Hi-Noon Toastmasters Club 3963

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Huntsville, AL
Hi-Noon Toastmasters Club 3963

Public Speaking Club

Supportive Feedback - New Skills/Confidence

No commute. Learn by doing. Achieve personal/professional goals. Low cost. And it really works!

We've built confident speakers and leaders since 1982. "It's the best hour of the week." Each meeting of our club, Hi-Noon Toastmasters, is a workshop because it includes opportunities to practice - conducting meetings - delivering impromptu speeches - presenting prepared speeches - giving/receiving constructive feedback - all in the company of our fun, supportive membership. Guests often say it f

eels like home. Our club is part of Toastmasters International - a 100-year-old, non-profit network of 15,000 clubs in 145 countries, dedicated to helping people improve their communication and leadership skills. In Toastmasters, people can also learn and practice the soft skills - communication; organization; teamwork; punctuality; critical thinking; social skills; creativity; interpersonal communication; adaptability and friendly personality. Guests are always welcome. Visiting is free. To request the Zoom login, use the Contact Us button. The welcoming session starts at 11:30 AM CT (CST = UTC - 6, CDT = UTC - 5) every Tuesday. Plan to 'arrive' by 11:45 AM. After the meeting, you can get answers to any questions you have. The Toastmasters education program is called Pathways. It is a flexible, interactive way to develop the communication and leadership skills that you need to succeed. There is much more information on our website. We are located in Huntsville, Alabama. Our club is a safe and supportive place to polish your communication skills. Our members include authors, artist, educators, college students, engineers and even a NASA Scientist! We are a very diverse group. Whether you are working to advance your career, improve your presentation skills or just feel confident speaking in front of others...Hi-Noon Toastmasters Club is the place for you. Still on the fence? Here are 6 reasons why you should join us:

1. You’ll become a better speaker. Yes, that's a "no-brainer" reason for joining Hi-Noon Toastmasters. When you join Toastmasters, you receive a free educational "Path" with 5 levels of increasingly challenging speaking projects. I'm sure you've heard that “you get out of Toastmasters what you put in.” This is a great reminder that you must put in the work and prepare for your speeches in order to become a better speaker. Of course you will have plenty of help doing that.

2. You’ll become a better listener. By watching other members’ speeches and evaluating their performance, you’ll soon improve your listening skills. Evaluating your fellow club members enables you to really pay attention and listen carefully. This gets you into the habit of listening, absorbing and analyzing…which becomes a valuable learning opportunity.

3. You’ll develop stronger leadership skills. In addition to the opportunity to improve speaking skills, members of Toastmasters can take on leadership roles within their club. Opportunities include President, VP of Education, VP of Public Relations, VP of Membership and Treasurer. These opportunities give you a chance to lead your club and improve the experience of its members. These skills can be transferred to both your personal and professional life.

4. Joining Toastmasters will help improve your job interview skills. The process of practicing your speech and making sure it’s clear and concise will help you in your interviews.

5. Joining Toastmasters will help you think on your feet. Each Toastmasters club has a part of the meeting known as “Table Topics.” During this part, the Table Topics Master lays out a scenario and calls members of the club to the lectern to respond to the statement or answer a question. You might be asked something as simple and fun as “what is your favorite summer vacation memory?” or something complex such as “why do you think there is life on other planets?” In any case, you'll need to think on your toes to response and let me say...that is a great skill to have.

6. You’ll expand your network. Toastmasters is a great way to meet new, interesting and successful people. You have the opportunity to meet many new friends and acquaintances in a wide range of industries. Remember when I said earlier that we are a diverse group? This is true. These members can sometimes become friends and many have become mentors. You'll also have plenty of opportunities to help them, as well. So, are you ready? Join us on Tuesdays from 11:30 AM to 1pm. Meet our members, observe our meeting, hear a few speeches and see for yourself if we are a good fit for YOU! Hope to see you this Tuesday!

