The 209th Regular Meeting: December 20, 2025 “Christmas Words & Phrases”

On December 20, 2025, Senri Toastmasters held its 209th regular meeting with the heartwarming theme, "Christmas Words & Phrases". The afternoon kicked off with a delightful live performance of "Jingle Bells," filling the room with festive magic. Fittingly, our Word of the Day was "delightful," which perfectly captured the spirit of the meeting.

Highlight 1: Managing a Difficult Audience
A major highlight was Hiko's project, "Managing a Difficult Audience". This project focuses on addressing common behaviors of difficult audience members in a calm and professional way to prepare for presentations outside of Toastmasters. Hiko managed these interruptions very politely and carefully. While he was a bit hesitant and it took some time to settle the disruptors, he remained calm throughout the process. The evaluator of Hiko’s speech, Kazu, provided an excellent suggestion: once you handle a disruptor, you should directly return to the main part of your story to maintain the flow. It was a valuable lesson for us all!

Highlight 2: Effort Blossoms in "My Senri Experience"
Another highlight was the "My Senri Experience" shared by Takashi. His story was highly relatable and filled with humor, drawing plenty of laughter from the audience. Takashi has been working hard behind the scenes as our Sergeant-at-Arms, taking English pronunciation lessons, and even studying abroad this past summer. All that effort truly blossomed in this speech. If he had been a speaker in the Prepared Speech session, I definitely would have cast my vote for him as the Best Speaker. It was wonderful to see his dedication pay off!

Inspiring Speeches in Brief
The Prepared Speech session was filled with a variety of wonderful presentations. Maririn showcased tactful vocal variety while sharing fond memories of the Expo, while Tenten delivered a motivating speech on taking an active role in the organization of our meetings. Kankan shared a resonating story about overcoming obstacles with the support of the person beside her, and Tamiko, our club’s "Queen of Humor," delivered a relatable and delightful presentation that left everyone in stitches.

In my General Evaluator report, I commended the delightful atmosphere created by our Toastmaster of the Day, Rene’s thoughtful decorations and her preparation. We closed the meeting with a warm "Happy Holidays!" I look forward to seeing everyone next year. Have a wonderful holiday season and a great New Year!

(Eri)

Evaluation Workshop - A Day of Learning and Growth : December 6 , 2025

On December 6th, our Toastmasters club held a special Evaluation Workshop meeting that brought together members for an enriching learning experience focused on one of the most valuable skills in public speaking: delivering constructive and motivating evaluations.

The Power of "Evaluate to Motivate"

The session opened with an insightful presentation by Kazu, titled "Evaluate to Motivate," which set the foundation for the day's activities. This keynote emphasized the importance of delivering evaluations that not only provide constructive feedback but also “push” speakers to continue improving their craft.

Test Speech by Eri

Eri delivered the test speech that would serve as the focus for our evaluation practice. Prior to the meeting, Eri kindly shared her evaluation form, including her project and speech purpose, allowing all participants to better understand her objectives and prepare thoughtful feedback.

Hands-On Practice in Breakout Sessions

The heart of the workshop was the practice breakout sessions, where every member had the opportunity to deliver their own evaluation speech. Participants were divided into four breakout rooms:

• Breakout 1: Rene, Tenten, Takashi and a guest
• Breakout 2: Anne, Mune, and Hiko
• Breakout 3: Marylin, Tamiko, and Kazu
• Breakout 4: Eri, Kankan, Ma-chan

Each group practiced delivering evaluations while sharing observations about what they found effective and any points for improvement. Each member had their own perspective of what part of the speech they liked best. This session provided valuable insights from different angles and experience levels. After an intensive 30 minute practice session we had a nice 10 minute break with an impromptu jam session of ukulele and flute recorder playing.

The Evaluation Session

Following the break, the workshop transitioned into a dynamic evaluation session that demonstrated the multi-layered nature of feedback in Toastmasters. Tenten provided feedback on Kazu’s opening presentation, while three evaluators, representing their respective breakout rooms, evaluated Eri's test speech. In a unique feature that demonstrated the profound (Word of the Day) depth of our learning process, four additional evaluators then evaluated the evaluation speeches themselves, creating a rich learning loop that benefited everyone present!

