Meeting Summaries

February 06, 2003
Thanks to Phil Nguyen ATM-S, CL, our Area 17 governor who aptly demonstrated how to keep our meeting flowing smoothly in the role of Toastmaster. Thanks for taking on two roles this evening, Phil. The Leadership and Communications Session was a success with involvement from guests, new members and more advanced speakers - it was a great mix. Thanks to Trish Dohlan for helping fill the agenda at last minute. She twisted the stakes in As I See It allowing volunteers to choose whether to argue for "travelling south for winter" or "staying here in Canada". She then informed the volunteers they were to argue for the opposite point of view - and they did a Fantastic Job! Lots of good reasons to head south or stay here were brought forward. Congratulations to Hassan Masum for Best As I See It. Also keeping with the wintery theme, Tina Fedeski had everyone remembering "First time winter experiences". Congratulations to Neil Hunte, who recalled his first experience with snow, cold metal surfaces and his wet tongue. One of our Canadian winter initiation rites. We had two excellent speeches. Lorna Palmer explained Knowledge Management using an example we could all identify with - how to purchase highly technical equipment like an electronic camera. Kathleen Mitchell Jensen demonstrated how to deal with a very difficult and sensitive issue in the workplace. She showed superb mediation skills in the question period keeping the atmosphere open to everyone's concerns and questions.

January 23, 2003
We had a variety of tag team approaches to last night’s meeting. Highlights include: Kirk and Nicole’s tag team approach to facilitating As I See It. (Nicole Arbour prepared for the role but wasn’t able to attend so Kirk ran with her preparation!) Neil and Wendy’s tag team approach to arguing As I See It. Dean, Trish and Wilma’s tag team approach to introducing the speakers' objectives. The entire group and Katrina’s tag team approach to announcing the winners of As I See It and Evaluations. A warm congratulations is extended to: Trish for making it through a very technical speech from the advanced manual of "Giving Technical Presentations". Wilma for presenting an eye-opening speech on the Club dues and for facilitating a questions and answer period during the business section of the meeting. The club members present overwhelming voted to approve a change in our membership fees such that everyone pays equally during the year. And let’s not forget the words of Dean Plater who told us that Wellness must be a place that has 3 steps to fulfillment: 1. We have a goal and make a plan; 2. We implement our plan; 3. We achieve our goal – ta da, we are well.

January 16, 2003
Mark Coates was the TM. He and the L&C team did a "fine" job. We were presented with knowlege, skills and the meaning of commitment by our 3 speakers. Thank you Nicole Arbour (Icebreaker) Charles Collins (on his way to CTM) and KMJ (on her way to ATM-B). Kudos to the Best Presenters - Katrina (Table Topics) Jackie (Evaluator).

January 09, 2003
Kirk Thompson facilitated a "flavor debate" on the the registration of Ice Cream by Wilma Greenley, Ron Pinder and our guest Karie Ferguson. Karie was voted as Best As I see it presenter- Congratulations Karie. Neil Hunte the Table Topics moderator posed the question "What or Who would you like to reconnet with in 2003" Nicole, Dean, Mark and Kirk took the challenge to "think on their feet" and shared some interesting examples. Congratulations to Kirk, he was voted Best Table Topics presenter. It was also a reconnecting opportunity to hear two advanced manual speeches. Mark Coates entertained us with an excellent delivery of a suspense story, using his captivating storytelling style. KMJ encouraged and motivatied us to reconnect with our priorties and vision in our day to day living and Ottawa TM. Thank you Mark and KMJ.

December 19, 2002
A Big Thanks to Anneke for suggesting the Food Donations. A real success with over 50 items donated. As usual it was another high energy meeting. The Communications and Leadership session saw great participation. Extra effort from Caroline saw her in dual roles as Grammarian and Humorist. Anneke's provocative As I See It session made us think about just how much we might really want to share with others. Congrats to Katrina as Best As I See It. Sharing stories - or rather finishing the very creative ones Wendy started as Table Topics Master - was hilarious and demonstrated OTM members impressive improve skills. Congrats Daniel, for best Table Topics for his "Rudolf works the CN Tower" story. Daniel Saunders returns to his Journalism studies at the U. of Waterloo in the new year. Best of luck! We'll miss you! We had three brilliant speeches: In Yong's Icebreaker he bravely shared his heritage, travels and challenges in life. Well Done! Tina Fedeski gave us one from the heart for her second speech with her support of school music programs. Finally, Mark Coates shared his passion for literature with a riveting reading from J.R.R.Tolkien's "The Hobbit" as part of his ATM program. Perfect!

