Our Commemorative "Open House" 200th Regular Meeting on March 15, 2025

 This meeting was special in many ways.

First, it was our 200th Regular Meeting. At the beginning, President Mariko explained that the club was chartered in February 2009, and this was our 200th Regular Meeting, adding that we've been having some special meetings in addition to our monthly regular meeting.

Second, this meeting included an Induction Ceremony to welcome a new member, Kankan. After Vice President Membership Kazu gave a brief introduction of the inductee, we voted favorably to accept her as a member.  Kankan took the pledge by reading aloud "A Toastmaster's Promise," and members read aloud the "Club's Pledge" to officially welcome her. 

Third, as part of the Open House, we had a workshop on self-introduction with Rene's presentation, ranging from the benefits of effective self-introduction, the recommended structure, tips for a lasting impression, and the 4 P's Score Card, the characteristics of a great self-introduction. Following her presentation, participants worked in small groups to practice introducing themselves. Then, a representative of each breakout group demonstrated their self-introduction.

Fourth, we had a surprise call during the break from the club's founder, Kiyono, which made the meeting even more memorable.

Lastly, one member, Kama-yan, worked on a unique project called "Active Listening," where he served as Topicsmaster, the facilitator of the Table Topics Session for members and guests to practice impromptu speaking. He not only facilitated the session but also tried to give brief yet to-the-point comments after each speech.

We enjoyed a very special 200th Regular Meeting to celebrate the club's history. We look forward to strengthening our team work to keep on learning.

First Time Facilitating a Session: at the 199th Regular Meeting on Feb. 15, 2025

At our meetings, we have a Table Topics session, where members practice delivering 1-2 minute impromptu speeches on given topics.

At the last meeting, I took on the role of the Topicsmaster, the person who facilitates this session, for the first time. The meeting theme of the day was "Spread the Love," and I also prepared questions under the session theme "Love and Gratitude on Valentine's."

We can take small steps to get accustomed to different roles. I felt more nervous than when I was waiting to be called upon. However, by serving as the Topicsmaster, I learned how to manage the session smoothly within the allocated time while maintaining a warm atmosphere.