Supporting Roles

The meeting ran smoothly thanks to our dedicated meeting role takers who kept us on track as Kankan served as Timer, Ma-chan served as Ah-Counter, and Eri took on the triple role of test speaker, Grammarian and Zoom Master. Thanks to their dedication, the workshop remained sharp throughout the session.

Closing Thoughts

This special meeting reinforced a fundamental spirit of Senri Toastmasters: evaluations don't just critique—they motivate, inspire, and help fellow members reach their dream to become better speakers and communicators.

We look forward to seeing how the skills practiced during this workshop will enhance the quality of evaluations at our regular meetings.

(Anne)

The 208th Regular Meeting: November 15, 2025 “Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice”

１１月のミーティングでは、Toastmaster of the Day（司会） が “Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice” にふさわしいデコレーションで暖かかつ華やかな雰囲気、また様々なミーティングの機会に Spice や Role でたとえ話をすると言うユニークなスタイルで進行しました。

At our meeting on November 15th, the Toastmaster of the Day created a warm and splendid atmosphere with decorations fitting for “Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice”! And she led proceedings with a unique style that included using metaphors based on Spice and Role during various meeting opportunities.

ミーティングの進め方についてはミーティング紹介の記事をご覧くださいませ。
ミーティングでの役割についてはロール紹介記事をご覧くださいませ。

For the details about how meetings are conducted, please refer to the article of the meeting introduction (Link in Japanese).
Also, for information on roles within meetings, please refer to the role introduction article (Link in Japanese).

さて今回はミーティングの中での一幕を紹介しながら、どういう雰囲気なのかの一端をお伝えします！

Now, let me share a glimpse of the atmosphere by focusing three points with introducing behind the scenes from one of our meetings!

1） Teamwork
華やかな会場のセッティング、オンラインとオフラインを繋ぐ機器の設置・準備。これらは一人ではできません。千里トーストマスターズクラブの Motto である “Teamwork を” 発揮してみんなで準備しています。電子機器が苦手な人も大丈夫！気が付けば皆配線や装置に詳しくなっていきます👍

1） Teamwork
The beautiful venue setup and setting up the equipment to connect online and offline participants —these tasks can't be done alone. We're putting the Senri Toastmasters Club motto “Teamwork” into action, so we prepare together. Even if you're not tech-savvy, no worries! Before you know it, everyone becomes familiar with the wiring and devices.

2） Grow Together
トーストマスターズクラブの特徴は、先生やトレーナーがいない事。会員同士で Evaluation を行い、お互いを高めあっていくことです。Evaluator は、スピーチの内容を Evaluate し次のスピーチに生かす Tips を得ます。General Evaluator は、ミーティングの進め方や、会員の動きその他全体を見ながらクラブの発展に貢献します。こうしてお互いに成長をしていくのがトーストマスターズクラブの醍醐味です。

2） Grow Together
The feature of the Toastmasters Club is no teachers or trainers and members evaluate speeches each other for mutual enhancement. Evaluators assess the content of speeches and speakers gain tips to refine future speeches. General Evaluators contribute to the club's development by overseeing meeting procedures, member’s active participation, and overall operations. All of these foster our mutual growth and this is an essential element of Toastmasters Club.

3） Exercise Your Brain
Table Topics session（即興スピーチ）では、お題が出されて、その場で考えます。誰が当たるかは直前までわかりません。このセッションでは皆が何を話すべきか頭をフル回転させながらミーティングに参加します。

3） Exercise Your Brain
At the Table Topics session (impromptu speech), Topicsmaster will give you a topic then you will think and create a short speech on the spot. But you don't know who will be called on until the very last moment. That’s why during this session, everyone practices thinking quickly and coherently about what they should talk about. This is exciting!

千里トーストマスターズクラブではこのような雰囲気でのミーティングをしています。興味がある方は是非クラブのホームページにアクセスしてコンタクトしてみてください👍

Senri Toastmasters Club provide supportive meetings with such a nice atmosphere for developing our member’s achievement. So, if you would be interested, you can visit our club website and feel free to contact us anytime!

(Kazu)

Table Topics Competition & Grammarian Workshop : November 1, 2025

Great job!
At our special meeting on November 1, I served as the Chief Judge of the Table Topics Competition and the General Evaluator of the Grammarian Special meeting. This has been a hectic few weeks, but it has surely been rewarding. In this entry, I want to focus on what goes on behind the scenes of a Toastmasters speech competition.

