Hello Fellow Toastmaster!

In a time when being reclusive was imposed on us, we found clarity, understanding and new directions that we wouldn’t have taken otherwise.

🚨 Never miss an update!

 📆 Upcoming Events

Full list in the GGTM Calendar

🌟 Due to the holiday season and some year-end cleanup, please take note of the modifications on our usual Wednesday meetings. Two regular meetings left this year - December 10 and December 17! 🌟

• 11/26: No meeting (Thanksgiving holiday)

• 12/3: Members-Only year-end activities. (Election Day and Year-End Party)

• 12/10: Guests, shortened meeting from 6-7 (GGTM Monthly meeting)

• 12/17: Regular Meeting

• 12/24, 31: No meeting (Christmas and Year-End holidays)

 🎆 Meeting Highlights

Nithila was our Toastmaster of the Evening for a special themed meeting, Fever & Furlough, an idea that originated during one of our Happy Hours. She set the stage for us to reflect on memorable moments from the pandemic and experiences with restructuring, sparking a mix of poignant, fascinating, and hilarious stories - even reminding us of our TIGER KING phase! 😄 

We had more than 30 attendees and over 15 guests who we got to know a bit more when they shared where they were when the pandemic “officially” started.

Thank you to those who signed up and stepped up for the functionary roles: Tanya, Amber, Blair, Jay, Albert and Sheila.

• 🚕 Michelle told a story of an uber driver who had to recalibrate after being let go from his job of 17 years having us realize that “This too shall pass”

•  🤩 Nick reminded us that while the pandemic was a tricky time, it gave us time to empty our full cups and refill them with happy adventures we wouldn’t have done otherwise like “Cheffing”

•  💝 Jack reminded us of the “Power of Active Listening”, its importance and impact when we lend our ear and hearts to someone

•  🤡 Adam hilariously and vividly described memories from his childhood as a “Fat Kid” with colorful supporting characters, all ready for his stand-up career.

•  🚨 Sheila shares her pandemic “Turning Points” story for the third time, a story that shaped who she has become in recent times, earning her the (🏆 Best Speaker 🏆) ribbon

Katie was our Table Topics Master and she drew out memories and stories from the pandemic from our audience. Mohammed(guest) shared an impactful project he worked on that made him the happiest and got the (🏆 Best Table Topic 🏆) ribbon.

Thank you to Amber, Amadeo, Ankita, Alex, Frankie (guest) and Terrence(guest) as well for sharing their habits, realizations, strategies, memories and stories during this tricky time in our shared history.

Alex led the Evaluation section. He gave detailed feedback on every aspect of the meeting specifically calling out the thoughtful meeting theme, effective speaker introductions and smooth transitions during Table Topics.

Blair evaluating Adam’s comedic speech got him the (🏆 Best Evaluator🏆) for two weeks in a row! Thank you to Gautam, Ankita and Amadeo for your thoughtful evaluations to our prepared speeches today!

✏️ Evaluation Tidbits

Some tidbits to make our speeches even better

• Evaluating in the third person turns the feedback into a learning experience for everyone listening, not just the speaker.

• Natural sense of humor and working the crowd promotes audience engagement

• Having “every story complete” when sharing anecdotes makes for an effective speech

• Painting the scene, sharing real emotion, and thoughful words and delivery are what makes a story land

💗 Lines that Linger

With such a poignant meeting theme, several lines truly tugged at the heartstrings

• “I went thru that then, I’m fine now”
  - Michelle on her two-minute special

• “It felt like we were working all the time and not working at all”
  - Nick on his prepared speech

• “Active listening is responding with attention and intention”
  - Jack on his prepared speech

• “Take control of the things where you can, and trust that the universe alwyays has your back”
  - Sheila on her prepared speech

🏝️ GGTM Beyond the Board Room

Share with us at [email protected] if you have any activities you want to showcase to show what Golden Gate Toastmasters do outside of our weekly Wednesday club meetings at the Chamber of Commerce Board Room!

🎉 Be part of the GGTM Newsletter! 🎉

Want to write a future issue or have something that you want featured with the club? Send a message to the #newsletter channel in Discord, email [email protected] or approach Omar or Sheila.