“Aquamarine”

The meeting was called to order by President John Desmond at 11:38. There were eleven members and four guests present.

Beth McNally led the pledge and shared with us her Thought of the Day, “Be your best, and life will be too. Live with integrity, a generous spirit, a positive enthusiasm, and the world will reflect it all back to you.” Ralph Marston. The TM Promise of the Day was: To attend meeting regularly & “to try to be on time.”

John acknowledged the attendance of Toni Bishop, a returning guest, who introduced another guest who came with her, Angela Binkhasova. Technically, Buddy was a guest until we voted him in as a new member. Another visitor came from District Office, Chitra Pandit, and Joahua Darland from KJZZ was a guest of John.  

Grammarian Laura Buzin, presented the Word of the Day, Lumpen: Pronunciation: 'lum-p&n, 'l&m- Function: adjective
Etymology: German Lumpenproletariat degraded section of the proletariat, from Lump contemptible person (from Lumpen rags) + Proletariat. Definition: of or relating to dispossessed and uprooted individuals cut off from the economic and social class with which they might normally be identified <lumpen proletariat> <lumpen intellectuals.

John introduced the Toastmaster of the day, Tita Taylor.

Tita told us about the meaning of the color of aquamarine: “blue waters” and then called upon Gen. Evaluator John Desmond to introduce his team which included:

      Timer: Dolores King

      Ah-Counter: Mike Trier

      Grammarian: Laura Buzin

      Speech Evaluator #1: JD Austin (for Buddy Cheeks)

      Speech Evaluator #2: Glenda Humes (for Sandia Hayes)

Tita then introduced the Topic Master of the day, Beth McNally, who had Glenda answer whether she was superstitious or not, and whether she believed in the legend that by owning an aquamarine one would become rich. Glenda feels she may be a little superstitious and just enough to perhaps want to own an aquamarine. Toni told us that Emerald was her birth stone and that she truly enjoyed the color green. She one day hopes to own a large square cut emerald. Laura told us how she came to own a necklace and earrings that are aquamarine which she plans to start wearing now that we reminded her that she may become rich. JD was ask if he had inherited or expected to inherit any jewelry. To which he answered he knew he never would because even if he did inherit jewelry his wife would immediately claim it so he would have it anyway.

Buddy, our first formal speaker, informed us that Buddy is not his real name but one he has gone by for a long time. His real name is Landers Cheeks. He is one of 7 boys. He told us of his life travels from being an “at-risk” student when he graduated from high school to now being an advisor for “at-risk” students at South Mountain Community College because of a good mentor.

Sandia, our second speaker, talked about using your head and your heart in order to be able to help others reach their full potential. She emphasized that we can be successful in any area of our lives if we build on a solid foundation of honesty, integrity, character, and love. She quoted six steps to success from Zig Zigler: Good self-esteem, building relationships with others, setting goals, be willing to work toward them, having a positive attitude, and having a strong desire to reach the top. She inspired us to believe “we can get anything out of life we want, if we just help enough other people get what they want.”

Tita turned the meeting over to the evaluation team. Once evaluations were completed, Tita turned the meeting back to John Desmond, President. John present us with the Toastmaster’s Newsletter which he had also forward to us on line.

Our guests seemed very pleased with the meeting and say they plan to return.

We ended our meeting at 12:45 pm. Again we started late and ended late.

Summitted by,

Sandia Hayes, Secretary with the help of John Desmond and JD Austin.