Underground Railroad – A Journey Through Words – regular meeting, 17-Sep-2024

This week’s Toastmasters meeting, led by Pietro as Toastmaster for the first time, focused on the weighty theme of the Underground Railroad. Under his steady guidance, the meeting progressed smoothly, showing his digilent preparation and setting the stage for an insightful and challenging session.

Vanessa, serving as General Evaluator, led her team with precision. Alice acted as Grammarian, encouraging mindful use of language throughout the meeting, with the word of the day “bewildered” drawing much use and attention. Joanna kept participants in check as the Ah & Vote Counter, and Tatjana ensured that everyone adhered to their speaking times as Timer.

The speeches were the highlight of the evening.

Thomas delivered an impressive impromptu speech titled “Money or Jail,” stepping in at the last minute and showing remarkable poise under pressure. His ability to organize his thoughts and convince the audience to timely pay their fines on such short notice was truly inspiring.

Next, Zsolt took a creative spin on a Table Topic posed by Vadim at a previous meeting with his speech “An Essay to Vadim.” He explored the complex question of “justice vs. forgiveness” through the lens of game theory, providing thought-provoking insights that left the audience with much to reflect on.

Yesenia followed with a lively recount of a kayaking trip gone awry in her speech “Kayaking Lessons.” What was meant to be a romantic outing quickly turned into a source of tension, but her lighthearted approach highlighted the importance of communication and conflict resolution in relationships.

Evaluations and Table Topics

The evaluators—RichardElias, and Joran—all provided insightful feedback that helped the speakers hone their skills. Each brought a unique perspective, offering constructive advice and praise in equal measure, further contributing to the overall learning experience.

The Table Topics session, led by Sabina, presented thought-provoking and uncomfortable questions based on the meeting-theme-inspiring book “The underground railroad”. Despite the challenging nature of the topics, participants engaged bravely and offered compelling responses.

Winners and final thoughts

As the meeting drew to a close, the well-deserved awards were handed out: Zsolt won Best Speaker for his intellectual exploration of justice and forgiveness, Roland was named Best Table Topics for his quick thinking and flawless delivery, and Richard earned Best Evaluator for his sharp and helpful feedback.

In conclusion, this meeting was a powerful reminder of the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone. Whether delivering an impromptu speech, tackling challenging Table Topics, or offering constructive evaluations, every participant demonstrated the core values of Toastmasters: growth, courage, and the pursuit of excellence.

Richard Bruckner
Please click here for details of our next club meeting

Toastmasters Meeting Invitation: “Underground Railroad” 🚂

Step back in time with us as we explore the incredible stories of courage, resilience, and humanity from the era of the Underground Railroad. This meeting invites us to reflect on the power of communication in fostering freedom, justice, and equality.

Date: 17. Sep. 2024
Time: 6.45 p.m.
Location: Zum Königsstuhl
Theme: “Underground Railroad”

Meeting Highlights:
•⁠ ⁠Historical Speeches: Our speakers will be inspired by the period of the Underground Railroad, drawing lessons on leadership, courage, and communication from one of history’s most impactful networks for freedom.
•⁠ ⁠Empowering Table Topics: Engage in impromptu speaking sessions that challenge you to think about the modern implications of resilience, justice, and standing up for what is right.
•⁠ ⁠Constructive Evaluations: Receive feedback that helps you strengthen your voice in advocating for change and empowerment.

Featured Quote: “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” — Harriet Tubman

Come join us for an inspiring session as we draw from the lessons of the past to shape a future of freedom, equality, and justice.

Zuriberg Summerparty: 🕵️‍♂️ Get Ready to Unleash Your Inner Detective! 🎉

Dear Zuriberg Toastmasters,

Join us for an enthralling members-only summer party on June 25th, where mystery and celebration combine to create a memorable evening. Step into the shoes of Hercule Poirot and dive into a thrilling crime investigation. You’re not just attendees; you’re central to unraveling the mystery!

What to expect:
•⁠ ⁠Mystery Evening: Led by Michelle and Anna, engage in an exciting game where you embody one of ten characters, each harboring secrets and motives. Who will you be? A unique and fun way to enhance your storytelling skills and immerse yourself in the drama!
•⁠ ⁠Annual Educational Awards Ceremony: Celebrate the accomplishments of our members with VPE Alice as we acknowledge path completions and special educational achievements.
•⁠ ⁠The Big Raffle: Don’t forget to buy your raffle tickets by the next meeting. Join us for the big reveal and see if you’re the lucky winner of a special award!

