The Community of Sunset Park
Sunset Park, located in Wilmington, NC off Carolina Beach Road has origins going back almost 100 years. In 1912 the Fidelity Investment and Development Company bought a tract of land outside the Wilmington city limits just south of Greenfield Lake.
A contest was held by the investors for a community name and the winning name was “Sunset Park”. The investors promoted the modern “permanent improvements” which the community would include. Archived newspaper clippings show advertisements of “Parkways, Boulevards, Streets, Sewage, Artesian Water System, Sidewalks, Decorative Entryways, and Grading of Lots.” One of the taglines for the development was “Everybody’s Going South.”
Sunset Park begins west of Carolina Beach Road and parallel streets to that road were named after presidents beginning with Washington Street and proceeding on order to Taylor Street just before Riverside Drive at the bank of the Cape Fear River. At some point before World War II, the streets of Polk, Taylor and Riverside Drive were taken for use by shipbuilding companies. The North Caroline State Port Authority is situated on this property today.
Crossing these presidential streets in Sunset Park’s original layout are Northern, Central and Southern Boulevards which boasts wide medians. A streetcar track from town once ran down Adams Street to Southern Boulevard.
Sunset Park consists of 800+ homes and is accessible from Carolina Beach Road or Burnett Boulevard (once called Tyler Street) and the cross streets of Shipyard Boulevard, Northern, Central and Southern Boulevards.
Sunset Park boasts a variety of architectural styles including craftsman style, bungalows, cottages and traditional for their time. Some existing homes were Sears Catalog Homes delivered as kits and assembled on site.
Come and see the quaint cottages and charming streets in a community full of history on the Southside of Wilmington. For further information on Sunset Park’s history, go to http://www.sunsetparknc.org .
Sunset Park home for sale; http://www.intracoastalrealty.com/idx/search/details.aspx?key=2679e907-80c1-4b29-a1ad-a7051e088f34&method=standard&type=107080&accountid=47e0b7e2-d4f2-4c5d-a066-77847603efb2¤tpage=1&sort=price;desc&showimages=True&numperpage=25&mapzoom=10&mapmax_num_points=200&returnbannerinfo=False&pricechangeddays=30&resultsdisplaytype=50&detailsdisplaytype=50
Monday, August 24, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
River Oaks Community, Wilmington, NC 28412
The River Oaks Community
River Oaks, located just south of Wilmington, NC off River Road on the east side of the mighty Cape Fear River, consists of 142+ homes and lots on 14 streets. River Road is accessible from Independence Boulevard, Sanders Road or Carolina Beach Road just north of the Snow’s Cut Bridge. The drive down River Road is scenic with views of marshes, the river and plenty of wildlife. Cargo ship and pleasure craft traffic on the river give a frequent reminder that you live by a major waterway. River Road also has a bike path.
Construction in River Oaks began in the 1970s but most of the development has occurred since 2000. Newer homes boast larger square footage and modern open floor plans. Most lots range in size around ½ acre or more and up to 2 acres.
Both River Road Park (which has kayak/small boat access) and Snow's Cut Park are a quick drive (or bike ride) away. Carolina Beach State Park (with very nice public boat ramps) is only about a 5 minute drive.
Not only is River Road a nice drive, it is extremely convenient for accessing northern Wilmington and downtown. When looking at a map, you might think that River Road is like going around your elbow to get to your thumb, when in reality it is much quicker and easier to drive due to no stop signs, no traffic lights, and mostly a 55 mph speed limit.
With the expansion of Monkey Junction and new retail areas on Carolina Beach Road, River Oaks is only a few minutes away from easy access to restaurants and shopping.
Come and see the quiet solitude of easy living in a community of beautiful homes just south of Wilmington. You’ll be glad you did!
River Oaks, located just south of Wilmington, NC off River Road on the east side of the mighty Cape Fear River, consists of 142+ homes and lots on 14 streets. River Road is accessible from Independence Boulevard, Sanders Road or Carolina Beach Road just north of the Snow’s Cut Bridge. The drive down River Road is scenic with views of marshes, the river and plenty of wildlife. Cargo ship and pleasure craft traffic on the river give a frequent reminder that you live by a major waterway. River Road also has a bike path.
Construction in River Oaks began in the 1970s but most of the development has occurred since 2000. Newer homes boast larger square footage and modern open floor plans. Most lots range in size around ½ acre or more and up to 2 acres.
Both River Road Park (which has kayak/small boat access) and Snow's Cut Park are a quick drive (or bike ride) away. Carolina Beach State Park (with very nice public boat ramps) is only about a 5 minute drive.
Not only is River Road a nice drive, it is extremely convenient for accessing northern Wilmington and downtown. When looking at a map, you might think that River Road is like going around your elbow to get to your thumb, when in reality it is much quicker and easier to drive due to no stop signs, no traffic lights, and mostly a 55 mph speed limit.
With the expansion of Monkey Junction and new retail areas on Carolina Beach Road, River Oaks is only a few minutes away from easy access to restaurants and shopping.
Come and see the quiet solitude of easy living in a community of beautiful homes just south of Wilmington. You’ll be glad you did!
Monday, September 1, 2008
There's a Speech in That!
There’s a Speech in That!
