The Morgan Hill Toastmasters group recently received the Select Distinguished Club honor for its local activities in public speaking and leadership development.
The award was presented by Toastmasters International for the period of July 2007 through June 2008. The activities that earned the local chapter this distinction included hosting a Toastmaster area speech contest for the region from Monterey, Santa Cruz and the South Bay at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center.
The local chapter also reached out to other local organizations, such as the Morgan Hill Rotary Club, Kaiser Permanente and the Morgan Hill Downtown Association to help support their efforts through community leadership programs. The members of the Morgan Hill Toastmasters not only reside in Morgan Hill, but also Gilroy, San Benito County and South San Jose.
"One reason why the Select Distinguished honor is important to our club is because it demonstrates how we have grown as a leadership and public speaking organization and are able to pull together to accomplish our goals," said Nellie Jorge, who served as president of the Morgan Hill Toastmasters during the club's last year-long period. "Together we can accomplish anything."
The Morgan Hill Toastmasters is a group of people seeking to become more comfortable with speaking in public and enhancing their leadership skills. The members range from homemakers to local executives, and everything in-between. The Morgan Hill Toastmasters meets every Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at the BookSmart Bookstore at 80 E. 2nd St. in downtown Morgan Hill. For more details, call Harry Albert at (831) 623-2495.
Labor Day travel slumps
High gas prices, the looming uncertainty of the nation's economy and embattled airlines raising rates and adding fees have dampened the spirits of holiday travelers for a third consecutive national holiday weekend.
According to the latest AAA travel survey, just over 4.3 million Californians are expected to travel 50 miles or more this Labor Day weekend, an overall 1.4 percent decrease from last year.
The agency predicts more than 3.5 million Californians will be taking to the roads and highways to reach their weekend destinations, a 1.8 percent decrease.
This year's travel forecast survey projects that the average Californian household will be spending up to $826 during Labor Day weekend, with as much as $177 spent on fuel, accounting for almost 20 percent of estimated total trip spending.
"We are definitely noticing a significant downward trend in travel this year," said Cynthia Harris, spokesperson for AAA of Northern California. "But even as Californians face steep increases in travel expenses, they continue to put a high value on travel in their lives and find resources for quick getaways with family and friends."
Supes oppose Prop 8
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to oppose Proposition 8, the act to ammend the State Constitution to eliminate the right of same sex couples to marry in California on the November 4 election ballot. Supervisor Don Gage was the lone dissenter.
Chamber sponsors child car seat safety
Join the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce and the California Highway Patrol, for its "Child Car Seat Safety Check" 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
The Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce and the California Highway Patrol are teaming up to offer this free service that will be open to the community.
The chamber will hold the event outside its office located at 90 E. Second St., at the corner of Second and Depot streets.
The service is offered by CHP Officers and non-uniform employees who have been certified as child safety seat technicians. Technicians' certification is done through Safe Kids Worldwide in conjunction with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Details: 779-9444.
Beat the heat at Aquatics Center
The Morgan Hill Aquatics Center will be open all three days of the Labor Day weekend from 12 p.m.-5 p.m. The Aquatics Center will help families beat the heat over the holiday weekend.
Information on admission prices can be found at www.mhaquaticscenter.com or by calling the Aquatics Center at (408)782-2134.
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