In the opening remarks, VP of Education Abdulrahman Albazie shared the power of focusing on positivity in the face of adversity.
In a show of support for the Black Lives Matter movement, the group observed a minute of silence.
The meeting was then handed over to the Toastmaster of the Day, Stiles Burr. Stiles introduced the Word of the Day (WOD), which was “conflicted.” He explained that this term refers to a state of having opposing feelings, thoughts, or emotions about something. When someone is conflicted, they may feel torn between different choices or beliefs, leading to uncertainty or indecision. Stiles then invited us to introduce ourselves to our amazing guest, Kim Robinson. It was great to having you, Kim!
Toastmaster Abddulrahman Albazie introduced the first speaker, Toastmaster Tina Joe. Tina delivered a speech titled ‘Even in the Dark,’ stepping beyond the usual confines of a speech, and unveiling a deeper layer of herself. She shared her passion for creativity, weaving together spoken word and original songs that resonated with her soul. Embracing her unique artistry, she proudly called herself a “soulful Xpressionista,” inviting everyone to experience the world through her heartfelt expressions.
Abdulrahman evaluated Toastmaster Tina’s speech, commending her exceptional delivery. Abdulrahman provided constructive feedback, identifying areas of growth opportunity.
Toastmaster Savannah Murphy introduced the second speaker, Toastmaster Norris Bass, who delivered a speech titled “Ice Breaker Revisited.” Norris began by reflecting on his first ice breaker speech, where he shared his birthplace and recounted his experiences living in various places, including New York City during the 1966 World’s Fair. He then transitioned to reflect on his second ice breaker, inspired by a fellow Toastmaster’s story about a young boy who spoke of his family instead of himself while traveling abroad. He concluded by sharing his growth within Toastmasters, noting how he has become a more seasoned speaker.
Savannah evaluated Norris’s speech, commending the exceptional deliver and offering constructive feedback for areas of growth.
Toastmaster Savannah Murphy led an engaging table topics session, inviting participants to respond to “conflicted” questions! This exercise aimed to encourage quick thinking and effective communication, allowing participants to practice articulating their thoughts confidently on the spot.
Toastmaster Dave Burr served as a General Evaluator, providing comprehensive feedback on the meeting and commending the exceptional performance of participants. Toastmaster Stiles delivered the Timer report, ensuring each segment adhered to the allocated time—well done on juggling the double role! Toastmaster Matthew Choate, served as the Grammarian, offered valuable linguistic feedback and shared resonating quotes with the group.
Toastmaster Stiles smoothly handed over the meeting to VPE Abdulrahman to wrap up and officially adjourn the meeting.
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The next Sunrise Toastmasters meeting will be at 7 a.m. on April 25, 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: Dave
Speaker 1: Stiles
Speaker 2: Savannah
Table Topics: Kerstin
General Evaluator: Kendra
Evaluator 1: Tina Joe
Evaluator 2: Anu
Timer: Tim
Grammarian: Summer
