Cynthia Parkhill is Toastmasters club president

By guest writer Sharon Shute

FINLEY – Cynthia Parkhill has been named the new president for Toastmasters Club No. 8731, Tenacious Talkers.

Parkhill has been a member of Toastmasters International and the club since January 2008.

Starting Thursday, July 1, Parkhill will be club president for 2010-11.

Parkhill has earned Competent Communicator and Advanced Leader Bronze. She also served as vice president of public relation for two terms.

She writes a weekly column in the Lake County Record-Bee and has a weekly segment on a local radio station, KPFZ 88.1 FM.

Tenacious Talkers meets at 6:15 p.m. each Thursday at 2150 Argonaut Road in Finley. For more information about the club, call 707-263-5350 or visit http://tenacioustalkers.freetoasthost.net.

Sharon Shute is vice president of public relations for the Tenacious Talkers.

‘What happens in group, stays in group’

Alcoholics Anonymous is reminding friends in the media to observe its longstanding tradition of anonymity for its members. I’d like to suggest, as delicately as possible, that 12-step clients must also remember that “What happens in group, stays in group.”

Calistoga teachers should promote Poetry Out Loud

I am writing to encourage Calistoga educators to participate in Poetry Out Loud. As a graduate of Calistoga Junior/Senior High School, I would like to see this opportunity made available to CHS students today.

Poetry Out Loud encourages high school students to memorize and perform great poetry. It begins with classroom competitions and the winners advance to school-wide, state and then to national finals.

This spring, I observed the Poetry Out Loud competition in the County of Lake. Three very talented young people competed for the responsibility of representing Lake County in the state competition. The students’ performances were very diverse and showcased the very different styles of poetry that are available through Poetry Out Loud.

I was disappointed to learn that my hometown school was not represented this February in the Napa County competition. I would have loved to have an opportunity like this when I attended CHS.

Kate Demarest with Arts Council Napa Valley has just sent word to arts supporters that Poetry Out Loud launches again in the 2010-2011 school year: “School competitions will take place in the fall, the Napa County finals early in the new year and the California State finals in February.

“If you would like more information on the Poetry Out Loud program please visit the California Arts Council at www.cac.ca.gov where you will find links to both the California and National competition.”

Calistoga educators who would like to participate are invited to contact Kate Demarest with the Arts Council Napa Valley at kate@artscouncilnv.org. Teachers’ guides and other tools are available at http://poetryoutloud.org/.

Published June 17, 2010 in the Weekly Calistogan
and June 18, 2010 in the Calistoga Tribune

A&E section is finalist in Better Newspapers Contest

The Arts & Entertainment section that appears each Thursday in the Lake County Record-Bee has earned a "finalist" mention from the California Newspaper Publishers Association in its 2009 Better Newspapers Contest.

Is your PR under a conspiracy of silence?

There are many events taking place in our community that organizers keep to themselves. The unfortunate consequence of such a decision is that the newspaper tends to get the blame when an event does not see print.