Relive the Moments of September

Meeting #1025 – Wednesday September 23rd 2015 (Humorous/Table Topics Speech Contest) Click Here for Photos

Chief judge Jaze Bordeaux briefed the contestants and the audience of Table Topics Contest logistics and rules.

The Table Topics Contest was overseen by Wanrudee Isaranuwatchai.

The question was “What is your favorite season and why”? Each table topics participant had the same question; the Sergeant at Arms Jean Yang brought each participant by turn in the following order:

1. Francis Silva
2. Luis Correa
3. Meaghan Johns
4. Danish Ahmed

After the fourth contestant completed his table topics, a ten-minute networking break was held.

Chief judge Jaze Bordeaux briefed the contestants and the audience of the Humorous Speech Contest logistics and rules.

Wanrudee Isaranuwatchai oversaw the Humorous Speech Contest

1. Luis Correa delivered the first humorous speech, titled Seriouly? Luis talked about how stand up comedians greatly exaggerate, jump to one topic then onto another unrelated topic and use those key elements to deliver humor.
2. Geoff Smith delivered the second humorous speech, titled The Mystery of “It”. Geoff delivered a true story about himself as a youngster, and about discovering that consenting relationships between adults were only openly named and mentioned as “it”.
3. Danish Ahmed delivered the third humorous speech titled Negative for a Reason, Normal People Scare Me. He gave four reasons why people scare him on several levels by being boring and normal.

The first place Table Topics contest winner was Meaghan Johns and the second place winner was Francis Silva. For the Humorous Speech contest, the first place winner was Geoff Smith and the second place winner was Danish Ahmed. Congratulations to all the participants! And good luck to all the winners!

Wanrudee Isaranuwatchai gave closing remarks and adjourned the meeting.

Meeting #1024 – Wednesday September 9^th 2015. Click Here for Photos

The theme for the evening was “The Power of Music” and with it came the word of the day: Music. Chair and Toastmaster Janine Chin took charge of meeting 1024.

Table Topics Master Meaghan Johns stepped up and asked 12 participants assorted questions about musical artists such as Drake versus Taylor Swift, which would you prefer? Or, if you were to listen to only one band for the rest of your life, which one would it be?

The first speaker was Susan, a guest speaker who delivered a humorous speech before entering a competition in order to get feedback. She talked about four stages of her life and used analogies related to software as Susan 1.0 and Susan 2.0. Members provided valuable constructive feedback to Susan.

The second speaker was Eduardo Mijangos and he delivered speech number 2 of the Competent Communicator manual. The speech title was “First Impressions”, he talked about several mishaps he went through, when trying to make a good first impression on his mother in law at Disneyland. Jean Yang evaluated Eduardo’s speech.

The third speaker was Elizabeth Hibbert and she delivered speech number 5 of the Competent Communicator manual. Her speech title was “Facing your Fears” and she talked about how despite her fear of sharks, she took on a challenge of facing her fear while diving off the coast of Belize! Jeff Hecker evaluated Elizabeth’s speech.

The fourth speaker was Kendrick Doll, and he delivered speech number 5 of the Competent Communicator manual. His speech title was “Getting you Hooked” as he talked about the benefits of fishing, especially for the mind, body and the soul in a very convincing and engaging manner. Wanrudee Isaranuwatchai evaluated Kendrick’s speech.

The fifth and final speaker was Colin Nekolaichuk as he delivered speech 2 from the Advanced Communicator Bronze Manual based on storytelling. The title of this speech was “Friends at 13000” and he mentioned a trip to Morocco with two friends as they climbed a great mountain despite being at great peril and ill prepared they made it half way up, and then back! Shirley Li evaluated Colin’s speech.

Caroline Kiernan was the General Evaluator, Javier Fernandez was the timer, Francis Silva was the Quizmaster, Evelyn Chea was the Grammarian and Yasser Abdullah was the Vote Counter.