Dobson Ranch Toastmasters

Our speakers brought three very different flavors to the menu at our September 18 cheeseburger-themed meeting.

Jim opened with “You’re all doing it,” before eventually revealing what he meant: using AI for Toastmasters speeches. He even asked ChatGPT to write a speech about asking ChatGPT to write a speech, but encouraged us to use AI more as an interviewer and coach than a ghostwriter. He also brought along Dobby, a puppet who “serves no master,” and shared a prompt members can use to try the approach themselves.

Rachel Perez shared the steps she has taken to grow her comfort zone through improv, Toastmasters, public speaking, and stand-up comedy. She challenged everyone to choose one thing that could improve their life, commit to it, and figure out the rest along the way.

Paul Pastore asked us to choose one word to guide the rest of the year. His is XLAX, representing his goal to be slow and steady, enjoying life more as he moves through the “slow-go years.” Through stories about racing through triathlons and watching someone face a cancer diagnosis, he reminded us that sometimes having “enough” matters more than always chasing more.

Then came the reviews from our critics: Serban Mare praised Jim for simplifying his approach and applying previous feedback. Tom Lindsey talked about the four Ps of vocal variety: power, pace, pauses, and pitch, and used them to recommend ways Rachel could add more variation to her delivery. He also credited her with one great “Tom Lindsey pause.” Paul Brunoforte joked that the two Pauls could practically read each other’s minds before calling Paul Pastore’s speech nearly perfect.

And when the results were in, a few members rose to the top of the stack. Kristi Henry earned the Enthusiasm Award for her Late Announcer cheeseburger serenade. Brad Garrison won Best Table Topics after sharing his love of grilling and barbecuing, including memories of making “drunk chicken” with his fraternity brothers and the conversations that happened around the grill.

Well done, winners!

Paul Pastore Rachel Perez 🎨 Brand Identity Designer & Speaker Jim Ba**er Brad Garrison Kristi Mielke Henry Serban Mare || Corporate Trainer & Speaker Paul Bruno

Our September 18 meeting put a different spin on the usual agenda: no roles were assigned in advance. Instead, the scheduler opened one week before the meeting and the whole menu was up for grabs on a first come, first served basis. Matthew Malan claimed Toastmaster, while Jessica Sublasky opened with the reminder, “Don’t wish it were easier. Wish you were better.”

Dorothy Legg shared her secret to a successful marriage during Joke Master: crochet dolls every time you’re angry, then sell them for cash. Kristi Henry took her Late Announcer role musical, singing her own version of “Cheeseburger in Paradise” with lyrics rewritten for the role. Former member Anders Phippen also stopped by while back in town for school and jumped right into a role that morning.

Nate Medina fired up the grill for National Cheeseburger Day Table Topics. Kenny Dahill defended putting ketchup on practically everything, even pizza, declaring ketchup to be like ice cream. Arne Siuts talked about foods he once hated but now loves, including liver. Tudor Melville may have been only slightly facetious when he suggested McDonald’s cares more about property value than burgers, while Zachary Newell shared a less than appetizing McDonald’s memory involving throwing up everywhere.

During Mentor Minute, Max Prasad reminded us that most Toastmasters roles only come around about once a year, so when you get one, give it your damn best. Paul Brunoforte encouraged anyone who wants more speaking opportunities to consider joining a second club, highlighting Ahwatukee Toastmasters as a great choice. Bryan Wammack closed with the idea that the small ingredients we add each day become part of the great thing we’re becoming.

Matthew Malan Jim Ba**er Nathaniel Medina andersphippen Rachel Perez 🎨 Brand Identity Designer & Speaker Kenny Dahill Paul Bruno Tudor Melville Paul Pastore Kristi Mielke Henry Brad Garrison Bryan Wammack Drew Kozel Serban Mare || Corporate Trainer & Speaker Lisa Marie Walston💋 Max Prasad Jessica Sublasky

Our three September 11 speakers explored mentorship, habits, and the experiences that stay with us. Lisa Jones compared influencers with mentors, noting that influencers want to grow their following while mentors want you to grow. She reflected on the impact Kristi Henry and Paul Pastore have had on her Toastmasters journey and reminded us that growth requires being coachable.

Dorothy Legg took us through her rollercoaster relationship with ci******es, repeatedly convincing herself she would have “just one.” Pregnancy helped her quit twice, and she eventually found a hypnosis seminar in 1992, but just as we were about to hear how the story ended... the Timer cut her off.

