September 2nd Meeting

Our business meeting took a little more time than normal because we may have to have a change of venue. It appears the Catholic Church now wants to charge us to use the room we're using. There was some discussion about places we might check into. Frank will check into the Ronald McDonald House per Gale's suggestion and Bob will check on the 1st Baptist Church in Belton, since we're really prefer to keep our club in Belton.

We had two prepared speeches -- Joan Carlisle gave her Ice Breaker Speech and was evaluated by Tim Manson and Gale Brazier gave Speech #8 from the C & L Manual and was evaluated by Jim Cross. The Toastmaster for the evening was Frank Jaworski. Table Topics were conducted by Bob Daigneault.

Stephen Dorsey was a returning guest to our meeting.

Best Table Topics Speaker: Katie Thieme

Best Evaluator: Jim Cross

Best Speaker: Joan Carlisle

August 26th Meeting

This meeting we had a repeat visitor, Stephen Dorsey. Welcome Stephen!

There were two prepared speeches for the evening -- Gale Brazier gave a speech from her Communication and Leadership Manual entitled, "The "E" Church" and Anna Jaworski gave speech #10 from the Communication and Leadership Manual with an inspirational speech entitled, "Finding Balance in a Topsy-Turvy World" which is only part of a keynote address she will give in Orlando, Florida next month for the American Heart Association.

Table Topics were conducted by Kathy Thrush and the Toastmaster for the evening was Bob Daigneault.

Best Speaker for the evening was Anna Jaworski.

Best Table Topic Speaker was Stephen Dorsey.

Both Evaluators went over time, so no best award was given. :-(

August 12th Meeting

We had two guests at our meeting -- Steven Dorsey and George Castillo.

The invocation was said by Nora Payan. Our theme for the evening was "Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother." -- Kahlil Gibran Toastmaster for the evening was Frank Jaworski. Table Topics Master was Lita Daniel.

We had one prepared speaker -- Kerri Dehn gave speech number two from the C & L manual with a speech about going back to college and self improvement.

ACS/CL Anna Jaworski was the evaluator.

Best Speaker: Kerri Dehn

Best Evaluator: DTM Tim Manson

Best Table Topic Speaker: visitor, Steven Dorsey!

August 5th Meeting

Our theme for the evening was: "There is no beginning or end. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why they call it the present!" -- author unknown

Our Toastmaster for the evening was DTM Tim Manson, who was also acting President. The Prayer and Pledge were led by Margarette Mattern. After the business session was concluded, Tim Manson introduced the General Evaluator, ACB/CL Janet Scherer. The evaluation team was comprised of Grammarian, Sonya Pinero, Timer, Elsa Lozoya and Evaluator ACS/CL Anna Jaworski.

Nora Payan gave an Ice Breaker Speech. Table Topics were led by CC Lita Daniel.

Best Speaker of the evening was Nora Payan.

Best Evaluator of the evening was Anna Jaworski.

Best Table Topics Speaker of the evening was ACG/CL Jim Cross.

July 29th Meeting

Our theme for the evening was: "I can choose to be intimidated or to aspire. I think I'll choose the latter." by Joan Carlisle

Our President, Lita Daniel, opened the meeting and ACG/CL Jim Cross led the club in the Prayer and Pledge. After the business meeting, Anna Jaworski assumed Toastmaster duties. Our Joke Master was ACB/ALB Janet Scherer. D. Kirkland was the General Evaluator and she introduced the Grammarian, CC Lita Daniel and Timer, CC Bob Daigneault.

Our first speaker was Katie Thieme who gave Speech #3 from the C & L manual. Her speech title was "On Being a Senior Citizen." Our second speaker was Kathy Thrush, who gave Speech #2 from the C & L manual with a speech entitled "Why Not Wildflowers?" Our third speaker for the evening was Gale Brazier who gave Speech #6 from the C & L manual with her speech entitled "The Second Front."

Table Topics were conducted by Nora Payan.

Our Speech Evaluators were Frank Jaworski for Katie Thieme's speech, Tim Manson for Kathy Thrush's speech and Jim Cross for Gale Brazier's speech.

