Capitol Toastmasters

Quarterly Newsletter January 2010

Tim Owens

Editor

Shana Knox

Photographer

This year in Capitol Toastmasters wound down with a potluck before the holidays in December 2009. In attendance where many of the usual members of our club and Khala from “AZ You Like It” Toastmasters.

Although the picnic social put on by Leigh and Shana was the big event of the last six months, we had this year’s year-end potluck and we were invited - and a couple of us attended - a get together at Oaxaca restaurant by “AZ you like it” Toastmasters. Finally, speech competitions, and leadership training events put on by Toastmasters International allowed us to meet those from other clubs.

Left to Right:
Our honored guest Khala from
AZ you like it Toastmasters and
Capitol Toastmasters primary social
event organizers Shana and Leigh.

At 7am in the morning, who needs coffee with the exhilarating personalities of those in attendance at the annual Capitol Toastmasters holiday season potluck? As you enter the room, most of the members greet you, a few shake your hand and the conversation is cheery – kind of like Cheers less the alcohol and everybody does know your name.

Through the weeks at Capitol Toastmasters, you get to know everyone through extemporaneous talks – and like it or not – they get to know you. These talks teach you to talk on your feet. When you’re thinking quickly you don’t have a lot of time to edit your response – although you’ll get better at that.

Left to Right:
Len, Girgis, Tim, Bill and Manish.
After discussing the
Capitol Toastmasters
events of the year
and prospects for the
future take time out to
pose for a snapshot.

Just good friends enjoying each other’s company, we talked about the last six month’s events at Capitol Toastmasters: good times, good speeches, and interesting impromptus. As more food from the members began to come in, it became clear that we would probably only finish 80% of what was there. So we talked and ate, exchanged information, continued to build friendships and entertained ourselves for an hour. This was fun, but too short so we looked forward to the next picnic social event where we would have plenty of time to eat, play volleyball and have a good time.

Discussions revolved around the holidays, past events and the future of our club. Among the prospects we discussed were the following:

Future Prospects

Speed leadership experience and qualifications for Capitol Toastmaster members for those who desire it. This can be achieved through better tracking – a matrix we developed – and some member assistance. More efficient attainment should allow members to reach higher levels of expertise through the advanced leadership manuals to as far as DTM - the ultimate Toastmaster achievement.

Left to Right: Murari, Roger, Lydia, Leigh and Sarker gather around the Toastmasters table in the Arizona Room of ADOT.

Left to Right: Steve and Heather up
to shenanigans no doubt

Increase the opportunity for social events and so good times. Leigh and Shana have been behind our social events of late and this should continue through June 2010. A couple of us have gone to an “Az You Like it” Toastmasters event and Khala from that club has come to one of ours.

Pictured above are Khala (right) and Shana, our two Crazy Santa Hat Contest winners – Khala for Creative Originality and Shana for Classic Style. Both lent their own brand of fun and merriment to the festivities.	Left to Right: Roger and Lydia caught by the camera mid-conversation

We’ve tossed around the possibility of more involvement of Capitol Toastmasters in community events – giving back to the community. Shana initiated participation in the Strides against Breast Cancer 5k run and a couple of Toastmasters participated. Blood donation, and other charity runs came up as future events. The possibility of getting involved in competitions other than speaking such as volleyball, 5ks, 10ks, hiking or cycling to be posted on our web site to develop a more rounded experience as a club.

Left to Right: Manish and Shana. Both enjoy the festivities although it’s difficult to say what Shana is smiling about	Left to Right: Murari and Roger: Although it’s difficult to say what these two are discussing, it’s not hard to see that it must be very amusing – at least to Murari.


Fall 2009 in Retrospect: *Change of President* We lost our president, James Young as a change in his geographic location made it difficult to make the meetings. One of the best things I remember about James was his positive attitude and a leadership style which incorporated a philosophy of “having fun”. We’ll miss the great volleyball games we had with James at the social events that Leigh and Shana are so great at planning but I hope he can at least make future events of this type. I know that Leigh, the new president will live up to the tradition that James has brought to Capitol Toastmasters “to have fun” while improving our skills. I’m sure that all of us will help her to make Capitol Toastmasters one of the most enjoyable clubs in which to improve our skills in the state.

Leigh, the newly-elected president of Toastmasters is sitting down to enjoy a well-deserved meal.	Left to Right: Leigh, Steve and Heather discussing the days events as well as events for the future

*Fall 2009 Individual Accomplishments* Leigh won the 2009 humorous speech contest. Girgis completed his Advanced Communication Silver (ACS) designation Bill and Murari completed their Competent Communicator (CC) designation Sarker and Tim should have their Competent Leader (CL) designation completed by the end of February 2010 *Memorable Speeches* Girgis delivered the most speeches this last six months as he drove to achieve his Advanced Communications Silver designation. Many of his speeches were of a technical nature and very interesting but we look forward to getting a greater variety of speeches in 2010 from all our members.

Left to Right: Murari, Roger, Girgis, Lydia, Sarker, Tim, Manish. As the potluck goes on, everyone seems intent on the current topic of conversation.	Left to right: Len, Tim and Bill seem intent on the conversation across the room

Through it all, we did our best to maintain the original theme from James Young of “having fun” while improving our skills and plan on continuing and even accelerating that trend into the future. With that, all of us at Capitol Toastmasters wish you a happy and successful 2010.

Steve and Heather talk over breakfast as the potluck winds down.	There’s still plenty of food by the end of the potluck. I’m sure those who work in each members department will appreciate the leftovers.