Capital Chatterers Toastmasters

💬 Word of the Week: RESONATE (v.) — to evoke a feeling or memory through words. What's a speech that really resonated with you?

Reminder: Deep breaths.

Real leadership in action often looks like listening — really listening — before jumping to a solution. It builds trust and surfaces ideas you'd otherwise miss.

💡 Tuesday Tip: In your next meeting or conversation, ask one more question before offering your opinion.

www.toastmasters.org.nz

🏆 Club Table Topics Contest!

Last Wednesday's (5th August) meeting was given over entirely to our Table Topics Contest. Four members put their hands up to compete, with no preparation and two minutes on the clock to answer one question:

"What's one thing you think everyone should do at least once in their life?"

Congratulations to our placegetters:

🥇 Matt Walters 🥈 Cam Hyslop 🥉 Malcolm Freebairn

And a big thanks to Greg Reilly for contesting as well. Four people willing to stand up and speak with no notice is a good morning by any measure.

Matt now goes on to represent Capital Chatterers at the Area contest. Go well, Matt!

Thanks to Philip Smith for chairing, to everyone who took a role on the day, and to the judges who came across from other clubs to help us run it.

We also had excellent kai: freshly baked scones with loads of butter and jam, rocky road, legendary TimTam and brie with fruit and nut crackers. Contest mornings are worth getting up for. ☕

We love seeing wisdom from one of Aotearoa's own featured by Toastmasters International! 🇳🇿

Whether you're giving your Ice Breaker or your fiftieth speech, remember: your audience doesn't need perfect — they need you. Where in your speaking journey are you learning to let go of perfect?

🏆 Mid-year awards breakfast at Robbiez on The Terrace!

We closed out the Toastmasters year the right way: good food, a lot of laughter, and finally saying out loud what we notice about each other every Wednesday morning.

Toastmaster of the Year goes to Chris Stokes, with Matt Walters and Cam Hyslop as joint runners-up. Congratulations to all three of you.

Then our past presidents, Sidney Jane and Juliet, handed out their President's Choice Awards, and honestly

Congratulations everyone. Bring on the new year.

Memories

Here is the Group Photo taken at the 30th Anniversary dinner.

Kia ora from Capital Chatterers! 🎤❄️

A hard frost greeted us this morning, but that did not stop a warm and wonderful Matariki-themed meeting.

Highlights from the morning:

👑 Congratulations to Felicity, our Toastmaster of the Day, for a sharp and insightful evaluation!

Contest season is almost here, so mark 5 August for our club Table Topics contest.

Curious about building your confidence on your feet? Come along as our guest; new faces are always welcome. 😊

Mānawatia a Matariki! ✨