08/30/2026

Meeting Report (for 8-25-2026):

Guest: Nick (Greece). 😊

Remika & Stephan attended TLI (Toastmasters leader training) recently, completing the first of two requirements for the club to earn Select Distinguished recognition again this year. 😊

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The week’s joke: “An elderly man is stopped by the police around 2 a.m. and is asked where he is going at this time of night. The man replies, "I am on my way to a lecture about alcohol abuse and the effects it has on the human body, as well as on smoking and staying out late." The officer then asks, "Really? Who is giving that lecture at this time of night?"
The man replies, "That would be my wife, officer.” 😊

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Toastmaster Eric (Kiss and Make Up) used that phrase to explore reconciliation—not literal kissing but making amends.

He noted that while chronic bad behavior shouldn't be tolerated, grudges can sometimes persist out of ego rather than genuine cause. He reflected on how a poor first impression often softens with a second look and challenged us to identify someone we've judged too harshly or need to reconcile with.

He closed by urging us to reach out — via call, email, or text — and be willing to bury the hatchet or give a seemingly unlikable person a fresh chance.

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Our Speakers:

Nathan (Magnetic North) opened with a compass, joking about how his wife teases him for looking lost rather than adventurous. He turned it into a metaphor: sailors trusted compasses pointing to magnetic north, not true north, so they drifted off course without realizing it.

He then shared his roots in rural Alabama, describing the heat, red clay, and his grandfather's respected legacy in town — especially a local story about his grandfather quitting drinking after being drenched with water mid-collapse in the garden. Young Nathan resolved to become a man people told stories about.

Fast forward to adulthood: exhausted and overwhelmed while building a h**p business, buried in confusing regulations, he realized he wasn't building a business — he was trying to prove his worth.

He closed by inviting us to recognize our own "magnetic north" — the external validation we're chasing — and urging us to find our "true north" from within instead.

Hildri (The Mentors Who Saved Me from Myself). At 20, Hildri landed an unexpected internship at a marketing agency after training for journalism. Though passionate about the work, she felt lost among unfamiliar terms like strategy and branding.

Mentors at the agency changed her trajectory through three key lessons: first, professionalism—patiently teaching workplace etiquette like proper email tone and meeting conduct, always explaining the "why" behind their guidance.

Second, strategic thinking — rather than handing her answers, they pushed her to ask why tasks mattered, turning her from a task-completer into an idea contributor.

Third, self-belief — by trusting her with feedback and real responsibility, they helped her trust herself before she felt fully qualified.

Looking back, she realized the internship taught her far more than marketing skills; it revealed how deeply one person's mentorship can shape another's future.

Her closing message: anyone in a position to mentor shouldn't underestimate their impact — a small moment of encouragement can become someone else's turning point.
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Table Topics Master Heather asked questions like, “What if saying, “I'm sorry”, instantly fixed everything, but it had to be sung? What would you sing?”

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It was the best hour of the week, thanks to the excellent preparation and ex*****on by our meeting leaders Eric, Alex, Remika, and Heather.

Congratulations to our winners Lisa (Best Table Topic), and Caz (Best Evaluation).

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"Hi-Noon Toastmasters — online, energetic, and welcoming!"
https://hinoonhsv.toastmastersclubs.org/
Tuesdays at noon CT — lunch U.S. & Canada, evening Europe. Visit free.

08/23/2026

Meeting Report (for 8-18-2026):

Guests: James (Poland), Dibyendu (India), Channey (TX). 😊

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The week’s joke: “How do you make a tissue dance? Put a little boogie in it.” 😊

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Toastmaster Nathan (Embrace Your Story) argued that everyone carries a personal story — proud moments, regrets, and unresolved chapters — and that while we can't choose every chapter, we choose what we do with it.

As Toastmasters, members often fear their struggles make them seem less credible, but Nathan insists scars aren't disqualifying; they're what gives a story meaning, whether it's a nervous speaker finding their voice or someone rebuilding after failure. He challenged us to embrace every chapter honestly, rather than minimizing lessons or comparing ourselves to others' seemingly polished narratives.

His core message: the world doesn't need a perfect story; it needs an authentic one — and the story you're most afraid to share may be exactly what someone else needs to hear.

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Our Speaker:

Remika (Change is the Only Constant). As an "army brat," Remika grew up in constant motion — Florida, two stints in Germany, two in Texas, Colorado, and finally Huntsville, Alabama — never having the familiar comforts of childhood friends, grandparents' visits, or a house to measure her height in.

