Daybreakers Toastmasters Broadcast Live on KHOU-TV Houston CBS Station Walton's World
December 9, 2004
Daybreakers Toastmasters was featured on the KHOU-TV "11 News This Morning" program hosted by Ron Trevino and Deborah Duncan.

Daybreakers was visited by news personality Johnathan Walton for his "small mind at large" news segment called "Walton's World".
Five different video segments aired starting at 6:15 AM and ending near 8:00 AM.
Several Daybreakers members had featured spots during the broadcast, including Richard Kummins, Connie Barnaba, Dotti Visosky, Max Rasquinha, John Martin and guest Pamela McCown.
Ten minutes of Toastmasters video aired that day and more than 350,000 television viewers saw just how the Toastmasters program works ... and how great a club Daybreakers is!
View the video clip of Daybreakers Toastmasters on KHOU-TV.
(10 minutes, Windows Media.)
Timeline
- December 9, 2004 5:00am
John Martin, Stephen Kane and Greg Nowak arrive early to set-up the meeting room.
- 5:30am
The KHOU-TV truck arrives with cameraman and Johnathan Walton. The truck begins to set-up
to broadcast the video. Johnathan scopes out the room and begins to interview members for potential
on-screen live spots.
- 6:00am
More members and guests arrive. The meeting room is completely set-up, theatre-style, for maximum attendance.
- 6:15am
First live spot. On camera are
Pamela McCown (guest and District 56 Lt. Governor Marketing),
Stephen Siegel (guest and Area N-22 Governor),
Richard Kummins (Area N-21 Governor),
Kay Lynn Coleman,
John Martin (Acting Daybreakers VP Public Relations),
Greg Nowak,
Richard Zamora,
Diane Nino (guest and District 56 Public Relations Officer)
and
Stephen Kane (Immediate Past President and Area Q-52 Governor).
Featured is Richard Kummins who tells why he joined Toastmasters.
Several Toastmasters give quick speaking tips:
- Pam
McCown suggests not playing with your glasses
- Steve Siegel recommends speaking up, and
- Richard Kummins suggests using your whole body when you speak.
- 6:18am
Live coverage stops. Johnathan Walton continues to probe for interesting stories and tidbits he can use in the next on air segment, due in about 30 minutes.
More guests and members arrive. Among those arriving is Chuck Izzo, who has come to a Toastmasters meeting for the first time in his life. (In a few weeks, Chuck becomes a member of Daybreakers.)
- 6:51am
Second live spot. The Daybreakers meeting has yet to start and many Toastmasters are gathered at the back of the meeting room.
On camera are
Jim McCreary,
Mary Elizabeth Marx,
Sergio Garza, Stephen Kane,
John Moffitt (Immediate Past District 56 Governor),
Richard Zamora,
Max Rasquinha (District 56 Governor),
Vinicio Tapia,
Dan Gormley,
Connie Lewis,
Alison Comstock,
Greg Nowak,
Dotti Visosky,
Jens Heim,
Connie Barnaba,
Richard Kummins,
John Martin
Alicia Russell,
Diane Nino,
Greg Hennig,
Mary Spain,
Chuck Izzo,
Pamela McCown
and
Brian Giovannini.
Featured are Connie Barnaba who shares the tip to "be confident" and Dotti Visosky who recommends speakers "be passionate."
Back in the studio, news anchor Deborah Duncan shares that she too went through the Toastmasters program and benefited from it.
- 7:11am
Third live spot. This time the Daybreakers meeting is in full swing and Johnathan Walton is seated in the audience between Max Rasquinha and John Martin.
Most of the Toastmasters are on camera, sitting and watching the meeting. Connie Barnaba is featured at the front of the meeting.
Max Rasquinha answers several questions from Mr. Walton. John Martin give his tip on public speaking: the whole audience wants you to succeed... they're cheering for you.
- 7:36am
Fourth live spot. Short clip just before a commercial break. Featured at the front of the room is Eddie Merla (Division Q Governor) giving his presentation.
- 7:39am
Fifth and final live spot. Back from the commercial. Eddie Merla finishes his speech and Mr. Walton is seated next to Pamela McCown. Pam tells her reasons for joining Toastmasters and explains the evaluation process.
Johnathan Walton recaps several of the speaking tips heard today:
- Don't fidget
- Talk loudly
- Use body language: most communication is nonverbal
- Drink lemon water before speaking to clear your throat
- Be passionate
- When making a point, use a personal story. For example if you want to say "I don't like cats" say "I don't like cats because when I was a kid my brother locked me in a 55 gallon drum with 3 wild cats".
- Ignore distractions.
- 7:42am
After more than 2 hours and with almost a full 10 minutes of air time, Johnathan Walton's and KHOU-TV's visit to Daybreakers Toastmasters Club is over. We're famous!
Story by John Martin Photos by Brian Nelson
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