Photos @ 15 Dec 2009

Report by Elaine Tan & photos by Angeline Lee

Elaine Tan

FTMC wraps up 2009

With the Christmas festivity in the air, the pressure to clear long awaited annual leave and half a month left towards 2010, it was the perfect time to rejoice (word of the day)! In line with the theme “Don’t think! DO!” President Ben Fong said that it wasn’t really a perfect time to start. However, sometimes the best strategy is to jump in and just get started.

This is what Friendship Toastmasters Club (FTMC) did despite the dark grey sky dispersing heavy water bombs outside! The evening programme began on time and recorded an attendance of 24 persons. Generously dishing out toasts and introductions was Toastmaster of the Evening, Leong Kwok Hung.

*

The dashing Leong Kwok Hung in his maiden role as TME

*
The Yuletide cheer also brought along guests Robert Ram (VPM of IEM), Cheong Kuok Sum (Area W4 Governor), Janice Lee (VPM of TTDI), as well as Lai Chee Yoong (VPPR of Exact ADC) and Teo Soo Loon (Past President of Exact ADC). We even had three guests from as far as Singapore. The more the merrier! So, thank you for spending time with us.

As part of his invocation and to further motivate fellow Toastmasters, KC Lim with a little help from his voiceover prompter Angeline Lee, shared his two bobs worth to inspire us towards a better tomorrow. Life is a struggle. It’s not to have conquered but to have fought well.

Sivadas tried his hand as Table Topics Master and succeeded in making five jolly gung-ho souls taking on the challenge. They were Freddie Yap, Alexandra Lau, Robert Ram, Kent Ho and Lai Chee Yoong.

Freddie Yap delivery his table topics speech

*

As thorough research had to be done for Project no. 7 in the Competent Communicator Manual, Zaiton Zainal Abidin dutifully did her homework and addressed the importance of detoxification through controlled pauses in her speech aptly titled “Better Out Than In”.

Past President Freddie Yap presented Project 3 in the Storytelling Manual by narrating the story of a cunning husband who kills his wife and her lover and then tries to hide the evidence in “The Perfect Plan”. Although the authorities suffer numerous roadblocks in solving the wife’s disappearance, the husband was finally caught by a humble gallstone. Moral of the story: Don’t take the law into your own hands.

In a sequel to the December 1 Special Occasion Speeches Manual, we saw a reversal of roles. This time, Angeline Lee presented a leadership award to Ben Fong. Both delivered awe-inspiring speeches entitled “Leadership by Example” and “Extraordinary” respectively.

FTMC and guests celebrated Sivadas' birthday during the Happy 10-Minute Break with a song and cake. Many happy returns of the day, Sivadas!

Sivadas blowing out the candles on his birthday cake

*
We indulged in the amusing tales by IPP Tan Lay Theng who is the humour master. She said she found it hard to look for humorous matierial, so she decided to show us a video clip on the winning speech at the District 51 Humorous Speech Contest 2009. “Local English or Standard English?” was a sidesplitting speech by Marianna Pascal that left us convulsed with laughter.

We express our heartfelt thanks to our General Evaluator, Robert Ram, ACS, CL. He imparted words of wisdom and invaluable tips on improvement. He commended FTMC for its high exco members' attendance (over 50%) at the meeting. He also praised the club for having a blog that is being updated.

*

We thank the other role players for making the meeting a success:

- Teo Soo Loon, Cheong Kuok Sum, Tom Chen and KC Lim, the speech evaluators

- Elaine Tan, the Grammarian

- Lai Chee Yoong, the Ah Counter

- Gino Chong, the Timer

*

Robert Ram, the General Evaluator, caught in action


Teo Soo Loon evaluating Zaiton's speech "Better Out than In"




Elaine Tan delivering her Grammarian's report

*

Looking on (L-R): Sivadas the Table Topics Master; Gino Chong the Timer; Kent Ho a guest; Cheong Kuok Sum, Area W4 Governor; Mr Lim another guest.

*

*

Chee Yoong (left), the Ah Counter, is also the Best Table Topics Speaker. On the right is Chee Hoe, first-timer as Assistant SAA.

