Conservatively Speaking Toastmasters Club

08/29/2026

Previous week's meeting brought members together for another morning of learning, encouragement, and personal growth. Through prepared speeches, insightful evaluations, and lively Table Topics, we were reminded that every opportunity to speak is also an opportunity to inspire, connect, and grow.

A special thank you to Sudyanti Widjaja, our Toastmaster of the Day, for guiding the meeting with confidence, enthusiasm, and professionalism. Your smooth transitions and engaging leadership kept the meeting flowing while creating a welcoming environment that encouraged participation from both members and guests.

The meeting featured a compelling presentation centered on audience engagement and passion. Zoe Zou took the stage with her speech titled "My Joy with Animal Caring" from the Presentation Mastery path (Persuasive Speaking), delivering a thoughtful and heartwarming session.

The Table Topics session, led by Wing Shuen Alice-Lau, challenged participants to think on their feet with creative and thought-provoking prompts. Members stepped outside their comfort zones—including Saina stepping up for a fantastic impromptu speech—sharing spontaneous stories, unique perspectives, and plenty of laughter.

Meeting Award Winners:

Table Topics Winner: Sarah Lusby

Evaluator Winner: Masaru Hirose

Speaker Winner: Zoe Zou

A heartfelt thank you to the meeting team whose dedication helped make the session a success:

Sergeant at Arms: Saravanan Kaliappan

Officer Welcome & Grammarian: Kee Smith

Toastmaster of the Day: Sudyanti Widjaja

Ah-Counter: Sarah Lusby

General Evaluator: Saina Taidi

Table Topics Master: Wing Shuen Alice-Lau

Evaluator #1: Masaru Hirose

The meeting concluded with a detailed evaluation report from Masaru Hirose and constructive feedback that encouraged our speaker to continue developing her communication and leadership skills. Club business followed, reinforcing our shared commitment to helping one another grow in a supportive and encouraging environment.

Every Toastmasters meeting reminds us that confidence is not built overnight. It is developed one speech, one evaluation, and one courageous step at a time.

We look forward to seeing everyone at our next meeting as we continue learning, growing, and inspiring one another!

08/09/2026

Fun Toastmasters meeting we had on August 8th!

This week's meeting brought members together for another morning of learning, encouragement, and personal growth. Through prepared speeches, insightful evaluations, and lively Table Topics, we were reminded that every opportunity to speak is also an opportunity to inspire, connect, and grow.

A special thank you to Masaru Hirose, our Toastmaster of the Day, for guiding the meeting with confidence, enthusiasm, and professionalism for the theme Hiking in the Pacific Northwest.

Your smooth transitions and engaging leadership kept the meeting flowing while creating a welcoming environment that encouraged participation from both members and guests.

The meeting featured a compelling presentation that highlighted presence and audience engagement. Wing Shuen Alice-Lau took the stage with a project on "Managing a Difficult Audience" from the Presentation Mastery path, delivering a thoughtful and interactive session on navigating challenging room dynamics with grace and composure.

The Table Topics session challenged participants to think on their feet with creative and thought-provoking prompts. Members stepped outside their comfort zones, sharing spontaneous stories, unique perspectives, and plenty of laughter, making for another energetic and engaging session.

Meeting Award Winners:

Table Topics Winner: Rohan

Evaluator Winner: Finn

Speaker Winner: Wing Shuen Alice-Lau

New Member: Gyanendra Jaiswal

A heartfelt thank you to the meeting team whose dedication helped make the session a success:

Greeter: Kevin Morgan

Sergeant at Arms: Saravanan Kaliappan

Toastmaster of the Day: Masaru Hirose

Grammarian: Chelvy Suntheresen

Ah-Counter: Sarah Lusby

Timer: Kee Smith

The meeting concluded with thoughtful evaluation reports and constructive feedback that encouraged our speaker to continue developing her communication and leadership skills. Club business followed, reinforcing our shared commitment to helping one another grow in a supportive and encouraging environment.

Every Toastmasters meeting reminds us that confidence is not built overnight. It is developed one speech, one evaluation, and one courageous step at a time.

We look forward to seeing everyone at our next meeting as we continue learning, growing, and inspiring one another!

