Eulogy to the late Francis Ng, DTM - by Geoff Andrew, DTM

Remembering Francis

EULOGY to Francis Ng, DTM
Delivered on Wednesday, 25 December 2013
by Geoff Andrew, DTM

Thank you for being here today as we remember Francis Ng.

My name is Geoff, a friend of Francis for more than 12 years since being a fellow participant in the February 2001 Money Mastery “boot camp” and later became his Toastmasters Mentor when Francis became a Charter member of the Club which I created with KC See at Money Mastery in July 2002. So, I have probably known Francis longer than anybody else here today - apart from his family members.

We are here today, Christmas Day, when Christians would normally be celebrating an important religious festival and people from other religions – Taoists, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and others – would be enjoying a public holiday. So it is a mark of our respect and affection for Francis that so many people are HERE – and hopefully Francis’s daughters Natalie & Natasha (who have flown back from the US), his sisters and nephews & nieces can take comfort from this, knowing that there are many, many others who share their loss.

The golden rule of public speaking is : “Stand up, Speak up, Shut up”

In Toastmasters, there are 2 types of people who “Stand up” :

Those who stand up to be highlighted – who are are happiest when the spotlight is being focused on THEM – Francis was definitely NOT one of them

And those who stand up to be counted – people who are there to do the work whenever & wherever there is a need. Francis was a PRIME example of somebody who would normally be the first to raise his hand and say “Yes, I can do that”

In Toastmasters, he has always been willing to volunteer for the hard work, usually as an unsung-hero.

We hold more than 200 Speech Contests in the Klang Valley each year with each contest requiring a team of experienced and unbiased Judges. A key task is to find a Chief Judge. Francis would normally be the first person to be approached because the contest organiser knew that he would find the team of judges & ensure they were at the right place on the right day. In fact, he would normally provide one EXTRA judge – just in case!

Francis helped to create more new Clubs than almost anyone – in the early days, I would often take the lead and he would help; later, he would take the lead and I would help. Many very successful Clubs exist because of Francis’s efficiency, enthusiasm and commitment.

Convention organisers around West and East Malaysia should be forever grateful to Francis for acting as unpaid salesman for the delegate packages – he often signed up more than 100 delegates solely because of his contact lists, his efficiency and his hard work.

And his dedication to Toastmasters is reflected in the long list of offices he held – Club Secretary, Vice-President Education and President at Money Mastery followed by Area Governor for 5 Clubs, Division Governor for 30 Clubs, District Public Relations Officer for Peninsular Malaysia and then Lieutenant-Governor Marketing. But he was not just “doing a job”; he was also successful.

Several past Toastmasters Leaders have acknowledged his invaluable contribution to their work. And he received the ultimate recognition as Area Governor of the Year (against competition from 80 other leaders), followed 12 months later by Division Governor of the Year. I believe he is the ONLY person to achieve this dual feat.
It is true that Francis was not the greatest speaker, BUT he was capable of delivering GREAT speeches.

I can clearly remember – early in his days as a Toastmaster – when he phoned me one evening to say “Geoff, guess what, I won the Money Mastery Club speech contest”. He was very proud of that achievement.

And some of you here today were with me at the Toastmasters District Convention in Kuching in 2009 when had to deliver a 2-minute speech to persuade 300 delegates that he should win the contest to become the new Lieutenant-Governor Marketing for Peninsular Malaysia. Azmi Shahrin and I can testify how many hours of preparation and rehearsal went into that speech, but he delivered it to perfection – and won the contest.

Punctuality was a word which many of us associate with Francis. The old phrase “Why be on time? - nobody will be there to know that we were on time” is a phrase which would NEVER be spoken by Francis. He believed that even being on time was NOT good enough. He promoted and practised the importance of being early. I still remember the 2nd-ever speech given by Francis in Toastmasters. The assignment theme in those days was “Mean what you say”. His subject ? You guessed it – punctuality.

Many people are surprised that Francis and I were good friends because he, a Malaysian citizen, did believe in punctuality, whereas I have picked up the bad habit over my 20 years in this country of constantly being “on Malaysian time” !

In the Christian religion, they have a Pope Francis and they have a Saint Francis. Now, our Francis – Francis Ng – was NOT a Saint. Like all of us, he had his faults, he had his
weaknesses. He could be annoying, he could be frustrating and he could say unpopular things to people.

