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What an opulent afternoon it was! We celebrated Mother’s Day with Upcoming District 1 Events six enchanting stories and many returning guests. District 1 Spring Conference Have you heard of liberosis? It’s a desire to care less about things. With “State of Liberosis,” yours truly shared the story of how she joined Date: Saturday, May 18th Toastmasters, interspersed with little rants about how ridiculous Time: 7am – 5pm English is. Location: Renaissance LAX Hotel

Mallery McMurtrey told us how choosing the right color palette 9620 Airport Blvd, LA, CA 90045 empowers us. It was the best speech I’ve heard her give. With this speech, she achieved a new shiny designation. Congrats, Mallery Upcoming StoryMasters Meetings McMurtrey, Advanced Communicator Bronze! (*Bling*) StoryMasters I always appreciate when our proficient speakers share storytelling tips Every second Sunday at 3-5pm and Antoinette Byron is the perfect person to talk about body 3720 Monteith Drive, View Park, CA 90043 language. Her movements are always purposeful and graceful. With Upcoming meetings: her “Something in the Way You Move,” we learned how to stand, move, • June 9 and make eye contact on the stage. • July 14 Join us on second Sundays to enjoy Who loves France? Jacki Williams-Jones does! In “Tasting the Stars, some wonderful stories and Part 2,” she educated us on Champagne, explaining the difference conversations with other storytellers. between Champagne and Sparkling Wine with charm and humor. Please RSVP to Tina Tomiyama at Jacki, take us on a BevMo tour! [email protected] so that we can We also had two beautiful stories honoring Mother’s Day. In “Serving prepare a chair for you! and Loving the Forgotten,” Liz Smith shared her childhood memory of visiting a prison with her mother as a selfless volunteer. Margaret StoryMasters Summer Workshop Mitchell talked about gifts that she had presented to her mother on Storytelling has always been one of the two Mother’s Days. Their stories were beautiful and heartwarming, most effective techniques for conveying bringing smiles and some nostalgic memories. your message clearly and memorably. But what is storytelling really? What Join us for the next meeting! I guarantee that you will be delighted! makes a good story? What is the difference between storytelling and Speech Contest Update! presenting? In StoryMasters' half-day workshop this summer, you will learn won third place at Division C Jacki Williams-Jones the essential elements of storytelling Tall Tale speech contest on April 26, 2019. and how to use stories for maximum Debbie Kenneybrew won first place at Division A audience impact. Tall Tale speech contest on April 27, 2019. She will Save the date: August 4, and stay tuned advance to the District Conference on May 18, 2019. for more details! If you want a priority Jacki and Debbie, congratulations! invitation, please contact Tina Tomiyama.

DISTRICT ONE STORYMASTERS Happy 8th Anniversary, StoryMasters! That’s right. We are a proud eight years old now! Last month, three of our charter members who are not with us shared their stories. This month, some of our active charter members contributed their stories. I’m super grateful to everybody who’s been in touch with us physically or spiritually. StoryMasters, you rock!

Searching for a Home ~ Tina Tomiyama

StoryMasters started out in a Chinese restaurant in Culver City with a rarely-used banquet room. But the restaurant gained popularity and sometimes we got there only to find out that the banquet room was in use. We tried other restaurants and community centers. Ouch! Expensive. We were running out of options. “Why don’t we meet in someone’s home?” asked Jeni Stewart. “We could take turns, like a book club.” I wasn’t sure if folks would want to meet in my home. It’s 90 years old, after all, tucked back into the hills of View Park, really hard to find. But there’s plenty of street parking and we wouldn’t have to rent a meeting place. “We can try it for a few months,” I said.

That was six years ago. Now, when guests come to meetings, they say things like, “Oh, this is a perfect place for a storytelling club! Paintings, a fireplace, comfortable cushions and natural light . . .” And we say, “Help yourself to some coffee or tea! Would you rather sit at the big table or do you prefer ?” We don’t need to search any more. I’m so happy — District 1’s only advanced storytelling club meets right here in my living room.

