evening Toastmasters Party Social

Tuesday, May 22 7:00pm – 9:00pm Open House

January 2007 Newsletter

2007-01-08T00:52:00.000-05:00

Dear Lexington Toastmasters,

Happy New Year to you all! Do you have New Year’s resolutions? I do not, but that does not mean the new year is not an opportunity to look at new beginnings. Nature brings its own with the waxing and weaning of the moon, and how we are drawn to it emotionally (or so they say) with a higher energy at full moon. Searching on the Internet never fails to amaze me with its ubiquitous information flow. Life cycles is about beginnings and endings, but Google brings up a site of Alastair Humphrey’s global bike ride that takes him to the end of the world. In his second year, 29,000km and 32 countries late, he is raising funds for the charity “Hope and Homes for Children."

Another reference took me to a Celtic tradition, were trees are looked at as a source of hope and wisdom, symbolizing the cycle of renewal and birth. Well, I will leave you with the poem I shared at our holiday party:

Solstice

dawn creeps in

crystal clear

intrepid

yet

calm

endings

become

beginnings

savor this juncture

for the road ahead

is long

and arduous

but in this moment

all things

are possible

International Speech Contest – Thursday, March 8, 2007
Lexington Toastmasters Club is holding our very own International Speech Contest! This one leads all the way up to the crowning of the "World Champion of Public Speaking" which is awarded to the final winner at the annual international conference which is held each year in August.

So, how about you? We want you to consider this worthwhile experience, remember the contest aspect adds a whole other dimension to public speaking. We are looking for about 6 contestants with an original speech of 5-7 minutes. Call or email Duncan Stewart today to save your spot, remember, you don’t even have to be funny in this one!

We will use a similar format to the humorous contest, blocking off the entire meeting to allow up to 6 contestants. Every attendee will be a judge (if you are late however, you may not vote and will be disqualified from any judging) and all evaluations will be done privately after the meeting.

"Speak-Out" – Monday, January 22, 2007

If you have never attended any speak-outs, now is the time! We usually get in 6 speeches and 2 table topic sessions. Please use this opportunity to invite your colleagues, family and friends. This is our show and tell, an excellent way to spread the word what we are all about!

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.

Accolades:
Again, we thank Kumiko Suzuki for organizing a lovely light lunch during our Holiday meeting. It was good to see so many of you; it made it fun. Mary Roberts, our Toastmaster for the day, ran a shorter meeting and led us through festive activities with rounds conducted by Carolyn Kingston with famous guitar player Arthur Fox, a Jingle Bells song with real, antique jingle bells, and recorder music provided by Mary and Rudi Scheiber-Kurtz.

Duncan Stewart was given an “Outstanding Toastmasters Award” by our president for the committed role as VP of Education. Next time you send him a request email, take a minute and thank him. It is truly the hardest officer position one can hold, especially in a club as active as ours. We are fortunate to have his talent and humor.

Club Stats:

Attendance at our noon meetings ranges between 18 -30 members and guests.
Hall of Famers for the past six months are Suzanne Kellner-Zinck and Rudi Scheiber-Kurtz who finished the Advanced Communicator Bronze. Congratulations! You want to be a Hall of Famer? Simple, just finish a set of ten speeches and bingo!!

Snow Day Policy:

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.

Calendar:

Saturday, Jan 20 8:30am - 1:00pm
Club Officer Training – see 31district link
Monday, Jan 22 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Speak-Out, Cary Library, Lexington
Thursday, Mar 8 12noon – 1:00pm

International Speech contest

December 2006 Newsletter

2006-12-10T13:04:00.000-05:00

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

November 2006 Newsletter

2006-10-10T13:53:00.000-05:00

Dear Lexington Toastmasters,

The days are getting noticeably shorter and it seems that naturally we are settling down to be inside and start planning our holiday season. This is our third newsletter and I am s-l-o-w-l-y getting a hold of how to produce it, but I must admit, the final product is pretty cool, so I think it is worth spending the time on it up front.