Best Speaker for the evening was Katie Thieme.

Best Evaluator for the evening was Jim Cross.

Best Table Topics Speaker for the evening was Tim Manson.

July 22nd Meeting

We had three (3) guests at our meeting! Welcome to repeat visitor, Joan Carlisle, and to new guests: Gary Connor and Dee Dee Carden!

The Toastmaster for the evening was Bob Daigneault, CC. We had two speeches: D. Kirkland gave the last speech needed to complete another leadership level! Congratulations, D.! Tim Manson gave a Folk Tale speech from the Storytelling manual ("The Armadillo's Song"). The evaluator was: Frank Jaworski. Table Topics Master was D. Kirkland.

Best Table Topics Speaker: Margarette Mattern

Margarette Mattern was the only Toastmaster who satisfied the time requirements for her project! Both speeches and the evaluation went over time. One other Table Topics speaker went over time. This is something we will need to work on in the future. Congratulations to Margarette for showing us how it's supposed to be done!

Our visitors all made thoughtful comments after the meeting was over. Joan said, "I could be intimidated by the great speeches or I could choose to aspire." There's a future Toastmaster, if ever I heard one! I'm looking forward to hearing your first speech, Joan!

July 15th Meeting

Theme for the evening: "You never know when one kind act or word of encouragement can change a life forever." Zig Ziglar

We had one guest -- Jerry Norton (who generously brought some old TM materials he no longer needed and which he donated to our club!)

The Toastmaster for the evening was Janet Scherer. Gale Brazier gave her 5th speech from the C & L manual. Lynn Johnson evaluated Gale's speech. Table Topics were conducted by Kathy Thrush. Kathy brought 3 items to the table -- a rock, a plant and a crystal cup. Table Topics revolved around those three items.

The word of the day was: galvinize

Best Speaker: Gale Brazier

Best Evaluator: Lynn Johnson

Best Table Topics Speaker: Anna Jaworski

July 8th Meeting

Our theme for the evening was: "You cannot run away from weakness; you must at some time fight it out or perish; and if that be so, why not now, and where you stand?" -- Robert Louis Stevenson

Our word for the day was: concatenate

D. Kirkland was our Toastmaster of the evening. There were 2 speeches: Anna Jaworski gave an Ice Breaker speech (per Katie Thieme's request) and Tim Manson gave an inspirational speech. Table Topics were conducted by Janet Scherer. Tim Manson evaluated Anna's speech and Jim Cross evaluated Tim's speech.

Best Speaker: Tim Manson, DTM

Best Evaluator: Jim Cross, ACG/CL

Best Table Topics Speaker: Nora Payan

July 1st Meeting

The meeting started by having Area Governor, Frank Jaworski, swear in the new officers. Anna Jaworski passed the gavel to new President, Lita Daniel, who then presided over the meeting.

Our Toastmaster for the evening was Tim Manson, DTM. We had two speakers -- Gale Brazier and Jim Cross. Jim Cross is a returning member and we're so excited he's back! His speech was entitled, "Where Have You Been?" and he regaled us with tales of what he did during his lapse in membership.

Table Topics were conducted by Lita Daniel. Evaluators for the evening were Frank Jaworski for Gale's speech and D. Kirkland for Jim's speech.

Best Speaker: Jim Cross

Best Table Topics Speaker: Lynn Johnson

Best Evaluator: D. Kirkland

June 24th Meeting -- 5th Anniversary Celebration!

What an amazing celebration we had on June 24th at Luigi's in Belton. Here are some photos showing the visitors and club members present.

Visible in this photo are: a little bit of Lynn Johnson,
Club Coach, D. Kirkland,visitor Dorothy Mattieson,
visitor Matt Mattieson, Lita Daniel and Janet Scherer.

