By Scott Hepner

A VISIT TO LKN TOASTMASTERS

‘Twas the night before Christmas and at every Toastmaster’s house,

Lake Norman Members spoke loudly, and not like a mouse.

All year long they’ve been honing their voice,

Improving their public speaking started with a choice.

Yes it did take practice and did not happen overnight, 

Look around for the proof, ’tis hidden in plain sight.

There is Nadine sipping eggnog with warmth and a smile,

She punched out her drunk monkey, sent it into exile.

Tom is sitting by the fire reminiscing of an old time,

Leave your badges at the door and have a water on his dime.

Past President Jerome’s happy about the club he helped grow,

When he speaks to the group, the laughs always flow.

Angela crunches the numbers and keeps us on track,

She completed her Icebreaker and now the stage calls her back.

For Christmas Bob received lots of new hiking attire,

He’ll be the chief story teller around the next camp fire.

Sunny got a karaoke machine and belly dance outfit,

I never pegged her for an instructor, I have to admit.

Tony stands tall at the head of his dinner table,

Learn from his posture, so upright and stable.

Nicole traded the Seattle rain for the Carolina blue sky,

Her use of creative language will make us all sigh.

Once rarely at all, but now “doing it” all the time,

Bruce is moving around the stage, nowhere near his prime.

Ed is flying high, navigating those turbulent shakes,

Yes even a jet pilot can learn from his mistakes.

Praveen works as an IT professional to help pay the bills,

Now he can add humorous speaker as one of his skills.

When it was Katrina’s turn, she had a lot to teach,

She acted as Toastmaster before her first speech.

Enyonam’s not sure about giving out Halloween treats,

Her accent adds an international flavor when the club meets.

Same goes for Griselda’s voice and always smiling face,

She’s temporarily absent but forever the Table Topics Master Ace.

Kevin, Liz, Stephen, Joe and Gayle, you may have gone away,

We hope you’ll come back and visit if only to say “Hey”.

New Members Lem and Traci we welcome with open arms,

We look forward to helping cultivate your oratory charms.

Our President Kyle is in Virginia mending his heart,

I’m thankful I heard many of his speeches at my start.

Full of humor and a message to overcome the hard times,

We send him our love and healing through these rhymes.

And as far as yours truly, I will only say this,

Participating in your growth has filled me with bliss.

So now I close, but may your internal candles burn bright,

Merry Christmas to all, and to all good night!

~ YOUR FELLOW TOASTMASTER, SCOTT ~