PORTLAND

PROGRESSIVES Toastmasters Club

Newsletter: August 2010

Welcome to Portland Progressives
Toastmasters Club’s second monthly newsletter.
This installment includes an interview with our
newest member Bill Corella, information about
competing in TM contests and our Karaoke Party!

Visit our blog:

http://portlandprogressives.blogspot.com

Mark Your Calendars

August 11th-14th - The 79th annual Toastmasters
International Convention at the JW Marriott Desert
Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, Calif.

August 27th - Karaoke & Networking Party

Join our group on

Facebook.
Competing In Contests By Karen Semprevivo

All contests start at the club level,

so you would compete in one or both contests
there. If you are declared the winner by
the decision of the judges, then you go to
the next level, the Area 61/62 contest, to
represent our club. If you are runner up and
the winner cannot go to the Area contests,
then you will represent the club in the Area
contest. If you win at the Area level, then
you will go to the Division contest. If you
win at the Division contest, you proceed to
the fall 10 conference in November. It’s a
progressive process (no pun intended).

If you want to participate at the Area contest

in another role (except judging), then the
best thing to do is to contact our Area 61 TM Contest Rule Book:
Governor, Susie McAdams, although she http://www.toastmasters.org/rulebook.aspx
will also let the club presidents know if she
needs help. Judges are going to be from
other Areas, because we want to avoid The following Fall Humorous Speech
having contestants judged by their own club and Table Topics contests are posted on
members. the District website calendar
(www.d7toastmasters.org):
If you want to compete, be contest chair
(organize the club contest), be Timer, back Area 63/64: Friday, October 1
up Timer, Chief Judge or Ballot Counter at
Tigard Chamber of Commerce
the club level, you can ask Mary Reinard. As
VP Ed, the contest planning starts with her.
12345 SW Main Street 97223

Area 61/62: Friday, October 8

Good Samaritan Auditorium
1040 NW 22nd Avenue

Willamette Division: Friday, October 15

Tigard Chamber of Commerce
12345 SW Main Street 97223

NOTE: Area 61, 62, 63, and 64 comprise

Willamette Division.

If you’d like to volunteer, please

contact Mary Reinard.
Growing in Skills and Friendship
By Mary Reinard

Our Table Topics and Humorous Speech Contestants

are quickly approaching.
There are two gains that all the contests Rule Books repeat as a benefit to
contests participants;
. Opportunity for Personal development and
. Opportunity for exposure to the more experienced

Obviously both opportunities provide growth in our skills as speakers, what’s

less obvious is what we offer each other when participating in a contest as
contestant, a volunteer or a supportive member of the audience.

A first-time participant can bring an unexpected freshness to a Club

Contest. As well, stepping up to participate can demonstrate a trust in our
fellow Toastmasters, a trust that we will listen and offer kindly and supportive
feedback. A more seasoned contestant demonstrates valuable skills and
confidence that can develop despite whether or not we ever win any contests.
We all know it feels good to be offered someone’s trust and witness skills that
can be potentially ours; given this why wouldn’t we want to enter a contest?

As volunteers we also offer benefits to each other. Always ready to smile

and offer a helping hand when we organize, perform a club role or bring
snacks for the special day results in creating a kind and friendly atmosphere.
Everyone can appreciate walking into a friendly atmosphere especially those
of us giving a speech. As we enter such a space we relax and begin to enjoy
ourselves right away. Keeping all this in mind can actually bring up joy as we
empty the garbage at the end of the day.

Our Table Topics and Humorous Speech Contests are quickly approaching. I’ll
bring sign up information to the next several meetings. Let’s take advantage
of this opportunity and challenge ourselves and support one another. Let’s
all participate in some way and have fun with nurturing our skills and
growing in friendship.
 CEbbongratulations
Zlatnik on completing
your Icebreaker Speech

