Growing Old is Fun!

It's said that age is nothing, but a number, but when it comes to Toastmasters, age is a big deal. Last week, Sunuppers was officially recognized by Toastmasters International on the anniversary of our 35th year as a club!

Much has transpired from the days when we were Safeway Sundowners, meeting in Bellevue on Tuesdays at 4:30. A decline in membership led to changes in our name, focus, and location. We became Sunuppers, an advanced club that met in Tukwila. Eventually, we relocated to the headquarters of Thrifty Car Rental, but apparently grew restless after eight years there.

In 2002, the conference room at Wesley Homes Administration Building in Des Moines became our place of choice, and remains so today. In all this time, Sunuppers have proven to be active all at levels of communication and leadership, from the club level on through to the International hierarchy.

Happy Anniversary to everyone who has contributed to the success of Sunuppers!

By the way, for those who track trivia, our official charter date is December 27, 1976.

Why You Must Rehearse - Nick Morgan - Harvard Business Review

Why You Must Rehearse - Nick Morgan - Harvard Business Review

A couple of minutes in, he jumped up on the couch and executed what everyone figured out later must have been a half-remembered Kung Fu move. It was dramatic; the audience was riveted. Then he jumped down, uttered a few lines from the speech, and jumped up on the couch again, performing another semi-martial-arts maneuver, and a few more lines from the speech.

6,000 people in the audience were stunned into silence.

The CEO has never spoken in front of a large audience again.

You must rehearse. You don't want to jump the couch.

Read the whole article by Dr. Nick Morgan.

Why You Must Rehearse - Nick Morgan - Harvard Business Review

Dr. Nick Morgan is President of Public Words Inc., a communications consulting company, and the author of Give Your Speech, Change the World, and Trust Me: Four Steps to Authenticity and Charisma. He writes and speaks frequently on communications issues.

How to Speak Persuasively: Scientific American Podcast

How to Speak Persuasively: Scientific American Podcast

In a recent study on speech, researchers analyzed the speed, pitch, and fluency of 100 interviewers and compared how effective they were in persuading people to take a survey over the phone. They found that those who spoke at "a nice comfy pace"—three-and-a-half words per second—were more persuasive than slower or very fast talkers. Those who took big pauses while speaking were always more successful than the perfectly fluent talkers.

It really does matter!

Memories - Roasting the Queen of Des Moines

Recently one of our esteemed members, Peggy Morgan, celebrated her 79th birthday. It reminded me of the roast we did for her a few years back in her living room. I dug around and found the videos of that wonderful evening. Here for your viewing pleasure are the videos from September 2008:

Liz Northrop

Theresa Frasch

Maria Wilson

Sherry Tuckett

Sunuppers - So You Think You Can Win?

Sunuppers Advanced Club won a $50 gift certificate in a drawing held for all clubs that turned their dues in on time at the Spring Conference - So You Think You Can Speak. 


Many members in Sunuppers helped produce the conference. Brian Nordby was the Conference Chair, Sherry Tuckett - Assistant Conference Chair, Patricia Klingler - Registration Chair,  Franni Turean - Outreach Chair,Valerie Tims - Decorations Chair, Theresa Frasch - Education Chair, Peggy Morgan - Hospitality Chair, Dennis Boyd - Raffle Chair, Ed Plikaytis - Signs, and Carl Johnson - Certificates. Other participants included Mark Ruter - Introducer, Dean Dimick - Introducer, Bob Rivet - Introducer, Clyde Jones - Contestant, Emmy Hager - Promotions Coach and Steve Kennedy - Photographer.


Way to go, Sunuppers!

2011 Famous Speaker Meeting Clips -

Sunuppers does it again! Our famous speakers meeting is becoming quite popular as we presented our February meeting to a packed room. Who were this years famous orators and/or characters? Ours speakers included:

Marie Antionette - aka Emmy Hager

Ronald Reagan - aka Steve Kennedy

Kathy Bates - aka Peggy Morgan

Annie Oakley - aka Theresa Frasch

Columbo - aka Sherry Tuckett

Queen of Hearts - aka Maria Wilson

Undercover Grammar Detective - aka Valerie Tims

For the video clips visit our Sunuppers Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150092914742898&saved#!/pages/Sunuppers-Advanced-Toastmasters-Club/133418263337534?sk=wall and be sure to visit the video and photo pages.

Famous Speakers Meeting and Open House - Coming Soon to a Sunuppers Meeting Near You!

You never know who you might run into when you come to a February Sunuppers meeting. On February 12th Sunuppers will hold their annual Famous Speakers Meeting and Open House  where members will portray...famous people.


Last year our "special guests" included George Carlin, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Tommy Lee Jones, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Judge Judy and more! This year - who knows? If you want to be a part of the in crowd and hang out with the stars, come to this year's Famous Speakers Meeting.


We meet at Wesley Homes Administration across the street from the Des Moines City Hall and Police Department (21631 11th Avenue S, Des Moines, WA 98198).


Please come visit us as our guest and experience the Best Advanced Club on the South End and the Biggest Advanced Club in District 2!


Our meetings start at 8:00am and end at 10:00am. We have a break in the middle of the meeting for refreshments and fellowship. For more information or a colorful flyer, email Theresa at tfrasch@gmail.com. See you there!



FSM2011