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Joy
Guest
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 Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 6:26 am Post subject: Question |
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The thread about meeting places raises an interesting (to me) question. Two
Toastmasters located outside the United States indicated that it is
customary to have alcoholic beverages available at meetings. I have never
encountered this at a Toastmasters club in the United States. My experience
in this country has been that some clubs offer no refreshments, some provide
snacks and soft drinks, juice, water, coffee and/or tea, and some meet at
restaurants. Some of the restaurants have beer or wine available, and I
have occasionally seen a Toastmaster order such a beverage with their meal.
However, I have never been to a Toastmasters meeting in the United States
where it was taken for granted that alcohol would be available.
Among the clubs I visited in Australia, the availability of alcoholic
beverages seemed to hinge on the meeting place. Many of the Toastmasters
clubs seem to meet at club houses where alcohol is available, but others
don't. I've seen posts here from members in South Africa and the UK
indicating that there is an expectation for alcoholic beverages to be
available.
I'd be interested to know if there are any clubs in the U.S. where this is
customary, and whether it is customary at most clubs in other countries.
This is strictly a matter of curiosity. I have no agenda.
--
Joy Gaylord, ATM-S, CL
Simi Valley Toastmasters (Dist. 33)
Storytelling & Performing Arts Toastmasters (Dist. 52)
Southern California |
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betsy_in_va
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 6:42 am Post subject: Re: Question |
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| Quote: | I've seen posts here from members in South Africa and the UK
indicating that there is an expectation for alcoholic beverages to be
available.
I'd be interested to know if there are any clubs in the U.S. where this is
customary, and whether it is customary at most clubs in other countries.
Now THAT's a way we could bring 'em into TLI!  |
One of my clubs regularly serves wine whenever someone does a toast or
Speaking In Praise. That happens about 4-6 times a year.
My other club meets in a building that prohibits alcohol.
If the meeting place did not have a prohibition against it, would it be
ok to have beer as a refeshment? That could be pricey, but maybe you
could buy it in bulk and sell it for $1 a bottle. I don't think
anybody's going to get rip roaring drunk, and it sounds like a
membership building idea to me. |
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rich.hopkins@gmail.com
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 6:49 am Post subject: Re: Question |
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I've seen clubs who meet at restaurants have alcohol with dinner.
I've also been to clubs who should have alcohol to help us survive the
meeting.....
and I don't drink!
Rich.
Joy wrote:
| Quote: | The thread about meeting places raises an interesting (to me) question. Two
Toastmasters located outside the United States indicated that it is
customary to have alcoholic beverages available at meetings. I have never
encountered this at a Toastmasters club in the United States. My experience
in this country has been that some clubs offer no refreshments, some provide
snacks and soft drinks, juice, water, coffee and/or tea, and some meet at
restaurants. Some of the restaurants have beer or wine available, and I
have occasionally seen a Toastmaster order such a beverage with their meal.
However, I have never been to a Toastmasters meeting in the United States
where it was taken for granted that alcohol would be available.
Among the clubs I visited in Australia, the availability of alcoholic
beverages seemed to hinge on the meeting place. Many of the Toastmasters
clubs seem to meet at club houses where alcohol is available, but others
don't. I've seen posts here from members in South Africa and the UK
indicating that there is an expectation for alcoholic beverages to be
available.
I'd be interested to know if there are any clubs in the U.S. where this is
customary, and whether it is customary at most clubs in other countries.
This is strictly a matter of curiosity. I have no agenda.
--
Joy Gaylord, ATM-S, CL
Simi Valley Toastmasters (Dist. 33)
Storytelling & Performing Arts Toastmasters (Dist. 52)
Southern California |
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Joy
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:06 am Post subject: Re: Question |
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LOL! Fortunately, I've been to very, very few meetings like that.
Toastmasters meetings, that is. If we're talking about District business
meetings, that's a different matter. And I don't drink either.