Michael Desiderio made a case for investing in experiences through the family tradition of the “tinfoil toss”: throw a crumpled foil ball across the room, dive onto the couch, and try to catch it. It caused a few injuries and broken objects but also created memories with his son that are imprinted forever.

Different perspectives carried into the evaluations, too. Raghu Marwaha praised Lisa’s humor while encouraging more vocal variety. Chris Pettit highlighted Dorothy’s candy-cigarette prop and vivid storytelling while encouraging stronger pauses. Nate Medina became “Nitpicky Nate” and gave Michael an especially thorough critique, from clearer character voices to fewer distracting movements and, most importantly, “Throw the ball!” General Evaluator Max Prasad noted that Nate may have taken nitpicking a little far and also noted that all three speakers completed Pathways speeches.

Sabrina Hernandez won Best Table Topics after recalling a high school exchange semester in China and the culture shock of desperately searching for a toilet only to discover a hole in the ground. Russell Shahenian received the Enthusiasm Award after stepping in as Timer at the last minute.

Lisa Lenhardt Jones Michael Desiderio Chris Pettit Nathaniel Medina Max Prasad Sabrina Hernandez Russell Shahenian

Our September 11 meeting centered on Crossing Cultures. Toastmaster Kristi Henry, dressed head to toe in red, white, and blue, opened by remembering those we lost on 9/11 and the courage of ordinary heroes. President Rupesh Parbhoo was also back after three weeks in South Afrrica and arrived in traditional Indian attire, making the morning a colorful confluence of cultures from the start.

Anneliese Harper led Table Topics around the cultural borders we cross every day, often without stopping to notice them. Rachel Perez recalled being laughed at for using chopsticks incorrectly in Japan, while Javed somehow answered a question about getting a haircut abroad despite being bald. Tom Lindsey reflected on Native American culture and the story behind a squash blossom necklace he received because of his storytelling, and Paul Pastore took “cultures” in a completely different direction with a frozen yogurt pun.

During Mentor Minute, Zachary Newell proudly shared that he chose not to use AI, reminding us that we have to keep exercising the muscles in our own minds. Zachary De Francis closed with the proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Kristi Mielke Henry RooRoo Anneliese Harper Rachel Perez 🎨 Brand Identity Designer & Speaker Paul Pastore Lisa Lenhardt Jones Jim Ba**er Russell Shahenian Brad Garrison Michael Desiderio Sabrina Hernandez Padmaj Manore Chris Pettit

Our three September 4 speakers rolled up their sleeves and tackled everything from being wrong to putting things off to knowing when to let go. 

Muhammad Javed, explored some of history’s confidently incorrect beliefs, from California once being mapped as an island to Pluto losing its planetary status. He mixed the history with humor, creative images featuring club members, and reminders of things he personally once thought would last forever, including his hair.

Jessica Sublasky tackled procrastination, contrasting a fully improvised high school dance choreography project that earned 100% with a college essay submitted two minutes late that caused her to fail the class. She connected that lesson to Pathways, challenging members to stop putting off their own progress.

Nick Kolziu reflected on fatherhood and the bittersweet experience of watching both his son and daughter grow more independent. With his 16-year-old son getting his driver’s license, Nick talked about the challenge of knowing when to protect your children and when to step back and trust the people they’re becoming.

The evaluators got down to business with feedback each speaker could use on their next shift. Bryan Wammack praised Javed’s humor and intentional body language while suggesting stronger transitions and stage use. Daniel Hurtado appreciated Jessica’s opening question and, appropriately enough, noted that she waited until that morning to tell him what she wanted evaluated. Alayna Dalgleish praised Nick’s vocal variety, stage presence, and descriptive body language while encouraging him to explore more of what he looks forward to as his children grow. General Evaluator Austin Nelsen highlighted the strong coordination of the meeting and the range of emotions showcased in each speech.

And hard work really did pay off for Paul Brunoforte, who won Best Table Topics after sharing that he started working at just eight years old. Neighbors would lower a basket from their windows with a grocery list, send him shopping, and reward his efforts with a 10-cent tip. 

Toscani Interior Services, LLC Bryan Wammack Paul Bruno Lisa Marie Walston💋 Jessica Sublasky Alayna Dalgleish

Acting President Arne Siuts opened our September 4 meeting before first-time Toastmaster Lisa Walston took over the shift, dressed as Rosie the Riveter, setting the Labor Day tone with a morning built around hard work, jobs, and a little “we can do it” spirit.

Jokemaster Kenny Dahill showed up in a U of A shirt and took a shot at ASU graduates with a joke about them laying sod. Their instructions had to be kept especially simple: “Green side up!”

