May 10th: It was a BIG night for Dream Big

Saraí Garcia, Rose Timmons and Teresa Wilburn show off their new badges!
Distinguished Toastmasters Tom Brents and Pat Quick also finished CCs.

By whatever the preferred nomenclature, the May 10th Speak-a-thon, Speechapalooza, or Speechfest 2011 saw the completion of five Afterburners Dream Big commitments (!) and one Dream Big commitment by our guest, Area 12 Governor Jacqulyn Hudgins.

The largest percentage of our speeches this evening were "inspirational" in nature — which translates to "long" (8-10 minutes each) for all you non-members reading this. Fortunately in this case long never equaled boring, and the messages given by each were varied enough to retain interest throughout the meeting.

LaShawn Carter kicked off the meeting by introducing the audience to her new best friend, Netflix (you have great taste in friends, LaShawn), while DTM Tom Brents took us along with him back in time to his days of travel to Taiwan.

I blathered on for close to 8 minutes about my Book of Success and my Book of Failure, and was followed by Saraí Garcia who told us all why she wanted to be a Saint. Something to work toward now that you're done with your CC, Saraí!

Rose Timmons then spoke about the importance of spending quality time with family. Rose took home the honor of Best Speaker for the evening. Congratulations!

Some of our Dream Big peeps!

Teresa Wilburn delivered a truly excellent speech about the importance of touch, reaching out to those close to you physically, and personalizing contact. I was lucky enough to get a big ol' hug from her in front of everyone. There was even a leg lift. Yeah, buddy!

She then provided everyone with both cards and stamped envelopes and told us to write a thank you note to someone important in our lives. No excuses for not getting these things in the mail, Afterburners! My address is...

Pat Quick told us all about the footprints in her funky room back when she was a teenager in the 70s. Oddly enough she told us that she is currently 29. Still trying to figure out that math, Pat. Must be that new math or something.

Finally, Jacqulyn Hudgins hyped us up about getting involved in some sort of cause to further the human condition. The noble cause she is personally championing is ending cancer. We're all behind you there, Jacqulyn.

All in all, great meeting folks. Thanks for stepping up into the role of Toastmaster, Steven Timmons, and thanks as well to all those other people who fulfilled the various opportunities. The meeting couldn't have run as smoothly as it did without y'all.

See y'all next week. And if anyone wants to behold my two speeches I'm giving Friday to fulfill my Dream Big Commitment, shoot me an email. If not, I don't blame you.

Ryan Gallagher