In this photo from the top of the table and moving clockwise:
Frank Jaworski, Bob Daigneault, Lynn Johnson, D. Kirkland,
Lita Daniel, Janet Scherer, Kerri Dehn, Katie Thieme,
Tim Manson and visitor Ken Butler

Our Toastmaster for the evening was Lynn Johnson. We had three speeches. Anna Jaworski began by proposing a toast to Texas Stars Toastmasters in celebration of their fifth anniversary (Specialty Speeches manual). Bob Daigneault gave his final speech to complete his Competent Communicator's designation with a rousing speech about Power Aging (Speech #10, CC Manual) and Katie Thieme gave a tongue-in-cheek speech about the English language and the need for s/he in everyday speech (Speech #2, CC Manual).

The winner for Best Speaker was Katie Thieme

Our Table Topics Master for the evening was Frank Jaworski who provided Texas Stars Toastmasters with challenging topics related to the annivesary theme.

Winner of Best Table Topics Speaker was Tim Manson, DTM

There were three excellent evaluations conducted on the speeches given.
Best Evaluator was D. Kirkland, ACM-B/ALB



Here is a photo of Bob Daigneault, after receiving his pin for achieving his Competent Communicator status, holding the book that inspired his speech Power Aging.

In addition to all of the great speeches, evaluations and table topics, we voted for our new leadership board, which take office next week. D. Kirkland also gave certificates of appreciation to outgoing officers:

President: Anna Jaworski, ACS/CL
VP-Education: Tim Manson, DTM
VP-PR: D. Kirkland, ACB/ALB
VP-Membership: Lita Daniel, CC
Treasurer: Bob Daigneault
Secretary: Janet Scherer, ACB/CL
Sergeant-at-Arms: Frank Jaworski, ACB/CL

The new officers are:

President: Lita Daniel, CC
VP-Education: Tim Manson, DTM
VP-PR: D. Kirkland, ACB/ALB
VP-Membership: Janet Scherer, ACB/CL
Treasurer: Anna Jaworski, ACS/CL
Secretary: Katie Thieme
Sergeant-at-Arms: Bob Daigneault, CC

Also of note, our new Area Governor is Frank Jaworski, ACB/CL!

Next week: Officer Induction by Area Governor, Frank Jaworski and New Member Induction.
Our meeting will take place at our regular venue, Christ the King Catholic Church (portable building number 1).

June 17th Meeting

Our June 17th meeting was very exciting because we had the honor of

welcoming a new member! Welcome to Nora Payan!

Distinguished Toastmaster Tim Manson gave an excellent program on

mentoring to the club -- which earned him Best Speaker recognition.

Kathy Thieme won Best Table Topic Speaker for the evening.

As you may have noticed, Competent Communicator Lita Daniel

was our Toastmaster of the evening. She did a great job!

June 10th Meeting

We had another great meeting on June 10th. Our Toastmaster for the evening was D. Kirkland.

Gale Brazier gave a speech from the
Communication and Leadership manual.

Anna Jaworski evaluated her.

Best Table Topics participant for the evening was Frank Jaworski.

Perhaps one of the most exciting things to happen was for us to get a new member! Welcome to Nora Payan! Anna Jaworski's mother visited from Savannah, Georgia. Welcome, Carol!

D. Kirkland, Vice President-Public Relations, continues to do an excellent job of spreading the good news about Toastmasters. Here's a link to her latest article in the Belton Journal:

http://www.beltonjournal.com/index.php/lifestyles/37-lifestyles/870-texas-stars-toastmasters-club-proudly-inducts-six-new-members

Don't forget: Our June 24th meeting will be conducted at Luigi's. Come celebrate our 5th anniversary with us! Dutch Treat!

June 3rd Masquerade Meeting

Greetings! This was the first time for Texas Stars Toastmasters to host a Masquerade Meeting. It was an all-Table-Topic meeting. Members prepared a 1-3 minute "table topic" and either dressed in costume or brought props to help members guess who they were.

Attending our meeting were: Mona Lisa, Louisa May Alcott, Marie Curie, Winston Churchill, Joe DiMaggio, Helen Keller and Billy the Kid, just to name a few!

Here are a few photos to help you appreciate the lengths some of our Texas Stars Toastmasters went to in order to make this event special and fun.

