Announcement_Speech Contests

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President Ben Fong

15th March 2010

Dear Members,

Good afternoon to all of you, I am pleased to inform you that our International Speech Contest and Table Topics Contest on the 16th March 2010 is on schedule and all preparation building up towards it is on track. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your contributions to the club. The people behind the scenes who made it happen and all the contestants who took up the challenge in the spirit of participation.

I have been entrusted with the role of the Organising Chair for this particular Contest. I wish all of you could make the time to attend and support the club for this event as it is a good platform for us to learn and get some experience by observing the more proficient speakers who have benefited from their journey in toastmasters.

There will be prizes for the winners of the contest and a gift will be presented to the person who name the winners correctly in each contest.

Contestants, please take note that there is a briefing at 6.30 pm at the meeting venue where we will go over the rules with you again prior to the start of the contest.

All role players, please try to be there at 6.30 pm to assist in the event.

I leave you all with a quote by Ursula K. LeGuin

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end”

Keep up the good work and have a great week ahead.


Regards,

Ben Fong
President 2009/2010
Friendship Toastmasters Club

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Newsletter_Volume 8 Issue 15

FRIEND'S CONNECTION
Volume 8 Issue 15


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

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Page 2 (click to enlarge)

Meeting Programme_02 March 2010

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Meeting Report_02 Mar 2010

Written by Elaine Tan

Fostering Alliances through Communication
By Elaine Tan

With the Lunar New Year’s mandarin oranges and firecrackers scents lingering in the air and many still savouring their festive holiday, 12 Friendship Toastmasters Club (“FTMC”) members and one guest held hands and built bridges (theme of the day) to add spark to their communications skills. Everyone took the opportunity to become a participant, speaker, evaluator or role player.

Nursing a sore throat didn’t prevent President Ben Fong from delivering his fortnightly presidential speech. Elaborating on the theme, he said that we probably couldn’t survive in this world without having others to help us in one way or the other such as improving our communications skills by attending Toastmasters meetings.

Taking over the reins, our Toastmaster of the Evening Zaiton Zainal Abidin began her role by paying tribute to Toastmasters International founder Dr. Ralph Smedley who has empowered thousands of members to take on leadership skills.

Invocation Presenter Chor Chee Hoe emphasised that there should not be any barriers, boundaries or walls when it comes to building the bridge of Friendship (word of the day).

As Table Topics Master, Freddie Yap reassured potential participants that they would learn from their experience and as a result, received eight Table Topic participants. They were KC Lim, Kent Ho, Elaine Tan, Sivadass, Gino Chong, Chor Chee Hoe, Kim Chow and visitor Mi Yuan who took home the Best Table Topics Speaker award.

Attempting the challenge of Breaking the Ice during the Prepared Speeches segment was Kent Ho with his maiden speech entitled “The Present is a Present Today”. Believing that things happen for a purpose, Kent shared his relationship experiences with his family, friends and self. Highlighting that we should live, savour and enjoy life, Kent later received a standing ovation for his efforts.

Just a step away from completing the Competent Communicators manual, Elaine Tan Powerfully Persuaded fellow Toastmasters to read a book a month to enjoy the many benefits of reading in her ninth speech titled “Turning the Pages”.

After the Happy Break, Humour Master Freddie Yap lightened up the atmosphere with jokes between a patient and her gynaecologist as well as people in an asylum.

Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for… the evaluation section lead by Chan Guan Leong from the Sime Darby Healthcare Toastmasters Club who was also a Speech Evaluator for the evening. He was assisted by Table Topics Evaluator Grace Tan, Evaluator KC Lim, Grammarian Sivadass, Ah Counter Chor Chee Hoe and Timer Gino Chong.

Guan Leong’s feedback included:
- noting that everyone had the opportunity to communicate;
- having an excellent meeting venue with friendly members;
- commenting that the newsletter was well done as it listed upcoming speaking slots and achieved its targeted DCP points;
- suggestions to include FTMC’s achievements to date in future newsletters;
- requesting that the audio system be improved or the air conditioning system switched off to minimise noise distractions when participants were speaking; and
- introducing speakers who had not completed their Competent Communicator or Competent Leader manuals as “Toastmaster”.

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Photos @ 02 Mar 2010

President Ben Fong presenting the 'Best Table Topics Speaker' certificate to Mi Yuen, a visiting Toastmaster from Sunway Toastmasters Club. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

VPE Zaiton Zainal Abidin is the Toastmaster of the Evening. She prepares for her role diligently and conducts the meeting passionately.

Chor Chee Hoe presenting the Invocation based on the meeting theme 'Hold Hands and Build Bridges'.



Past President Freddie Yap is the Table Topics Master. He introduces interesting topics with great charm and clarity.




Past Presdent KC Lim @ Lim Kien Chai is the first Table Topics Speaker. His comments on the topic "Tiger Woods read his apology speech from a prepared text" are very positive and encouraging. Tiger should be here!




Kent Ho amuses the audience with his opinion on the topic "You are driving a female colleague home when she asks you to stop over at a pub."



Elaine Tan speaks articulately on "Women make better managers". She dazzles the audience with her brilliant smile.



Sivadass speaks on "Malaysians throw rubbish everywhere." He gives good ideas on how to keep places such as temples clean and free of rubbish.

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Gino speaks on the topic "A friend is a friend until he borrows money". His thoughts are enlightening.




Chor Chee Hoe shares his views on "Why people smoke". Being a non-smoker himself, he is eager to persuade smokers to stop their habit.




Mi Yuen from Sunway Toastmasters Club speaks on "It's okay to be fat if you're healthy". Her comments on the TV reality show "The Biggest Loser" draw approval from the audience.

Kent Ho delivers his Ice Breaker speech entitled "The Present Is A Present Today." He uses poetry to spice up his speech.

Elaine Tan presents the 9th speech project entitled "Turning The Pages". She persuades the audience to read more books. Oh yes, Malaysians desperately need her persuasion!

Grace Tan is the Table Topics Evaluator. She conducts a marathon evaluation on 8 speakers! Her iconic vivacious personality energizes the audience.

Chan Guan Leong, CTM, CL, wears two hats at the meeting. He is the GE and the evaluator for Kent Ho. He hails from Sime Darby Healthcare Toastmasters Club. He is a past Area Governor and is currently serving as the Assistant Division W Governor for Marketing.

Past President KC Lim evaluates Elaine Tan's speech. He looks every inch the CEO giving his advice and recommendations.

We thank Chan Guan Leong, CTM, CL, for visiting our club and performing as the General Evaluator. We are grateful for his positive and brilliant comments. We are touched by his kind words regarding our unity and friendliness. Thank you so much!

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Sivadass giving his Grammarian report.

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Chee Hoe giving the Ah Counter report.

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Gino giving the Timer report.

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