Joy
<rich.hopkins@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1155512967.524251.237270@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
| Quote: | I've seen clubs who meet at restaurants have alcohol with dinner.
I've also been to clubs who should have alcohol to help us survive the
meeting.....
and I don't drink!
Rich.
Joy wrote:
The thread about meeting places raises an interesting (to me) question.
Two
Toastmasters located outside the United States indicated that it is
customary to have alcoholic beverages available at meetings. I have
never
encountered this at a Toastmasters club in the United States. My
experience
in this country has been that some clubs offer no refreshments, some
provide
snacks and soft drinks, juice, water, coffee and/or tea, and some meet at
restaurants. Some of the restaurants have beer or wine available, and I
have occasionally seen a Toastmaster order such a beverage with their
meal.
However, I have never been to a Toastmasters meeting in the United States
where it was taken for granted that alcohol would be available.
Among the clubs I visited in Australia, the availability of alcoholic
beverages seemed to hinge on the meeting place. Many of the Toastmasters
clubs seem to meet at club houses where alcohol is available, but others
don't. I've seen posts here from members in South Africa and the UK
indicating that there is an expectation for alcoholic beverages to be
available.
I'd be interested to know if there are any clubs in the U.S. where this
is
customary, and whether it is customary at most clubs in other countries.
This is strictly a matter of curiosity. I have no agenda.
--
Joy Gaylord, ATM-S, CL
Simi Valley Toastmasters (Dist. 33)
Storytelling & Performing Arts Toastmasters (Dist. 52)
Southern California
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betsy_in_va
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:16 am Post subject: Re: Question |
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Rich:
As a non drinker and a contestant, what would be your opinion of
someone who had a drink or two, and then felt so relaxed he gave a
winning speech at a speech contest? Would that be cheating? I'm glad
you noted that you're a non drinker, because it would be interesting to
hear your perspective. I like to have a glass of wine socially, and I
think it would make meetings and contests more fun... but I could also
see that it might make non drinkers uncomfortable. Or would it?
Betsy |
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Joy
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:29 am Post subject: Re: Question |
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"betsy_in_va" <b7760@keogan.com> wrote in message
news:1155514585.625047.17540@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
| Quote: | Rich:
As a non drinker and a contestant, what would be your opinion of
someone who had a drink or two, and then felt so relaxed he gave a
winning speech at a speech contest? Would that be cheating? I'm glad
you noted that you're a non drinker, because it would be interesting to
hear your perspective. I like to have a glass of wine socially, and I
think it would make meetings and contests more fun... but I could also
see that it might make non drinkers uncomfortable. Or would it?
Betsy
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It wouldn't bother me, as long as nobody drank too much. However, it could
be a problem for recovering alcoholics.
Joy |
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Regina Litman
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:17 am Post subject: Re: Question |
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My club's just-become-ex-meeting place (yes, there was a reason for
those questions I posted yesterday) is a restaurant with a liquor
license. Some members ordered drinks and paid for them separately. I
don't know if it was a shortage of such drink orders that caused them to
give us the boot after eight years of meeting there.
As a non-drinker myself, I would never consider the availability of
alcoholic beverages to be a necessity.
Joy wrote:
| Quote: | The thread about meeting places raises an interesting (to me) question. Two
Toastmasters located outside the United States indicated that it is
customary to have alcoholic beverages available at meetings. I have never
encountered this at a Toastmasters club in the United States. My experience
in this country has been that some clubs offer no refreshments, some provide
snacks and soft drinks, juice, water, coffee and/or tea, and some meet at
restaurants. Some of the restaurants have beer or wine available, and I
have occasionally seen a Toastmaster order such a beverage with their meal.
However, I have never been to a Toastmasters meeting in the United States
where it was taken for granted that alcohol would be available.
