Associated Speechmasters Toastmasters Club Indianapolis, Indiana

7/10/20

 

Talk about tackling a subject head on.  Associated Speechmasters did not dance around the polarizing issue of Black Lives Matter.  The topic was out in front for all to see, it was their theme for the day and all the table topics questions revolved around it.  

As soon as we began the meeting we each introduced ourselves and shared our observations of Black Lives Matter.  Aside from the Politically Incorrect Toastmasters club that Steve and I visited, this is the only club that took this subject and planted it right in front of us.  The Toastmaster of the Day told us her church is doing a 21-day challenge about Black Lives Matter and they are learning each week about structural racism.  This club had two black members that attended that day.  Every person had an opportunity to give their opinion on the issue of Black Lives Matter.  

I do applaud them for handling this current topic.  However, from my observations, it seemed like everyone was on the same side of the issue.  It would have been interesting to see other points of view and how they handled them.  I think conversations on all sides need to be heard.  The only way we can learn the real truth is listening to each other instead of the way the media is telling us how others think and feel.

 

Associated Speechmasters made a good impression with me right off the start with their website.  They had pictures of the members and I really liked reading the "Meet Our Members" section.  Another plus is that their Zoom link is right on their website.  I really wish more clubs would do this instead of people who want to attend meetings having to jump through hoops to get Zoom links and passwords.  Why are we making it so hard for people to come to our meetings?

 

This club has 12 members but only seven in attendance that day so Steve and I were asked to help out.  We each did a role that we had never done before.  We were Table Topics evaluators.  Guess this was an opportunity for me to grow. 

I am not sold on Table Topics evaluators at least not in the way this club handled it but with time I probably could get used to it and maybe appreciate it.  They had one prepared speaker for the day.  One member was asked to evaluate the prepared speaker and the 3rd table topics response, I was assigned to evaluate the 1^st and 4^th table topic response and Steve to evaluate the 2^nd and 5^th table topic response.  I was getting confused counting the speakers.  Luckily we ran out of time and had only 3 Table Topics responses so I only had to evaluate one person. 

 

Associated Speechmasters members have received six legacy educational awards but no Pathways awards.  I'm not sure why they haven’t embraced the Pathways program.  They greeted us as we arrived and asked us to put our email address in chat IF we wanted to them to communicate with us.  I would just ask the visitor to put their contact info in the chat because we DO want to send them a thank you for attending our club email.  No IF’s about it. 

 

This club does things differently than I have ever seen before.  This may be usual for them or it may be due to low attendance that day in how they performed this meeting.  Stefanee served as Table Topics Master and Toastmaster of the Day.  As Toastmaster of the Day she also called on all the reports and the evaluators.  The only responsibility the General Evaluator had was to give a general report of how she thinks the meeting went.  Stefanee also held the business meeting and closed the meeting.  However, that could be that they do not have a president yet and looks like no one is jumping up to take that position. 

 

So Kudos to Associated Speechmasters for confronting subjects that most clubs shy away from due to potential clashes.  I wish you much success in your future and get on those Pathway awards!  You can do it!