Meeting #655: Micro-attraction, Zermatt and Need Theories

18 Oct 2026

On the afternoon of Sunday, 18 October 2026, we held our 655th meeting on the theme "Micro-attraction". Despite the heavy autumn rain outside, members joined both in person and on Zoom for a warm and lively hybrid meeting.

Theme and question of the day

Item	Details
Theme	Micro-attraction
Question	What is a very minor or unexpected habit or action in someone that instantly makes them look attractive to you?
Date	Sunday, 18 October 2026, from 4 PM
Format	In person + online (Zoom)
Attendance	9 in total (9 members, 0 guests)

Role takers

Role	Member	Notes
Chairperson	Sean Park
Toastmaster	Carrot	Hosted in English
General Evaluator	Sujin Sim
Table Topics Master	Kiri
Reviewer	Sean Park	Zermatt & Matterhorn
Timer	Sujin Sim
English Grammarian	Sunsick Yoon
Korean Grammarian	Sunsick Yoon
Speaker 1	Nadia	Korean, evaluated by Kevin Choi
Speaker 2	Ji Hye Park	Korean, evaluated by Round Robin

The theme, and the role takers' answers

Toastmaster Carrot introduced the theme in English. She shared that she finds people particularly endearing when they remember a casual remark she made and turn it into a considerate small action, or when someone quiet and low-profile demonstrates steady consistency over time.

With heavy traffic delaying the General Evaluator's arrival due to the downpour, the on-site team promptly handled the roles to keep the meeting moving seamlessly. Sean Park, who stepped in as interim timer, shared reflections on connecting with his cat, while Grammarian Sunsick Yoon recalled a former manager at an IoT firm who, despite being buried under CEO reports, always made time to listen attentively to small questions from team members. Sunsick introduced the Word of the Day, "Endearing".

Review session: Zermatt & Matterhorn

Reviewer Sean Park shared the third installment of his Switzerland travels, presenting "Zermatt & Matterhorn" in English.

Moving from Verbier to Zermatt, he highlighted the world-famous Matterhorn, renowned for its steep, pyramid-like rock peak and its iconic place on the Toblerone chocolate box.
Because peak-season accommodations were fully booked, he stayed at a mountain hostel situated 350 meters above the town, reached by a continuous one-hour uphill hike, where he connected with travelers from around the world.
He showcased scenic photos from the Sunnegga Express and the five-lakes trekking trail, capturing a rare, clear view of the Matterhorn.
Near the hostel, he spotted and photographed a rare wild Edelweiss flower, sharing this symbol of noble affection with the club.

Prepared speeches

#	Speaker	Title	Project	Language	Evaluator
1	Nadia	매슬로의 욕구단계이론	Presentation Mastery Lv 2: Understanding Your Communication Style	Korean	Kevin Choi
2	Ji Hye Park	나는 왜 그것을 원할까?	Rehearsal Speech	Korean	Round Robin

Speech 1: "매슬로의 욕구단계이론" (Nadia)

Nadia delivered an informative Korean speech exploring human psychological needs through Maslow's theory.

Part	Content
Opening	She opened by sharing that learning about human psychological needs helped her better understand inner anxieties and find mental peace.
Hierarchy of Needs	She explained basic physiological needs (water, food, air), humorously noting that when hunger strikes, no wise words can be heard. She then moved through safety needs (stable jobs, savings, insurance, health) and social belonging, such as friendships and community.
Closing	She concluded with self-actualization, emphasizing that becoming everything one is capable of becoming is vital for genuine personal growth and fulfillment.

Speech 2: "나는 왜 그것을 원할까?" (Ji Hye Park)

Ji Hye Park presented a 15-minute Korean rehearsal lecture on William Glasser's Choice Theory for her therapy instructor certification.

Part	Content
Opening	She questioned why individuals seek vastly different paths to happiness, introducing the five basic human needs and individual differences in fulfilling them.
Basic Needs & Quality World	She outlined the five needs: survival, love and belonging, power and achievement, freedom, and fun. She explained that these needs interact with personal experience to form an internal "Quality World"—a mental photo album of ideals. Interpersonal conflicts arise not because needs differ, but because our internal pictures clash when trying to meet those needs.
Closing	She highlighted internal control over external control, reminding the audience that we cannot force changes onto someone else's album. She concluded with an interactive Q&A session after distributing an exercise sheet.

Table Topics

Table Topics Master Kiri led an engaging session without slides to encourage maximum listening focus from the audience.

Question	Speaker	Summary
When was a recent moment that made you smile?	Ji Hye Park	(Korean) She shared how reconciling different personal values and needs with her father led to mutual respect and a shared smile.
What is your favorite time of the day, and why?	Sean Park	(Korean) He chose early morning, when the time zone difference allows him to talk with his daughter who is studying abroad.
Was there a moment when someone's small gesture made your day special?	Kevin Choi	(Korean) He recalled yielding a crowded subway seat to a father holding a tired young daughter, finding deep warmth in the sincere eye contact and gratitude they exchanged.
When was a moment so happy you wished time would stop?	Sunsick Yoon	(Korean) He looked back on his high school senior days working daytime at a computer shop and evening as an instructor, recalling the tireless energy and camaraderie of youth.
When meeting someone for the first time, in what fleeting moment do you find them attractive?	Sujin Sim	(Korean) She shared that she is instantly charmed by a calm, deep tone of voice combined with a polite and intellectual speaking style.
Is a beautiful moment beautiful on its own, or because it eventually ends?	Nadia	(Korean/English) She answered that special moments are inherently beautiful and should never be taken for granted, urging everyone to appreciate them right as they unfold.

Evaluations

General Evaluator Sujin Sim led the evaluation session with constructive insights.

Speech	Evaluator	What worked well	Suggestion
Nadia	Kevin Choi	The interactive opening engaged the audience immediately, and the relatable example regarding hunger effectively simplified physiological needs.	Memorizing the opening lines for a more relaxed start, and incorporating more personal anecdotes into the stages to showcase her unique style.
Ji Hye Park	Round Robin	Her vibrant vocal projection, confident camera-facing gestures, and the practical activity sheet made the complex theory accessible.	Incorporating the physical diagram directly into the presentation slides, managing speaking tempo, and distributing eye contact evenly across all listeners.

Technical role reports

English & Korean Grammarian Sunsick Yoon: Commended vivid English words such as "fascinating", "captivating", and "don't take it for granted". In Korean speeches, he praised metaphors like "inner photo album" and "quiet like a fingerprint", while offering helpful pointers on the distinction between stability and physical safety, alongside encouraging uses of the Word of the Day, "endearing".
General Evaluator Sujin Sim: Commended the teamwork of the officers and members who seamlessly adjusted roles despite the rain delays, praising the engaging travel review, smooth table topics facilitation, and active participation throughout the hybrid meeting.

Awards

Category	Winner
Best Speaker	N/A (Time exceeded)
Best Evaluator	Kevin Choi
Best Table Topics	Nadia, Sean Park, Sunsick Yoon

Closing

Toastmaster Carrot and Chairperson Sean Park expressed gratitude to all attendees joining online and in person. Members confirmed upcoming roles and captured a commemorative group photo to conclude the day.

SBTM meets on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month at 4 PM at Donbuneun Ajit (3rd floor), 137 Sapyeong-daero 53-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, and on Zoom. To visit or join, message us on KakaoTalk (Sunday Bilingual TM) or write to sbtm.join@gmail.com. First-timers are very welcome!