Tip of the Week: Starting on Time!

A few months ago we moved back our official meeting time to 12 noon.  We’ve seen that this earlier starting time is helping us finish by 1:00 and get everyone back to work on time.  Be sure to try to leave the office a few minutes early so you can arrive at SkyBridge C at or before noon!

By Jason Kent, VP of Education

March & April Speeches

March started with the International Speech Contest (3/2) and the Evaluation Competition (3/9). On 3/16 Amy VanCamp delivered her Ice Breaker, sharing with us the different places she lived and how she came to run her own coffee business in Texas, moved to Portland and started her own PR firm. Craig Jones told a story of "borrowing" someone's boat for a  mission impossible that ended up with hauling down to the police station.

Jackie Scherer shared a „crazy story” of persistence during the 3/23 meeting. From getting up early and hitting the peak slopes in Oregon, California and Utah, to teaching her kids to never say “I can’t”. Time after time, injury after injury, she’s always gotten back up on her skies. Bachir Salpagarov took us on a trip to Karachay. We climbed the snowy peak of Mt. Elbrus, visited his home city, learned about the Karachay language, customs and traditions and a rich diversity that was sheltered from the rest of the world by the Iron Curtain and news of war and terrorism in the surrounding regions. One of the seven republics of the Northern Caucasia suddenly became very close to us.

The last meeting in March brought Sarah Skinner's meaningful story of learning from mistakes. Did you know failure is just succeeding at the wrong thing? Carrie Henderson, a seasoned speaker of Electric Toasters, proved that we toast, too, and we toast well! Carrie was mastering her toast for a dear friend, Carol.

April brought some interesting speeches as well. On 4/6 Jason Kent presented El Salvador from a perspective of  a Habitat for Humanity volunteer. Jason went to South America to build houses for a community of Salvadorians without real homes.

April was rich in great speeches as well. During the 4/1 meeting Laurel Vallarta talked about the extreme sleeping techniques (demonstration included!) and Jeff Brooks introduced his new best friend, who happens to swallow a lot of objects but seem to be now back on track with focusing on nice bones to chew instead.

On 4/20 Mike Fajen spoke about diet and how three things are suspects in people’s health problems: gluten, sugar and dairy products. Guest Shane Kennedy practiced for the division speech contest with the Socratic Warrior theme and a speech about his experience at Marine officer candidate school.

Open House on 4/27 had Ania Osińska-Bulloff delivered a speech on a desire to travel the world from the comfort of one's own home, the invention of the Airstream, and where the vehicle has taken people in the world and in their lives.

Published by Ania Osińska-Bulloff, VP of Public Relations

Sneak peek from our Open House meeting today:

Thanks to everyone who participated and/or contributed!

By Ania Osinska-Bulloff, VP of Public Relations

Our new member, Amy VanCamp, Says Hi

Hi all,

I’m Amy VanCamp and I am lucky enough to own my own communications business. While I work harder now than any other job I’ve had, I love being “the boss of me.”   It offers me the flexibility to attend functions at my two boys’ schools (yes, this includes visits with the principal) and to be more involved in their day-to-day activities. I work with great people, on fun projects that make a difference in our community. Pretty fortunate, for sure.

Toastmasters has been something I’ve wanted to join for years, but not unlike scheduling a dentist appointment, I found reasons to put it off. I have such stage fright -- and an experience in college were I had to act in a play and I totally froze -- that I didn’t think I could do it.  I sought out a friend who is deeply involved in the organization to help me get started, and his story of what got him involved prompted me to visit the Electric Toasters club. The reception was warm and welcoming, and here I am a new member having just finished my first icebreaker—and I didn’t faint!

I’ve always had a hard time shutting off work and relaxing. It’s something I’ve wanted to adjust in my life for sometime.  An ancillary positive outcome of joining Toastmasters is I pay attention differently now–thinking about how what I’m doing (or not doing) would shape up into a speech, or contribute to a table top topic. 

I love to travel and recently went to New Orleans, New York and this upcoming May, Paris, France. Whee and Oui!

By Amy VanCamp

Downtown Division Speech Contest is this Thursday – two Electric Toasters are competing!

Come out and support your fellow Electric Toasters Jason Kent and Kerry Dugan as they represent Electric Toasters and Area 71 in the Downtown Division International Speech and Evaluation Contest this Thursday, April 21, 6:30 PM, at the ODOT Building, 123 NW Flanders St. The entrance is on the corner of NW 2^nd and Flanders. Jason will be competing in the International Speech Contest, and Kerry will be competing in the Evaluation Contest. Admission is free and there will be food!  Come watch some great speeches and evaluations and cheer on your buddies Jason and Kerry!  

By Jason Kent, VP of Education
 

Electric Toasters Electrify

Tonight was a night of victory. Both of our club members, Jason Kent and Kerry Dugan, won the shiny gold in the International Speech Contest and the Evaluation Contest respectively. Both looked into the eyes of the anonymous Toastmaster audience, kept cool and delivered beautifully crafted speeches, that moved everyone in the auditorium. Check out a few sneak peaks from tonight:

Jason Kent sharing a story of the best gift he's ever received

A real Oscar moment: Kerry with his trophy

The winners: Kerry and Jason.
Congrats!

See you at the Downtown Division Contest
for the next round of the speech and evaluation contests
on April 21st!

By Ania Osińska-Bulloff, VP of Public Relations

Tip of the Week: Area Speech Contest is tonight!

Come out and support your fellow Electric Toasters Jason Kent and Kerry Dugan as they represent Electric Toasters in the Area 71 International Speech and Evaluation Contest tonight, Monday April 11, 6:00 PM, at the Good Samaritan Hospital campus, Building #2, Auditorium.  The address is 1040 NW 22nd Ave, Portland, OR 97210. It is on the corner of NW Marshall and 22nd. Jason will be competing in the International Speech Contest, and Kerry will be competing in the Evaluation Contest. Admission is free and there will be food!  Come watch some great speeches and evaluations and cheer on your buddies Jason and Kerry! 

By Jason Kent, VP of Education