Meeting 683 Apr 29 09
Double DTM
Our 4 Double DTMs
Distinguished Toastmaster – DTM – is the highest award in Toastmasters. It requires a lot of work in both the club and in administrative work in the broader Toastmaster community. Some members, having completed their first DTM, go on to do another one, or even more than that. In the 165 clubs in District 73 – that’s Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia – there are 6 members who have done this. 4 of them – that’s right, 4 of the 6 – are members in our Club.
Last night we honoured Mark Richards DTM who has just achieved his second award.
Mark Williamson was Toastmaster.
Mark Williamson
Mark applied himself with great energy in his first try at this demanding role. The meeting ran smoothly with no hitches. Early on he had a few stumbles with introducing speakers smoothly and convincingly, but when that was overcome it was plain sailing.
Lee gave the Inspiration.
She told us about Susan Boyle, the 47 year old single Irish woman, who starred in a singing talent show and has become enormously popular through postings on UTube. Susan sang I dreamed a dream from Les Miserables, inspiring Lee.
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Tony Obrzut
Tony presented Table Topics
He took us through scenarios based on encounters with aliens.
Alan’s question was Are there aliens among us? Yes there are – the strange people who belong to Toastmaster Clubs, working on public speaking skills.
Visitor John What would he say to the first alien he met? John had plenty to say – he would discuss suitable dress codes, how to communicate by email and other important matters to humans.
Visitor Michelle Who is to blame for the Global Financial Crisis? Michelle doubted that aliens would be very interested in financial crises, but if they were, she would like their advice on what to do about it.
Colin Simon What is the solution to the world food crisis? Colin felt sure aliens would suggest we adopt scientific production methods using Genetically Modified food crops.
Lee How would she explain to aliens that Startrek is actually just a movie, and not reality? Well, she would try hard, but actually she is not convinced it isn’t reality.
Mark Hamilton Is human cloning the way of the future? The aliens definitely think so, and so does Mark. He felt that if our meeting group could be cloned then the world’s problems would be sorted out.
Alan presented the Tonic. He has been reading some crazy ads collected in the New Scientist magazine.
Mark Richards presented the Table Topics Evaluation.
The prepared speeches
Gail Jenkins
Gail believes It’s Time to Talk About Alcohol. She gave her proposal – that each person present should become an agent for change in the community’s attitude to and use/misuse of alcohol, by taking action in our sphere of influence. She outlined the worsening situation with younger groups becoming addicted to alcohol. She dealt with the. problems resulting from this. Gail ended with a stirring call to action. Personal freedom is a great thing, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of the rest of the community.
Colin Hughes evaluated Gail.
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Peta Anderson
Peta’s’s CC6 – Vocal Variety – speech was titled Gold Star.
Peta read to us a powerful poem by Australian poet Bruce Simpson. She chose to sit on a chair and read from there. The story was about a dramatic event on a droving trip. A fearful storm broke over the herd during the night. Gold Star was the 12 year old mare ridden by Dave. As the riders tried to head the herd off from running over a steep bank into the river, Dave came off, but Gold Star knew the procedure and did the job herself, but at the cost of her own life.
David evaluated Peta.
Peter Law
Peter’s Icebreaker speech was titled Forks in the road.
Peter gave us a series of snapshots of crucial times in his life when he had to decide what to do, and the result was important. The first was at 17 when, encouraged by his father, he went into the Army. The next was in the Army when he switched to the SAS. Then he married, and had 3 days for his honeymoon. Then a very important event – he was severely injured on a training drill. But he recovered and went into Admin, to work behind a desk. Fatherhood had a big impact on his life. He left the Army for a while. Now he is back in a way as a public servant, serving the Army. The last fork – joining Toastmasters. Where will that lead?
Neville evaluated Peter.
Glenis Nicholas
Glenis’s CC9 speech was titled Why?.
Why have David, Alan and Glenis remained in Victoria Quay for the past 14 years since it first met on Victoria Quay wharf in April 1995? Glenis outlined the benefits of being a long term member. She gave her own experience as a shy child who only spoke when spoken to, as a teacher – who are notoriously poor at public speaking, as a Lecturer who was subject, not audience, oriented, and as a Clinical Psychologist in private practice. It was Toastmasters which transformed her ability to handle public speaking opportunities. And it was through Toastmasters that she got training, practice and experience in leadership. She issued an invitation and a challenge – to stay on, to become a long term member with all the personal benefits that will accrue, and to pass on the skills to the members who will join the club down the years.
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Frank evaluated Glenis.
Diarmuid presented the Highlights.
Heljo Cameron
Heljo evaluated the evaluators.
She evaluated each of the evaluators in detail and gave each a one word summary analysis
Mark was Efficient
Colin was Analytical
David was Natural
Neville was Structured
Frank was Thorough
Ayden Durrance
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Mark Hamilton gave his first Timing Report.
Ayden evaluated the meeting.
President Gail closed the meeting.
Gail honoured Mark Richards for achieving his second Distinguished Toastmaster Award – the DTM. She pointed out that among the 165 clubs in our District 73, there are only 6 members who have achieved more than one DTM. And four of them were from Victoria Quay and present this night.
She presented David with a copy certificate for the presentation of Life Membership in the club, awarded the previous meeting.
She got feedback from our 3 visitors, Michelle, John and Jenny. She closed the meeting with the usual request for members to replace chairs and table in their standard positions, before sharing in the supper.
Gail prepared the supper.