TOASTMASTERS CLUB 1841
AREA 50 <> DIVISION E <> DISTRICT 84
FRIDAY <> SEPTEMBER 23, 2011
KISSIMMEE UTILITY AUTHORITY
1701 WEST CARROLL STREET
KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA 34741
CALL TO ORDER: RON SZASZ
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INSPIRATION AND PLEDGE – SANDY GEROUX
“Sometimes we stare so long at the door that is closing that we fail to see the one that just opened.”
ANONOMOUS
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PRESIDENT’S REPORT – HEATHER SZASZ, CC
GUEST: JASMINE COLEMAN, WIFE OF SHON COLEMAN
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TOASTMASTER OF THE DAY – SHON COLEMAN
THEME:
“THE WORKPLACE”
WORD OF THE WEEK- TONY MORELLI
“INSTITUTION”
An institution is any structure or mechanism of social order and cooperation governing the behavior of a set of individuals within a given human community. Institutions are identified with a social purpose and permanence, transcending individual human lives and intentions, and with the making and enforcing of rules governing cooperative human behavior
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FIRST SPEAKER –SANDY GEROUX
SPEECH # 1 – 5-7 MINUTES – VOCAL VARIETY
COMPETENT COMMUNICATOR MANUAL
“HUMAN RESOURCES TO HIRE AT THE LAST MINUTE”
“HUMAN RESOURCES TO HIRE AT THE LAST MINUTE”… We are all graduates of MSU… make stuff up. Sometimes when clients won’t get back to me, I start making stuff up about whether they like me or not. Give them a break. Give them a chance to respond. A young couple moved in next door to us. The very first day, their little dog started barking away. The second day the young couple came over and introduced themselves, their children and the puppy. They were a really wonderful couple. Michael, Melissa and their baby Elsa were wonderful people. We stressed ourselves out thinking that these would not be the kind of neighbors we wanted. We shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. A friend called me yesterday about problems she was having with her boss, who looks at her like she has seven heads. She had not mastered the tasks she had been given. The fact is, she hadn’t even asked the boss what was on their mind. Previous managers had micromanaged her. Instead of talking to the boss personally, she put it into an e-mail and it caused a huge storm in the workplace. When I asked her why she didn’t speak to the person, she said “I tend to get upset and cry.” This allowed the boss to make stuff up about what was going on. E-mail is the worst thing that happens in the workplace. The workplace, like the home place, is all about relationships.
SECOND SPEAKER – LATOYIA STALLWORTH
5-7 MINUTES
SPEECH 5– COMPETENT COMMUNICATOR MANUAL
“RELAX”
“RELAX”… “Oh my God, Latoyia, I don’t know what to do.” My friend drove all the way to Key West and left her wedding dress at home. She called me to bring the dress and I forgot it too. I called another person to bring it and she forgot to pick it up too. On the third day of this venture, I called Danny to pick up the dress and he forgot it too. Everyone that was supposed to pick up the dress forget it. “How could you do this to me?” she asked me incredulously. Finally I called a good friend to pick up the dress, which finally arrived the fourth day. On the morning of the wedding, the minister had a heart attack. We had to tell Renee to “Relax, it’s going to be okay.” My father is a minister and he can perform the wedding. The wedding was actually performed on the beach in her dress. “I told you to relax Renee!”
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TIMER REPORT- FRED MOORE
BOTH SPEAKERS QUALIFIED
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TABLE TOPICS –-NANCY STREET
Priscilla Villarreal … Because I’ve never had a perfect office, my imagination about what one should be like can run wild. It would have a nice picture window. It wouldn’t be too hot or too cold. Some employees have heaters under their desk and some have fans. Perhaps you should take an extra sweater. Temperature would have a lot to do with my ideal office.
Gwen Fix … My worst boss was a woman who I applied to for a school bus driver’s job. I felt this lady was out to get me. She taught me how to drive but she would yell at me every time anything went wrong. Finally I pulled over and started crying. When she asked me why I was crying, I told her I couldn’t take being belittled any longer. She then lightened up.
