7/22/2025 Club Meeting Minutes

Attendance: Members Ben, Cami, Don, Eddie, Elise, Emi, John, Justine, Lien, Mariah, Maricela, Michael B., Michael M., Michelle, Mona, Niki L., Nikki M., Pietro, Rayven, and Tammy, and returning guests Paul, Art, and Alex

Meeting Theme: Dreams and Adventures

Word of the Day: Paragon (noun): Model of excellence or perfection

Functionaries:

• Presiding Officer: Mariah

• Toastmaster: Ben

• Wordmaster: Justine

• Ah-Counter: Don

• Grammarian: Tammy

• Timer: Elise

• General Evaluator: Niki L.

• Topicmaster: Pietro

• Jokemaster: Maricela

• Word of Wisdom: Michelle

Speeches:

• Speaker #1: Lien - "The Courtroom of the Mind" Persuasive Speaking Path, Level 1: Writing a Speech with a Purpose

  Brief Summary / Main Idea: Using a courtroom as a metaphor for the mind, Lien explored how past experiences and fear can clash with growth and opportunity.

  Speech was evaluated by: Michael B.

• Speaker #2:   Emi - "I Hate Sandwiches" Persuasive Speaking Path, Level 1: Ice Breaker

  Brief Summary / Main Idea: Emi has recently found herself in the "Sandwich Generation," caught between caring for an elderly adult while still partially in the stage of raising children. She's decided she's not a fan.

  Speech was evaluated by: Mariah

• Speaker #3: Michael M. - "Straight to the Point" Presentation Mastery, Level 1: Understanding Your Communication Style Brief Summary / Main Idea: Michael shared how he is a pure "Direct Communicator" and some of the benefits and challenges that result from having this communication style.

  
  

Table Topics Participants:

• Mona

• John

• Eddie

• Rayven

• Justine

• Alex (guest)

• Art (guest)

• Nikki M.

• Paul (guest)

• Tammy

Awards:

• Most Effective Evaluator: Mariah

• Best Table Topics Speaker: Nikki M.

• Speech of the Day: Lien

• Spark Plug Award: Pietro

Club Business & Announcements:

• Next week will be our speech-a-thon event. If you have not already let Ben know that you'd like to speak, do so as soon as possibe.

• Toasties awards celebration will be September 20th. For more information, click here.

• The contests for this Toastmasters year will be the International Speech Contest and the Tall Tales Speech Contest. It is never too early to start preparing. The International tends to be inspirational or motivational in nature. The Tall Tales Contest has very specific criteria. The judges' guide and ballot with the criteria for each contest will be sent out soon.

• Congratulations to Mona for completing Level 1 in her path!

Minutes Taken By: Emi