Gregarious GUTS Gathering Greets 24 Years!

Carolyn Buttolph and Tracy Head were co-coordinators creating a party atmosphere with balloons, wrapped packages, treats on chairs, special program paper, fresh fruit and a decorated cake as GUTS Toasmasters marked its 24th year. Everything was in readiness when members and guests arrived.

Lea Nicholson, our President, opened the meeting relating how working on our Competent Communicator was like biking…sometimes we start to coast easily...but what does it take to start biking up the hill to obtain our goal “GUTS.”

Tracy Head “PartyMaster” then led us through the “Five Course Meal.”

The MENU:
A “Taste” of Humor
Main Course of speeches
“Dessert" was a short break
“Table Topics”

“Evaluations”

Taste of Humor

Jim Chamberlin’s taste of humor, “reflections from the oldest Toastmaster,” was… well enlightening to discover Charles Lindberg… among others used to attend GUTS.

The Main Course

Ayn Dietrich’s, District 27 International Speech Winner 2009, speech “Everybody Gardens” related how gardening as a child reminds her about how we garden our Life. She encouraged us to chose quality over quantity, focus and to take breaks to reflect/refresh.

Carolyn Buttolph’s manual speech from Speaking on Television brought us: “Present at the Beginning”, as she acted as talk show host and interviewed charter members Paul Aligood and Jan Hamlin. Memories…what memories, Jan and Paul brought Hugh and EJ Burgay, the experienced Toastmasters who helped start GUTS, to life with their memories. Hugh has been very active in Toastmasters and had been a District Governor in Florida and an International Director from that area. Hugh was a “no nonsense guy”, an ex-marine but he wanted toastmasters to be fun. He started the GUTS cheer.

E J Burgay joined Toastmasters in 1970s by listing her name as “EJ” because women were not llowed to belong. She became International World champion in 1977. Although she became blind at a young age, it did not stop her from going to law school. Jan remembered that EJ knew people by their voice and would stand at door… greeting people by name as she heard their voice.

Other questions answered: was there always food...yes

Other meeting places: started in the Burgay home, then Chuck and Lydia’s ( with a shooting range in the asement where gunfire could be heard just after 10a and got the meetings to “end on time”), Generous George’s, Jukebox Diner.

Romances? Yes Paul did meet his wife at GUTS Toastmasters.

Bit of Wisdom from Hugh Burgay: 9 times out of 10 a person will say yes they are going to toastmasters but then don’t go…you have to “pick them up...the first time.”

Table Topics
Scott Merritt turned Table Topics into a Picture Party Game! He presented a picture and called on people to “take us into the picture” and tell what was happening. Sungwoo thanked Scott for finding his lost picture of when he went to a park.

• Christine told of a family beach vacation with 2 daughters and 2 mothers having their picture taken. 
• Gerry told us about how her brother got separated and got his picture taken with Ronald MacDonald and then the whole family did. 
• Arthuretta mused about what she was thinking as she held a watering can.
• Hugo told us about his painting and how if he had room he would put the beautiful woman in the picture too. 
• Kathy, a guest, told how simple experiences of a craft fair bonded the older generation to the younger generation and even in this high tech world...the older generation had something offer.

Evaluations

General Evaluator Christine gave a “review” of the GUTS party... a resounding success!!

Jason Morgan received the Burgay Award, which Terry Bartholomew said was best described as going to a “broad spectrum’ Toastmaster

Guests from other clubs were Johnnie, Connie, Shu and Jan. Other Guests were Kathy and Marvin (Jason Morgan’s aunt and uncle), Jason’s wife Kelly.

Words from our guests:

• Johnnie-What does it take to last 24 years? GUTS -Grace, Utility, Talents, Sacrifice.
• Hugh-impressed how whole group is involved: well planned, well organized and went off well.
• Shu: what does it take for a night owl to get up? And come at 8 am --- GUTS
• Kelly: even non Toastmasters showed talent... speaking about Kathy’s table topic answer

Another Great GUTS gathering …don’t miss the next meeting.

--Submitted by Jarlene Buzzell