TouroCommunicationClub.blogspot.com – Meeting #151
FYI - Comm Club #151 - "Conflict and Emotion" - Tuesday, 12/20/11 - 2 pm - Room 314 - Midtown - Last Conversation of 2011

1. This week’s conversation – “Conflict and Emotions” – LAST CONVERSATION OF 2011

2. 12^th Speech Contest results – Club meeting #150

3. The next conversation – The 2012 Election

4. Last week’s conversation – Student Showcase – Antoinette Miller, Class of 2010

5. Upcoming conversations

This Week

1. The Touro Communication Club #151

Last Conversation of 2011

Tuesday, December 20, 2011- 2:00 p- 4:00 pm

Room 314 – Midtown

“Conflict and Emotions”

Although both topics are studied and applied by specialists, neither topic is often

part of general conversation. Yet each day we often find ourselves in

emotional states because of one or more conflicts.

Since conflicts and the resultant emotional turmoil are part of our daily communication life, we will try to dissect the interaction of both from

a layman’s viewpoint.

This conversation will be neither a psychological nor a philosophical examination We are looking at conflict and emotions through a practical Communication lens.

By the way, we are having some spectacularly interesting conversations. Some people have commented that they feel comfortable enough to share their feelings without a fear of judgment or reprisal. We hope to continue to create a supportive Communication atmosphere.

Join us! Bring a friend!

Observe what we are all about!

Best of all, share your thoughts!

2. Touro Club Meeting #150
12^th Speech Contest –Fall, 2011

December 15, 2011

Name	Title of Speech	Instructor	Course/Site	Rank
1.Lauren Siletsi	“The Wonderful Skill of CPR”	Prof. Bakeoff	GCA 100 Midtown	First Prize
2. Precious Coleman	“Illicit Blood Diamonds”	Prof. Bakeoff	GCA 100 Midtown	Second Prize
3. Violetta Ostarkhova	“What is Love/”	Prof. Cline	GCA 100 Midtown	Third Prize
4..Vera Buniak	“Alcohol”	Prof. Backinoff	GCA 100 Midtown	Honorable Mention
5. Kerry Castellon	“Male Breast Cancer”	Prof. Bardwell	GCA 100 Midtown	Finalist
6. Orel Dolev	“Body Language”	Prof. Cline	GCA 100 Midtown	Finalist
7. Tricia McPherson	“”Domestic Violence”	Prof. Wicke	GCA 215 Midtown	Finalist
8. Anasia Maison	“Child Abuse”	Prof. Bardwell	GCA 100 Midtown	Finalist
9. Lygia Mitchell	“Trafficking of Children in U.S.”	Prof. Backinoff	GCA 100 Midtown	Finalist
10. Soon Sarah Park	“Street & How to Deal with It”	Prof. Gaffigan	GTA 215 Flushing	Flushing
11. Fatema Rahman	“Am I in Control of Street or is Stress in Control of Me”	Prof. Cleveland	GCA 100 Midtown	Finalist
12. Nydia Soto	“ADHD in Children	Prof. Wicke	GCA 215 Midtown	Finalist
13.Michele Waugh	“Sexual Harassmant”	Prof. Gaffigan	GCA 215 Flushing	Finalist
14. Edward Hu	”Martial Arts”	Prof. Gaffigan	GCA 100 Flushing	Finalist

Judges: Dr. Marcella Bullmaster-Day (Graduate Education); Dr. Robert Fardon (Physics); Mr. Ian Smith (Advisement).

Next Week’s Conversation

3. The Touro Communication Club #151

Tuesday, February 14, 2011- 2:00 p- 4:00 pm

Room 314 – Midtown

Progress report on

The 2012 Election

This blurb is being written in December. Who knows what will have happened when we next meet in February?

There are now six Republican candidates arguing with each other with lots of noise from Donald Trump. In the latest yo-yo polling, Newt Gingrich is leading the pack. There is talk of a third party candidate. President Obama is counterattacking Republican charges.

In short, everything is mess. mixed up. Who is leading the Republican horse race

will become clearer toward the summer.

You might think that a Presidential election is far away from your experience.

You avoid these issues at your peril. Health care is a hot issue. Immigration

issues are on our doorstep. And voter registration affects whether you or your relatives can vote. And there are many more than these three issues.

Our conversations are never boring. We surprise ourselves at how many different opinions we have. Share yours and change someone’s mind – maybe.

Last Week’s Conversation

4. The Touro Communication Club #149

SPECIAL TIME!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011- 3:30 pm
Room 314 – Midtown

Student Showcase

Antoinette Miller, Class of 2010

“My Journey”
The Communication Department’s first Work Study, Antoinette returns to share her adventures since graduation from Touro as a Human Services major.

