BLOG ADDRESS CHANGE

Please note that this blog will be transferred to another address:

http://mimtoastmastersjb.blogspot.com

Thank you.

AGM 2009/2010

Firstly, I would like to salute the exco team for this term for a job well done.

To our club's president, TM Glen Koh, who has doggedly given his best for the club.

To our VPE, CC Ee Jun Wai, who made sure we all completed our projects and took up appointments.

To our VPM, TM Michael Tee, who left us early to Kuantan, but has always been so encouraging.

To our VPPR, yours truly, for trying her best to update this blog and fb page.

To our Secretary, TM Gan Chin Soon, whom despite his busy schedule, contributed to the club so willingly.

To our Treasurer, CC Chiang Lee Lim, for making sure the accounts are in order and taking the pains to bank in or reimburse our claims.

To our SAA, CC Doreen Tey and CC Auyong Lucy, for being the coordinator for so many meetings and ensuring we are all comfortable and well-fed during meetings.

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The AGM came up with a new exco team:

Immediate Past President: TM Glen Koh
President: Charlotte Goh, CC
Vice President of Education: Auyong Lucy, CC, CL
Vice President of Membership: Ee Jun Wai, CC
Vice President of Public Relations: TM Norihan
Secretary: TM Norhidayah
Treasurer: Jason Kum, ACB
Sergeant-at-Arms: TM Fazril

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With that, I look forward to handing this blog over to the incoming VPPR...

Thank you for your support by visiting this blog.

Miri Convention - Day 2

Congratulations to Siew Weng Yue for getting through the early morning run-off and being eligible for the District level competition tomorrow!

You're the BEST!

As for the International Speech Competition Runoff A (which was the one I was in), the competition was a true show of talents among the various divisions.

The final 3 from runoff A are:

1. Iin Haryani

2. Stephen Fernando

3. Bhavna Sutrisna

CONGRATULATIONS, wishing you all the best for the final round tomorrow!

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My Story

I rested and went through my speech in the morning, choosing to stay in rather than go for the Opening ceremony. Despite being scared and worried, I went up and did as best as I could, with the thought of speaking from my heart.

Out of 7 contestants, I was 6th. When it was my turn, I went up in my White jacket and told myself, 'SMILE'.

I delivered the speech with as much gusto as I can summon.

People commented that my speech was 'powerful'.

And you wonder (I wonder too), what was the missing winning element (it's evaluation time). With the help of fellow caring toastmasters, we analysed my speech and came up with the following reasons:

a. The content and speech title did not connect very well.

b. Not enough humour.

c. The content could have been with more solid information.

Lessons learnt from this experience:

• Talking in a large auditorium is VERY different from talking in a small hall.

• Use of PERSONAL experiences are more effective than using another person's story.

• Even when using a headset microphone, THROW your voice - because throwing your voice and NOT holding back, will help you to express yourself much better.

• Having more than 3 experienced toastmasters to review your speech would help to avoid more than 50% of mistakes and improve your content.

• When we write a script, we are attuned to the speech personally. Just as how we can't see certain flaws in ourselves, we may not be able to see the flaws in the speech that we wrote. Hence, we need the comments from others to suggest and point out the improvements we can make to our speech.

This has been my FIRST experience on a district level and the support and encouragement I have received from fellow Division A members as well as other toastmasters we've met here in Miri, has helped me to stand tall and be proud that I have completed my speech at district level!

A very big, heartfelt, THANK YOU to all of you who shook my hand and told me 'all the best' at least 10 times during the past two days (you know who you are).

We shall all moot for TM Siew during the Table Topics Competition! Enjoy yourself and do your best!

Miri Convention - Day 1 (part 3)

The evening's Welcome Night proved that we are a happening bunch of people no matter what the situation.

Food was good. We had the whole 8 course dinner, which included the cold dish all the way to dessert.

To entertain us, we had an excellent musical by Kota Kinabalu Toastmasters Club - Spray. It was indeed a well written musical script which caught all our attention with song and dance.

The acting was very impressive with colourful costumes and well recorded music and singing.

After the dinner, we decided to let our hair down (not me, i got short hair), and walked a short distance to SOHO, a pub which had a 2-piece band. Keyboard, guitar and vocalist. That's 3?