*

President Ben Fong is the Best Project Speaker seen here receiving his certificate from IPP Tan Lay Theng

*

Freddie Yap is the joint Best Project Speaker

*

*

Teo Soo Loon is the Best Speech Evaluator

*

*

Tom Chen is the joint Best Speech Evaluator

*

REPORT BY ELAINE TAN

PHOTOS BY ANGELINE LEE

*

*

*

Newsletter_Volume 8 Issue 11

*

*

FRIEND'S CONNECTION
Volume 8 Issue 11

Newsletter was initiated by Mohamad Abdullah, DTM, in 2000

Ben Fong took over as editor from 04 July 2006 to 20 October 2009

Angeline Lee is the current editor

Angeline Lee

Page 1 (click to enlarge)

Page 2 (click to enlarge)

*

*

*

Meeting Programme_15 December 2009

Click to enlarge

*

*

*

Notice of Meeting

MESSAGE FROM VPE

Zaiton Zainal Abidin

*

Click to enlarge
*

*

*

Announcement_Toastmasters Event

MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY

Angeline Lee

*

Click to enlarge

*

*

*

Photos @ 01 Dec 2009

Report by Elaine Tan & photos by Angeline Lee

Elaine Tan

Invest In Yourself at Friendship Toastmasters Club
Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Hosted by Toastmaster of the Evening, Sivadass, members and guests fell under his spell and were soon comfortably experiencing a Symbiotic (Word of the Day) relationship. By practising their speaking skills in Table Topics and Speech Projects, they received friendly feedback from the evaluators.

*

In fact, joining a Toastmasters Club like Friendship Toastmasters Club (FTMC) is a fantabulous way to Invest In Yourself. As President Ben Fong said, you acquire new skills and will certainly find more doors opening in your career and life.

*

Our Table Topics Master, Area Governor Tan Lay Theng, played her cards well by ensuring all questions were in line with the theme Invest In Yourself. She actually managed to get not four or five but six enthusiastic speakers - Ben Fong, Freddie Yap, Priyanka Puri, Gino Chong, Angeline Lee and newbie Chor Chee Hoe.

Tom Chen delivering his specialty, Table Topics Evaluation

*

Following Table Topics was the Speech Projects. Elaine Tan presented Project 6: Vocal Variety with a speech entitled "Words", noting that words are potent and in order to use them well, Practice Makes Perfect.

*

Then came Ben & Angeline's collaboration in the Special Occasions manual. It's a rare gem and first of its kind in FTMC. Presenting the 4th & 5th projects respectively, Ben presented the Mentor Award to Angeline in a speech entitled "The Award Goes To ...". Angeline reciprocated by presenting her appreciation speech entitled "Journey of Learning".

The Guest of Honour and General Evaluator was LGM, Francis Ng, DTM. He gave constructive feedback and highlighted the fact that little things make a difference. We are so pleased he could join us. Thank you for coming!

*

Special thanks also go to the other role players - Rosalyn Tan the Grammarian, Gino Chong the Ah Counter and Zaiton Zainal Abidin the Timer.

Gino Chong delivering the Ah Counter report

From L, Sivadass the TME, Freddie speech evaluator, Gino the Ah Counter and Rosalyn the grammarian
*

The drum rolls unveiled the winners for the evening. They were:

1) Best Table Topics Speaker - Ben Fong

2) Best Project Speaker - Angeline Lee

3) Best Speech Evaluator - Tom Chen

Tom Chen receiving the Best Speech Evaluator certificate from President Ben Fong

*

Angeline gave a special presentation on the new kid on the block, Area W7 Connect. This website connects the 6 clubs in the friendly neighbourhood of Area W7, namely Friendship, ING Leadership, Hasil, KPMG KL, EXACT ADC and IREKA Toastmaster Clubs. For update, hot news and a gallery of snapshots on all things Toastmasters, do visit http://areaw7.blogspot.com/. Happy browsing!

