Club Meeting 21 February 2012

As the Toastmaster of the Evening (TME) for our Take Calculated Risks meeting, Grace took the liberty (word of the day) to entertain, educate and elevate us with her lively conduct of the meeting.

Our vibrant, beautiful and talented TME

It was a pleasant surprise to find out that we had 6 guests for this meeting thanks to the effort of TME Grace and Past President Lay Theng.

President Angeline with guests Su Ling and Nancy

In the words of our TME, it takes commitment, conviction and courage to take calculated risks to overcome our fears of public speaking. Two of our guests took courage to speak in front of us for the first time in the Table Topics session chaired by VPM Alexandra.

Club Secretary Daphne, PP Freddie, Moses, guests Jean & Nancy, Treasurer Ian enjoying the Table Topics session

Past President Ben confessed that he is a risk taker but only takes calculated risks as risks and rewards go hand-in-hand. Treasurer Ian recounted a calculated risk he had taken at age 7 when he started to learn to swim. DTM Siva asked us to be at liberty to take risks as it may lead to freedom from a mundane life.

Past President Freddie had us laughing at his story of dejection when two girls turned him down when he asked them out for a date. He struck gold at his third attempt and his conclusion was that if you don’t give it a try, you will never know whether you will succeed.

Our courageous guests Nancy and Priscilla decided to give Table Topics a try. Nancy shared with us a difficult decision she had to make a year ago, whether to continue to work in Australia or whether to come home to Malaysia. It was a risk as she enjoyed her life in Melbourne yet she felt that the missing piece was the family touch. She decided to follow her heart. We hope that she will soon choose to build new family ties with us - with Friendship Club and Friendship friends.

Nancy telling us about a difficult decision in her life

As for Priscilla, even though she is adventurous, she is not a risk taker. As she previously had a disastrous investment experience, she now chooses to be a low risk, low returns investor. However we are glad she chose to take the risk of speaking at Table Topics. It did not turn out to be a disastrous speech. On the contrary, she spoke fluently considering that it was her first Table Topics speech!

We were certainly in for a treat for the Prepared Speech Session as we had the privilege to listen to two project speeches on visual aids and a contest speech.

Speakers Freddie, Ian and Daphne

For Daphne, she gave us amusing examples of the differences between men and women in her “Stay in Love” speech. Using her tablet and fairy tale books as her visual aids, she told us that her husband did not believe in fairy tales. In fact, he did not even fit the description of a knight in shining armour as he could not ride a horse. Although reality always win, our fair fairy from Ipoh believes that living happily after is not a fairy tale. It can happen in real life with effort, forbearance and tolerance.

For Ian, it was “The Longest 2 Minutes” in his life when he did his first Table Topics on 25 October 2011. It was a terrifying experience for him, one that he will never forget. Being a resilient and resourceful young man, he decided to improve and practice at every opportunity that he had at Table Topics, to be a better impromptu speaker. On 31 January this year, he won a trophy at our club’s Table Topics Contest. His motivating message to us was to find the courage to speak, as it is only thru practice that we can improve as a speaker.

Past President Freddie presented his “Face-hooked” contest speech as preparation for our Area W3 Contest on 25 February. TME Grace was liberal in her evaluation of his speech.

Freddie and Ian are Best Project Speakers with a gift sponsored by Past President Lay Theng - a ticket to Division W Speech Contest on 17 March

In the Evaluation Session headed by TLI Chair G. Sivalingam, DTM, evaluators Moses, Ben and Zaiton provided specific feedback for our speakers. We would like to thank DTM Siva for taking up the GE role despite his busy schedule as TLI Chair.

President Angeline presenting a Thank You card to GE Siva

The awards given out for our Take Calculated Risk meeting went to
Best Table Topic Speaker – Nancy Soo 
Best Project Speakers – Freddie Yap and Ian Tai 
Best Evaluator – Moses Wong 

Nancy is Best Table Topic Speaker

Moses wins the Best Speech Evaluator award

Thank you for being at liberty to attend our Take Calculated Risk meeting. Do join us again at our joint meeting with IBM Toastmasters Club on 28 Feb. Also do not hesitate to attend our 6 March Hesitation is a Loss meeting. Take calculated risks, do not hesitate, as you make strides to improve as a speaker! 

