Area 64 Spring Speech Contest Results
Carver County Communicators hosted the Area 64 Spring Speech Contest on March 13th, 2008. Area 64 Governor, Vickie Shoutz, acted as Contest Master and Prairie Division Governor, Tom Butz, acted as Chief Judge.
From left to right, Area 64 Governor, Vickie Shoutz, first place in the International Speech Contest, Jean Gallagher from Hutchinson II, second place, Susan Dressen from Carver County Communicators, and Prairie Division Governor, Tom Butz..
From left to right, Area 64 Governor, Vickie Shoutz, second place in the Evaluation Speech Contest, K.J. McDonald from Tri-County, first place, Jean Gallagher from Hutchinson II, and Prairie Division Governor, Tom Butz..
Demo Meeting - February 7th, 2008
Every wonder what goes on at a Toastmaster's meeting? You have special opportunity to find out on February 7th when the Hutchinson II club will hold a demo meeting. During the demo meeting, each participant's activity is explained so that you can fully understand what is going on. It's a lot of fun and good way to start a Thursday morning.
Our special speaker will be Kathleen Skarvan, Vice-President and President of Disk Drive Components Division at Hutchinson Technology. Kathleen will be talking about the importance of communicaiton skills in her role at Hutchinson Techology. Here's her bio:
Ms. Skarvan was elected Vice President and President of the Disk Drive Components Division in April 2007. Ms. Skarvan was initially elected Vice President of Sales and Marketing in October 2003, and was the Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Disk Drive Components Division, from November 2005 to April 2007. Ms. Skarvan was a strategic business unit director at HTI from September 2002 to October 2003, and a Group Vice President at Phillips Plastics, a manufacturing company, from March 2000 to August 2002. Ms. Skarvan joined HTI in 1980 and held management positions in manufacturing, human resources, communications and materials at HTI between 1985 and 2000.
Summer Picnic
Our annual summer picnic was held at the Riverside Park on July 12th at 5:30 PM. Our new officer team was installed and everybody had a good time with the theme, "A Day At The Circus". Click here for pictures.
President's Distinguished Club - Again!!!
Under the guidance of President Tom Moore and his officer team, the Hutchinson Club earns its third straight President's Distinguished club award. This award highlights strong leadership to implement the well proven Toastmaster's Communication and Leadership development programs. For each individual member, it means that the opportunity to grow and improve their own skills is the foremost purpose of the club.
Hutchinson II Open House
Marc Vaillancourt, Hutchinson Area Chamber of Commerce President, will be the guest speaker at the Open House meeting on January 25, 2007.
Many people have heard about the Toastmaster program, but don't know the benefits of joining. The Toastmasters program helps you to:
• Develop better speaking and
presentation skills
• Learn to think quickly and
speak clearly on your feet
• Build strong leadership abilities
The Toastmasters program will help you to develop your communication skills and open doors in your personal and professional life. To learn more about Toastmasters and our unique communication and leadership skills, plan on attending the Open House.
The meeting will begin promptly at 7:00 AM and last one hour. Click here for directions. Bring a friend and attend the Open House to find out what the Toastmasters program can do for you.
Sanjay Bids Farewell
Toastmasters is an international organization with clubs all over the world. When Sanjay G. took on a contract IT project in Hutchinson, he transfered his Toastmaster's membership from his home club in India to the Hutchinson II club.
For over a year, Sanjay actively participated in club activities and made friends in Toastmasters. We'll miss his English accent cheerfull smile. One thing is for sure - he'll have plenty of stories to tell at his home club about his adventures in Minnesota.
Area 64 Fall Speech Contest Results
The Area 64 contest proved to be exciting and competitive. Six prepared, practiced and polished speakers performed professionally making the judges decision challenging. First place winner in the Humorous speech went to Rick Holtmeier of the Carver County Communicators. Second place to Jean Gallagher (left) of Hutchinson II. First place winner in the Evaluation Speech went to Rick Holtmeier. Second place to Vickie Shoutz (right) of Hutchinson II. Rick will go on to represent Area 64 at the Prairie Division speech contest on October 7th.
Thanks to the Carver County Communicators of Victoria for hosting the speech contest and to all the clubs who participated.
Club Speech Contest Results
On August 31st, the club held its Fall Speech Contest. The contestants really rose to the challenge of presenting the best speeches possible. As one member put it, "I just loved today's meeting... Inspiring to say the least!"
Tom Moore and Jean Gallagher were the first and second place finishers in the Humorous Speech Contest. Vickie Shoutz and Jean Gallagher were the first and second place finishers in the Evaluation Speech Contest. These three will go on to complete in the Area 64 Fall Speech Contest to be held on September 14th at the Lake Auburn Moravian Church in Victoria. Registration starts at 6:30 PM and the contest at 7:00 PM. The cost is free, so please come out and support our club members as they compete!
Area 64 Toastmaster of the Year
Past Area 64 Governor, Rick Holtmeier presented Bob Lea with the Area 64 Toastmaster of the Year award at a club meeting on August 3rd. The award recognizes Bob's contribution to the success of the Hutchinson II club and to Area 64.