October was a busy month for Lexington Toastmasters! We had of course the "Humorous Speech Contest" where I ended up third place in the third round. I shared with you earlier the feedback I got from one of the seasoned Toastmasters who said that you always should know your audience! Well of course he is right, but..... upon my reflections of this feedback I had to write down some of my own thoughts, and yes, with a chuckle. I thought I would share a few with you. To bring you into context, I spoke about "Zoomer Woman" and the frustrations in finding stylish clothing for a woman my age. Here are some of my reflections:

Should I be kept in the dark when talking about slits in dresses and guys not understanding the meaning of that? Aren't slits designed so that guys can adore them?
Who mostly describes women as rubenesque and wearing frumpy suits? Men or Women?
Do men not understand the 3-dimensional shape of a woman, really?!!

Okay, so maybe the audience should have been more of a metrosexual one for my speech, as one of our endearing Toastmasters pointed out, but I really did not have a choice! Needless to say, it was a fun experience and I really, really learned something from this process. Gentlemen, watch out for my next speech, you will be properly addressed!

In October, we also had our first party of the year! We had a great turnout, close to 40 members and their guests brought wonderful food to share. Kumiko introduced a game and Carolyn sang "Amazing Grace" with Mary on the piano. We mostly laughed together. These parties are a wonderful way to get to know each other better and at a more personal level. Our next celebratory event will take place on Thursday, Dec 21 during and after our noon meeting with goodies and holiday cheer.

Now for some formalities.....

Snow Day Policy for Toastmasters Meetings
The snow policy for the Lexington Toastmasters Club is that the club will not meet on days when the Lexington Public Schools are closed due to snow. To check for school closing you may:

Check local TV stations, such as channels 4, 5 and 7, which will announce school closings on snow days.
Go to the Town of Lexington website and click on Public Schools in the left column. That page should indicate whether or not schools are closed.
Call the Lexington Schools at 781-861-2580. This number will have recorded information about school closings.

"Speak-Outs"
This upcoming event will take place on Wed, Nov 29th downstairs at the Cary Memorial Library in Lexington from 7:00-9:00pm. You still have an opportunity to participate in this event. Please email Duncan Stewart and let him know how you would like to take part.

Accolades
Many thanks to David Carnes for introducing the idea of contests to our club, starting with the Humorous Speech contest. Several Lexington Toastmasters also participated in the follow-on contests as timers, counters and judges. What a nice representation of our club, thank you to all. Kudos go to Peter Deng for videotaping our own contest. If you are interested in a DVD, please contact me.

Our party planner and organizer Kumiko Suzuki deserves many accolades for her stellar know-how in preparing and running a party! She did not leave any i's undotted and any t's uncrossed! Heartfelt thanks go to Kumiko and her husband who made the party so successful and easy going throughout the evening.

Special thanks go to Eric Shen, our treasurer, who mastered the monumental task of "Dues Collector" during the month of September. It is no small task to collect from over 50 members in a limited timeframe. Congratulations for keeping our club in excellent standing.

Hall of Famers 2005-2006
Congratulations to the following Toastmasters who completed specific programs last year:

CTM (now CC) - Eric Shen, Steve Silva and Kumiko Suzuki
CL - Christine Pinney and Steve Silva
ATMB - Carolyn Kingston

Many of you are working on completing one or two programs this year. If you have any questions in terms of which track you should consider or how to best move forward, feel free to give me a call. I also have a pocket guide to the new Educational System which I will continue to hand out in the upcoming meetings.

Calendar

Sat, Nov 11 Fall Conference, District 31 at Bentley College in Waltham, MA - see District31 link in the right column for more information and to register.

Thu, Nov 23 THANKSGIVING DAY - no meeting

Wed, Nov 29 "Speak-Out" at Cary Library in Lexington
7:00-9:00pm

October 2006 Newsletter

2006-10-09T20:54:00.000-05:00

Dear Lexington Toastmasters,

Now that we are all settled back into our fall routines, many cleaned up our gardens, or "put it to sleep" as my mother would call it, you may have closed all the windows and turned on the heat! The days are getting noticably shorter; all signs of Fall. At Toastmasters however, we manage to keep quite a buzz around our activities, our members and yes, our upcoming party!