Photos contributed by Moses Wong

Meeting Programme 21 February 2012

Newsletter 21 February 2012

FRIEND'S CONNECTION

Volume 10 Issue 14

Newsletter was initiated by Mohamad Abdullah DTM in 2000.

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

President Angeline Lee was the editor from November 2009 to June 2010.

VPM Alexandra Lau was the editor from July 2010 to June 2011. 

VPPR Susan Lim is the current editor, assisted by Club Secretary Daphne Au.

Meeting Notice 21 February 2012

From: VPE Chee Hoe 
Date: 10 February 2012 7:29 PM
Subject: Friendship Meeting on 21 February 2012 - Take Calculated Risks

"What I encourage people to do is picture themselves 20 years from now in the same job at the same desk and with the same people, simply to show them what will happen if they don't take any risks. The color just drains out of their faces. But if you don't make an effort to change and get what you want, then life probably won't turn out how you want it to," says psychologist Gary Leboff.

Dear Friends,
Taking risks can be both the smartest and silliest thing you can do with your life. That risky decision may elevate you to a greater height. That risky decision may relegate you into a deeper valley. No worries! You will learn the most through that deep fall and soar high again by taking accurately calculated risks!

Our amazing Grace Tan as the TME will definitely ignite the excitement of the meeting, with the enlightenment from 2 project speeches by Daphne and Ian. They will share with you well-researched and visually stimulating topics!

With the company of DTM G Sivalingam as our GE and the experienced team of evaluators, this meeting is never at risk. I can assure that it will be another fun and fruitful meeting!

We will be meeting up in Dewan Berjaya, a different ballroom that may uplift our creativity! Do put your new found creativity into test by trying out the Table Topics. Please bring your guests and have a great time with friends!

Club Contest 31 January 2012

It was a record-breaking event, with six contestants for Friendship’s International Speech Contest and seven contestants for the Table Topic Contest! With the ever-efficient, capable and dedicated Organising Chair Chee Hoe preparing for the club contest since November 2011, we were certain that the club contest would be in good hands.

We started with the International Speech Contest after Contest Chair Alexandra and Chief Judge Kuok Sum had completed their respective contestants and role players briefing.

International Speech Contest Chair Alexandra

Presenting the first speech for the evening, Moses was eloquent and fervent in his 'Malaysia, my Malaysia' speech. He was full of patriotism and peppered his speech with dramatic words and gestures. Daphne in her 'Stay in Love' speech entertained us with tales of knight in shining armour, camera, babies and football. Next, Angeline used visual aid of Shahid Kapoor pictures to show us why she is 'Watching Bollywood Movies'.

Freddie felt there were 3 persons at the dinner table while feasting in Penang as his friend was busy snapping photos to upload to Facebook. He had several suggestions to cure us of our 'Facehooked' addiction.

As for Sylvia, she pondered on the dilemma of 'Graduation is equal to Unemployment?' as she presented facts and figures to us in her pictorial charts. Lastly, Sivadas spoke of 'Continuous Change' in his life. He was amazed that he was interviewed twice last year while attending open house functions.

International Speech Contest Results
Champion - Freddie Yap
1st runner up - Angeline Lee
2nd runner up - Moses Wong

(L-R) Moses, Freddie, Angeline and Contest Chair Alexandra

For the Table Topic Contest, Contest Chair Chee Hoe requested Chief Judge Kuok Sum to select one of the 3 ang pow (red packet) that he had prepared. The table topic question posed to our contestants was 'Less is more'.

Table Topic Contest Chair Chee Hoe

First contestant Angeline disagreed as she wished for more money but has not found the solution for making more money. Alexandra was full of enthusiasm to prove her mettle last year when she was transferred to a new department. She learnt that perhaps less is more, by not spreading herself too thin.

Sylvia started her personal savings plan last year and has accumulated a modest sum which she is proud of. Ian wisely said that as time is precious we should talk less and do more !

Moses admitted that he is not perfect, professed that he is not an eloquent speaker and confessed that he has a hunger to be better and wanted more in his life. Freddie humorously admitted that he does not have many friends and most of his friends are found at Friendship meetings. Sivadas exhorted us to do more, to learn more and to never give up !

