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 members’ 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.
🌈 Let your imagination soar and explore what’s 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. Selin’s evaluation praised Marco’s structured argumentation, guiding us through a journey of intellectual exploration.
Slavek’s icebreaker “Reality” 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, “A Toastmaster’s Journey to Tranquility”, 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 – Dream with Richard as Toastmaster of the Evening in L200
May 15th: General Assembly – Elections (quorum required)
Stay tuned for more updates from the Toastmasters world, including the May 3rd Joint Meeting Area E4 – details to follow & District 109 Conference in Istanbul May 10th – 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.
🎭 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.
👾 Dive into the debate, share your perspectives, and let’s explore the artificial together. See you there!
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.
🌐 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 “’Travel’ and will be orchestrated by Gabriele
On the 9th April, the theme will be “Artificial” 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!
Mark your calendars for an out-of-this-world Debate Night at Toastmasters! Engage in a thought-provoking discussion on the potential and implications of colonizing other planets.
Date: March 19th Time: 6.45pm Location: Zum Königsstuhl, Stüssihofstatt 3 Debate Topic: “Should We Live on Another Planet?”
Event Highlights:
Dynamic Debate: Participate in or witness a lively debate on whether humanity should seek to inhabit other planets. Explore the technological, ethical, and environmental considerations of extraterrestrial colonization.
Constructive Evaluations: Benefit from insightful feedback aimed at refining your debating and public speaking skills.
Featured Quote: “It is not enough for us to just exist; it is time for us to move beyond survival to thrive.” – Carl Sagan
This debate promises to be an engaging exploration of one of the most pressing questions of our time. Whether you’re a space enthusiast, a sustainability advocate, or simply curious, join us for an evening of compelling arguments and galaxy-sized ideas.
🚀 Prepare for liftoff to a night of rigorous reasoning and stellar speeches. Let’s navigate the vast expanse of this topic together!
Join us for an inspiring evening as we celebrate the theme of “Flourishing” at our upcoming Toastmasters meeting. This special session is dedicated to personal growth, vibrant expression, and the budding potential within us all.
Date: March 12th Time: 6.45pm Location: L200
Agenda Highlights:
Inspirational Speeches: Immerse yourself in stories of growth and achievement from our members.
Evaluations: Participate in or witness constructive feedback that nurtures our speaking skills.
Table Topics: Challenge your quick thinking with impromptu speaking opportunities that reflect our theme of flourishing.
Featured Quote: “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” – Anaïs Nin
Whether you’re looking to bloom in your public speaking journey or simply wish to be part of a community that celebrates progress, this meeting is for you. Let’s flourish together in an environment that supports and elevates our goals.
🌱 Embrace this opportunity to grow, share, and connect. We look forward to seeing you bloom at our meeting.
I am deeply honoured and thrilled to have received two No. 1 awards at Toastmasters. In this post, I share the recipe for success.
For those of you out there who are up for your next challenge, may it inspire you to embrace challenges with a #growthmindset. Everyone else has a role to play too! Read on..
Nine months into my Toastmasters journey, I was selected to represent my local Toastmasters club at the annual area speech contest. Last Friday, as I stood next to seasoned competitors, I could have succumbed to nerves.
However, I chose to embrace the opportunity. My passion for continuous learning, #personaldevelopment and the thrill of embracing new challenges kept me focused on the mission. As we navigate the AI revolution, I believe that cultivating a growth mindset and readiness to approach challenges with collectedness becomes more essential than ever before. This contest was a great opportunity for me to walk the talk.. 😉
All I had to do was be myself, try my best, apply all my transferable skills, knowledge, experience. And see what happens with a healthy dose of spontaneous #creativity…
The result? 🌞 𝑯𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒅: I received “𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆” awards in the 🥇 ‘𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯’ and 🥇 ‘𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘴’ categories. I am truly humbled by the next opportunity to compete at the Divisional level…
𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬?
