Travel Talkers Toastmasters

The theme of our September 4, 2025, meeting was Group Tours and the word of the day for the meeting was camaraderie. The meeting centered on a discussion of the concept of “Moments of Truth.” Members shared personal experiences that shaped their perceptions of Toastmasters, highlighting the club’s supportive environment and global camaraderie. As part of the meeting we conducted a performance review of the club using the Moments of Truth framework. The club received positive ratings in several areas including meeting structure and organization, while identifying membership strength as an area for improvement.

Destination Master

Our Destination Master, Tym Myers, presented theses clues about a specific world-renowned waterfall, considered by many to be one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Tym asked us to provide the name of the waterfall and to identify each of the three waterfalls that are part of the this major natural wonder at the US-Canada border.

• This major waterfall consists of three waterfalls.
• During peak water release (Spring and Summer) a total of 99,000 cubic feet of water flow over these waterfalls every second.
• The larger of the named falls has the largest vertical drop in North America of 187 feet.
• Samuel de Champlain is credited with being the first European to see these falls in 1604.
• Theodosia Burr Alston ( daughter of Vice-President Aaron Burr) and her husband Joseph Alston were the first recorded couple to have honeymooned at the waterfalls in 1801.

If you guessed Niagara Falls—which includes Horseshoe Falls, straddling the international border between two countries, as well as two smaller falls, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, both of which are in the United States—you are correct!

Travel Topics

Lisa Hamil led the Travel Topics session which followed the meeting theme of Group Tours. Lisa asked our members how to plan a group tour for our club–where would we go, what method of transportation would we use, what foods would we enjoy. Avis suggested a comprehensive bus and train tour across North America, Europe, and the Bahamas, while Tym proposed a more compact 3-week itinerary. Jessy expressed interest in visiting Mars, inspired by a science fiction book series, and the group explored the idea of traveling as protons at the speed of light. The discussion highlighted our diverse travel preferences and the challenge of coordinating group experiences within realistic timeframes. Group Travel could also include a food-related theme, with Victoria suggesting American comfort food, including fried catfish, greens, peach cobbler, and sweet tea. Lisa asked about collaboration strategies for a group trip, focusing on travel coordination and logistics. Jacqueline suggested that planning would be necessary, depending on the type of tour, such as meeting at a central location for cruises or coordinating flights from local airports. More planning is needed to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip together.

Transformative Moments in Toastmasters

Helen Josephine, the speaker for the meeting, focused her presentation on the concept of “Moments of Truth” in Toastmasters, where members share and discuss their personal experiences that shaped their perceptions of the organization. As the facilitator, Helen encouraged participants to reflect on instances that formed lasting impressions of the club’s quality and service. Several members, including Tym, Meghan, Jessy, Avis, Kit, Lisa, and Jacqueline, shared their moments of truth, highlighting the club’s global camaraderie, supportive environment, and the transformative impact of public speaking. The discussion emphasized the value of consistent participation, honest introspection, continuous improvement, and the club’s ability to foster personal growth and community through shared experiences.

Club Performance Review and Improvements

As part of her presentation, Helen reviewed club performance across various areas using the “Moments of Truth” framework. She highlighted positive feedback on first impressions and membership orientation, noting that new members Victoria and Jessy were recently welcomed, with mentor Kit assigned to guide them. The club received an “A” rating for meeting structure and organization, including timely starts and ends. Membership strength was identified as an area for improvement, with suggestions to reach 20 members to achieve President’s Distinguished status. The club received a “B+” for achievement recognition, with plans to implement progress charts and enhance member recognition programs. Helen encouraged members to communicate improvement ideas to officers for implementation.

Join us on September 11

The theme of our September 11 meeting is “River Cruises.” Join the Travel Talkers Toastmasters Club for a fun evening sharing your adventures. Engage with fellow members as we share our stories about traveling. This is your opportunity to focus on your public speaking skills and get valuable feedback in a supportive Toastmasters-style environment. The meeting is on Thursday, September 11th from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm Pacific time. We want to hear about your travel and adventure plans.

Guests are always welcome to attend our meetings. If you would like to join the club, contact Helen Josephine for an application form.

Register for the meeting: https://tinyurl.com/TravelTalkersZoomLink

We look forward to hearing your travel stories! Join us to be inspired to take your next trip.