One day, I was having a discussion with a fellow Toastmaster who is my “Mentee” when she said, “I can’t think of anything to give a speech about!” I was flabbergasted! I went on to tell her about the list of speech topics I continually add to every week. I am a list person and I am always adding to my list of speech topics. In discussions with my wife or friends, I am known to frequently say, “There’s a speech in that!”
I want to tell you how to build a list of speech topics and tell you where they can come from. Beware, you are going into a different dimension, I place where the unusual is the norm. That’s right; you are getting a peek inside Phil’s head. Be afraid, be very afraid!
One of my favorite TV shows is Seinfeld. I remember the time that Jerry and George went to NBC to sell their idea of a “Show about Nothing”. George asked the network executive what he did today and he said he had a bagel and then went for a workout. George said, “That’s a show”. That is what comedians do. They take the ordinary, find humor in it and point out the humor. For Toastmasters, we can take the ordinary, find the humor in it, point it out and add a little life lesson to go with it. We give the audience a life lesson, inspiration, a sweet story or a reminder to add to society each day.
That brings me to my first point, an article in the Toastmasters magazine; A-B-C. Always be collecting. Collect ideas, articles, web-pages and addresses. Keep a running list of possible topics to speak on. These ideas are like seeds in the fertile ground of your mind. Eventually, one will burst forth from the ground and grow to the point it consumes your thoughts and you just have to get in front of the audience and get it out of your head.
Where do the ideas come from? What did you do today? I went down to the DMV and tried to get a license plate for my car. Did I get it? No, instead I got high blood pressure, almost had a mini stroke and got an idea for a speech. I also learned I need to control my temper and not let others set me off. No one should be able to cause that kind of distress in another. I learned to own the problem and not the DMV. It was hard work but I learned from it. I’ll tell you one thing though, when the revolution comes, they may be the first ones up against the wall!
Write down your dreams. I once had a dream that a doughnut was eating me! Now there’s got to be a speech in that, somewhere! Perhaps dreams flow from the subconscious to the conscious and also from the conscious to the subconscious. Dreams can be a source of great insight and they should be shared, some of them anyway!
Theme speeches, when writing down ideas, see if there is a common theme. You may come up with a series of speeches relating to a particular subject or type of speech. Some speeches may become too long and you may need to break them up into a series.
Watermarks in speeches. In every episode of Seinfeld, there is some reference to superman, the superman story, a character or connection to the TV series. “That’s the question Jimmy, that’s the question.” I like to install a phrase from Seinfeld in my speeches or find a way to insert a doughnut in them. That makes me laugh.
Props speeches. Speeches about your junk drawer and the justification for being a pack rat. By golly, I just love a hat speech or someone talking about their shoes! I once heard a member of my Toastmasters club say something I will never get over, “I have shoes in my closet I’ve never worn.” Learning effective use of props is a skill we can all use.
Types of speeches,
Book report, a book report speech should not tell the story but tell how you reacted to the story and entice the listener to want to read the book. Tease them with the drama, humor, mystery until they come to you later and say, “Thanks, because of you I was up all night reading that book!”
You can try out your Technical speeches for work on your Toastmasters club audience. It is good to work out the kinks prior to going before the bosses!
Your experiences are a great source of material for a speech. Did something happen to you which made you grow? Did you have a revelation as a result of your experiences? Tell your fellow Toastmasters.
Music appreciation. How on earth can you feel comfortable bringing music into a speech? I saw a fellow member bring in her CD player and give us an enlightening speech on classical music and played a few verses for us. It inspired me to give a speech on Meat Loaf’s music which inspired another member to speak on his favorite group, Creme.
Outline for the speech. When outlining your speech consider;
What is the problem?
What is the situation?
What is the issue?
How ridiculous was it?
What is funny about it?
What can you learn from it?
That may very well be the basis for your next talk.
So here is your assignment. You should never run out of speech topics if you do the following:
ABC. Always be collecting. Ideas for speeches are everywhere. Write them all down, no matter how far flung the idea.
Look for the story in everything you do. Find the message you should share with others.
Once you have gotten a few speeches or manuals behind you, look on your “speech creation” in terms of connecting speeches together either by themes or threads.
Have fun. Getting the creative juices flowing is a wonderful way to live and to learn.
Don’t be afraid to steal. Emulate others, pick out the good points others have and remold them to be your own.
Recently a club member told of the power and rush he gets from speaking in Toastmasters. I want to tell you there is also power in the growing of an idea into a speech.
You will never do everything you dream of going but you will rarely do anything without first dreaming of it. I hope you dream and I hope you dream big!
Then I hope you come and tell us about it!
One day, I was having a discussion with a fellow Toastmaster who is my “Mentee” when she said, “I can’t think of anything to give a speech about!” I was flabbergasted! I went on to tell her about the list of speech topics I continually add to every week. I am a list person and I am always adding to my list of speech topics. In discussions with my wife or friends, I am known to frequently say, “There’s a speech in that!”
I want to tell you how to build a list of speech topics and tell you where they can come from. Beware, you are going into a different dimension, I place where the unusual is the norm. That’s right; you are getting a peek inside Phil’s head. Be afraid, be very afraid!