08/03/2026

Another fantastic Toastmasters meeting ! This week's session brought members together for an inspiring morning of learning, encouragement, and personal growth. Through prepared speeches, insightful evaluations, and lively Table Topics, we were reminded that every opportunity to step up to the podium is a chance to inspire, connect, and grow.

A special thank you to Saravanan Kaliappan, our Toastmaster of the Day, for guiding the meeting with confidence, enthusiasm, and professionalism. Your smooth transitions and engaging leadership kept the session flowing perfectly while creating a welcoming environment for everyone in attendance.

The meeting kicked off with an excellent speaking tip from Finn McClusky, setting a high bar for the day's presentations. The morning featured two powerful prepared speeches:

Kevin Morgan opened the speaking portion with a compelling presentation from the Presentation Mastery path, delivering a speech focused on purposeful writing and structure.

Benny Mobley followed with a dynamic speech from the Persuasive Influence path, showcasing the impact of strategic communication and persuasive delivery.

Our Table Topics session challenged participants to think on their feet with creative prompts. Members stepped outside their comfort zones, sharing spontaneous stories, unique perspectives, and plenty of laughter, making for another energetic and highly engaging session.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the dedicated meeting team who helped make the session a seamless success:

Sergeant at Arms: Saravanan Kaliappan

Toastmaster of the Day: Saravanan Kaliappan

Greeter: Kevin Morgan

Officer Welcome: Finn McClusky

Grammarian: Sarah Lusby

Timer: KimAnh Vu

General Evaluator: Wing Shuen Alice-Lau

The meeting concluded with thoughtful evaluation reports led by our General Evaluator, providing the constructive feedback that helps every speaker continue developing their communication and leadership skills. We look forward to seeing everyone at our next meeting as we continue learning, growing, and inspiring one another!

08/01/2026

Ever wondered what Toastmasters is all about? Come celebrate with us this weekend and see firsthand how we help each other grow as speakers and leaders. Don't just take our word for it, feel free to check out the Toastmaster International's testimonials. https://www.toastmasters.org/Membership/Member-Testimonials

Everyone is welcome! Whether you're looking to conquer public speaking fears or just want to meet some amazing people in the community, we'd love to have you.

📅 When: This Saturday at 9:00 AM
📍 Where: 4400 130th Pl SE, Bellevue, WA 98006

See you there! 👋✨

Why do people join Toastmasters and how do they benefit? Members from different countries and backgrounds share how they’ve gained confidence in communication and leadership.

07/26/2026

Amazing Toastmasters meeting we had on July 25th!

This week's meeting brought members together for another morning of learning, encouragement, and personal growth.

Through prepared speeches, insightful evaluations, and lively Table Topics, we were reminded that every opportunity to speak is also an opportunity to inspire, connect, and grow.

A special thank you to Sarah Lusby, our Toastmaster of the Day, for guiding the meeting with confidence, enthusiasm, and professionalism. Your smooth transitions and engaging leadership kept the meeting flowing while creating a welcoming environment that encouraged participation from both members and guests.

The meeting featured three meaningful speeches that highlighted presence, self awareness, and persuasion.

Kumar Vaibhav opened the speaking portion with "Why Does Showing Up Matter?" from the Persuasive Influence path. Through the story of a simple trip back to his alma mater, he reminded us that the most meaningful outcomes in life happen simply because we choose to show up.

Zoe Zou followed with "Discovering My Communication Style and Its Impact," an honest reflection on how understanding the way we naturally communicate helps us express ourselves with confidence, clarity, and purpose.

Saina Taidi closed the speaking portion with "People Don't Resist Change. They Resist Being Changed." Her persuasive speech explored why we welcome some changes and fight others, and challenged us to look at resistance as something deeper than the change itself.

The Table Topics session, led by Sudyanti Widjaja, challenged participants to think on their feet with creative and thought provoking prompts. Members stepped outside their comfort zones, sharing spontaneous stories, unique perspectives, and plenty of laughter, making for another energetic and engaging session.