Unlike peers raised with stability, she found no fixed hometown or friend group to anchor her. Yet that instability became a gift: she repelled down cliffs in Austria, played football across Europe, crossed borders for lunch, and rode trains through Spain, all before 18. She honors military families' sacrifices and argues that embracing change — rather than resisting it — builds independence, cultural appreciation, and resilience.

Her closing message: life's only constant is change, so lean into it with curiosity.

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Table Topics Master Alex asked questions like, “If your life were a memoir, what would the title of your current chapter be?”

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It was the best hour of the week, thanks to the excellent preparation and ex*****on by our meeting leaders Nathan, James, JJ, Alex and Eric.

Congratulations to our winners Caz (Best Table Topic), and James (Best Evaluation).

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"Hi-Noon Toastmasters — online, energetic, and welcoming!"
https://hinoonhsv.toastmastersclubs.org/
Tuesdays at noon CT — lunch U.S. & Canada, evening Europe. Visit free.

08/16/2026

Meeting Report (for 8-11-2026):

Guests: Heather (NH) and Dylan (AL). 😊

Heather was voted into the club! 😊

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The week’s joke: “Why are audiologists considered to be reasonable? They have sound judgment.” 😊

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Toastmaster Caz (Be the Voice, Not the Echo) argued that today's noisy, opinion-saturated world — especially in politics — often pushes people to just repeat the loudest voices instead of thinking for themselves.

An echo takes no courage, original thought, or conviction; it only repeats. A true voice, by contrast, asks questions, listens first, can disagree without being disagreeable, and admits it may see things differently. This applies to politics, work, family, church, community, and Toastmasters alike. Real leadership isn't about volume but about speaking up even when your voice shakes.

Caz closed by urging us to think independently, speak with purpose, listen respectfully, and have the courage to be heard, since the world already has plenty of echoes.

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Our Speaker:

Eric (Recording or Distorting?) set out to journal and reflect on his day-to-day emotions. He worried about honestly recording feelings he wasn't proud of (like traffic frustration in Houston) and whether he'd remember his behavior accurately, since people tend to recall themselves favorably.

This led him to the Hawthorne effect, named after a 1920s-30s Western Electric factory study. Researchers testing whether better lighting boosted productivity found it did. But oddly, dimming the lights also raised productivity. The real cause: workers performed better simply because they knew they were being observed, skewing the results.

Eric tied this to daily life, like tracking meals with a dietitian, noting that awareness of being watched can nudge better choices. He's noticed himself catching negative thoughts early, reframing them to avoid having to journal about them. 😊

He encouraged us to journal our emotions and observe the effect it has.

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Table Topics Master Roslyn asked questions like, “What does “Be the Voice, Not the Echo” mean to you?”

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It was the best hour of the week, thanks to the excellent preparation and ex*****on by our meeting leaders Caz, Tiffany, Matt, Roslyn and John.

Congratulations to our winners Tiffany (Best Table Topic), and Nathan (Best Evaluation).

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"Hi-Noon Toastmasters — online, energetic, and welcoming!"
https://hinoonhsv.toastmastersclubs.org/
Tuesdays at noon CT — lunch U.S. & Canada, evening Europe. Visit free.

08/07/2026

Meeting Report (for 8-4-2026):

Guests: Heather (NH) and George (UK). 😊

Liza was voted into the club! 😊

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The week’s joke: “Why don’t seagulls fly over the bay? Because then they’d be bagels!” 😊

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Toastmaster Nathan (Do Less) pushed back against our culture of "more"—more productivity, hustle, and busyness—arguing it drains our energy rather than fulfilling us.

He pointed out that the most powerful speeches aren't packed with facts and speed, but have room to breathe, with pauses that let meaning sink in. This principle extends beyond speaking. Take real lunch breaks, be present with family, unplug on trips, and notice beauty around you. His core message was that doing less often means experiencing more.

He challenged us to speak with intentional pauses, drop filler words, and keep our attention in the moment, since life's value comes not from how much we fit in, but how fully we experience it.

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Our Speaker:

Roslyn (Why Counseling Matters) opened by asking how often we say we're fine when we're not, noting most of us carry stress, anxiety, or depression while managing daily life.

