The Christmas Party...........

Take a few energetic Toastmasters who are good sports and willing to make fools of themselves ..... throw in some balls, beanbags, balloons and a handy bar, as well as food, forfeits and a fairy story, and what have you got? An evening of rollicking, good clean fun! The Algoa Club in Port Elizabeth concluded its Jubilee Year (we were chartered in January 1960) with an old-fashioned games evening which included races, improvisation, some crazy hats (which helped us to act out the story of Snow White) and much hilarity. Who could forget Marianah’s almost two-metre tall husband writhing on the floor, impersonating a snake? Or lifting his shirt to do a "belly dance"? I was the tough, schoolmarmish Gamesmaster and there were four spirited teams who put the cast of Survivor to shame! We are changing our venue partly because the bar is sometimes a little too noisy ... but that night the patrons were popping in to see what was causing so much laughter next door! Having arrived feeling jaded from all the frenetic
end-of-year rush at work, we left feeling elated and relaxed, and just a little bruised! A fantastic way to end the year.

Thank you so much to everyone for your generous gifts for Ithemba Lam. Their need is certainly very great (especially for nappies and formula) and they are doing a wonderful work with the abandoned infants and toddlers. Marianah and I took the items you donated to Kim Fankhauser on Thursday 16 December. Most of the babies were not there as volunteers had taken them for the day or the holidays, but we managed to capture one contented little girl who had just been fed but managed to give a beautiful smile before she fell asleep.

We completed six months of our Toastmaster year and I hope that everyone will return on 24 January with renewed vigour to complete their goals! Roger is going to take the plunge and have a go at being Toastmaster, as well as completing his CC4 in the near future. Mark Barry is also very close to completing his Competent Communicator award. What goals have you set for yourself for 2011? Colleen is also hoping for a good number of entrants for the International, Impromptu and Evaluation Contests at our Bring-and-Share supper at Marlene’s home on 28 January 2011.

It just remains for me to wish you all a blessed, peaceful Christmas filled with joy and loved ones, and a wonderful, exciting New Year, filled with prospects.

GLENIS WHITEHEAD: PRESIDENT