Among the clubs I visited in Australia, the availability of alcoholic
beverages seemed to hinge on the meeting place. Many of the Toastmasters
clubs seem to meet at club houses where alcohol is available, but others
don't. I've seen posts here from members in South Africa and the UK
indicating that there is an expectation for alcoholic beverages to be
available.
I'd be interested to know if there are any clubs in the U.S. where this is
customary, and whether it is customary at most clubs in other countries.
This is strictly a matter of curiosity. I have no agenda.
|
--
Please note my correct email address:
rslitman [at-sign] infionline [dot] net |
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waffle_hk
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:26 am Post subject: Re: Question |
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We meet in a hotel with refreshments provided, but no alcohol.
It would be interesting though. Most of our members speak English - the
language of our club - as a second language.
There is evidence - and I've witnessed this many times - that many
people speak their second language far more fluently than usual when
they've had a few drinks - must be to do with lack of nerves and losing
inhibitions such as the fear of making mistakes.
Maybe we should conduct an experiment.
Ruth
Hong Kong |
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rich.hopkins@gmail.com
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:11 am Post subject: Re: Question |
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I know my speeches play better to judges who've had a drink or two.
It's a shame my next contest is in the morning...
I don't have a problem with drinking in moderation, or even out of
moderation within a controlled environment, (read: safe) though I've
never been drunk. I suppose I should adjust my statement from
non-drinker to once or twice a year have a margarita or a glass of wine
drinker.
I was dry for 29 years, then moved to Utah. Their tough liquor laws and
overall negative attitude towards drinking pushed my rebellious
buttons, and I immediately tried my first margarita at Chili's
(everybody's cracking up - I hear you out there....).
But my dad was a drunk, and I never really wanted to become a drinker,
so I just don't. But if I win next week, you may see me sip some wine
at the Presidential Ball!
To answer the question specifically, if it takes a drink to calm your
nerves, fine. If it takes 2 or more, I'd practice more instead.
Fuzziness may lead to humor, but not necessarily a winning speech.
Rich.
betsy_in_va wrote:
| Quote: | Rich:
As a non drinker and a contestant, what would be your opinion of
someone who had a drink or two, and then felt so relaxed he gave a
winning speech at a speech contest? Would that be cheating? I'm glad
you noted that you're a non drinker, because it would be interesting to
hear your perspective. I like to have a glass of wine socially, and I
think it would make meetings and contests more fun... but I could also
see that it might make non drinkers uncomfortable. Or would it?
Betsy |
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Nigel Reed
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:40 am Post subject: Re: Question |
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Joy <toastie@real-me.net> wrote:
| Quote: |
The thread about meeting places raises an interesting (to me) question. Two
Toastmasters located outside the United States indicated that it is
customary to have alcoholic beverages available at meetings. I have never
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We meet at 7am on a Tuesday morning. I don't think we'll ever see
alcoholic beverages at that time :)
That said, I've actually been at a meeting after getting in at about 2am
from a wild Monday night and I can tell you, it's no fun :)
--
Nigel Reed CTM, CL
IPP - Plano Talkers Toastmasters
Area 42 Govenor (Plains Division, District 50, Region III) |
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betsy_in_va
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:47 pm Post subject: Re: Question |
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| Quote: | I know my speeches play better to judges who've had a drink or two.
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LOL!!! |
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Colin William
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:51 pm Post subject: Re: Question |
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"Nigel Reed" <see@www.nelgin.nu-slash-qconfirm.html.invalid> wrote
| Quote: | The thread about meeting places raises an interesting (to me) question.
