https://realorators.toastmastersclubs.org/

Real Orators Toastmasters, Vista La Mesa Christian Church Vista La Mesa Christian Church, 4210 Massachusetts Avenue, La Mesa, CA (2026)

06/03/2026

At first glance, this photo could probably be mistaken for a very familiar scene in today’s world.

A group of people sitting together while everyone looks down at their phones.

Honestly, we see it everywhere now.
In restaurants.
In waiting rooms.
Even families sitting together at dinner.

People physically together, but not really connected.

But this moment was actually the opposite.

This was the final few minutes of our Friday morning Toastmasters meeting, and everyone was using technology to vote for:
🏆 Best Speaker
🏆 Best Evaluator
🏆 Best Table Topics Speaker
🏆 Most Improved

What I appreciate about this moment is what happened during the hour before the phones came out.

People stood up and shared pieces of themselves.
Some practiced leadership.
Some practiced courage.
Some worked through nerves.
Some made us laugh.
Some made us think.

There were conversations, encouragement, feedback, learning, and connection.

And then, at the very end, we paused to recognize the people who impacted us most during the meeting.

Technology can absolutely pull people apart.
But sometimes, it can also support something meaningful that already brought people together.

That’s one of the things I’ve come to appreciate about our lFriday morning Toastmasters group.

05/27/2026

One of the things I enjoy most about Toastmasters is watching people grow in confidence right in front of us.

This week, we celebrated a member who spoke prolifically throughout the meeting, not just during his prepared speech, but during Table Topics, conversations at break, and in the encouragement he gave others around the room.

That’s one of the unexpected gifts of Toastmasters. The more consistently we participate, the more naturally communication begins to flow. Speaking becomes a little less intimidating. Listening becomes more intentional. And little by little, confidence grows.

Our Word of the Day was “prolifically,” and by the end of the meeting, it felt like the perfect description for the way ideas, encouragement, laughter, and growth were shared around the room.

Every Friday, we spend a little over an hour building skills that impact every area of life:
✔ Speaking
✔ Listening
✔ Leadership
✔ Confidence
✔ Connection

And somehow, we have a lot of fun doing it.

Guests are always welcome at Real Orators Toastmasters.

05/22/2026

Another one of my favorite parts of our Toastmasters meeting isn’t actually on the agenda.

It’s the five-minute break.

Right before the speaker presents, we pause. No roles. No pressure. Just a few minutes to connect.

We talk about our week.
We follow up on conversations from the last meeting.
We laugh. We catch up. We get to know each other a little better.

And on this Friday, those conversations felt even more special.

Our group is growing, and we had four guests join us.

There’s something really nice about that moment when new faces are welcomed into the circle. That short break gives us the chance to say hello, learn a little about each other, and make sure no one feels like they’re walking into a room of strangers.

It may not seem like much, but those few minutes matter.

Because what we’re building here isn’t just better speakers.

We’re building relationships.

When you stand up to speak in front of a group, it helps to feel like you’re not standing in front of strangers. It helps to feel known. Supported. Comfortable enough to try, to improve, to grow.

That five-minute break creates that space.

It turns a meeting into a community.

Have you ever been part of a group where the connections mattered just as much as the purpose?

05/20/2026

This is what listening looks like.

Not just hearing words… but really paying attention.

At our Toastmasters meeting, our Grammarian listens the entire time. During prepared speeches. During evaluations. And yes, even during Table Topics.

This page is what he captured.

Phrases that stood out.
Ideas that mattered.
Moments that were worth repeating back to us.

When he shared these notes during the meeting, it was a reminder of something simple but powerful.

Our words matter.

Sometimes we say something without even realizing how meaningful it is. And it takes someone else listening closely to reflect it back to us.

That’s one of the things I appreciate most about this group.

We don’t just practice speaking.
We practice listening.
And in doing that, we help each other become more thoughtful, more aware, and more intentional with what we say.

When was the last time someone really listened to you… and reflected your words back in a way that made you pause?

If you want to experience this, join us on Friday mornings at 7:25am-8:35am! If you want to know more, just post your question, I'll do my best to get you an accurate answer.

05/13/2026

Hi, it’s me.

I’ve been sharing posts here for the past several months, and I thought it might be time you saw the person behind them.

This selfie was taken toward the end of one of our meeting. It’s a simple moment, but it represents something that has become really meaningful to me.

A little over one hour each week has given me more than I expected.

More confidence standing up and sharing my thoughts.
More awareness of the small habits I didn’t even realize I had, like filler words that used to sneak into my conversations.
And relationships with people who are all working on improving themselves in a supportive and encouraging way.

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about getting a little better each time you show up.

If you’ve ever thought about becoming more comfortable speaking, or just being part of a group that encourages growth, you would be very welcome to join us and see what it’s all about.

Have you ever done something small on a weekly basis that ended up making a bigger difference than you expected?

05/06/2026

Table Topics is one of my favorite parts of our meetings.

It looks simple.
A question.
A few minutes to respond.
No preparation.