One of my favorite TV shows is Seinfeld. I remember the time that Jerry and George went to NBC to sell their idea of a “Show about Nothing”. George asked the network executive what he did today and he said he had a bagel and then went for a workout. George said, “That’s a show”. That is what comedians do. They take the ordinary, find humor in it and point out the humor. For Toastmasters, we can take the ordinary, find the humor in it, point it out and add a little life lesson to go with it. We give the audience a life lesson, inspiration, a sweet story or a reminder to add to society each day.
That brings me to my first point, an article in the Toastmasters magazine; A-B-C. Always be collecting. Collect ideas, articles, web-pages and addresses. Keep a running list of possible topics to speak on. These ideas are like seeds in the fertile ground of your mind. Eventually, one will burst forth from the ground and grow to the point it consumes your thoughts and you just have to get in front of the audience and get it out of your head.
Where do the ideas come from? What did you do today? I went down to the DMV and tried to get a license plate for my car. Did I get it? No, instead I got high blood pressure, almost had a mini stroke and got an idea for a speech. I also learned I need to control my temper and not let others set me off. No one should be able to cause that kind of distress in another. I learned to own the problem and not the DMV. It was hard work but I learned from it. I’ll tell you one thing though, when the revolution comes, they may be the first ones up against the wall!
Write down your dreams. I once had a dream that a doughnut was eating me! Now there’s got to be a speech in that, somewhere! Perhaps dreams flow from the subconscious to the conscious and also from the conscious to the subconscious. Dreams can be a source of great insight and they should be shared, some of them anyway!
Theme speeches, when writing down ideas, see if there is a common theme. You may come up with a series of speeches relating to a particular subject or type of speech. Some speeches may become too long and you may need to break them up into a series.
Watermarks in speeches. In every episode of Seinfeld, there is some reference to superman, the superman story, a character or connection to the TV series. “That’s the question Jimmy, that’s the question.” I like to install a phrase from Seinfeld in my speeches or find a way to insert a doughnut in them. That makes me laugh.
Props speeches. Speeches about your junk drawer and the justification for being a pack rat. By golly, I just love a hat speech or someone talking about their shoes! I once heard a member of my Toastmasters club say something I will never get over, “I have shoes in my closet I’ve never worn.” Learning effective use of props is a skill we can all use.
Types of speeches,
Book report, a book report speech should not tell the story but tell how you reacted to the story and entice the listener to want to read the book. Tease them with the drama, humor, mystery until they come to you later and say, “Thanks, because of you I was up all night reading that book!”
You can try out your Technical speeches for work on your Toastmasters club audience. It is good to work out the kinks prior to going before the bosses!
Your experiences are a great source of material for a speech. Did something happen to you which made you grow? Did you have a revelation as a result of your experiences? Tell your fellow Toastmasters.
Music appreciation. How on earth can you feel comfortable bringing music into a speech? I saw a fellow member bring in her CD player and give us an enlightening speech on classical music and played a few verses for us. It inspired me to give a speech on Meat Loaf’s music which inspired another member to speak on his favorite group, Creme.
Outline for the speech. When outlining your speech consider;
What is the problem?
What is the situation?
What is the issue?
How ridiculous was it?
What is funny about it?
What can you learn from it?
That may very well be the basis for your next talk.
So here is your assignment. You should never run out of speech topics if you do the following:
ABC. Always be collecting. Ideas for speeches are everywhere. Write them all down, no matter how far flung the idea.
Look for the story in everything you do. Find the message you should share with others.
Once you have gotten a few speeches or manuals behind you, look on your “speech creation” in terms of connecting speeches together either by themes or threads.
Have fun. Getting the creative juices flowing is a wonderful way to live and to learn.
Don’t be afraid to steal. Emulate others, pick out the good points others have and remold them to be your own.
Recently a club member told of the power and rush he gets from speaking in Toastmasters. I want to tell you there is also power in the growing of an idea into a speech.
You will never do everything you dream of going but you will rarely do anything without first dreaming of it. I hope you dream and I hope you dream big!
Then I hope you come and tell us about it!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
When You’re an Evaluator
Back to Basics; When You’re an Evaluator
Opening:
When we are scheduled to be an evaluator, we are responsible for giving feedback to a speaker on how their speech came across to us. Was it effective? If so, what made it effective? What about the speech could be improved? How would our suggestions improve the speech? Our feedback to the speaker is important. Our feedback is the foundation for the speaker making their next speech even more effective. As humans we all strive for continuous improvement.
Today we will examine:
1. How to evaluate a speech,
2. The responsibilities of the evaluator,
3. The importance of receiving feedback.
Opening:
When we are scheduled to be an evaluator, we are responsible for giving feedback to a speaker on how their speech came across to us. Was it effective? If so, what made it effective? What about the speech could be improved? How would our suggestions improve the speech? Our feedback to the speaker is important. Our feedback is the foundation for the speaker making their next speech even more effective. As humans we all strive for continuous improvement.
Today we will examine:
1. How to evaluate a speech,
2. The responsibilities of the evaluator,
3. The importance of receiving feedback.
Body:
The Toastmaster’s manual on evaluation states, “Each of us is an evaluator. From our first cup of coffee in the morning until our last yawn at night we are constantly evaluating the people and things around us. It is hoped that, through this method of constructive evaluation, we may be able to improve the environment in which we live.”
