02-09-06 Meeting Summary
Yesterday’s Toastmaster, Mike C, tried to warm us all up with his theme of Global Warming, but it’s just not working! With the snow falling outside, I’m freezing! Hopefully, typing up this summary will help…
Dan B tried to keep the warmth alive with his word of the day, tropical. Tropical means: Of, being, or characteristic of a region or climate that is frost-free with temperatures high enough to support year-round plant growth given sufficient moisture. His sentence is fitting, “In Minnesota, the weather this time of year is anything but tropical.”
Speaker #1, Jerry V, shared his experiences at ACTS of St. Paul with us in his speech, “ACTS of Kindness”. ACTS of St. Paul is a non-profit organization that strives to empower and equip Hmong youth to succeed and have hope for the future. It stemmed from a play that it’s founder, Gail Larson, produced that explored Hmong in America. Today, they provide summer school (taught by Hmong teachers), a kid reach program (tutoring during the school year), a youth theater arts program (where kids write, direct, and perform plays and songs to build their knowledge of their cultural heritage), and a family learning center (strengthens family bonds, provides financial support, and offers classes, such as English language and Hmong dance). In addition, ACTS of St. Paul gives back to the community by providing school supplies, household items, and uniforms, and offering programs such as dental hygiene to Hmong children. (Timer’s Report: 6:22)
Speaker #2, Eddie K, shared part three of his financial planning series, entitled, “Your Plan Highlights”. In his speech, Eddie provided highlights of Securian’s 401K plan, discussed age and service requirements that must be met (18 years and 1 month, respectively), shared government restrictions, and explained when changes to the plan can be made. Recently, the government changed 401Ks for people over 50 years to allow additional contributions. In 2005, people over 50 could contribute a total of $18,000; in 2006, this total has been increased to $20,000. At Securian, increases or decreases in contributions can be made each pay period and withdrawals can be made, limited to government restrictions (withdrawals can be made at retirement, death, disability, or termination of employment; while employed, loans can be taken out against the plan). Before any of this can be done, however, employees must enroll in the plan, designate a beneficiary, and file a Notification of Rollover Assets form (to roll prior retirement accounts into Securian’s plan). AccuServe Online and AccuServe Access are available to keep in touch with your portfolio. (Timer’s Report: 7:21)
Next, Mike shared some information about global warming. One of the causes is volcanic activity. When a volcano erupts, it sends enough material into the air to cool it 5-10 degrees. In the past 40-50 years, there has been little volcanic activity, so the earth has warmed. Mike’s advice as the earth warms is to stay away from the coastlines and the tropics due to the heat, hurricanes, and rain. He figures that there’s nowhere better than Minnesota to live because we’re in the middle of the continent and cool!
Kelly asked our non-duty holders to respond to questions about global warming. She asked Keri O’Brien if she is enjoying the arm weather or does she prefer the cold? Kari prefers the warmer weather because it reduces heating bills and reduces the number of warm vacation fantasies that Kari has. She also enjoys the visual that comes to mind when she thinks back to a radio conversation that she heard on where Paul Douglas and Dave Dahl sounded like they were ready to physically fight over the weather! Kari’s putting her money on Dave Dahl! (Timer’s Report: 1:32)
Betsy Schaller told us why it’s better to have colder winters. She doesn’t think it is better to have a colder winter, but admits that she would enjoy her dreams of a warm vacation more then and we wouldn’t have to deal with the slop, mess, and dirt then. One of the advantages to a warmer winter that Betsy highlighted is bragging rights when she calls her relatives in Florida! (Timer’s Report: 1:23)
Mark H shared ideas about how the Winter Carnival could be changed so that the warmer winters aren’t a problem, as this year’s was with the ice sculptures. Mark recently spoke with the president of the group that runs the Winter Carnival, who joked that if they ever make a buck, they’ll invest it in global warming! Since the winters have been warmer, though, Mark believes that the Winter Carnival needs to be flexible. For example, where he previously played snow softball, they’re now playing mud softball. Plans for outside activities when it’s cold should consider alternative venues so they can be moved if it’s too warm. (Timer’s Report: 2:05)
Mary Ellen G evaluated Jerry’s speech. Since the speech project was “Your Body Speaks”, Mary Ellen focused on Jerry’s stance, movement, and gestures to determine if she was seeing and hearing the same message. Mary Ellen liked Jerry’s confident and calm demeanor, his eye contact with specific people, and his preparedness. She would like to see even more gestures than counting and nodding, as well as, more purposeful movement. (Timer’s Report: 1:52)
Laura C evaluated Eddie’s speech. She commended Eddie on his great openings in this series of speeches, noting that he’s very good at putting people in a place of tranquility. Laura also thought Eddie was convincing, humorous, and she liked the ways that he came back to the opening at the end of his speech and included everyone with his eye contact. She recommended that Eddie move around the room more, keep his laptop accessible so that he doesn’t have to turn his back to the audience, and try more of an outline rather than a fully prepared script that can lead to stumbling over forgotten words. (Timer’s Report: 4:00)
Reports
Mike Cahn used tropical four times. Mark got credit for 1 ½ times, since Dan only gave ½ credit for tropicalization. He liked Eddie’s “cramming that 15%” and Keri’s “fighting weathermen”.
