The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-02-27
TOastmdsters
 Provide Hi|drity
 Al Guest Dinner

 Subjects were in contrasting var lety and costumes the same, at the banquet Saturday evening of the Taku Toastmasters. The Baranof Gold Room mirrors reflected formal gowns of lace and satin, also the bright-colored garb of couples planning to go square dancing later.
 In witty and effective demon- stration of their weekly dinner-hour study of public speaking, the 33 Ju- neau members of Toastmasters h. ternational gave talks of interest, skits of hilarity and more than two hours of entertainment for their wives and other guests. About 100 members and guests had cocktails on The Terrace, then were seated at the long U-shaped table from which speakers went to a small improvised stage for their perfor- mances.
 Nonsense Skit
 Seriously and in burlesaue. the orators demonstrated eye contact, hand gestures, proper voice modu- lation and such essentials of de- livery. These were lost in the gulf flaws which greeted the performance of a nonsense skit, If Men Played Cards as Women Do," which includ- ed wisecracks concerning at least half the members.
 President Joseph A. Mclean pre- sided with caution. Mayor Hend- rickson said brief, careful grace and Dr. John Clements as toast master guided the complicated pro- gram, adroitly linking personalities and subjects to each other with clever lad lbs"
 StrieAly observing time limits as indicated by warning green light and flashing red one, the men spoke, eyed, gestured and mod ulated, while a bank of critics watched and listened for flaws.
 Ellis, Topic Master William G. Ellis topic master for the party, said Usually we discuss such matters as the United Ma tions, the Marshall Plan, or Ter ritorial taxes, but tonight we have an easier subject" Then he named the debaters who would discuss Should There Be or Not Be a Toastmistress Club in Juneau?" Arguing for such a club, "al- though, mind you, these are not necessarily our real views" were J. B. Burford, Wayne Richey, Ed Peyton, A. F. Ghiglione and Sin clair H. Lorain, who referred to "toastmystery" as a cultural possi- hility.
 Finding more favor with members was R. w. Cowling's statement that "woman's place is in the home" Other well-received arguments ag- ainSt such a club were by Vic Power c"How could they ever limit themselves to a 5-minute talk? Or take kindly to criticism?'D Urban (Pete) Nelson, William R. Hughes c"Toastmasters is for self-improve- ment, and there is no need of improvement for these women'o and Ellis Reynolds.
 Topicmaster Ellis congratulated Hughes, manager of the Baranof Hotel, on the creative imagination" of his argument, saying Everyone knows he would organize a club of lepers if it would meet at the ho- tel"
 5-Minute Talks Harold Foss gave the first five minute talk, choosing the subject Insulated Glass" He began by say- ing, After being trained not to move the hands nervously, now I am to illustrate the use of hands. !" This he did by showing interesting samples. His talk was under a spe- cial handicap, as it was against the subdued chatter of removal of dinner dishes.
 In his talk on 'The Art of Fabu- lous Lying" H. E. Green pleaded for a return of the tall tales" such as Mark Twain's Jumping Frog" which have been replaced by gross exaggeration instead of imagination.
 Norman Durocher had his audi ence in the aisles with a disserta- tion on "The Role of Lulubelle," |" witty discourse about the dress makers dummy-"a certified copy of the original" by which you try to keep up with the Van Jones' es on a Jones salary" His most severe critics could find no fault with this gem and its presentation.