“Your goal as an evaluator is to provide honest reaction to the speaker’s presentation in a constructive manner, utilizing prescribed guides.”
For the benefit of both the evaluator and the speaker, it is helpful for newly joined Toastmasters members to get some experience prior to evaluating more seasoned members. Newer members however can evaluate Icebreaker speeches. I believe they can become comfortable if they are just one speech in the manual ahead of the person they are evaluating. The information should be fresh to them.
Let’s get down to the nuts and bolts of evaluating. When assigned the job of evaluating you may want to talk to the speaker ahead of time to find out which project they are working on and what specifics (if any) the speaker wants you to look for.
I would recommend you confirm your assignment with the Master Evaluator to make sure your assignment has not changed. You may think this should be the speaker’s responsibility but if you want to be prepared, contact the speaker in advance to be prepared. Read the evaluation in advance so you are ready to listen to the speech and know what to focus on.
As an evaluator your purpose is;
1. To determine the effects of a speaker’s performance on you.
2. Give a description of the specific impact of the speech.
3. Provide suggestions for improvement of the speech. What could they do to make the speech more effective?
4. Your goal is to give feedback effectively. If you can get across feedback for improvement, you as an evaluator are well on your way to being an effective communicator too.
5. Remember you are not judging the person or the ideas presented, you are giving feedback on how effective you saw the presentation.
6. To encourage the speaker in a way that allows them to take something away to work on and improve next time.
7. Let the speaker know that your responses reflect how you saw, felt and responded to them not concrete rules of speaking. Our job as speakers and evaluators is to communicate effectively to each other and audiences.
8. If you are confused by the speech, say so. If you liked it say so and say what you liked about it.
9. Think of your feedback as open handed instead of close handed, “You could do this to make your speech more effective” versus “Never, ever do this!”
When the speaker begins their speech, stay focused on the speaker. Evaluating is about listening. I like to take notes during the speech on a separate sheet of paper and then fill out the evaluation form once the speaker is finished. I usually wait until all speakers are finished then I fill out the form.
When it comes time to give the evaluation, I like to review the purpose and objectives of the project the speaker was delivering.
1. Cover the points of the evaluation,
a. Point out what was effective,
b. Point out areas for improvement,
c. Point out how the improvements would make the speech more effective.
2. Was the speaker prepared?
3. Was the presentation organized?
4. Was the delivery effective?
5. How effective was the closing? If there is a weak part of a speech, it is the close. How well did the speaker close?
Speaking of feedback, a word about the sandwich method of feedback. Many people like this form of giving feedback. I don’t like it. The sandwich method is to put a point of negative feedback between two positive points like a sandwich.
I think of the sandwich method in this way. A speaker has completed their speech and is in a state of vulnerability. Using the sandwich method, the evaluator picks them up with positive feedback, slaps them back down with a negative comment and then picks them up again. For me it is too plastic and the speaker rides up and down and up again not really going anywhere. A good evaluation will inspire the audience and motivate the speaker to improve even more.
Conclusion
Being an evaluator helps us improve our listening skills. It also helps us improve our speaking skills as we must prepare and deliver an evaluation (a speech!) in a short period of time.
Being an evaluator challenges us to provide feedback for improvement in a way which will allow the speaker to improve their communication skills to be more effective next time.
It also challenges us to provide feedback in a positive manner.
When you get the assignment to evaluate a speaker;
· Be prepared.
· Listen.
· Give constructive feedback on the effectiveness of the speaker’s communication skills.
· Build up the speaker’s confidence and inspire them to keep improving.
This world of ours needs effective communicators. As an evaluator you can become one and help a fellow toastmaster become one as well.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
When your the Tabletopics Master!
Title of Speech: Back to the Basics: When you are the Table Topics Master!
====================================
(Opening: To capture the audience's attention).
Fellow Toastmasters (TM) and guest. I wish to review the points necessary for being a good Tabletopics Master (TT) during our Toastmaster meetings. After the speeches are given comes the time in the meeting when the table topics are presented.
This time serves several purposes:
· It allows time for the evaluators to fill out their evaluations and prepare to deliver the evaluation which is in itself a speech.
· It allows us to hone our skills in speaking “off the cuff”.
· It is also entertaining!
In my presentation, I will talk about the table topics role by breaking it down into several parts;
· Preparation 1
· Preparation 2
· Presentation
· Closing.
(Body: Points to support the Opening)
· Preparation 1 Before the meeting, Coming up with the questions. I have said many times in TMs that whenever I am the Tabletopics Master, I take a blank sheet of paper and I write across the top, News, Weather and Sports. I also write “Seasonal”, “I remember” and “If only I could…” These topics and headings give me the inspiration to come up with the questions. I usually prepare 8 to 10 questions for our meetings. Write open ended questions.
· Preparation 2 Immediately prior to the meeting, During the beginning of our meeting, I note who is speaking and who is evaluating. Since evaluators are off limits for questions (as they are busy preparing the evaluations) and speakers have had one opportunity during the meeting already, everyone else is fair game, perhaps including the guest. Guests are tricking! Some may not want to be called on yet, others may enjoy the challenge. My rule is never to call on a guest unless I know the experience will not scare them away from Toastmasters. Remember, table topics are scary for seasoned TMs. One other key preparation step is to make sure you select folks without a job first to get the broadest participation by those present.
