Omotesando Bilingual Toastmasters Club (OBTMC) welcomed members of Kamakura Toastmasters Club (KTMC) for a memorable joint gathering: our 408th meeting coincided with KTMC’s 500th, a milestone that drew warm congratulations and heartfelt thanks to every Kamakura member who travelled to Omotesando to celebrate with us.
The meeting opened with OBTMC’s traditional “Good & New” segment. In today’s sharing, one member described navigating an unspoken duel in a cinema and emerging victorious, while another reflected on how a recent funeral, though somber, powerfully reaffirmed family bonds.
KTMC then introduced two of its signature sessions. First came a spirited club song that instantly bridged any distance between the two groups. Next, “Today’s Special” offered a vivid narrative from TM M, who described a once-bustling coastal town now facing rapid depopulation; this sparked a lively impromptu comment speech from participant making the meetings fresh.
Our featured presentations followed. TM ST delivered a thought-provoking analysis of current world affairs, describing today’s turbulence as the greatest turning point in thirty years and arguing that such adversity can spur profound personal growth. TM Y then recounted overcoming unexpected hurdles during a speech contest and turned that experience into an electrifying performance that demonstrated resilience in action.
The impromptu section invited each participant to accept a whimsical, unfamiliar prize and deliver an acceptance speech without preparation. When TM D received the tongue-in-cheek title of “Queen of Lost Umbrellas,” she proudly proclaimed her unrivalled talent for misplacing umbrellas and secured the day’s Best Table Topics Speaker ribbon.
Seasoned evaluators TM SY and TM T offered constructive feedback that balanced commendation with practical suggestions. Support-role reports then followed seamlessly: TM M summarised the day’s usage of “murmur” as Word of the Day, TM J logged filler words, TM L presented timing statistics, and TM A delivered a comprehensive General Evaluation.
Our next meeting will be held in Japanese on May 31st, and we look forward to seeing everyone there. Until then, we once again salute Kamakura Toastmasters Club on reaching its 500-meeting milestone and thank them for bringing their energy and friendship to Omotesando. Together, both clubs proved that collaboration magnifies learning and joy.