Tri-County Toastmasters #5682

Tri-County Toastmasters Club Vice-President Todd Austin welcomed a special guest dignitary at the 9-17-09 meeting, Toastmasters Area 1 Governor Joann York.

The Tri-County Toastmasters club met on Thursday 9-17-09 at the Virden Area Community Center. A special guest in attendance was Toastmasters Area 1 Governor Joann York, who was conducting her official area visit to the Tri-County Club. It was also announced during business that Macoupin County will be hosting a special Toastmasters Division Humorous Speech contest on the morning of 10-24-09 at the Carlinville Best Western. This event will be free and open to the public.

Casey Tom served as the meeting’s master of ceremonies. Liz Mollett conducted the Tabletopics (the impromptu speaking portion of the program). Each participant gave an impromptu response (from 1 to 2 minutes) to a different question.

The evening’s two prepared speaker were Jim Blankenship from New Berlin and Todd Austin. Both are working from Toastmasters Advanced Communications manuals. One of the projects from the Public Relations manual called the ‘Radio Talk Show’ requires a talk show host to have a talk show guest on his program. Show host Herd Knightly (played by Jim Blankenship) first introduced Dr. Todd Austin from Austin Family Chiropractic in Virden as his special guest. Austin, who has been helping his patient’s to quit smoking since 2006 by using auriculotherapy (ear acupuncture without needles) then gave advice to the listeners about how to best prepare one’s self to give up nicotine in a prepared 4-minute presentation. Knightly and Austin then wrapped up the broadcast with a 3-minute question and answer session. The special presentation was evaluated by Area Governor Joann York.

The Tri-County Toastmasters club met on 9-3-09 at the Virden Area Community Center. Jim Blankenship was the evening’s Toastmaster (or master of ceremonies). Liz Mollett served as the Tabletopicmaster, who coordinated the impromptu speaking portion of the program. During tabletopics, each participant gave a 1 to 2 minute unrehearsed response to a different question.

The evening’s prepared speaker was Casey Tom. Tom, a CPA, was giving only his second speech as a member of Toastmasters. His speech was called “Manufacturing The American Dream” and was about the city of Detroit, MI. Casey, who grew up near the auto factories as a child gave examples of Detroit then and now in a very informative and entertaining presentation. Les Apps evaluated Casey’s speech.