· Presentation; asking the questions. Once asked to the lectern, the Tabletopics Master (TT)’s job is to introduce the question, the subject, etc. and solicit an answer, opinion or response. The key for me is to always introduce the question and then look the “victim” in the eyes and call out their name. As participants answer the question, listen to their answer and lead the applause once they are finished. Avoid facial expressions which are negative should you disagree to the answer of a political question. You are not to judge the answer, just solicit it and encourage the participant.
· Closing the Tabletopics. Cut off the questions promptly at the designated time [it’s 7:45 for my TM club (if 3 speakers are on the schedule)] or as directed by the TM of the day. You don’t need to use all your questions and you want to leave time for the rest of the meeting so we can end without feeling rushed out of the room. Call for a timer’s report. That is part of your job as well. After the timer’s report, ask members and guest to vote for the best Table Topic participant. Now turn the lectern back over to the TM of the Day.
(Conclusion, summary of points)
To fulfill the role of table topics master takes:
· Preparation in composing the questions and deciding whom to ask the questions
· Presentation, introducing the subjects, calling on participants and leading the applause once they are finished.
· Calling for the timer’s report and soliciting the votes.
· Turning the lectern back over to the TM of the day.
· Being called on for table topics is the most dreaded tasks even of seasoned Toastmasters (TMs). This is probably because it is the hardest to master. We don’t improve by accident, we improve on purpose. When you are called on to be the Table topics master, remember you are in a sense leading a discussion, a discussion designed to improve the audience.
====================================
(Opening: To capture the audience's attention).
Fellow Toastmasters (TM) and guest. I wish to review the points necessary for being a good Tabletopics Master (TT) during our Toastmaster meetings. After the speeches are given comes the time in the meeting when the table topics are presented.
This time serves several purposes:
· It allows time for the evaluators to fill out their evaluations and prepare to deliver the evaluation which is in itself a speech.
· It allows us to hone our skills in speaking “off the cuff”.
· It is also entertaining!
In my presentation, I will talk about the table topics role by breaking it down into several parts;
· Preparation 1
· Preparation 2
· Presentation
· Closing.
(Body: Points to support the Opening)
· Preparation 1 Before the meeting, Coming up with the questions. I have said many times in TMs that whenever I am the Tabletopics Master, I take a blank sheet of paper and I write across the top, News, Weather and Sports. I also write “Seasonal”, “I remember” and “If only I could…” These topics and headings give me the inspiration to come up with the questions. I usually prepare 8 to 10 questions for our meetings. Write open ended questions.
· Preparation 2 Immediately prior to the meeting, During the beginning of our meeting, I note who is speaking and who is evaluating. Since evaluators are off limits for questions (as they are busy preparing the evaluations) and speakers have had one opportunity during the meeting already, everyone else is fair game, perhaps including the guest. Guests are tricking! Some may not want to be called on yet, others may enjoy the challenge. My rule is never to call on a guest unless I know the experience will not scare them away from Toastmasters. Remember, table topics are scary for seasoned TMs. One other key preparation step is to make sure you select folks without a job first to get the broadest participation by those present.
· Presentation; asking the questions. Once asked to the lectern, the Tabletopics Master (TT)’s job is to introduce the question, the subject, etc. and solicit an answer, opinion or response. The key for me is to always introduce the question and then look the “victim” in the eyes and call out their name. As participants answer the question, listen to their answer and lead the applause once they are finished. Avoid facial expressions which are negative should you disagree to the answer of a political question. You are not to judge the answer, just solicit it and encourage the participant.
· Closing the Tabletopics. Cut off the questions promptly at the designated time [it’s 7:45 for my TM club (if 3 speakers are on the schedule)] or as directed by the TM of the day. You don’t need to use all your questions and you want to leave time for the rest of the meeting so we can end without feeling rushed out of the room. Call for a timer’s report. That is part of your job as well. After the timer’s report, ask members and guest to vote for the best Table Topic participant. Now turn the lectern back over to the TM of the Day.
(Conclusion, summary of points)
To fulfill the role of table topics master takes:
· Preparation in composing the questions and deciding whom to ask the questions
· Presentation, introducing the subjects, calling on participants and leading the applause once they are finished.
· Calling for the timer’s report and soliciting the votes.
· Turning the lectern back over to the TM of the day.
· Being called on for table topics is the most dreaded tasks even of seasoned Toastmasters (TMs). This is probably because it is the hardest to master. We don’t improve by accident, we improve on purpose. When you are called on to be the Table topics master, remember you are in a sense leading a discussion, a discussion designed to improve the audience.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
When you are the Toastmaster of the Day
Toastmaster's Speech
Type of Speech: Speak with Knowledge
From: Phil Brady
Date: July, 1, 2008
Title of Speech: Back to Basics; When you are the Toastmaster of the Day!
Opening:
When we are the Toastmaster of the Day, we are responsible for running the meeting. What does that mean? It means preparation, presentation and evaluation. These are the 3 cornerstones of Toastmasters.