Initiation Business Meeting on April 10, 2011

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DISTRICT ONE STORYMASTERS Love of Storytelling ~ Anna Ziss-Patton My earliest, best memories of my father are of his stories. Every night before I went to sleep, he would read to me from old, hardcover books that featured classic, detailed illustrations. No watered down, picture book stories, he chose original Grimm’s and Hans Christian Anderson stories— scary and thrilling and oh so spellbinding! He read dramatically, voicing characters, and speeding up the tempo as the tale surged forward to its climax. It was stories that bound us together and it was how he showed his love. It was our special time together. And his stories taught me about the world. My father gave me a great gift—a love of fine storytelling. What human being ever hasn’t loved a good story? So, when Tina Tomiyama told me she was starting StoryMasters, how could I not become a charter member? There is nothing more magical and intimate than listening to advanced Toastmasters tell their personal stories, masterfully told, captivating the audience, transporting us to their world. I was IN! From a back room in a peculiar, old Chinese restaurant to our current home—the cozy, inviting Tomiyama living room, each meeting draws me in with skillful speakers and well-told tales. One Sunday a month, I sit transfixed as I listen to stories. Thank you, StoryMasters, for sharing so many wondrous tales. Thank you for taking me on voyages to places I couldn’t imagine and teaching lessons I’d never known. Thank you for your inspiration month after month. I hope to join the ranks of the true storytelling Masters—the StoryMasters! Listening to Stories ~ Lin Van Gelder “This is the sorcery of literature. We are healed by our stories.” ~ Terry Tempest Williams When Hiba Hamdan, DTM, approached me about joining a brand-new club that was forming, I knew it would be something special. Hiba’s help and her personal story had been crucial to my early Toastmasters experience, as she mentored our company club at Boeing and taught us to be Toastmasters. I was honored when she invited me to join StoryMasters as one of the founding members. Yes, we had some growing pains at first, especially with finding the right location. I might call them logistics challenges. Tina’s lovely home turned out to be a perfect place for us. In several speeches I’ve heard recently, people have said how they found their own voice and finally learned to express their own truth. We all have a deep desire for someone to hear us, for our stories to matter. It is life-changing for those who, at long last, find their voices. At StoryMasters, we give acknowledgement to those people. We do the most important thing we can do: we listen. We are present. We give loving feedback that assures each speaker that they, indeed, were heard. When I say to myself, “I am” — what words follow? Do I affirm my power, my success, my beauty? Do I say, I am wealthy beyond measure? Do I have gratitude for health, relationships, family, opportunity, and do I still dream? Perhaps life itself has no meaning - we give it meaning by how we live and the stories we tell. I grow as a human being from hearing yours, and I hope you learn from mine as well.

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My Road to StoryMasters ~ Margaret L. Mitchell

It was almost inevitable that I would one day join StoryMasters—an extraordinary club of advanced Toastmasters committed to developing their skills in the ancient art of storytelling. I started down the road to StoryMasters when I was a child growing up during the mid-1940s and 50s. Surrounded by books at home and with easy access to the local public library, I developed a love of words, language, and stories from the books I read. I also grew to love oral storytelling. Some of my fondest early memories include gathering with family and friends in our kitchen or living room, where my mother told stories about her life and experiences. She knew precisely which stories, vocalizations and gestures would make us laugh, cry, and feel all the emotions in between. While I greatly admired her storytelling skills, I never thought they were skills I could learn. Comedy Many years would pass before I joined my first Toastmasters club in 1999. After conquering my fear of speaking, I began to understand that by using stories, I could make my speeches more interesting and memorable. As my communication skills improved overall, my interest in storytelling increased as well. I attended several storytelling workshops outside my club. Then I attended a day-long storytelling festival, where storytellers from various genres performed. The storytelling festival was a transformative experience for me. Nearly all the storytellers were good; but Barbara H. Clark, a local professional storyteller, gave the peak performance of the day. After sitting mesmerized by the skills of this remarkable woman, I realized I was much more interested in becoming a storyteller who made points, than a speaker who interspersed her points with stories. But where and how could I begin giving shape to this dream? Storytelling Just weeks after I attended the festival, Tina Tomiyama contacted me to see if I wanted to join a new storytelling club. Was I interested? No, I was ecstatic! I wasted no time in giving her my check and application and becoming a charter member of StoryMasters. Joining StoryMasters is one of the best decisions I’ve made during my Toastmasters journey. What I appreciate most about this club is the ongoing opportunity to learn from gifted storytellers, as well as newer members who are still seeking their voice and style. With six speaking spots available at every meeting, I have ample opportunities to speak and receive valuable feedback. I also appreciate that speakers are videotaped, which allows us to critique our performances later. I can’t imagine ever leaving StoryMasters. It aligns perfectly with my self-development goals. I love its members. The club’s warm, casual atmosphere and maintenance of high standards suit me well. Could a burgeoning storyteller possibly ask for anything more?

