To Bernie, Dedicated Toastmaster and A Great Friend

It seems these days, each time we mentioned about Bernie, I'm pretty sure, it comes with a heavy sigh because we miss that girl so much! A dedicated Toastmaster and a great friend, you can't help but just love her for the person she is. From joining Toastmasters in 2009, she took the challenge as Vice President of Public Relation last term 2010-2011 and did a great job. The recent 20th KKTMC Installation Banquet dinner would not have been a success without her. As the Organizing Chairperson, she coordinated and led the organizing team to work their very best to make the night a success. And it truly was. But alas, love precedes over most others and she had to leave to New Zealand to join her future husband to be. So, while we do feel heavy hearted that she had to leave, well, technically, she had left (wails), I'm sure I'm speaking on behalf of the rest that we wish our beloved Bernie all the very best in her future undertaking and we wish her all the love and happiness together with her future hubby to be. Oh, and yes, and I do believe we will meet again and have plenty of catch ups to do.

Some pictures of Bernie.

Part of the casts for TM Grease Musical

At Kuching Convention. With Pamela (KK Advance Toastmasters and Joanna)

At Sandakan Installation Dinner

Actively involved in Twestival, a non profit Fund raising organization

Delivering her speech confidently as Organizing Chairperson for KKTMC's 20th Installation Banquet

She transformed into a pretty looking witch during Halloween Themed Meeting

Cheers to Bernie!

1st Meeting of the Term 2011-2012 'Realize Your Dream'

Hello!

I thought I take some time to write about last night's meeting before I procastinate and so here goes. Last night, we had a total of 21 guests aside from 20 over members who joined us for the 1st Club Meeting of the term 2011-2012. What a great start, aye? Despite not feeling well, Competent Communicator Joanna enthusiastically greeted the club with her first welcoming remarks as President of KKTMC. Hooray Joanna! Our Toastmaster of the Evening was none other than our Immediate Past President, Competent Communicator Nora Ridzwan who despite not being TME for almost a year did a great job making sure the meeting ran smoothly and more importantly, keeping the Fun and Positive vibe throughout the meeting.

Nora looking poised as TME

As usual, after role players were introduced, thus began the Table Topic Session. Some call it challenging, others call it gruelling. But it's all in the name of learning to stand on your feet and speak impromptuly which can be pretty useful especially in interviews or when you're networking. You wouldn't want to shy away and just stand by the buffet table and stuff yourself with canapes and punch. You would want to be articulate. So last night, TM Peter Liow threw some pretty daunting table topic questions i.e. Describe your first date, Report about Godzilla coming into town, How would you advice someone how to conquer stage fright etc. I know, the topics can be pretty random. But that's how we roll.

TM Peter shot some pretty challenging Table Topic questions

However, no matter how hard the topic is, DTM Richard always have a good comeback

Moving on, we had 6 speakers who delivered their speech projects. CC Sophia Hong shared a message using cups and coffee as props, TM Nantha who had us fool by telling us his long lost love was not a girl but his 'hair', TM Raymond entertained us the story of how the 12 zodiac animals came about and why cat and rat are sworn enemies, TM Nora Liew inspired us to not take things for granted, TM Kirskman Teo made us questioned ourselves on how we derived our life principles and TM Fia motivated us to choose a dream and hold on to it. Wahh! So entertaining and inspiring right! I enjoyed all the speeches. Well done!

We had 6 speakers on 1st meeting. Talk about enthusiasm!

Karis entertained us with her jokes!

Raymond, relieved after delivering another speech. Keep up!

All in all, the first meeting of the term was a huge success and for that, I believe all role players and members who were present at last night's meeting, you guys deserved a pat on the back.

We had a guest from New Zealand, Hi Nigel!

Guest noted, "Toastmasters is a really good product and I can see the good things it can do." So true. I agree.

So that's it for today's update. Until the next meeting on 26th July 2011. Make sure you be there and introduce your friends to Toastmasters. Cheers!

Toast to the end and beginning of a new term

Greetings beautiful people from the Bulletin Editor’s desk!

It feels great to be able to serve yet another term with KKTMC although only for half a term because it’s a bittersweet news that I will be leaving to Germany by end of this year. But, let’s not talk about that and rather focus on the present while I’m here.

As they say every beginning has an end to it. So to begin with term 2011-2012, I would like to recap the last bits of recent events to mark the end of term 2010-2011 and the beginning of 2011-2012. It’s no short from awesome I tell you.

