Table topics
July 21, 2010
TRUCKEE, Calif. and#8212; and#8220;What does this vanity license plate say about its owner?and#8221; is the question Kelly Mercer posed at Wednesdayand#8217;s Table Topics during Truckeeand#8217;s Jibboom Street Toastmasters meeting. License plates including and#8220;D-WIFED,and#8221; and#8220;IPMS247and#8221; and and#8220;NOSUP4Uand#8221; were shown to each participant who then had one to two minutes to tell a story about the plateand#8217;s owner. The challenge really brought out peopleand#8217;s creativity.
Presented with a plate that said and#8220;NA HE DNT,and#8221; Bill Brown envisioned a beer-swilling driver who lived in a and#8220;tindominiumand#8221; and Jamie Brimer gave an entertaining description of a driver who advertised that he and#8220;LUV2FRTand#8221; which, of course, means love to FRET. Trish Foley told a story about a little red Ferrari that and#8220;WUZ HIZand#8221;.
The prepared speeches were no less fun. Immediate Past President Anna Toso, once a beekeeper, gave an informative and humorous talk entitled and#8220;To Bee or Not to Bee.and#8221; She explained how bees communicate where the best flowers are (by dancing a Bee Gees step singing and#8220;Look alive, look alive, thatand#8217;s the way out of the hiveand#8221;), how beekeepers collect and process honey and the impact of hive collapse syndrome that has wide consequences for food production.
Brandon Swann gave an informative and humorous speech entitled and#8220;People Want Proof.and#8221; Brandonand#8217;s family owns a greenhouse business and#8220;Swann Gardensand#8221; that employs high-efficiency polycarbonate panel technology to maximize vegetable production in their home and commercial greenhouses. He explained why polycarbonate is an ideal material for greenhouses using both engineering data (excellent light diffusion and low thermal conductivity) and physical examples (Brandon slapped a poly panel with a heavy chain to demonstrate its strength superiority to glass).
It was another great meeting with learning, laughter and the growth that comes from leaving the comfort zone to speak in public.
Come check out Toastmasters and#8212; we love visitors! Speaking is optional, until youand#8217;re ready. We meet every Wednesday in the Boardroom at the Truckee Airport Terminal Building (yes, there really is one in Truckee!). Meetings are 7:30-8:30 a.m. Contact Alan Lattanner at (530) 386-3471 for more information, or just show