Two
Toastmasters located outside the United States indicated that it is
customary to have alcoholic beverages available at meetings. I have
never
We meet at 7am on a Tuesday morning. I don't think we'll ever see
alcoholic beverages at that time
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Well, unless someone stayed up all night drinking beforehand, and needed a
little hair of the dog...
| Quote: | That said, I've actually been at a meeting after getting in at about 2am
from a wild Monday night and I can tell you, it's no fun
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See above ;-)
Colin |
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betsy_in_va
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 8:00 pm Post subject: Re: Question |
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Been there, done that! This year, our Hail and Farewell ran very long,
and the next morning all the same people had to show up as trainers and
set up crew for TLI! Starbucks and Murine made a small fortune off us
that day... |
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Rod Taylor
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:49 pm Post subject: Re: Question |
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"Joy" <toastie@real-me.net> wrote in message
news:AyODg.7992$kO3.2317@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com...
| Quote: | The thread about meeting places raises an interesting (to me)
question. Two
Toastmasters located outside the United States indicated that it is
customary to have alcoholic beverages available at meetings. I have
never
encountered this at a Toastmasters club in the United States. My
experience
in this country has been that some clubs offer no refreshments, some
provide
snacks and soft drinks, juice, water, coffee and/or tea, and some meet
at
restaurants. Some of the restaurants have beer or wine available, and
I
have occasionally seen a Toastmaster order such a beverage with their
meal.
However, I have never been to a Toastmasters meeting in the United
States
where it was taken for granted that alcohol would be available.
Among the clubs I visited in Australia, the availability of alcoholic
beverages seemed to hinge on the meeting place. Many of the
Toastmasters
clubs seem to meet at club houses where alcohol is available, but
others
don't. I've seen posts here from members in South Africa and the UK
indicating that there is an expectation for alcoholic beverages to be
available.
I'd be interested to know if there are any clubs in the U.S. where
this is
customary, and whether it is customary at most clubs in other
countries.
This is strictly a matter of curiosity. I have no agenda.
|
I suspect that, here, it's a mix of culture and history. 35 years ago,
when I joined Toastmasters, there was no District or hierarchy. There
were few Clubs, and those that existed followed the (then) norm of
evening dinner meetings. Therefore meeting places tended to be hotels,
restaurants, and sports clubs, where bar facilities were available in
addition to the catering. In those days, our economy was very different
(and skewed). South Africans were enthusiastic entertainers and it
would not have been unusual for me, in any month, to go to one or two
dinner parties, go out to dinner once or twice, and attend two
Toastmasters dinner meetings. As a nation, we enjoy drinking and have a
national culture closely linked to wine and brandy in particular.
I guess the tradition continues. I don't know of any breakfast or noon
Clubs in South Africa. Most clubs meet in the evening, and a meeting
typically lasts two or two and a half hours. There are several Clubs
that don't have a meal, but most have some form of snacks, even if it's
just sending out for pizza. There is usually an expectation that drink
of some sort will be available but, when it isn't, it's not much of a
problem.
At our present meeting place (a boardroom in a company office) we
organise drinks as well as snacks because we choose to. It's a
considerable amount of extra work, but it's the way we like things to
be.
In all my years in Toastmasters, I've never seen anyone drunk at a
Toastmasters meeting. Sometimes in the bar after the meeting,
individuals may overindulge, but that's another matter.
Rod Taylor (rodt iafrica - don't forget the @ and the dotcom)
Transformers Toastmasters Club
District 74, Southern Africa |
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Colin Angus Mackay
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:22 am Post subject: Re: Question |
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Joy wrote:
| Quote: | The thread about meeting places raises an interesting (to me) question. Two
Toastmasters located outside the United States indicated that it is
customary to have alcoholic beverages available at meetings.
I'd be interested to know if there are any clubs in the U.S. where this is
customary, and whether it is customary at most clubs in other countries.
|
We don't have alcohol at the meetings themselves except on the odd
occasion. When we handed over to the new committee we had a buffet and
drinks available. Also, we do something similar for the last meeting of
the year.
However, a few people from the club do tend to make it to a nearby pub
after the meeting.
--
Colin Angus Mackay
Vice President - Education
Capital Communicators - The Edinburgh Branch of Toastmasters International
http://www.capitalcommunicators.org |
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