Larry Mattern … In my workplace we have been told that joking and cursing are not allowed. In my blue collar workplace, both applied. One guy had enough of the joking and threatened to kill us all. So the Sheriff was called and he was led out of the building. When he got into the car, he reached under the seat as if to grab a gun…. And that’s my big prank of the day.
Jeremiah Fix … The five things I would have on my desk if my “neat freak” boss limited me would be a picture of a family member (so they could think I have a heart). There would be other things as well.
Tony Morelli … The institution of work I usually leave at work. I recently returned from a two week vacation. When I left, there were a few activities I had to take care of and I did. Normally, I leave it at work. On my next vacation, I’ll pick up the pieces when I return. Considering the position I’m in, if I’m available I need to be aware of what’s going on.
Michael Aun … Blah, blah, blah….
Ron Szasz … How I feel about music in the workplace is about the various personalities in the workplace. Some people put in earphones and listen to an I-pod. Now companies have video in the workplace as well. Large television monitors have these huge screens that tell you how to act. Messages are buried inside them. Music can be really good in the workplace if you select something that most people like and it’s non-descript.
Jasmine Coleman… I would want to find the value of the different personalities in the workplace. If I could change any one thing, I would change one person who is causing a lot of friction in the environment. He’s not always very honest, and he’s causing people to doubt one another. We have to feel we can trust the people we work for and with so that we don’t wind up in an institution.
Fred Moore … Downsizing two employees or losing $1,500 in pay… that’s like a half day’s pay for me. Would you fire people or take a pay cut? One of those moral questions…. It reminds me of a game a woman I was dating and the mom posed the question… “If you got a woman pregnant, would you marry her?” I got to pose a question back… “If you were in the middle of doing it and weren’t done and the person died… would you finish?”
TIMERS REPORT- FRED MOORE
EVERONE QUALIFIED
BREAK TIME
MASTER EVALUATOR – DAVID MC KIM
EVALUATING SANDY GEROUX – NEIL ALLEN, ACS
Sandy had an opportunity to day to address a topic that is very critical to our society. You started with a question and I like that very much. “Have you ever made and assumption on a first meeting?” Of course we have. We all do. Loved the acronym MSU – make stuff up. It’s too easy to make wrong assumptions. ASSUME…it makes an ass out of you and me. Giving the other person the benefit of the doubt. I made a comment at a church meeting that offended someone. When I spoke to her about it we both laughed at her interpretation and my intention. Do we really know how to communicate in this institution of life? Excellent job Sandy!
EVALUATING LATOYIA STALLWORTH – HEATHER SZASZ
Latoyia’s presentation today was fun loving. Chaos was the focus with panic as part of the story you told with the dress everyone forgot to bring. The focus of your speech was body language. I would have liked to see you exaggerate your gestures and body language a bit more. Your eye contact seemed to focus on one side of the room as well. Walking helps you to make contact. The dress….was it ever going to get there? You never told us whether she wore the dress or not. We hung onto every word. You threaded us through it very nicely. Great story!
TIMERS REPORT- FRED MOORE
BOTH EVALUATORS QUALIFIED
AH / GRAMMARIAN – JASMINE COLEMAN (GUEST)
So’s… Latoyia, Jeremiah, Michael
Ah’s… Latoyia, Priscilla, Larry, Ron
Uhm’s… Latoyia, Pisicilla, Jeramiah, Tony, Shon
You Know’s… Sandy, Latoyia, Ron
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WORD REPORT – TONY MORELLI
“INSTITUTION”
Shon, Sandy, Latoyia, Nancy, Priscilla, Larry, Michael, Ron and Jasmine all used the word for the day.
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JOKE-MASTER- NONE TODAY
CLOSING AWARDS – HEATHER SZASZ, CC
TABLE TOPICS WINNER: LARRY MATTERN
BEST EVALUATOR: HEATHER SZASZ
BEST SPEAKER: SANDY GEROUX
UPCOMING EVENTS
THE CLUB’S ANNUAL PARTY… BE THINKING ABOUT IT!