The 765th Regular Meeting Report
Date&Time: 14:00-16:00 July 2nd 2022/ Venue: Hatoba Kaikan + Online
There were 19 people participated in the meeting.
July 2nd was the start of a new year for Yokohama Toastmasters Club. The 765th meeting was held under clear blue skies at Hatoba Kaikan facing Yokohama Port and Online. To my surprise, it is the 35th year since the establishment of Yokohama Toastmasters in this term. Such a powerful team of officers for this term consists of a good balance of mid-career and younger members, led by a veteran president. I am very much looking forward to this term’s club activities, especially the 35th anniversary events.
President S, looking a little bit nervous, started the meeting by greeting. The topic was how to avoid heat stroke. As expected of a veteran, he excited the audience with his practical topic. Next, the word of the day, “Aesthetic,” was introduced. In Japan, the word is well-known as “ESUTE”.
Next, O-san, the new vice president of education, explained the educational policy for this term. His explanation was logical and orderly, as if he were an astute businessman.
Next, we moved on to the impromptu speech session. HERE, A PROBLEM OCCURRED. Today’s subject person was not available due to the failure of online connection. O-san, the vice president of education, suddenly volunteered to pinch-hit for the session. He enlivened the impromptu speeches with questions that did not seem impromptu. The questions were “What new things have you tried recently?”, “Do you protect your loved ones by law or by force?”, “What are you most proud of?”, “If I were to entertain my parents, what would I do?” “What is your favorite movie?”, and “If I could be reincarnated as someone else, who would it be?” The best prize went to T-san, who answered “Kaguyahime” to the question, “If you could be reincarnated as anyone, who would it be?
Next, we moved on to prepare speeches’ session. There were three prepared speakers.
O-san, who joined last month, introduced herself, A-san gave an award speech based on the scene where she won the center of AKB48’s election, and N-san gave a speech about her trip to Hokkaido, all of which were impressive. The best speaker was A-san.
After a short break, the last session was an evaluation session. The moderator was newcomer S-san. Moreover, it was the first time for S-san. I wondered how it would turn out, but I needn’t have worried. What a MAGNIFICENT moderator she was. The audience applauded her tactful moderation, as she asked for additional comments from evaluators whose evaluations were short on time, and when she noticed that not many today’s word usage, she had everyone practice pronunciation of the word. The best evaluator was M-san, who gave practical advice to S-san’s speech, such as “Take off your mask and show the expression on your face.”
It was a fun and fast-paced two hours. It seems that Yokohama Toastmasters Club will continue to be a very warm and enjoyable place this term. Everyone, please come to one of our meetings. ll the members are looking forward to seeing you.
7月2日は、横浜トーストマスターズの新年度のスタートの日です。晴れ渡る青空のもと第765回例会が横浜港に面した波止場会館とオンラインのハイブリットで開催されました。なんと、今期、横浜トーストマスターズは設立から35年目に突入します。そんな今期の役員は、ベテランの会長を筆頭に中堅と若手の会員がバランス良く構成されたパワフルチームです。35周年イベントを控えた今期のクラブ活動も大変楽しみです。
例会はやや緊張気味のS会長の挨拶で始まりました。話題は、熱中症を避ける方法です。さすがベテラン。実用的な話題で会場を沸かせます。続いて、今日の言葉は「Aesthetic（美的）」の紹介がありました。日本語では「エステ」というワードで有名ですね。
次に新任の教育担当副会長Oさんから、今期の教育方針について説明がありました。敏腕ビジネスマンらしい理路整然とした説明でした。
続いて即興スピーチのセッションに移ります。ここでトラブル発生。なんと、今日のお題係がオンライン接続できなくて不在です。そんなとき急遽、教育担当副会長のOさんがピンチヒッターをかってでます。即興とは思えない出題で、即興スピーチを盛り上げます。そんなお題は、「最近、挑戦した新しいことは」「大切な人は法で守るか、力で守るか」「最も自慢なことは」「両親をもてなすとしたら何をするか」「一番好きな映画は」「誰かに生まれ変われるとしたら誰に」でした。最優秀即興スピーチ賞は「誰かに生まれ変われるとしたら誰に」という出題に「かぐや姫」と回答したTさんでした。
続いて準備スピーチのセッションに移ります。今日の準備スピーカーは3名。先月入会したOさんによる自己紹介、AさんによるAKB48の総選挙でセンターに輝いた場面を想定した祝賀会スピーチ、Nさんによる北海道旅行の思い出スピーチ、どれも印象的なスピーチでした。最優秀スピーカーはAさんでした。
休憩を挟んで最後は論評セッションです。司会は新人Sさん。しかもSさんは初めて論評セッションを担当します。どうなるかと見ていると、そんな心配は無用でした。なんとも堂々とした司会ぶり。準備スピーチの論評時間が短かった人には、追加のコメントを求めたり、今日の言葉はあまり使われなかったことを知って、全員で発音練習をしたりと、機転の効いた司会に会場から大きな拍手が送られました。最優秀論評者は、Sさんのスピーチに対して「マスクを取って顔の表情を見せて」など実用的なアドバイスをしたMさんでした。
楽しくてあっという間の2時間でした。今期も横浜トーストマスターズクラブは、とても温かく楽しい場所であり続けるようです。皆さん、是非、一度、例会にご参加ください。会員一同、お待ちしております。
by K.O