At the meeting opening, our Treasurer, Tim Murphy, shared a story about discrimination he witnessed during his time as a student. He recounted an incident involving his black roommate who was unjustly interrogated, emphasizing the need for us to stand up against such injustice, and leading us to the moment of silence in support and acknowledgement of the Black Lives Matter movement. Tim also introduced the bias flag as a tool for personal growth in our journey of becoming better speakers, and Toastmaster Dave Burr set the tone with the word of the day, “Anteater,” encouraging everyone to embrace it throughout the meeting!
Toastmaster Tina Joe introduced our first speaker, Toastmaster Summer Murphy. Murphy captivated the audience with her engaging speech, delving into her dream job as an animal photographer, highlighting the demanding nature of the job and how it allows individuals to discover more about themselves. She left us with a profound reflection, stating, “You are the creature of your habits,” inviting us to contemplate the power of our own routines and behaviors. Tina provided feedback, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement.
Toastmaster Savannah Murphy introduced our second speaker, Toastmaster Norris Bass, who delivered a compelling speech titled “Conflict Resolution.” Bass shared insightful observations regarding the recurring patterns of conflict, emphasizing their potential as opportunities for personal and professional growth. In his speech, Bass outlined a practical framework comprising four steps for effectively dealing with conflict: actively listening, utilizing “I” statements, seeking common ground, and demonstrating a willingness to compromise. Savannah provided valuable feedback, commendably acknowledging the speaker’s strengths while also offering constructive suggestions for improvement.
Toastmaster Kerstin Haase led an engaging table topic session, posing thought-provoking questions to encourage participants to provide spontaneous and impactful responses. The interactive segment aimed to improve participants’ ability to think quickly, articulate their thoughts effectively, and respond confidently on the spot.
Toastmaster Anu Parvathaneni served as the role of General Evaluator, providing a comprehensive assessment of the meeting and recognizing outstanding performances. Toastmaster Tina Joe delivered the Timer report – double roles! ensuring adherence to allotted time. Toastmaster Hema presented the Grammarian report, offering feedback on language usage and suggestions for improvement.
With a seamless transition, Dave handed over the reins of the meeting to Tim, who wrapped up the meeting and adjourned it.
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The next Sunrise Toastmasters meeting will be at 7 a.m. on April 12, EST. If you would like to join our meeting as a guest, contact us for the meeting link.
The roles for the next meeting are as follows:
Toastmaster: Savannah
Speaker 1: Dave
Speaker 2: Abdulrahman
Table Topics: Saraswathi
General Evaluator: Norris
Evaluator 1: Hema
Evaluator 2: Tina
Timer: Tim
Grammarian: Summer
