Congratulations Toastmasters One and All, Whether Just Starting Out by Visiting a Meeting or Celebrating 20 Years as an Awesome Club !!

Over ten years ago, I was looking around the Berkshire Community College campus in Great Barrington MA that is on Main Street. I met an upbeat fellow names Will Ryan who happened to tell me about the Southern Berkshire Toastmasters Club which he and his wife Susanna Opper helped found. 

"What's Toastmasters?" you may be wondering, as was I when he said it was great place to share concerns or ideas in a prepared speech format. I was invited to visit the club and join for the low fee of less than a hundred dollars a year (about 25 to register then monthly dues which can be paid in installments.)

Some clubs are sponsored by a a corporation and are 'closed' yet many are open and community-based. I learned more over the next 10 years as I maintained a membership and took a long time to give ten official speeches to earn my Competent Communicator.

On Sunday, April 3rd, 2017, I got to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Club which was held in a rustic barn venue (Kudos and Thanks to the Egremont Village Inn in MA) with nice food and drink, music by a member I hope to see on the video on vimeo (see site for more details and I'll try to add the link here since it will be aired on Public Television in Western MA. Will Ryan also helps that organization, so lucky us.)

He and Suzanne were the guests of honor and a few other founding members were there.

Ann Bloch shared an unbelievable story about writing an article that took a while to get printed in the Toastmasters International magazine, then being in a foreign country at a meeting by good fortune. Even better, she was recognized as the writer of the letter and given a ride back to her hotel which she was in need of at that time.

Small world in all the "right' ways! Ann teaches Communication classes at the college, so that takes this story full-circle. I need to catch a train to New York tonight but squeezed a lot into a few days in CT (and even some catch-up sleep.)

Some of the same ideas to help one give a good speech (or write a blog post) pertain to life: be yourself, get rest, do your best and show up and don't feel it's a final test, it's but one page in your life story..and you are the star that shines brightly, especially when among supportive inspiring friends whether in person, a bit further apart (such as you and my other 80K visitors on livfully) or in your local or global circles of care and connection.

I gave $10 to the Mission for Eye Care (VEST from CT helps sponsor) that the Blondin Shea Eye Vision folks of Torrington CT do with zest in Nicaragua for over 17 years now yearly. Thanks in advance if you send a donation their way or for helping other efforts by folks in your area and beyond. Happy trails and happy tales. A moment of silence too though for any in the mode of challenge or with physical decline or passing.

We will keep the faith that in the end, the spirit is more the final word than any earthly challenge or timeframe, May we all feel held in the healing hands and spirit of love that comes from many realms, here and above. HugEnergy, Catherine aka Livifully PS As a bonus part of celebrating, give a listen to the free youtube.com  Folk-Legacy tune sung by Ed Trickett called "What You Do With What You've Got" (meaning It's not Just What You're Given or Can Do..."

Hats off to each person even practicing at home in front of a mirror, reading aloud, or supporting another in their speaking journey, slowing down to Think and pause rather than use "likes', so's and Uh's" and giving heed to 'the Time (usually one can say a lot in a couple of minutes when Mindful of maing a key point and giving an example then a quick wrap up note of a idea to do in light of the topic or a next step. See how this 'game of speaking and communicating with others' (always speaking essentially to One Person, not a crowd, yet being clear and having good volume and projection.)  It's even More Fun to learn this stuff as a team at a cool Meeting so check it out.

Even go to a 12-step anonymous program to appreciate the options for listening and maybe sharing briefly about a piece of one's journey (if the meeting is a fit as in an Open Meeting unless you have a sincere need to be there for the main goal, such as an alcohol issue in your life for AA, Alcoholics Anonymous, or a qualifier (an alcoholic) in your life to go to Al-Anon and so on. They also have online meetings. Other good resources for everybuddy to know about and check out (even for future use or general knowledge) is HealthyPlace.com, and NAMI.org as well as some other inspirational spots like Jennifer McLean and YouWealthRevolution.org. Happy Chattin' or Listenin' as the case may be. Great for College Kids or High Schoolers or Younger folks to hop into sooner rather than later to Develop Good Habits (like most adults wish we'd had more support to do so not shake over book reports or other public speaking opportuniites. As Shakespeare says, "All the world's a stage..." may as well take some Voice and Acting Lessons!