But, I would suggest to you that the list of his qualities, his strengths, his good points FAR outnumber and outweigh the negatives. He was loyal, reliable, dependable, helpful, committed, hard-working and had many, many more good qualities.

So, on balance, I would rather have one Francis than 1000 other types of people.

I think Natalie & Natasha would also like to know how their father has “Made a Difference” in so many people’s lives –

In Toastmasters, he was one of the most active of the 7000 Toastmasters in Malaysia and, through his various roles, he truly made a difference to their development as leaders, as communicators and as people
 
In Money Mastery, he was closely involved over a 10-year period dating back to 2001, being the most supportive Money Mastery graduate, helping Mastery Asia CEO, KC See – as an unpaid volunteer - with the support work at Boot Camps and preview sessions. In doing so, he helped to make a difference for thousands of participants to become more aware about entrepreneurship and money management
 

In Rotary, he was a Club leader working tirelessly to help and make a difference for the disadvantaged in our society by fund-raising and community service.

How many of us can really claim to have made such a difference for so many people ?

In Toastmasters, we have a much-used slogan “Friends helping friends succeed” and because friendship was a major part of what Francis was about, I would like to close with a few words which will be known to many of you and will be VERY familiar to all of you who have been through the Money Mastery programme.

At the end of every Money Mastery boot camp (after 60 hours of intensive learning and sharing), up to 150 participants form a large circle, holding hands with their new friends and singing “That's What Friends Are For”, written by Elton John and Burt Bacharach.

Francis was not a good singer – and neither am I – so I will read the words of the chorus, which in my view help us to recall the true spirit of friendship and the true spirit of Francis :

Keep smiling, keep shining 

Knowing you can always count on me, for sure

That's what friends are for 

For good times and bad times 

I'll be on your side forever more 

That's what friends are for

So, farewell friend, farewell Francis – Gone, but never forgotten.

Eulogy to the late Francis Ng, DTM - by NJ Singam, DTM

Fellow Toastmasters,

It was indeed a great lost to the Toastmasters community with the demise of Francis Ng, DTM.

NJ Singam, DTM wrote an eulogy to Francis Ng, DTM, a very truthful and touching eulogy. I would like to share it here in the memories of Francis Ng, DTM.

THE LATE DTM FRANCIS NG

        Only as high as l reach can l grow;

 Only as far as  l seek can l go;

Only as deep as l look can l see;

Only as much as l dream can l be.

                                                      - Karen Ravn

Dear Toastmaster,

Time, can also at times be untimely - particularly when it plucks productive people away from us...at their peak, and in their prime. 

And so it was with our veteran of more than 11 years -- the late Distinguished Toastmaster Francis Ng. 

His abrupt departure just three days ago...on Sunday the 22nd... robbed the Money Mastery Club of Kuala Lumpur of its illustrious son and Charter Secretary. But the loss was also for Area G4, Division G, and District 51...

the loss of an eminent Toastmaster - one who was not only 'Distinguished' by the award he had earned, but also distinguished by the superlative services he had rendered.

While it was publicly known that DTM Francis was already debilitated for some time by his illness, yet, his gallantry in continuing to attend TM events on a wheelchair belied the truth to all of us...that his health was continuously on downturn.

Perhaps he alone had a foreboding about what was about to happen... because he had adamantly insisted, even against the advice of doctors, on being discharged from hospital (where he had undergone surgery just a few days earlier) in order to be back at home.

Sadly for us, the Universe decided that this star from District 51 be detached from planet earth, and be re-attached above - perhaps to adorn and brighten the heavenly abode for the in-coming new year.

DTM Francis is best described as an extremely committed and an absolutely dedicated Toastmaster - even though this, by itself, is an understatement. His eagerness, enthusiasm, and all-time energy to promote Toastmastery was, in my assessment, neither surpassed nor equaled before. He traveled high and low, far and wide, and even day and night...to quench his passion and fulfill his mission - to make Toastmastery available to as many as possible.., as quickly as possible.., and as best as possible.

