Hutchinson Toastmasters II

Don Gallagher took first place in the Humorous speech contest with his entry, The First Day I Met My Mother-In-Law.  Bob Lea finished second with his entry, EGG-xact-ly. Our Table Topics contestants were asked to describe their ideal job. Jean Gallagher finds being a mom her most rewarding job. Chuck Schoeneberger loves anything related to meteorology. Robert Anderson doesn’t want a job – he likes retirement. Jean took first place and Robert second.

Don, Bob, Jean and Robert will go on to compete in the Area 64 Speech Contest being hosted by the Tri-County club at the Watertown City Hall. The date is Monday, September 20th, and the contest starts at 7:00 PM. Please consider coming out to lend a hand and to cheer on our team of contestants.

Easy come, easy go. In its shortest stay ever, the EGG or Elusive Guilded Gavel departed with Randy Haukom and Duane Noto of the HealthToasters club of Bloomington.

As a club, we accepted the EGG’s departure with grace, because in ninety days, December 2nd to be exact, we can go capture it again. That would make six captures – but who’s counting.

Hutchinson II members: David, Mike, Marilyn, Irene, Chuck, Raymond, Kay and Bob.

Our fall club contest this year are the Humorist and Table Topics contests.  We currently have one speaker for the Humorist contest and three for the Table Topics.  If any club member changes their minds for a speaking role I can still switch the roles which I confirmed at this week’s meeting.  We can send two members for each contest category to the Area 64 Contest on Monday, September 20th, starting at 7:00PM  at the Watertown City Hall.  Thank you to all who are participating and are helping out.   All are welcome to attend and cheer the participants on.

Congratulations to the capture team of Chuck, Jean and Bob who made EGG capture number five for our club. They attended a meeting of the Sound Bytes club that meets is St. Louis Park. Sound Byte members Mary, Jolene and Barbara are shown in the photo.

This fifth capture ties us with Woodbury’s Saturday Morning Live club who also has five captures. Our club has definitely kept the EGG for longest period of time largely due to frequent road construction and our 7:00 AM start time. The District website just published an timely report on our club’s possession of the EGG.

I’ve been contemplating the Gavel Travels image on the very bottom of this District page.  The secret meaning or hidden insights of the route escape my grasp, but there is clearly seen a distinct focal point originating from the city of Hutchinson.  To my thinking, maybe the EGG just belongs here.

These exuberant Toastmasters from the Sound Bytes club are celebrating capturing the EGG.  Jean and Bob  were there to capture the EGG as well, but the rules dictate it goes to the club with the most members present: they had four – we had two.

Sound Bytes meets Tuesday, August 24th, from 12:00 to 1:00 near Hwy 169 and I-394. I’m thinking the Sound Bytes club should be penalized for excess celebration and forfeit ownership of the EGG next Tuesday.

A big thanks to the Stock Tockers club for being brave enough to host an enjoyable outdoor meeting.

Our club contest is coming up quickly.  Do you have a funny bone?  Can you speak on your feet?  Consider participating in the Humorist and Table Topics.  Our Club Contest is September 2, 2010 during the regular meeting time, so start writing your humorist speech today (5 – 7 minutes).  Any club member can participate in Table Topics, there is no preparation needed, just come ready to speak on your feet.  If you are interested contact the VP-Ed Chuck Schoeneberger to get on the list.  Let’s all plan to leave the meeting with sore guts from laughing so much.

The 90 days of no-capture period ends on August 13th and it just so happens that the holding club – Tri-Dynamics – meets on Monday, August 16th.  They  meet from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Jim Lupient GM-Buick dealership at 394 and Hwy 100.  It would be considerate of us as a club to relieve Tri-Dynamics of the responsibility maintaining possession of the EGG.  Another capture would also tie us with the Saturday Morning Live club who has made five EGG captures. I’m thinking the District should be handing out a ribbon to those clubs with five or more captures – in the spirit of club excellence and camaraderie.

UPDATE: The EGG has moved to Stock Tockers which will meet Wednesday, August 18th, 12:00-1:00 PM in the same 394/hwy 100 area.

The Distinguished Club Program (DCP) is Toastmasters International’s way of ensuring clubs are growing, well-run and meeting the needs of their members. It starts with the club officer team’s commitment to success and progresses to each member setting and making speaking and leadership goals throughout the year.

Under the leadership of past-President Mike McInerny, our club has earned the President’s level of DCP – the highest of the DCP awards. This marks the sixth year in a row where the Hutchinson II club has earned President’s DCP. Congratulations to every club member and let’s commit for success in year seven!

A set of scoundrels stole the EGG from the scoundrels who stole it from us; thus, step 1 for recapturing the EGG is completed. If my math is correct, the EGG becomes eligible to return to HTMII sometime in mid August. Check out the District 6 website for further details.

Area 64 Governor, Bob Anderson, presented the Area 64 2009-2010 Toastmaster of the Year award to Hutchinson II member, Bob Lea. Governor Anderson cited Bob’s efforts in promoting Toastmasters and participation in club, area, division and district events as notable achievements.