Brentwood Evening Toastmasters (BET)

Meetings are from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

on the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Tuesdays of each month.


@

Forest Hills United Methodist Church at 1250 Old Hickory Blvd in Brentwood, TN.

(BET is not affiliated with the church and is open to any and all individuals interested in self-improvement and effective communication. Through the open generosity of the church BET is able to hold meetings in one of its classrooms.)

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

BET Meeting Minutes

March 31, 2026

Presiding Officer:

Jesus Mendoza 

Theme: Top 5 Rock Bands

 

Roles & Responsibilities:

Opener:  Jesus Mendoza

Toastmaster:  Rick Dixon

Word of the Day: Michael Lin

Elysian, adj. – paradise or blissful joy

Humorist:  Bobby Bock

Table Topics: Kristin Johnson

Table Topic Speakers:

1)    Janet Schreibman - :2:04

2)    Chandler Telfer – 1:04

3)    Susan Martin – 2:00

4)    Michael Lin – 1:31

Speaker(s):

1)    Terence Melanos –“Entertaining and Trolling Your Friends with AI Image Generation” (requested 8-10 min) 11:05

2)    Bill Martin – “The Pocket Speech” (requested 5-7 min) 4:36

3)    Runsha Ninawe – “A Book that Changed My Life” (requested 8-10 min) 8:40

 General Evaluator: Chris Goldman

Evaluator(s):

1)    Susan Martin – 3:45

2)    Mike Costa – 3:26

3)    Chandler Telfer – 2:47

 Ah Counter/Grammarian: Janet Schreibman

Timer:  Kelli Dixon

Club Business:

Minutes approved for last two meetings

 

Members Present: Janet Schreibman, Jesus Mendoza, Rick Dixon,  Kelli Dixon, Susan Martin, Bill Martin, Terence Melonas, Michael Lin, Runsha Ninawe, Bobby Bock, Kristen Johnson. Mike Costa, Chandler Telfer

Guest(s):  Brandon Kehl, Will Essery, Elijah Perry, Gideon Perry

Virtual Attendees: Chris Goldman, Willy Baumgartner                                     

Word Users:  Runsha, Chandler, Chris





Tuesday, March 31, 2026

 

BET Meeting Minutes

March 24, 2026

Presiding Officer:

Jesus Mendoza

 

Theme: St. Patrick’s Day

 

Roles & Responsibilities:

Opener:  Susan Martin

Toastmaster:  Chandler Telfer

Word of the Day: Mike Costa

Gist – the main point or main part of something

Humorist: Terence Melanos

 

Table Topics: Kelli Dixon

Table Topic Speakers:

1)    Joe Stricker (guest) – 2:05

2 )  Alex Dabich – 1:23

1)    Janet Schreibman – 1:49

Speaker(s):

1)    Kristen Johnson –  Icebreaker “Crossroads” (requested 4-6 min) 5:27

2)    Rick Dixon – Motivational Strategies Level #4 “Murder” (requested 5-7 min) 7:08

3)    Bobby Bock – Innovative Planning #1-1 Icebreaker "When Your Body Says No, Find a Game that Says Yes (requested 4-6 min) 4:28

General Evaluator: Jesus Mendoza

Evaluator(s):

1)    Chris Goldman – 2:27

2)    Janet Schreibman – 4:15

3)    Kianush Dixon – 2:41

 Ah Counter/Grammarian: Runsha Ninawe

Timer:  Michael Lin

 

Club Business:

 

  • Minutes approval for March 10 meeting tabled until next meeting
  • Jesus to check to be sure we get credit for 4 officers attending winter TLI training

Members Present: Chris Goldman, Janet Schreibman, Rick Dixon, Kianush Dixon, Kelli Dixon, Susan Martin, Bill Martin, Terence Melonas, Michael Lin, Alex Dabich, Runsha Ninawe, Bobby Bock, Kristen Johnson, Chandler Telfer, Mike Costa

Guest(s):  Joe Stricker

Virtual Attendees: Willy Baumgartner, Lydia Underwood 

Word Users:  Janet, Rick, Terence, Chandler

 

BET Meeting Minutes

March 10, 2026

Presiding Officer:

Jesus Mendoza

 

Theme: Living in the Future

 

Roles & Responsibilities:

Opener:  Kianush Dixon

Toastmaster:  Terence Melonas

Word of the Day: Chris Goldman

Limelight – the focus on someone or something

Humorist:  Rushna Ninawe

 

Table Topics: Rick Dixon

Table Topic Speakers:

1)    Jesus Mendoza - :1:58

2)    Michael Lin – 1:13

3)    Chandler Telfer – 1:00

Speaker(s):