Members were invited to dress for the job, whether that meant a current, past, or dream career. Timer Zachary De Francis traded his stethoscope for timing equipment and arrived in full scrubs, while also putting in some serious prep work by contacting every speaker two days beforehand to confirm their times.

Ryan Berns put everyone to work with an incisive round of Labor Day Table Topics about jobs, gratitude, and the work that shapes us. Kristi Henry came dressed for her actual job as a fabulous travel agent and explained why planning adventures beats debugging code. Anneliese Harper reflected on her first and only career as a professor and the joy of helping students see what they’re capable of. Chris Pettit interpreted “labor” a little differently, sharing stories from the births of his children, while Max Prasad discovered during his first attempt at building a snowman that shoveling snow is a lot more work than it looks.

During Mentor Minute, Chris Pettit reminded us that mentoring is a labor of love and that the first job is to listen. Padmaj Manore helped us clock out with a procrastination-fighting strategy of his own: body doubling, or working alongside a livestream of someone else being productive.

Lisa Marie Walston💋 Kenny Dahill Zack Francis Ryan Berns Kristi Mielke Henry Anneliese Harper Chris Pettit Max Prasad Padmaj Manore Paul Bruno Jessica Sublasky Nick Corridino Sabrina Hernandez Toscani Interior Services, LLC Bryan Wammack Alayna Dalgleish

Our August 28 speakers each gave us a lesson about what happens when life doesn’t follow the script. Adam Salisu, in his own version of Coming to America, shared the remarkable path that took him from living on the streets in Ghana to earning a scholarship and coming to the United States. He reminded us that the moments we think are going wrong may actually be pointing us toward a better path.

Kristi Mielke Henry gave us 50 Clichés of Gray, packing a South African adventure with humor, sooo many clichés, penguins, giraffes, and big cats. A leopard came so close that Kristi found herself somewhere between exhilaration and a “holy crap (almost in my pants)” moment, while a lion couple later “snuggled” right before their eyes in an encounter that was quick and dirty and over in a heartbeat.

Chris Pettit shared a proud-dad story about his 12-year-old daughter Sara pushing through struggles after joining the advanced Ninja Warrior team. When she told him, “I don’t know if I can do this,” Chris joked that she had to because he had already paid for it. Beneath the humor was a message about grit, perseverance, and what the right coach can help us accomplish.

Our movie critics kept the reviews entertaining. Kenny Dahill challenged Adam to think about how his energy can strengthen his influence. Michael Desiderio praised Kristi’s vocal variety, gestures, and captivating storytelling while joking that she had used 4,332 clichés. Paul Pastore literally walked backward to the front of the room before evaluating Chris, giving us a preview of what a future backwards meeting might look like. 

General Evaluator Lisa Jones reminded us to keep our eyes up front and stay engaged. Vanessa Beaulieu won Best Table Topics after taking “To infinity and beyond” straight into the realities of parenting: “To motherhood, or until I die, because I’m so tired,” complete with Buzz Lightyear flying gestures. Lisa Walston earned the Enthusiasm Award for an inconceivable contribution to the morning with her word of the day choice.

Congratulations to our winners!

Kristi Mielke Henry Chris Pettit Kenny Dahill Michael Desiderio Paul Pastore Lisa Lenhardt Jones Vanessa Beaulieu Lisa Marie Walston💋

At our August 28 meeting, acting President Brad Garrison opened our movie-themed meeting with a nod to the late Dolly Parton: “Smile, it increases your face value.” Rachel Perez used the invocation to reflect on the previous night’s eclipse, sharing that, like the moon, we don’t always need to change who we are, just how we show up and step into the light. Lighting can change the whole scene!

Serban Mare directed the morning as Toastmaster, with Padmaj Manore conjuring away filler words as our Wizard of Ah’s. Dorothy Legg kept speeches from turning into the director’s cut: green meant “May the Force be with you,” yellow meant “Houston, we have a problem,” and red meant, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn. Your time is up.” And in true Nick Corridino fashion, our late announcer had a poem literally up his sleeve.

Dave Eske welcomed us to movie night for Table Topics, giving each speaker a famous movie quote as a prompt. Russell Shahenian revisited Jaws with stories involving drunken shark panic. Muhammad Javed admitted that despite the advice to “Get busy living or get busy dying,” his life is pretty boring and he does not Netflix and chill. Sumi Joy used “Do or do not. There is no try” to tell the story of hiking the Grand Canyon and realizing that once she was at the bottom, getting herself back out was no longer optional. Max Prasad took “You talking to me?” in a different direction, joking about those moments when you have no idea how to respond, including pretending not to speak English and finding creative ways out of bad dates.

