Tri-County Toastmasters #5682

The Tri-County Toastmasters club met on Thursday 11-2-06 at the Virden Area Community Center. Club members present at Thursday’s meeting were: Dr. Todd Austin, Jim Blankenship from New Berlin, John Davidson, Rev. Ron Grimes, Liz Mollett, Marcia Osterholt, Alan Saeger, Michelle Suslee and Billy Watkins.

Todd Austin served as the Master of Ceremonies of the meeting. Billy Watkins conducted the impromptu speaking portion of the program, during which she asked each participant a different question. Each participant then delivered a one to two minute response.

Three prepared speakers addressed the club at Thursday’s meeting. Liz Mollett from Auburn gave an informative speech about the benefits of wind power (ie, energy supplied by wind turbines). John Davidson delivered an inspirational speech. The club’s newest member Michelle Suslee, also gave her first ever prepared Toastmasters speech, which was entitled “What I’ve Learned”.

The Toastmasters club will next meet on Thursday November 16, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Center at 105 West Jackson Street in Virden. The scheduled speakers for next meeting are Marcia Osterholt and John Davidson. “It’s always exciting to have a new member deliver their first speech (called an ‘icebreaker’) as Michelle Suslee did at the most recent meeting. This helps to reinforce what a Toastmasters club is all about: helping area residents to improve and fine-tune their communication and leadership skills” states club vice-president Todd Austin. For more information about the Toastmasters program, please call (217) 965-3100.