First, Kota Kinabalu Toastmasters Club’s 20th Installation Banquet. Were you there? Did you see it? Held in one of the top notch ballrooms famous for big gala dinners and events, on 26th June 2011, Magellan Sutera Ballroom was transformed into a night of splendor, gold and glitters. It’s almost like a red carpet event for The Grammy’s or Academy’s. But hey, we did have a red carpet rolled out for Toastmasters and guests alike to walk on them the moment they entered the registration hall to the moment they entered the ballroom. Speaking about Toastmasters and Guests, that night, everyone looked fantabulous; men in suits and ladies in evening dresses and gowns. I should post pictures of some of the best looking men and ladies during the night. But I don’t have all the pictures with me yet. So maybe in another post. For now, here are the pictures I got from my camera and also tagged pictures of the event from Facebook. More pictures once I have the pictures from our official photographer for the night.

Guest signing on the registration table

Our new President, the gorgeous Competent Communicator Joanna Liew

Outgoing President Competent Communicator Nora posing with the handsome TM Vijay and TM Sam

Iron Ladies of KKTMC (From Left to Right- Jasmine Leong, ACS, ALB emcee for the night, Joanna Liew, CC incoming or rather KKTMC's current President, Nora Ridzwan, CC Immediate Past President, and Bernie Chan, CC Organizing Chairperson for KKTMC's 20th Installation Banquet)

The New Executive Committee 2011-2012 with Guest of Honour, YB Datuk Yee Moh Chai

Moving on from Installation Banquet, last Tuesday, we had our last meeting of the term 2010-2011. Under the wings of Madam President Competent Communicator Nora Ridzwan, once again, KKTMC soared through to become President Distinguished Club. And as she said it over and over again, this wouldn’t have happened without the dedicated executive committee members as well as the support of KKTMC’s members. The meeting itself led by Toastmaster of the Evening, our new President, Competent Communicator Joanna Liew was a mix of fun filled with rapturous laughter throughout the 2 sessions meeting and ended with a rather inspiring yet emotional closing remarks by CC Nora Ridzwan who gave her thanks and appreciation to all members who have supported her during the term and how much she have changed from the moment she joined Toastmasters 3 years ago, as a shy Pharmacist to her present self, a confident, articulate, much loved dancing Pharmacist, our now Immediate Past President. Not forgetting to mention, Jasmine Leong who delivered her 10th speech and earned her Advance Communicator Silver title like a true Grammy award recipient. (P.S. For her 10th speech, she supposedly won Best Director/Producer for TM Grease Musical and gave her thank you speech). Anyways, pictures from the meeting. All photos credit to TM Jackie Miao. Thanks for the pretty shots!

TME Joanna started the meeting with dance moves from TM Grease Musical

Celebrated TM Babies for month of June, Happy Birthday TM Fia and TM Lisa!

Trying to do the Grease Lightning

Jasmine presenting her Grammy speech for ACB10

Trying to arrange the cupcakes to show 'Move, Express and Inspire' but Kirksman had to ruin it by bit.

Delicious Red and with Lemon Flavoured cupcakes, courtesy of Outgoing President, Nora Ridzwan

Nora giving her emotional closing remarks as Outgoing President

Teary eyed Joanna, touched by Nora's speech

Newly inducted members. If you're wondering why Jackie and Bernie were there, well, they claimed they haven;t got their pins. Better late than never.



Toastmasters and Guests



The usual after meeting supper @ Old Town.

Oh, speaking of TM Grease Musical. I can’t wait to write and share about this. But I was too engrossed with the musical on installation night that I forget to click away even though I purposely went up front nearer to the stage with the intent to take pictures. So be patient, until I get the pictures, I should hold my excitement to share it with you guys.

Last but not least, the appreciation dinner cum executive committee handover which was held last Thursday in Bella Italia. To sum up the night; good food, good company and well, can I say good appreciation and gifts. Everyone who was there that night received a well deserved token of appreciation for contributing either to the term 2010-2011 as executive committee members or as organizing committee for the successful installation banquet. Pat on the back everyone!

Token of appreciation from Immediate Past President to her Executive Committee 2010-2011

Executive Committee Handover

Bernie presented her committee token of appreciation for making KKTMC's 20th Installation Banquet a resounding success

The Casts of TM Grease Musical plus Izat who danced during the Opening. Bravo!

 

Everyone deserved a pat on the back! You guys are awesome!

So yes, great end marks a promising beginning. With that in mind, let’s continue KKTMC’s tradition of excellence, ever fun and inspiring with the new term ‘Realize Your Dream’.

It’s about time anyways. Wake up people and smell the coffee!