Table Topics Contest Results
Champion - Freddie Yap
1st runner up - Moses Wong
2nd runner up - Ian Tai

(L-R) President Angeline, winners Ian, Moses and Freddie with Contest Chair Chee Hoe

Friendship Toastmasters Club would like to record our appreciation for the following individuals who have helped us to have a successful club contest.

Organizing Chair - Chor Chee Hoe, CC, CL
Chief Judge - Cheong Kuok Sum, CC, ALB, and his panel of judges
International Speech Contest Chair - Alexandra Lau, CC
Table Topics Contest Chair - Chor Chee Hoe, CC, CL
Timer - Tan Lay Theng, CC, ALB
Timer - Kenny Chan (IBM TMC)
Ballot Counter - Eric Low, CL (TARC TMC)
Ballot Counter - Daphne Au
Sergeant At Arms - Andy Supramaniam
Photographers - Eric Low and Andy Supramaniam

Chief Judge Kuok Sum receiving token of appreciation from Organising Chair Chee Hoe and President Angeline

Thank you to all our guests, members and contestants who have made this evening an evening to remember !

Photos contributed by President Eric Low, TARC Toastmasters Club

Meeting Notice 31 January 2012

From: VPE Chee Hoe
To: Friendship Members
Date: 5 January 2012 10:09 PM
Subject: Friendship International Speech Contest & Table Topics Contest - 31 January 2012

Dear Friendship Members,
The annual International Speech and Table Topics Contests will be held on 31 January 2012, one week after our joyous Chinese New Year.

Thank you very much for those who have signed up to be contestants!
Personally, I think that participating in a contest is not about winning. It's the golden opportunity to practice and polish your speaking and thinking skills. It offers you the valuable experience that may transform you to be a better speaker and listener!

If you haven't sign up as a contestant, all you have to do is prepare a 5 to 7 minutes speech for the International Speech Contest. You may speak on any topic, but try not to touch on politics, sex and religion. There is a minimum qualification for the International Speech Contest - you must complete the first six speeches in the Competent Communication manual.

For the Table Topics Contest, it is similar to our regular Table Topics Session. You will be given 2 minutes to speak on an impromptu topic. As the Organising Chair, I promise that I will prepare speaker-friendly topics. So what are you waiting for? Quickly, hastily and rapidly sign up for this Table Topics Contest!

The winners will represent Friendship and proceed to our Area W3 Contest to be held on Saturday 25 February 2012. As the Organising Chair for both Friendship and Area W3 Contests, I'm still looking for role players Ballot-counter, Timer and SAA. Looking forward to your kind reply and helpful support!

An early wish of Happy Chinese New Year to you !

Meeting Programme 17 January 2012

Newsletter 17 January 2012

FRIEND'S CONNECTION

Volume 10 Issue 13

Newsletter was initiated by Mohamad Abdullah DTM in 2000.

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

President Angeline Lee was the editor from November 2009 to June 2010.

VPM Alexandra Lau was the editor from July 2010 to June 2011. 

VPPR Susan Lim is the current editor, assisted by Club Secretary Daphne Au.

Meeting Notice 17 January 2012

From: VPE Chee Hoe
To: FTMC Members
Date: 9 January 2012 8:33 AM
Subject: Friendship Meeting on 17 January 2012 - Words of Wisdom

Dear Friends,
We are often inspired by words of wisdom. Those words sometimes take us into deep thoughts and sometimes they brightened up our days!

Wisdom is the quality of being wise. Let me share with you a quote, or rather words of wisdom.

The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook.
William James, American psychologist and philosopher

This quote is easy to understand but it's hard to put into practice.

As Toastmasters, we become wiser after completing the tasks that we volunteer to take up, either leadership roles or speaking opportunities. We grow as we complete the task. Although the completed task may not be a masterpiece, it is definitely good training ground for us to learn, grow and improve.

In this meeting, many members and visiting Toastmasters are taking up various meeting roles to learn, grow and improve. Through learning and improving, we become wiser and smarter.

Attend the meeting with your guests and you will be amazed by the assertiveness of our members Sivadas, Alexandra, Sylvia, Daphne, Andy, Ben, Zaiton, Kim, Lay Theng and Ian! Thank you to our amazing Grace, for helping me to invite dedicated Toastmasters from other clubs to make our meeting merrier !