Russell’s Ramblings
I had an enjoyable weekend at
a high school reunion and then
visiting relatives. Guess what!!
the body language that enhances
those words.
can delight yourself and us by
first actively listening and then
actively responding to what you
While I was talking to my brother- Sometimes we are called upon to just heard.
in-law and later to a cousin, be the Guardian of Detail in the
the conversation got around to role of the Listener. That special Then there’s the listeners holy grail
Toastmasters. kind of listening is a gift from - evaluation. Instead of detail, we
Portland Toastmasters where listen to the broader sweeps. We
Surprise! Surprise! the role was first used. It’s fun tomust listen actively to everything
be the master of detail and try to from introduction to close. It’s hard
Before long, I started talking about stump the rest of the club once or to catch everything, so maybe you
the value of Toastmasters and twice over such things as the first caught the transitions (CC speech
the confidence that develops as animal to cross that river in China 3, isn’t it) and paid less attention
we practice speaking, leading, (do you remember?) or what Jim to whether the speaker used triads
and listening. Brother-in-law Tim does every Fourth of July. (things in threes). As evaluator,
understood the speaking part easily I especially listen to whether the
enough and even the leadership Every meeting one of us must speaker met the objectives for
part wasn’t too far out for him. perk up their ears and focus on their speaking project. It’s hard
the good, the bad, and the ugly. work to listen so carefully, offer
However, I could tell that he was No, not a Clint Eastwood movie suggestions, and encourage the
surprised to hear that Toastmasters -- our ums, ers, ahs, and double speaker at the same time. It’s also
creates expert listeners. clutches. Also the wonderful turns fun work and very rewarding to be
of phrase that tickle our ears and able to listen well enough to have
But that’s what Toastmasters is: a often our funny bones. More detail heard the raw material useful for
fellowship of active listeners on the but a different kind there with a creating a great evaluation.
way to becoming expert listeners. little bit of analysis mixed in.
After considering all of the ways we
It’s what each of us spends almost Most of you are like me at the listen and the extent to which we do
all of our time doing every meeting. next listener’s trial by fire: when it, I find myself amused that people
We listen actively and avidly to we were brave (foolish?) enough think we are “those speech people”
every word spoken by the prepared to volunteer to answer that table when we say Toastmasters.
speech-giver. Most often, we listen topic question. Every word counts
as audience members because and the closer you listen the more Sometimes, I feel like asking them,
we are fascinated by the content, likely you are to catch the nuance “Are you listening?”
the word pictures painted for us, or in the question. That’s when you
by Russell Pike
 An Interview with Bill Corella
• What made you interested in joining
Toastmasters?
When I was in high school I remember one of
our guest speaker saying we are in the age of
communication. I too believe a good communicator
can go a long way. I have seen this in my own
personal experience. I have always been a shy
guy and thought one day when I had more time I
would do something about it. I wanted to improve
my oral presentation and not feel uncomfortable
being in front of others. Now, I have more time and
also enjoy the social congenial aspect of Portland
Progressives.
• Why did you pick the Portland
Progressives over another group?
I believe in being involved as locally as possible.
When I can I shop locally, buying at a farmers
market near the People’s Coop, eat out locally,
etc. Portland Progressives is not only within biking
distance but I have experienced it to be very
progressive, full of wonderful people, making very
interesting presentations. Portland Progressives
are very friendly, supportive, delightful group. I
couldn’t find another group as wonderful!
Cont. next page
 Meet Our New Member Bill Corella (cont.)

• Where is your favorite place to travel? • What makes you laugh?

I enjoy traveling to unexplored areas in the US, Funny things that happen naturally and are
Mexico, Europe, etc. I enjoy traveling to places unexpected. Such as when I was teaching 2nd grade
wherever there are friendly people. I also enjoy and was being observed by my principal. He wanted
traveling with others. the students to walk in a perfect line so I was walking
backward watching every student to make sure they
• What are you reading these days? were following directions. I was so engrossed in
watching them that I walked backwards on to a metal
I belong to 2 book studies groups in one we are pipe that was holding up part of the roof of the school
reading A Paradise Built in Hell, the other we are and hit my head. I was ok just a little embarrassed.
reading A Hidden Wholeness. I also read book for Looking back, I think this was funny.
pleasure and am reading The Dance of Connection
and Doing Work You Love. I also read various papers • Name one of your guilty pleasures.
and read news in the internet as well.
In the past it did not make me feel guilty but now it
• Which film do you enjoy watching over and does a little -eating dark chocolate and sugar coated
over? donuts. They say sugar is bad for you, before when
I was ignorant, and feeling depressed I might buy
I enjoy watching Brother Sun Sister Moon, and Brave a dozen donuts (a bakers dozen) and start eating
Heart. them until I felt better!

• Name two of your pet peeves.
1. Smoke from smokers – I feel sorry for them
because they don’t know what they are doing to
themselves and second hand smoke really bothers
me.
2. Cut grass – I am allergic to grass and when it is
cut some of it is airborne and my lungs can feel it
when I am biking.
• If you could have lunch with anyone, who
would it be and why?
I would love having lunch with loving, friendly, people.
If it had to be only one person I would pick Barack
Obama. I would pick certain topics I am interested in
and discuss them with him.
Interviewed by Heather Zeitzwolfe

• Why did you move to Portland, from

Arizona?

Did I move from Tempe, Arizona? I currently feel

bonded to both places. About 4 years ago we bought
a rental here in the S.E. After I retired from teaching
my significant other wanted to move to our rental.
So here I am! But, I do have ties to Tempe – friends,
home, son, business, etc.