See times in parenthesis above.
Gadder performed the General Evaluator role for the meeting. Overall, he thought we did a good job. He suggested that Mike talk louder to be more commanding and noted some hand wringing. He thought our other duty-holders did well and especially liked Mary Ellen’s examples from Jerry’s speech and Laura’s use of humor in her evaluation. Finally, Gadder commented on the mood swings in the meeting. Since Mike injects humor into meetings, we began on a lighthearted note. Following Jerry’s speech, everyone was serious and thoughtful. Mike held that mood, then transitioned the mood to prepare us for Eddie’s speech. The Spirit Award was awarded to Jerry Vang.
Business Items
Your Beginnings: Laura C spoke at Your Beginnings yesterday and shared her experience with us. Laura said that she spoke for approximately five minutes at Your Beginnings, sharing how Toastmasters benefited her. She also discussed the three clubs at Minnesota Life (e.g., when and where they meet), the format of a typical meeting, and dues. Finally, she invited everyone to join us as a guest and opened the floor for questions. Laura also brought copies of the recruiting flyer from the I drive and left them at the back of the room. (Note that speaking at an engagement, such as Your Beginnings, can be counted as a manual speech as long as the speech requirements are met and a member of Toastmasters is present to evaluate your speech.)
Speech Contest: Mutual Voices Spring Contest will take place during next week’s regularly scheduled meeting. Please contact Laura Griffith to enter.
Dan B tried to keep the warmth alive with his word of the day, tropical. Tropical means: Of, being, or characteristic of a region or climate that is frost-free with temperatures high enough to support year-round plant growth given sufficient moisture. His sentence is fitting, “In Minnesota, the weather this time of year is anything but tropical.”
Speaker #1, Jerry V, shared his experiences at ACTS of St. Paul with us in his speech, “ACTS of Kindness”. ACTS of St. Paul is a non-profit organization that strives to empower and equip Hmong youth to succeed and have hope for the future. It stemmed from a play that it’s founder, Gail Larson, produced that explored Hmong in America. Today, they provide summer school (taught by Hmong teachers), a kid reach program (tutoring during the school year), a youth theater arts program (where kids write, direct, and perform plays and songs to build their knowledge of their cultural heritage), and a family learning center (strengthens family bonds, provides financial support, and offers classes, such as English language and Hmong dance). In addition, ACTS of St. Paul gives back to the community by providing school supplies, household items, and uniforms, and offering programs such as dental hygiene to Hmong children. (Timer’s Report: 6:22)
Speaker #2, Eddie K, shared part three of his financial planning series, entitled, “Your Plan Highlights”. In his speech, Eddie provided highlights of Securian’s 401K plan, discussed age and service requirements that must be met (18 years and 1 month, respectively), shared government restrictions, and explained when changes to the plan can be made. Recently, the government changed 401Ks for people over 50 years to allow additional contributions. In 2005, people over 50 could contribute a total of $18,000; in 2006, this total has been increased to $20,000. At Securian, increases or decreases in contributions can be made each pay period and withdrawals can be made, limited to government restrictions (withdrawals can be made at retirement, death, disability, or termination of employment; while employed, loans can be taken out against the plan). Before any of this can be done, however, employees must enroll in the plan, designate a beneficiary, and file a Notification of Rollover Assets form (to roll prior retirement accounts into Securian’s plan). AccuServe Online and AccuServe Access are available to keep in touch with your portfolio. (Timer’s Report: 7:21)
Next, Mike shared some information about global warming. One of the causes is volcanic activity. When a volcano erupts, it sends enough material into the air to cool it 5-10 degrees. In the past 40-50 years, there has been little volcanic activity, so the earth has warmed. Mike’s advice as the earth warms is to stay away from the coastlines and the tropics due to the heat, hurricanes, and rain. He figures that there’s nowhere better than Minnesota to live because we’re in the middle of the continent and cool!