She explained counseling matters for three reasons: it supports physical health, helps people learn and grow, and builds healthy families and communities. Just as we seek a mechanic or doctor for other problems, we should seek help for emotional pain instead of "toughing it out."

Counseling offers a judgment-free space to process feelings and learn coping skills, not to fix people, but to help them feel seen and manage their own challenges. She shared that healing isn't about perfection but progress. Asking for help takes courage and supporting others, even informally, matters.

She closed saying that counseling matters, people matter, and everyone deserves the chance to heal, grow, and thrive.

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Table Topics Master Eric asked questions like, “Have you ever burned out from doing too much?”

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It was the best hour of the week, thanks to the excellent preparation and ex*****on by our meeting leaders Nathan, Yeside, Alex, Eric and John.

Congratulations to our winners Heather (Best Table Topic), and John (Best Evaluation).

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"Hi-Noon Toastmasters — online, energetic, and welcoming!"
https://hinoonhsv.toastmastersclubs.org/
Tuesdays at noon CT — lunch U.S. & Canada, evening Europe. Visit free.

08/01/2026

Meeting Report (for 7-28-2026):

Guest: Vlad (NY). 😊

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The week’s joke: “When you first join Toastmasters, the experienced members tell you “Public speaking is easy. It’s like riding a bike.” While you are thinking, “Yeah, except the bike is on fire, you’re on fire, everything is on fire, and you’re in hell!” 😊

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Toastmaster Stephen (Your Impact on Others) argued that real impact comes not from grand milestones but from small, everyday interactions – a kind word, a text, a smile.

This "ripple effect" shapes people more than headline achievements ever do. Impact isn't about audience size but depth of presence: how we listen, handle mistakes, and treat those who are struggling. Every interaction is a choice to make someone feel valued or invisible. Rather than a legacy left at life's end, impact is practiced daily through patience, encouragement, and quiet kindness.

He challenged us to be intentional with the ripples we create, since you never know how far they'll travel.

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Table Topics Master John gave each of us the option of answering a question, on the meeting’s theme of Your Impact on Others, in any of three categories. Here are samples:

At home: “Describe a time you comforted a family member through a hard moment, and what it taught you about being there for others?”

At work: “Describe how a piece of criticism you received shaped the way you treat others at work.”

In-public: “Share a story about volunteering or serving your community, and the impact you saw firsthand.”

In this Table-Topics-Only meeting, everyone got to answer at least one question, and the lucky ones got two of them! 😊

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It was the best hour of the week, thanks to the excellent preparation and ex*****on by our meeting leaders Stephen, Eric, JJ, Nathan and John.

Congratulations to our winners Austine (Best Table Topic), and Nathan (Best Evaluation).

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"Hi-Noon Toastmasters — online, energetic, and welcoming!"
https://hinoonhsv.toastmastersclubs.org/
Tuesdays at noon CT — lunch U.S. & Canada, evening Europe. Visit free.

07/25/2026

Meeting Report (for 7-21-2026):

Our Officers earned DCP credit for the club last Saturday. Eric, Nathan and John attended the District 77 TLI training, via Zoom. Yay team! 😊

Save $$. Dues are going up August 3, from $60 to $72 per 6 months. Current members are paid through at least the end of September, so no immediate action is needed. However, if you want to save $12 on your next dues payment, in late September, you need to log into Toastmasters, before August 3, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the Pay Dues button. You can prepay for one or two periods.

Toastmasters is still the least expensive and best way to improve you public speaking confidence and skill. And Hi-Noon is still the best place to get that help, and so much more. 😊

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Guests: Liza (Kenya), Cole (AL), and LaVerne (IL). 😊

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The week’s joke: “I've started saying “Mucho” to my Spanish speaking friends. It means a lot to them.” 😊

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Toastmaster Stephen (Presence – The Power of Now) argued that we rarely inhabit the present moment – our minds drift into past regrets or future worries even during ordinary moments like meals or walks.

He explained that only "now" truly exists, since the past is memory and the future is anticipation. Being present quiets mental noise, deepens relationships (undivided attention is a rare gift), and sharpens decision-making. Cultivating presence doesn't require drastic change – just simple practices like focusing on breath, engaging the senses, and doing one task at a time help.

