Pre-Meeting Advice from Ray (to our guest Denise, after Fred encouraged/pressured/browbeat her to participate in Table Topics): “The best way to deal with Fred is to ignore him.”

Hastily recruited Toastmaster Ray took charge of the meeting and introduced the various roles. Videographer Steve made quite an impression.

Opener Barney gave us a historical view of the expression “In Like a Lion, out like a lamb” – the basis was the sign Leo (Lion) coming in on March 1, and going out at the end of the month.

Michelle spoke from the Storytelling Advanced Manual – Bringing History to Life. She told a mesmerizing tale of the Tsavo Lion in 1898.

Melissa also spoke from the Storytelling Advanced Manual. Melissa was telling the Folk Tale, the story of the Princess and the Pea, by Hans Christian Anderson. Melissa had us wrapped up in this well-known tale.

Table Topic Master James played the part of a person not from around here, and not familiar with the “local customs”. He had a number of scenarios and traditions that he asked us to explain……some better known than others, some better explained than others……Steve K took Ray’s technique of taking a table topic assigned to someone else as his answer to his question. Guest Erin bravely took a Table Topic and did quite well.

Toastmaster Ray changed the usual sequence a bit in the Evaluation portion of the meeting – General Evaluator Dale will not be the “MC” for this section; he will instead focus on the general evaluation. This is something that Ray has seen done elsewhere, and gives more focus to the overall evaluation.

Julie evaluated Michelle, Richard evaluated Melissa, Cindy had some interesting comments as Grammarian, and first time GE Dale had useful comments about the meeting and the evaluations.

As Toastmaster, and noting that there were 3 guests, Ray was more explanatory than perhaps is usual of the various facets of the meeting.

Ballot Counter Patrick had an amusing way of announcing the winners:

Best Table Topic to Steve K

Best Evaluator to Richard R

Most Improved Speaker to Michelle and Melissa (tie)

Toast of the Day to our impromptu Toastmaster Ray.

Area 23 contest is this Saturday at 1:30 at the Northgate Library. Please come to to support Karin (speaker)and Melissa (evaluator).
Steve was llooking for new space for his acpuncture practive, and succeeded. This past Monday he was in a negotiation about the space, and found that Table Topics was a HUGE help.
Dues are due.
Richard R
Club Secretary