Retirement!

Toastmaster Mike used “Retirement” as the theme of tonight’s meeting.  Although we’re quietly hoping he doesn’t think we’re all at that stage just yet!

Mike peppered the meeting with facts comparing retirement ages and retirement income in various countries around the world.  We learnt that some countries have different retirement ages and incomes for men and women!

The word of the day, chosen by Grammarian Lin was “Fulfill”.  We were encouraged to use “Fulfill” in our speaking tonight.

Table Topics Master Kathy followed the theme of retirement, specifically decluttering!  Kathy, who joined the meeting online, held up and described an item for each speaker then asked if they would keep the item in their retirement or ditch it.

Speakers and items were as follows.

Speaker	Item
Angela	Food umbrella
Mike	Powder drink shaker
Lin	Christmas baubles
Katina	Susan Devoy Autobiography
Guest Ryland	Christmas music CDs
Jacqui	Leather knitting bag

Angela believes a food umbrella is an essential item for summer picnics and would definitely keep it!  Mike’s household already has a powder drink shaker and he doesn’t feel they need any more so an extra one would have to go, while Lin would donate the Christmas baubles to a friend!

Susan Devoy’s autobiography wouldn’t last long in Katina’s house.  She would take it to a second-hand bookshop and swap it for something else (sorry, Dame Susan!).  Guest Ryland doesn’t have a need for Christmas music CDs and Jacqui would repurpose the knitting bag as a bottle holder!

Table Topics Evaluator Gary commended everyone for their well thought-out response to the question they were given.

There were three prepared speeches tonight as follows.

Speaker	Title
Jocelyn	Running With the Mob
Dieter	The Importance of Financial Literacy
Ron	The Power of One

Jocelyn entertained us with the humorous tale of going for her usual morning run only to discover that the people she was sharing the space with that day were the mongrel mob!  Despite many thoughts running through her mind, no trouble came her way and she ended up feeling like she had her own private body guards for her run that day!

Dieter talked about the importance of knowing how to sort one’s money.  It is a skill he believes should be taught long before people enter the workforce.

Ron talked about the power in each of us to effect change.

Memory Master Lin tested our listening skills by asking obscure questions about things that had been said throughout the meeting.  Correct answers were rewarded with the obligatory chocolate bar!

General Evaluator Angela noted that it had been an enjoyable meeting, well-led by Toastmaster Mike!