December 05, 2002
1st time Toastmaster Caroline Bisson - managed the meeting to the minute. Smooth and savvy! Prepared and professional! Communications and Leadership 1st timers: Yong Che - Quizmaster, zoikes!, you gotta listen when he's QM; Marjolaine Dugas - Humorist, great punch line delivery; Kirk Thompson - As I See It, hilarious session on the Canadian Ice Cream Policy; Tina Fedeski - Table Topics, inspired us with inspirational life experiences of participants; Blair Powell - 2nd time Guest - participated in both Table Topics and As I See It! Formal speeches session 1st timers: Daniel Saunders - Ice Breaker Speech, impressive first speech on how he was inspired to choose a journalism career - in spite of threats from mathematicians. Dean Plater, Speech Evaluator, and winner of meeting's Best Evaluator! A core of veteran TMs supported our 1st timers; Mark Coates CTM, timer, reminded us that when we run over time we're really using someone else's time. Trish Dolhan, Grammarian, with her usual percipient understanding of the role. Wendy Bonebrake, 3rd speech, a fantastic and flavourful focus on the traditional family foods at Christmas. Special thanks to Rick Murphy DTM and Jackie Vanderliut OTM Sgt-at-Arms for jumping in as GE and evaluator, respectively.

November 21, 2002
Wendy Bonebrake is on a roll and delivered her second speech within a very short time of joining the group. Wendy, your energy and commitment is inspiratiational. Thursday evening was a night of Firsts! Andrea Harrison wowed us all by jumping in and completing her icebreaker speech only moments after hearing that we had a speaking vacancy. To have your speech, an icebreaker speech, in your back pocket and ready to pull out at a moment's notice is real power of example to all of us. Jackie Vanderluit took on the role of Toastmaster for the first time and eloquently led us through the evening. Marjolen Dugas took on the role of timer for the first time mastered the device within minutes. Nicole Arbour took on the role of quizmaster for the first time and proved to us the importance of being an effective listener. Dianne Galus challenged us in As I See It to debate if Christmas has become too commercialized. Mark Coates created some insightful responses to his question of "If we had to ability to persuade and lead people, what would be our message?" Congratulations is extended to Andrea who won the best As I See It, Michael who the best Table Topics and Trish who won the best Evaluator.

October 10, 2002
The word is out! There is no other place to be on Thursday nights but Ottawa Toastmasters! Eleven guests last night - whew! People are beginning to catch the wave! And it was a rich and engaging evening. Thanks to Stanley Paul, our Toastmaster, Jackie Vanderluit, our Timer, Charles Collins, our Quizmaster, Kirk Thompson, our Humourist, and Jenness Sealy for As I See It. Special recognition to our speakers - Tina Fedeski who delighted us with her Icebreaker speech (blimey!), Ron Pinder who gave us a name of a legal firm we will never forget (Smart and Biggar) and Trish Dohlen who sparked discussion with her presentation on the labeling of Genetically Modified Foods. Thanks as well to our Evaluators - Nicole Greaves, Rick Murphy (our GE). My personal thanks to Phil Nguyen, who was unable to attend last evening, but in a spirit of "munificence", supplied our Word of the Week and it all came together. Well done team!

October 03, 2002
With teamwork and participation the key themes, we could not but sizzle last Thursday night! From Ron Pinder, our Toastmaster; Jackie Vanderluit, our Grammarian; Tina Fedeski, our Timer; Jo-Anne Pajot, our Quizmaster; Neil Hunte, our Humourist; Stanley Paul, our As I See It Master; Phil Nguyen, our Table Topics Master; Rick Murphy, our Speaker; and Kirk Thompson our Speech evaluator - we came together as a team and did it!! It was a tremendous evening of energy, learning, and sharing. Special recognition to Rick and Jackie: to Rick for showing us all how to develop a speech in 5 minutes and to Jackie for pulling it all together. Well done!

September 05, 2002
When friends gather at Toastmaster's there is always a fun time for all. A big thank you to Nicole Greaves, our Toastmaster, for conducting a friendly, well run meeting. As usual, everyone came forward to participate. Steve Janega, a newer member, was our timer. Angela Christopher and Katrina Burton shared their meeting skills by volunteering as grammarian and quiz master. Ron Pinder challenged us in a friendly debate on the legalization of marijuana. With his experience as a DTM, Rick Murphy, shone as the debater of the evening. Kathy Mitchell Jenson used the Table Topics time to reminded us of highlights of our school days. Tina Fedeski's English girls school was the setting of a great story. However, the biggest thank you belongs to Neil Hunte, our president. He gave a lively speak on the commitment members make to their club. Neil reminded everyone of our Toastmaster's Promise: to attend meetings regularly, to give prepared speeches, to fill meeting assignments, to provide positive helpful evaluations, to help maintain a friendly environment, to bring guests, to remain honest and ethical, to treat others with respect and courtesy, to serve as a club officer, and to adhere to the rules and guidelines for all educational and recognition programs. After a friendly question and answer session on these promises, Neil then finished the evening by chairing the business session.

Meeting Summaries: January - July 2002

Meeting Summaries: August - December 2001