But something really interesting happens in those moments.

We start to learn who people actually are.

One minute someone is answering, “If you had to choose one word to describe yourself, what would it be and why?”
The next person is sharing a funny childhood memory.
Then someone else is talking about their favorite trip and why it mattered so much.

We hear about hobbies people love, or ones they’ve always wanted to try.
We learn what people do for work and what their days really look like.
We get recommendations for books, shows, even songs that have stayed with them.

And sometimes the question is simple, like “Do you have any pets?”
And suddenly there’s a story behind it that makes the whole room smile.

These aren’t just speaking exercises.

They’re moments where a group of people who may not know each other very well… start to connect.

You begin to understand what matters to someone.
What shaped them.
Why they show up the way they do.

And that’s where friendships start.

That’s the part that keeps people coming back.

If you’ve ever been curious about Toastmasters, come sit in on a meeting and experience Table Topics for yourself.

You might be surprised by what you learn… about others and about yourself.

04/29/2026

This is what our Friday mornings look like.

A group of people, gathered for just over an hour, all working on something that matters more than most of us realize.

Our voice.

In this moment, everyone is writing.

We’re capturing our thoughts about a speech we just heard. Not to critique in a harsh way, but to help each other grow.

There’s a simple structure we follow.

Share something that worked.
Share something to improve.
Close with encouragement.

It sounds simple. And it is.

But it changes everything.

Because learning how to give feedback is just as important as learning how to speak.

We learn to listen more carefully.
We learn to notice what connects.
We learn how to say something helpful, in a way that can actually be received.

And that carries far beyond this room.

Into conversations.
Into relationships.
Into the way we support the people around us.

This is what growth looks like.

Not perfect speeches.
Not perfect words.

Just people showing up, paying attention, and helping each other get a little better.

If you’ve ever wanted to feel more confident speaking or sharing your thoughts, this is a place where that happens.

Friday mornings at 7:25 AM in La Mesa.

You are always welcome to join us.

04/22/2026

We don’t just learn how to speak.

We learn how to unlearn.

We learn to pause instead of filling the space.
To think before we speak.
To trust that silence is not something to fear.

And over time, something shifts.

Our words become more intentional.
Our message becomes easier to hear.
Our presence becomes stronger.

Not because we are trying harder.

But because we are paying attention.

If you’ve ever wondered how to become a better speaker, it starts with awareness.

And sometimes, it starts with a simple click.

Join us Friday mornings at 7:25 AM in La Mesa.

You might be surprised what you learn by listening to yourself.

04/15/2026

There’s something you might not expect when you walk into a Toastmasters meeting.

A playbook.

Every meeting follows a clear schedule.
Who speaks.
When they speak.
How long they speak.

It’s all laid out.

And that structure matters more than you might think.

Because when you know what to expect, you can relax.
You can focus.
You can participate without wondering what is coming next.

For our members, it creates consistency.
For our visitors, it creates comfort.

No guessing.
No chaos.
Just a steady flow that keeps the meeting moving and gives everyone a chance to grow.

It also teaches something deeper.

Great communication doesn’t just happen.

It’s supported by structure.

Whether it’s a meeting, a presentation, or even a conversation, having a plan allows you to show up more confidently and be fully present.

That’s what we practice every Friday morning.

A place where structure and support work together so everyone can find their voice.

If you’ve ever been curious about how to become a more confident speaker, come see how it works.

Friday mornings at 7:25 AM in La Mesa.

You’ll know exactly what to expect. And you’ll be glad you came.

04/08/2026

Do you know what an “Ah Counter” does?

It might sound like a small role, but it is one of the most powerful habits you can build as a speaker.

At Toastmasters, the Ah Counter listens closely during every speech, evaluation, and Table Topics response. Their job is to track those little filler words we all use without thinking.

“Um”
“Ah”
“You know”
“Like”

And when they hear a filler word, they use a clicker. Yes, the same kind used to train a dog.

Each time a filler word slips in, click.

It is simple. It is honest. And it works.

When I first joined Toastmasters, I learned something about myself through this role.

My filler word was “so.”

I didn’t even realize how often I used it until I heard that click.

We don’t notice these patterns when we are speaking.

But our listeners do.

And over time, those small words can distract from what we are trying to say.

This is not about being perfect. It is about becoming aware.

When someone reflects it back to us, something shifts. We slow down. We choose our words more carefully. We become more intentional.

And that does not just help on a stage.

It shows up in conversations.
In meetings.
In how we communicate with the people who matter most.

Clear communication builds trust.

And trust starts with being heard.

If you have ever wanted to become a more confident speaker, or even just feel more comfortable expressing your thoughts, this is one of the many ways we practice.

Come visit us Friday mornings at 7:25 AM in La Mesa.

You might be surprised what you learn about yourself.

Real Orators Toastmasters

06/03/2026

05/27/2026

05/22/2026

05/20/2026

05/13/2026

05/06/2026

04/29/2026

04/22/2026

04/15/2026

04/08/2026

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