In Toastmasters, we run our speech contests by ourselves, led by two main players: Contest Chair and Chief Judge.

Contest Chair  &  Chief Judge

 This time, our President, Eri, served as the Chair, and I served as Chief Judge. We first solicited competitors, and five members signed up for the English Table Topics Competition and three for the Japanese one. Then, we had a Zoom chat to list the tasks to cover: to assign members to roles, recruit Toastmasters guests to help run the competition, and prepare the necessary documents. I contacted 12 Toastmasters members outside our club, and four of them agreed to help. I appreciate their help.

Next, we sent the competitors and judges the documents they had to complete and submit, collected and checked the documents, and conducted briefing sessions for competitors and competition officials. I joined the competitor briefing as the Zoom Master because, in the Table Topics Competition, every competitor except for the first one is taken to another room so that they won't hear the topic beforehand. As we held this competition online, we wanted to have the competitors experience what to do when they come back from the breakout room to the main room. In addition, I conducted the judge briefing, where I explained the judging criteria, which are significantly different from those for the International Speech Contest. I also had briefings with counters and timers. They took their roles very seriously and performed almost flawlessly on the competition day, with some slight hiccups when collecting the judges' ballots.

On the competition day, the Contest Chair opened the competition with well-prepared opening remarks, which boosted our morale. The competition went exceedingly smoothly, with some hiccups when collecting the judges' ballots. The Japanese Table Topics Competition, which followed the English one, ended exactly when it was supposed to end. Great job, everyone!! And congratulations, Yuriko and Hiko, on your victory in the English and Japanese Table Topics Competitions, respectively!! They won a chance to represent our club in the Area C3 Table Topics Contests on February 28, 2026.

English ＆Japanese session winners

After a 10-minute intermission, we held a Table Topics Session, where we had three members pay attention to the speakers' language usage as Grammarians. During the Table Topics Session, members who competed as competitors in the first half served as the facilitator of the session and functionary role-takers to provide members who helped run the competition a chance to practice impromptu speeches. After that, we enjoyed the distinctly different reports from three Grammarians. I was really thankful as the Chief Judge, General Evaluator of the event, and Vice President Education of the club, for all the participants' tremendous contributions. Great job, everyone!

Author: Tenten, Vice President Education

The 207th Regular Meeting : October 18, 2025 – A Meeting Likened to an Orchestra

The 207th regular meeting likened to an orchestra was a showcase! This became eventually possible through the creative imagination and mimicry of playing certain musical instruments by the Composer of the Day, Hiko. He has assigned instruments for main role takers in the meeting sessions. He tried to have an instrument coming from the orchestra’s - string, woodwind, brass, and percussion. It was great! The audience mindset was transported to the scenario Hiko was creating.

In like manner, the General Evaluator, Rene was named as the Concert Master. The Composer and the Concert Master along with the vivacious and well engaged role takers opened an orchestrated meeting.

The “overture,” My Senri Experience was delivered by the timpanist, Jinyoung Seo. His “lyrics” expressed his admiration and reasons why he joined the club. He was moved by the kindness, transparency, and continued passion of members to learn and to improve.

The “prelude” in the form of Prepared Speeches was indeed awesome! The audience was able to listen to 5 great speakers who delivered magnificently. The audience heard various topics ranging from benefits of swimming, conquering fear of heights, Osaka Expo family experience, the formidable quiet strength of a father, and the Expo Ring’s positive energy. The audience was absorbed listening to each speech stamped by the speaker’s unique delivery style, coordinated body movements, and clear organization.

The “postlude” in the form of Evaluations was likewise amazing! The audience was able to hear 5 impressive evaluators who used the “Sandwich Approach” in giving their constructive feedback. The evaluators did not only give praises, recounted some incidents in the speech, gave suggestions for improvement in the form of word usage, vocal variety, gestures, and body movements but always tied up the speech with its project objective. The audience got a lot of ideas on how to evaluate effectively by listening to the 5 evaluators.

The “encore” in the form of Table Topics was led by Takashi, the clarinetist. His timely topic “Gender Inequality” was triggered by the news of Japan’s first female Prime Minister. He asked speakers to comment/share experiences on “gender inequality” at the workplace, at home, and in society. It was fascinating to note how each speaker handled or reacted to the inequality issue brought about by sexes.

