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 Attention members and guests! We're moving our meeting tonight only!
This is a reminder to our members and a notice to our potential guests and diginitaries that our regular meeting on July 1, 2010, is being moved to the home of now-Immediate Past President Steve Patterson in Richardson. What ever for, you ask? Why, it’s none other than the venue for our club's traditional, semi-annual, officer-installation dinner party!
At the beginning of the installation ceremony around 6:45 or so, the officers will be recognized for their service to the club for the past six-month term—three have served for 12 months; they will then be officially dismissed from their constitutional duties. Then, the incoming officers (except one who happens to be on the other side of the world right now) will each be inducted by an appropriate District 50 officer to serve Toastmasters Club #713 for the term of July 1 through December 31, 2010. (Joseph P., you get to inducted separately!) There are often other awards and recognitions that are given and announced.
We will gather at the usual time time of 6:30 p.m. but at Steve's house at 7405 Lynworth Drive, Dallas, Texas 75248. The cost is $10 per person, and it will be catered Mexican food:
Chicken & Beef fajitas
Grilled bell peppers & onions
Black beans, mashed
Rice
Corn salad
Corn & flour tortillas
Guacamole, chips
Verde & rojo sauces
Peach mango tea
Flan (dessert)
The invitation also says "Ice tea provided," but I'm not sure if that is regular tea besides the peach mango tea or not. Since it is catered and it is actually at someone's home instead of at a restaurant, it is a good idea to try to call ahead; however, there is sure to be enough. Rather than post anyone's phone number here, I refer you first to http://dallastoastmasters.com/new-officer/. Go to the Big "D" Toastmasters Club Information Webpage in Toastmasters International's Find a Club section to contact our new Vice-President for Membership Keri Boyce who can forward any necessary information. It officially runs until 8:30, but it may run later!
We will return next week (July 8) to the Princeton Grill's meeting room in the DoubleTree Hotel at Campbell Center when brand-new Competent Communicator Stew Carson will be Toastmaster of the Evening!
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| Posted by David Medart at | | | |
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Chocolate cake to celebrate the occasion of Big “D” earning its 10th DCP Point!
Congratulations, Big “D” Toastmasters upon becoming a President's Distinguished Club for the fifth straight year and at least Distinguished for at least six consecutive years! But, especially congratulations for achieving the DCP “Perfect 10” for the third year in a row and for 4 out of the last 5 years!
Those who made this possible (besides, of course, Vice-President for Education Linda Martin and President Steve Patterson):
1) Two Competent Communicators: Derek Weinbrenner (8/6/2009) and Melody Hudson (9/17/2009)
2) Two more Competent Communicators: Jonathan Wood (1/28/2010) and Stew Carson (6/17/2010)
3) One Advanced Communicator: Angelo Pereira, Advanced Communicator Bronze (ACB; 6/24/2010)
4) Another Advanced Communicator: Eric Dyson, Advanced Communicator Gold (ACG; 6/24/2010)
5) One Leadership award: Renita Boykin, Competent Leader (CL; 8/27/2009)
6) Another Leadership award: Renita Boykin, Advanced Leader Bronze (ALB; 9/1/2009)
7) Four new members: Achieved September 24, 2009
8) At least four more new members: Achieved October 15, 2009, and sixteen more through May 27, 2010, plus a dual member.
9) At least four officers trained (both terms): 100% officers trained as of August 8, 2009, and February 13, 2010.
10) Semiannual membership report and one club officer list submitted on time (either term): Achieved with both as of September 25, 2009, but also both done again as of March 17, 2010!
Way to go, Big “D”! You really Made It Happen in 2009-2010!
— David Medart, Secretary (July-December 2009, April-June 2010)
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Newly earned and awarded: Angelo Pereira, ACB, and Eric Dyson, ACG, ALB
In one big double-whammy, at the regular meeting of the Big “D” Toastmasters Club on Thursday, June 24, 2010, Angelo Pereira earned his Advanced Communicator Bronze award (ACB) and Eric Dyson earned his Advanced Communicator Gold award (ACG)!! Wow! Not only are ACGs not completed very often, but if must be quite unusual—especially among clubs that are not advanced—to have two of its members complete the requirements for advanced communication educational awards in the same evening. On top of that, these two gentlemen have now been members of Big “D” the 8th and 9th longest.
It is so very appropriate for these two particular members of Big “D” to do this: Eric was our vice-president for education for the terms of July 2007-June 2008, with the motto of Big “D” Toastmasters—“A Perfect 10”—which we achieved the week ending May 23, 2008, and with five weeks left in the year!