🏆 Table-topics Winner:
Rohan 👏

🏆 Table Topics Winner:
Saina 👏

🏆 Evaluator Winner:
Benny 👏

🏆 Speaker Winner:
Zoe 👏

A heartfelt thank you to the meeting team whose dedication helped make the session a success:

Sergeant at Arms: Saravanan Kaliappan
Toastmaster of the Day: Sarah Lusby
Grammarian: Akie "Kiki" Danilowicz
Timer: Gang Feng
Table Topics Master: Sudyanti Widjaja
Evaluators: Gabriela Claravall, Benny Mobley, and Zoe Zou

The meeting concluded with thoughtful evaluation reports and constructive feedback that encouraged every speaker to continue developing their communication and leadership skills. Club business followed, reinforcing our shared commitment to helping one another grow in a supportive and encouraging environment.

Every Toastmasters meeting reminds us that confidence is not built overnight. It is developed one speech, one evaluation, and one courageous step at a time.

We look forward to seeing everyone at our next meeting as we continue learning, growing, and inspiring one another.

07/18/2026

Amazing Toastmasters meeting we had on July 18th!

This week's meeting brought members together for another morning of learning, encouragement, and personal growth.

Through prepared speeches, insightful evaluations, and lively Table Topics, we were reminded that every opportunity to speak is also an opportunity to inspire, connect, and grow.

A special thank you to Gang Feng, our Toastmaster of the Day, for guiding the meeting with confidence, enthusiasm, and professionalism. Your seamless transitions and engaging leadership kept the meeting flowing smoothly while creating a welcoming environment that encouraged participation from both members and guests.

The Theme Was Ice Cream!!!

One speaker shared valuable insights through their prepared presentation, while Saravanan Kaliappan took us back to a memorable childhood experience in his speech, "The Silence That Changed Me."

Through humor, heartfelt storytelling, and reflection, he reminded us that some of life's greatest lessons come from unexpected moments and the people who care for us most. The speaking portion concluded with another engaging presentation that continued to showcase the diverse experiences and perspectives that make every Toastmasters meeting unique.

The Table Topics session, led by Sarah Lusby, challenged participants to think on their feet with creative and thought-provoking prompts. Members stepped outside their comfort zones, sharing spontaneous stories, unique perspectives, and plenty of laughter, making for another energetic and engaging session.

🏆 Table Topics Winner:
Saina 👏

A heartfelt thank you to the meeting team whose dedication helped make the session a success:
Sergeant at Arms: Saravanan Kaliappan
Toastmaster of the Day: Gang Feng
Grammarian: Finn McClusky (Word of the Day: Savor)
Timer: Zoe Zou
General Evaluator: Masaru Hirose
Table Topics Master: Sarah Lusby
Evaluator: Sudyanti Widjaja
Officer Welcome: Kiki

The meeting concluded with thoughtful evaluation reports and constructive feedback that encouraged every speaker to continue developing their communication and leadership skills. Club business followed, reinforcing our shared commitment to helping one another grow in a supportive and encouraging environment.

Every Toastmasters meeting reminds us that confidence isn't built overnight it's developed one speech, one evaluation, and one courageous step at a time. We look forward to seeing everyone at our next meeting as we continue learning, growing, and inspiring one another.

07/17/2026

Are you preparing for a job interview? Confidence does not come from reading tips. It comes from practice.

Toastmasters helps you build that confidence through impromptu speaking, so you can walk into any interview ready for whatever they throw at you. Jennifer Blanck, DTM shares practical advice in her article on how to interview for a job, in person and online: https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2025/july/how-to-interview-for-a-job?fbclid=IwY2xjawTGaINleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe_3V-FLMEN5mM0gQSUucP4uyLeFw-ZHMC8bcNFHkADYm2TKLjmzxB5NUMPns_aem_oY4eTuTuOsdxiNVRTaENGw

We also have something to celebrate! Our club just achieved the Smedley Award, a recognition of our growth and momentum.

Come celebrate with us and see what we are all about.

📅 Regular meeting this Saturday at 9:00 AM�📍 4400 130th Pl SE, Bellevue, WA 98006

Everyone is welcome!

Use these tips for job interviews, both in person and online.

07/13/2026

Another engaging and inspiring Toastmasters meeting on July 11th a reminder that every speech, evaluation, and impromptu response is an opportunity to grow as communicators, leaders, and lifelong learners.