🎙️ 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒔: The spellbinding techniques and motivational speeches delivered by my esteemed competitors truly inspired me. I learned much from observing everyone in action and by what they shared.
🌟 𝑬𝒏𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆: Everyone played a role in supporting the event in a hybrid context. A heartfelt thank you to our host, UBS, for providing the venue and every individual who collaborated to make it a success.
🙏🙏 𝑫𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆: A big thank you to all the judges, my distinguished Zuriberg Toastmasters Club, committee and members for their much valued feedback, support and vote of confidence. Immense gratitude to my mentor, Roland Straub, for believing in me, Dr. Vanessa Stournari for her support, Alice Nuslova, PMP® for her guidance and to Ben Nordemann for introducing me to this fun path!
𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲? There’s a first time for everything! We just need passion, readiness to embrace new challenges and a supportive network!
𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥: where everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow and hone their #leadership skills. Where Leaders Are Made✨
It’s hard to believe that our 21st meeting of the Toastmasters year has already concluded, and what an inspiring evening it was!
Svetlana led the way as our Toastmaster, guiding the session with finesse! She seamlessly introduced our speakers, each one offering their unique take on the theme of “strategy.” A special thanks to Denisse, our General Evaluator, and to her team Michelle, Vassilis amd Mathieu for ensuring a constructive yet empowering evaluation throughout the meeting.
Speakers’s highlights
Monica delivered a thought-provoking speech titled “How should I survive in a world full of ideals?” within Project Leadership Development #3-8. She skillfully delved into the question of whether we set unrealistic ethical standards, presenting a philosophical topic with a deeply conversational and engaging tone.
Zsolt tackled the theme of “Environmentalism” in his Presentation Mastery #1-3 speech, introducing vocal variety and powerful gestures. His content and delivery earned him the well-deserved title of Best Speaker for the evening.
Joran took us on a humorous journey with “I should have told Laurence”, in his Project Presentation Mastery #1-4 speech, shedding light on some unfortunate leadership examples he encountered in his career.
A warm welcome goes to Innocent, who embarked on his Toastmasters journey with the “Icebreaker” speech for Project Presentation Mastery #1-1. He effectively introduced himself to the club, showcasing he is guilty of an authentic speaking style and a charmingly humorous personality. He set a positive tone for his future speeches. A warm welcome to the club, Innocent!
The art of evaluations
Our evaluators—Yani, Elias, Christina, and Kevin—provided insightful feedback, strategically analyzing the speeches with empathy and encouragement. Kevin was recognized with the Best Evaluation award for his outstanding contribution.
Table Topics
Our impromptu speech session was orchestrated by Richard, who took us on an engaging journey of alien invasion scenarios, showcasing creativity at its best. Tatyana won the Best Table Topics Speaker award, convincingly assuring us that an alien invasion is nothing compared to the challenges we, the earthlings, create for ourselves.
Closing Thoughts
A heartfelt thank you to all who contributed to the wonderful atmosphere and the success of the evening, showcasing our commitment to personal development and effective communication within the strategic framework of Toastmasters.
What is on the horizon?
Looking ahead, let’s continue our journey to public speaking excellence in the upcoming meetings. As we experiment with different locations until we return to the familiar Blue Monkey, seize the opportunity to try different stages, starting with a theatrical stage
March 12th – Regular Meeting with a shocking Theme and Joanna as the TME (L200)
Special Events:
Area E4 Contest: Friday, February 23rd 17:30 to 22:00 in Europaallee (or join online) come to support our club winners, Thomas, Christina, Elias and myself, Vanessa at the international, evaluation and table topics speech contests. Engaging speeches and mingle with the other Toastmasters clubs of our area (Walk the Talk, Credit Suisse Corporate Club and St. Gallen TMC). Hier is the registration Link https://forms.gle/bM5PaeFXCVHLECZZ9
Area E4 German Speech contest: Saturday, February 24th online
How are speeches of our area doing in German? Join to explore and maybe support 😊
https://forms.gle/6nAJGaGk4WgxZ11f8
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