Meeting #383

• Date: June 2026 (18:30 – 20:30)

• Meeting Format: Hybrid (In-person + Zoom)

• Number of Guests: 3

• Word of the Evening: Resonate

 Meeting Summary

 Opening & Recent Updates

The meeting opened with a warm ice-breaking round where members and guests shared their recent news. Stories ranged from a first-time yoga class (which led to an unexpected back injury!), a new baby and an exciting career pivot, an art exhibition in Ebisu, and a fascinating exploration of AI tools for medical research. One member mentioned preparing for an overseas business trip — the kind of real-world challenge that Toastmasters helps you face with confidence. The variety and honesty of these updates set a warm, energetic tone for the evening.

 Table Topics Session

Table Topics Master TM W.O. introduced a creative twist: each speaker randomly picked an emotion word from a book of feelings — words like fear, ideal, happiness, security — and had to improvise a speech on the spot.

One standout moment came when a speaker drew the word “fear” and shared a deeply honest reflection on how the fear of being disliked had held back his management style — preventing him from giving honest feedback to his team. He realized his own fear had cost his team opportunities to grow. It was the kind of raw, relatable story that makes you think: “I’ve felt that too.”

Another speaker drew “ideal” and spoke beautifully about finding joy in continuous self-growth — embracing new challenges in both work and family life. The session ended with laughs, surprises, and moments that resonated long after the timer card went down.

 Prepared Speech Session

TM L.T. delivered a captivating speech about volleyball — and a far bigger lesson about life.

She described her 15-year journey from learning basic digs to being recognized as a skilled setter (the commander of the court). But despite the praise and the “golden role,” she didn’t feel happy. One day, going back to simply digging — the most basic move in volleyball — she rediscovered her joy. She made a U-turn to become a libero (the defensive specialist), a player with a different-colored uniform who quietly saves balls from the backline.

Her message was clear and moving: when you feel stuck, go back to basics. Find what you truly love. Make your U-turn.

For anyone who’s ever chased a prestigious-sounding role while quietly losing themselves in it, this speech hit home.

(Speech project: Visionary Communication Level 1)

 Evaluation & Feedback

TM A.K. gave a thorough and encouraging evaluation of the prepared speech. She highlighted the clear narrative arc — from early volleyball days to the libero breakthrough — and praised TM L.T.’s creative use of camera movement to physically demonstrate the actions. Her one suggestion: reordering the structure to reveal the U-turn earlier could make the emotional impact even more dramatic. Constructive, warm, and spot-on.

The evening also included sharp reports from the Grammarian (TM T.K.), who noted three common patterns — tense inconsistency, countable/uncountable nouns, and missing articles — with real examples and gentle corrections. The Ah Counter reminded us that silence is a speaker’s best friend: “Silence attracts people.”

 Awards

• **Best Table Topics Speaker:** TM Y.T

 Interested?

Do you sometimes freeze when asked to speak up in English — even though you know what you want to say? That gap between knowing and saying is exactly what Visionaries Toastmasters Club helps you close.

We’re a small, close-knit group of business professionals in our 30s and 40s who meet regularly to practice English speaking in a safe, supportive, and genuinely fun environment. Every meeting, you get real feedback from peers who understand the pressure of real-world English communication.

Our next meeting is June 20, 2026 (Saturday) — online via Zoom. Guests are welcome to join free of charge for up to three meetings.

Come see what it feels like to speak with confidence. We’d love to have you! 🙌