Kelly asked our non-duty holders to respond to questions about global warming. She asked Keri O’Brien if she is enjoying the arm weather or does she prefer the cold? Kari prefers the warmer weather because it reduces heating bills and reduces the number of warm vacation fantasies that Kari has. She also enjoys the visual that comes to mind when she thinks back to a radio conversation that she heard on where Paul Douglas and Dave Dahl sounded like they were ready to physically fight over the weather! Kari’s putting her money on Dave Dahl! (Timer’s Report: 1:32)
Betsy Schaller told us why it’s better to have colder winters. She doesn’t think it is better to have a colder winter, but admits that she would enjoy her dreams of a warm vacation more then and we wouldn’t have to deal with the slop, mess, and dirt then. One of the advantages to a warmer winter that Betsy highlighted is bragging rights when she calls her relatives in Florida! (Timer’s Report: 1:23)
Mark H shared ideas about how the Winter Carnival could be changed so that the warmer winters aren’t a problem, as this year’s was with the ice sculptures. Mark recently spoke with the president of the group that runs the Winter Carnival, who joked that if they ever make a buck, they’ll invest it in global warming! Since the winters have been warmer, though, Mark believes that the Winter Carnival needs to be flexible. For example, where he previously played snow softball, they’re now playing mud softball. Plans for outside activities when it’s cold should consider alternative venues so they can be moved if it’s too warm. (Timer’s Report: 2:05)
Mary Ellen G evaluated Jerry’s speech. Since the speech project was “Your Body Speaks”, Mary Ellen focused on Jerry’s stance, movement, and gestures to determine if she was seeing and hearing the same message. Mary Ellen liked Jerry’s confident and calm demeanor, his eye contact with specific people, and his preparedness. She would like to see even more gestures than counting and nodding, as well as, more purposeful movement. (Timer’s Report: 1:52)
Laura C evaluated Eddie’s speech. She commended Eddie on his great openings in this series of speeches, noting that he’s very good at putting people in a place of tranquility. Laura also thought Eddie was convincing, humorous, and she liked the ways that he came back to the opening at the end of his speech and included everyone with his eye contact. She recommended that Eddie move around the room more, keep his laptop accessible so that he doesn’t have to turn his back to the audience, and try more of an outline rather than a fully prepared script that can lead to stumbling over forgotten words. (Timer’s Report: 4:00)
Reports
Mike Cahn used tropical four times. Mark got credit for 1 ½ times, since Dan only gave ½ credit for tropicalization. He liked Eddie’s “cramming that 15%” and Keri’s “fighting weathermen”.
See times in parenthesis above.
Gadder performed the General Evaluator role for the meeting. Overall, he thought we did a good job. He suggested that Mike talk louder to be more commanding and noted some hand wringing. He thought our other duty-holders did well and especially liked Mary Ellen’s examples from Jerry’s speech and Laura’s use of humor in her evaluation. Finally, Gadder commented on the mood swings in the meeting. Since Mike injects humor into meetings, we began on a lighthearted note. Following Jerry’s speech, everyone was serious and thoughtful. Mike held that mood, then transitioned the mood to prepare us for Eddie’s speech. The Spirit Award was awarded to Jerry Vang.
Business Items
Your Beginnings: Laura C spoke at Your Beginnings yesterday and shared her experience with us. Laura said that she spoke for approximately five minutes at Your Beginnings, sharing how Toastmasters benefited her. She also discussed the three clubs at Minnesota Life (e.g., when and where they meet), the format of a typical meeting, and dues. Finally, she invited everyone to join us as a guest and opened the floor for questions. Laura also brought copies of the recruiting flyer from the I drive and left them at the back of the room. (Note that speaking at an engagement, such as Your Beginnings, can be counted as a manual speech as long as the speech requirements are met and a member of Toastmasters is present to evaluate your speech.)
Speech Contest: Mutual Voices Spring Contest will take place during next week’s regularly scheduled meeting. Please contact Laura Griffith to enter.
posted by Mutual Voices Toastmasters | 11:00 AM
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