Louisa May Alcott

Billy the Kid


Helen Keller

The people who guessed the most people correctly were:

Frank Jaworski, ATM-B, CL and visitor Susan Rogers

Thanks, Toastmaster Bob Daigneault for devising this creative idea
and for serving as the Toastmaster for the evening. It was a lot of fun!

May 27th Meeting

We had another great Texas Stars Toastmasters meeting! Katie Thieme was our Toastmaster for the evening. Here are the results from our meeting:

Best Speaker: Lynn Johnson with a very informative speech about gardening in Texas -- complete with a helpful handout!



Best Table Topics Master: Tim Manson, DTM


Best Evaluator: Frank Jaworski


We had an Officers' Meeting immediately following our regular meeting. Our Officers' Meeting was at Luigi's.

Reminder: Tonight is the Masquerade Meeting! Instead of regular prepared speeches, it will be a Table Topics night with a twist. All of the participants will come prepared to deliver a speech as though they were someone else! Their speech will hint at who they are and the rest of us will have to guess who everyone is. It should be a fun night!

May 20th Meeting

Greetings, Texas Stars Toastmasters!

Sadly, I missed the meeting last week, so there are no photos, but here are the winners of the awards:

Best Speaker: Katie Thieme

Best Evaluator: Lynn Johnson

Best Table Topic Participant: Sonya Pinero

Reminder: Next week is a fun meeting. It will be an all Table Topics meeting and participants are encouraged to come in costume. Each person will then give clues about what famous person they are portraying and Toastmasters will guess who each person is.

Tonight, immediately following our regularly scheduled meeting we will have our Officer's Meeting for the month of May. Dinner at Luigi's, as usual.

May 13, 2009

We had another great Texas Stars Toastmasters meeting this week! Welcome to Gale Brazier! Gale is our newest Texas Stars Toastmasters member. She also gave her Ice Breaker speech and won Best Speaker! Here she is being congratulated by Toastmaster Bob Daigneault.


Unfortunately, Gale's evaluator went over time, so no one earned Best Evaluator. But we had awesome Table Topics!

The winner for Best Table Topic was D. Kirkland. Here she is receiving her award from Toastmaster Bob Daigneault.

March 18th Meeting

Our theme for the evening was "Sometimes it is the artist's task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left." by Itzhak Perlman, Symphonic Violinist. DTM Tim Manson later explained to us how this violinist was playing his violin in a concert when a string broke in the middle of a song. Because his fellow musicians continued to play, Itzhak Perlman recomposed the music he played to avoid the notes requiring the broken string. Table Topics for the evening dealt with this theme.

We had an exciting meeting! It's always a little more exciting to have a meeting when there are guests and lots of prepared speakers. On the 18th we had three guests and three prepared speakers!

Our Guests:

We had returning guests Elsa Lozoya and Gale Brazier visit and announce their intentions to join the club! We also had an MBA student from Mary Hardin Baylor, Victoria Lin, visit. Victoria is Chinese and English is not her first language, although her English was very good. She hopes to join Toastmasters next semester if her schedule allows in order to improve her English and to help her understand American culture better.

Our Prepared Speeches:

CC Lita Daniel gave a demonstration speech from an Advanced Toastmasters manual about table settings and what to do with all of the dishes and silverware at a formal dinner. She even brought some wine glasses to show us that different wines require different shaped glasses and why. It was a very interesting speech.

Next, ACB/CL Frank Jaworski regaled us with a toast from the Specialty Speeches Advanced Toastmasters manual. He reminded us old-timers about when the club began almost five years ago! But he also gave a brief history of the club to help newcomers understand how far we've come in the last five years. Unfortunately, we cannot have beverages (aside from water) in our new building, but we Toastmasters have active imaginations and enjoyed the toast anyway.

Our last speaker of the evening is one of our newest members, Lynn Johnson. She gave speech #2 from the Competent Communicator manual and showed us exactly why she has joined Texas Stars Toastmasters. Her speech was one she would give at her company's Board of Directors meeting and showed her prowess as a businesswoman. Lynn has prior public speaking experience from being in Toastmasters in the past and that training really came through. She convinced Texas Stars Toastmasters that she is an up and coming force to be reckoned with!

