Second Lease on Life – by Dennis Asunto
In 1997, my life ended. My first life, that is. But before I tell you about the end, let me start from the beginning.
I was born 21 years earlier in 1976, in a small town at the southernmost island of the Philippines. We didn’t stay there long since my father’s career kept us on the move. When I was three, we moved to Manila, the country’s capital city. The best way to describe life in Manila is it’s a lot like living in a big city like Los Angeles—it is bustling, with lots of people, traffic on all freeways and, of course, an abundant amount of pollution. We lived the typical middle class life—my father was a banker, my mother was a stay-at-home mom and I was an only child, studying in a Catholic private school. Read more…
Congratulations Gerardo!
A message from the HP Northside President, Hydee VanHook.
Last week, the Toastmasters Fall area contest was hosted on the HP Campus. The contest, which included the Humorous and Table Topics categories, was well attended and a success. It featured a number of excellent speakers, and, of course, food – potluck style!
Gerardo represented HP Northside at the contest, competing in the Humorous prepared speech category. His stage comedy presence was very well-received – enough so that they asked him to compete in Table Topics! Gerardo ended up taking home first-place trophies in both categories, reflecting his knack for humor that we at HP Northside appreciate and enjoy every week. Once again, congratulations!
It was tough competition among fourteen participants. Every speaker was talented and animated, and the best part of it was that we were entertained.
Congratulations to all participants. Everyone delivered quality speeches and a total package of laughter.
The next stop for Gerardo is the division contest, which will be held on October 12. Fellow Toastmasters, you don’t want to miss this one.
Proud member of HP Northside,
-Hydee
The Endless Chase – by Jimmy Tran
Last week, HP Northside Toastmasters had the pleasure of hearing Jimmy Tran’s Icebreaker speech. The reception was so enthusiastic that we asked him for permission to share his speech on the blog. Here’s the transcript of his very first toastmasters speech.
Ladies and gentleman, I stand before you a sellout.
Every time I drink from my thermos, every time I use my EPP discount, every time I swipe my badge, every time I use my headset to talk on my cell phone, I am selling out, make no mistake about it.
See, when I was a child, I wanted to be a cowboy…but certain things stood in the way of that. One of them being that a real cowboy is actually NOTHING like the ones I saw in movies and television. Read more…
Welcome Jimmy!
Please welcome our newest member Jimmy Tran!
Mentor – Lisa Donchak
Job: Attach Services Sales Support Specialist
Education: B.A. Economics
Hobbies: Fighting crime.
The most exciting thing you have done: Everyday brings a new adventure. Hard to narrow it down, but cliff jumping does get the adrenaline going.
Fear, you want to get over: Deep waters. (Ironic, huh?)
Favorite Food: I don’t discriminate against food.
Favorite Holiday: Chinese New Year’s.
Most exciting vacation: China in 2005 will always live in my memories.
Future goals: Taking over the world.
Being a Toastmaster: = awesome?
September 2010 – BOE Meeting Minutes
| Team Leader: Hydee Vanhook | Meeting Facilitator: | ||
| Team Members and other Attendees: | |||
| K. Levin, VP of ED | |||
| C. McQueen, Secretary | C. Anderson, Treasurer | V. Tigno, Sgt. Of Arms | |
| Key Discussion Points | Outcomes (Decisions, Action Items | By Whom | By When |
| Topic 1: President | Hydee asked Kevin to immediately take over responsibility for Distinguished Club Program Goal Tracking | Kevin | Immediately |
| Topic 2 : President | Hydee’s Org. Chart, Tracking, Educational, Membership Checklist, and Meeting Agenda and Minutes forms were approved by BOE vote | All | Immediately |
| Topic 3 : President | - Hydee/Kevin will send out email asking for a ‘Mentorship Audit’ to all members
- Kevin will be responsible for following up |
Hydee and Kevin | Not specified |
| Topic 4 : VP of Membership | August Membership club goal was 22 members – to date we exceeded goal with 27 current members; including 4 new members (4 of the 7 ‘potential members’ joined)
- Presented meeting attendance report |
Vincent for Linda | Ongoing |
| Topic 5 : VP of ED | -Motion to have an Incentive Program to encourage member speech sign-up
-Motion approved by BOE |
Kevin | Ongoing |
| Topic 6 : Secretary | Reading of past BOE minutes; Requested reminder for members to update profile on HP Northside Freetoast website – will send out mg | Carrie | 09-09-10 |
| Topic 7 : Treasurer | - Membership dues renewals will be sent out by Chris. They are due in Oct.