This event also marks the final meeting of the Toastmasters year under the current committee’s leadership. Let’s make it a night to remember!

🌟 Join us for an unforgettable night of mystery and mastery! 🌟

Also, don’t forget the big raffle:

The big raffle! Buy your raffle until the next meeting and join us for the big winner announcement! A special award is waiting!

A  Night of Extravagance at Zuriberg Toastmasters – Meeting 11th June

Dear Zuriberg Toastmasters,

A summer evening in the beautiful Guild Hall of Tailors filled with powerful speeches, thoughtful evaluations, and a thrilling mystery-solving table topics session can only be described with one word: Extravagance!

Our Toastmaster of the Evening, Elias, seamlessly wove the evening’s events together with a captivating opening, insightful speaker introductions, succinct recaps after each speech, and a reflective summary to close the night. The careful orchestration of the evening ensured every moment was impactful and engaging.

Highlights from Our Speakers

Slavek imparted a profound life lesson through his personal experiences, reminding us that time is our most valuable treasure. His speech emphasized the importance of valuing and wisely using our time, supported by strong structure, storytelling elements, and vocal variety.

Etienne, in his comeback Icebreaker, explored the concept that while specific life phases demand our time, there are strategies to recover lost time. He introduced us to his systematic approach—minimizing loss and maximizing time use. His well-structured speech, vocal dynamism, and personal anecdotes left the audience eagerly anticipating his future speeches.

Fereshte’s insightful speech on leadership styles combined theory with practical examples. She illustrated that the choice of leadership style should be situational rather than personal. Her engaging delivery, supported by reflections on her experiences, offered valuable lessons on adaptive leadership.

Gabriele’s educational speech on attachment styles in dating was both informative and highly entertaining. His clear structure, humor, vivid metaphors and a practical cheat sheet on navigating the dating world won him the Best Speaker award, captivating the audience from start to finish.

The Art of Evaluations

Four dedicated evaluators—Kevin, Michelle, Ana-Maria, and Roland—provided insightful feedback, highlighting each speech’s strengths and areas for improvement. Their well-rounded evaluations serve as the fertilizer for our growth and development. The skill of delivering empathetic yet challenging feedback is remarkable, and Roland’s exceptional evaluation earned him the Best Evaluator award.

Our General Evaluator, Pietro, along with his diligent team—Yesenia, Harry, and Alessandro—kept meticulous track of the evening’s proceedings, monitoring time, filler words, and effective use of language. Their efforts ensured the event ran smoothly and maintained high standards.

Table Topics: A Mystery Unfolds

Table topics is where the moderator’s creativity truly shines. Zsolt guided us through an intricate mystery—the robbery of the crown of Amaris. The session concluded with Samira solving the case in Sherlockian style, revealing the crime as a cleverly disguised team-building event.

Closing Thoughts

Time is our most precious resource, and spending it at a Toastmasters evening is an investment in ourselves. These gatherings offer us the luxury of learning, growth, inspiration, and shared experiences, all contributing to our journey of becoming better speakers and leaders.

Here’s to many more evenings of extravagance and excellence. Let us raise a glass to our shared journey and the exciting events that lie ahead!

Upcoming Events

June 18th: Regular Meeting with the theme “Resolute,” hosted by Samira as our TME.

June 25th: Summer Party with Michelle and Anna hosting a Mystery Dinner! RSVP for a highly interactive evening.

Yours truly,

Vanessa Stournari

President Zuriberg Toastmasters Club

Journeying Together: Highlights from the last Toastmasters Meeting, March 26th

Fellow Toastmasters and welcome guests,

At today’s 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 today’s session as a significant milestone for both.

The word of the day, “odyssey,” 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, DenisseAaronThomas, and Innocent, took us on diverse and captivating journeys. From Denisse’s exploration of how for her the poems from Robert Burns are linked to income inequality and global warming to Aaron’s vibrant revisit of his speech on Ikigai a month ago, Thomas’s reflections on our choice in the choice of our communication style, and Innocent’s insights into the power of words, each speech was a beautiful journey in itself. 