This week's theme, Global Population Day, encouraged us to reflect on the people, cultures, and communities that make up our world. It served as a reminder that while we come from diverse backgrounds and experiences, communication is what connects us, fosters understanding, and inspires positive change.

A special thank you to Gabriela Claravall, our Toastmaster of the Day, for leading the meeting with enthusiasm and confidence while weaving the Global Population Day theme throughout the program.

Your thoughtful transitions and engaging leadership created a welcoming atmosphere that encouraged participation and meaningful conversation from beginning to end.

The meeting featured a lineup of meaningful speeches that showcased personal reflection, leadership, and service. Saina Taidi invited us to reflect on the question, "How Do We Become Ourselves?", encouraging us to think about identity, growth, and the experiences that shape who we are. Saravanan Kaliappan shared a compelling story about negotiating with an unexpected opponent his own desire for comfort demonstrating valuable negotiation strategies through personal experience.

Kevin Morgan concluded the speaking portion with an inspiring speech about the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank, highlighting the importance of community service and the difference one person can make in the lives of many.

The Table Topics session, led by Benny Mobley, challenged participants to think on their feet with questions inspired by the meeting's theme.

Members shared thoughtful perspectives on our global community, personal experiences, and the importance of understanding one another, creating a fun, engaging, and energetic atmosphere.

🏆 Table Topics Winner:
Finn McClusky 👏

A heartfelt thank you to the meeting team whose dedication helped make the session a success:

Greeter: Kevin Morgan
Sergeant at Arms: Chittibabu Pacharu
Officer Welcome & Presiding Officer: Kee Smith
Toastmaster of the Day: Gabriela Claravall
Grammarian: Gang Feng (Word of the Day)
Ah-Counter: Kee Smith
Timer: KimAnh Vu
General Evaluator: Benny Mobley
Table Topics Master: Benny Mobley
Evaluators: Finn McClusky and Masaru Hirose, Benny Mobley

The meeting concluded with thoughtful evaluation reports, constructive feedback that encouraged continued growth, and club business led by Kee Smith, reminding us once again why Toastmasters is such a supportive environment for developing communication and leadership skills.

As we celebrated Global Population Day, we were reminded that every voice matters, every story has value, and effective communication has the power to bridge cultures, strengthen communities, and bring people together!

07/05/2026

Another engaging and inspiring Toastmasters meeting on July 4th a reminder that growth happens when we consistently challenge ourselves to communicate, lead, and inspire one another.

A special thank you to Chittibabu Pacharu, our Toastmaster of the Day, for leading the meeting with enthusiasm and keeping the theme engaging from start to finish. Their guidance created a welcoming and supportive environment that encouraged participation throughout the morning.

The meeting featured a lineup of meaningful speeches that highlighted personal growth and diverse perspectives. Gabriela Claravall delivered "What My Mentor Taught Me," sharing valuable lessons on mentorship as part of the Introduction to Toastmasters Mentoring project. Akie "Kiki" Danilowicz followed with "The Culture I Chose," demonstrating effective vocal variety and body language while reflecting on a meaningful personal journey.

The Table Topics session, led by Karishmaa, challenged members to think on their feet and respond with confidence, creating a fun and energetic atmosphere for everyone in attendance.

🏆 Table Topics Winner:
Saina 👏

A big thank you to the meeting team whose dedication helped make the session a success:

Greeter: Kevin Morgan
Sergeant at Arms & Toastmaster of the Day: Chittibabu Pacharu
Officer Welcome & Presiding Officer: Kee Smith
Grammarian: Chelvy Suntheresen (Word of the Day)
Ah-Counter: Sarah Lusby
Timer: Kee Smith
General Evaluator: Benny Mobley
Table Topics Master: Karishmaa
Evaluators: Masaru Hirose and Kevin Morgan

The meeting concluded with reports from the evaluation team, club business led by Kee Smith, and another reminder of what makes Toastmasters such a rewarding experience.

Meetings like this showcase the supportive environment, continuous learning, and sense of community that make Toastmasters so valuable. Whether you're looking to strengthen your public speaking skills, grow as a leader, or build confidence, every meeting offers an opportunity to learn, connect, and grow together.

06/28/2026

Celebrating the club's success achieving the Smedley Level!