Austin Nelsen reminded us during Mentor Minute to go back and watch great speeches to see what we can learn from them, while Matthew Malan closed with Words of Wisdom about moving your body because “motion creates emotion.”

Brad Garrison Rachel Perez 🎨 Brand Identity Designer & Speaker Serban Mare || Corporate Trainer & Speaker Padmaj Manore Russell Shahenian Muhammad Javed Max Prasad Matthew Malan Sabrina Hernandez Michael Desiderio Bryan Wammack Vanessa Beaulieu Drew Kozel Kristi Mielke Henry Lisa Lenhardt Jones Chris Pettit Kenny Dahill Paul Pastore

Our three speakers each gave us a different lesson for weathering life’s storms. Pranavi Pogula delivered her first Icebreaker, introducing herself as the family princess, an aspiring entrepreneur, and a lover of spicy goat curry. She had the room laughing with a childhood story about discovering her spicy food limits the hard way, making it to the bathroom but not quite to the toilet.

Drew Kozel spoke candidly about addiction, recovery, and taking life one day at a time. He shared advice from his dad that helped him turn things around: “Stop lying to yourself, and I’ll help you.” Rather than getting overwhelmed by forever, he focuses on today, reminding us, “Perseverance is not a feeling, it’s a decision you make before the feeling.”

Raghu Marwaha used hiking as a metaphor for lessons he wishes he knew at 20: take life one step at a time, stop worrying what others think, take risks, learn from mistakes, and enjoy the moment. Most importantly, he reminded us that success is less about money than the people we help along the way.

Their evaluators gave them plenty to build on. Nate Medina praised Pranavi’s storytelling, gestures, and strong hook. Austin Nelsen recognized Drew’s vulnerability and encouraged him to use more pauses for reflection. Rachel Perez highlighted Raghu’s eye contact, gestures, and humor, while encouraging him to go deeper into the personal stories behind his lessons. General Evaluator Padmaj Manore offered a few reminders for stronger meetings.

The forecast turned balmier when it came time for the awards. All of our winners received bags of coffee courtesy of Tudor. Paul Brunoforte earned Best Table Topics after recalling his first haboob, when a plan to enjoy the storm from the patio ended with hiding inside as dust filled the house and giant windows bowed in the wind. Rachel Perez earned the Enthusiasm Award for her work on the newsletter, social media, and copious meeting note-taking.

prawnaviiiii Drew Kozel Nathaniel Medina Rachel Perez 🎨 Brand Identity Designer & Speaker Padmaj Manore Paul Bruno

On a balmy August morning, Vanessa Beaulieu served as Toastmaster for our August 21 meeting, running the room with the confidence of someone who also describes herself as the CEO of her household. Serban Mare served as Grammarian, although his wife might question the assignment since, according to him, she says he doesn’t like to listen. Timer Nick Corridino came prepared with a pocket poem, as expected from Nick, since rhyme is his schtick.

Kenny Dahill gave the word of the day a fun twist by offering four variations to work with, which turned out to be a perfect fit for Muhammad Javed’s monsoon-themed Table Topics. Max Prasad called Arizona baby monsoons “cute” compared to the mama monsoons he grew up with in India, while Brad Garrison described rain coming down “like a cow peeing on a flat rock.” Alayna Dalgleish’s experience was far less balm-like: her car once did a full 360 during a storm while “Helter Skelter” played, and legend has it, she has never listened to that song again. Dorothy Legg offered perhaps the balmiest perspective, sharing how much she loves the sound of water and pondering whether she may have been a fish in a past life. And Tudor Melville joked that an electric car is exactly what you want in a storm, right before pretending he might take his clothes off again, giving everyone a callback to last week.

Sabrina Hernandez reminded us during Mentor Minute to “write something worth reading and read something worth writing,” and Paul Brunoforte closed the meeting with Words of Wisdom: “You’ll have everything you want in life if you just help people.”

Vanessa Beaulieu Serban Mare || Corporate Trainer & Speaker Kenny Dahill Brad Garrison Max Prasad Alayna Dalgleish Tudor Melville Sabrina Hernandez Paul Bruno prawnaviiiii Drew Kozel Nathaniel Medina Rachel Perez 🎨 Brand Identity Designer & Speaker Padmaj Manore Zack Francis Toscani Interior Services, LLC Michael Desiderio