Hi-Noon Toastmasters Club 3963

Meeting Report (for 6-9-2026):

Guests: Bill (KY), Jade (AL)

Eric was praised for completing Level 2 in his Motivational Strategies path! 😊

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The week’s joke: “I had my annual wellness visit yesterday. The doctor said I’m a kleptomaniac. Yeah! It’s pretty bad. But don’t worry about me. I’m taking a lot of stuff for it.” 😊

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Toastmaster John (High School) reflected on his 1959–1963 high school years in the San Francisco Bay Area.

As a skinny distance runner, he was mocked by football players despite earning a varsity letter. His hobby was studying, while others joined clubs. School life included: stress over tests, career choices between college and trades, "crimes" like bathroom smoking, useless nuclear bomb drills, and choosing who to sit with at lunch. Fashion meant low-rider cars. Some teachers inspired; others just showed up. Friends came mainly from track and cross-country teams. Though shy at dances, that shyness didn't last.

He concluded that “Life is like High School, except it lasts longer and there’s no adult supervision”. 😊

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Table Topics Master Eric asked questions like: “Were you more of a front row student or a back row student in high school?”

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Our Speakers:

Caz (What’s Going On?) opened with a relatable moment — blanking out at the refrigerator — to introduce his central question: "What's going on?"

He argued that in a world of constant news, social media, and information overload, we're mentally exhausted but also disconnected from ourselves. We track celebrities and trends but rarely pause to ask how we're truly doing. Caz shared a personal turning point: when asked "How are you doing?" he automatically said "I'm fine" — but later realized he was tired, stressed, and overwhelmed. That honest self-check changed his perspective.

His core message: you can't improve what you refuse to examine. Real growth begins not through scrolling or rushing, but through quiet, honest self-reflection.

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Helio (Don’t Answer Yet) centered his speech on the danger of autopilot decision-making under pressure.

He argued that urgency pushes us to answer reflexively — saying yes or no without truly evaluating the situation — leading to regret. His solution: find the "eye of the hurricane," the calm center within pressure, rather than rushing to escape it. Using two robbery stories from Rio de Janeiro, he illustrated how buying just seconds of time allowed him to assess his surroundings and make a smarter choice.

His takeaway is simple: when someone demands a quick answer, pause and ask one clarifying question. That brief window is enough to move from autopilot to intentional decision-making.

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It was the best hour of the week, thanks to the excellent preparation and ex*****on by our meeting leaders John, Remika, Natalie, Eric and Hildri.

Congratulations to our winners Bill (Best Table Topic), and Nathan (Best Evaluation).

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"Hi-Noon Toastmasters — online, energetic, and welcoming!"
https://hinoonhsv.toastmastersclubs.org/
Tuesdays at noon CT — lunch U.S. & Canada, evening Europe. Visit free.

Meeting Report (for 6-2-2026):

Guests: Bill (KY), Vlad (NY)

Stephen was praised for completing Level 3 in his Dynamic Leadership path! 😊

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The week’s joke: “Yesterday I pulled alongside a parking space with a sign that said, “Don’t even think about parking here!” …. So, I parked there without thinking about it.” 😊

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Toastmaster Stephen (Anything is Possible) argued that "impossible" is not a fact — it's a mental barrier.

Throughout history, things once deemed unthinkable (global communication, flight, medicine) became reality. He used Roger Bannister's sub-four-minute mile as a powerful example: once one person proved it could be done, others quickly followed. Progress, he said, comes through three shifts — redefining failure, breaking big dreams into small daily steps, and protecting your mindset from cynics.

He closed with a call to action: when doubt whispers "impossible," push back, because the horizon exists only to test how far you'll go.

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Table Topics Master Roslyn asked questions like: “What is one goal you once thought was impossible but later achieved?”

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Our Speakers:

Austine (The Part I Saved for Last) opened by reflecting on never having a simple answer to "Where are you from?"

Born in California, raised in Atlanta by a New York mother and Baltimore father, she navigated Southern and Northern cultures from childhood. Attending an international school deepened her love of culture and language, leading her to study five languages and work as a Spanish-speaking therapist.

Years of living across the U.S. shaped her into someone fluent in many worlds. Yet her professional skill as a deep conversationalist came at a cost — crowding out lighthearted connection and simple friendship.

She returns to Toastmasters not to master depth, but to reclaim ease and playfulness in relationships, believing that without light connection, she can never feel truly at home — wherever home turns out to be.

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Eric (Beyond the Final Note) reflected on the lasting influence of Jack Ferris, his legendary Texas high school band director.

