Toast of Petaluma

This week's theme is "Attitude of Gratitude"! 🙏✨

In a world that often focuses on what's missing, let's take a moment to appreciate what we have. Join us as we explore the power of gratitude and how it can transform our lives and our speeches. Whether you're a seasoned speaker or just starting out, this is the perfect opportunity to practice your public speaking skills in a supportive and encouraging environment.

Before the meeting, we invite you to think of three things or people you are thankful for. Reflecting on these can help set a positive tone for our gathering and inspire your contributions during the meeting.

👍 RSVP now and invite your friends!

Toastmasters International 2024 World Champion. First Place winner. 🏅

2024 Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking: Luisa Montalvo Luisa Montalvo, from District 55, Region 3, won with a speech titled, "37 Strangers."To learn more about the World Championship of Public Speaking(R) visit t...

🌟 What a night! 🌟

Our latest Toastmasters meeting was filled with energy, support, and antics! We heard from Ray about the BAM and how bugs can impact storytelling, learned about WIK's adventures and love for Medellin, Colombia, and Madam Toastmaster Cari shared the origins of the Bucket List. The eloquent Renee's evaluation of Gregory's speech entertained and delighted everyone in attendance!

🎉 Congrats to the winners! 🎉

Missed out? Don't worry! Join us for a rollicking fun time at our next meeting on August 29th! 📅

Ever dreamt of skydiving into a volcano? Or maybe you just want to finally finish that 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle that's been gathering dust since 2010? 🌋🧩
Join us for our next Toastmasters meeting where we'll dive into the wild, wacky, and wonderful world of bucket lists! Whether your list includes swimming with dolphins, writing a novel, or simply mastering the art of making the perfect cup of coffee, we want to hear all about it! 🐬📚☕
Prepare to be inspired, entertained, and maybe even a little bit jealous as we share our most ambitious, hilarious, and heartwarming goals. Who knows, you might even add a few new items to your own list! 😉
Don't miss out on this opportunity to laugh, learn, and maybe even cross off a bucket list item or two. See you there!
P.S. If "attend a Toastmasters meeting" is on your bucket list, consider it checked! ✅

Congrats to our winners on 7/18!

So much fun and so many ties! Frank and Diana tied for Best Table Topics. Diana and Cara tied for the Sparky Award. And Durai took Best Evaluator.

Thanks to Table Topics Master, Cara for her inventive spin on Table Topics. Our favorite highlight: Frank’s story about Sharon Stone as a French teacher. 😉

JOIN US at our next meeting on 8/1 @ 7 PM.

July kicks off with a new Club Officer term for 2024/2025!

We WELCOME our incoming Executive Committee - some returning in new roles, others taking on roles for the very first time.

And a hearty THANK YOU to our exiting officers! 🙏

Your commitment and dedication to creating a vibrant and thriving club is greatly appreciated!

You help make TOAST OF PETALUMA flourish! ✨✨

Join us to see what all the fuss is about! 😉

This week Diana and Cara are teaming up to bring sexy back with the theme: FAILURE IS SEXY!

Come help us redefine “failure” and find the “sexy” in our willingness to play and the confidence with which we show up!

On the agenda, a prepared speech by Bernie, a Minute of Humor with Ray, and a special edition of Table Topics you won’t want to miss. 😉

THURS, 7/18 @ 7:00 PM

“There are no failures, only lessons.”
- actual fortune cookie fortune

Congrats to Diana and Durai - our winners of our 6/20 meeting!

Diana won Best Evaluator for her thoughtful and detailed speech evaluation. Durai won Best Table Topics for his heart-warming and hilarious story about disobeying his mother (with consequences)! AND Durai also took home the Sparky Award for his compelling and powerful speech about failing forward. ✨✨

So much joy, inspiration, and support! Join us for more at our next meeting on 7/18.

“What’s so funny?”

Join us at our next meeting on Thursday, 6/20 to find out!

Can’t wait to see you there!

Ours winners from our 6/6 meeting!