As the “imaginary orchestra music” slowly faded . . . the curtain call had a lot of applause, the 207th regular meeting was a success! The meeting was captivating and was well orchestrated. Indeed, it was a display of teamwork and the unstoppable dedication to improve in public speaking.

Written by Rene

The 206th Regular Meeting : September 20, 2025

We had six speeches today, including “Here’s My Trick” by Anne.

A variety of stories, from social ettiquette, film and novel, recorder, Anpanman, to exercise.  We truly enjoyed the diverse flavors of speeches. Once again, we realized that every member has their own drama and their own perspective in daily life. The stories were as varied as autumn leaves, changing color from the foot to the top of a mountain. It’s amazing that today’s meeting theme was "Autumn Imagery."

This was followed by  Table Topics Session, hosted by Sora, which focused on the autumn equinox, “お彼岸” in Japanese. It was a rather unique theme. When we heard about equinox customs in China and Mongolia, we were intrigued by the differences from Japan’s. Additionally, many speakers seemed to be a little bit perplexed but nostalgic.

Toward the end of the meeting, we held our usual business session consisting of reports from officers. There was the report about meeting feedback that was shared by members about the meeting itself. Sharing both constructive suggestion and praise helps boost motivation of members.

And tonight, how about enjoying moon viewing with a strong beer in hand?

Hiko, General Evaluator

”Vocal Variety Special" : September 6, 2025

Our meeting today specialized in the theme “Vocal Variety.”

Thanks to our wonderful host, Temma-san (in a Toastmasters club, we called this role the “Toastmaster of the Day”), we gained precious theory on how to boost our vocal variety skills and immediately applied them in the later session with the participants.

He secretly shared the tips.
First, use your pause for engaging the audience and adding emphasis.
Second, utilize Pace, Pitch, and Volume for emphasis and depicting scenes or characters well.
Third, by differing your tone, you can depict the emotions effectively.🎵Are you curious about more details?

Then please reach out to the Senri Toastmasters Club.  You can, for sure, hear how to nicely deliver with “Vocal Variety”. Of course, there are other areas of public speaking that we work to improve. If you are interested in, please feel free to join the meeting!!

Jinyoung, General Evaluator

”Vocal Variety” & "Moments of Truth" Meeting: August 30, 2025

今回のミーティングは「Vocal Variety Presentation」と「Moments of Truth Discussion」の二本立てで開催されました。

 前半の Vocal Variety Presentation では、Tentenさんによる、Vocal Variety（声の多様性）に特化したキーノートスピーチが行われました。自身がコンテストに出場した際の経験を踏まえ、パブリックスピーチにおけるVocal Varietyの極意を、非常にわかりやすく紹介してくださいました。特に「Pause（間）」「Pace（速度）」「Pitch（音程）」「Volume（音量）」「Tone（音色）」の5要素に分けて説明されたことで、聴衆にとっても整理しやすく、すぐに実践できる内容となっていました。

 後半は Moments of Truth セッションです。これは年に一度、クラブの課題についてメンバー間で討議する重要な機会です。事前に役員によるアンケート調査が実施され、ミーティング当日はその結果をもとに議題が設定されました。「新会員を迎えるにあたり、クラブをどう改善していきたいか」「メンバーがより成長を実感するために何ができるか」などのテーマについて、数人ずつのグループに分かれて意見交換を行い、各グループの代表が内容を全体に共有しました。

 私たちはスピーチクラブですので、共有の場もまた、限られた時間内で要点を伝える練習の機会として活用しています。限られた時間で深い議論を行うためには、やはり準備が重要です。今回は、役員の方々が事前にアンケート結果や説明資料を配布してくださったことで、活発な意見交換が実現しました。

 「段取り八割」という言葉がありますが、まさにその通り。役員の皆さんの準備のおかげで、非常に充実したミーティングとなりました。

 ご興味のある方は、ぜひ一度クラブにご訪問ください。会員一同、心よりお待ちしております。

 This meeting featured a two-part program: the Vocal Variety Presentation and the Moments of Truth Discussion.

 In the first session, we enjoyed a keynote speech by Tenten, focused on Vocal Variety. Drawing from his own experience competing in speech contests, he shared practical insights into how vocal variety enhances public speaking. His explanation was especially clear and actionable, as he broke down the concept into five key elements: Pause, Pace, Pitch, Volume, and Tone. This structure made it easy for the audience to understand and apply the tips from now on.