The feedback sessions, led by evaluators YaniZsoltMichelle, and Elias, provided constructive insights, helping our speakers navigate their paths to improvement.

Karina’s 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. SlawekRoland,  BenAnton, 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 meeting’s 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. Here’s to many more journeys together in the spirit of Toastmasters.

Safe travels on your speaking journey,

Richard Bruckner
Please click here for details of our next club meeting

Richard Bruckner

Flourishing at Zuriberg Toastmasters: A Recap – Meeting March 12th

Dear fellow Zuriberg Toastmasters, 

In the heart of vibrant Langstrasse, nestled within the dynamic confines of L200, we experienced another enjoyable evening last night. The venue, adorned with a unique stage setup featuring spotlights and a microphone, promised to elevate our speakers to new heights, fostering an atmosphere ripe for flourishing.

Under the moderation of our Toastmaster Joanna, the meeting embraced a spirit of growth and development, seamlessly matching the flourishing theme of the day.

Speakers Highlights

The meeting commenced with an engaging Icebreaker speech by Vassilis titled “Thank you, but who am I?” as part of the Engaging Humor segment. Vassilis set the tone for the evening with humor and insight, captivating the audience with his introduction.

Rafael took the stage to deliver his speech titled “At Least It Flies” as part of the Presentation Mastery segment. He delved into the art of receiving feedback by drawing parallels to Gaudi’s resilience in the face of criticism and sharing his personal experience from the architect school. Rafael emphasized the importance of discerning between constructive feedback and mere criticism—a crucial aspect of personal and professional growth.

Fereshteh presented “Poetry” as part of the Leadership Development session. By incorporating feedback into her speech, she exemplified the transformative power of reworking and refining one’s ideas—a testament to the flourishing potential within each of us.

Gabriel addressed “The elephant in the room” in the Strategic Relationships segment. With strategic finesse, Gabriel demonstrated the correlation of AI, human cognition, and the importance of formulating messages within a positive frame. A reminder that, once we think of the pink elephant in the room, the pink elephant will always be somewhere there.

The art of evaluations

Our evaluators including Karina, Etienne, Zsolt, and Christina led by our General Evaluator Selin and her team, provided valuable feedback in a constructive, energetic and empowering way, fostering an environment conducive to learning and development. Aaron served as the Grammarian, ensuring linguistic precision, while Joran managed the Ah & Vote Counting, maintaining the flow of the meeting while Alessandro expertly kept track of time! Etienne with his story-telling evaluation took the best evaluation trophy home.

Denisse led the Table Topics session, encouraging participants to think on their feet and express themselves spontaneously on awkwardness. Rafael’s insightful response earned him the first prize, highlighting the club’s commitment to fostering creativity and quick thinking.

As we reflect on the evening’s proceedings, one thing is clear: at Zuriberg Toastmasters, the stage is set for flourishing in all its forms, and the journey ahead is brimming with possibilities.

What is on the horizon 

We finally transition back to Blue Monkey Zum Königsstuhl with a dynamic start!

19th March – our yearly debate with Joran as TME

26th March – regular meeting with theme travel – TME wanted 

Kind Regards

Vanessa Stournari

President Zuriberg TMC
Please click here for details of our next club meeting

A Marathon of Speeches: Highlights from our Toastmasters Speakathon – Meeting Feb 13th

Dear Zuriberg Toastmasters and friends, 

Marathon speaks for endurance, inspiration, and praises the human mind! Our recent Speakathon was last Tuesday was a vibrant showcase of that, a testament to the art of communication!Seven back-to-back speeches, spread over all pathways levels, unfolded a night of eloquence and diverse insights.

Our Toastmaster of the evening, Thomas, guided us through the night with carnival colors, aligning with the Fasnacht or Swiss Carnival atmosphere. A huge thank you to each participant for making it such an enriching experience!

Celebrating our Speakers

Julian visited us from the “Walk the Talk TMC”,  and offered us a compelling narrative on “how to fail like a leader” teaching us the valuable lessons embedded in failure.

Fereshteh took us on a “Poetry” journey through time and Iran, engaging the audience with metaphors and well-constructed content — a testament to the essential elements of an informative speech, both reflecting and insightful. What made us to embark on the travel with her? Inviting the audience to close their eyes and delve in the world of poetry, is an exceptional move for an immersive experience of the audience! Everyone followed!

