by Denise McConnell DTM Club Growth Director
Bookmasters – #6103644 – Open House, Golden Gavel, Charterversary
At our latest Bookmasters Club meeting, we proudly embraced our club’s legacy of thought-provoking discussions and engaging speeches. In keeping with our Charterversary tradition, we extended a special invitation to Jill Brandenberg, author of Positivity is Overrated: 10 Tips for Ditching Toxic Positivity and Owning Your Emotions, to serve as our evening’s Bookmaster — a unique role in our club that combines Toastmaster, Table Topics Master, and General Evaluator.
Jill brought powerful authenticity to the meeting, sharing personal experiences with breast cancer and domestic violence that shaped her insights. She encouraged members to embrace their full emotional range rather than masking discomfort with forced positivity. Jill also offered a glimpse into her upcoming works, including a follow-up book, a memoir, and a version of Positivity is Overrated tailored for children.
Adding to the evening’s energy, Joyce Trimble delivered a humorous prepared speech as “The Oops Chef,” recounting a series of unforgettable kitchen disasters. Joyce turned each mishap into a lesson in resilience—echoing Jill’s message about reframing setbacks and owning our emotions.
Table Topics gave members a chance to reflect on their own experiences with toxic positivity and authenticity. Members explored the impact of overly cheerful clichés and debated the power of honest emotion and healthy skepticism.
This meeting was especially meaningful, as the Bookmasters Club achieved distinguished status for the first time in several years—a testament to the dedication and heart of our members. As we celebrate our renewed momentum, we look forward to our next discussion on The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek on May 18.
