Seize the day at our next Toastmasters Zuriberg meeting, where we embrace the spirit of “Carpe Diem”! This theme encourages us to live in the moment and speak with passion and immediacy.
Date: Next Tuesday, 21st May 2024 Time: 6.45pm Location: Zum Königsstuhl, ZĂŒrich Theme: “Carpe Diem”
Highlights of the Meeting:
Five Speeches:Â Experience a series of powerful talks where our speakers will seize the moment to share their stories and insights.
Evaluations:Â Each speech will be followed by thoughtful evaluations, providing speakers with immediate feedback to help capture and convey their messages more effectively.
Table Topics:Â Engage in impromptu speeches that challenge you to think and speak on your feet, truly embodying the essence of “Carpe Diem.”
Featured Quote: “Seize the day, putting as little trust as possible in the future.” – Horace
Join us for an evening of inspiring speeches and lively discussions. Whether you’re a seasoned speaker or a newcomer, this meeting is a perfect opportunity to practice public speaking, improve your leadership skills, and embrace the philosophy of living in the moment.
đ Let’s make the most of our time together, inspiring each other to speak boldly and act promptly. Your moment to shine is now!
Another Tuesday, another whirlwind of wit, wisdom, and wonder at our beloved Zuriberg Toastmastersâ gathering!
Kevin welcoming Guests in our alternate venue, the L200
Our TME extraordinaire, Richard, set the stage on fire with a theme that spoke to the soul: dreams. As Eleanor Roosevelt famously said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,” and boy, did we believe! Each member shared their unique take on the power of dreams, setting the tone for an evening of boundless potential and unwavering determination.
Speakersâ Highlights
Selin mesmerized us with her exploration of artificial intelligence and the ever-pressing question of whether humanity stands on the precipice of being overtaken by the “march of the machines.” With eloquence that soared to dizzying heights and a title that piqued our curiosity, Selin’s speech was a testament to the power of conviction and innovation.
We had Kevin regaling us with tales from the trenches of entrepreneurship in his keynote speech. Navigating the twists and turns of his maiden business voyage, Kevin showed us that chasing our dreams often leads us down unexpected paths and broadens our horizon. His engaging and well-crafted speech, earned him the well-deserved title of Best Speaker.
Of course, no Toastmasters gathering is complete without some Icebreakers to break the ice!
Harry kicked things off with the persuasive prowess of a seasoned orator. Drawing parallels between his life and the legendary Forrest Gump, Harry took us on a journey through his trials, triumphs, and public speaking aspirations. The audience was spellbound, and Harry walked away with a well-deserved tie for the Best Speaker award.
Anton stepped up to introduce himself to the club in his own authentic style. With a conversational tone that felt like catching up with an old friend and a clear structure that left us hanging on his every word, Anton left us eager for more of his storytelling prowess.
The art of evaluation
Suavek, Joanna, yours truly, and Aaron lent their keen insights to the mix, offering guidance and encouragement to our speakers on their journey of growth. From personal development tips to project-specific tweaks, their feedback was like a guiding light in the darkness, illuminating the path to excellence. Yours truly, was honored with the best Evaluator Award
A big round of applause to our General Evaluator Samira and her dedicated team Zsolt, Roberta & Pietro for their unwavering support. They kept us on track, nudging us ever closer to our goals with their wisdom and encouragement.
What is to come?
Let us keep dreaming, keep speaking, and keep believing. The world is ours for the taking, one speech at a time!
May 14th â General Assembly & Elections â attendance required to reach quorum
May 21st â Regular Meeting with theme Carpe Diem â TME wanted
May 28th Regular Meeting with theme Paradox with Selin as TME
Last Tuesday evening, we delved into the cosmos of humor and comedy â exploring what makes us laugh, how our brains react to various humorous elements, and how to infuse these traits into our speeches. Humor can also be engineered!
