Our Toastmaster ,Kathy M, opened the meeting with a simple but powerful thought “ Simplicity is the zen of sophistication”. To illustrate her point, she shared how she and her family chose to celebrate her son’s college graduation with a simple backyard barbecue filled with friends and family. The ultimate sophistication, in my opinion, was when she chose to took her family for a lovely walk at the rose garden at the Woodland Park zoo instead of filling her house with roses. Simplicity is a blend of creativity and confidence and truly the ultimate sophistication.
Scott C, grammarian, introduced the word of the day: Ambiguity. Speakers used the word of the day without ambiguity during the meeting. Good choice, Mr Grammarian!
Dilip G officiated his Timer duties with diligence and precision.
At the Seattle Sunrise Toastmaster, you not only learn the art of public speaker, you also learn. Period.
Here’s what we learnt this week:
- Gender Inequality is real. Speaker #1, Aswini H, presenting “ Gender Inequality: How to bridge the gap”
According to the United Nations Development Program Gender Inequality Index ( GII) which measures the gender inequalities in three important aspects of human development: reproductive health, empowerment and labor force participation, women trail behind men by as much as 90% in developing countries and 60% in the developed countries. Women are underpaid support positions and underrepresented in the highest paid STEM and technical occupations. This has to change. Fathers and mothers, encourage your daughters to follow STEM and technical career tracks. Kudos to Aswini’s dad who encouraged both of his daughters to study engineering,
Aswini presented CC project #3 . Thanks for a persuasive, entertaining and inspiring speech, Aswini.
- What happens when love ever after fizzles and turns into domestic violence?Speaker #2, Isabella Z presenting “ My friend Rose’s process of going through a divorce” Isabella gave a faithful account of Rose’s ordeal and the steps she had to take to get a divorce and fight for the custody of her young child. Thanks for the reminder that marriage and divorce are definitely not for the faint of heart, Isabella.
Isabella presented CC project #2 “ Organize your speech”.
- How colorful your brain gets when it’s busy doing something.Speaker #3, Neva C presenting “ Multimodal visualization of the developing human brain”.
Neva, a neuroimaging professional, raised the scientific IQ of the audience with her presentation. She demonstrated how visualization is used to research the brain functions, structure and chemistry. New vocab words learned: magnetoencephalography, magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Your speech made our brains very colorful Neva, thanks!
Neva presented CC project #8 and demonstrated an effective use of visual aids.
Glutamate and GABA
4.Walk on a bed of coals only to realize that you forgot to walk through your wall of fear. Speaker #4, Bill S presenting “ Firewalk”
Before he joined Seattle Sunrise, Bill’s journey to conquer his fear of public speaking took him to a firewalk. The firewalk was part of an inspirational retreat where you learned the mechanics of acknowledging your fear and took a symbolic and heated approach to walking through that wall of fear. Bill’s captivating account of how he found himself walking on the bed of coals in order to encourage the other participants only to realize, that he had forgotten to focus on his wall of fear was told with humor and effective supporting body language. Bill reminded the audience of the benefit – and savings- of being part of the Seattle Sunrise Toastmasters where he symbolically walks on a bed of coals and through his wall of fear every time he makes a speech. We are on pins and needles and can’t wait for your next speech, Bill.
Bill presented CC project #5: Your body speaks.
” Stuck in the middle of a bed of hot coals….”
Table topics were led by Ken B and we learned about the “ Too far fairy”. Andy K won best Table Topic with a story of too much green tequila.
” My Too Much Fairy said…”
Andy K and Marti M tied for Best Evaluator.
Officer nominations for 2017-18:
Bill S for President and Neva C for Treasurer.
Another 90 mins well spent! Well done Seattle Sunrise! Our next meeting is June 24th.
What do Mauritius Island, fashion design, Vaclav Havel, Poutine and the Emerald City have in common? Me! All these ways have led me to ( drum roll...) the Seattle Sunrise Toastmasters where friends and great speakers are made! I look forward to sharing my stories with you!