His closing message: don't postpone living – this moment is where your power truly lies.
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Table Topics Master JJ asked questions like: “Think of a moment when you felt completely in the present. What about that moment made it easy to feel present?”

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Our Speakers

Ryan (“Ice Breaker”) reflected on how life's hardest moments shape character and purpose.

He recalled his father coaching him in baseball and basketball, teaching discipline that later became life lessons. At 13, his parents' divorce forced him to choose between an easier, more comfortable path and staying true to his values – he chose the harder road.
Becoming a father brought that same choice back, now with higher stakes, as he wanted to set the right example for his daughter.

Though he struggled and doubted himself, he learned that character isn't defined by an easy path, but by the courage to walk a hard one.

He closed by urging us to choose integrity over convenience and added a personal update: he just signed an offer for a new position bringing better pay and more time for family – proof that perseverance pays off.

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Caz (Alexa, Can You Live My Life Too?) opened by describing mornings that start and end with Alexa commands – weather updates, jazz, shopping lists, even trivia like Morgan Freeman's age.

Jokingly asking "Alexa, can you live my life too?" sparked a deeper reflection: the silence that followed made Caz realize convenience has quietly replaced effort, from AI-drafted emails to speeches. Caz clarified this isn't anti-technology (which has saved lives and solved real problems), but a warning about comfort – how it sneaks in through small shortcuts until growth stops.

A parking lot moment crystallized it: circling three minutes to avoid a 30-second walk mirrors how people avoid discomfort in life – delaying hard conversations, risks, and dreams.

Caz's closing challenge: ask daily "what uncomfortable thing will I choose today?" Alexa can manage tasks, but only you can become who you're capable of being.

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It was the best hour of the week, thanks to the excellent preparation and ex*****on by our meeting leaders Stephen, Yeside, Bill, JJ, and John.

Congratulations to our winners Ryan (Best Table Topic), and Nathan (Best Evaluation).

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"Hi-Noon Toastmasters — online, energetic, and welcoming!"
https://hinoonhsv.toastmastersclubs.org/
Tuesdays at noon CT — lunch U.S. & Canada, evening Europe. Visit free.

07/18/2026

Thank you, 2025-2026 Hi-Noon officers! 😊

The club earned Select Distinguished recognition (in Toastmasters’ Distinguished Club Program) again last Toastmasters year thanks in large part to the efforts of Stephen, Natalie, Bree, Stacy, Koushik, Tanner and John.

Stephen and Bree both completed level 3 in Pathways. Stephen presided at nearly every meeting. Natalie and Bree formatted and published the club’s Newsletter. Stephen, Bree, Natalie, and John attended TLI (Toastmasters Leader Training) twice!

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Meeting Report (for 7-14-2026):

Guests: Liza (Kenya), Emeli (NY), Vlad (NY), Emeli (NY) 😊

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The week’s joke: “I asked AI to help me write my Toastmasters speech. It came back with a perfect opening, amazing segues, a cohesive structure, and an impactful conclusion that was wrapped up right on time. The only issue, it also recommended replacing the speaker.” 😊

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Toastmaster Hildri (AI Style Cloning) explored ethics in the AI era through two questions:

Whether creators whose work trains AI deserve credit or compensation, since systems learn from vast content without consent or payment.

And where the line falls between imitating an artist's style (legally permissible) versus their specific work (protected) – likened to the difference between stealing a car and copying how someone parks.

While endorsing AI literacy as essential, she urged society to ask how creators should share in the value AI generates from their collective work, before we get too comfortable and forget who taught the machines.

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Table Topics Master Remika asked questions like: “Which fashion icon would you like to meet?”

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Our Speaker

Sebastian (“Precision Fermentation”) said precision fermentation uses microbes to replicate animal products – starting with insulin ~45 years ago, then rennet, dairy proteins, egg whites, and casein – often surpassing traditional versions in quality, safety, and sustainability.

Adoption is accelerating globally: it's already sold in US supermarkets, India is building facilities to replace up to 100,000 dairy cows, and China has made it a five-year-plan priority, threatening dairy exporters like New Zealand. Europe's regulations, shaped by agricultural lobbying, restrict newer innovations (nothing post-1997 easily reaches market).

