2010-02-28: International Speech and Evaluation Contest    

Jeff Harman was Toastmaster of the day.

[In Preparation]

2010-01-17: Michael O'Brien receives CC Award    

After completing his ten speeches in the Basic Manual, Renaissance Speaker Michael O'Brien is presented with his Competent Communicator (CC) award from Toastmasters International by VP Education, Jeff Harman.

Congratulations Mike! We are all looking forward to your Advanced Manual speeches.

2010-01-10: Annette McCullough receives CC Award    

After completing her ten speeches in the Basic Manual, Renaissance Speaker Annette McCullough is presented with her Competent Communicator (CC) award from Toastmasters International by VP Education, Jeff Harman.

Congratulations Annette!

2009-11-15: Jeff Harman receives DTM Award    

Jeff Harman was honored with Toastmasters International's highest award, Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) at this week's District 52 Conference. Jeff worked hard to fulfill all the requirements and we're all extremely proud of his achievement.

Way to go Jeff!!!

2009-09-27: Baseball and the Meaning of Life!    

Our guest, Accredited Speaker, Wayne Choate prefaced the meeting with a short introduction to Toastmasters Accredited Speaker Program which captured our interest.

Jeff Harman was Toastmaster of the day with his theme: "BASEBALL and the Meaning of Life!". We all know how he loves the game. Jeff's quotes and anecdotes kept the meeting moving on track. Grammarian Ingrid Smith had "game" on her mind as an appropriate word-of-the-day.

Bill Moon's Table Topics had us all participating as we each had our turn at bat and swung away at our chance to hit one out of the park using our topic, but it was Mike O'Brien who hit a home-run when the dust settled.

The day's speakers were: Sioux Hart, founder of our sister club in Clearwater, Florida, Cliff Noble, Sue Zenger, Mick Coventry who startled us with his impish opening: "foranoccasion", Lee Cambique who won Most-Improved, and Carol Worthey who led us through the life of Johann Sebastian Bach, with musical accompaniment.

A great meeting that masterly finished a little early (always a sign of a great Toastmaster). The Renaissance continues...

2009-08-23: Table Topics and Tall Tales Speech Contest    

With Jeff Harman as Toastmaster and Naomi Conners as Chief Judge, Renaissance Speakers held the annual "Table Topics" and "Tall Tales" speech contests.

There were five contestants in each contest. For the Table Topics contest, entries were: Annette McCullough, Mick Coventry, Clare Anahu, Yana Yatkovskaya and Ingrid Smith. The impromptu answers to the contest question were very interesting to the club members in the audience, who were judges.

For the Tall Tales contest, entries were: Annette McCullough, Mick Coventry, Clare Anahu, Cliff Noble and Val Rodionov. We all cheered Mick Coventry sweeping the top awards with his Topic answer and with his winning speech: "Winkle: Snail of Destiny".

A fun contest, thanks and kudos to all who participated! The Renaissance continues...

2009-07-05: Freedom    

Jeff Harman was Toastmaster of the day with his theme: "Freedom". Grammarian Katie Sabella had "patriot" as the word-of-the-day.

[ In - Preparation ]

2009-03-15: Spring Training    

Jeff Harman was Toastmaster of the day with his theme: "Spring Training". Grammarian Don Lawrence had "rely" as the word-of-the-day.

[ In - Preparation ]

2009-02-22: Evaluation and International Speech Contests    

Jeff Harman was Contest Chair and Toastmaster of the day for the "Evaluation and International Speech Contests". Naomi Conners was Chief Judge.

[ In - Preparation ]

2009-02-08: Changing the World With Art    

Jeff Harman was Toastmaster of the day with his theme: "Changing the World With Art". Grammarian Carol Worthey had "???" as the word-of-the-day.

[ In - Preparation ]

2008-03-30: Onomatopoeia    

Hats off to Bill Moon for creating the new Renaissance Speakers The Way To Happiness Book with our picture on the cover!! If you haven't gotten your copy yet do so. It's very aesthetic and has the precept "Be Competent" on the front along with a group photo. I'm sure you’ll see it on the web site soon.

Speakers Outside the Club included Ingrid Smith who is now officially a TV Star! She gave her wins as a Scientology auditor on a cable TV show. This is exactly the kind of product we work for with Renaissance Speakers and I'm sure Ingrid will get a commendation for her win! Mike Baron shared his win speaking at his son's wedding. Bill Moon spoke at his Company and Bruce Delfeld at the Area Contest.

Toastmaster Jeff Harman introduced us to "The Wonderful World of Onomatopoeia". A theme that CRACKLED through the meeting! (Do you know the noise a frying pan makes when a woman smacks her husband? PWANG!!) Alberto Cabilan's word-of-the-day, "Omnipotent" fit in well and Naomi Conners slandered Texans with her Chuckle.