Louise gave her Ice Breaker speech full of beautiful imagery. Jean won the Sparky Award for her powerful Table Topic story about nature and nurture shaping her as an adult. Sheridith took Best Evaluator for her well-balanced evaluation that included lots of praise and suggestions for taking it to the next level. And Griffin won Best Table Topic for his thought-provoking story about AI developing feelings. Hmmm….

Congrats to our Toastmasters!

See you at our next meeting on 6/20/24!

CONGRATS to our winners of the night at our 5/30 meeting!

New member, Bernie stepped up to tackle the Speech Evaluator role for the first time! His detailed and insightful evaluation won him Best Evaluator of the night!

Diana walked away with Best Table Topics for her funny impromptu story about Wordle inspiring a romance story with the word of the day BEVEL (swipe left to see our winners in bevel pose)!

And Ray’s “how to” speech about crafting the perfect speech won him the Sparky Award ✨ and prompted requests for written copies!

Come join the fun, come inspire and be inspired!

Next Meeting: Thurs, 6/6/24 @ 7:00 PM

JOIN US on Thursday, 6/6 as we explore the night’s theme, MYSTERIES!

Toastmaster Renee leads the night with two highly anticipated prepared speeches, a Minute of Humor, and a rousing round of Table Topics (always interesting and often hilarious)!

THURS, 6/6/24 @ 7:00 PM

Guests always welcome!

See you there!

Congratulations to our very own Toastmaster and her newest graduating students!

This SPEAK & BE HEARD workshop was a beautiful collaboration between Cara and .ground.society where their shared vision of empowerment and creating meaningful connections in the world, provided students the opportunity to find their voice and use their words and body language to connect in meaningful ways.

The graduation ceremony included funny, touching, and inspiring prepared speeches and a fun round of impromptu Table Topics.

We celebrate Cara for sharing her gifts with the world and we applaud her graduating students for sharing their joy, their courage and vulnerability, and their gifts!

Cheers to the next generation of confident, powerful communicators! Well done, Coach Cara!

A “Beginner’s Mind” - the art of releasing what you think you know in order to cultivate an attitude of openness, curiosity, and wonder; as a beginner would.

So many possibilities to explore! Come join the conversation!

THURS, 5/30 @ 7 PM

It was a night of bringing the funny!

CONGRATS to our winners! Ray took home Best Evaluator for his (always funny and insightful) evaluation. Cara won Best Table Topic for her story about trying to board a plane with a knife gift set (nice try, Cara!) and Diana earned the Sparky award for inspiring with her speech about age and spontaneous combustion (you had to be there!).

JOIN US for more as we pick up an extra meeting this month on the 5th Thursday, 5/30.

Hope to see you there!

JOIN US at our next meeting as we explore the theme “Traveling Back Home”. So many possibilities!

On the agenda, a Minute of Humor, a prepared speech, an exciting round of Table Topics, and a special session of Officer Elections for the 2024/2025 term!

THURS, 5/16 @ 7 PM

Join the conversation! Join the fun!

It was a night of speaking from the HEART!

Congrats to our winners of the night! Guest Trevor won the Sparky Award for sharing his courage and honesty and how he tries to always live life to the fullest. Renee offered up a thoughtful, constructive and compassionate evaluation of Louise’s speech earning her Best Evaluator of the night. And (new member!) Griffin walked away with Best Table Topics (again!) for his heartfelt story about the importance of siblings and family.

A good night!!

And a warm welcome to brand new members: Griffin and Bernie!

See you at our next meeting on Thursday, 5/16 @ 7 PM - same time, NEW LOCATION! Check our website for details.

Our theme for the night: Family Flair

We all have close or distant family members who stand out for their distinctive styles. Perhaps it’s their unique talents, style of clothing, or their cool, quirky, or just down right crazy personality.  What makes your family member stand out in a memorable way?  What’s their story?

JOIN the conversation! Join the FUN!

THURS, 5/2 @ 7:00 PM

Oh, the PRIDE and JOY! And the smiles!