Aaron unveiled the meaning of a happy life or “Ikigai” structuring his speech on its four key elements! Aaron’s educational speech featured an excellent structure, relatable examples, and a harmonious conversational tone. Closing the eyes and immersing in the topic, is an excellent trick to beat the urge for using filler words and engage to more vocal variety!

Christina shared her personal story and, emphasized the importance of language pronunciation for effective communication, in a speeech delivered with humor, while educating the audience on how not to get “lost in translation”. Adding to those speech winning elements, the masterful use of the English language, it was no surprise she captured the first speaker award.

Sabina demonstrated the use of our different platforms (Basecamp, TMI and Easyspeak) in our Toastmasters journey and she skillfully handled a challenging audience, showcasing communication skills beyond the ordinary. Talkers, interrupters and chatters, cannot steal your stage shine, managing the audience is a learnable skill!

Kevin masterfully persuaded the audience with a well-researched argument on how our brain works. The “Unseen strings” of his speech was marked by an engaging opening and impeccable delivery. Content and delivery are both equally required for pursuading any audience!

Alessandro introduced himself with an icebreaker! Sharing his objectives and his passion, for Italy and parmesan. An engaging icebreaker, showing us what to come from our new member!

The Art of Evaluation

A masterful evening with evaluations helped us understand the difference between advice and feedback. Evaluation speeches not only support the speakers to their public speaking journey, but are also educating the audience! Alice and Richard shared the first-place award, emphasizing constructive observations and storytelling.

Final thoughts and Thanks 

This Speakathon was a testament to the diverse talents within our club and the supportive environment that fosters growth and learning. Each speech was a step forward in our journey of personal and professional development. Our event΄s success was also due to the seamless coordination and support from everyone, our Grammarian, Ah and Vote Counter, Evaluators and the committee Anna, Samira, Harry for organizing the welcome process! A big thank you to all for your energy and participation!

What’s in the Horizon?

Let us carry forward this momentum and continue to support each other in our speaking endeavours!

Many regular meetings are coming up, at different venues! Explore various themes & stages:

February 20th – Regular meeting with Theme: “Strategic” and Svetlana as our TME: (Zunfthaus zur Zimmerleuten).

February 27th – Regular meeting with Theme: “New Beginnings” and Michelle as ourTME (Gross Saal in Karl der Grosse).

March 12th – Regular Meeting with “Shocking” Theme and Joanna as our 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  is what to expect (Walk the Talk, Top Notch, Credit Suisse Corporate Club and St. Gallen). Register here.

Area E4 German Speech Contest: Saturday, February 24th, online.

How are speeches of our area doing in German? Join to explore and maybe support. Register here.

Kind Regards

Vanessa Stournari

President Zuriberg Toastmasters Club

Burns’ Night – Big Thank You! – Meeting January 30th

Dear All,

A special thank you to the speakers who took on a somewhat daunting task: studying a piece of work by a poet unknown to most of them. Then to provide a reading, using their best vocal variety and further helping us understand what the poet was trying to tell us!

Starting of the evening in proper attire.

Many thanks also to Thomas, who brought both light-heartedness and seriousness into his Toast to the Lassies. Your example of Jane Goodall, whose monumental work with primates shames our efforts into nothingness, was a superb choice. To Vanessa for her Toast to the Laddies, and finally to Yesi: who captured the spirit of Burns’ Address to the Haggis, and made it personal as well as clear to the audience what this was all about!

Huge thank yous to our team of bard interpreters: Denisse – you captured the essence of what Robert Burns tried to tell us. Samira, your eloquent embracing of Burns’ Mountain Daisy was outstanding. And, Roland, old faithful: who was already familiar with Burns, chose one of his most illustrative poems to share with us!  

Thank you, also, to the Evaluators, Timer, and Vote-counter who rounded off the evening.  

I’ve had many messages of thanks and congratulations from fellow members since yesterday evening! So, I think we can safely say the event was a success!

Kindest regards

Harry

Burn’s Night – Deepdive for Meeting January 30th

Dear all

Worldwide, the 25th of January each year is dedicated to the memory of Robert Burns, the son of Scottish farmer parents. Born in 1759, Burns died in 1796 at the relatively young age of 37. In that short period of time he wrote more than 550 poems and songs. Translated into at least 43 languages, including Hindu, Urdu, and Russian. Leaving behind a legacy considered unparalleled in the literary world by some. 

