07/26/05 Geospeakers Meeting Summary

Wow, what an energetic meeting. We were missing only Cynthia (launching space shuttles at NASA) and Imelda (vacation), but all 4 of our other new members were front and center... Liz, Daniel, Sharon, Mary Caroline plus young daugher Daria. We met in M-3245, which was beautifully set up by Gary and I believe some assistants (I know several people helped put away the tables afterwards, thanks to all of you).

New President Chris Gutmacher handed out forms to help mentors and our 5 new members track their progress through doing each meeting role and their early speeches. She also reminded officers of the upcoming training opportunities contained in an email she sent this morning.

Gretchen Luepke Bynum took over as Toastmaster, and before we knew it Chris was hogging the floor again conducting introduction of the Evaluation team. Mary Caroline Mattly and Liz Streckert had excellent first outings as Ah counter and not at all SHIRTY Wordmaster/Grammarian, respectively. Shane Detweiler gave us the time, all the time, in fact I don't think he missed anyone.

"Next Point Ties" was Lauri Kanerva's intriguing title for his #3 "Get to the point" speech. He shared the history of his Ultimate Frisbee group, which started as scorekeepers and rule followers, and gradually let the rules go, and finally stopped keeping score. They morphed from being winners and losers to being "fit to be tied". Those fit to be tied ALL win by being able to concentrate on the joy of playing the game, and by being free from injuries sustained when the losing side played desperately. Sans scorekeeping and timing, "next point ties" became the way for all to acknowledge the imminent ending of the game. This speech had a ton of great language, puns, parallels to everyday life, and even an actual physical around-the-neck tie. I think it's a great thought-provoker that could shine in a TM International speech contest (coming next spring to an Area near you).

As Table Topics leader, Fran Hostettler kept a most scholarly mien as she probed our thoughts about the Harry Potter series, in particular the latest, "HP and the Half-Blood Prince". We could have gone on about forever, because everyone had interesting views, whether or not they had personally read any or all of the series.

• Mitch Smith (not a fan) tied Most Humorous for his rather shirty declaration that the reason HP appeals to adults is lack of vitamins, plus an unseemly desire among Baby Boomers to return to their childhoods as evidenced by spending huge amounts to get their old lunchboxes back.
• Daniel Malmon tied Most Interesting by virtue of neatly veering off topic to a book he IS excited about (A Dangerous Place: California's Unsettling Fate by Marc Reisner, also not bedtime reading I am thinking).
• Gretchen Luepke Bynum tied Most Eloquent with her observation that it is wonderful to see kids around the world waiting anxiously for a new Harry Potter book, thus reassuring her that reading is not quite yet a lost art.

Mitch evaluated Lauri, noting the unique authenticity of his writing and speaking style. Which we all enjoy! Reporters reported, fines were paid... oops and I just realized I passed that kitty right on without paying mine so you know where to find me when we run out of money, Table Topics winners (I mean tie-ers) were announced and presented with trophies, and we were done.

One of the day's Galvanizing quotes chosen by Liz particularly spoke to me, and so I give it to you again:

"I sometimes find, and I am sure you know the feeling, tha I simply have too many thoughts and memories crammed into my mind... At these times... I use the Pensieve. One simply siphons the excess thoughts from one's mind, pours them into the basin, and examines them at one's leisure." (J.K. Rowling, spoken by Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)

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