Preparation is planning the meeting in advance. Contacting the participants and making sure they accept their role and will be prepared.
Presentation is starting the meeting and advancing the agenda while watching the clock. Our club has the challenge of making sure we are out of here exactly at 8 a.m. If we don’t leave on time, our brothers who meet after us will let us know. In other words, failure to hit our schedule does not constitute a schedule adjustment for those who follow us. They just barge right in whether we are finished or not. You can’t buy that kind of motivation in a volunteer group!
Evaluation is reflecting on how the meeting went and determining what improvements would make your role as Toastmaster of the Day better, easier or less stressful next time.
Body:
Let’s look at preparation. I like to begin preparing for my role as Toastmaster of the Day at the end of the previous meeting. I do this by paying close attention to the review of next week’s schedule and noting those who are present to see if they accept their role, need a replacement and who volunteers to be the replacement.
Our club is good about sending out next week’s agenda via email ASAP after the last meeting. This gives everyone plenty of time to know their assignment and to be prepared. Our email instructions are simple; Speakers, TT, WJM, HS and ME are expected to confirm their assignment to the TM. The other participants; Evaluators, Ah Counter, Grammarian, Timer and Greeter should confirm to the ME.
As Toastmaster of the Day, I like to contact my speakers via email or phone even if they were at the last meeting just to double check on their participation. I ask them how long their speeches are so I am not surprised Tuesday morning with a 20 minute speech for which I wasn’t prepared. I also remind them to bring me an introduction.
Once my speakers have confirmed their assignment, the TT & WJM are on board I inform the ME how many speakers we have and who they are. The schedule changes so much the ME needs to know this in case they want to reassign evaluators based on the experience level of participants.
Now that the ME has parlayed with me, we have completed our advance preparation. Unless I get a change before the meeting, all systems are GO! I now have the “just prior to meeting” preparation to do. This is a very important step.
At the meeting, arrive early to gather up introductions of the speakers. Read these to insure you can read the person’s handwriting and/or become familiar with their words and phrases. Check with the WJM, TT and ME to make sure they are ready. If there is a hiccup, now is the time to call on the HS to fill in. Once you have touch base with the participants and adjusted to changes, you are ready to go!
The Sergeant of Arms will open the meeting and introduce the president who will make announcements and then introduce you. You may want to provide the president with an introduction of your own. Once you are introduced, take possession of the lectern and begin your role in the meeting by greeting your fellow members and working down the agenda.
I like to use a worksheet agenda when I am Toastmaster of the Day. It has the agenda items and notes to remind me what to do when. From here on, the TM’s role is to introduce the participants, relinquish the lectern, take it back when it is handed off to you and lead the applause.
When it is time for Tabletopics, instruct the TT master to cut off the questions at 7:45 to allow time for the evaluations. After evaluations, call for a review of next week’s schedule while the votes are counted and the WJM fills out the award cards. After handing out the awards, turn the meeting back over to the president.
Once the meeting is over, reflect on how well the meeting went and what (if anything) you could do to improve it next time.
Conclusion:
The role of Toastmaster of the Day is 85% preparation and 15% execution. Advanced planning and a good agenda will help you hone your skills as Toastmaster of the Day. This is one of the valuable skills that can be transferred to everyday life in work, church or civic organizations. The role of emcee, facilitator or leader is usually up for grabs and your stepping into it can make a difference in any organization.
Be prepared, stay on your agenda and most important, SMILE! These are the keys to successful Toastmaster of the Day.
Mr. (or Madame) Toastmaster.
Toastmaster of the Day, Meeting Planner and Agenda
7:00 a.m. Pledge of Allegiance.
7:02 a.m. Greeting and announcements by president.
7:06 a.m. Introduction of Toastmaster of the Day.
7:08 a.m. Introduce the WJM: ___________________________
7:10 a.m. Introduce the ME who will introduce their staff: ___________
7:12 a.m. Introduce speaker #1: ____________________
Please take a moment to write a note for the speaker.
Introduce speaker #2: ________________________
Please take a moment to write a note for the speaker.
Introduce speaker #3: _______________________
Please take a moment to write a note for the speaker.
Call for a timer’s report.
~7:32 a.m. Introduce the Table topics Master: ___________________
7:45 a.m. Call for a timer’s report.
7:46 a.m. Introduce the Master Evaluator: _____________________
7:55 a.m. Call for a timer’s report.
7:56 a.m. Go over next week’s schedule.
7:58 a.m. Hand out awards.
7:59 a.m. Turn the meeting back over to the president.
8:00 a.m. Adjourn.
Type of Speech: Speak with Knowledge
From: Phil Brady
Date: July, 1, 2008
Title of Speech: Back to Basics; When you are the Toastmaster of the Day!
Opening:
When we are the Toastmaster of the Day, we are responsible for running the meeting. What does that mean? It means preparation, presentation and evaluation. These are the 3 cornerstones of Toastmasters.
Preparation is planning the meeting in advance. Contacting the participants and making sure they accept their role and will be prepared.
Presentation is starting the meeting and advancing the agenda while watching the clock. Our club has the challenge of making sure we are out of here exactly at 8 a.m. If we don’t leave on time, our brothers who meet after us will let us know. In other words, failure to hit our schedule does not constitute a schedule adjustment for those who follow us. They just barge right in whether we are finished or not. You can’t buy that kind of motivation in a volunteer group!
