Amy Zientek Receives Rising Star Award

Amy Zientek

Toasters member Amy Zientek received the Texas Travel Industry Association's Rising Star Award on September 23, 2013, for her leadership and commitment to the Texas Travel industry.

The full story can be found here: http://www.kcbd.com/story/23506503/visit-lubbocks-amy-zientek-receives-acclaimed-award

Amy is the director of sales for Visit Lubbock and has been a member of Toastmasters for 5 years.

Congratulations Amy!

Skippyjon Jones & the Moments of Truth

Uwe returns the stage to Kyle

Member Amy Zeintek did a project from the advanced manual Interpretive Reading and read a children's story that her children love.  It was the tale of Skippyjon Jones, a Siamese cat that thinks he is a Chihuahua dog.

Area 62 Governor Uwe Beltz attended Toasters Toastmasters Club today and led the group through the Moments of Truth module from the Successful Club series.

A Pin, A Kiss, and a New President

Tracy, Lisa, and Jan

With the first meeting of the new year comes a new club president. Tracy Thomason opened his first Toasters Toastmasters club meeting as president today.   As a bonus, his wife Lisa, who recently joined the club, gave her Ice Breaker speech, "A Toastmaster's Wife," today. Tracy and outgoing President Jan d'Orsay gave her a membership pin when she completed the speech.

Tracy also gave her a kiss.  Jan did not.

Eddie Retires

A Toastmaster for over 20 years and a member of Toasters Toastmasters club here in Lubbock for over half of that, Eddie Payne recently announced that he'd be retiring from his job at X-Fab.  To fulfill his and his wife's plans for the future, Eddie is also retiring from Toasters club.

Toasters threw a party for Eddie today and honored him with an engraved clock.

We'll miss you, Eddie, and we hope you wake up early once in a while and come and visit us!

Jan gives Eddie his gift

It's a clock!

Toasters Toastmasters Club

Tornado Sirens and Raising Twins

Not these twins, though.

While these topics don't necessarily go together (unless you've raised twins and then you might think the siren would come in handy), they were the topic of two informative and entertaining speeches at Toasters Toastmasters Club in Lubbock, TX, today.

Member Gary Johnson received his name badge today for completing his Competent Communicator manual.  We're looking forward to your Advanced Manual speeches, Gary!

Toasters also enjoyed a visit from our incoming Area Governor, Uwe Beltz. While not his official visit, Uwe stopped by to say hello and remind the club about the upcoming Toastmasters Leadership Institute happening on June 21st.  There's more information about that on the Toastmasters In Lubbock website.

Coming soon?

Gary receives his CC badge from Jan

Farewell to Sam!

Sam gives a speech evaluation during
his last meeting at Toasters.

This morning Toasters bid Sam Musoke a fond farewell during his last meeting with the club.  A long time member, Sam came to Lubbock from Africa and now finds himself in the enviable position of moving to Hawaii for work.

Per Toasters tradition, we celebrated his new job and last meeting with a pot luck breakfast.

We'll miss you Sam!

Elections and Musubi

2013-2014 Officers
(R to L) Cindy, Jan, Tracy, Vickie, Gary, and Kim

Toasters club elected its 2013-2014 officers during the business portion of today's meeting.  They will take office July 1st and serve through June 30, 2014.  The officers for the coming year are:

• President - Tracy Thomason
• Vice President Education - Vickie Sigler
• Vice President Membership - Gary Johnson
• Vice President Public Relations - Kim Davis
• Secretary/Treasurer - Cindy Ford
• Sgt. At Arms - Jan d'Orsay

Congratulations to our incoming officers!

Homemade SPAM Musubi

During the meeting, Kyle gave a speech about SPAM Musubi (which is not to be confused with our member, Sam Musoke).  He even brought homemade samples of this Hawaiian treat which is just SPAM, nori (a seaweed wrap), and sushi rice with a soy sauce glaze.

Kim Gets Pinned, Too

With our second Ice Breaker in as many weeks, Kim told us about why she loves Lubbock and doesn't want to leave it.  After her speech, Jan, our club president, gave her membership pin.

Congratulations Kim!

Nicole Gets Pinned

Our newest member, Nicole, delivered her Ice Breaker this morning and told us about her life's passion: being a fitness instructor.  After the speech, Vickie, our Vice President of Education, gave her a membership pin.

Congratulations Nicole!

Anniversary Party In The Bag

On Saturday evening, eighteen of us gathered for a lovely meal at the Lubbock Women's Club to celebrate Toasters' 25th anniversary. It was great to see two of the founding members of the club, Ruth Ann Bridges and Patty Freier. Patty shared about how Toastmasters met a need for training in public speaking and how to conduct meetings at Methodist Hospital, back before that kind of training was available. Brent Majors from Methodist knew Bob Barnhill and Bob helped get Toasters started 25 years ago. Appropriately, Bob was with us on Saturday night. As Patty said, it is very gratifying for an idea and project you started to still be viable and healthy twenty five years later!

We also got to share some of our Toasters' bloopers--those are always good for a laugh! Another former member who was able to attend was Cindy Meason--it is always great to see Cindy!  Former member, Uwe Beltz and his wife, Katherine, were welcome guests as well.  It's is always great to see our former members because they're family! We were also so pleased to have Robyne Vaughn and her husband, Mark, in attendance. It was a sweet time of fellowship and celebration, and we wish that more could have attended. Kyle and I are already thinking about our 50th anniversary in 2038, so please mark your calendars!

Click here for photos from the party.

District Conference in Lubbock is Over

Tanya Johnson of Albuquerque (left)
gets a high-five from Toasters member
Jan d'Orsay after Tan receives her DTM.

A big thanks goes out to District 23 for bringing the semi-annual District Conference to Lubbock this spring. We had a great time.  

Congratulations to Lubbockite Robert Barnhill for winning both the Table Topics and International Speech contests!  Robert represented Lubbock Toastmasters Club.

And congratulations to Jef Conn of the Articulate Toastmasters Club here in Lubbock for being elected our 2013-2014 Lieutenant Governor Marketing!

Toaster is Gonna Party Like A 25 Year Old!

There was a Toastmasters Club born in Lubbock, Texas. The members named themselves Toasters Toastmasters, Club 896. The Club grew from an infant, into a teenager, and finally into an adult.

Those who were in the Club when it reached the mature age of 25 decided they better get busy and celebrate before they reached old age and weren't able to!

Help us celebrate this auspicious occasion:

What:             Dinner
When:            Saturday, May 4, 2013
What Time:     6:30 PM
Where:            Lubbock Women's Club, 2020 Broadway
Cost:              $15 per person

RSVP:            By Wednesday, May 1
                       to: Vickie Sigler acactuswren@yahoo.com

Poetry Day

It was poetry day at Toasters today.
And Gary only likes the ones that rhyme.
Good thing we only had one speaker,
'Cause he went over time.

Topics Master Gary Johnson leads the
group through a poetic session.

Toasters Turns 25

In May, Toasters Club will celebrate its 25th anniversary as a Toastmasters club. Come out and join us as we keep popping up early every Thursday morning!

JFK & Eggs

What do JFK and eggs have in common?  Well, pretty much nothing.  However, they were both engaging topics during our meeting this morning.