Spring Membership Drive and Speech-a-Thon

There was an announcement made at a recent club meeting about two events planned for our members and guests this spring. The first announcement is that there will be a special event run on May 9th, 2011. The club will be hosting it's first ever Speech-a-Thon! Instead of our usual meeting, as many members as possible are challenged to write and deliver a speech. More details are to follow, but expect a fun-filled night listening to well-crafted stories and information, enthusiasm, and helpful speech evaluations in the Toastmasters spirit of positive self-growth.

The second of these announcements is that a membership campaign is now in progress and will run until May 9, 2011. Campaign organizers Shawn Weldon, VP Education, and Wendy McDonnell, club member, have put forth a challenge to both members and guests and here is how it will work:

• If a SRTM member brings a guest, they receive two points, and their guest, one point.
• If that guest joins before the end of the campaign, they both get another point.
• At our Speech-a-Thon, all points will be converted into tickets and there will be a draw for a free six-month membership to Stone Road Toastmasters!! Guests will need to be in attendance to win, members will not.

Over the next month make an extra effort to talk up Toastmasters by encouraging friends, family, neighbours, co-workers...any one you can think of to visit our meetings - the challenge is on!

Michelle Munroe, VP Public Relations

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

In the spirit of the holiday season, our club hosted a special meeting this week which celebrated the end of our club's 7th year. The evening was kindly chaired and organized by Wendy and we thank her for her efforts. The night included a fun-filled gift exchange (involving picking a surprise "Whammy"...a.k.a. the dreaded gift can of tuna which changed hands four times before finding its home), holiday carols with live guitar and violin, and great snacks at our break. We would like to thank Blake for his company's sponsoring of the night (Miller Thompson LLP).

It has been an exciting year for our club - we welcomed in a new executive and many new members, the easy-speak system was introduced to better organize our meetings, and our members continued to grow in their speaking and leadership skills and also, most importantly, in wonderful friendships!

The Stone Road Toastmasters executive wishes you a happy and healthy holiday season. Our next meeting is scheduled for January 10th, 2011. See you in the New Year!

ALTRUISM AT TOASTMASTERS

‘Altruism’: that was our word of the week on November 8th, 2010. It means ‘giving yourself up for the benefit of others’. On that day, I was able to use the word after a shy visitor to the club had received the ‘Table Topics’ award. In my comments as the ‘toastmaster’ or chairman of the meeting, I said that this young lady had given us an example of altruism in action. By risking herself, by reluctantly standing up and giving a one minute speech, covered in blushes and confusion, she had given herself up for the benefit of the club. Isn’t that what we do when we gather together on Monday nights? We offer ourselves, our strengths and our weaknesses, not only that we might improve our skills, but so that others might learn, grow, and find the courage to face a new challenge in their lives.

Alan Cook C.C.

AREA 62 CONTEST

On Friday, October 15th, 2010 the Area 62 Contest was held at 10 Carden Street in downtown Guelph. The venue was intimate and the evening’s energy was palpable. Five contestants representing most of the six Guelph Toastmasters clubs were vying for the opportunity to advance to the next level of competition, the Division W Contest. City of Guelph Mayor, Karen Farbridge, was the guest dignitary providing opening remarks to kick off the event. Stone Road Toastmasters very own Linda Neff represented our club in both the Humourous Speech and Table Topics contests. She gave two wonderful performances, making both her club and her children in the audience very proud! The contest winners were: Glen Oxford (Humourous Speech) and Neil Lachapelle (Table Topics).

The night was a success and the efforts from our VP Education and Area Contest Organizer, Shawn Weldon, are commended. He secured many sponsors (NV Lounge, Miller-Thomson Barristers & Solicitors, Williams Coffee Pub, Starbucks Coffee, Atmosphere Café, Borealis Grille & Bar, and Purba Vision), which made for great food and many door prizes!

The Division W Contest will be held on Friday, October 29th, 2010 at the University of Waterloo. Contest begins at 7:00pm. Doors open at 6:30pm. Cost is $5.00. Details to follow shortly.

CLUB CONTEST WINNERS

On October 4th, the Stone Road Toastmasters Club held it's annual Humourous Speech and Tabletopics Contest. The night was certainly a success and we would like to thank our organizing committee - Alan Cook, Wendy McDonnell and Michelle Munroe, as well as all of the members who volunteered for the various contest roles. Our members and guests had the pleasure of listening to four talented contestants - Marion Reidel, Blake Kurisko, Linda Neff, and Kelly Kirkland. They were competing for the opportunity to advance onto the next level of competition, the Area Contest. All contestants are congratulated for their participation - you made us proud!! We are pleased to announce the night's winners: Marion Reidel (Table Topics) and Linda Neff (Humourous Speech). Our club wishes you both the best of luck. Shown left: Linda Neff, right: Alan Cook and Marion Reidel.

The Area Contest is taking place on Friday, October 15th, 2010 in downtown Guelph at 10 Carden Street. Doors will open at 6:30pm and the event starts at 7:00pm sharp. Our club is hosting this event, and we encourage all members to come out to support our organizers and competing members.

FALL SPEECH CONTEST DETAILS

Stone Road Toastmasters will being hosting the annual Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contest on Monday, October 4th, 2010 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at our usual meeting location. Volunteers are still needed to help with various roles and members of all experience levels are welcome to join in the fun as a contestant. Contest winners at the club level will then move on to the Area Contest taking place on Friday, October 15th (details to follow closer to the date). Here is the address to the Club Contest Rule book for both contestants and contest volunteers.

http://www.toastmasters.org/rulebook

Note for our regular members, don't forget that our membership renewals are due by September 30th. Help keep our club in good standing and our membership strong!

WORD ON THE STREET

Word On The Street is a festival celebrating literacy and the spoken word. It is a family friendly event held at Victoria Park, in Kitchener, on Sunday, Sept. 26 from 11am to 5pm. For details Google "Word On The Street, Kitchener" and the website lists the event specifics.