Members and guests embarked on an engaging journey led by a Switzerlandâs beloved stand-up comedian, Mike Casa. The evening began with an insightful presentation by Mike, who shared valuable techniques and strategies for constructing punch lines that resonate with an audience. From clever wordplay to unexpected twists, participants learned the essential elements of humor that keep listeners engaged and entertained.
Theory and …
Following the theory presentation, the session transitioned into an interactive Q&A segment, where attendees had the opportunity to delve deeper into the nuances of comedic timing, delivery, and storytelling. The comedian’s expertise and wit sparked lively discussions, allowing everyone to gain valuable insights into the art of comedy.
… lots of practice
The highlight of the evening undoubtedly was the hands-on workshop, where participants put their newfound knowledge to the test by crafting jokes inspired by the Zurich Street Parade. With creativity flowing and laughter abound, everyone eagerly shared their comedic creations, showcasing their unique humor and wit.
Throughout the workshop, the supportive and encouraging atmosphere of Toastmasters provided the perfect platform for members and guests to hone their comedic skills, step out of their comfort zones, and embrace the joy of laughter. Whether seasoned speakers or aspiring comedians, everyone left the event inspired and empowered to infuse humor into their speeches and presentations.
The winners
Our member Zsolt and our guest Dominik, won the prizes and best enthusiasts award for their exceptional mastery of humor, showcasing their talent by applying the learned techniques with finesse. Their ability to construct scenes, utilize triage schemes, and seamlessly blend unmatched themes left the audience in stitches and earned them the well-deserved recognition.
Zsolt (in the middle) proudly presenting his well-earned ribbon.
A huge thank you to Mike for giving us the workshop and sponsoring the prizes and to Hugo for the recording!
Mike (left) and Hugo (right) gets a well deserved recognition for their contributions this evening by the Club’s President, Vanessa.
As the evening drew to a close, amidst smiles and laughter, participants departed with a newfound appreciation for the power of humor to connect, engage, and uplift audiencesâa testament to the transformative and enriching experiences offered by Toastmasters.
What is in the horizon?
Join us to our next meetings
April 30th Regular Meeting with the theme âDreamâ and Richard as our TME (in L200)
May 14th â General Assembly & Elections â attendance required to reach quorum
Step into a world of possibilities at our next Toastmasters meeting themed “Dream.” Unleash your imagination and share your visions in an evening dedicated to the dreams that inspire and drive us.
Inspirational Speeches: Discover the dreams that fuel our membersâ passions and ambitions. Hear stories of goals set and horizons expanded.
Table Topics: Engage in impromptu speeches that challenge you to dream big and articulate your wildest aspirations.
Constructive Feedback: Receive thoughtful evaluations that help refine your delivery and enhance your ability to inspire.
Featured Quote: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
This meeting is a canvas for your creativity and aspirations. Whether your dreams are in their infancy or you’re already chasing them down, come share and be inspired by the power of dreaming.
đ Let your imagination soar and explore whatâs possible when we dream together. Join us for a night of visionary speeches and uplifting connections.
Last Tuesday night, we delved into the theme of “artificial,” exploring its multifaceted meaning in the context of 2024. After the President’s opening remarks, the gavel smoothly transitioned to our Toastmaster of the evening, Roland, who guided us through insightful speeches that challenged our perceptions.
Speaker Highlights & Evaluations
Fereshte shared a deeply personal journey in “The Day I Was Born,” inspiring us with her resilience in navigating life’s challenges. Kevin’s evaluation highlighted her eloquent language and encouraged her to infuse her delivery with local variety, igniting a spark of motivation in us all.
Marco motivated us to navigate the era of knowledge accessibility, offering strategies to sift through information plethora to be a knowledge advocate. His persuasive speech left a lasting impact. Selinâs evaluation praised Marco’s structured argumentation, guiding us through a journey of intellectual exploration.
