Kearney Toastmasters Kearney, Nebraska

6/5/20

Instead of southern hospitality, my husband and I were welcomed with a little mid western hospitality at Kearney.  The members were early to the meeting and greeted us enthusiastically. 

Research showed this club chartered in 1957.  It currently has 8 members. 13 people attended the meeting tonight.  8 members and 5 visitors.  I have found it is unusual to have 100% attendance by the members at the meetings so kudos to them!  A Toastmaster made a point of saying they always start on time.  I really liked that.  The meeting lasted from 8:00-8:57.  I appreciate their being respectful of my time. 

The club started with the pledge to the flag and even put the words on the screen.  This was the first club that we have visited that has done that.  The theme was The Laws of Lifetime Growth, however, I didn’t really see how the theme was interwoven into anything else they did.  In our club, if that were our theme, then the Word/Thought and Joke would be somehow related as well as the Table Topics questions. 

I appreciate that they explained early on that they use “jazz hands” instead of applause. I have been to many clubs where members did a combination because they really didn’t know which to do.  This club said they tried clapping and cheering but it didn’t translate well on screen.

The evaluators did a great job of addressing the mechanics of the speakers and not the content.  Steve got to participate in Table Topics which he always enjoys. 

At the end of the meeting, we found out we were the winner of “THE GOLDEN HAMMER” award!  Whoo Hoo!  However,  I have no idea what that means.  What is the criteria for this award?  One person announced it and mentioned Steve’s Table Topics answer pushed us over the top.  So maybe it has something to do with a funny Table Topics answer.  Who knows?

At the end of the meeting, the president asked each visitor to name 1 thing they liked about the meeting and 1 thing the club can improve on or compare it to other clubs we have visited.  I talked about them treating Steve and me (“sharing the screen virtually”) as 2 people instead of 1.  This isn’t the only club to do this.  We “collectively” have been asked to be timer and in another club an evaluator.  Like we are 1 person.  WE ARE TWO SEPARATE PEOPLE!!  I want to answer a Table Topics question too!!!!!

This is a really good club and I enjoyed being there.  But all clubs can improve in a few areas, my home club included.  Here are a few things I would have suggested if they had asked for more than 1 thing that they may want to think about doing.

• Have TM visitors help you with roles.  They had different members serving in 2 or 3 roles at a time. Steve and I were ready and willing as I am sure the other TM visitors were also. 
• Use the theme more; feel free to get crazy with it
• Ask the question first, then call on the speaker for Table Topics. We have found this helps all speakers formulate answers instead of tuning the question out.
• Explain what the Golden Hammer Award is  (just would be nice to know).

But all in all, I really liked visiting this club.  And although it does have a starting time very late at night (late to us old people), I didn’t get tired.  That’s a sign of a good meeting to me.