At the same meeting, Rick Holtmeier was also recognized as Prairie Division Area Governor of the Year by Past Division Governor, Anne Groetsch.
Hutchinson II Earns President's Distinguished Club Program Award
Doctors have EKGs and dentists have dental charts. To measure the health of a club, Toastmasters International uses the Distinguished Club Program as the gauge. This year, the Hutchinson II club scored 10 out of 10 points necessary to earn the President's Distinguished Club award. Lively club meetings, a strong membership and a dedicated officer team made this award possible. Over 140 speeches were given to earn the needed award points. This marks the second year in a row receiving this award. Thanks to every member and officer who made this award possible.
As nice as it to receive the award, the true treasure is in the hearts, the thinking, the communication skills and confidence level of the membership who have grown greatly throughout the year.
Summer Picnic - July 13th, 2006
This year's picnic was held at 5:30 PM at the riverside park in Hutchinson. Hamburgers and brats were provided as well as many delicious pot luck offerings. The club meeting started at 6:30 PM and featured the installation of the new 2006-2007 officers and some entertaining speeches.
President’s 2005-2006 State of the Club Report
Here's a list of accomplishments for the year.
- We started out the year with a great picnic
- Hosted the Area 64 Fall Speech contest
- The city of Hutchinson declared October as Toastmaster’s Month
- Hutchinson Mayor Steve Cook came to speak at our club
- We had a joint meeting with another club
- Celebrated out 1000th club meeting.
- We were in print several times in the Hutch Leader newspaper
- We put up a web site and received an award for it
- We held a demo meeting
- We met our officer training requirements and even provided training to others.
- We had two finalists in District’s 6’s Fall and Spring Speech competitions
- We are in sound financial condition
- We had a net gain of seven new members including the Division Governor
- We heard 113 manual speeches and offered feedback to those many speakers
- We gave at least 18 non-manual and contest speeches
- We have earned eight CTM, ATM and CL awards
- We received the President’s Distinguished Club award for the second year in a row
- We have learned and grown as individuals
- We have motivated and encouraged one another to reach beyond our limitations
- We have had a lot of fun.
Club Elections
As the Toastmaster year draws to an end on June 30th, our club has elected a new set of officers. Tommy Moore will become the club president on July 1st, replacing Bob Lea. Bob will become the Governor of Area 64.
Hutchinson II Wins Best Web Site Contest
At the 2006 District Six Spring conference, the District awarded the Hutchinson II club the Best Web Site award. Hutchinson II member and Prairie Division Governor, Anne Groetsch (left) is shown accepting the award from Lonnie Yohannes (center), District Six Public Relations Officer. The award is presented annually.
Prairie Division Table Topics Winner
Bob Lea, member of Hutchinson II Toastmaster Club, is presented with the first place trophy for the Prairie Division's Table Topics event. Anne Groetsch, Prairie Division Governor, is making the presentation. Bob will go to compete at the District Six contest on May 12th, 2006. See the Area 64 contest photos.
Bob says that being a spontaneous speaker is difficult for him, but using techniques he learn through Toastmasters, he's become much better at speaking on his feet.
Joint Meeting
Our club will have a joint meeting with the Carver County Communicators (North Of The River Gang) on January 12, 2006, at the Lake Auburn Moravian Church on County Road 11 in Victoria. Bring a dish for a pot luck at 6:30 PM. The meeting starts at 7:00 PM and ends promptly at 8:50 PM. Please plan on attending. We will have our normal meeting at 7:00 AM on the 12th.
Toastmasters Month 2005
October is Toastmasters month in the city of Hutchinson. Mayor Steve Cook made the proclamation and attended the meeting on Thursday, October 20th, to make the presentation to the club's President, Bob Lea (on right). Mayor Cook described the importance of public speaking skills in his position as mayor and how he overcame the challenge to be a better speaker.
Dr. Ralph C. Smedley held the first Toastmasters meeting on October 22, 1924 in the YMCA building in Santa Ana, California. Dr. Smedley worked for the YMCA developing educational programs and saw a need for young men to develop speaking and debating skills. By 1930, there were 30 clubs, mostly in Southern California. This October, Toastmasters is 81 years old.
Fall Speech Contest 2005
Congratulations to Cyndy Abramson for participating in the District Six Humorous Speech Contest. Her performance was a personal best and she appealed to the audience with her funny and insightful look at life in her speech, "Cinderella Lessons 101." She proved that she is one of the top ten best speakers in Minnesota and Ontario.
Cyndy Abramson won first place at the Prairie Division Humorous speech contest and Bob Lea finished second in the Tall Tales contest. Cyndy represented our club, Area 64 and the Prairie Division at the District Six speech contest at Madden' s Resort near Brainerd on October 14-15, 2005.
Hutchinson II Toastmasters club hosted Area 64's Humorous and Tall Tales speech contest on September 10th, 2005. Check out the pictures and the results