Despite being an ordinary student among 200 peers, Eric—like nearly all his classmates—considers the experience transformative. Three lessons stand out: First, Ferris modeled relentless commitment by posting a single "YES" about practice on a rainy day, teaching that simply showing up when it's easy to quit is the foundation of tackling any challenge.

Second, his "drop of iodine" analogy illustrated how one person's lapse can undermine a group's collective effort—a lesson Eric later applied in healthcare training. Third, after an unexpected fifth-place finish at state competition, Ferris re-framed disappointment: "Fifth out of 246 isn't bad—consider why you need this recognition."

Eric closed by noting that great mentorship transcends its original context, its true measure often realized years later.

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It was the best hour of the week, thanks to the excellent preparation and ex*****on by our meeting leaders Stephen, Remika, Helio, Roslyn and John.

Congratulations to our winners Matt (Best Table Topic), and Helio (Best Evaluation).

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"Hi-Noon Toastmasters — online, energetic, and welcoming!"
https://hinoonhsv.toastmastersclubs.org/
Tuesdays at noon CT — lunch U.S. & Canada, evening Europe. Visit free.

Meeting Report (for 5-26-2026):

Guests: Cornelius (AL), Kyree (AL).

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The week’s joke: “I had a 2nd cousin, once removed, who’s service was that he could tell you exactly when and how you would die. He was a hit man.” 😊

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Toastmaster John (Service) said being of service means helping others — and it can give the server as much purpose and joy as those served.

Service takes many forms: caring for a loved one, excelling in customer service, leading with empathy, volunteering, or working in public safety. Each contributes to the common good.

At the highest level stands military service. On Memorial Day, we honored those who made the ultimate sacrifice — giving their lives for democracy, freedom, justice, and equal opportunity. We remembered the families who carry that loss, and our shared duty to never take that sacrifice for granted.

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Table Topics Master Austine asked questions like: “Tell us a time when you went out of your way to help a complete stranger. What happened?”

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Our Speakers:

Roslyn (The Person Behind the Profession) is the owner of Behavioral and Substance Abuse Counseling and a vocational expert for the Social Security Administration.

Growing up as the only girl among two brothers taught her communication, compromise, and patience. After college, she joined the military — a defining turning point that built her resilience and discipline, including a posting in Florence, Alabama. She later earned her master's from Alabama A&M University. In 20 years of counseling, she's learned that people often need a listener more than a problem-solver.

Outside of work, Roslyn restores classic cars, travels, boxes, and runs regularly. She hopes to visit Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Dubai, and wants to take up golf.

She closed by reflecting that service, resilience, family, growth, discipline, and connection — shaped by her military and counseling journey — define who she is today.

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Stephen (The Science of Deja Vu) explored that uncanny feeling of having experienced something before, even when you know you haven't.

Experienced by up to 80% of people, it was once attributed to past lives or mystical forces, but neuroscience offers a more fascinating explanation. One leading theory is "dual processing": if two brain pathways deliver the same sensory information with a tiny delay between, the brain registers the second as a memory of the first.

Another theory suggests déjà vu occurs when a new environment shares a similar geometric layout to a forgotten memory.

Surprisingly, brain scans show déjà vu activates not memory centers, but the frontal cortex — the logic and decision-making region — meaning it's actually your brain's quality control catching and correcting its own error in real time.

Far from a malfunction, déjà vu is proof your brain is working perfectly.

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It was the best hour of the week, thanks to the excellent preparation and ex*****on by our meeting leaders John, Zach, Remika, Austine and Nathan.

Congratulations to our winners Zach (Best Table Topic), and Caz (Best Evaluation).

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"Hi-Noon Toastmasters — online, energetic, and welcoming!"
https://hinoonhsv.toastmastersclubs.org/
Tuesdays at noon CT — lunch U.S. & Canada, evening Europe. Visit free.

Meeting Report (for 5-19-2026):
Guests: Austine (WI), Danielle (AL)
Austine was voted into the club!

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The week’s joke: “What I don’t get is people who, instead of buying an 8 or 12 pack of toilet paper just buy a single roll. I’d like to ask, “Are you trying to quit?”

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Toastmaster John (Lunchtime) traced lunch through history, from ancient Roman midday breaks to the Industrial Revolution's factory lunch hour.

He shared personal memories: grabbing McDonald's as a TV repairman, hosting catered client lunches that launched multi million-dollar deals, and sneaking office naps on a yoga mat.
Now retired, lunch means quality time with his wife.

He closed with a humorous NASA story: astronaut John Young smuggled a corned beef sandwich aboard Gemini 3 in 1965, only for rye crumbs to float dangerously near electrical instruments in zero gravity — sparking a congressional hearing over the "multi million-dollar crumb risk."