Evaluation is reflecting on how the meeting went and determining what improvements would make your role as Toastmaster of the Day better, easier or less stressful next time.
Body:
Let’s look at preparation. I like to begin preparing for my role as Toastmaster of the Day at the end of the previous meeting. I do this by paying close attention to the review of next week’s schedule and noting those who are present to see if they accept their role, need a replacement and who volunteers to be the replacement.
Our club is good about sending out next week’s agenda via email ASAP after the last meeting. This gives everyone plenty of time to know their assignment and to be prepared. Our email instructions are simple; Speakers, TT, WJM, HS and ME are expected to confirm their assignment to the TM. The other participants; Evaluators, Ah Counter, Grammarian, Timer and Greeter should confirm to the ME.
As Toastmaster of the Day, I like to contact my speakers via email or phone even if they were at the last meeting just to double check on their participation. I ask them how long their speeches are so I am not surprised Tuesday morning with a 20 minute speech for which I wasn’t prepared. I also remind them to bring me an introduction.
Once my speakers have confirmed their assignment, the TT & WJM are on board I inform the ME how many speakers we have and who they are. The schedule changes so much the ME needs to know this in case they want to reassign evaluators based on the experience level of participants.
Now that the ME has parlayed with me, we have completed our advance preparation. Unless I get a change before the meeting, all systems are GO! I now have the “just prior to meeting” preparation to do. This is a very important step.
At the meeting, arrive early to gather up introductions of the speakers. Read these to insure you can read the person’s handwriting and/or become familiar with their words and phrases. Check with the WJM, TT and ME to make sure they are ready. If there is a hiccup, now is the time to call on the HS to fill in. Once you have touch base with the participants and adjusted to changes, you are ready to go!
The Sergeant of Arms will open the meeting and introduce the president who will make announcements and then introduce you. You may want to provide the president with an introduction of your own. Once you are introduced, take possession of the lectern and begin your role in the meeting by greeting your fellow members and working down the agenda.
I like to use a worksheet agenda when I am Toastmaster of the Day. It has the agenda items and notes to remind me what to do when. From here on, the TM’s role is to introduce the participants, relinquish the lectern, take it back when it is handed off to you and lead the applause.
When it is time for Tabletopics, instruct the TT master to cut off the questions at 7:45 to allow time for the evaluations. After evaluations, call for a review of next week’s schedule while the votes are counted and the WJM fills out the award cards. After handing out the awards, turn the meeting back over to the president.
Once the meeting is over, reflect on how well the meeting went and what (if anything) you could do to improve it next time.
Conclusion:
The role of Toastmaster of the Day is 85% preparation and 15% execution. Advanced planning and a good agenda will help you hone your skills as Toastmaster of the Day. This is one of the valuable skills that can be transferred to everyday life in work, church or civic organizations. The role of emcee, facilitator or leader is usually up for grabs and your stepping into it can make a difference in any organization.
Be prepared, stay on your agenda and most important, SMILE! These are the keys to successful Toastmaster of the Day.
Mr. (or Madame) Toastmaster.
Toastmaster of the Day, Meeting Planner and Agenda
7:00 a.m. Pledge of Allegiance.
7:02 a.m. Greeting and announcements by president.
7:06 a.m. Introduction of Toastmaster of the Day.
7:08 a.m. Introduce the WJM: ___________________________
7:10 a.m. Introduce the ME who will introduce their staff: ___________
7:12 a.m. Introduce speaker #1: ____________________
Please take a moment to write a note for the speaker.
Introduce speaker #2: ________________________
Please take a moment to write a note for the speaker.
Introduce speaker #3: _______________________
Please take a moment to write a note for the speaker.
Call for a timer’s report.
~7:32 a.m. Introduce the Table topics Master: ___________________
7:45 a.m. Call for a timer’s report.
7:46 a.m. Introduce the Master Evaluator: _____________________
7:55 a.m. Call for a timer’s report.
7:56 a.m. Go over next week’s schedule.
7:58 a.m. Hand out awards.
7:59 a.m. Turn the meeting back over to the president.
8:00 a.m. Adjourn.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Burnt Toast!
“Here’s to those who wish us well…and all the rest can go to”…Well! Probably not a good toast! In fact, anytime cursing is in a toast it’s not appropriate. There are other faux pas in toasting and I want to explore them with you.
As members of Toastmasters International, the public speaking club, we are expected to deliver a good toast. We rarely have this opportunity but people expect this of us. The world assumes we are masters of the toast so we have an image we need to uphold.
Think about some of the toast you have witnessed and the locations where they occurred. Weddings, retirements and celebrations for other milestones of life are times when we have toasted someone or heard others toasting.
According to Rabbi Marc Gellman, “A wedding toast should be egoless, true and brief. Most are exactly the opposite.” The point of a wedding toast is to wish the bride and groom well and ask God to bless their marriage. There is no need to tell the dirt of the lovely couple. Don’t say, “David, remember that time in Tijuana when we partied with three sisters all named Juanita?” The groom doesn’t want to hear that anymore than the bride or even the Juanitas!