Unfortunately, these admirable attributes worked to his detriment when it came to his own personal popularity. Those unable to keep to his strict punctuality and exacting standards would complain about him...so as to defend their own shortfalls, and to deflect focus on their personal shortcomings. Thus he inevitably earned their gripes and grievances; and even backlashes of disagreements and disputes. But.., if DTM Francis had fixed his mind on something, there was no way anyone (or even everyone) could change that fixation.

Additionally, his penchant to ensure precision and perfection mutated his leadership style into micro management, overrule of others' decisions, and crusty corrective comments - all of which contributed to the dip of his popularity among those who disliked his unvarnished mannerism.

And yet, they could not do without him...without his knowledge and expertise, his advice and guidance, his service and support ! He could take on any role without prior notice; and he could undertake any responsibility at extremely short notice. I remember that he once saved an Area Contest by accepting to be a replacement Chief Judge, and arranging for 6 Judges - IN LESS THAN 18 HOURS ! In fact, he was the "999" service provider for numerous AGs, DvGs, and even DGs. Urgency or emergency? Call Francis ! Further urgency or emergency? Also call Francis ! 

In analogy to the Chinese proverb of eating more salt than rice, DTM Francis had probably chartered more clubs than an average TM would have sponsored individual members. He was the savior for DvG after DvG who needed extra clubs to replace the lost ones. And it was his support that helped Areas, Divisions, and even the District to achieve President status.

I am not able to recall the specific years, but DTM Francis was awarded as "DvG of the Year"; and also, prior to that, as "AG of the Year". He was probably also conferred the award of "Toastmaster of the Year", (but there is no archive, or a permanent Secretariat in our District for me to verify this).

From the personal angle, there was also the caring and compassionate part of DTM Francis which few were aware of.

When l was the Governor of Division G in 2010, the late Tuan Haji Naburi Idin was the AG of G1. I remember Tuan Haji as a sincere gentleman, with a jovial nature and a strong TM spirit. Unfortunately Tuan Haji's health was afflicted by a combination of serious illnesses, including vertigo. Tuan Haji confided with me that before becoming an AG, he had wanted to retire and go into a secluded lifestyle. But DTM Francis had persuaded him to continue living an active and contributory life. DTM Francis would purposely appoint Tuan Haji as a Contest Judge, go out of the way to pick him up from the latter's house, and also send him back home after the contest. And DTM Francis did likewise for Tuan Haji to attend MM's club meetings and other TM events until Tuan Haji got back onto his own feet.

All this is not to say that DTM Francis was without his critics or his detractors. There were those who disagreed with him - utterly and bitterly - on several issues. But even they will not disagree that DTM Francis was indeed dependable, and that he always delivered. Words in the English language - like indefatigable, indomitable, and inexorable - were probably created by word craftsmen so that DTM Francis be described aptly and appropriately.

While expressing our condolences to his bereaved family members, we also console and comfort them...that DTM Francis had not lived in vain. In his 11 years plus as a Toastmaster, he has probably packed-in more than 51 years of contributions to District 51 as compared to the average Toastmaster. 

He was so all-inclusive, that he not only attended innumerable English TM events across all Divisions, he even attended Tamil, Mandarin, and BM events. He was there at Tamil KL's meetings twice; and also there for the Showcase meeting for the Tamil Puchong club. 

Thus, the seeds that he sowed were for all kinds of Toastmaster fruits and flowers. And these will surely grow...to become fragrant gardens, beautiful parks, and resplendent esplanades...through the scores of clubs and hundreds of Toastmasters who have been his direct beneficiaries.

If DTM Francis chooses to send his final message to each one of us now, it will surely be:

MERRY CHRISTMAS; 

AND A HAPPY PRESIDENT DISTINGUISHED YEAR !  

ENJOY YOUR TM JOURNEY; 

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR TM'S PROMISE ! 

With appreciation and gratitude to a great Toastmaster,

Singam.

Goodbye Our Club Advisor - Francis Ng, DTM

Last Sunday, 22 Dec, 2013; it was a sadden day, a day with most unexpected incident happened. This was the day, our beloved Club Advisor, Francis Ng, DTM has passed away peacefully.

Our club sends our deepest condolences to his family and we hope his family will continue to be strong during this very difficult period of time. May his soul rest in peace.

You are the B reath.E at .S leep.T oastmaster, Francis Ng, DTM.

We shall continue our Toastmasters journey and continue to share with many more on what you have taught and shared with us!