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Table Topics Master Eric gave everyone two opportunities to speak. We learned a lot about each other with fun topics around lunchtime. A typical question: “Tell us about a lunch you shared with someone special.”

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It was the best hour of the week, thanks to the excellent preparation and ex*****on by our meeting leaders John, Eric, Allyson, and Shontrill.

Congratulations to our winners Danielle (Best Table Topic), and Allyson (Best Evaluation).

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"Hi-Noon Toastmasters — online, energetic, and welcoming!" https://hinoonhsv.toastmastersclubs.org/

Meeting Report (for 5-12-2026):

Guest: Austine (WI)

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The week’s joke: “I bought a box of animal crackers. It said, “Do not eat if the seal is broken.” I opened it up. Sure enough. ☹ The giraffe was fine. Now who didn’t get that?” 😊

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Toastmaster Shontrill (Summer Vibes) defined summer vibes as luminous, airy feelings of joy rather than just warm weather.

She painted a vivid picture of the season through sunny days, outdoor adventures, vibrant ocean-blue décor, beach trips, and stunning sunsets. Summer vibes also include relaxing atmospheres, breezy fashion, and cool refreshing beverages. Bright yellows and oranges, natural elements, and carefree scents all contribute to the season's essence.

She closed by encouraging everyone to embrace summer with coastal décor, airy fabrics, outdoor spaces, high-energy playlists, and luminous, warmth-filled experiences.

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Table Topics Master Lisa asked questions like, “What's a summer job you think would actually be fun?”

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Our Speakers

Matt (The Promotion I Didn’t Take) faced a pivotal choice: stay in fast-paced Washington, D.C. — where career visibility and advancement thrived — or work remotely and move to Maryland's Eastern Shore, where his wife had roots.

He chose the move, trading hallway conversations and promotions for farms, quiet, and slower living. Though he missed D.C.'s energy, the Eastern Shore offered something it couldn't: space and presence. Closing his laptop now meant being immediately home — no commute, no decompressing.

One evening, watching his daughters play in the yard with a clear mind, he realized the most meaningful promotion wasn't a title or raise — it was becoming more present as a husband and father.

He still values his career, but now measures success not by how high he climbs, but by whether he's climbing the right mountains.

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Caz (Dancing in the Rain) opened by recounting the moment he was unexpectedly let go from his job, sitting in a parking lot holding a cardboard box in the rain.

He likened the experience to a breakup — shock, self-doubt, and financial fear. A friend's well-meaning cliché about closed doors only deepened his hurt. But that night, a realization shifted everything: he had prayed for change, yet resisted it when it arrived. He began questioning his identity beyond his job title, ultimately discovering his value was never tied to his role.

Re-framing job loss as "transportation" rather than punishment, he updated his resume, learned new skills, and embraced life again.

His message: storms don't just destroy — they grow. Ask not why this is happening, but what it's building in you.

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It was the best hour of the week, thanks to the excellent preparation and ex*****on by our meeting leaders Shontrill, Eric, Helio, Lisa and Natalie.

Congratulations to our winners Austine (Best Table Topic), and Natalie (Best Evaluation).

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"Hi-Noon Toastmasters — online, energetic, and welcoming!"
https://hinoonhsv.toastmastersclubs.org/
Tuesdays at noon CT — lunch U.S. & Canada, evening Europe. Visit free.

Meeting Report (for 5-5-2026):

Guests: JJ (CO), Austine (WI), Luis (AL), Evgeniy (Uzbekistan), and Esther (RI)

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The week’s joke: “Last year I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven't started yet.”

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Toastmaster Stephen (Resilience) re-framed resilience not as an unbreakable shield, but as a willow tree — able to bend, touch the ground, and rise again.

True resilience isn't a dramatic bounce-back; it's the slow, messy crawl through doubt and failed attempts that no one sees. It lives in the quiet decision to try once more when every reason says quit. Crucially, resilience is a muscle built through perspective, connection, and self-compassion — not a fixed trait.

Like the Japanese art of Kintsugi, which repairs broken pottery with gold, resilience doesn't just restore us — it integrates our struggles, making us more empathetic and powerful than before.

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Table Topics Master Hildri ran a 30 minute, all Table Topics program, picking categories and questions by spinning a Seven Cs of Resilience wheel, as conceptualized by Dr. Ken Ginsberg.

A sample category/question: “Character: What's one core value or personal rule you refuse to compromise on, no matter how tough things get?”

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It was the best hour of the week, thanks to the excellent preparation and ex*****on by our meeting leaders Stephen, Helio, Nathan, Hildri and Remika.