Meanwhile, Angelo was club secretary for January-December 2007, and was recognized as Outstanding Club Secretary in District 50 for July-Dec. 2007. He followed Eric as VPE for July 2008-July 2009. With Angelo's astute guidance, we again earned the DCP “Perfect 10” the week ending June 12, 2009.
What a journey Angelo took us on in two speeches from The Entertaining Speaker manual, “The Long Road to Constantinople” on June 10 and its sequel “The Longer Road to Brunei”! Eric conducted an outstanding workshop with us for the Success/Leadership program “How to Conduct an Effective Meeting.” Eric went past his scheduled time but was voted Outstanding Toastmaster of the Meeting.
Congratulations to you both, and thanks again for all you have both done for Big “D” these last four years!
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| Posted by David Medart at | | | |
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During Keri Boyce's evaluation of Eric Dyson's presentation
The regular meeting of the Big “D” Toastmasters on June 24, 2010, was called to order at 6:29 p.m. President-elect Diane Kirksey, ATMB, CL, give the inspiration and led the Pledge of Allegiance, and then Vice-President for Membership Chase Miller took over at 6:32 as presiding officer and Toastmaster of the Evening. The minutes of the previous meeting were not read.
Chase entertained and educated us on the theme of “Old School” for about ten minutes; occasionally throughout the evening, he successfully engaged us in audience participation.
Table Topicsmaster Jim Wolff, CTM, was enthusiastically welcomed to the lectern by the club in its customary manner and then asked questions of four speakers who were anything but passé. Angelo Pereira, CC, then gave his sequel to “The Long Road to Constantinople,” telling us how his intercontinental wedding and reception concluded in “The Longer Road to Brunei.” After the break, Eric Dyson, ACS, ALB, led in his distinct way the program from the Success/Leadership Series called “How to Conduct an Effective Meeting,” especially a business meeting. General Evaluator Victoria Perez oversaw the individual evaluations by Mac McAdams and Keri Boyce, CC, and then quite effectively evaluated the entire meeting.
The meeting’s awards went to Linda Martin, CTM, for Best Table Topic, Angelo Pereira for Best Prepared Speaker, Keri Boyce for Best Evaluation, and Eric Dyson for Outstanding Toastmaster of the Meeting. Angelo and Eric were especially recognized for have just become an Advanced Communicator Bronze and an Advanced Communicator Gold, respectively! Big “D” accomplishing the resulting “Perfect 10” in the Distinguished Club Program (DCP) was then celebrated with cake and great fanfare. With the meeting now running a little behind, Vice-President for Education gave abbreviated thanks to everyone who made it happen. This makes three straight years Big “D” has achieved the DCP “Perfect 10” and for 4 of the last 5 years! It also makes us a President's Distinguished Club for the fifth straight year.
Our guests were Clint, Shawnda Corker, former member Doris Bobo for the second time, Big “D” friend Wanda Campbell, and Past President Melody Hudson. The meeting ended at 8:35 p.m., and a very good time was had by all.
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About an hour and a half after the last meeting of District 50's 2009-2010 Executive Committee, Town Norh and Vista Divisions hosted what became more of a "mini"-speech-a-thon, apparently because so many of the clubs and areas in those divisions have already achieved the most goals in the district. Two scheduled speakers didn't show up, but two others of us did. As we got underway, a third speaker arrived.
Jon Ball, a member of Eagles and Metrocrest, gave a speech called “I'm a Bookie,” which at first seemed a curious title for Competent Communication manual Project #9—Persuade With Power. After his rather humorous opening, we realized he wasn't admitting to being a gambling bookmaker but rather is an avid reader of books in any form. Effectively using his trademark humor throughout, he persuasively encouraged us to read as much as we can, also.
I didn't have as much time to organize my thoughts as I did the week before, but I spoke on "Perseverance and Toastmasters” for CC Project #7—Research Your Topic. Metro Division Governor Denise Cothern thought of the title since I couldn't think of one. I spoke on the historical impact of Toastmasters, beginning with the reason Ralph Smedley started his first Toastmasters club in 1905 at age 27. It took 19 years for his concept to catch on because each of the first 3 clubs he started failed less than a year after he was promoted away. The histories of Toastmasters, District 25, and District 50 are fascinating and explain why T.I. is what it is now. In 85 years, the organization has grown from one group of men to more than 250,000 Toastmasters worldwide.
We agreed that the third speaker was the best because her speech inspired us to overcome obstacles in life and was so well-phrased and organized. (I apologize, but I don't remember her name or her speech's title.) I think someone suggested she could improve it and use in next year's International Speech Contest.