Toasting is where toastmaster skills come into play. Write out the toast completely. Even if you memorize it, write it out and keep it on the table in front of you in case you need it. If you rely on your memory, you may lose the best part of the toast in the heat of the moment or your brain may cause you to extemporize at the last minute missing your well crafted points. Rabbi Gellman suggests one half page of text (14-point font) as the limit for a toast.
When I married my lovely wife Patty seven years ago, my son was the best man. I think he still is! As the best man, he was responsible for offering a toast at the reception when the Champagne was served. I want to analyze young Phillip’s toast;
First, he introduced himself to the room full of guest,
Then he welcomed one and all to the reception,
He welcomed Patty into our family,
Turning to Patty’s family, he said, “Our family is honored to be joining the Mills family.”
Finally he asked everyone to raise their glasses, “To the bride and groom!”
That’s my boy, a chip off the old block. It was a great toast!
Sometimes we don’t see great toast. Sometimes we see bad toast.
I remember going to a wedding where the groom’s brother stood up to give the toast. To say the boy was drunk doesn’t accurately describe his condition. The young man was tore up! Slurring his words, leaning left to right, hanging on the groom and the bride he went on and on. Then the crying started along with personal testimony of how they took him in when no one else would and that he didn’t blame them for kicking him out later on. Burnt toast! Bad toast!
Once I attended a wedding and the father of the groom got up to give a toast and began to get philosophical about his boy and how proud he was of him even when he and his mother didn’t always agree with his choices. Didn’t agree with his choices? Let’s just take the bride outside and kick the crap out of her right now! I grabbed a butter knife off the table in case we had to fight our way out of the reception. We survived but it was close!
For a good toast, preparation is essential.
The key points of a good wedding toast are;
“A wedding toast should be egoless, true and brief.”
Plan ahead. Write out the toast completely.
Introduce yourself and your relationship to the bride and the groom.
If you are speaking for the family, welcome everyone.
Wish the bride and groom well and ask God to bless their marriage.
Finally, I think it is okay to be instructional by saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses To the Bride and Groom!”
Honoring the occasion and those being celebrated is what a good toast is all about. Careful planning and sober execution is needed for such occasions. Following these tips can help you honor the celebration. Raise your glasses and toast well!
As members of Toastmasters International, the public speaking club, we are expected to deliver a good toast. We rarely have this opportunity but people expect this of us. The world assumes we are masters of the toast so we have an image we need to uphold.
Think about some of the toast you have witnessed and the locations where they occurred. Weddings, retirements and celebrations for other milestones of life are times when we have toasted someone or heard others toasting.
According to Rabbi Marc Gellman, “A wedding toast should be egoless, true and brief. Most are exactly the opposite.” The point of a wedding toast is to wish the bride and groom well and ask God to bless their marriage. There is no need to tell the dirt of the lovely couple. Don’t say, “David, remember that time in Tijuana when we partied with three sisters all named Juanita?” The groom doesn’t want to hear that anymore than the bride or even the Juanitas!
Toasting is where toastmaster skills come into play. Write out the toast completely. Even if you memorize it, write it out and keep it on the table in front of you in case you need it. If you rely on your memory, you may lose the best part of the toast in the heat of the moment or your brain may cause you to extemporize at the last minute missing your well crafted points. Rabbi Gellman suggests one half page of text (14-point font) as the limit for a toast.
When I married my lovely wife Patty seven years ago, my son was the best man. I think he still is! As the best man, he was responsible for offering a toast at the reception when the Champagne was served. I want to analyze young Phillip’s toast;
First, he introduced himself to the room full of guest,
Then he welcomed one and all to the reception,
He welcomed Patty into our family,
Turning to Patty’s family, he said, “Our family is honored to be joining the Mills family.”
Finally he asked everyone to raise their glasses, “To the bride and groom!”
That’s my boy, a chip off the old block. It was a great toast!
Sometimes we don’t see great toast. Sometimes we see bad toast.
I remember going to a wedding where the groom’s brother stood up to give the toast. To say the boy was drunk doesn’t accurately describe his condition. The young man was tore up! Slurring his words, leaning left to right, hanging on the groom and the bride he went on and on. Then the crying started along with personal testimony of how they took him in when no one else would and that he didn’t blame them for kicking him out later on. Burnt toast! Bad toast!
Once I attended a wedding and the father of the groom got up to give a toast and began to get philosophical about his boy and how proud he was of him even when he and his mother didn’t always agree with his choices. Didn’t agree with his choices? Let’s just take the bride outside and kick the crap out of her right now! I grabbed a butter knife off the table in case we had to fight our way out of the reception. We survived but it was close!
For a good toast, preparation is essential.
The key points of a good wedding toast are;
“A wedding toast should be egoless, true and brief.”
Plan ahead. Write out the toast completely.
Introduce yourself and your relationship to the bride and the groom.
If you are speaking for the family, welcome everyone.
Wish the bride and groom well and ask God to bless their marriage.
Finally, I think it is okay to be instructional by saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses To the Bride and Groom!”
Honoring the occasion and those being celebrated is what a good toast is all about. Careful planning and sober execution is needed for such occasions. Following these tips can help you honor the celebration. Raise your glasses and toast well!
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