An interesting TableTopics Question...

Neatorama.com had a recent post about a "new Stonehenge" in Georgia which ends with a question that would make for an interesting TableTopics session ...

In 1979, an anonymous group erected a massive stone structure in Elbert County, Georgia. This modern-day stonehenge is more than twenty feet tall and arranged to serve as a calendar and a clock. Its slabs have instructions in eight languages for reconstructing society after the collapse of civilization. The instructions are more philosophical than technological, but perhaps nonetheless prudent:

PROTECT PEOPLE AND NATIONS WITH FAIR LAWS AND JUST COURTS. LET ALL NATIONS RULE INTERNALLY RESOLVING EXTERNAL DISPUTES IN A WORLD COURT. AVOID PETTY LAWS AND USELESS OFFICIALS. BALANCE PERSONAL RIGHTS WITH SOCIAL DUTIES. PRIZE TRUTH—BEAUTY—LOVE—SEEKING HARMONY WITH THE INFINITE. BE NOT A CANCER ON THE
EARTH—LEAVE ROOM FOR NATURE—LEAVE ROOM FOR NATURE.

If you were composing brief instructions for survivors of the collapse of civilization,
what would you write?

The original article in Wired magazine has additional background ... which could spur additional questions for your TableTopics session, such as "Where did this structure come from?" and "What does it do?".

Have you found something interesting that you have turned into a TableTopics Session? If so, please leave a comment below and tell us how it went !

D53 Toastmasters: Spring Contests 2009

Here is some important information regarding Spring Speech Contests for 2009. (A copy of this message is being sent to your VP Education.)

1.) There will be * Table Topics and the International Speech Contests.
(*No Tall Tales this Spring.)

2.) Contest Deadlines:
All Club Contests need to be completed by: 2/27/09
All Area Contest need to be completed by: 3/17/09
All Division Contests need to be completed by: 4/3/09

3.) More information is on our D53 website using the link below - including a Conference Call Offer with our Chief Judge and the LGET on 2/5 if you have any questions regarding speech contests:
http://www.district53toastmasters.org/contests.htm

Let's have a great Spring Contest season! Please email me with any questions at lget53@district53toastmasters.org

Thank you very much and I hope to see all of you at our Spring Conference on 4/25/09 in Norwich CT.

Marsha Kiley
Lt Gov of Education & Training

Division A Contest Winners !!!!

On Wed. Oct. 10th, the Division A 2007 TableTopics and Humorous speech contests were held at the Wooster School Library in Danbury, CT.

Representatives from 4 areas were on hand for a lively evening of incredible displays of impromptu speaking as well as some truly entertaining humorous speeches.

The winners included...

Tabletopics Contest

1st Place Kate Zap,

2nd Place, Liz Smith

3rd Place, Pat Hendrickson

Humorous Speech Contest

1st Place, Nana Danso with his speech titled, "The Secret"

2nd Place, Pearl Golay with her speech titled, "A Permanent Crisis"

3rd Place, Adam Izzo with his speech titled, "Barbecue"

Shown in the pictures here are....

Top picture (from left to right).... Kate Zap, Nana Danso, Pat Hendrickson, Pearl Golay and Liz Smith.

Bottom picture (left to right)... Kate Zap and Nana Danso.

It was a great evening and a lot of fun for everyone who was able to attend. Special thanks go out to WestConn Toastmasters who hosted the event and provided refreshments!

See you at the Fall Conference on Nov.3rd! Let's Cheer on Kate & Nana !

Area A1, A3 and A5 Fall Contest set for Sept.25th!

The Area 1, 3 and 5 contests (Humorous and TableTopics) will be held on Tuesday, September 25th from 6-9PM. Contestants should arrive at 6pm (or slightly sooner) for briefings.

The Contest will be located in the Ulrich Conference Room in the Dyson Center atMarist College. Directions to Marist are at http://www.marist.edu/welcome/direct.html

Contact your Area Governor if you need more information...
Area A1, Mike Ruppert, areaA1@district53toastmasters.org
Area A3, Ozgur Turkmen, areaA3@district53toastmasters.org
Area A5, Janice Parker, areaA5@district53toastmasters.org

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Each club can send up to TWO contestants from their club to the area contest for each contest! That means up to 4 people total from each club could participate in the area contest !

March meeting of the Div.A Advanced TM Club

Here are all the details ... place, time and directions... for the upcoming meeting of the Div.A ADVANCED Toastmaster club ....

Place:
Ridgefield Public Library, in the "History Room"
472 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT 06877
click here for a map showing the location.
Directions are also available on the library's web site:
http://www.biblio.org/rdgfldpages/direct.htm+

Date/Time:
Thursday, March 22nd, 2007
7:15 to 8:45pm (please try to arrive at 7pm so we can start on time)

Please forward this email to any Advanced Toastmaster (ATM-B or AC-B or above) who might be interested ...

If you miss this meeting... Don't miss the BIG EVENT on April 19th! Local Division Contest winners (A&D) from District 53 will go "head to head" against the best of Div.G from District 46 (NY/NJ). We are calling it "The Battle of the Border" ! 7pm in the Dayton Room at the Ridgefield Library.

If you or anyone in the clubs in your area are not able to make this meeting, please send me an email expressing your interest. This information will also be posted on the Div.A blog, http://www.areaa4.blogspot.com/ so check there occasionally for updates.

Please pass this email along and let me know if there are any questions.

Thanks,

Dave Wheeler
Division A Governor, 2006-7
theshot92@gmail.com

Dilbert on Toastmasters ....

Ever wonder how Dilbert, the famed comic hero (?) with the corporate lifestyle, would handle Toastmasters?

Well, check out how Scott Adams, the creator and writer of Dilbert, handles some of the unexpected events that occur during his appearances as a world-famous author !

click here to visit Scott's blog post

It looks like Scott would be a GREAT Tabletopics speaker !