Congratulations to our winners Austine (Best Table Topic), and Remika (Best Evaluation).

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"Hi-Noon Toastmasters — online, energetic, and welcoming!" https://hinoonhsv.toastmastersclubs.org/ Tuesdays at noon CT — lunch U.S. & Canada, evening Europe. Visit free.

Meeting Report (for 4-28-2026):

Guests: JJ (CO), Austine (WI), Diana (UK), Luis (AL), Ramil (Azerbaijan)
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The week’s joke: “I got something in the mail today. It said, “This is not a bill”. I opened the envelop and inside it said, “This is the bill.” 😊
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Toastmaster Eric (Superheroes) reflected on National Superheroes Day, noting that even fictional superheroes can help us explore real-world issues.

He shared how discovering the manga character One Punch Man — a hero who defeats any enemy with a single punch — sparked deeper thinking. Despite One Punch Man's absurd power, his story highlights a relatable truth: not every problem can be solved with strength. In fact, as we grow more skilled and successful, we can experience disillusionment, boredom, and isolation.

Eric found it remarkable that such a fictional character prompted such meaningful real-world reflection.

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Table Topics Master Allyson asked questions like, “If you could have a superpower, what would that be?”

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Our Speakers:

Lisa (Choosing Yes) shared how she decided to stop waiting and start saying "yes" to uncomfortable things.

Tired of standing still while life moved on, she embraced three bold challenges. First, a family fitness challenge reignited her passion for running — and despite the humbling struggle of starting over, she trained through doubt and completed a half marathon. Second, she said yes to a girls' trip to Costa Rica, overcoming mom-guilt to reconnect with friends and herself. Third, she joined Toastmasters, confronting a longtime fear of public speaking.

Her key insight: confidence doesn't come before action — it comes after. Growth begins the moment you say yes, even when you're not ready.

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Stephen’s speech (The Power of Yet) centered on one transformative word: "yet." When we face failure or self-doubt, we tend to say "I can't" — treating it as a permanent verdict on our abilities.

But adding "yet" changes everything. Rooted in the concept of a growth mindset, Stephen explained that our abilities aren't fixed; they develop through dedication, hard work, and learning. Saying "I can't do this yet" signals to the brain that you're in a process, not at a dead end. Like a child learning to walk, failure is just part of mastering something new.

His challenge: replace every "can't" with "can't yet," and protect the future version of yourself who is still becoming. Your story isn't over — it's just getting to the good part. 😊

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It was the best hour of the week, thanks to the excellent preparation and ex*****on by our meeting leaders Eric, Remika, Ryan, Allyson and Tanner.

Congratulations to our winners Austine (Best Table Topic), and Tanner (Best Evaluation).

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"Hi-Noon Toastmasters — online, energetic, and welcoming!"
https://hinoonhsv.toastmastersclubs.org/
Tuesdays at noon CT — lunch U.S. & Canada, evening Europe. Visit free.

Meeting Report (for 4-21-2026):

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The week’s joke: “Sometimes I have trouble breathing at night. It’s not sleep apnea. It’s the other one where your wife is holding a pillow over your face.” 😊

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Toastmaster Yeside (Everyday Moments on Earth), on Earth Day, reflected on her childhood wonder for the universe — that humbling sense of how small we are, yet how lucky to exist.

Reinvigorated by the recent Artemis moon mission, she invited us to borrow the astronauts' perspective: from the moon, Earth is a tiny blue dot holding everything that matters — loved ones, memories, favorite meals, even cat videos. It's the ordinary, everyday things that make life worth living.

So, she encouraged everyone to be present, notice the small moments, and remember — if you were a thousand miles away, being right here would be everything.

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Table Topics Master Ryan asked questions like, “What part of your daily routine would you protect no matter how busy life gets?”

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Our Speaker

Stephen (Negotiations and Compromise) suggested that true negotiation isn't about winning everything — it's about compromise.

The "winner-take-all" mindset, driven by ego and fear, destroys relationships and burns bridges. Real negotiators see the other party as a partner, not an adversary. The key is shifting from positions (what you want) to interests (why you want it), which opens space for creative solutions that satisfy both sides.

Active listening is the most underrated skill — understanding the other side reveals flexible solutions. Compromise isn't surrender; it's an investment in lasting relationships.

The strongest negotiator isn't the loudest voice, but the one who builds the bridge.

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It was the best hour of the week, thanks to the excellent preparation and ex*****on by our meeting leaders Yeside, Nathan, Lisa, Ryan and Eric.

Congratulations to our winners Shontrill (Best Table Topic), and Eric (Best Evaluation).

