Sooner Toastmasters

05/29/2026

The Thunder game may have kept a few members at home, but the 15 who showed up made enough noise for a room twice the size!

We heard two engaging speeches: Waqar explored the different types of bias and how they influence our thinking, while Rachel shared lessons from her clinic experience and insights on what helps a club succeed.

With extra time on the agenda, we leaned into Table Topics and enjoyed six great responses. Ann shared her pet peeves, Sonny discussed which country he’d move to if given the chance, Kathy explored optical illusions, Angelina reflected on dreams, and Bhagya gave us an unforgettable take on bad mutton.

Jack and J. Paul delivered thoughtful evaluations, and Brad demonstrated what an effective meeting looks like by guiding us through the evening with skill and energy.

Another fantastic Sooner Toastmasters meeting is in the books. Whether we’re 15 strong or 50 strong, there’s never a shortage of learning, laughter, and great conversations

Join us if you want to improve your eloquence with a supportive group of people.
Visit our club:
📅 Thursdays
⏰ 7:00–8:30 PM
📍 Sooner Toastmasters at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church. 419 S University Blvd, Norman, OK 73069

05/27/2026

We'd like to showcase another win from our members. Some of the skills you learn from Toastmasters aren't all about public speaking:

Last night I had one of those moments where I was reminded how much Toastmasters really prepares you for the unexpected.

For the past couple of months I’ve been giving reports about a program I administer. Usually the meetings are small, maybe 10–15 people. Last night the organizer told me she expected about 15, and that’s how the room was set up.

But people kept showing up… and showing up… and showing up. We ended up with well over 50 people.

The organizer was by herself, so I jumped in to help pull out tables and chairs. I even had to go into the hotel lobby breakfast area to grab more chairs. By the time 6:00 rolled around I was sweating and hoping we had enough seats for everyone.

Moments like that are exactly why Toastmasters is so valuable.

If you’ve been to enough meetings, you know things are never perfect. There are always small things, and sometimes big things, that pop up. Sometimes the environment isn’t ideal. But when you know your material and you’ve practiced speaking, adapting becomes second nature.

Helping with contests, TLIs, and district events over the years helped build those skills too.

Eleven years ago when I first joined Toastmasters, I don’t know if I would have been that confident in the same situation. I owe a lot of thanks to the members of Sooner Toastmasters who helped me grow along the way.

If you’re thinking about joining Toastmasters or visiting a meeting, I encourage you to come check it out. The skills you build there show up in ways you might not expect.

05/26/2026

We wanted to share a win of one of our members. We are so happy that we get to be part of his story of growth and success.

The full testimonial below:
"I’m happy to share that I received an A grade in my lecture-based English language test at the university. This also means I am now eligible to teach undergraduate students during my PhD journey.

I want to sincerely thank all of you for your support and encouragement. Being part of this club has helped me build a lot of confidence, especially through my role as Sergeant at Arms.

I truly appreciate everything I have learned here, and I will bring some chocolates 🍫 to the next meeting as a thank you.
S. Waqar"

We invite you to our next meeting, whether you want to join us for Waqar's chocolates or personal improvement. Or both. ;)

Visit our club:
📅 Thursdays
⏰ 7:00–8:30 PM
📍 Sooner Toastmasters at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church. 419 S University Blvd, Norman, OK 73069

05/24/2026

Congrats to the members of Sooner Toastmasters for a great meeting. When we work on public speaking, we become more ELOQUENT.
Rachel did a mock interview and Kathy, DTM. did a speech on conflicts and conflict resolution.
Sonny evaluated Rachel and Robert A, DTM. Evaluated Kathy.

Thanks Jack for the awesome pics

Join us if you want to improve your eloquence with a supportive group of people.
Visit our club:
📅 Thursdays
⏰ 7:00–8:30 PM
📍 Sooner Toastmasters at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church. 419 S University Blvd, Norman, OK 73069

05/23/2026

05/13/2026

Behind every confident speaker is usually someone who believed in them first. Join our Zoom on Mentoring and learn how you are not meant to journey alone! May 17, 6 p.m to 7 p.m.

05/12/2026

Join our Zoom meeting May 17th 6p.m. to 7p.m. You were not meant to go through Toastmasters alone! Ron RW Mixer Bradly Bruner Kevin Barber will speak on Mentoring and Leadership. Be a mentor, Get a mentor!

05/01/2026

A few trinkets and memories from the District 16 conference. Congratulations Sooners!

05/01/2026

Today’s INTERLOCUTORS at Sooner Toastmasters were stellar.

Brad kicked off our prepared speeches with a high-energy talk all about managing the fear of public speaking. He had everyone thinking: when you speak in front of a group, does your heart race? Do you get butterflies, shaky, or lightheaded? You’re not alone.

He shared practical ways to handle it, like breathing techniques, practicing consistently, and even reframing nerves as excitement. Some solid tips included recording yourself, practicing in front of a mirror, and running through your speech with friends or family. He also mentioned simple ways to relax your body, like breathing exercises and isometric movements. Great reminders for both new and experienced speakers.

Next up, Waqar delivered a powerful speech titled “How You Introduce Yourself Matters.” He told the story of a student with an impressive resume who struggled in interviews due to lack of confidence. The takeaway was clear: how you present yourself can make or break opportunities.

He shared three key strategies:
Start with your success, not in a bragging way, but with confidence.
Highlight your strengths clearly.
Focus on others, not just yourself. Understand their needs and show how you can help.

Then Erin took us somewhere completely different, sharing her “bit of paradise” on 10 acres in the Oklahoma countryside. It sounded peaceful at first, but she quickly gave us the reality behind it.

The birds mean fresh eggs, but also a lot of smell.
The dogs protect the land, but also go after the birds.
And the snakes? They are everywhere, and some are poisonous.

By the end, she had everyone reconsidering country life. So what do you think… city living doesn’t sound so bad after all?

Madame Toastmaster: Ann H.
Mr. Table Topics: Sonny Robitaille
Mr. General Evaluator: J. Paul

Best Speech: Erin C.
Best Evaluator: Rob T. DTM
Best Table Topics: Aaron B (guest)

04/20/2026

Last Thursday at Sooner Toastmasters we celebrated National High Five Day—and yes, that meant plenty of high fives all around! 🙌 We even learned a little about where the high five started and, of course, the proper way to deliver one.

High fives go out to our speakers Ann, Waqar, and Lisbeth for their great speeches.

And an extra high five to Erin, who did a fantastic job leading Table Topics for the first time!

Overall, it was a fun and energetic meeting.

If you'd like to improve your speaking skills, build confidence, and enjoy a supportive group, come join us!

Sooner Toastmasters
Thursday nights • 7:00–8:30 PM
McFarlin Methodist Church
419 S University Blvd, Norman, OK 73069
Room 226