Saturday’s meeting of the Seattle Sunrise Toastmasters was presided over by our Acting President Aanya and hosted by Toastmaster Scott C. The theme, seasonally appropriate, was Back to School. Scott was excited to show off his back-to-school clothes, a new gray jersey (which looked a lot like the one he was already wearing, but I can’t claim to be up all on the new fashions these days).
Toastmaster Scott C. shows off his back-to-school purchases
I had the honor of joining in as a speaker, along with Preston, Dave E., and Tom. Preston was up first, with his CC Project #2 speech, “4 things to know to make your home purchase go smoother,” in which he outlined the hard-won wisdom he has gleaned from being a buyer on $eattle’$ expensive sellers’ real estate market. Of his points–all of them sound and useful–“Brace yourself for disappointment,” was the takeaway for me that seemed applicable to life in general.
Preston gives advice about buying a new home
Up next was Dave, giving his final speech of his second advanced manual, with his Persuasive Speaking Project #5, “I am Privileged; BUT We REALLY Are In This Together.” He spoke about how reading a paper in 1988 by Peggy McIntosh about white male privileged challenged his own perceptions about race and gender. This revelation helped him more clearly define his mission that all people be equally welcomed into and treated within the human circle. Congratulations Dave on completing your manual!
Dave E talked about race and gender privilege
Tom braved the topic of gun control for his CC Project #2 speech, “Look where we’ve come in 224 years.” Tom covered a lot about the issue, including possible motivations for owning firearms, arguments used by the gun industry and supporters to inspire and defend gun ownership, and mortality rates for gun victims compared with other countries such as Japan.
I batted cleanup (hey look! I came up with a sports metaphor!) with my CC Project #5 speech,
Tom talks about guns and gun control
“Unhandy Andy: My Misadventures in the Construction Trade.” In it, I described why it was a horrible idea for me to take a job as a carpenter when I was 18 years old and trying to avoid going back to school. Turns out, I’m much more suited to a desk job where I can’t hurt myself or anybody else with power tools or sledgehammers.
Andy explains why he should never be allowed around tools
Mary was our Table Topics Master today. A longtime kindergarten teacher, she used the back-to-school theme to quiz Nicole C, Paula, Clint, Robert, and Katey’s father Mike about their school experiences.
Clint won the Best Table Topics ribbon for describing the difficulties of being a boy with a thick southern accent being made to school in England while his father was stationed there in the Air Force.
Clint wins Best Table Topics
Our evaluations were up next. Marti, Kyle, Michelle, Brian, and our General Evaluator Katey, gave their feedback to the speakers, and Michelle won Best Evaluator for her critique of Tom’s speech.
Our Grammarian and Ah-counter was Robert, who gave us the word of the day “Truculent,” which several speakers used during our speeches. Makato was our timer.
We had a good turnout today, including our guest Mike and our two soon-to-be-Sunrisers Clint and Jackie.
Table Topics Master Mary
Both Scott and Aanya reminded us, and I will do so as well, that our Humorous Speech Contest and Table Topics Contest will be held at 7:30a.m., Saturday August 29, at our usual venue: the atrium of Northwest Hospital in Northgate. Please come and come a bit early (7:00-7:15 a.m. if possible). We still need volunteers for some roles, and speakers can still sign up to speak for either the Humorous Speech or the Table Topics. Aanya will be following up this week with another email. We hope as many members can come out to support the club and speakers. As a contestant myself, I can say it is much more fun to speak to a full room, especially when there are plenty of friendly faces in the audience. Hope you can make it!
Michelle took home the Best Evaluator ribbon
Our next regular meeting will be in three weeks, on September 12. If you haven’t done so already, please remember to check to see if you’re scheduled for a role or to speak.
I'm a writer, editor, sit-down comedian, and keeper of many hobbies.
Another excellent write-up, Andy. Come on “Brace yourself for disappointment,” cannot be the life message you identify with. You’ve found Seattle Sunrise, right?
Seattle Sunrise never disappoints!