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- 🔥🐎 Relentless Momentum: Welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse
🔥🐎 Relentless Momentum: Welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse
📅 Wednesday, February 25, 2026 | ⏱️ ~6 min read | 🎤 Theme: Lunar New Year
Irene Suwarno, Club Secretary
March 01, 2026
"Be relentless in the pursuit of the truest, most authentic version of yourself." 🔥
💥 Authentic. Unstoppable. Relentless.
What happens when you mix bold adventures, identity awakenings, cultural pride, quiet mentorship, and the unstoppable energy of the Fire Horse?
You get a night that felt both deeply personal and powerfully forward-moving.
The evening began with a simple yet powerful question from our Club President, Shubham Saloni: “What adventure are you looking forward to this year?” A 100-mile hike across France, Switzerland, and Italy. Launching an app and embracing rejection. Stepping out of comfort zones. Exploring San Francisco for the first time. Building networks. Cooking more. Becoming better.
Different dreams — same direction: forward. 🔥🐎
🎤 Toastmaster of the Evening: Derick Le
Derick Le — igniting the room with Fire Horse momentum.🔥🐎
Our Toastmaster Derick Le opened the evening with a warm “Chúc Mừng Năm Mới” — Happy Lunar New Year in Vietnamese — and guided us through a powerful transition.
The Year of the Wooden Snake 🐍, he reminded us, was about shedding skin: a slow, sometimes painful process of releasing who we were to make space for who we’re becoming. That chapter closed on February 17. Now, we’ve entered the Year of the Fire Horse 🔥🐎 — a rare cycle that comes once every 60 years — marked by the collision of heat and movement.
The Fire Horse doesn’t wait for permission or overanalyze the terrain; it feels the ground and runs. With that spirit, he challenged us: if you’ve been sitting on an idea, waiting for the “right” moment — this is the year. Be relentless. Bet on yourself. And with that, the momentum of the meeting began — complete with one of our favorite traditions: a handshake for every speaker who steps forward.
🎤 Prepared Speeches
Juan Basulto — “Fire Horse Energy” (2-Minute Special)
Juan embodied the Fire Horse spirit — ambitious, driven, unstoppable. But he also offered a warning: energy is powerful only if you harness it. Balancing work, school, and marathon training, he learned that ambition should propel you — not drag you.
Master the fire, or it will master you.
Alexander Wu — “A Small Nudge”
Alex reminded us that mentorship doesn’t need a grand title to leave a lasting mark. What started as a short-term mentorship became a turning point, teaching him the value of clear goals, intentional preparation, and staying open to guidance. Though hesitant at first, he chose to lean in — and that decision shaped his growth in meaningful ways. Today, he continues the cycle by mentoring others himself, proving that sometimes a small nudge is all it takes to create lasting momentum.
Michelle Wen — “Chinese New Year”
Michelle courageously explored the importance of naming traditions with clarity and intention. Explaining why “Chinese New Year” holds specific cultural meaning for her, she navigated the balance between accuracy and connection.
Being understood matters more than being technically correct — and leadership requires both clarity and relational intelligence.
🏆 Jay Yamamoto — “Identity Crisis”
When asked, “Who are you?” Jay realized his answer used to depend on who he was trying to be. Growing up in the East Bay, he shaped his identity around music, fashion, and fitting in — from sagging jeans to blue contact lenses and bleached hair. But it wasn’t until he found unexpected belonging in the Bay Area rave scene — a space that welcomed every race and identity — that he finally felt comfortable in his own skin.
Stop performing who you think you should be. Embrace your imperfections. Live the identity that brings out your best self.
Michelle Wen, Alexander Wu, Jay Yamamoto, and Juan Basulto — celebrating identity, mentorship, culture, and the relentless spirit of the Fire Horse. 🔥
🧧 Table Topics: Nine Red Envelopes. One Golden Surprise.
Table Topics Master Irene Suwarno sets the stage with nine lucky red envelopes.
Under the guidance of Table Topics Master Irene Suwarno, nine traditional red envelopes — hong bao — were fanned out like a deck of destiny. Eight symbolized prosperity, and the ninth represented longevity.
