Invocation for A.M.Akron Toastmasters

 by Wazir H Sain

October 2012

When we joined Toastmasters we were not asked, "Are you a Christian, a Hindu, a Muslim, a Jew, a Buddhist, a Sikh or an agnostic or atheist."  Nor were you asked if you were a democrat, a republican, a libertarian or a black, a white, a Hispanic or an Asian? All are welcome in the Toastmasters' family--a brotherhood of men and women--dedicated to enhance communication and leadership in the world.

Our immense individual differences do not preclude us from helping, loving and respecting each other. Our  enormous diversity multiplies our resourcefulness.

Please join me for a moment of reflection and optimism with the following words:

With our friends beside us, and no one beneath us, with the bonds of Toastmasters between us, and our worries behind us, with our goals before us, and no task beyond us, with a passion for excellence and a thirst for knowledge and understanding, with a dedication to bringing progress through communication and leadership, we dream of a well-communicated world with unity in its diversity and a superb leadership that the humanity so deserves.

Shalom (Hebrew), Us-salamu Alaikum (Arabic), Namaste (Hindi), Hola (Spanish), Bonjour (French), Guten Tag (German),Jambo (Swahili), zǎo shàng hǎo (Chinese), Khoda Hafez (Persian), Nomoshker (Bengali), Konnichiwa (Japanese), and Aloha (Hawaiian).

Humorous Speech and Table Topics Commercial

A.M. Akron Toastmasters

 Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contest 2012

Commercial: Take 1!

If you’d like to hear a joke 

Or a clever anecdote;

If you enjoy a narrative 

That someone funny wrote;

If you like to grin and yuk

And roar and hoot and howl;

If you mostly like to smile

And never care to scowl;

Then you will want to be here

When next this group does meet

And get here mighty early 

So you can find yourself a seat.

Cindi Kane, Ned Parks and Gary, 

In September on the fifth,

Will compete for who is funniest

And the winner goes forthwith

On to beat the other clubs-

With A.M.Akron pluck

And win a trophey for our club

With A.M. Akron luck!

But that’s not all, so stick around

And hear some other speakers.

The Table Topics Contest

Is the other top dog seeker.

Kristen will compete again;

Scott Zimmerman and Lynn.

We’ll see who thinks best on their feet

And judge who best should win.

Our thanks to Miss Susanna

Who organized the match

And made sure everything’s in place

Without a single catch.

It is sure to be a humorous

And entertaining hour

When we all can be the judges

And unleash our ruling power.

We have to follow rules, of course

And Beth will show us how.

And when the meeting is adjourned

We all should take a bow.

The speeches may be comical,

Jocular, or droll.

They may be wacky, zany, riotous;

And you might just lose control.

But you’ll never know just what you missed

If you aren’t here next week.

The competition can’t be beat.

They all are winners, so to speak!

© 2012 Renée Pipitone

History of A.M. Akron Toastmasters Club 8480

Birth of A.M. Akron: The first meeting of AM Akron was October 16,1991.  The corporate office in California
has listed us as beginning in November 1991.

The AM Akron name was given to us by member Pam Baxter and her teen-age son
designed the logo. 

History:   The Tuesday morning Fairlawn Toastmasters Club reached
60 members in the fall of 1991.  Too big.   I spearheaded a drive to form a new club and
28 Fairlawn members joined me.  Some maintained membership in both
clubs, but that was short-lived.

Since 1991 AM Akron has had nearly 250 join and leave the club (as of this post in November 2011, possibly more).  Only Barbara Rosenthal,
Janet Palcko and myself are among that original 28.

Jim Butler

 Jim B