MeetingMinutes

Meeting #393 Date: October 2026 (18:30 - 20:30) Meeting Format: Hybrid (Onsite + Zoom) Word of the Evening: Perspective Number of Guests: 2  Meeting Summary It was a full, lively room tonight, with new faces joining us and plenty of voices at the mic. Everyone introduced themselves, two moving speeches touched on very different sides of life, and the feedback was honest and kind. We practiced thinking and speaking in English, together.  Opening & Recent Updates Our Toastmaster opened the meeting for the first time ever, and he admitted he was a little nervous. That honesty [...]

Meeting #392 Date: October 2026 (19:00 - 21:00) Meeting Format: Online (Zoom) Word of the Evening: Point of view Number of Guests: 0  Meeting Summary Our Halloween meeting had a small turnout, but it turned out to be a real advantage: everyone got more time at the mic, and the room was full of costumes, laughter, and honest feedback. From a backyard tent to a talk about the meaning of life, we practiced thinking and speaking in English — together.  Opening & Recent Updates We kicked off with a Halloween atmosphere (yes, there were real masks [...]

Meeting #391 Date: October 2026 (18:30 - 20:30) Meeting Format: Hybrid (In-person + Zoom) Word of the Evening: Cheer Number of Guests: 1  Meeting Summary Meeting #391 had a lighthearted, laughter-filled energy from start to finish, with members swapping travel stories, Halloween memories, and one unforgettable costume confession during Table Topics. Our guest joined for a second time this week, quietly taking in just how natural it felt to watch members think on their feet.  Opening & Recent Updates Recent updates brought the room together over food and family: one member described the surreal experience of [...]

Meeting #390 Date: September 2026 (19:00 - 21:00) Meeting Format: Online (Zoom) Word of the Evening: Weather (verb: to get through a tough situation) Number of Guests: 1  Meeting Summary Meeting #390 turned into one of our more reflective nights, with a genuinely philosophical thread running through both the impromptu and the prepared speeches. From revisiting New Year's resolutions to unpacking the idea of a "second adolescence" in midlife, members dug into real questions about where they are in life — and one guest walked away saying it woke him right up after a long week. [...]

Meeting #389 Date: September 2026 (18:30 - 20:30) Meeting Format: Hybrid (In-person + Zoom) Word of the Evening: Energetic Number of Guests: 4  Meeting Summary Meeting #389 drew one of our biggest guest turnouts in recent memory — four first-time visitors in one night. Between a folktale-inspired storytelling relay that had the room in stitches and two prepared speeches about pushing through sand dunes and turning 60, it was a night that showed just how far a little impromptu courage can take you.  Opening & Recent Updates The evening opened on a light note, with our [...]

Meeting #387 Date: August 2026 (19:00 - 21:00) Meeting Format: Online (Zoom) Word of the Evening: Challenging Number of Guests: 2  Meeting Summary Meeting #388 was a night of firsts — a specially arranged agenda led entirely by a member-Toastmaster, a first-time evaluator finding his footing, and two guests who both walked away with awards. Between a 12-year kendo journey and a university student's case for chasing what you love, it was a meeting that proved impromptu pressure and heartfelt storytelling can live in the same room.  Opening & Recent Updates The evening opened with our [...]

Meeting #387 Date: August 2026 (18:30 - 20:30) Meeting Format: Hybrid (In-person + Zoom) Word of the Evening: Appreciate Number of Guests: 1  Meeting Summary Meeting #387 kicked off punctually at 6:30 sharp with a full house — one first-time guest from the United States, two first-time-eligible prepared speeches, and a table topics theme that had everyone trading tips for surviving Japan's brutal summer heat. Between an icebreaker speech looking back on a career pivot and a deeply personal talk about yoga and self-discovery, it was a night that showed just how much ground a single meeting [...]

Meeting #386 Date: July 2026 (19:00 - 21:00) Meeting Format: Online (Zoom) Word of the Evening: Genuine Number of Guests: 0  Meeting Summary Meeting #386 was an intimate, all-member online session — no guests this time, just a close-knit group sharing summer stories, honest struggles, and hard-won lessons. Between a recovery story from eye surgery and a deeply personal speech about burnout, it was a night that reminded us why practicing English here feels less like a class and more like real conversation with people who get it.  Opening & Recent Updates One member shared updates [...]

Meeting #385 Date: July 2026 (18:30 - 20:30) Meeting Format: Hybrid (In-person + Zoom) Word of the Evening: Embark Number of Guests: 1  Meeting Summary Meeting #385 marked a special milestone — the very first meeting under our newly elected president and officer team! With World Cup fever sweeping the room, a fresh twist on Table Topics, and two heartfelt prepared speeches, the evening was packed with energy, laughter, and genuine connection.  Opening & Recent Updates The ice-breaking round turned into an impromptu World Cup fan club, with members trading stories of setting 2am and 5:30am [...]

Meeting #384 Date: June 2026 (19:00 - 21:05)Meeting Format: Online (Zoom)Word of the Evening: MomentumNumber of Guests: 0  Meeting Summary Meeting #384 marked the final session of the current club term — and what a way to close it out! Ten members gathered online to share laughs, stretch their imaginations, and witness the installation of a new officer team. The energy was warm, reflective, and full of forward momentum (our Word of the Evening!).  Opening & Recent Updates The ice-break session gave every member a moment to share recent news — and the range was delightful. [...]