Travel Talkers Toastmasters–River Cruises

The September 11th meeting of the Travel Talkers club, themed “River Cruises,” began with introductions and a moment of silence to remember the 9/11 attacks. Toastmaster Kit Myers welcomed the members, and President Meghan Burns introduced the evening’s theme, sharing her experience with river barges in London. Jacqueline Maynard-Campbell, the Toastmaster for the evening, highlighted the importance of remembering 9/11 and shared her experiences cruising on American rivers, emphasizing the need to appreciate domestic river cruises alongside the more popular European ones.

Destination Master

Jacqueline, the Destination Master for the meeting, continued the theme of river cruises by asking the names of the two rivers that are part of a Pacific Northwest adventure. She provided these clues:

This river cruise is an 8 to 9 day journey from Portland, Oregon to Clarkston, Washington.
From the ship you can see Mt. St Helens, Multnomah Falls and the Cascade Mountain range.

If you guessed the Columbia and Snake Rivers, you are correct!

Wild West Tour Guide Adventures

Kit Myers delivered a keynote-style speech titled “Exploring the Wild West of North America Together,” sharing her experiences as a tour guide for a major wholesale tour and travel operator. She shared stories from her 21-day tours, including a memorable interaction with a doctor who helped evaluate her language skills. Kit also mentioned receiving a Cartier watch as part of the “5 Year Club,” signifying her membership in a select group of tour guides.

Kit described tour destinations such as Yosemite, Banff, and Calgary, and reflected on her role as a multilingual guide for international tourists. She highlighted the challenges and rewards of managing diverse groups and the importance of communication skills. Kit also reminisced about her mother’s advice and life choices, including her decision to become a teacher despite initial doubts.

She emphasized the importance of making friends and entertaining passengers, recounting how her mother’s initiative with a piano in a bar fostered camaraderie among diverse groups, including Germans, Dutch, and Australians. The tour, which included stops at national parks and scenic locations, was a success due to the passengers’ willingness to engage and share cultural experiences, leaving a lasting impact on Kit and her group.

Travel Topics–River Cruise Experiences

Tym Myers, the Destination Master for the meeting, started the impromptu speaking session with questions about river cruises by first asking Judith Ferber about her experiences. Judith shared her memories of cruises on the Danube and in the United States, expressing a preference for more modest cruises over luxurious ones. Meghan discussed the differences between ocean and river cruises, noting that river cruises require smaller, specialized boats due to the narrowness of rivers. She expressed interest in trying a river cruise to compare it to her ocean cruise experiences.

September 18 meeting

The theme of our September 18 meeting is “Travel Bucket List.” Join the Travel Talkers Toastmasters Club for a fun evening sharing your adventures. Engage with fellow members as we share our stories about traveling. This is your opportunity to focus on your public speaking skills and get valuable feedback in a supportive Toastmasters-style environment. The meeting is on Thursday, September 18th from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm Pacific time. We want to hear about your travel bucket list plans. Where will you go next?

Guests are always welcome to attend our meetings. If you would like to join the club, contact Helen Josephine for an application form.

We look forward to hearing your travel stories! Join us to be inspired to take your next trip.