Thank you Heights Toastmasters!

toastmasters photo for blogDear Fellow Toastmasters,

Thanks so much for your support this past Tuesday as I tried my hand at being Toastmaster for the very first time.  Jane Gillies took us down memory lane to revisit our grammer school days with her fun and entertaining Table Topics.  Then our first speaker, Petra Willig, told us about setting goals and Eric Burnod schooled us on how communication is the key to good relationships.  Thank you fellow Toastmasters, for being my support team on the journey to better speaking and leadership skills!  -Jen

And we’re off to an exciting 2013!

Toastmasters is back in session, so if you’ve been flirting with the idea of seeing what Toastmasters is all about, now is a great time to stop by!  A big congratulations to Valarie Lueck and Jim Gentry on completing their very first speech, The Icebreaker.  And they both won Best Speaker awards to boot!

Jim Gentry, pictured here with Jane Gilles, wins Best Speaker award with his Icebreaker speech.

Jim Gentry, pictured here with Jane Gilles, wins Best Speaker award with his Icebreaker speech.

Improv and Spring Speech Contest!

If you missed this week’s meeting, you missed a heck of a Table Topics put on by Brad! He drew from an improvisational comedy class he once took and everyone had a great time watching members (and even our brave guest Dora!) participate in teams of two.  Don’t you wish you’d been there?

It’s contest season again, and we’ve already got three champion speakers lined up for February 28th: Mario, Miguel and Robert will all compete in the International Speech Contest category, and Miguel will reel us in hook, line and sinker with his Tall Tales entry.

Want to give them a run for their money?  There’s no friendlier place to compete than Heights Toastmasters, so email Natalie right now!  Regardless of whether you have that competitive spirit, make sure you come cheer them on in our usual meeting location and time.  When they sweep the District 56 competition this May, you’ll be able to say you were there when it all began!

First monthly social hour and a Toastmaster at TEDx

Thanks to all who came out to Cedar Creek last night for good conversation and good company!  We’re looking for a couple folks to chair the organization of these monthly social events, so if you’re interested please let Natalie know!

As Toastmasters, we obviously love to speak, and what could be cooler than being asked to speak at a TEDx event?  Long-time member Mario recently got to do just that at TEDxYouth@TheWoodlands.  Check out the article, or just skip to the good part and read this blurb about Mario:

Mario Salinas was found blue, motionless and clinically dead shortly after he entered the world. Doctors were successful in bringing him back yet because of seizures and lack of oxygen, his brain had suffered extensive damage. His mother was told he would never talk nor walk.

Where there is a challenge, there’s opportunity, he said. Just be realistic, utilize all your available resources and be patient.

Standing on the TEDxYouth@TheWoodlands stage, his speech was eloquent, emotional and beautifully crafted and was filled with anecdotes about how his stutter affected him socially. First a bully, then the class clown.

When fear, shame, denial and anxiety morphed into courage, Salinas’ life changed. Today, the 30 year-old works in the City of Houston Public Works Department and hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in sociology at Rice University.

New for 2012: raise a glass with the Heights Toastmasters!

Starting in February, everyone is invited to mix and mingle at a local watering hole after the first meeting of every month!  The location may vary, so be sure to check this site and our official site as each new month approaches.

Our first monthly social hour will be February 7th at Cedar Creek.  Members, friends, guests, and the Toast-curious are all welcome!

Special local event: The Perfection of Deception

One of District 56’s Toastmasters, Harry Maurer, is a professional magician who will be presenting a free program on January 25th about how magicians have changed the course of history.  It will be from 10-11 AM at the Lone Star College-Cyfair, in Recital Hall 102 at the Center for the Arts Building.  See the flyer below:

Sounds like fun, right?  Go support a local Toastmaster!

Happy New Year!

The Heights Toastmasters are back in session!

We had an outstanding first meeting of 2012, with a record number of guests.  The meeting room was packed — in fact, the number of guests exceeded the number of members present!  Everyone was a great sport and we had some fantastic guest participation in Table Topics.

Guests were treated to Robert’s Area Contest-winning speech, ‘A Trip Around My City,’ as well as an impressive, dynamic history lesson from Frankie about France’s important role in the Revolutionary War and in the building of the US.  Even more impressive was that he did the whole speech off the cuff!

The officers have some fun things planned for 2012 — watch the website and the blog so you don’t miss out!

Reminder: 2011 Winter Party!

The Heights Toastmasters will not be meeting at our usual space on Tuesday the 13th — we will be meeting at Victoria and Malek’s house to enjoy food and each other’s company, and to celebrate all that we’ve accomplished this year!  Guests are welcome!

Bring a beverage (adult or otherwise) to share and be sure to RSVP to Victoria or Amber if you have not done so.

Hope to see everyone there!