Golden Week Vacation—178th Meeting May 20th: A Touching Toastmasters Experience

 

The 178th meeting of Senri Toastmasters on May 20 was a delightful blend of in-person and virtual interactions, as members gathered at Sone Chuo Kominkan and connected through Zoom. The meeting exuded a vibrant atmosphere, with Kama-yan, the President of Senri Toastmasters, announcing an upcoming special Table Topics Meeting and celebrating the tremendous response to their promotional videos on social media platforms.

The meeting theme revolved around the Golden Week Vacation, allowing members to share their holiday experiences. In this blog, we will explore the captivating speeches, engaging table topics, and insightful evaluations that made the 178th meeting truly memorable. 

Word of the Day- Touching (adj) affecting, poignant, moving.
Word of the Day is a word that attendees are encouraged to use during the course of the meeting. picked by the Word Master, one of the functionary role takers.  Its purpose is to help members increase vocabulary and flexibility.

Touching Speeches: 

The meeting commenced with Mune san delivering a heartfelt eulogy as his prepared speech. With the objective of "Delivering a Social Speech," Mune san touched the hearts of everyone in attendance, reminding us of the beauty of life and the importance of love. His speech left an indelible impression, truly exemplifying the meaning of the word "touching."

Kamayan, the second speaker, embarked on an "Ice Breaker Speech" and introduced his son to the Toastmasters circle. He shared a story about his son's vision for the future, effectively using rhetorical devices to depict the anticipation and anxiety between a father and son. Kamayan's speech was colored with personal anecdotes and the analogy of chemistry acting as a catalyst for his career direction, making it an engaging and moving experience.

Renelyn delivered an insightful speech titled "Speak Louder Than," based on the project "Introduction to Toastmasters Mentoring." Her speech revolved around the key elements of effective mentoring, weaving personal stories of three different mentors. Renelyn emphasized the importance of an empathetic attitude that speaks louder than words, concluding her speech with a beautifully calculated and impactful closing remark.

Kazu, a member who joined Senri six months ago, shared a refreshing and enthusiastic speech about his "My Senri Experience." He expressed his comfort in being part of a diverse club where individuals from various backgrounds come together to improve their public speaking skills. Kazu's goal to become a better public speaker resonated with the audience, leaving them inspired and motivated.

Engaging Table Topics: 

The Table Topics Session, led by Kazu, took the participants on a virtual vacation by asking them about their dream destinations. Imaginations ran wild as members envisioned traveling to Argentina, Taiwan, Africa, and France. Interestingly, one of the guests, Nicolas, happened to be from France, adding an extra touch of excitement to the session. Among the participants, Yasuko san, a fresh new member, emerged as the Best Table Topics Speaker, showcasing her ability to think on her feet and express her thoughts descriptively.

Insightful Evaluations:

The Evaluation Session proved to be a valuable learning experience, with Tenten, Momo san, and Yoshiko san providing detailed feedback to the prepared speakers. Their evaluations not only highlighted the speakers' strengths but also offered constructive suggestions for improvement. Suggestions ranged from addressing unintentional body movements to increasing eye contact with the online audience and refining time sequence and content. These evaluations played a pivotal role in strengthening the communication and speaking skills of the participants.

Appreciation and Conclusion:

The success of the 178th meeting would not have been possible without the exceptional leadership of Toastmaster of the Day, Tamiko san, who skillfully facilitated the meeting, keeping everyone engaged and excited throughout. A special thanks also goes out to the Zoom Tech team, whose unwavering support made the hybrid meeting seamless and enjoyable.

In conclusion, the 178th meeting of Senri Toastmasters left a lasting impact on its participants.