 The second session was our annual Moments of Truth session—a valuable opportunity for members to discuss the club’s strengths and areas for improvement. Prior to the meeting, club officers conducted a survey, and the results were used to shape the discussion topics. In small groups, members exchanged ideas on themes such as “How can we improve the club to better welcome new members?” and “What can we do to help members feel a stronger sense of growth?” Each group then shared their key points with everyone. 

 As a public speaking club, we also treat these sharing sessions as opportunities to practice delivering concise and impactful messages within a set time. 

 To establish deeper discussions within limited time, preparation is essential. Thanks to the officers’ efforts in distributing survey results and materials in advance, we were able to have a lively and productive exchange of ideas. 

 Generally speaking, “Preparation is 80% of success.” This meeting was an expressive example of that. The officers’ thoughtful planning made it a truly fulfilling experience. 

 If you're interested, we warmly invite you to visit our club. All members look forward to welcoming you!

Kamayan, General Evaluator

The 205th Regular Meeting: August 16, 2025

 Full of Energy!

Our 205th Regular Meeting was filled with energy. We had five prepared speeches for the first time in eight months, which also means that we had five evaluation speeches. Additionally, we had 10 Table Topics (impromptu) speeches.Topics of the prepared speeches vary from a self-introduction to the speaker's communication style to an introduction of Mongolian culture to an invitation to Kansai Osaka Expo to developments around a genocide in Rwanda. The first speaker, Ma-chan, made her debut with her Ice Breaker speech (the first speech a new member delivers to introduce themselves to the club). She tactfully organized her speech so the audience members easily understood what brought her to the Senri Toastmasters Club. 

The second speaker, Yasuko, talked about her communication style, referring to a glasses shop owner, "Gotou san," who has a similar style to hers, in a humorous presentation. The third speaker, Yuriko, introduced a Mongolian greeting and how Mongolian people enjoy summer by sharing her experience during her three-week trip to Mongolia. The fourth, Mune-san, shared his experience at the Kansai Osaka Expo, and tried to convince us that the expo is worth our visit. The last speaker, Hiko, delivered a well-researched, thought-provoking speech about a genocide in Rwanda and the developments afterward.Five evaluators discussed how the speeches could be improved after commending the speakers on things well done. The Best Evaluator Award winner, Anne, effectively demonstrated how Ma-chan could use her hand gestures to enhance her speech by using many examples from different parts of her speech. Giving demonstrations is always a great way to clearly communicate our suggestions. Another evaluator, Mariko, took a step further and did something unusual. She brought her speaker, Yuriko, to the stage and took her to different places on the stage to demonstrate how she could have used the width and depth of the stage to make her speech engaging.

Another thing that was unusual this time was that we listened to as many as ten Table Topics speeches. The Topicsmaster, Madelyn, presented the topics before calling on a participant to speak on each topic. In this way, she forced everyone to consider how to talk about these topics. This helped create an energetic atmosphere in the meeting, along with the summer-related topics she prepared and her efficient facilitation of the session. With five prepared speeches, five evaluation speeches, and 10 Table Topics speeches, the meeting was fully packed and lasted for two hours and a half, but it didn't feel that long thanks to the energy these speeches brought about. A great way to spend a hot summer day.

Tenten, General Evaluator

The 204th Regular Meeting: Jul 19, 2025

 Step Up and Conquer – A Fresh Start at Senri Toastmasters

Today marked the first meeting of the new term at Senri Toastmasters, and what an invigorating start it was! With a newly installed team of officers and a theme that called on us to "Step Up and Conquer," the atmosphere was filled with energy, purpose, and a touch of nervous excitement.

When I heard the theme, I thought—that’s exactly why I’m here! At Senri Toastmasters, I’m trying to conquer my fear of public speaking and evaluations.  Many times I feel nervous and awkward, but I hope to become a strong and confident speaker. My goal this term is to level up, battle my fear, and conquer it one speech at a time.

🎉 Welcome to Our New Member!

The meeting started with a special moment: the Induction Ceremony for our newest member, Ma-chan. Welcome to Senri Toastmasters! We’re so excited to have you on this journey with us and can’t wait to support you as you step up and conquer your own goals.