Jon and I evaluated each other's speeches; Vista Division Governor Millicent Godfrey hosted the event and evaluated the third speaker. Denise was the timer; and Area 62 Governor Georgia Wargetz evaluated in our CL manuals the speech evaluations by Jon and myself. The Toastmaster of the Speech-a-thon I believe is a member of a club in Vista Division.
This finally made it possible for me to achieve CC by June 30 but still with no guarantee; it also put Jon one speech closer to making Eagles Toastmasters at least a Select Distinguished Club.
Thank you, Denise, Danni, Millicent, and Town North Division Governor Debra Sanford for wanting to wanting give speakers additional chances to help their clubs complete their DCP communication goals! I hope these become annual events!
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 This is the first of three with pictures taken at the last meeting of District 50's 2009-2010 Executive Committee. (The district's Senior Three is the district governor, the lieutenant governor for education and training, and the lieutenant governor for marketing. The Senior Seven in District 50 is the Senior 3 plus the public relations officer, secretary, treasurer, and immediate past district governor. The Executive Committee is made up of the Senior 7 plus all the division and area governors in the district.) This was the last EC meeting for me as governor of the current Area 33 in Metro Division; our own Danni Babik was there as incoming LGET and spent a lot of time finalizing the TLI Kick-off's schedule and planning ahead for the Fall 2010 contest season.
The first picture includes Jerry Caspell (currently Area 43 governor and incoming Plains Division governor) facing away. Facing the camera were Area 65 Governor Alan Balthrop (first-year wonder club Timberglen—including DCP “Perfect 10” less than 12 months after chartering—was in his area), Immediate Past District Governor Les Guse, Area 35 Gov. Sally McKelvey, Area 32 Gov. Lee King, and Area 62 Gov. Georgia Wargetz. In the second picture, incoming Area 31 Asst. Gov. Zhanat Elliston was sitting next to Lee King (current Area 32 gov. and next Area 31 gov.) who is talking to Sally with Les to her right; across is Metro Division Governor Denise Cothern with Area 31 Asst. Gov. Tim Pike to her right.
At the bottom, we continued a tradition of celebrating the birthdays since the previous EC meeting. Singing "Happy Birthday" with the rest of us, L to R: District 50 Secretary and Spring 2010 Conference Chair Patty Kim, Area 35 Gov. Sally McKelvey, Area 32 Gov. Lee King, Sergeant-at-Arms Tracey Lynn Ditter, Southern Division Gov. Tracie Henderson, Hospitality Chair Frances Guse (who brought the cake), incoming Area Gov. Lisette Cumberland, incoming Metro Division Governor Joseph Díaz, and District 50 Governor Paulette Harvey.
   
Lunch break and celebrating May-June birthdays
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Brandon Holloway, Stew Carson, Jennifer Huch,
and Brenna Smith during general evaluation
Meeting's Best Speaker Brenna Smith, Sergeant-at-Arms-elect
Jennifer Huch, and President Steve Patterson after the meeting
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The regular meeting of the Big “D” Toastmasters on June 17, 2010, was called to order at 6:30 p.m. with a quorum being present and Vice-President for Education Linda Martin presiding. With the person scheduled for the inspiration absent, Sergeant-at-Arms Frank Kozel promptly led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The business session started at 6:33, and John Sessions immediately moved that the minutes of the previous meeting not be read, which was seconded; by voice vote, this motion was overwhelmingly defeated. The minutes of the previous meeting were then approved as read. Treasurer Victoria Perez asked us once again to help with end of the meeting housekeeping. President Steve Patterson then announced the officer-installation dinner party and meeting will be on July 1 at his house and will be catered; details will follow. The business session ended at 6:42 with only Cliff Hutchinson’s unresolved motion as unfinished business.
Frank Kozel served as first-time Toastmaster of the Evening with the theme of “Honoring Our Fathers on Father’s Day.” First-time Table Topicsmaster Jennifer Huch had time to ask questions of no less than six impromptu speakers. Prepared speeches were given by Vicky Tamez, President-elect Diane Kirksey, Brenna Smith, and Stew Carson. General Evaluator Steve Patterson managed the speech evaluations by Chase Miller, Essam El-Beik, Mac Smith, and John Sessions, and then evaluated the entire meeting.
 The meetings awards were:
Best Table Topic—John Lawson
Best Prepared Speech—Brenna Smith
Best Speech Evaluation—Mac Smith
Outstanding Toastmaster of the Meeting—Jennifer Huch.
Stew Carson was also recognized for having just become the club's latest Competent Communicator.
Our guests were Craig Hargrove, Hunter Williams, former member Doris Bobo, Michelle Oh for the second time, and Big “D” friend Wanda Campbell. The meeting ended at 8:35 p.m., and a good time was had by all.
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