Table Topics were conducted by ACB/ALB D. Kirkland and even though we had three speeches, we were able to have a few Table Topics.

Evaluators for the evening were: Bob Daigneault for Lynn Johnson, Tim Manson for Frank Jaworski and Anna Jaworski for Lita Daniel.

The Toastmaster for the evening was DTM Tim Manson. Here is Tim handing out the awards for the evening:

Best Table Topic Speaker: Katie

Best Evaluator: ACS/CL Anna Jaworski

Best Speaker: Lynn Johnson

Announcement: During our first meeting in April we will have a New Member Induction service.

March 11th Meeting

We had a great meeting last week with many people in attendance at the portable building we're now meeting in at Christ the King Catholic Church in Belton.

Unfortunately, no one came with a prepared speech, so we did Table Topics the Tim Manson way. We had Extended Table Topics -- which means we were given our Table Topic and had to speak for 3-5 minutes, instead of the typical 1-2 minutes. This exercise was developed by our Vice President-Education, Tim Manson, DTM, to show members that they can indeed give a 5-minute speech.

Our Table Topics Master for the evening was one of our newest members, Lynn Johnson. She did an excellent job and provided the club with considerable food for thought. The winner? Frank Jaworski and his topic related to the hard economic times our country is now facing.

Here is a photo of Frank Jaworski, ATM-B, CL accepting his award for Best Table Topic speaker from our Toastmaster of the evening, another new member -- D. Kirkland, ACM-B, AL-B.

March 4, 2009 Meeting

The quote for the week of 3/4/09 was "I do the very best I know how -- the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end." -- Abraham Lincoln

We had one delightful Ice Breaker speech by Lynn Johnson. She did a terrific job. It was easy to see she has had previous Toastmasters' training. Here she is accepting her award for Best Speech of the evening from Distinguished Toastmaster Tim Manson.



I had the honor of evaluating Lynn. Here is a picture of me accepting the Best Evaluator award from Distinguished Toastmaster Tim Manson.



New member Kathy Thrush was our Table Topics Master and she did a fabulous job! She gave all of us fun quotes to work with. The one I got had to deal with someone saying something kind to you that perhaps you didn't deserve at the time, but you worked hard to be deserving of at a later date. That reminded me of my sister who gave me a book and wrote in it that I was a great writer. I hadn't written or published anything yet, but I wanted that to be true. Today I have published 3 books, written for two medical textbooks and one nursing journal. I am thankful my sister believed in me like she did.

For that quote and my story, I won Best Table Topic! Here is DTM Tim Manson giving me that award.


I hope everyone enjoyed the meeting as much as I did! I'm looking forward to our meeting tomorrow night.

Texas Stars Toastmasters

Greetings! This blog is being started for Texas Stars Toastmasters, a central Texas Toastmasters club. We meet on Wednesday nights at Christ the King Catholic Church at 6 p.m. We are currently meeting in Portable Building #1.

Officers (as of March 2009):

President: Anna Jaworski, ATM-S/CL
Vice President-Education: Tim Manson, DTM
Vice President-Membership: Lita Daniel, CC
Vice President-Public Relations: D. Kirkland, ATM-S/CL
Secretary: Janet Scherer, ATM-B/CL
Treasurer: Bob Daigneault
Sergeant-at-Arms: Frank Jaworski, ATM-B, CL

On February 25th, we had an induction ceremony. This was exciting and we're so happy to welcome new members to the club! Welcome Sue, Kathy, Lynn, D. and Carrie!

We also had one speaker, so Sue Tullier received the Best Speaker award that evening. Here is Toastmaster Janet Scherer congratulating Sue Tullier on her achievement.



Distinguished Toastmaster Tim Manson was our evaluator. Here is Janet Scherer giving Mr. Manson his trophy.



Mr. Manson also had the distinction of winning Best Table Topic for the evening. Here he is accepting his award.