Author: Paul Ireifej

Meet the Area Directors: Paul Ireifej

Name: Paul Ireifej

Position: Area 62 Director

Club(s): AT&T Middletown Toastmasters

What are your plans for the district/area/division?

I have three priorities for Area 62. First, I want to improve club climate in all of my clubs. Club climate determines if guests become members and if members are retained and developed. Club climate has to do with the learning environment provided by your club and member interactions. Second, I want to promote participation in club contests. Contests are a great way to sharpen your speaking abilities and delivered a practiced, polished speech that you don’t normally prepare when working through the standard manuals. Also it exposes you to delivering a speech in front of new audience members (if you get to area, division and district levels). Third, I want to focus on goal setting and planning to achieve Distinguished club status. If you plan ahead and set yourself up for success, your club can be distinguished. 

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Toasting and Roasting Frank Schuck

The birthday boy and his wife.

On June 27, Toastmasters veteran Frank Schuck celebrated his 75th birthday with a Toastmasters dinner at The Wine Bar in Atlantic Highlands. He invited friends from clubs at AT&T Middletown Toastmasters, Red Bank Toastmasters, and Talk of Monmouth, an advanced club.

Paul Ireifej served as the Toastmaster. He kicked off the meeting with a roast. He acknowledged Frank’s military service and did an impression of Frank, complete with his gravelly voice and wide arm gestures. Paul ended with sincere words, applauding Frank’s 48-year marriage to his wife, Sheila, noting that you don’t even know if it’s been a good 48 years.

Next, Rohit Sivadas came to the lectern with a roast. He noted that Frank’s wife, Sheila, is really the important person that evening! Rohit complimented the beautifully designed cake (complete with Toastmasters logo), acknowledged Frank’s new Area Director role and ended by referring to Frank as the funny guy who brings cakes.

Radhi Spear continued the evening with a roast. She started by saying, “now I can tell Frank to his face things I’ve been saying behind his back.”

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