The guy was playing both the keyboard AND the guitar. If he had a drum, he would probably play with his legs too.

Our finale song, "I Will Survive" - I won't only survive, I will Rise up to the occasion and do MORE than survive.

Right now, the confidence is brimming because everyone has been so encouraging.

That's today.

I hope it is sustained and maintained until the run-offs and the finals.

Till tomorrow morning, time for us to be snoozing.

But before that, thanks to Fung Lee-Jean, some pictures:

Back (L - R): Lee-Jean, Patricia, Harold, Teresa,

Front (L - R): Nancy, Lucy, MK, Yours truly

Table Topics Run-offs at 8am!

ALL THE BEST TO SIEW WENG YUE (Malacca Toastmasters Club) representing Division A.

Miri Convention - Day 1 (part 2)

The afternoon and evening, district council meeting - where they elect and nominate and vote for the various division govenors and the splitting of divisions due to 'overcrowding'.

The meeting was formal, but with the quirk comments of those on the floor, laughter made the longer than usual meeting bearable.

Later, it's the 'Welcome Night' with its theme of 'Denim'.

Looking forward to it.

Miri Convention - Day 1

It is day 1 of the convention and people are pouring in from all over. Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei.

Woke up early this morning at 8am, but my housemates woke up even earlier and chatted amiably while I covered myself with my make-shift blanket, a bedsheet.

As we took our time to shower and brush our teeth, taking turns in that one bathroom, the mood was high and jovial.

We registered ourselves for the convention and took our bags of program book, and nametags. However, my nametag was not in the bunch. Probably because I registered late.

We went out in search of breakfast and ended up at a coffeeshop about 100m from the hotel.

They ate laksa (which was quite good) while I ate mee suah in chicken wine (the wine was not enough!).

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My brain is forgetting my speech, but I am trying not to concentrate on that very much. It would not be good to worry myself beforehand.

My club members have been extremely supportive. Wanting to make my stay comfortable and ensuring that I get a good rest.

THANKS to all of you who have been so encouraging!

Miri Convention (Day -1)

ONE DAY BEFORE THE CONVENTION

Arrived Miri at 7:40pm, after a 2 hour flight on Airasia. Slept most of the way since I was tired from sleeping late and waking up early.

Arriving at the airport, reminds me of Subang airport. Smaller, but the design seems similar. But it's definitely nicer than JB's Senai ariport (for now since Senai is going through a revamp).

Sharing a cab, going to the hotel, and seeing many other toastmasters getting their keys to the rooms.

Imperial Hotel is located in town and I was very glad to see many shops nearby, especially food. We were hungry.

The hotel is ok, clean. Not new, but satisfactorily maintained. It's next to Imperial Mall - we'll see what there is tomorrow.

Sharing a two-room apartment, which usually sleeps only 3, with 4 others (ie 5 of us in one apartment. Namely, Nancy, Joyce, Lucy and MK. That makes me the youngest!

So far, it's proving alright, and it seems that my luggage is the biggest too. That's what happens when you pack only the morning when you have to leave for the airport at 2:45.

I literally dumped my clothes into the luggage, not being sure of which I would want to wear for the next few days, hence, causing me to overpack and checking in a 13kg luggage.

The laptop is important, as I have decided to update this blog with all the sights and sounds that I will be experiencing these few days.

I am wondering how the next few days will be like.

Being a relatively new toastmaster, my first time to east Malaysia and my first trip to a toastmasters convention, I have totally no idea of what is in store.

Tonight might be the only night that I have some time to myself. Who knows, by tomorrow, I will be sucked up into the festivity of it all.

Till tomorrow...

(by Division A International Speech Contest Champion, Charlotte Goh, CC)

District 51 Div A International Speech Contest 2010

IT'S ALL IN YOUR MIND (9 May 2010)

I was the last contestant out of 8. It's nerve wrecking to be the last. To listen to 7 other speeches that are just as good and to feel jittery and restless.

However, it was truly an amazing feeling when your name is called and you realise you've achieved something regional and going on national.

Thank you to those who went for the contest today, and for those of you who supported me and believed in me.

