Humorous Speech Contest Continues ... now the District

This Wednesday evening, Oct. 23rd,  I will be competing against my Toastmaster colleagues at Division B in the Humorous Speech Contest. We will be competing at the NY Life Building at 51 Madison Ave, at 27th Street in Manhattan.

The Competition will be on the 22nd floor. (great views of the city from this level).

The competition will start at 18:00 (6:00 pm) and go to 20:30.

I will trace the connection between a Cat, a Sword, the Belly and Humor !

When I am not delivering my speech, I will be taking some photos to be posted later.

I would love to have you all come out and support me and my colleagues -
Since we are all Toastmasters, you will be able to hear some great speeches that have already successfully made it through 2 levels of competition.
There will also be great people to network with.
So come on out for a great evening.

2013 Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk

Today, Sunday, October 20, 2013, I will be joining my Colleagues, Professors, Staff and Students from Globe Institute of Technology (based on West 38th St, in Manhattan) in the walk to make strides against Breast Cancer taking place in Prospect Park Brooklyn.

My thanks to Ms. Marshandra Bracy, Director of Student Services, for organizing our group for this walk.

Although I am not impressed by traditional medical models of Cancer Treatment, I do believe it is important to support those struggling with cancer and encourage their healing.

I strongly believe that meditation, positive creative thinking and walking - exercise can help us to create a healthy body and life style.

I will be taking photos of our group and posting them later

NYU Alumni Day Toastmaster Event

This morning, I will be assisting Jose Garcia and other Toastmasters putting on a Toastmasters event for the NYU Alumni.

During the event I will be evaluating one of the speeches and photograph the event.

Toastmasters is a great organization to both improve our speaking abilities but also in providing an opportunity to network with great people both locally and internationally.

I will share info with the audience about the following clubs:

• Leadership Roundtable which meets on the first Monday of the month at John's Shanghai Restaurant on West 46th Street
• the Jade Club which is a Mandarin and English Club, which meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at the NY Life Building.
• District 46's Humorous Speech Contest, this Wednesday (Oct. 23rd) in which I will be one of the contestants.

NYESN Networking Event Mon. 10/21/13

Hi All,

I will be attending the 

NYESN: October 21st Networking Party & Tradeshow @ 230 Fifth Rooftop Lounge!

NYESN Networking Meeting Info

Check out the link for more info.

Will I see you there???

Reflections - What do we see

Reflections - Ripples - What do we see
Small patches
large expanse in front
Small patches
down to the right
Ripples - movement
Reflections - What do we see



Prints - Imprints
Possibilites

Trees
Lines - Movement
possible directions
Do we explore
Do we activate
Do we engage
Beauty seen
Beauty unseen
Our vision
Our thinking
Breathing
Feeling rhythm
Connecting
Be open
Be ready
Accept
Transform

Pink ~ NYC support Healing of Breast Cancer

Walking to the Train from the Toastmasters Humorous Speech Contest, I noticed that the 
Empire State building was aglow in Pink.

Let us remember to support those who are struggling with Cancer and help them to heal !!!











New York is truly a great place of much beauty.
Part of it's beauty ... 
is a willingness to help those who are struggling with illness to heal.

Ralph won 1st Place at the Toastmaster Area Contest

It feels good to win 1st place at the District 46 Toastmasters Area 25 Humorous Speech Contest.


My talk was titled:

"the Cat, the Sword, and the Belly: 
a Paradigm of Humor."

My colleague from the Leadership Roundtable Toastmasters Group, Gary Dumbroff, said

"I am glad that you made the time limit because not only did you entertain but you taught about key elements of humor, it is difficult to do both in seven minutes."

Aaron Brown, ACB
Area 25 Governor
District 46 2013 - 2014

Presenting me with the 1st Place Trophy

He really enjoyed my reference to the Belly part of the speech

Thanks to Gary Dumbroff (Leadership Roundtable Toastmasters Group)  for taking my photo receiving the trophy.

Although at a contest, the contestants do not get a formal evaluation, several of the Toastmasters attending were gracious enough to submit feedback and suggestions to me.

Some of the audience comments were:

"I liked the way you were able to connect with the audience. Your gestures, descriptions and examples painted a vivid picture of what you were talking about."

"You have a natural skill in telling a story."

Now, I have to continue to refine and polish my speech for the  next chapter  ...

the Division Contest which is coming up on

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2013 at 6:00 PM.

The contest will be at the NY Life Building, 153 Madison Ave, between 27th and 26th Street.

I will have to rush over from the 30th Photo Plus Expo Day of Conferences to give my speech.

Please come out to hear my speech and lend support.

I am sure you will enjoy my speech, the speeches of the other contestants and have a great chance to network with the great people that you will meet from District 46 Toastmasters.

"the Cat, the Sword, and the Belly: a Paradigm of Humor"

Tonight, October 10th, I will not be focusing on taking Photographs.

Instead, I will be creating visual images with my talk, 

"the Cat, the Sword, and the Belly: a Paradigm of Humor." 

I will be giving my talk as part of Toastmasters Humorous Speech Contest.  If you are in New York City tonight, Stop by at 6:00 in the NY Life Building 51 Madison Ave. Hope to see you tonight.

Gallery Photos of Mary N...'s NY to Arizona Toastmaster Journey

Mary N has been a very active Toastmaster in the New York Area. She is now moving to Arizona ... so the New York Toastmasters threw her  a continuing journey Party.

Brian, Jennifer and Kasuao

Mark giving Mary a bouquet of flowers with her favorite colors blue and purple.

Penelope and Steve talking about Mary's accomplishments

Mary's leaving New York and continuing to the next part of her journey .... heading west.
















The Gallery of photos is located here
http://rmftop.photoshelter.com/gallery/TM-Mary-Neff-Oct-2013-Party/G0000vy0zEZFB6Hg/

AHEC "Careers, Community, Collaboration. and a Lobster Clambake!" Gallery Photos

I was appointed to be the photographer for the AHEC "Careers, Community, Collaboration. 

and a Lobster Clambake!" fundraiser.

I posted the photographs from this event on my gallery.

Aside from the great people who I met ...

I must say the food was delicious and cooked just right.

The gathering included a diverse mix of young and more senior people from Connecticut.

You can check out the photos on my gallery  http://rmftop.photoshelter.com/gallery/AHEC-LOBSTER-CLAMBAKE-2013/G0000EclrbxfbCRI/