Party - Saturday, Oct 14th at 7pm!
Not signed up yet, it is not too late! Call Kumiko Suzuki at 617-484-3720 home or 617-347-2673 cell. Join us for good food and good company!

"Speak-Outs"
The month of September was indeed a busy month for Toastmasters. We organized another "Speak-Out" where six members gave speeches. Our next event will be on Wednesday, November 29th at 7pm downstairs at Cary Library in Lexington. Sign up for a speech or help out with one of the tasks by emailing Duncan Stewart at f.duncan.stewart@gmail.com

Accolades
Mev Barton, our Sergeant at Arms, created "Name Card Tents" for everyone. This makes it easy to address all club members and guests appropriately and if you have been lingering for a while and may not know the new members, the name cards will help you. Thank you Mev for keeping up with this task; it makes the club very professional!

Accolades go to our five contestants who participated in our first Humorous Speech contest:

Robert Isenberg - Dilip Mathur - Rudi Scheiber-Kurtz -
Steve Silva - Duncan Stewart

The combination of contest and humor brought the speech delivery to a higher level of public speaking for most of us. Stay tuned for additional constests in the near future!

The winner, me!, went on competing against two other clubs early October and won that competition. I will be representing the club on Tuesday, October 24th in Westford for the next round of competition.

My speech is called "Zoomer Woman", a better definition of the boomer age! I hope some of you can attend this contest, not only for some good laughs, but also for assisting with the event as timer, judge and counter. Send David Carnes an email at david@opfocus.com if you are able!

Club Stats:
Nationality:
Our club represents many countries, in fact over one third of membership has moved to this country as the first generation. They represent the following countries:

China - India - Japan - Turkey - Finland - Former Soviet Union -
Norway - Sweden - Switzerland

Speech Backlog:
Our backlog for speech availability has shortened from a ten week waiting period to a 5 week wait, a fifty percent reduction. This means that the opportunity is upon you to schedule your next speech; we will not disappoint you!

Calendar:
Saturday, Oct 14 (7pm) Party at Rudi's House
Tuesday, Oct 24 (7pm) Humorous Speech contest, Westford Library
Saturday, Nov 11 (10am) Fall Conference, Bentley College, Waltham - see district link
Wednesday, Nov 29 (7pm) "Speak-Out" at Cary Memorial Library, Lexington

Photo:
A Monarch Butterfly and Bee feeding on Wild Mint in Vermont, by RSK in October 2006!
Click on the picture to enlarge!

September 2006 Newsletter

2006-09-15T20:52:00.000-05:00

Dear Lexington Toastmasters,

With much excitement I introduce you to our very first newsletter! We are a growing club and want to keep communications as open as possible. We want to make sure that some of you "part-timers" feel included, know what's happening and will be enticed enough to return soon!

First, some interesting club stats:

current membership is at 56
we have 4 speak-outs planned, 2 in the fall and 2 in the spring
given the weekly meetings and other speaking opportunities we will be scheduling around 150 speeches this year
5 Lexington Toastmsters officers attended fall training
we plan at least 2 social events and some informal meeting celebrations to get to know each other better

On the membership side, we have had the pleasure of several "Ice Breaker" speeches in the last few weeks, including by Joel Bernstein, Galina Pekurovskaya, Gail Ferreira and David Du.

Our very own David Carnes, past president, has been elected area Lt. Governor for our district. He will be in charge of 4-5 clubs, including ours! We are indeed lucky to have such talent available.

Talking about socials, Kumiko Suzuki is planning our next fall party! If you have not yet responded, please reply to her lovely Evite and let her know what you would like to bring. The event is planned for Saturday, 14 October at 7pm and is somewhat of a potluck. We encourage you to bring your spouse, partner and friend!

Enjoy the warmer weather!

Rudi Scheiber-Kurtz, President, Lexington Toastmasters Club

Calendar for September:

Mon 18 Sept "Speak-Out" at Cary Library Lexington 7-9pm

Thu 28 Sept Humorous Speech Contest Lexington 12noon

Fri 29 Sept Comedy Night in Dedham at 7pm see Distr 31 link on right for more information