**31 July 2001**

# ![](media/image1.png) The Edge ![](media/image2.png)

**BNL Toastmasters, Club 8069, District 46**

**Meetings are held the 1^st^ and 3^rd^ Tuesday at 5:30 PM and the 4^th^
Tuesday at 12:05**

**Biology Building 463, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY
11973**

<http://www.bnl.gov/bera/activities/toastmstrs/default.htm>

## [Upcoming Events]{.underline}

### Officers

### 2000-2001 

**President:**

Ronnie Evans

**VP Education:**

Nancy Manning

**VP Membership:**

Frank MacKay

**VP Public Relations:**

Nand Narain

**Secretary:**

Amy Halsted

**Treasurer:**

Claire Heil

**Sergeant at Arms:**

Beth Lin

**Newsletter Editors:**

Amy Halsted

### Beth Lin

Nancy Manning

### 

### The mission of a Toastmasters Club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth.

**July 19 Meeting**

This year\'s Gazebo meeting summed up much of the fun, fellowship and
value of Toastmasters. Experienced members, new members and the summer
students in the speechcraft program all brought important and
interesting contributions to the meeting. Pat Astre brought something
especially well appreciated: pizza! Thanks, Pat.

Our theme was Music, Maestro Please. Louise Hanson, who runs the BNL
summer student program, was a guest at the meeting. Beth and Ashley
shared Toastmaster of the day duties. Bill Dunn was jokemaster and did
he disappoint us? I\'m a frayed knot! Jackie presented table topics, and
she asked thought provoking questions about the experience of music. As
Wordmaster, Nancy gave us \"maestro,\" a word that many of us were able
to use in this music-themed meeting. Rick Holtmeier, our visiting
division governor, was the first speaker. He reminded us of the skills
we hone in Toastmasters. Evaluation is one of the most important, as it
includes listening, speaking and leadership all at the same time.

There\'s a world inside each person, and we felt those worlds opening up
in the two remarkable icebreaker speeches that followed. Mari Rubin told
us about meeting her American husband who was working in Japan. At first
the two exchanged language lessons, but eventually they exchanged
marriage vows. Since being in the US, Mari has dedicated herself to the
piano, and has made great progress in a short time. Her speech was
articulate, honest, funny and emotional. Bill Dunn told us about his
passionate interest in jazz and the warm relationship he had with his
father. He also described the unpleasant experience of being laid off
recently. By good use of detail, Bill told us a lot in a short time and
appeared confident and relaxed. Cathy Schwartz followed with \"Anatomy
of a Tee-Shirt,\" in fulfillment of an assignment from the basic manual.
After hearing about the several levels and characteristics of quality in
a teeshirt, and having these demonstrated with the samples Cathy
brought, we won\'t take the \"simple\" tee shirt for granted again.

The speechcraft students went next. Ashley presented \"Cyberonics,\" a
speech about the telegraphic language style that has emerged in instant
person-to-person messaging. This ultra-efficient manner of communicating
takes advantage of acronyms for speed and symbols to express emotion
that would normally be conveyed by laughing, smiling or tone of voice.
Berry made a convincing case for increasing the numbers of minority
science and math teachers. Having a teacher as a role model and
inspiration is invaluable to minority students, and important to
maintaining and increasing the population of well-trained scientists and
mathematicians. Jackie followed up with a speech on her field: human
factors in engineering and technology. The physical, intellectual and
emotional habits of human beings need to be taken into account in the
planning and design phase, in order to produce successful machines and
technology.

Evaluation followed: Ronnie for Mari, Amy for Bill, and Nand for Cathy.
The speechcraft students evaluated eachother: Jackie for Ashley, Ashley
for Berry and Berry for Jackie. After a break to nosh on the tasty
picnic, Amy quizzed members on the content of the speeches and Beth gave
the timer\'s report. The new officers were \"installed\" by Rick
Holtmeier, and the speechcraft students received their certificates.
Ronnie was general evaluator and got reports from ah counter and table
topics winner, then closed the meeting. We relaxed and finished the
picnic together, with a lot of noisy talk and happy fun.

# ![](media/image3.jpeg){width="1.5in" height="1.4333333333333333in"}***The Edge, Page 2 July 27, 2001***

BNL Toastmasters Club Web site:

[www.bnl.gov/bera/activities/toastmstrs/default.htm](http://www.bnl.gov/bera/activities/toastmstrs/default.htm)

BNL Toastmasters Regular Meeting Schedule

+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+
| **Date**         | **August 7**   | **August 21**    | **August 28   |
|                  |                | Humorous Speech  | NOON**        |
|                  | Officers\'     | & TT Contest     |               |
|                  | Training &     |                  |               |
|                  | Exec. Mtg.     |                  |               |
+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+
| **Theme**        | The Planets    | Joke Night       | Games         |
+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+
| **TMOD**         |                | Nand             |               |
+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+
| **Joke**         |                | Pat              |               |
+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+
| **Word**         |                |                  |               |
+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+
| **Timer**        |                |                  |               |
+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+
| **Ah counter**   |                |                  |               |
+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+
| **Grammarian**   |                |                  |               |
+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+
| **Table Topics** |                |                  |               |
+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+
| **Speech #1**    | Leyla          | Bill D.          |               |
+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+
| **#2**           | Amy            | Pat              |               |
+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+
| **#3**           | Frank M.       | Frank            |               |
+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+
| **#4**           | Nand           |                  |               |
+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+
| **#5**           |                |                  |               |
+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+
| **General        |                |                  | Nand          |
| Eval.**          |                |                  |               |
+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+
| **Evaluator #1** |                |                  |               |
+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+
| **#2**           |                |                  |               |
+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+
| **#3**           |                |                  |               |
+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+
| **#4**           |                |                  |               |
+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+
| **#5**           |                |                  |               |
+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+
| **Quiz Master**  |                |                  |               |
+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+
| **Absent**       | Margaret F.    |                  |               |
+------------------+----------------+------------------+---------------+

Our Club **Humorous Speech & Table Topics** **Contest** will be held
August 21. We are looking for contestants, judges, ballot counters and a
Contest Chair. Please let Nancy know how you wish to participate!

**Officer Training** will be given at the August 7 meeting. This will be
open to all. All current officers must be trained, and this will be most
convenient. Other members should attend to learn how to best support our
Club officers!

An Executive Committee meeting and planning session will be held
following the August 7 meeting. All interested members are welcome.

The July 24 Noon meeting was well attended. Margaret C. gave her 6^th^
speech, entitled \"**The Director\'s Role, As I See It**\". She was
evaluated by Nand. Welcome to our guest Al Sagnella!

Members\' Progress Report

  --------------------- ------------------ ------------------------------
  **Member**            **Speeches         **Achievements**
                        completed**        

  Pat A.                6                  CTM

  Bill B.                                  

  Susan C.              5                  

  Margaret C.           6                  

  Bill D.               1                  

  Ronnie E.             2                  DTM

  John F.                                  

  Margaret F.           1                  DTM

  Anthony G.                               

  Amy H.                                   CTM

  Beth L.               2                  ATM-G

  Patty L.              5                  

  Frank M.                                 ATM-B

  Nancy M.              5                  ATM-B

  Nand N.               4                  ATM-G

  Kimberly P.                              CTM

  Leyla P.              1                  

  Mari R.               1                  

  Betsy S.              5                  

  Cathy S.              4                  
  --------------------- ------------------ ------------------------------

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