🌟 Highlights of the Prepared Speeches

We had the pleasure of hearing three inspiring speeches, each offering something unique:

1. Kan Kan took us on a virtual tour of Xiamen, China, recommending it as a wonderful travel destination. Her speech followed the structure of a well-organized presentation, which was the goal of her Pathways project. After a warm introduction, she guided us through three exciting places to visit and wrapped it all up with an inviting conclusion.  I would love to go there!

2. Yuriko shared her experience of “Exploring Mongolia through a Local Toastmasters Club.” She recounted her recent journey and the friendships she built with local Toastmasters in Mongolia. It was interesting to hear how their club operates a bit differently from ours—and surprising to learn that their meetings pause for summer vacation! Her speech gave us fresh ideas we might consider for our own club.

3. Kama-yan delivered a thought-provoking speech titled “Shall We Set a Positive Feedback Timer?” He emphasized the power of frequent positive reinforcement in communication and leadership. By blending humor, he demonstrated how intentional feedback can encourage growth—something we can all take to heart.

🙌 Leadership in Action

Our Toastmaster of the Day, Eri, did a wonderful job leading the meeting with grace and clarity. She kept the program running smoothly, set a welcoming tone, and created a supportive space for everyone to shine.

As we kick off this new term, let’s remember the spirit of "Step Up and Conquer." Whether it's delivering a speech, taking on a new role, or offering encouraging feedback, every step we take is a step toward growth.

Evaluators Hiko, Marilyn and Tamiko all did incredible jobs using the sandwich technique, providing constructive feedback with encouragement.  Good suggestions made: If you had used your own personal experience….Use more vocal variety…We now feel more familiar with…

A big thank you to Word Master, Madelyn for choosing the word “invigorating”—it perfectly captured the spirit of the meeting!

Thank you to Topics Master Yasuko for your simple but deep questions like—“What makes you angry?” and “What makes you happy?”  These questions encouraged us all to think more deeply. 

Here’s to a bold, invigorating journey ahead—together!  Come and visit us!

Anne, General Evaluator

The 203rd Regular Meeting: June 21, 2025

This meeting went punctually as usual. When its agenda was open, General Evaluator suggested simplifying the time schedule, but it was nicely explained that we shouldn't add unnecessary time because having as many Table Topics speeches as possible is more important, which turned out to be very true.

Yasuko-san's "My Senri Experience" speech was very impressive with her sincere expressions like "day by day," "step by step," and it finished at 14:18 as planned. The following prepared speeches, Tamiko-san's humorous and surprising "The Origin of My Name," Takashi-san's sincere and moving "My Big Boss," and Kazu's informative and persuasive "Change is Only Constant" also went well, all in time and the Prepared Speech Session finished at 14:48. Then, after the colorful Evaluation Session, the Table Topics Session started exactly at 15:12 and had as many as 7 speeches!

The Business Session had two most important and special annual events, "Hall of Fame" and the "Installation Ceremony" for officers 2025-2026. The Hall of Fame reviewed how well this club and each member had done throughout the past year. Kudos to our former president, Marylin, for her meticulous preparation to report everyone’s contribution and achievement, which made us happy and motivated towards the new year.

Area C3 Director Sumie Nakayama conducted the installation ceremony, which took place in a warm atmosphere. Our new President Eri-san had told us in her election speech in May that she had thought she wasn't good enough for it for a long time, but that Tenten's contest speech had persuaded her into accepting it. She mentioned today about her experience of being a contestant at the division contest, being greatly supported by Senri TMC mates, and she encouraged everyone to give it a try.

Thus, our last meeting of the year 2024-2025 was an especially successful and meaningful one, thanks to everyone's real "dedication," which was selected by the Grammarian Kan Kan as "Word of the Day," the word every participant is encouraged to incorporate into their speech.

(by General Evaluator Momo)

Impromptu Speech Practice Meeting: June 7, 2025

It was a suuuuper special meeting where all participants could join and share our stories on the spot.

Toastmaster of the day, who led the meeting, set the concept of today’s meeting with the theme “Story bank,” preparing stories in advance and delivering a speech like a prepared impromptu speech with some stored stories.

As you can see in the picture, we actively applied this tip in our speeches and truly enjoyed the meeting. Look at those smiles. And I also appreciate all the role-takers who put in their efforts to facilitate the meeting.

See you at the next meeting! Our meeting is always open to newcomers

Written by Jinyoung

Getting Ready for Impromptu Speaking: Special Online Meeting: May 31, 2025

Today, on May 31st, Senri Toastmasters Club held a special online meeting, entirely focused on impromptu speaking. This unique session was produced by our creative member, Tenten, and thanks to his thoughtful planning, we all walked away feeling more confident and better prepared.