Slavek’s icebreaker âRealityâ seamlessly wove together personal anecdotes and a love for media, warmly embraced by our club. Alessandro’s evaluation highlighted the powerful impact of Slavek’s parallel storytelling approach, drawing us into his world with authenticity.
Thomas S, visiting us from the Rhetorik Club Zurich, engaged story-telling prowess in his speech “Courage,” inspiring us to embrace growth beyond our comfort zones. Gabriel emphasized the role of anecdotes in effective storytelling, enriching our understanding of Thomas’s message.
Gabriele demonstrated in his speech, âA Toastmaster’s Journey to Tranquilityâ, illuminated how yoga can enhance public speaking, sprinkled with delightful humor. Tatyana’s award-winning evaluation celebrated Gabriele’s masterful use of humor and engagement techniques, reminding us that with dedication, we can hone our craft.
Table Topics
Under Aaron’s adept guidance, our table topics session danced with creativity, seamlessly weaving the theme into spontaneous discourse. Thomas M.’s quick wit and charm earned him well-deserved recognition as the Best Table Topic Speaker.
Concluding Thoughts
This session showcased our community’s ability to embrace complex themes, encouraging exploration and personal reflection on the artificial aspects of our lives. Let us continue to explore, learn and grow together!
April 30th: Regular Meeting â Dream with Richard as Toastmaster of the Evening in L200
May 15th: General Assembly â Elections (quorum required)
Stay tuned for more updates from the Toastmasters world, including the May 3rd Joint Meeting Area E4 â details to follow & District 109 Conference in Istanbul May 10th â 12th
Warmest Regards,
Vanessa Stournari
President Toastmasters Zuriberg Club Vanessa Stournari
Unlock the power of laughter at our upcoming Toastmasters workshop, “Humor Unleashed.” with special host Mike Casa. Discover how humor can enhance your speeches, engage your audience, and lighten even the most serious topics.
Featured Quote: “A day without laughter is a day wasted.” – Charlie Chaplin
Whether you’re looking to add a dash of humor to your speeches or aiming to master the art of comedy, this workshop is for anyone interested in making their audience laugh. Join us for a session filled with laughter, learning, and lots of fun.
đ Embrace the lighter side of public speaking and discover how humor can transform your communication skills. Let’s unleash the humor together!
Join us for an electrifying Toastmasters session where we delve into the world of the “Artificial.” This meeting will explore the impact of technology, artificial intelligence, and the fine line between the natural and the synthetic through captivating speeches and discussions.
Date: 09. April 2024 Time: 06.45 Location: Zum Königsstuhl, Zurich Theme: “Artificial”
Highlights:
Inspiring Speeches: Discover how artificiality and technology shape our world.
Table Topics: Engage in impromptu speaking with a twist of artificiality.
Constructive Feedback: Receive insightful evaluations to help polish your speaking prowess.
Featured Quote: “Artificial Intelligence: where the ‘artificial’ is real, and the ‘intelligence’ is up for debate.” – Anonymous
Prepare to be enlightened, entertained, and possibly even challenged as we navigate the intriguing intersection of humanity and technology. Whether you’re a tech guru, an AI skeptic, or simply curious, this meeting promises thought-provoking content and lively interaction.
đŸ Dive into the debate, share your perspectives, and let’s explore the artificial together. See you there!
At todayâs travel-themed meeting, we embarked on an unforgettable odyssey. Alice, our President, welcomed everyone with enthusiasm, reflecting on the clubs success in the district contest before setting the stage for an evening of exploration and discovery.
Gabriele, stepping into the role of Toastmaster for the first time, guided us through the agenda with confidence and grace. Vassilis also made his debut, taking on the timing responsibilities with precision, marking todayâs session as a significant milestone for both.
The word of the day, âodyssey,â chosen by our Grammarian Kevin, perfectly captured the spirit of our gathering and the journeys our speakers shared.
