Business Meeting

Jim Akers presiding

President Jim Akers introduced and welcomed guest Sarah Etter.

Akers recognized Toastmaster Steve Lazar for leading the recently completed and successful Speechcrat program at Eugene Butler Middle School. Lazar and Akers then presented letters and t-shirts to other program facilitators, including Toastmasters Jim Domenico, Milo Holt, Betty Gambill, Mandy Janish, Ron Johnson, Beverly Farnell, David Rafanowicz and Jim Akers. The Florida Institute of Education, a partner in the Speechcraft program, wrote the letterrs and provided the t-shirts in appreciation of the volunteer efforts of Toast of Jax members

Toastmaster Shauib Karim congratulated president Jim Akers for having achieved the Competent Leader level.

The BIG DOGS will do battle! President Akers circulated a flyer and announced that on Saturday, May 3, the regular club meeting will be the ultimate Battle of the Big Dogs and asked that all members to attend the meeting where it will be decided which of the Big Dogs is the Biggest Dog in the speech and Evaluation categories. A copy of the flyer is available <here>  Be there.

Regular Club Meeting

Toastmaster

Millie Tannen (Spring has Sprung)

Word(s) of the Day

Cultivate - To prepare and use land for growing. To improve or develop something, usually by study or education

Horticulture - the science, skill, or occupation of cultivating plants, especially flowers, fruit, and vegetables, in gardens or greenhouses

Ribbon for best use: Fushan Zhang

Table Topics

Richard Welty (Iraqi War)

Jackie Pease

Alternatives to War (2:13)

Steve Lazar

Dixie Chics' Comment About Our Country (2:21)

Betty Gamble

POW Lynch and the Role of Women in Combat (1:57)

Jim Dominico

Presidential Hopeful John Kerry’s Comment About Regime Change in Our Country. (1:34)

David Rafanowicz

What About Reaction from the “Arab Street?” (2:06) (Best)

Speakers

Jackie Pease

What I Do (The Life and Times of a Mad Scientist with a Degree in Chemistry) (5:54)

Fushan Zhang

A Great Festive –Jacksonville’s World of Nations Celebration (A Personal Tale of Touring the World in a Day) (12:26)

Charlie Derrick

Fear of Public Speaking (We Have Nothing to Fear But Public Speaking Itself) (5:35)

Grant McManus

The Elixir of Success – Passion Pal (Doing it with Passion and Enthusiasm, a Recipe for Success) (6:23) (Best)

Evalumaster

Yurania Causey (Very Well Done)

Evaluators

Jim Akers (3:03)

Jim Dominico (3:24) (Best)

Milo Holt (3:19)

Steve Lazar (3:19)

Educational

David Rafanowicz – You Can Lead a Horse to Water, But You Can’t Make Him Read His e-mails (The Secret to a Great Meeting is for All Participants to Read Their e-mails and Simply Follow the Directions!)

Miscellaneous

Guest Comments

Sarah Etter- Found our club via Internet. Interested in joining our club since she gets nervous when speaking in front of public.

Bob Drost- Met Grant McManus and they are presently working together in an art project. Enjoyed the meeting. (Bob is a cartoonist).

Joke Meister

Danny Pritchard (Cough Remedy)

The owner of a drug store walked in and found a guy leaning heavily against a wall and asked the clerk "What's with that guy over there by the wall?" 

The clerk replied, “Well, he came in here this morning to get something for his cough. I couldn't find the cough syrup, so I gave him an entire bottle of laxative."

"You idiot!” exclaimed the owner, “You can't treat a cough with a bottle of laxatives!"

"Of course you can!” declared the clerk, “Look at him; he's afraid to cough!”

Announcements

Toastmaster Jim Domenico commented that he just returned from a trip and that the value of Toastmaster skills was once again evident.

President Jim Akers reiterated the Battle of the Big Dogs on May 3, 2003 and suggested that it would be a great day to invite guests.

Toastmaster David Rafanowicz commented that he knew it would be a tough Big Dog competition because he heard an unnamed participant during the break tell another member, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, ain’t no doubt about it, the  will be me!?”

President Akers announced that the Area 37– International Speech and Table Topics Contests will be held Friday, April 11 at the Southeast Branch Library. Details are available on the web site “Events Calendar” <here>

Vice President Education & Training (a.k.a. “The Scheduling Guru”) announced that there is an open speaker’s slot at next week’s meeting and asked for a volunteer.

Toastmaster Steve Lazar expressed his personal appreciation to all those who participated in the Speechcraft program. He also indicated that future plans included a Speechcraft at Hubbard House.

Attendance – 16 members and 2 guests (plus one member who came to fulfill her obligation to deliver an invocation before heading out to another commitment)

Presiding Officer Jim Akers adjourned the meeting with a decidedly Presidential flourish at approximately 9:18 a.m.

Another great meeting and a good time was had by all!

Yurania Causey reporting

David J. Rafanowicz, Editor