**13 December 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}

Tues December 18 5:30 meeting Theme: Holiday Time

Tues January 1 NO MEETING\--HAPPY NEW YEAR

Tues, January 15 5:30 Meeting Theme: All Things New

Tues, January 22 Noon Meeting Theme: Baby It\'s Cold Outside

Tues January 29 5:30 SPECIAL BONUS MEETING

### Officers 2001-02 

**President:**

Margaret Foster

**VP Education:**

Nancy Manning

**VP Membership &**

**VP Public Relations:**

Margaret Conover

**Secretary:**

Amy Halsted

**Treasurer:**

Ronnie Evans

**Sergeant at Arms:**

Beth Lin

**Newsletter Editors:**

Amy Halsted

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.

**December 4 Meeting**

We had a terrific holiday reception meeting on December 4. Attendance
was great, spirits were high, the food was a delicious cooperative
effort, and the activities and speeches entertained. We had some guests
and prospective new members in attendance. Marie Gocs may join our club.
Pat brought his daughter Michelle Heil, as well as Joe Newman, a
colleague. It was great to see member Benny Hooda again, and former
members Kathy Schwartz and Kim Pellechi too. It\'s always a pleasure to
see Ron Manning.

President Margaret Foster was Toastmaster of the Day, and the theme of
the meeting was Turning Points. Margaret started off on a high note with
her traditional \"T\'was the Night Before Christmas\" poem incorporating
the names of members. Barbara Klein got her Toastmastering feet wet with
a seasonally appropriate joke. Pat Astre gave us a new approach to Table
Topics. He had us compose a story about why Santa Claus got exhausted,
with the improvisational tale jumping from person to person in
mid-sentence.

After a longish break to sample the holiday goodies, the speech portion
of the meeting got underway. Nancy Manning gave us timely and very wise
advice about how to approach Christmas this year. An early start and a
good list really helps, she said, as does eliminating all but those
tasks that are truly important. She encouraged us to reduce stress by
focusing more on the true meaning of Christmas this year, and less on
the outside trimmings. She used visual materials and handouts skillfully
to emphasize her points.

Ronnie followed with another holiday themed talk. She described a fool
proof and speedy preparation technique for made-from-scratch banana
chocolate chip bars. She had her ingredients organized before her and
the recipe broken down into timed steps. She didn\'t actually cook, but
it almost seemed like she had when she produced a plate of her
confections for us to taste.

Amy was the next speaker, and she told the story of her
great-great-grandfather\'s life. He attained great wealth but became
involved with an unscrupulous business partner and ended up going to
prison. Amy said that her research had lead her to a connection with a
writer and historian who is the great grandson of her great-great
grandfather\'s shady partner.

Finally, Pat Astre gave a reassuring and motivational talk about the
inevitable upturn that follows a market downturn. This immutable law
continues to hold in all cases, despite the panic and fear that new
challenges (like those resulting from 9/11) may bring. He encouraged us
to diversify our investments, think long term, and choose with care the
market sectors into which we put our money.

Nand took over the meeting as General Evaluator. He noted that the
meeting had a slower pace than usual, due to the special occasion.
Margaret Conover was Nancy\'s evaluator, and Mari Rubin did her first
ever evaluation (nicely done!) for Ronnie. Nand was Amy\'s evaluator and
Bill Dunn evaluated for Pat. Doug Klein gave the ah counters report, and
Benny the timer\'s report. Margaret Foster closed the merry meeting .

# ![](media/image3.png){width="1.8229166666666667in" height="1.5208333333333333in"}***The Edge, Page 2 December 13, 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**         | ###### Dec. 18 | January 15   | January 22       |
|                  |                |              |                  |
|                  |                |              | **NOON**         |
+------------------+----------------+--------------+------------------+
| **Theme**        | Holiday Time   | All Things   | Baby, It\'s Cold |
|                  |                | New          | Outside!         |
+------------------+----------------+--------------+------------------+
| **TMOD**         | Nancy          | Amy          |                  |
+------------------+----------------+--------------+------------------+
| **Joke**         |                |              |                  |
+------------------+----------------+--------------+------------------+
| **Word**         |                |              |                  |
+------------------+----------------+--------------+------------------+
| **Timer**        |                |              |                  |
+------------------+----------------+--------------+------------------+
| **Ah counter**   |                |              |                  |
+------------------+----------------+--------------+------------------+
| **Grammarian**   |                |              |                  |
+------------------+----------------+--------------+------------------+
| **Table Topics** | Beth           |              |                  |
+------------------+----------------+--------------+------------------+
| **Speech #1**    | Bill           | Frank        |                  |
+------------------+----------------+--------------+------------------+
| **#2**           | Frank          | Nand         |                  |
+------------------+----------------+--------------+------------------+
| **#3**           | Beth           | Ronnie       |                  |
+------------------+----------------+--------------+------------------+
| **#4**           | Ronnie         |              |                  |
+------------------+----------------+--------------+------------------+
| **#5**           |                |              |                  |
+------------------+----------------+--------------+------------------+
| **General        | Amy            |              |                  |
| Eval.**          |                |              |                  |
+------------------+----------------+--------------+------------------+
| **Evaluator #1** | Beth           |              |                  |
+------------------+----------------+--------------+------------------+
| **#2**           |                |              |                  |
+------------------+----------------+--------------+------------------+
| **#3**           |                |              |                  |
+------------------+----------------+--------------+------------------+
| **#4**           |                |              |                  |
+------------------+----------------+--------------+------------------+
| **#5**           |                |              |                  |
+------------------+----------------+--------------+------------------+
| **Quiz Master**  |                |              |                  |
+------------------+----------------+--------------+------------------+
| **Absent**       |                |              |                  |
+------------------+----------------+--------------+------------------+

Due to the New Year Holiday, there will be no Club meeting on January 1,
2002. Instead, we may reschedule that meeting for the 5^th^ Tuesday,
January 29, at 5:30 PM.

**In order to make sure that our records are up-to-date, please plan to
have VPE Nancy initial your manuals for any speeches you have given this
year that have not already been signed. Also, please alert her if the
data in the box below is inaccurate.**

Officers, note that the winter training session will be scheduled soon.
Watch here for details.

**Important Notice:** BNL's front gate requires photo ID before allowing
entrance to the site. The gate will be given the names of all off-site
members and guests several days prior to each meeting. If you wish to
bring a guest with you, please notify Nancy or Beth by 2 days prior to
the meeting.

Members\' Progress Report

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

  Pat A.                1                  ATM-B

  Susan C.              5                  

  Margaret C.           8                  

  Bill D.               3                  

  Ronnie E.             3                  DTM

  Margaret F.           2                  DTM

  Mario F.                                 

  Anthony G.                               

  Amy H.                5                  CTM

  Benny H.              7                  

  Barbara K.                               

  Doug K.                                  

  Beth L.               8                  ATM-G

  Nancy M.              6                  ATM-B

  Nand N.               4                  ATM-G

  Mari R.               3                  
  --------------------- ------------------ ------------------------------