Today’s Word of the Day, "Elaborate," introduced by Rene, turned out to be surprisingly relevant. As the meeting progressed, we saw how our impromptu speeches became more developed and expressive, thanks to the techniques we learned. Even impromptu speeches can become elaborate when built on our own messages and stories.

Can We Actually Prepare for Impromptu Speeches?

That was the question many of us had. Impromptu speeches are, by nature, unprepared. We are given a topic on the spot and expected to deliver our thoughts immediately. But today we learned, there is a way to prepare to build a foundation for the impromptu speeches. Tenten gave us a simple assignment before the meeting: Prepare at least three personal messages and three stories. This planted the seeds.

Stories and Messages

Tenten encouraged us to “Think about the message that comes to your mind often. Then think of stories related to the messages that are important to you.” During his workshop, Yuriko volunteered for the demonstration. Thank you, Yuriko! With her willingness to participate, we all learned how a prepared message or story can connect with an unexpected topic. After her demo speech, we discussed how it could be enhanced. This collaborative analysis deepened everyone's understanding.

Table Topics Session

Then came the real test, the Table Topics Session! Yuriko, our Topicsmaster*, prepared engaging questions for us. Thanks to Tenten’s workshop, we were all able to elaborate on our responses more naturally and confidently. What I loved was that Tenten quickly volunteered to take over as Timer when Mune-san, the Timer, was selected to speak. This small act of support perfectly captured the spirit of teamwork that defines our club.

Evaluation

One of the most valuable aspects of Toastmasters is the evaluation. After Tenten’s workshop, Jinyoung gave a concise and insightful evaluation. His comments were clear and to the point, making it easy for everyone to understand what worked and what could be improved.

Recognizing the Smiles Behind the Screens

At the end of the meeting, Tenten awarded the Smile Prize to Jinyoung. Despite the distance of an online setting, his warm, constant smile and engaged nods supported every speaker. Being a good audience—listening with a smile—is an essential ingredient in creating a positive and uplifting meeting.

Behind-the-Scenes Contributors: Ah-Counter and Grammarian

Let’s not forget the importance of roles like the Ah-Counter and Grammarian. Tamiko, our Ah-Counter, carefully tracked filler words like "um", "ah", and "you know". These can distract listeners and break the flow of speech, so identifying them helps us improve. And Rene, our Grammarian, provided helpful corrections to improve our English. As a native speaker, her input was incredibly valuable.

This Impromptu Speech Workshop was a worthwhile session, offering us practical tools and confidence. So next time we’re asked to deliver an impromptu speech, we won’t panic. Tap into our story and message banks and connect it to the topic. With what we have learned today, let’s elaborate on our skills and take on impromptu speeches with a bit more confidence and natural flow next time.

Written by Eri

The 202nd Regular Meeting: May 17, 2025 “Mather’s day”

５月のミーティングでは、Toastmaster of the Day（ミーテイングのホスト役）より五月に会った母の日のエピソードの紹介からの暖かい雰囲気が漂う中での開催とあいなりました！ミーティングの進め方については、私が以前書いたミーティング紹介の記事をご覧くださいませ。

さて今回はスピーカー以外の７つのロール（役割）について紹介。

１） Toastmaster Of the Day (TMOD)

ミーティング全体の司会です。時間配分や進行状況を見ながら適宜調整しスムーズなミーティング運営を図っていきます。ミーティングの成功に不可欠な役割です！今回はオンライン参加のMuneさんが担当していましたが、離れているとは思えないスムーズなミーティング進行を進めてくれました👍

２） General Evaluator

ミーティング全体をEvaluateし、フィードバックする役割です。当クラブではお互いをEvaluateすることで互いのパブリックスピーキングを鍛えています。加えて本役割によりミーティングの質を継続的に向上させています。今回は私が担当しました！

３） Topicsmaster

Table Topic Session（即興スピーチ）でのお題を準備し、同Sessionの司会進行をします。お題の難易度や時間調整など考えることが多く、この役割が成功のカギを握ります。今回はKamayanが担当し10個のお題を準備！非常に充実したSessionになりました。