Speeches, evaluations and table topics
Our speakers, Denisse, Aaron, Thomas, and Innocent, took us on diverse and captivating journeys. From Denisseâs exploration of how for her the poems from Robert Burns are linked to income inequality and global warming to Aaronâs vibrant revisit of his speech on Ikigai a month ago, Thomasâs reflections on our choice in the choice of our communication style, and Innocentâs insights into the power of words, each speech was a beautiful journey in itself.
The feedback sessions, led by evaluators Yani, Zsolt, Michelle, and Elias, provided constructive insights, helping our speakers navigate their paths to improvement.
Karinaâs Table Topics session was an impromptu speaking adventure in to the land of deep thinking, challenging participants to think and speak on their feet based on quotes from famous philosophers. Slawek, Roland,  Ben, Anton, and Mathieu put their own take on philosophy to the test.
Closing
As we concluded, Sabina, our General Evaluator, and Alice offered final remarks and awards, reflecting on the successes of our meetingâs journey. Thomas, Elias and Slawek won in their respective categories – well done!
A heartfelt thank you to everyone, especially Gabriele and Vassilis for their debut roles, for making this meeting a memorable odyssey. Hereâs to many more journeys together in the spirit of Toastmasters.
Embark on a journey of exploration and discovery with us at our upcoming Toastmasters meeting, themed “Travel.” This session is your ticket to experiencing the world through the art of storytelling and public speaking.
Date: March 26th Time: 6.45pm Location: zum Königsstuhl Theme: “Travel”
Explore With Us:
Voyages in Speech: Members will share their most memorable travel stories, insights gained from different cultures, and the personal growth experienced through their journeys.
Table Topics: Navigate through impromptu speaking challenges that will whisk you away to far-off destinations.
Feedback Odyssey: Engage in evaluations that help every speaker map out their path to improvement.
Featured Quote: “I have found out there is no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” – Mark Twain, probably after a particularly challenging road trip with friends.
Whether you’re an avid traveler or simply dream of visiting distant lands, this meeting is for anyone inspired by the power of exploration. Join us for an evening where every speech is a journey, and every story opens a door to new worlds.
đ Set sail with us on a Toastmasters adventure that promises to expand your horizons. Your passport to public speaking and leadership awaits!
This week, we returned to our beloved hall in Zum Königsstuhl (aka the former Blue Monkey) for a debate evening on the motion: “This house believes that we should colonize another planet.”
The debate
The proposition team, composed of Nicola and Pietro, argued passionately, inspiring us to emulate our forefathers who set foot on the moon and urged us to “think big”!
Conversely, the opposition team, consisting of Aaron and Elias, believed that our focus should be on addressing Earth’s problems, such as poverty. They criticized the proposition team for diverting attention from these pressing issues, contending, “They bring dreams; we bring facts.”
Joran, the Debate Chair, effectively maintained discipline by managing the timing allocated to each speaker, which facilitated a productive discussion. At the end, Tatyana, our General Evaluator provided critical feedback on the debate which will enable us to be even better next time!
The table topics
After a delightful meal, Samira transported us to another universe with her inspiring questions that ignited unique stories: Thomas shared his discovery of Thomas’ Planet, Micheleelucidated the differences between men and women, Vassillis demonstrated his laser gun prowess, and myself, Kevin described his transition to becoming a space slave owner. Thomasclinched the victory ribbon!
The evening concluded with us putting theory into practice by applying our newly acquired skills in a practical session, debating the ballot process. Congratulations to the opposition team for winning the debate!
What is next?
We hope you enjoy another adventure in our Club and eagerly anticipate our next regular meetings:
On the 26th March, the theme of the evening will be â’Travel’ and will be orchestrated by Gabriele
On the 9th April, the theme will be âArtificialâ and the TME is wanted!
(The two evenings will take place in Zum Königsstuhl).
Get ready to dive into the worlds of ‘Travel’ and ‘Artificial’ at our next gatherings!
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