Each brave speaker selected one red envelope at random, revealing a surprise prompt and a lucky number to hold until the final draw.
If life were a dumpling, what filling would bring the greatest fortune? Shubham chose joyful vegetarian goodness — reminding us that true wealth begins with physical and mental health. 🥟
What does it mean to “sweep away” bad luck? For Kat, it is a daily discipline. Through early morning Sadhana, yoga, and meditation, doubt is cleared before it gathers momentum. 🧘
Do lucky rituals truly work? Our guest Ella shared her father’s beloved Liverpool mug — proof that rituals may not control outcomes, but they do sustain hope. ⛾
When asked about leaps of faith, Gautam reflected on moving to San Francisco despite uncertainty — discovering that bold steps often lead to growth and new connections. 🌉
Imagining a “Golden Ticket” for 2026, Giovanni, our guest, offered something unexpected: the chance to embrace rejection more fully. For him, rejection builds resilience, grounds character, and ultimately allows us to serve others better.🏆
If a lantern could carry one message to the world, Benji, our guest, called for greater empathy and understanding — less division, more gathering, more respect.🏮
Since certain foods are believed to bring prosperity during Lunar New Year, Agasthian crafted his ideal lucky dish: hot samosas and jalebis — one savory, one sweet — a perfect balance of flavor and fortune. 🥗
When asked about a time he felt unstoppable, Ryan reflected on his work as a ski and snowboard instructor — carving through snow with confidence, control, and momentum. ⛷️
In exploring the Fire Horse’s spirit of independence, our guest Maria noted that while moving alone may be faster, moving together leads to stronger and more effective results. 🧑🤝🧑
Nine speakers. Nine red envelopes. One golden night.
Then came the final moment of fortune.
With lucky numbers in hand, Gautam was invited forward and informed that he had just won one thousand grams of gold🥇. At one point, its market value was said to be far more than enough for multiple trips to Jamaica. ✈️
The value may have been symbolic, but the laughter was real. 😁
And just like that, our Fire Horse Table Topics came to a golden close.
The moment of fortune landed: Gautam takes home the gold.
🎯 Evaluations
Gautam Nair on Alexander Wu
Gautam praised Alex’s compelling focus on mentorship and preparation, highlighting his strong emoting, consistent eye contact, and well-timed pauses. Memorable personal anecdotes and a powerful momentum metaphor added depth to the speech. Suggestions included minimizing side-to-side movements, organizing key points earlier in the speech, and using stage movement more intentionally. Overall, it was a strong and impactful presentation with clear growth opportunities.
Agasthian Ponnambalam on Michelle Wen
Michelle was commended for her direct communication style, engaging presence, and confident delivery. Her interactive opening and Chinese New Year metaphor effectively drew the audience in. Feedback encouraged her to deepen audience connection by reducing reliance on statistics and incorporating more pauses for impact. A strong opening and commanding presence made the speech memorable, with thoughtful adjustments suggested to enhance engagement even further.
🏆️ Juan Basulto on Jay Yamamoto
Jay’s confidence and vulnerability stood out as he shared his personal journey of self-discovery. Juan highlighted Jay’s clear delivery and powerful declaration, “I can be myself.” Suggestions focused on strengthening eye contact during personal moments and being more intentional with stage presence. Overall, Jay was encouraged to continue embracing authenticity and sharing his story with confidence.
Michael Zwiefelhofer — General Evaluator
Michael praised Toastmaster Derek for setting a strong tone with a clear theme and engaging introduction. He also commended Table Topics Master Irene for her creative use of red envelopes🧧 — even joking that he was hoping for a $100 bill 💵 inside each one! He closed by encouraging members and guests alike to introduce themselves more often to strengthen connection and community within the club, before wrapping up the evaluation segment.
General Evaluator Michael and functionaries Nneka, Vedant, and Kat each upheld the standards of the meeting, offering thoughtful feedback and steady support throughout the evening.
🏆 Celebrating the Night’s Standouts
🎤 Best Prepared Speech: Jay Yamamoto
Jay Yamamoto — embracing identity with relentless authenticity.
📝 Best Evaluator: Juan Basulto
Insightful, encouraging, and precise — Juan Basulto delivered feedback that uplifted while inspiring growth.