1)  Michael Lin – Effective Coaching #1-2 Writing, a Speech with Purpose - “The Importance of Agriculture & Quality Serving our Farmers” (requested 5-7 min) 8:30

General Evaluator: Kianush Dixon

Evaluator(s):

1)  Chandler Telfer – 3:35

Ah Counter/Grammarian: Janet Schreibman

Timer:  Kelli Dixon

 Club Business:

 

  • Minutes approved for last two meetings
  • Welcome to new member Kristen Johnson
  • Dues are due by end of March for next six months of membership. Please go on TI website to renew or give your dues payment to Mike Costa

Members Present: Janet Schreibman, Jesus Mendoza, Rick Dixon, Kianush Dixon, Kelli Dixon, Susan Martin, Bill Martin, Terence Melonas, Michael Lin, Alex Dabich, Rachel Mitchell, Runsha Ninawe, Bobby Bock, Kristen Johnson

 Guest(s):  Joe Stricker, Halie Clouse, Brandon Kehl, Herman Thum, Sam Dixon

 Virtual Attendees: Chris Goldman                                    

Word Users:  Janet, Runsha, Kianush, Terence

Monday, March 9, 2026

 

BET Meeting Minutes

February 24, 2026

Presiding Officer:

Willy Baumgartner

 

Theme: The Olympics

 

Roles & Responsibilities:

Opener:  Bill Martin

Toastmaster:  Janet Schreibman

Word of the Day: Runsha Ninawe

Quintessential – a perfect example of something

Humorist: Kelli Dixon

 

Table Topics: Kianush Dixon

Table Topic Speakers:

1)    Joe Stricker (guest) - :1:48

2 )  Terence Melanos – 1:07

1)    Lydia Underwood – 1:42

2)    Chris Goldman – 1:59

3)    Michael Lin – 1:49

 Speaker(s):

1)  Alex Dabich –  “Taste of Life” (requested 5-7 min) 7:30

 

General Evaluator: Willy Baumgartner

Evaluator(s):

1)  Rick Dixon – 3:55

 

Ah Counter/Grammarian: Michael Lin

Timer:  Susan Martin

 

Club Business:

 

  • Minutes approval for Feb 10 meeting tabled until next meeting

Members Present: Chris Goldman, Janet Schreibman, Rick Dixon, Kianush Dixon, Kelli Dixon, Susan Martin, Bill Martin, Terence Melonas, Michael Lin, Alex Dabich, Runsha Ninawe, Bobby Bock

Guest(s):  Diane Thomas, Brian Thomas, Joe Stricker, Brandon Kehl

Virtual Attendees: Willy Baumgartner, Lydia Underwood

Word Users:  Janet, Chris, Michael, Rick, Susan, Willy

 

Monday, February 23, 2026

 

BET Meeting Minutes

February 10, 2026

Presiding Officer:

Jesus Mendoza

 

Theme: Greatest Innovations of the Past

 

Roles & Responsibilities:

Opener:  Jesus Mendoza

Toastmaster:  Kelli Dixon

Word of the Day: Bill Martin

elicit – to draw out by discussion

Humorist:  Rachel Mitchell

Table Topics: Susan Martin

Table Topic Speakers:

1)    Rick Dixon - :1:27

2)    John Travisano – 1:18

3)    Joe Stricker (guest) – 1:31

4)    Chris Goldman – 1:12

5)    Terence Melanos

 Speaker(s):

1)  Tremale Berger (guest) –  speech contest “Messy Truth” (requested 5-7 min) 7:11

2)   Rushna Ninawe - Innovative Planning #2-2 - Connect With Your Audience (requested 5:00-7:00 min) 8:18

General Evaluator: Alex Dabich

Evaluator(s):

1)  Club attendees roundrobin

2)  Janet Schreibman – 4:11

 

Ah Counter/Grammarian: Michael Lin

Timer:  Kianush Dixon

 

Club Business:

 

Members Present: Chris Goldman, Janet Schreibman, Jesus Mendoza, Rick Dixon, Kianush Dixon, Kelli Dixon, Susan Martin, Bill Martin, Terence Melonas, Michael Lin, Alex Dabich, Rachel Mitchell, Runsha Ninawe, Bobby Bock

Guest(s): Kristen Johnson, Joe Stricker, Anna Gulstine, Emily Moon, Geoff Nwankwo, Faith Nwankwo, Ukpong Nwankwo, Austin Wayne

 Virtual Attendees: Willy Baumgartner, John Travisano

 Word Users:  Janet, Joe (guest), John