Congrats to our winners of the night! Sheridith won Best Evaluator for her detailed and insightful evaluation of Lorin’s Ice Breaker speech. Lorin walked away with the Sparky Award for inspiring us with her journey through Toastmasters and pushing through the fear (or terror!) with humor. And guest, Griffin took Best Table Topics for his hilarious story of how to revive a houseplant (Pro-Tip: the most important ingredient is hope!).

JOIN US for our next meeting on 5/2!

Spring is here and it’s time for some SPRING CLEANING!

Clear out the cobwebs, dust off those old memories and observations and watch them bloom into stories!

On the agenda, new members step up and out of their comfort zones with 2 prepared speeches and a Minute of Humor. Seasoned members lead the night as Toastmaster and Table Topics Master.

JOIN the conversation! Join the FUN!

THURS, 4/18 @ 7:00 PM

Our very own Toastmaster Cara Wasden, is hosting two transformative workshops!

Cara uses her SPEAK & BE HEARD workshops to help adults and kids find their voice, build confidence, and learn tools to become powerful and effective communicators. All in a FUN, safe, and inspiring environment.

We love how Cara has taken her Toastmasters experience out into the world to support and uplift others!

Check out Cara’s website at www.coach-cara.com for more info.

(We recommend you hurry, space is limited and these fill up quickly!)

Cheers to Coach Cara! ✨✨

It was a night of heart-warming joy! Congrats to our winners of the night for bringing the heart and hope to our 4/4 meeting.

Durai charmed us with his tales of vulnerability and authenticity in his Ice Breaker speech. Ray moved us with his deeply personal story of kindness and accepting help (not a dry eye in the house!). Cara gave yet another incredible evaluation full of praise and suggestions for taking it to the next level. And guest Wikki won us over with his funny and poignant Table Topic of how bullying helped shape him as a man.

Join us on 4/18 for our next meeting!

JOIN US for our next meeting as we honor Diversity Month with the theme:

Celebrating our Differences

3 prepared Speeches, a Minute of Humor or Inspiration, and of course Table Topics (always inspiring, hilarious, and unexpected)!

Come join the conversation! Join the FUN!

THURS, 4/4 @ 7:00 PM

Toastmasters - public speaking club “Toast of Petaluma” (TOP) is looking for a dependable meeting location for EVERY 1st, 3rd and 5th -Thursday 6:30-8:30 pm. Chairs and tables for 30 max. WiFi with flat screen a bonus. TOP - nonprofit club - has continuously been meeting since 2000. Ability to pay fair market rental fee up to approx $35-37 an hour. Ideas - suggestions most welcome!!!

Congrats to the 3/21 winners of the night!

Brand new member, Lyle jumped right in and delivered his Ice Breaker full of wit and humor, Jean walked away with Best Table Topics (again!) with her hilarious story about brewing bad beer, and Cari is our ✨Sparky✨ of the night for sharing her bubbly and informative speech about sleep and sleep hygiene (who knew??).

Thank you to all of our members and returning guests for a fun-filled and thought-provoking night!

And a big welcome to our newest member, Louise!

See you next time on April 4th!

Inspired by Steven Pressfield, our Toastmaster for the evening, Gregory will lead us through an exploration of RESISTANCE.

“Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.”
- The WAR of ART, Steven Pressfield

On the agenda - prepared speeches, impromptu Table Topics, valuable feedback and evaluations! And as always, lots of FUN and community support!

Don’t let Resistance keep you from joining us!

THURS, 3/21 @ 7 PM

Congrats to the winners of our 3/7 meeting! It was an evening full of hilarity, insight, and inspiration.

Renee won for Best Evaluator with her thoughtful and constructive evaluation of Gregory's Ice Breaker (1st speech!!). Jean kept us guessing and laughing with her tale of a sushi adventure in Table Topics and Cara took the Sparky Award for her deeply personal, honest and moving story!

Just look at the JOY on their faces!

Thank you to our new and returning guests and a big WELCOME to our newest members - Lloyd, Julie, and Durai!

Up next... we explore RESISTANCE on 3/21!

Hope to see you there!