The Inaugural Meeting of Advanced Toastmasters


Rei Fuller, the Toastmaster spearheading the establishment of the advanced club, opens the meeting with jubilation.

Rei Fuller was elated.  Her dream of a local advanced club had come to fruition.  Toastmaster Alicia Hughes set the stage.  She was decked out in a velvet tuxedo to inspire members to step beyond their Comfort Zone.  With that theme at the forefront and her flair and operatic music for transitions, it was clear this inaugural meeting was set to be a step above the normal Toastmaster meeting.  Supporting roles  were introduced with Tim Edwards as Ah-counter, Glenda Teams-Edwards as Grammarian/Word master, and Rei Fuller as Timer.

Deb Lee spoke on “Communication and Leadership, a Winning Combination.”  She described Dr. Daniel Goleman’s leadership styles:  Visionary — with goals a team would want to follow; Coaching — with focus on the strengths of each member;  Affiliate — with managing by doing;  Pacesetting — with pushing to the limit;  Commanding — with leading from behind.  Deb said each style could be used as needed.  She added afterwards that the Democratic style can at times be a detriment with no clear leader.  This was project #5 from the Effective Coaching Pathways.

Doug Brown spoke on “Three Cheers for Habitat for Humanity”  His introduction had us take the role of staff members at Habitat for Humanity in Asheville.  He used the analogy that each of us was like a Noah, building a habitat for humanity and some animals.  His biggest story dealt with a diva, a 16-year-old girl that spurned the chance to help with building until she met the family she’d be helping in Mexico that lived in a lean to.  This was project #1, the keynote address in the Professional Speaker advanced manual.

Stan Coss had table topics for seven speakers that all spoke a minimum of 90 seconds on various ideas reinforcing the discomfort zone theme, including embarrassing moments and taboo subjects like religion and politics.

John Bowen  had Evaluator Bob Pierce for Deb's speech and Evaluator Fern Webb for Doug's speech give their evaluations. Then he led a round robin evaluation for each speaker.  Next, John had his supporting role team give its reports, and then he gave the general evaluation.

In attendance were the following:  Rei Fuller, Alicia Hughes, Glenda Teams-Edwards, Tim Edwards, Deb Lee, Doug Brown, Stan Coss, John Bowen, Bob Pierce, Fern Webb,

The business meeting was called into session and nominations were called for and a vote taken to elect the following officers:  President, Rei Fuller; Vice President Education, Deb Lee; Vice-President Membership, Alicia Hughes; Vice-President Public Relations, Glenda Teams-Edwards; Secretary, Stan Coss; Treasurer, John Bowen; Sergeant at Arms, Tres Magner, with Alicia Hughes assisting.  Mentors selected were Glenda Teams-Edwards and Tim Edwards.

Deb, as a past district director, and Glenda, as the current district director, reviewed the documents to see that all was in order.   From the quorum of 10 members, there was a motion and a second to accept the club constitution and then the addendum.

The next meeting is June 16th.  The July meeting will be July 14th as the normal third Saturday is taken with the TLI.  Division Director Rei Fuller emailed all the Charter documents to TMI on 5-20.

Minutes are submitted by Secretary and Club Co-sponsor, Stan Coss






Alicia Hughes acts in style as Toastmaster for the initial meeting of the newly "made" club.


Several members make last minute preparations before the meeting is called to order.


Special Thanks!!!! to Earth Fare at West Gate in Asheville for our nice digs.


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