Some of his poems denounced “the immorality of the rich, fighting oppression with ‘Christian’ values”, and attacked the corruption and incompetence of the governing elite, as depicted by the card-playing landowners in “The Twa Dogs”. Especially after his death, he became a source of inspiration for liberalism and socialism. So it should come as no surprise that in Russia he became known as the “people’s poet during the revolutionary period. Later, his work was endorsed by the Soviet Communist Regime, who described Burns as a “progressive”. 

But it was perhaps as a pioneer of the ‘Romantic movement’ – characterised by its emphasis on emotion and individualism as well as glorification of nature – that his poetry became best known!

On Tuesday, after the initial club business has been dealt with, we will follow a traditional Burns’ Night programme. We’ll pipe in our dinner, say our toasts (with Whisky) to the food. Haggis for the non-vegetarians, and a ragù-type dish for the rest. Accompanied by neeps, and tatties. After dinner, we’ll follow with more toasts, first to the immortal memory of Robert Burns, and then by a toast to the lassies, to which a lassie will reply with a toast to the laddies. 

During the final part of the programme, three of our members will contribute poetry readings, before we close our Burns’ Night celebration. 

So, come and learn more about this inspirational Scot, and watch our members take on challenges beyond the ordinary speaking projects we normally encounter, while entertaining us with the unforgettable poetry of Robert ‘Rabbie’ Burns.  

See you Tuesday
Harry

Speaking Excellence – Club Speech Contest Zuriberg January 22nd

Dear fellow Zuriberg Toastmasters,

I am thrilled to recap the remarkable events of our last evening’s Club Speech Contest, an evening filled with the spirit of competition, camaraderie, and exceptional speeches. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to the incredible individuals who organized and facilitated the contest, elevating the experience for everyone involved.

AliceKevin, and Richard, our dedicated contest chairs, and Chief Judge, demonstrated outstanding leadership by taking on these challenging roles. They ensured that all rules were followed meticulously, fostering an environment of fairness, and allowing our contestants to shine. Their inclusion of humor and engaging interviews seamlessly integrated fun into the formal framework of Toastmasters contests.

A special mention goes to the magnificent Zunftsaal at Zimmerleuten, providing a historical backdrop that added a unique charm to our public speaking competition. Competing in such an inspiring medieval setting, in the heart of Zurich where significant decisions once shaped the future of the city, enhanced the overall experience.

Speakers΄ Highlight

Elias shared a poignant personal story of his childhood in the south of Argentina, illustrating how those experiences continue to influence his professional and personal life. His well-structured, authentic, and conversational style earned him the well-deserved second place in the International Speech Contest.

Myself, Vanessa embarked on a journey to enhance my public speaking skills and triumphed with the first-place award. The speech was crafted with a clear structure, empowering language, and a conscious focus on vocal variety, aimed to inspire.

Table Topics Speech Contest

The Speech Contest Type is, Zuriberg’s absolute favorite! It showcased the impromptu speaking skills of eight participants. Thomas, a history enthusiast, transported us back to Napoleon’s coronation in Paris, December 2nd, 1804, claiming the first-place prize. Christina, exploring the concept of time travel, delivered a powerful message about living in the present, earning her the second spot in the area contest.

Closing thoughts

As we reflect on the success of the Club Speech Contest, let’s not forget the unsung heroes behind the scenes. A heartfelt thank you to our judges and visible contest officials, EmilioSvetlanaHugoAnna, and our Area Director Santhiago for their invaluable support. Managing formalities may not be easy, but it enriches our educational journey by providing insights into what makes a speech excel at the competition level.

 To all members, I encourage you to consider stepping up and taking on a role in the upcoming season contests. Whether it’s as a judge, timer, ballot counter, or any other vital position, you will undoubtedly grow and contribute to the success of our Toastmasters community.

In closing, let’s celebrate the success of our recent contest and look forward to the growth and inspiration that future contests will undoubtedly bring. Who knows, perhaps a Zuriberger will represent us at the District Level Competition in Istanbul on May 11th!

Thank you all for making the Club Speech Contest Zuriberg 2024, a truly memorable event!

Best regards,

Vanessa Stournari

President Zuriberg Toastmasters Club