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"Hi-Noon Toastmasters — online, energetic, and welcoming!"
https://hinoonhsv.toastmastersclubs.org/
Tuesdays at noon CT — lunch U.S. & Canada, evening Europe. Visit free.

Meeting Report (for 4-14-2026):

Guests: Lisa (TX). 😊

Lisa was voted into the club! 😊

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The week’s joke: There are two hats on a hat rack. One hat turns to the other hat and says, “You hang out here. I'll go on a head”. 😊

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Toastmaster Caz (April Showers Bring Powerful Voices) said speaking nerves can feel like a category five hurricane — racing heart, shaking hands, a mind gone blank.

But those uncomfortable moments aren't breaking you; they're building you. Pressure creates diamonds, resistance builds strength, and every speech — whether you nail it or stumble — grows a stronger version of you. So don't run from the storm.

Let the nerves shake, let your voice tremble, and let the butterflies fly, because they're not a sign of fear — they're greatness warming up.

The same discomfort that challenges you is what makes you unstoppable.

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Table Topics Master Nathan asked questions like, “If your personal growth journey had a theme song during a rainy day, what would it be?”

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Our Speaker

Hildri (So … What’s Stopping Us?) offered a hopeful counterpoint to today's relentless bad news cycle by highlighting three moments when humanity successfully tackled major global crises.

First, the ozone layer: after scientists discovered a massive hole over Antarctica, every nation signed the Montreal Protocol, phasing out CFCs — and the ozone layer is now on track to recover by 2040. Second, smallpox: despite Cold War tensions, the U.S. and Soviet Union cooperated on vaccination campaigns, making smallpox the only human disease ever fully eradicated. Third, Y2K: engineers and governments invested $306 billion to fix a computing flaw that could have caused global catastrophe — and it never materialized.

Hildri's message is clear: cynicism about our collective ability to solve problems is contradicted by history. Three different challenges, three different eras, one unifying truth — when humanity chooses to act together, it can overcome even the greatest threats.

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It was the best hour of the week, thanks to the excellent preparation and ex*****on by our meeting leaders Caz, Ryan, Tiffany, Nathan, and Yeside.

Congratulations to our winners Lisa (Best Table Topic), and Remika (Best Evaluation).

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"Hi-Noon Toastmasters — online, energetic, and welcoming!"
https://hinoonhsv.toastmastersclubs.org/
Tuesdays at noon CT — lunch U.S. & Canada, evening Europe. Visit free.

Meeting Report (for 4-7-2026):

Guests: Ryan (TN), JJ (CO). 😊

Ryan was voted into the club! 😊

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The week’s joke: I joined Toastmasters for one simple reason. I wanted to become a better communicator at work because, I was saying, “Does that make sense?” after every sentence. And saying that didn’t make it so. 😊

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Toastmaster Alex (Generational Diversity) suggested that instead of focusing on generational friction, we should embrace mutual mentorship across all four workforce generations.

Baby Boomers offer loyalty and perseverance; Gen X brings pragmatism and critical thinking; Millennials contribute empathy and purpose-driven communication; and Gen Z models healthy boundary-setting.

As a burnout-experienced, people pleasing Millennial, Alex personally draws from Gen Z's energy protection. The key takeaway: you don't have to like someone to learn from them.

When tempted to judge a colleague, reframe it — ask how their mindset could improve your own.
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Table Topics Master Remika asked questions like, “Which generation do you think has it the hardest today?”

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Our Speaker

Nathan (Active Listening) asserted that true communication is rooted in listening, not speaking. He shared two personal stories to illustrate the cost of distracted presence. He tasked us with catching a color in one of them.

In the first, he zones out while his wife is talking, confidently claiming he was listening — only to be caught. Her response, that what she said was important to her, was a wake-up call. In the second, he finds his kids drawing on a freshly painted wall in purple crayon. Rather than shouting louder, he crouches down and engages them with curiosity and redirection — and it works.

His takeaway: presence isn't about volume, it's about intention. In a world full of digital noise, we've mastered the art of being physically present while mentally elsewhere.

Nathan closed by revealing that purple was the color – did we catch it? His message: listening isn't about perfection; it's about truly showing up for the people in front of you.

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It was the best hour of the week, thanks to the excellent preparation and ex*****on by our meeting leaders Alex, Natalie, Yeside, Remika and Eric.

Congratulations to our winners JJ (Best Table Topic), and Hildri (Best Evaluation).
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"Hi-Noon Toastmasters — online, energetic, and welcoming!"
https://hinoonhsv.toastmastersclubs.org/
Tuesdays at noon CT — lunch U.S. & Canada, evening Europe. Visit free.