Dorothy, a guest a the meeting, giving us her comments



Our brand new member, Chor Chee Hoe, investing in himself at FTMC



President Ben presenting a thank you card to the GE, LGM Francis Ng



President Ben delivering his closing address

*
REPORT BY ELAINE TAN

PHOTOS BY ANGELINE LEE

Newsletter_Volume 8 Issue 10

*

*

FRIEND'S CONNECTION

Volume 8 Issue 10

*

Newsletter was initiated by Mohamad Abdullah, DTM, in 2000

Ben Fong took over as editor from 04 July 2006 to 20 October 2009

Angeline Lee is the current editor

Angeline Lee

Page 1 (click to enlarge)

Page 2 (click to enlarge)

*

*

Meeting Programme_01 December 2009

Click to enlarge

*
*

Photos @ 17 Nov 2009

President Ben Fong, CC, CL presenting a Thank You card to the General Evaluator, Fabian Fidelis, ATMS, CL. We are honoured to have Fabian gracing us with his presence and performing the important role of GE. The card is signed by the club members.

*

Leong Kwok Hung receiving the Best Table Topics Speaker certificate from President Ben Fong. This CEO speaks on whether a good speaker is born or made. He says it is unfair that Grace Tan (club mentor) is gifted with good looks and good speaking skills but not him. He gets the audience hooting with laughter.

*

President Ben Fong receiving the Best Project Speaker certificate from the General Evaluator, Fabian Fidelis. President Ben, an enterprising entrepreneur, presents the advanced speech project "The Roast". He roasts Past President KC Lim using remarkable imagery and creative ideas. He has the audience screaming for more.
*

Kim Chow receiving the Best Speech Evaluator certificate from President Ben Fong


Past President Lim Kien Chai @ KC Lim, ACG, CL is the Toastmaster of the Meeting. This accountant cum lawyer who owns a law firm is now a globe-trotter. He did a stint at the Shaolin Temple in China not long ago. So, it is refreshing to see him conduct the meeting with Shaolin vigour!


Fabian Fidelis, ATMS, CL, is the General Evaluator. He hails from Sunway Toastmasters Club. This eloquent Toastmaster is a training consultant. It is wonderful watching him in action and listening to his spellbinding voice.


Rosalyn Tan is the Table Topics Master. She cleverly introduces topics that are related to the meeting theme "Speak Good, Speak Well". Bravo!

Tom Chen is the Table Topics Evaluator. This global banker cum corporate coach gives invaluable feedback to the five table topics speakers.

Jeffrey Yap is the son of Past President Freddie Yap. Although he is only 16, he has a burning desire to be a good speaker. It gives him the rare courage to be the first speaker during the Table Topics session. Later, he tells the club that he wants to visit again and asks if he can bring along his best friend. That's a good role model! Like father like son!

Yvonne is a guest who makes her maiden visit to a Toastmasters club. She speaks articulately during Table Topics. She is witty and uses Grace Tan (club mentor) as an illustration in her speech.

Khairul Hassan, the club treasurer, performs two roles at the meeting - Ah Counter and Table Topics speaker. In her table topics speech, she cites Grace Tan (club mentor) as a good speaker whom she admires.

Elaine Tan presents a speech based on project 4: Say it with words. At the end of her speech, everybody in the audience wants to visit the fish market in Sydney, Australia! She uses powerful imagery in her speech e.g. plump, silvery fish grinning at you.

Zaiton Zainal Abidin, the VPE, presents a speech based on project 6: Vocal Variety. She tells a dramatic story of her first trip to New York where she boarded the wrong train and ended up in Bronx. She uses her voice effectively to depict her fear, anxiety and finally, relief.

Past President Freddie Yap, CC, CL, presented an advanced speech project "The Folk Tale". He mesmerized the audience with his dramatic and animated presentation. Bravo! We can't wait for more storytelling from you!

SPECIAL MENTION

*

The Toastmaster who gets the most mention in the speeches is

*

GRACE TAN (click here to know more about this amazing lady)

Newsletter_Volume 8 Issue 9

*

*

FRIEND'S CONNECTION

Volume 8 Issue 9

*

Newsletter was initiated by Mohamad Abdullah, DTM, in 2000
Ben Fong took over as editor from 04 July 2006 to 20 October 2009
Angeline Lee is the current editor

*

*

Page 1 (click to enlarge)

*

Page 2 (click to enlarge)

Meeting Programme_17 November 2009

Click to enlarge

*
*

The meeting room

The meeting room in Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Resort, Jalan Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur (click to view map)

*

The buffet station

The buffet station

*

*

The menu consisting of rice, chicken, fish, vegetables and dessert

Free flow of coffee and tea

The U-shape seating arrangement

Rostrum and microphone are provided

White board, computer screen and flip chart are provided