**28 August 2000**

# ![](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**

### 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.

## [Upcoming Events]{.underline}

Tue, Sept 5, 2000 Club Meeting, 5:30 Humor speech & TT contest Room 160,
Bldg 463

Tue, Sept 19, 2000 Club Meeting, 5:30 Theme: Food Room 160, Bldg 463

Tue, Sept 26, 2000 Club Meeting, 12:05 Theme: Retirement Room 154, Bldg
463

### 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

**August 1st meeting**

The 15 August meeting had a \"when I grow up\" theme. Ronnie opened with
a review of the club\'s goals for the year and she encouraged members to
work together and individually towards meeting them. Nancy was
Toastmaster of the Day. She welcomed members and guests and invited
Jokemaster and Wordmaster Patty to the podium. Patty told a joke that
made our heads spin. Her word for the day was luxuriate. The meeting
agenda was reordered slightly, and Pat presented his icebreaker speech,
entitled \"Why Icebreaker is the Wrong Name.\" Pat said that his first
speech was more of a warm up than an icebreaker, since there wasn\'t any
ice to be broken. We learned a lot about Pat, his family, and a generous
uncle who helped finance his education. After Pat\'s speech, Kim
presented Table Topics. Her questions were stimulating and made us
think. Next, Nancy asked Kim to give her speech, entitled \"Swim
Challenge\--My First Swim Experience.\" We really enjoyed hearing about
Kim\'s first competitive swimming race. Beth was Kim\'s evaluator.
Ronnie evaluated Pat and was also general evaluator. On Nancy\'s
request, Kim announced that Patty had won for Table Topics. Next came
reports from the Wordmaster, Ah counter and timer. Nancy thanked guests
Lisa and Diane for coming, and each said they had enjoyed the meeting.
The meeting adjourned, and was followed by a brief executive committee
meeting.

**Meeting Protocol:** Our participation in Toastmasters can teach us a
lot, and not just about public speaking. Meetings provide an opportunity
to learn and practice the conventions and courtesies, known as rules of
order, that help to keep a meeting running smoothly. For example, the
podium should not be left vacant while the meeting is underway. The
current speaker indicates that she or he is finished, and may invite the
next speaker to come up. The current speaker waits for the next speaker
to reach the podium and usually the two shake hands. Then the first
speaker is seated, the new speaker greets the audience, and the meeting
continues.

The speaker \"has the floor,\" as it is said. Cross talk between members
of the audience should be kept to a bare minimum, especially at a small
meeting. The speaker may invite members of the audience to respond or
speak, but members refrain from speaking unless the speaker has asked
them to. These rules reduce

Page 2

confusion and low us to hold the most efficient and productive meeting
possible in the least amount of time. Before the meeting starts, during
breaks, and when the formal meeting is adjourned, we can chat and gab,
ask questions, exchange news, and engage in regular informal
conversation. Let\'s get everything we can from our time and our
investment in Toastmasters by learning and observing basic rules of
order at meetings.

**Dues are Due:** It\'s time to pay dues. Bring a check for \$25.50 (or
\$51.00 for a full year\--see below) made out to *BNL Toastmasters* to
the next meeting or mail to Claire Heil, P.O. Box 431, Ridge, NY, 11961.
Toastmasters International (TMI) requires dues payment in six month
increments, and timely submission of dues payment twice each year is one
of the goals the club sets for itself. In support of that goal, and to
relieve the Treasurer of the burden of complete dues collection twice
each year, (and because it may in fact be more convenient for members),
we will experiment with accepting membership dues payment annually, at
\$51.00 instead of twice a year at \$25.50. Note that refunds will not
be possible except under unusual circumstances.

#   {#section-1 .unnumbered}

# ***The Edge, Page 3 August 23, 2000***

BNL Toastmasters Regular Meeting Schedule

+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| **Date**        | **September 5** | **September     | **September     |
|                 |                 | 19**            | 26**            |
|                 | **Speech        |                 |                 |
|                 | Contest**       |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| **Theme**       | Humorous Speech | Food            | Retirement      |
|                 | and TT Contest  |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| **TMOD**        | Chair - Beth    | Amy             | Linda           |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| **Joke**        |                 |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| **Word**        |                 |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| **Timer**       |                 | Beth            |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| **Ah counter**  |                 | Pat             |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| **Grammarian**  |                 |                 | Pat             |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| **Table         |                 |                 |                 |
| Topics**        |                 |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| **Speech #1**   | Patty           | Beth            | Pat             |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| **#2**          | Pat             | Pat             |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| **#3**          | Amy             |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| **#4**          | Kim             |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| **General       | Chief Judge     |                 |                 |
| Eval.**         | -Nancy          |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| **Evaluator     |                 |                 |                 |
| #1**            |                 |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| **#2**          |                 |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| **#3**          |                 |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| **#4**          |                 |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| **Quiz Master** |                 | Margaret C.     |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| **Educational   |                 |                 |                 |
| Talk**          |                 |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| **Absent**      |                 |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+

*Sign up for roles at the coming meetings! Contact
[Nancy](mailto:nmanning@bnl.gov), VPE.* Check the drafted Web pages at
<http://avenger.bio.bnl.gov/~oeder/bnltm.html> and submit your comments
and suggestions.

***Welcome to our newest member! Margaret Conover visited and joined at
the August 22 meeting.***

**Noon Meeting Notes:** Our Aug. 22 noon meeting had four members and
one guest in attendance. Pat Astre gave speech #2, entitled "Well Known
Secrets of Life". His unique take on life was sincerely delivered and
uplifting. Beth evaluated his speech, and Ronnie entertained us with a
clever joke about two dogs and their owners.

***Important Dates:***

**September 5**: Club Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contest. If you
wish to compete in one or both areas, please contact Nancy. We need a
full house to make the most of this annual event!

Members\' Progress Report

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

  Pat A.               2                 

  Susan C.             5                 

  Margaret C.                            

  Ronnie E.            9                 ATM-G, CL, 4 CTMs

  Margaret F.                            DTM

  Linda G.                               CTM

  Amy H.               5                 

  Claire H.            4                 

  Beth L.                                ATM-G, CL, 5 CTMs

  Patty L.             2                 

  Frank M.             9                 CTM

  Nancy M.             1                 ATM-B, CL

  Nand N.                                ATM-S

  Kimberly P.          3                 

  Betsy S.             5                 

  Becky S.             7                 

  Steve S.             3                 

  Eric S.              5                 

  Bill S.                                
  -------------------- ----------------- --------------------------------

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