- 4 new members have been registered as of Aug. 1st and all confirmed receipt of manuals within 1 week from submission - New Club treasury balance $814.78 |
Chris | 09-30-10 |
| Topic 8 : Sgt of Arms | Vincent asked Chris and Terrie to be Srgt. At Arms for the 09-09-10 meeting as Vincent will be out of town | Vincent
Chris Terrie |
09-09-10 |
| Items for Next Agenda | Follow up on Achievement Tracking Report
Follow up on Membership Report |
||
| Evaluate Today’s Meeting | Five thumbs up | ||
| Items for Future Agendas |
Notes: Vincent mentioned CC goals will hopefully be accomplished by : Terrie, Carrie, Kevin, Erick
And Hydee and Vincent (will achieve ACL or ACD – whichever club needs)
Geraldo will participate in club contest humorist
Reminder that Toastmasters are responsible for updating and archiving each week’s agenda on the HP Northside Freetoast website
Note for Kevin : Add Claudia and Terrie Ammirati and to Achievement Tracking Report
HP Fair – Vincent sent out 5 thank you for attending email mgs
Hydee would like officers to take turns facilitating BOE meetings
11:59pm BOE meeting adjourned
Welcome AP!
Please welcome our newest member Ayodhya Prasad “AP” Upadhyay!
Mentor – Terry Ammirati
Job: Business Analyst (IT)
Education: MS in Information System ( Texas A&M International University, TX)
Hobbies: Listening to music, reading and analyzing (about) news/politics/sports
The most exciting thing you have done: Still waiting for that
Fear, you want to get over: Fear of God, which I don’t want to get over
Favorite Food: Anything served with love, I am hungry 24/7
Favorite Holiday: Dashain/Tihar ( Nepalease) and Christmas& New Year. I like all the holidays. I like to celebrate and I don’t want to miss any holiday. We always need to be thankful to our ancestors..so Thanksgiving is very important
Most exciting vacation: Visiting remote areas/trekking in Nepal
Future goals: Be a social worker/write a story book
Being a Toastmaster: Is very exciting and a learning experience
Welcome Terry!
Please welcome our newest member Terry Ammirati!
Mentor – V Vincent Tigno
Job: Been with HP 23 years in Sept.
Education: Graduated from American River with a 3 year degree in Interior Design. Catholic School for 12 years in San Francisco prior to that. Yeah I don’t want to hear it:)
Hobbies: Traveling, Anything Disney, Notre Dame Football, Watching Tour de France.
The most exciting thing you have done: Besides birthing a child, I climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge., Australia and became a certified first responder!
Fear, you want to get over: That I’ll be present during the end of the world (I have recurring dream about this…deep huh?)
Favorite Food: Italian (Veal and Gnocchi)
Favorite Holiday: All of them, anything to get off from work.
Most exciting vacation: Our (my daughter and I) yearly pilgrimage to Disneyland. It’s a blast!
Future goals: To find a new role within HP that excites me. To survive the empty nest syndrome in 3 years time. To grow old in the best of health. To be a leader in global citizenship.
Being a Toastmaster: Allows you to network, learn and grow while having fun or listening to thought provoking speeches.
2010 Toastmasters International Convention
Goodbye HP Northside
It feels like it has been a much longer association with all of you at HP Northside than what has been a little more than two great years.
I am really glad to have been with the club – I still have a long way to go to become a good communicator or a leader, but this experience holds me in good stead.
If there were a couple of things that I would like to share with the newer members – Firstly, do not be afraid of failure at Toastmasters. You wouldn’t find a more supportive, encouraging audience than our club. Failure in the club will prepare you to succeed outside the club. Take every opportunity that comes across and there are too many opportunities that Toastmasters provides.
Secondly, As Vince beautifully put the other day, HP Northside is really a “community” and it has been to me, much more than a professional network. I will never forget the wonderful people that I have met here. I am glad to have found the mentors I found here – Debbie, Scott, Steve, Trish .. and members who have inspired me – Vince, Hydee, Chris, Jim, Linda, Pradeep, Elizabeth, Simmy, Satnam, Greg, Alex, Lisa, Marcella, Kevin, Gerardo, Venkat, Ram, Nathan .. the list really goes on..
Thank you all for your support and encouragement and wish you all the best in years to come.
If any of you plan on visiting London, ping me!
Forever a HP Northsider,
Shiv Ramanna
BOE Election Results for 2010-11
The BOE elections were conducted on June 3rd. The following officers have been elected for 2010-11. Congratulations to all the newly elected officers
President – Hydee Vanhook
VP of Education – Kevin Levine
VP of Membership – Linda Lawson
VP of Public Relations – Lisa Donchak
Treasurer – Chris Anderson
Sergeant at Arms – Vincent Tigno
The installation of new officers will be on June 10th at the weekly club meeting. I would also like to whole-heartedly thank the outgoing BOE for a fantastic effort in 2009-10 to help the club achieve Select Distinguished Club status.