~ it's all in our mind ~ charlotte ~

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URGENT NOTE - Change Venue

Dear all,

Please be informed that due to some unforeseen circumstances, the

venue for the Workshop and Division A International Speech and Table-Topic

Contests this coming Sunday, 9th May 2010 has been changed to :-

TAMPOI CHESHIRE HOME

JALAN JUMAAT

KG. UNGKU MOHSIN

80350 JOHOR BAHRU

The workshop is from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm

The Contests will be from 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm (Registration starts at 1.30 pm)

We have a total of 32 participants for the Workshop and about 100 pax for

the Contests.

For those who have registered for the workshop, please bring along your

Competent Communication Manual. The workshop will be highly interactive

and discussions will be centred on Speech Project No. 2, 3, 4, 7 and

possibly 9 & 10.

For further information, pls contact me at 012-7233710

Thank you.

Best Regards,

Cindy Wong

Division A Gov 2009/2010

Taking on Challenges in Life

Challenges are put into our life everyday. It may be small challenges or big challenges.

But today, I was given a challenge.

To do one good deed everyday.

It struck me that we hardly do that anymore. We're so protective of ourselves, of our money, of our reputation - that we forget about others.

Strangers in the street. Strangers in the shop.

A good deed does not need to be giving of a million dollars to a person. But it could be something simple like picking up a bag dropped by someone. Or even to buy a drink for the salesman that asks you to buy a toothbrush while you're having lunch.

Taking up the challenge, to help fellow toastmasters to become better leaders, to become better speakers. to become better communicators.

Taking up the challenge, to greet and smile at strangers. To make another person's day better.

Life is already full of stress. Doing a good deed not only helps others, but it lifts up your spirits as well. You feel better, you become less stressed. When you feel less stressed, you will automatically feel more confident.

That's the reason why many people like the way toastmasters clubs conduct their meetings. We encourage. We exhort. We praise.

I look forward to seeing you at our next meeting!!

(by VPPR Charlotte Goh)

International Speech and Table Topics Competition (Area A4)

I got 1st runner-up!

The last Humorous Speech Contest, I did not manage to go for the Division level competition. So I'm now making it a point to go for the division A competition on 9 May 2010.

My speech was "It's All In Your Mind".

I thank those of you who went for the competition today. Your support and 'All the Best' gave me courage and confidence to remember a speech I wrote only the night before.

I also thank the person who gave me pointers on my previous speech, thus my need to rewrite a whole new speech.

As you give more speeches, it becomes more difficult to find topics. No matter how confident you are, if you can't find a topic, the confidence level falls.

However, putting together your ideas and making it your own great speech is not difficult.

A few pointers to finding a topic:

1. Imagine what would be relevant to your audience. Topics that are close to the audience's heart, will bring you nods and 'yes' and a big round of applause.
2. Put your topic into a manner where your examples emphasise your topic.
   
3. Repeat your message at least 3 times throughout your speech, ingraining the message you want the audience to remember.

Finding a topic requires research. Writing the speech requires concentration. Rehearsing your speech is important.

Because I finished writing my speech only the night before the contest, I read it out loud twice before I fell asleep, rearranging certain paragraphs in my mind. When I woke up, I read it out again one more time. And I read it out loud again on my way to the venue. Lastly, I wrote out the sequence of my speech in point-form to make sure I remember what to say before and after.

I share my experiences, in the hope that those of you who read this will be encouraged and write better speeches than I have.

Lastly, PLEASE DO NOT WRITE YOUR SPEECH AT THE LAST MINUTE!

I'll see all of you on the next MIM Toastmasters Club meeting!

Club Speech & Table Topics Contest 2010

Congratulations to all those who participated in the contest. For those who took part for the first time, give yourself a pat on your back because you have all done very well!



Speech Contest Winners

Au Yong Lucy (Champion)
Charlotte Goh (1st Runner-up)
Ee Jun Wai (2nd Runner-up)



Table Topics Contest Winners

Charlotte Goh (Champion)
Ee Jun wai (1st Runner-up)
Md Shaharis (2nd Runner-up)

Silver Medal - Toastmasters International Speech Contest - John Zimmer - District 59 - May 2009

I find his speech very interesting with good analogy and content.

I have been searching on YouTube for topics for this upcoming speech contest. Have found one!

Hope to see more of you join the contest.

More photos...

DTM Gerald Green... Grandfather of Toastmasters Malaysia.

SPEECHCRAFT (part 3)

Young enterprising people who has big dreams and powerful ambitions.