John Conley led a spirited Table Topics that included "Most Improved" winner Bob Harrisen who gave a Tarzan yodel as he leaped off a skyscraper. Lance Miller took first without saying a word! (Imagine the sounds and actions of Jonathan Winters). Our guest Keith Jarvis gallantly protected a bevy of babes, Cathy Bersier was NOT in her birthday suit and Carol Worthey did mention the Boom Boom room and pole dancing... 'nuf said on Table Topics! (You had to be there). Best Speaker of the Day went to Bill Moon for his creative speech titled "Size of Gain". A small dot on the poster became the whole physical universe at the end of his speech. You can imagine the effect it had on the audience! Most Improved speaker went to Kathy Coventry with her continuing tale of the 1001 Arabian Nights. "The adventure continues whether you are participating or not!"

Honorable mentions are Sue Zenger and her speech, "The Best Kept Secret in Scientology". Bruce Delfeld's Ice Breaker "Second Best". You simply HAVE to look closely at the photo of basketball giant Debbie Ellish! Her speech "I Am a 7-Foot Pygmy" had us all howling! Richard Stewart's speech "Rusty Knows Best" gave insight to his "Issues" being a slow-talking Texan.

Ingrid Smith's insight brought her the Most Improved Coach ribbon and Lance Miller took first place on coaching Bruce Delfeld by simply explaining his alternate universe.

Welcome to our FIVE guests: Carol Ayres, Janet Ayres, Andree Vigeaut, Lois P. Jones, and Keith Jarvis!

And finally, Congratulations to Bruce Delfeld and Bill Moon for bringing Area 2nd place gold trophies to the club! Bill for Coaching and Bruce for International! It was a SMACKDOWN MEETING!!

2007-08-26: Baseball and the Meaning of Life    

Immediate past-president Jeff Harman was Toastmaster today and hit it out of the ballpark! Introducing his theme "Baseball and the Meaning of Life" he dramatically opened the meeting with the "people will come" speech from the movie "Field of Dreams".

Club Coach Ingrid Smith batted 1000 having all her functionaries ready and willing to step up to the plate to get the show on the road. Grammarian Carol Worthey had us get our red-hot handouts wherein she had listed four pages of baseball slang as the many words-of-the-day making it a whole new ballgame. Mike Baron won a box of cracker-jacks for using the most baseball slang during the meeting, although many tried during Sue Zenger's slang filled table topics.

Our prepared speeches were enlightening and entertaining. Ray Quann took us on a tongue-in-cheek tour through the culinary delights of his native Newfoundland and we all had a "mug up." Paulien Lombard displayed her complete ease on stage. Ted Crisell inspired us to create the magic missing from life. Inverting the day's theme, Mick Coventry, our resident Brit, insisted on talking about "cricket slang" and had us all stumped. Lastly, Bill Moon did his ump-teenth Icebreaker speech starting yet another time through the Competent Communicator manual.

John Conley was inducted officially into the club becoming the newest Renaissance speaker! A great meeting.

2007-08-11: District 52 Awards Banquet    

The Sportsman's Club in Studio City hosted the Toastmasters District 52 Awards and Installation Banquet to award last year's officers and contributors and to officially install this year's district officers.

Sue Zenger from Renaissance was installed as a new Area Governor for the upcoming term.

Three members of Renaissance Speakers received District awards for their service last year. Ted Crisell received a Lecturn award for service as an Area Governor. Immediate Past-President, Jeff Harman received a beautiful plaque for gaining over 20 new members to the club during his presidency. Jeff Harman and past Vice-President Education Debbie Ellish both received "shooting star" awards for their outstanding contributions to District 52 becoming a Distinguished District.

Current President, Ray Korns attended and accepted the awards on behalf of Jeff and Debbie (who were in New York). It was great to see and renew old friendships as well as meet new friends from other clubs.

2007-07-01: Officer Installation    

Renaissance Speakers was delighted and proud to have Toastmasters International Director Ann Hastings conduct the installation of our new Club Officers for 2007-2008. Ann brought along her wit, zest and verve when she arrived creating a lively ceremony.

You can see this years' officers in the picture to the right. From left to right: Bruce Delfeld our perpetual Seargent-At-Arms, Ingrid Smith our new Treasurer who is learning to say "No!" to any requests for money, Barbara Lewis our very competent and able new Secretary, Paulien Lombard our eager VP Membership, Ted Crisell our dapper and saavy VP Public Relations, Terry Laster assuming the scheduling post of VP Production, Cathy Bersier our congenial and smart VP Education and Ray Korns the first ever returning President.

These new officers, along with Immediate Past President, Jeff Harman form the Executive Council to keep the club on track toward setting and meeting our goals for the upcoming year.

Having skipped Table Topics for the morning in order to accomplish the installation ceremony and yearly awards, we continued to have the usual six speakers and coaches then ajourned for a celebratory Thai lunch!