Antoinette is currently employed as a CASAC-T Substance Abuse Counselor in training at the Methadone Clinic at Beth Israel Hospital in Manhattan. She is pursuing her Masters of Social Work in the Touro Graduate School of Social Work.

As a Touro undergraduate Ms. Miller graduated Magda Cum Laude and was a Work Study for the Communication Department where she produced Touro’s first Jazz Concert.

Her appearance is jointly sponsored by the Touro Communication Club and the Human Service Department, :Professor Cynthia Bangura, Deputy Chair. Refreshments will be served.

5. UPComing Conversations

Films –“The Great Debaters,” “Wag the Dog,”

Student Showcases – T.B.A

Faculty Showcases – Prof. Gary Sheinfeld, Prof. Carlisle Yearwood

Student Clubs - Science, Namaste

Topics – “Leadership,” “Gender Communication”, “Political Speech”

Current Events – The 2012 Election updates

Communication Skills – Presenting Literature, Interviewing, etc.

Communication Strategies – “Getting to YES,” “Shooting from the Lip”

Plus your suggestions!

Hal Wicke

TouroCommunicationClub.blogspot.com – Meeting #139

Contents:

1. This week’s conversation - “Conspiracy Theory & Critical Thinking”

2. The next conversation – until Fall, 2011 “Your Summer Communication Lesson Plan”

3. Last week’s conversation - postponed until Fall, 2011

This Coming Week – Final program for this semester

1. The Touro Communication Club #139

Tuesday, May 24, 2011- 2:30 p- 4:00 pm – Room 223

Midtown

“Conspiracy Thinking vs. Critical Thinking”

The assassination of Osama Bin Laden on Sunday, May 1, 2011, has produced the inevitable outbreak of people who don’t believe that bin Laden still lives. In recent years it has always become a predictable “fact” that some people will deny any facts that are presented in support of an action or a position.

To be simplistic, for a change, let us group these kinds of people as “Conspiracy Theorists.” The basic pattern of this thinking is to deny any set of facts as untrue. Examples abound: .

· “The end of the earth will arrive on Saturday, May 21, 2011” is only the most recent, or

· President Obama’s birth certificate has been a favorite or

· Global Warming (or climate change as it is now called for the politically correct), or

· Was Lee Harvey Oswald President Kennedy’s killer? or

· Unidentified Flying Objects, or

· and, most dangerously, the Holocaust.

Other everyday circumstances of the denial of factual evidence show up when

· Someone calls you a liar, (Congressman Joe Wilson to President Obama) or

· Someone continues to lie despite the evidence (a current court case), or

· A student shouts at a teacher, “You’re wrong!” among others.

We will attempt to identify these and other issues which are conducive to “Conspiracy Thinking” and examine how “Critical Thinking’ can aid in understanding what and why this occurs. Perhaps a bit of Freud might help, too.

Join us in Thinking Outside the Box!

(Or Just Thinking!)

The Next Conversation – Until Fall, 2011

2. Your Summer Communication Lesson Plan

During the summer, you are on your own to develop your repertoire of communication skills. It’s a 24/7 job – if you want to sharpen your mind. “A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste, according to the iconic slogan of the United Negro College Fund.

Keep in mind “You cannot not communicate.” Some messages are obvious. Many are not.

There is much to “look” for with your eyes, ears and the pit of your stomach (that’s Ernest Hemingway’s ‘Crap Detector.”) Watch and listen to the language people use. Watch and listen to their gestures and body language.

Then connect the dots. What does this individual data mean? What does it mean in context? Ask yourself, “Is that the only intended meaning? Or are there other possibilities?” This is not being paranoid. This is analysis.

That was the easy part. Now do the same for what comes out YOUR mouth. Words. Gestures. Body Language. Your dress. This is more difficult because you have to be pro-active, not passive. Think before you speak. Pause a fraction of a second before reacting.

Your Communication Tool Box begins with awareness – inside and outside. As you gather data, look for patterns. Verify the patterns. Once you’ve observed the general outlines, then begin to look for nuances.

Then give your mind a rest. Until the next time.

