Due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19), Toastmaster District 2 Leadership has requested for all toastmaster clubs to adhere to social distancing, as a response to the State of Emergency by governor Jay Inslee. We had to cancel the scheduled meeting on March 14th, in order for the the Executive Committee to convene and plan how we will be transitioning to online meetings only.

Below is the memo that was emailed to all members.

March 14, 2020

Club Officers COVID-19 March & April Impact Communication 

Dear Seattle Sunrise Toastmaster Members and Guests: 

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we are moving regular meetings to an online format. We’re excited to jump in using Zoom! We believe this will allow us to continue our learning journey together safely, while also pursuing our mission of improving our communication and leadership skills. Based on the current situation, we expect the online meetings to continue through April 2020, and maybe longer.

Many of our club officers have extensive experience with video conferencing, so we are in good shape, and ready to go. If you’re new to online meetings, remember that Toastmasters is a great place to try new things, and get support while you learn. We’ve got this!

In order to help you prepare, please find information below about our new meeting format, the modified meeting agendas AND membership fees payment instructions:

1. Seattle Sunrise Toastmaster new meeting format

• We are moving our Saturday meetings online effective March 21^st. 
• Regular Meeting Online Venue: Zoom Meeting Space  https://zoom.us/j/8944426030, Meeting ID: 894 442 6030

You will be receiving a zoom meeting invite from Aleli, our club secretary.

• For District 2 online meeting guidelines, click link to view guide
• Etiquette for Online Meetings, click link to view
• To experience an online meeting 

2. Modified Agenda for online meetings

• Meetings will be shortened to 1 hour- from 8 am to 9 am. 
• We ask that you join the zoom session at 7:50 – 10 mins before the start time. This allows time for checking your audio and video connections, and for everyone to get comfortable before the prompt start of the meeting. 
• The structure of the meeting agenda will change. We are focused on ways to encourage more active participation, so that everyone can stay engaged in this digital format. There will be fewer speeches, and some role changes. Please take a look at the schedule for the most recent updates, and contact the assigned Toastmaster if you have questions about how to prepare. 

3. Submission of Membership Dues

• Membership dues are due! Social distancing oblige, we invite you to submit your payments online, via Cash App.
• Click this video for a tutorial on how-to send the payment or follow the instructions below:
  • Open the Cash App mobile app.
  • Enter the amount you want to send: $51
  • Tap “Pay.”
  • Enter the “$Cashtag”: $seasuntm
  • Enter what you are sending the payment for: March 2020 Dues
  • Tap “Pay.”
  • Please submit membership fee payments by March 25.
  • Please contact Treasurer with questions or requests for alternative payment methods.

In this time of social distancing, it’s easy to feel disconnected and alone. The Seattle Sunrise Toastmasters club invites you to stay connected with your community of peer learners and friends online each Saturday at 8:00am. Let’s keep learning together until we can see each other face to face – hopefully soon! 

Thank you,

Seattle Sunrise Toastmaster Club Officers

Lara Grauer (President), Oleg Kobzar (VPE), Paula Liu (VPM), Isabella Zhang (VPPR), Jimmy Matsuura (Treasurer), Aleli Manalili (Secretary), Petar Spasic & Jovica Spasic (SAA)

The morning meeting started with Petar, as a first-time Toastmaster, reviewing the agenda and the theme of the day “Open Mind”.  

We had four speakers.  Isabella started her new Pathway track Strategic Relationships and she spoke of why she chose this path.  Lara shared with us her plan for Intentional Social Media and building up her presence in Facebook. Bill assisted us in the practice of Open Minded Presence by having us walk through our breathing with eyes closed and transferring our attention to our eyes.  Guest speaker, Randy, spoke about the Up Down Sideway of choosing humor in your speeches.  

Steven was the Table Topics Toastmaster. He created a humorous section for members and guests to practice impromptu speaking, giving instructions to share about the new hobby and why you were passionate about it.  Each answers brought laughter and fun to the meeting. Matt, Petar, Lara, Bill, Hannah, and Randy volunteered. Bill won the Best Table Topics.  

Young as a first-time evaluator, critiquing Isabella’s speech, gave substantial suggestions to improve for choosing and using words in context, slowing down phrasing, and recording your speech for practice. Jovica evaluated Lara with positivity and encouraging words. Paula evaluated Bill giving him tips on organization on content and admiring his voice during the eyes close exercise.  Steven evaluated the guest speaker’s Randy’s speech, noticing the pacing and the effectiveness of the homour for such a series topic. 

What makes a good meeting?  General Evaluator, Aleli, asked for a round-robin of the audience, engaging members and guest alike.  The meeting ended with Scott’s grammarian report, and Jovica timer report, before Petar transferred the meeting back to President Lara, who closed out the morning by asking the four guests for their feedback about the meeting. 

Happy birthday to Oleg, Happy birthday to him, Happy birthday dear Oleg, we hope you join us next time.  Yes that was today’s theme for our Toastmaster meeting. But the birthday-boy was absent from the meeting; and Bill joked that he was hiding in the eating area just outside the meeting windows.  We had giggles and laughters today with the help of Isabella and Jovica, who bridged our meeting with the birthday theme.  We had some people sing happy birthday rendition that were surprising. During the table topics, people share their birth anniversary memories. We learned how to say happy birthday in multiple languages from Young, who won the best Table Topics award.  

We had two icebreaker speeches.  Young shared his goal for joining toastmaster to advance his communication and leadership skills as a STEM professor.  Hannah gave her icebreaker Getting Comfortable being uncomfortable, with a goal of becoming a better communicate as an engineer.  Petar repeated and refined his speech with Crashing American Dream of a Car at 16.  Jimmy delighted us with  a eulogy of the infamous internet personality Grumpy Cat. 

The technique of evaluating and delivering an effective criticism is something we practice at Toastmaster.  The evaluators today were Scott, Aleli, Bill, and Jovica.   Each delivered against a 2-3 minute time box and all stayed within their time, with Scott winning the Best Evaluator award.  
The general evaluator, Paula, provided general meeting observation and added to the speakers evaluations.  Ana, our grammarian gave her report on how many times the word of the day “optimistic” was used.  Samantha was a first-time timer at our Club and she kept our speakers on track.  

Isabella finished up her toastmaster duties handing the meeting to former Club President, Bill, who closed out the meeting with soliciting for feedback from Zayden, a former member, visited us again and his guest and friend Gabby.  Jarred was also a returning said that the meeting was “cool”. 

Some business topics were brought up by Jimmy and Aleli at the end of the meeting.  Jimmy reminded the club about new 6-months renewal Club fee are due at the end of March, asking the members to renew as early as possible.  Aleli asked for volunteers for the Division G Contest in 2020, as she is chairing the event on April 11th. 

Happy birthday to Oleg!  Where is Oleg?