February 18, 2026

This week’s special open house meeting focused on clarity, intentional communication, and mindset as we gathered around the theme “Saying More with Less.” The evening reminded us that this club is more than a place to practice speeches — it is a space where growth, self-awareness, courage, and connection come alive.

Our Toastmaster of the Day, Sarah, invited us to reflect on how intentional word choice can elevate our impact. Through her remarks, we explored how communicating with clarity serves both those who love to speak and those who are building confidence on stage, and were encouraged to speak with purpose rather than excess. The invitation was both simple and powerful: say what matters, and let it land.

The Word of the Day was:

lollygag (verb) — to spend time aimlessly

Lily presented a Leader Profile highlighting Barbra Streisand and explored the idea of “being too much” as a leadership strength rather than a weakness. She shared how Streisand’s legacy as an artist, director, producer, designer, and activist demonstrates that leadership begins with authenticity, even when others don’t initially embrace who you are. Lily emphasized the importance of not apologizing for high standards and of building platforms and opportunities for others, and invited us to reflect on where we might be compromising our dreams or vision because we are afraid of being “too much.”

Our first speaker, Dawn, delivered a reflective speech titled “If You Have Goals, Find a Mentor.” She explored the journey toward becoming a Distinguished Toastmaster and shared how mentors helped her ask for help, adjust goals, and recognize her own progress. A key takeaway from her speech was that we don’t have to pursue big goals alone, reminding us to seek support, break goals into smaller steps, and allow others to reflect our strengths back to us.

Our second speaker, Kirti, presented a thought-provoking speech titled “A Tale of Two Milkshakes.” Through a research-based story on mindset and labeling, she examined how our thoughts shape our biological and emotional responses. Her reflections challenged us to consider how the labels we place on our experiences influence our reality, leaving many of us thinking long after the speech ended.

The Table Topics portion of the meeting, led by Audrey, brought energy, laughter, and reflection to the room. Guided by questions aligned with the theme, members reflected on habits that improved their lives, advice to their younger selves, describing their hometowns in just three sentences, delivering messages without adjectives, and choosing only five apps to keep on their phones.

Thank you to our evaluators, Leena and Preetha, and GE Andrea, for their thoughtful feedback and support in helping our speakers and meeting grow.

As we move forward, we carry with us a powerful reminder: intentional words, supportive mentors, and mindful labels can shape both our communication and our lives.

See you at our next meeting!