Sebastian supports policies like the Netherlands' buyout program (~$15,000/cow) to help dairy farmers transition and is pushing similar measures in Germany.

The message: embrace this healthier, more sustainable technology while honoring farmers' historical contributions.

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It was the best hour of the week, thanks to the excellent preparation and ex*****on by our meeting leaders Hildri, Eric, Ryan, Remika and John.

Congratulations to our winners Eric (Best Table Topic), and Caz (Best Evaluation).
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"Hi-Noon Toastmasters — online, energetic, and welcoming!"
https://hinoonhsv.toastmastersclubs.org/
Tuesdays at noon CT — lunch U.S. & Canada, evening Europe. Visit free.

07/11/2026

Meeting Report (for 7-7-2026):

Guests: LaVerne (IL), JJ (CO), Liza (Kenya)

JJ was voted into the club! 😊

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The week’s joke: What did one DNA say to the other DNA? “Do these genes make me look fat?” 😊

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Toastmaster Tanner (Rituals, Routines and Superstitions) noted that everyone has something they do before a big moment—a lucky shirt, a set meal, coffee, or a quick prayer.

For him, it's pump-up music: loud, energizing, played before any presentation, meeting, or tough conversation. He admits it may not actually improve his speaking, but it puts him in the right mindset, which is often enough.

He invited the us to reflect on our own rituals or superstitions during the speeches and Table Topics and confirmed that he cranked up some pump-up music right before taking the ‘stage’ today.

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Table Topics Master Eric asked questions like: “Which routine from your childhood has stayed with you into adulthood?”

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Our Speaker

Caz (“Stuck on Repeat”) opened by having us hold our keys, symbolizing that everyone already carries what they need.

He argued society over-relies on morning routines and success rituals, then asked: what happens when they fail? He shared a personal story—fully prepared for a high-stakes briefing, his projector and notes failed, forcing him to speak from memory and conviction instead.

That taught him that rituals prepare us, but character is what remains when structure collapses. Using examples like LeBron James's pregame ritual, he noted that rituals don't create success—practice and effort do; rituals just remind us who we've become. Quoting "you fall to the level of your systems," he added that character rises when systems fail.

He closed with sunrise as nature's ritual, reminding us that our character finishes what our rituals start.
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It was the best hour of the week, thanks to the excellent preparation and ex*****on by our meeting leaders Tanner, Austine, Shontrill, Ryan and John.

Congratulations to our winners Austine (Best Table Topic), and John (Best Evaluation).

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"Hi-Noon Toastmasters — online, energetic, and welcoming!"
https://hinoonhsv.toastmastersclubs.org/
Tuesdays at noon CT — lunch U.S. & Canada, evening Europe. Visit free.

07/05/2026

Meeting Report (for 6-30-2026):

Guest: LaVerne (IL)

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The week’s joke: “When I was in high school, I was in the French club. We didn’t do very much. Once in a while we would surrender to the German club.” 😊

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Toastmaster Ryan (Freedom of Speech) reflected on the power of words—how they can encourage, correct, divide, or heal, and how freedom of speech comes with the responsibility to use it wisely.

He noted we've all experienced hollow debates and hurtful comments, but also words that gave us courage and hope. He challenged us to ask whether our words build trust, create understanding, and leave others better off. Our voice is a gift, but impact is a choice: pause before reacting in anger, speak truth with courage and grace.

Speaking with purpose means more than communicating—it means leading, serving, and inspiring others.

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Table Topics Master Eric asked questions like: “What is a topic you think people should discuss more openly?”

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Our Speakers

Hildri (“The Speech I Didn’t Plan to Write”) couldn't write her planned speech on the limits of resilience - the news from Venezuela's earthquakes consumed her attention instead.

Watching international USAR (urban search and rescue) teams respond, she noticed three practices behind their effectiveness: preparation (standardized UN protocols letting teams from different countries work together instantly), pacing (arriving self-sufficient for seven days, working in shifts to stay clear-headed rather than exhausted), and listening (deferring to local knowledge about who's missing and where, rather than assuming expertise overrides local input).