Last Week’s Conversation – postponed until Fall, 2011

. The Touro Communication Club #138

Tuesday, May 17, 2011- 2:30 p- 4:00 pm – Room 223

Midtown

Student Showcase I – Ms. Lorinda Moore

Anyone who has been around the Midtown site will know Lorinda Moore. Officially, she is Dean Perkal’s Administrative Assistant in Room 301. But she brings a lot to the table besides her million-dollar smile and her helpful, gracious manner. Lorinda is a 2010 Touro graduate who received last year’s Special Recognition Award. She’s now working on her MBA degree at Touro. But there’s much more that you can discover about Lorinda on Tuesday when the Communication Club presents its first Student Showcase.

Discover the inspiring accomplishments of Touro students!

Hal Wicke

TouroCommunicationClub.blogspot.com – Meeting #137

Contents::

1. This week’s conversation: Debate

2. The next conversation – “Conspiracy Theory & Critical Thinking”

3. Last week’s conversation: “Abbott and Costello” & list of attendees.

This Coming Week:

1. The Touro Communication Club # 137

Tuesday, May 10, 2011- 2:30 pm – Room 223

Midtown

Debate – What is it?

Plus a few useful skills

As an example of what is expected in debate, Michael Zacharias, Junior in Political Science and a Finalist in the Speech Contest, will demonstrate a 3-part legal brief. He will portray the Judge, the Prosecutor and the Defense in a property damage suit. You will be the jury

At the recent Speech Contest, the idea of having a debate team was mentioned. If you are interesting in finding out more, come and have some fun.

If you like to argue, this session is for you! Learn how to argue effectively and not just shout over the other person.

Academic debate has been called “intellectual combat.” Compared to what is called “debate” in the political arena, academic debate is exacting and challenging. In politics, you can shoot your mouth off without evidence. In academic debate, you will regret that.

Academic debate teaches every academic skill you need plus the excitement of thinking on your feet in the moment. The old debate adage is that “A debate is won in the library.” That means you’d better do your homework or you’ll be shot out of the water.

We’ll experiment with instant SPAR debate we often use in our classes and then switch sides.

Work out at the Brain Gym with Debate!

The Next Conversation

2. The Touro Communication Club #138

Tuesday, May 17, 2011- 2:30 p- 4:00 pm – Room 223

Midtown

“Conspiracy Thinking vs. Critical Thinking”

The assassination of Osama Bin Laden on Sunday, May 1, 2011, has produced the inevitable outbreak of people who don’t believe that bin Laden still lives. In recent years it has always become a predictable “fact” that some people will deny any facts that are presented in support of an action or a position.

To be simplistic, for a change, let us group these kinds of people as “Conspiracy Theorists.” The basic pattern of this thinking is to deny any set of facts as untrue. Examples abound:

· President Obama’s birth certificate is the most recent, or

· Global Warming (or climate change as it is now called for the politically correct), or

· Was Lee Harvey Oswald President Kennedy’s killer? or

· Unidentified Flying Objects, or

· and, most dangerously, the Holocaust.

Other everyday circumstances of the denial of factual evidence show up when

· Someone calls you a liar, or

· Someone continues to lie despite the evidence, or

· A student shouts at a teacher, “You’re wrong!” among others.

We will attempt to identify these and other issues which are conducive to “Conspiracy Thinking” and examine how “Critical Thinking’ can aid in understanding what and why this occurs. Perhaps a bit of Freud might help, too.

Join us in Thinking Outside the Box!

(Or Just Thinking!)

Last Week’s Conversation

3. The Touro Communication Club

Tuesday, May 3, 2011- 2:30 pm – Room 223

Midtown

Critical Listening Institute III: Comedy

Abbott and Costello’s “Who’s on First?”

For those who don’t know this famous comic routine, you are in for a treat!

“Who’s on First?” is a part of the rich American popular culture. First performed in the 1944 film “The Naughty Nineties,” the routine became the signature act of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. Products of burlesque and vaudeville in 1930s and 1940s, the comedy team were successful in radio and over 30 movies. The routine is part of the permanent exhibit at Baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

This is the third in the Critical Listening series. Martin Luther King’s “I have

a Dream Speech” was the focus of the first session. The second session was Maurice Ravel’s “Bolero.”

The topic attracted an attentive and enthusiastic people of 19 with many new faces. They included: Yanchen Lama, Jean Missial, Vlad Konyshev, David Davidov, Logunshvili Nicki (sp?), Omer Gurbuzer, Bahadirhan Keles (sp?), Jean Bonne-Année, Tian Yuan Chen, Richard Green (many thanks for handling the DVDs), Nabila Ellithy, Rashmi Hirani, Lorinda Moore (thank you for the flyers), Hong Huang, Htinshu Way, Gena Bardwell, Robert Bohr, Charles Mason, Carlisle Yearwood and Hal Wicke

Hal Wicke