Toastmasters has in its nearly 100-year history grown into a platform that has become a launching pad for not only aspiring public speakers, but also for people in the fields of training, lecturing and even entertainment. Indeed, it will amaze you to know that even entertainers such as stand-up comedians have emerged from Toastmasters membership. Malaysia has one such example.
In respect to trainers and lecturers, the prepared speeches are an opportunity to try out how one is going to deliver a lecture or training program. Ignore the time limitation of any prepared speech. Just look at how you present yourself. Presentation is the attractive wrapper in which your content is delivered. An exciting speech captures attention, appropriate and quality content educates, informs and trains. The feedback loop that is quintessential in every meeting provides you the speaker with useful and insightful recommendations on improving your speech.
The meeting was opened by our charming president, Julia Leong, DTM. The meeting stated with the round of introductions. Later she talked about the famous martial arts exponent and actor, Bruce Lee and the wisdom that Bruce Lee displayed and told. When Julia Leong, DTM talked about Bruce Lee, memories of my teenage years came back to me. It was in the 1970s that Bruce Lee became a household name. Kung Fu fighting was a disco hit in the 1970s and credit must be attributed to Bruce Lee. Julia Leong, DTM, told some of the advice Bruce Lee left behind for us.
She then passed the floor to the TME, Abdulrahman, PM2. TME Abdulrahman, PM2, gave a detailed description of the club’s history and the mission of Toastmasters.
Our president, Julia Leong, DTM, introduced the Table Topics® session. She was very creative in the use of pictures to invoke feelings in the speaker and the speaker was to give a speech base on the picture. This is the first time I have seen this and I will share it with clubs in other clubs within and outside this country. Mathew’s Table Topics® speech as given with much passion and conviction. Our guest Oliver Ng, IP1 delivered a speech about how we are a part of nature and being suicidal can be avoided by our connections to family and friends. Chloe Lau, our new member, spoke about how we must struggle to reach our goals. The picture she chose showed birds flying and based her speech on it. I was the second last Table Topics®® speaker and I spoke about reaching our goals. My speech was triggered by the image of the sky. Ron Yeap, ACG, ALB, spoke about the problems with the use of tablets by children. He is a young father and this is a pertinent issue. Many parents must choose wisely how their children use tablets.
The prepared speech session then started. The panel evaluator, Chittira, LD1, and the General evaluator, Robert Ram, DTM, gave their instruction to the speaker and panel evaluator. Chloe’s speech was about false memory. False memories create problems. Her speech was from the Presentation Mastery of Pathways. The next speaker was CS Ong, PM1, and his speech was in accordance with the Presentation Mastery like Chloe’s. He spoke about mentoring and his experience in mentoring. He gave a speech on how he was mentored. It was a very informative and insightful speech. The last prepared speech was delivered by Mathew Philippose, EC2. His speech was about his father’s experience during the Japanese occupation of Malaya. His talked about how his father adapted well to the situation back then and escaped being sent to the infamous ‘Death Railway’. Time keeper Ron Yeap, ACG, ALB, said that there were no time disqualifications.
After the break, Manish Jha, IP1, gave a full and lively evaluation of the Table Topics® speakers. He had observed keenly how each Table Topics® speaker used the visual aids to make their speeches. He gave each speaker advise and room for improvements.
Next was the evaluation session for the prepared speeches. The first evaluator was Chitirra, LD1 who evaluated Chloe Lau’s speech. She described what she liked about the speech and the way Chloe expressed herself. Robert Ram, DTM, commented on Chitirra’s evaluation.
Tuan Haji Hashim, DTM, gave his evaluation of CS. Ong’s speech. A point worthy of note about the way Tuan Haji Hashim, DTM, gives an evaluation is his emphasis on vocal variety, passion and body language. Robert Ram, DTM, gave his opinions to both the speaker and evaluator.
Oliver Ng, IP1, gave his evaluation of Mathew Philippose’s speech and was definitely impressed with Mathew’s father’s experiences during WW2. Oliver Ng, IP1 advised Mathew Philippose, EC2, to get a laptop stand so that his image can be fully viewed.
Best
Table Topics® : Ron Yeap, ACG, ALB & Oliver Ng, IP1
(Double Winner)
Best
Speech Evaluation : Hj. Hashim, DTM
Best Assigned Speech : CS Ong, PM1
To
conclude, it was a memorable meeting. It is no wonder that this club is a
President’s Distinguished Club. Just look at its members.
Blog Writer: Vijaykumar, CC
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