She concluded that resilience alone isn't what makes these teams effective—it's the boundaries and systems behind it. This reinforced her belief in international institutions like the UN and WHO: their value lies in the trained people and coordinated knowledge-sharing that exist long before any crisis hits, making the investment in them worthwhile.

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Lisa (What Comes After Motivation) said motivation gets us started but fades once life gets busy - work, kids, exhaustion. Real change comes from practice, not consumption.

Just as a child can't learn to ride a bike by watching videos, adults can't master skills by endlessly consuming podcasts, reels, and motivational content. Lisa applies this to her own goals—day trading and training for a HYROX race - realizing that more information won't get her across the finish line, only repetition will. She committed to 90 days of practicing over consuming.

She challenged us to pick one goal we've been putting off and ask: am I practicing or just consuming? The gap between who we are and who we want to become isn't closed by more information - it's closed by consistent action. Stop collecting inspiration; start becoming.

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It was the best hour of the week, thanks to the excellent preparation and ex*****on by our meeting leaders Ryan, Bill, Yeside, Eric and John.

Congratulations to our winners Tanner (Best Table Topic), and Caz (Best Evaluation).

06/30/2026

Meeting report for 6-23-2026:

Bill was voted into the club!

Guests: Jess (Mauritius), Josh (CA), JJ (CO), and Danielle (AL)

Officers elected! The club voted in our 2026-2027 officers:

President ........ Eric
VPE ................ John
VPM ............... Natalie
VPPR .............. Hildri
Secretary ........ Nathan
Treasurer ........ Remika
SAA ................ Stephen (Sergeant at Arms)

Stephen will also be IPP (Immediate Past President) – automatically.

The new team’s term begins July 1. 😊

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The week’s joke: “Who’s been on jury duty? Not very pleasant, right? Would you believe I liked it? Why? Because I met wife on jury duty. Yeah! And, thanks to me, she was acquitted.” 😊

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Toastmaster Eric (How Sweet It Is!) celebrated National Candy Month, framing candy as part of a balanced lifestyle despite its health reputation.

He traced candy's 4,000+ year history, from ancient Egyptians mixing fruit and nuts with honey to ancient Indians boiling sugarcane into sugar shards, noting candy didn't become widely accessible until 19th-century penny candies. He highlighted theobromine, a mild stimulant in chocolate that boosts alertness and serotonin.

With about a week left in National Candy Month, Eric encouraged us to indulge a sweet craving and grab some candy at a convenience store today. 😊

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Table Topics Master Caz said, “We're going to explore all the moments in life that make us say how sweet it is by completing the phrase, “how sweet it is when….” Now, please don't sugarcoat your answers. 😊 I believe that this will allow speakers to be humorous, reflective, inspirational, and also creative.

First question: “How sweet it is when someone remembers your name after meeting you only once?”

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Our Speaker

Bill (“My Brilliant High School and College Forensics Career”) recalled hovering around Toastmasters since the 1990s before finally joining.

Despite a speech communication degree, he was a shy, big-egoed high schooler. A teacher pushed him toward speech and debate for confidence. His first speech was awkward, and in Lincoln-Douglas style debates he went 18 months without winning, becoming a guaranteed "easy win" for opponents until breaking through junior year.

Dramatic interpretation went worse—he never understood his assigned piece and lost every round, though rebelling with a scene from Plan Nine from Outer Space earned third place. Impromptu speaking became his real strength.

At Eastern Kentucky University he debated CEDA-style, became a skilled, Columbo-like cross-examiner, and graduated with 12 speaking awards—quite a turnaround. 😊

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It was the best hour of the week, thanks to the excellent preparation and ex*****on by our meeting leaders Eric, Hildri, Austine, Caz, and Ryan.

Congratulations to our winners Ryan (Best Table Topic), and Lisa (Best Evaluation).

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"Hi-Noon Toastmasters — online, energetic, and welcoming!"
https://hinoonhsv.toastmastersclubs.org/
Tuesdays at noon CT — lunch U.S. & Canada, evening Europe. Visit free.

Address

Huntsville, AL
35801

Opening Hours

11:30am - 1:15pm

Website

https://hinoonhsv.toastmastersclubs.org/

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