Livestock farmer. Entrepeneurs. Restaurants.

All have a purpose and reason to join the Speechcraft program - to improve communication and to speak more confidently.

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Speaking confidently and communicating effectively does not come overnight. Putting your thoughts and feelings into words is an art.

How we speak in our mother-tongue and in another language can be very different, especially if we do not speak it often.

However, with constant exposure to more english materials such as watching television and reading the newspapers and speaking more in english to others.

As we know of the importance of English language in our everyday life, wanting to improve and taking the first step to come to this program, is commendable.

Therefore, continue this journey in improving oneself as learning never ends.

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SPEECHCRAFT (part 2)

Some pictures of the workshop...

Now is the time for project speech 3!!

After having to write speech 2, the speeches in the afternoon seem lacking of quality and preparation - highlighting the point that practice and preparation is essential in public speaking.

Some of the topics for speech 3:

Money Can't Buy Everything
Financial Management
Priceless Experience
Internal Hemorrhaging
How to Love Reading
STRESS
Benefits of Online Game
My Superhero
Drinking Water VS Mineral Water
My Sons
My Project (Now and Soon)
How to Avoid Traffic Accidents
My Best Friend
MLM VS Real Business
Anger Management

Therefore, kudos to all participants who had put in so much effort in their various speeches and evaluation.

SPEECHCRAFT PROGRAM 23 & 24 JAN 2010

As I write this during the second prepared speech presentation for this program, it is interesting to note how everyone has picked up public speaking skills so fast.

Many thanks to all members who has also given up their weekend to help out as speakers or advisors during the speechcraft program.

Each of the 15 participants have such hunger to learn, to improve, to be more confident.

I wondered about when I was their age (between 19 - 22?) What was I doing?

It brought to mind a presentation I did for my Higher English course in Taylor's College. There was a session where each of us had to complete a presentation and I was to be judged by my fellow classmates.

We had the freedom to pick our own title and it took me one week to figure out whether I wanted to talk about music or a book or about food.

However, I managed to finally find a topic, "How to Pick Up Girls" for my presentation.

Giving pointers to guys on how to pick up girls, from their appearance, to the use of cologne and pick up lines, I managed to make everyone laugh so hard, they could hardly hear what I said.

At the end of the presentation, I had a 9.9 rating from my classmates!!

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The speeches by the speechcrafters are getting better and better. Their actions are getting more and more confident. Everyone is laughing at reasons why women likes shopping.

Some mucking around, VPE and VPPR. (not paying attention)

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Speechcraft Participants with MIM Toastmasters Club of Johor Bahru:

1. Norbaizura
2. Fadhila
3. Aidah
4. Fazli
5. Shah
6. Risha
7. Rihah
8. Endang
9. Norhidayah
10. Nur Azeela
11. Jihah
12. Yunus
13. Adli
14. Moon
15. Zakiah

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I will be writing more about their 3rd speech later... tata...

10 Tips for Public Speaking

Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and even beneficial, but too much nervousness can be detrimental.

Here are some proven tips on how to control your butterflies and give better presentations:

1. Know your material. Pick a topic you are interested in. Know more about it than you include in your speech. Use humor, personal stories and conversational language – that way you won’t easily forget what to say.

2. Practice. Practice. Practice! Rehearse out loud with all equipment you plan on using. Revise as necessary. Work to control filler words; Practice, pause and breathe. Practice with a timer and allow time for the unexpected.

3. Know the audience. Greet some of the audience members as they arrive. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than to strangers.

4. Know the room. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.

5. Relax. Begin by addressing the audience. It buys you time and calms your nerves. Pause, smile and count to three before saying anything. ("One one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand. Pause. Begin.) Transform nervous energy into enthusiasm.

6. Visualize yourself giving your speech. Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear and confident. Visualize the audience clapping – it will boost your confidence.

7. Realize that people want you to succeed. Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative and entertaining. They’re rooting for you.

8. Don’t apologize for any nervousness or problem – the audience probably never noticed it.

9. Concentrate on the message – not the medium. Focus your attention away from your own anxieties and concentrate on your message and your audience.

10. Gain experience. Mainly, your speech should represent you — as an authority and as a person. Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. A Toastmasters club can provide the experience you need in a safe and friendly environment.

(the articles is obtained from the Toastmasters International website)