４） Vote Counter

それぞれのSessionでBest Speakerなどを決める投票の準備・票集計を行う役割です。投票はミーティングと並行して行われるので着実な役割遂行を求められます！今回はRenelynが完璧に役割を遂行してくれました。

５） Ah Couter

スピーチの中でつい出てしまうFiller Words(「あー、、」とか「えー、、」と言った意味のない言葉や繰り返し言葉)をカウントし、スピーカーに伝える役割です。人前で話すとつい口癖などが出てしまいますが、スピーチのレベルを高めるためには自分の癖を把握するのが重要です。今回は入会して初ロールのKankanが集中して役割を遂行してくれました！

６） Timer

スピーチの時間計測並びにスピーカーに時間の目安（緑・黄・赤のカードを使います）を出す役割です。スピーカーがスピーチに集中できるのはTimerがしっかりと時間を測ってくれるからです。今回はYasukoがこの役割を担当してくれました！

７） Grammarian/Word Master

ミーティングの中での文法的なミスのチェック・良い表現のピックアップしシェアする役割（Grammarian）とミーティング中に使用することを推奨される本日のWordを選びメンバーに紹介する（Word Master）役割です。この役割のおかげで表現方法やボキャブラリーを拡大することができます。今回はTakashiがこの役割を担当してくれました。今回のWordは”congeniality”。アットホームな千里トーストマスターズクラブにぴったりのWordです。

以上の役割をメンバーが担い、ミーティングを進めています！ トーストマスターズクラブはメンバー同士が成長する場、興味がある方は是非クラブのホームページにアクセスして例会に参加してみてください👍

Embracing Diversity at Senri Toastmasters: The 201st Regular Meeting: April 19, 2025

On April 19th, Senri Toastmasters held its 201st regular meeting, and the theme chosen by our Toastmaster of the Day, Jinyoung, was “Diversity.” It was a perfect fit—our club truly celebrates diversity, with members from various age groups, backgrounds, and countries coming together to grow through communication and leadership.

The Word of the Day* chosen by Grammarian, Kama-yan, was “momentum,” which couldn’t have been more appropriate. Just one week before the meeting, two of our members, Tenten and Momo, advanced to the finals of the District Speech Contest—a proud moment that gave great momentum to our entire club!
          

“Here’s My Trick” – Personal Tips

In our unique session called “Here’s My Trick,” a member shares a personal tip or technique that helps them become a better speaker. This time, Munesan offered an insight that resonated with many of us: Instead of trying to recall memorized lines, speak as if you’re talking directly to the audience.

That simple mindset shift can make a speech feel more authentic and impactful. It was a great reminder that connection often matters more than perfection, and it's a tip many of us will carry into our next speeches.

A Truly Diverse Lineup of Prepared Speeches

The Prepared Speech Session showcased a wide variety of topics and perspectives:

• Our first speaker, Kan Kan, delivered her Ice Breaker speech, introducing two major “chapters” of her life. We’re excited to be part of her next chapter!
• Marilyn shared her thoughts on the meaning of the mentoring system in Toastmasters, as well as the do’s and don’ts of mentoring based on her own experience.
• We also heard about solutions for trauma and dealing with serious concerns from Gloria. She offered several thoughtful options.
• Takashi explored communication styles and team building, sharing lessons from his communication journey.

Each speech brought something unique and reflected the richness of experiences in our club.

Constructive and Enjoyable Evaluations

Our Evaluation Session, led by experienced Toastmasters, was not only educational but also filled with humor and warmth. Evaluators provided both praise and suggestions for improvement, sometimes even demonstrating their points to make the feedback clearer.

What I loved was that Kankan, our Ice Breaker speaker, asked her evaluator, Anne, to pay special attention to her pronunciation before the meeting. This thoughtful request helped her gain even more personalized and meaningful feedback—something we can all learn from!

Creative Table Topics* with a Twist

The Table Topics Session, led by Rene, had a fun and creative format: speakers picked a letter of the alphabet, and then gave a short impromptu speech based on a word starting with that letter. It was a great way to spark ideas and get everyone thinking on their feet.

Thanks to everyone’s cooperation and enthusiasm, this meeting was a shining example of how diversity and momentum can come together to create something truly special.

Written by Eri

* Word of the Day is a word that participants are encouraged to use during their speeches to increase vocabulary and felxibility to incorporate something on the spot.
* Table Topics is a term used in Toastmasters for impromptu speeches.