Side Splitter Challenge

Catonsville Toastmasters hosted a great Open House on Wednesday evening, November 13^th.  The enthusiasm and warm welcome given to their guests could not have been done any better!  There was a greeter at the entrance to the church to welcome members and guests alike and direct them to the meeting room, as well as, signs to guide you along the way.

Clipboards with the evening’s agenda and vote sheet were already on every chair as you entered the room.  Snacks and beverages were provided.  The meeting room was set up appropriately and easily able to accommodate all who were there.  Best part of the evening was several of the five (5) guests expressed an interest in joining!  Kudos to Catonsville!

If you are living or working in the Catonsville area, stop in for a fun time!

VoW is a virtual Toastmasters club that occasionally holds in-person meetups. If you are looking for a virtual club that delivers an engaging, well-structured hour filled with compelling speeches, professional members, and a welcoming atmosphere, VoW is an excellent choice.

One of the club’s greatest strengths is its effective use of technology, particularly the chat function. They utilize it strategically to share the meeting agenda at the beginning, introduce the word of the day, and provide feedback to speakers.

The club is also highly guest-friendly. They make the experience seamless by providing a dedicated registration link that is easily accessible for new guests, along with a reminder before the meeting. Upon joining, the Zoom Master greets guests by name and engages them in conversation to help them feel comfortable. Additionally, they host an ‘after-meeting conversation’ session, offering guests an opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions about Toastmasters.

Another unique aspect of VoW is its diverse membership. The club attracts members not only from Maryland but also from places as far as New York and even Tokyo, Japan. This global reach brings a rich variety of perspectives and experiences, making the meetings even more dynamic and engaging.

Each meeting follows a specific theme, and Table Topics are aligned with that theme, adding an element of cohesion and engagement. Another standout feature is their practice of recording meetings. This allows members to review speeches and provide evaluations even after the meeting, ensuring that speakers receive valuable feedback even if an evaluator was not assigned in advance. This approach fosters continuous growth and development for speakers.

Overall, VoW Toastmasters Club demonstrates an exceptional commitment to organization, inclusivity, and technological innovation, making it a fantastic choice for anyone seeking a high-quality virtual Toastmasters experience.

Unwoo
Traveling Toastmaster

My visit to Thermo Fisher on Tuesday afternoon, November 5, was a very pleasant surprise!

This club is comprised of young professionals who are very interested in improving their speaking and leadership skills. It was so nice to see young folks interested in the Toastmasters program. They did an awesome job with their hybrid meeting, which also included members at their New York office. They were all very welcoming and friendly!

What this club did that was unique, was to have name tents that had the role they were performing in front of said individual. It enabled everyone in the meeting, including guests, to know who was doing what at a glance. Great job, Thermo Fisher!

This club is located at 101 Schilling Road in Hunt Valley and meets at Noon. It is easy to get to with plenty of free parking. If you work in this area, it is a great club to visit!

Deb Linton, Traveling Toastmaster

If it’s energy you are looking for, you can find it here! Toast of Severna Park is more than just “toast”, there’s a lot of meat and potatoes with this club too!

I visited this club on Tuesday evening, November 5 and was pleasantly surprised with all their enthusiasm and the ability to get six speeches and six evaluations into their agenda! The technology of this hybrid meeting was done to perfection. It was set up in advance and ready to go. There were 15 members/guests in person and 5 more online. What a great variety of people and ages!

This club has a “Listen Master” which is a unique role that is fun. You not only get to speak here, but listening is important also!

The Toast of Severna Park club meets in the Chamber of Commerce building at 1 Holly Avenue. Easy to get to and parking is right outside the building.

For a unique and fun experience, their in-person meeting is the way to go!
Deb Linton, Traveling Toastmaster

If you are looking for a top-notch club, Tidewater Toastmasters should be on your “to go to” list! They did a unique thing by not only having a “Joke of the Day”; they also had a “Thought of the Day”! What an inspirational group of folks!

The room was set up and ready to go with printed agendas for everyone. The mission statement is right on the agenda, as well as a short description of each role. They also have the Club Officers listed down the side of the agenda. So as you walk in as a guest, you can see the names of the club officers and you also can easily follow the agenda and know what action each role takes.

The warm welcome and prep work this club did was truly an example of accountability and good leadership!

If you are in the Easton area, please stop in and enjoy a visit with Tidewater Toastmasters! You just might be their next member!
Deb Linton, Traveling Toastmaster

Way to go Highway Masters! I visited their club on Wednesday, November 6. They did an awesome job helping a fellow toastmaster with their contest speech. The round robin evaluations were thoughtful, helpful, and respectful. They provided the speaker with great feedback for improvement that the speaker received gracefully. Job well done!

Should you need a place to practice your contest speech, perhaps Highway Masters could help. They are in the SHA building on Calvert Street and there is a parking garage right across the street. Stop in for a visit!
Deb Linton, Traveling Toastmaster

If it’s variety you are looking for, you can find it here!  Kritikos meets ‘in-person’ at the ‘All American Steakhouse’ in Odenton, MD on Monday evenings.  Easy to get to and parking is right outside the restaurant.  They meet in the banquet room.

I visited this club on Monday, April 21, and was pleasantly surprised with their enthusiasm, and readiness. Everyone knew their role and was prepared.  Members who wish to, order their dinner, and it is delivered during the meeting without a lot of disruption.  A bunch of tables were put together to form a single long table where everyone gathered around.  It was a most welcoming and comfortable environment.  It was a great variety of people and ages!

This club has a “Listen Master” who did a fabulous job!  What a fun role!

Kritikos also hosted a guest speaker on Monday, which allows their members to hear speeches from other club’s members.  To me, this club encourages growth and flexibility and is welcoming to everyone.

For a unique and fun experience, Kritikos’ in-person meeting is the way to go!

Debbie Linton

Traveling Toastmaster

As a corporate club, Northrop Grumman Gaveliers has always been
excellent.
Visiting Gaveliers was a pleasurable and fun meeting! To start with,
parking was ample. The check-in with Security took a few minutes, but was
easy. You just need your photo id (license) and the name of the contact for
the club.
The club member was right on-time to escort you to the meeting room.
Gaveliers makes accommodation for any on-line members who cannot
attend in person. (Hybrid meeting when needed)
There was a great speech and thoughtful evaluation; as well as, fun table
topics. Meeting had good time management and members were engaged.
Gaveliers is a great example of a corporate club! Be sure to visit them!

Debbie Linton
Traveling Toastmaster D-18