1/6/05 Geospeakers Meeting Summary

Geospeakers first meeting of 2005 was the first Thursday, rather than 2nd Tuesday of January. Geospeakers (G) joined Sunset TM (S) at their home in the Allstate cafeteria, where the facilities were appropriate background to the consumption of a delicious pot-luck feast followed by Roast and Toast of Neil Shapiro, newly minted Sunset Distinguished Toastmaster, and accomplished and adored member of both clubs.

This was an all Table Topics meeting, the topic being Great Achievements (Neil), and the questions were provided in advance to the Mistresses Mary McCracken (S) and Ann Gunderson (G) by the "impromptu" speakers. Through this Q & A form of discovery I am sure we all learned a great deal about Neil. Some of it was even true.

The shining standouts were Neil's

1. love of music as shown by
   • A) use of karate to maintain 1st place in line to purchase tickets to a Beach Boys concert (plus memorable duet with Mitch (G) of "Shut Down" at a Geospeakers meeting), and
   • B) strutting his stuff so extensively at Jennifer's (S) band's concert that they were scouted for a music award;
2. persistence as shown by the 6 months it took him to get Mary to join Sunset, not to mention climbing Everest with Daphne (S) and winning a synchronized swimming medal with Linda (S) (clearly he overcame his self-proclaimed youthful failure to tread water long enough to remove his pants, tie knots in legs and blow them up to be a sort of buoyant device);
3. genuine kindness and helpfulness, particularly as relates to mentoring other Toastmasters but revealed in so many aspects of his life. Examples include
   • answering crucial TM questions by satellite phone while climbing up Everest,
   • showing up to support fellow TM at her concert (yes he did co-opt the stage, but hey, they got an award!), as he does with anyone who is speaking, particularly at TM contests where he lets them talk, staying strictly away from the lectern, and
   • by sending emails containing humorous tidbits to assist friends through their dull office days;
4. dedication to improving his speaking, from his humble beginnings as a child who cried if the teacher asked him a question in the class of early mentor and fellow student (now fellow Sunsetter) Teresa Zaman-Lemos, through joining Geospeakers and more than fulfilling the honors and obligations of membership, to a second CTM earned en route to his DTM;
5. role modeling; several people mentioned how Neil's speeches and Table Topics responses, and actions as an officer, struck a chord in new or prospective members and made them want to be comfortable speaking publicly too.

In fact the only story that smacked of being untrue was Neil zooming around Gretchen Luepke Bynum (G) to snatch from her grasp first place in a Nascar race. She says in the last seconds of the race she "didn't reckon on Neil" but I don't reckon he's ever zoomed by anyone to claim a prize. More like cajoling, encouraging, maybe a little dragging them along with him towards the goal. This is the guy you want to be shipwrecked with, because he'll survive and by golly you will too, and no doubt have some laughs into the bargain.

There was lots more, you had to be there. Two items of note were the welcome and introductions led by Sunset President Daphne Luong and the humorous interlude provided by Jokemaster Jennifer McDonald.

Neil received a standing ovation with his shiny new badge, and said he hopes we all will achieve similar goals and be recipients of comments such as he was today. See how he didn't call them scurrilous lies? What a guy!

Cindy Foster (S) won top kudos for her Table Topics, which was a heartfelt poem, all true. Sunset also selects the top participant of each meeting, and today it was Neil Shapiro DTM (S&G) for, in my opinion, his thoughtful opening of Table Topics with a brief rendition of his greatest moments in public speaking ("is always the next one") and his graceful acknowledgments of the stories, half-truths and outright tall tales told about him.

Chocolate cake and chitchat concluded our celebratory convocation.

Many Thanks to Sunset for planning this party, and congratulations to all for producing a joint meeting with food without tipping off Neil as to the real purpose.... who I believe was more or less in the dark until the second or third Table Topics response. He said later he was worried no Geospeakers would show up because there had been NO email traffic about it.... and in fact would have forgotten the meeting himself except it was on his calendar.

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