Meeting 840 was an important watershed in the history of the Club with the announcement by Wendy, a member of 24 years standing, that the time has come for her to retire from active Toastmasters service. Wendy’s announcement came as somewhat of a shock, because she has been a mainstay of Werribee Toastmasters for so many years, she has attended practically every meeting, has a long and distinguished record of service to the Club and accordingly it's hard to imagine the Club without her.
But as they say ‘as one door closes, another opens’. Werribee Toastmasters is a vibrant Club with a long and established history in meeting the Toastmasters International concept of altruistic service to the Community.
Meeting 840 welcomed four guests and inducted new member Yaseen, as such it indicates a positive future of the Club.
Overall, meeting 840 was fast moving and involving, with a masterful performance by Ujjwal Gandhi in his first-time role as Toastmaster.
Paul stepped in to conduct the Table Topics segment, using Toastmasters International set of cards, which made the last-minute call to present this segment relatively easy. Paul donated the set of cards to the Club for future use.
Various members put their hands up to step into vacant roles …… well done to those who volunteered and well done also Ramon for managing a trying situation so well.
Visitor Monica was called on to be the Ahh/Err counter and acquitted herself with a report that even established Members would be proud of.
Winners of the key Educational segments were:
· Best Evaluator: Patti
· Table Topics Winner: Elena
· Best Speech: A well-deserved Wendy.
Wendy’s speech was about how each of us can be a Star and she supported her speech with giving each attendee a cloth origami style star that she made herself. Wendy’s rationale for this special gift, is for each of us to hang it in a prominent position in our home, to remind us that we are all Stars. Wendy, you knocked our socks off!!
In all, Meeting 840 was, fun, engaging and informative, but tinged with sadness with Wendy’s retirement announcement.
I’m sure all WT members would join me in thanking Wendy for her dedicated commitment to the Club over so many years and to ask her to please pay us a visit from time to time.
Paul
Sergeant at Arms