🗣️ Best Table Topics: Giovanni Lazzaro (Guest)
Growth through rejection — Giovanni Lazzaro’s Golden Ticket for 2026.
🎉 Congratulations to our standouts — and to every relentless contribution that carried the bold, unstoppable spirit of the Fire Horse.
🙏 Thank You
Special thanks to our Toastmaster of the Evening, Derick, for leading with clarity and Fire Horse energy, and to our Table Topics Master, Irene, for bringing creativity and momentum to the stage.
Thank you as well to every speaker, evaluator, functionary, members, and guests who showed up with presence and purpose. Your commitment is what keeps our standards strong and our community thriving.
🏮 Behind the Theme: A Toastmaster’s Reflection
Growing up, Derick shared that Lunar New Year was simply something that happened — a tradition he never fully understood.
That changed two months ago during his first visit to Vietnam, his motherland. He saw firsthand how people lit up in anticipation of the holiday — the joy of reunion, the pride in tradition, the energy in the air. Curious, he dove deeper into the zodiac and discovered unexpected depth behind the symbolism.
Learning that 2026 marks the Year of the Fire Horse sparked something in him.
He felt a drive to step forward and lead his first Toastmasters meeting. He wanted the audience — especially those unfamiliar with Lunar New Year — to feel what he felt in Vietnam: the fire, the meaning, and the relentless forward momentum.
🎉 Member Milestone Celebration
Congratulations to Albert Yan, Gene Zhou, and Juan Basulto (January) and Alexander Wu (February) for completing their Pathways levels.
With relentless focus and forward momentum, they continue to raise the bar for personal growth at GGTM.
VP of Education Albert Yan and Michelle Wen recognizing our January Pathways achievers — celebrating progress that continues to move our club forward.
🌟 New Member Spotlight
Nneka Maduanwusu
 Nneka — committed to building executive presence and stepping confidently into leadership. | What made you interested in joining Golden Gate Toastmasters? What topics might you like to speak about? |
Anything else you’d like us to know?
I often step into leadership roles in the organizations I join — and I hope to do the same here at Toastmasters.
✨ Skill Builder Spotlight
Your First Time as Toastmaster
The Toastmaster role builds one of the most valuable skills in leadership: the ability to guide a room with clarity and confidence.
Over the past couple of months, several of our members stepped into the Toastmaster role for the first time — and one thing became clear:
This role is more than just running an agenda. It’s about setting the tone, guiding the flow, and helping everyone shine.
When the Toastmaster takes charge with intention (even if they don’t feel confident yet), it lifts the entire room. Speakers feel supported, the meeting flows more smoothly, and the energy stays high. The person at the lectern becomes the unifying force that keeps everything moving forward.
If you’ve been hesitating to sign up because you’re “not ready yet,” here’s the truth: that’s exactly how everyone feels the first time. The Toastmaster role is a safe place to practice leadership, presence, and confidence — and to discover that you’re more capable than you think.
If your name hasn’t been on the Toastmaster role yet, consider this your gentle nudge. Your first time might just surprise you.
📚 Inspired by “Your First Time as Toastmaster of the Meeting: Embrace the Opportunity and Take Charge,” by Bill Brown, DTM — Toastmasters International Magazine
📣 What’s Next at GGTM
🌱 March 4, 2026 — March into Action
Our next meeting theme is March into Action — focused on personal growth, overcoming challenges, and refreshing habits for the new season.
Spring is about moving forward.
If you’ve been thinking about trying a new role, this is your sign.
Check the agenda. Step up.
Let’s March into Action together.
📅 When: Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM PST
📍 Where: San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, 235 Montgomery St 7th floor, San Francisco, CA 94104
🤝 Mentorship Opportunity
We have growing interest from mentees — and we’re looking for mentors.
If you’ve been a member for over a year, consider stepping into this role. Great speakers are built through practice — and great mentors are too.
Interested? Sign up on the website or email us directly.
More details will follow from VPE Albert Yan soon.
🔥 Keeping the Fire Alive
The Fire Horse spirit carried on — laughter, stories, and new connections beyond the meeting room.
Questions? Feedback? Email us at [email protected] — we'd love to hear from you!