“Tell Me a Story” by Liz Smith and Margaret Mitchell Storytelling

Date: May 14, 2019 Seven of Barbara H. Clark’s students are presenting Time: 2pm – 3:30pm a free storytelling concert in honor of Mother’s Day. Venue: Exposition Park – Dr. Mary McLeod Our own Liz Smith and Margaret Mitchell will share their stories. These personal stories are by turns Bethune Library touching, funny and engaging — don’t miss this! 3900 Western Avenue, LA, CA 90062

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Music Storytelling Stub ~ Say Bye to Distractions I swear! I was writing earlier! I don’t know how I got lost in Facebook…. Does it ring a bell? It is said that being a good writer is 3% hard work and 97% not getting distracted by Internet. According to the study conducted by Microsoft in 2015, the average American’s attention span is only 8 seconds – less than a goldfish. The number has shrunk over the years as things have been more digitalized and people are multitasking more. (Let’s be honest. Your “multitasking” is just a fancy excuse for distractions, isn’t it?) I know that it’s hard to turn off the Internet especially when you write on a computer, but there are tools for you. Writeroom if you’re on a Mac, or some other similar software. Writer.app is another good Mac writing program, and DarkRoom works well for the PC. Don’t forget to finish your research first! There is also an interesting study saying that doodling helps your focus and memory. If I can improve them while having fun, I’m in! Let’s revive our inner child and start doodling! Reference: 1. 10 Tips on How to Write Without Distractions 2. Eliminate Writing Distractions 3. Five Ways to Eliminate Distractions During Your Writing Sessions 4. The Power of the Doodle: Improve Your Focus and Memory 5. What Does Doodling Do? (Research published in 2009) Doodle by Yuko Miyahara Editor’s Note Make the most of every opportunity!

One night, Eric went to see a standup show in Hollywood. After a couple of enjoyable comedians, another comedian appeared to the stage and started telling jokes, which ruined Eric’s supposed-to-be-a-fun night completely. This comedian’s jokes were dreadful. Eric hated every single one of them. Since the dire night, years have passed. One day, he was watching TV, crying with laughter. He couldn’t believe that he hadn’t seen the show “Curb Your Enthusiasm” before. Who created this brilliant show? he wondered. When he saw the creator’s name, he murmured, “Larry David? It can’t be right.” Larry was the rotten comedian at the show. After the traumatic night, Eric had refused to watch any of Larry’s products. In fact, he hadn’t watched another popular TV show, “,” either. Now that he recognized Larry’s talent, he learned that the venue owner had offered Larry a chance to try his new jokes out whenever he wanted. He was testing audience that night. I was amused as well as amazed by how much impact one little show could make. Larry David is a well-known comedian who made television history with Seinfeld. Yet, the twenty minutes of the night kept Eric away from seeing his work for more than 20 years. Two decades…can you imagine that? What would happen if my performance is bad? Probably nobody will ever come back to see me again. There is no guarantee how an audience will respond. I just need to maximize every opportunity that I get, hoping for a thumbs-up.

Miyo Yamauchi

StoryMasters meets on the second Sunday of each month at Tina Tomiyama Residence (3720 Monteith, View Park, CA 90043) 5