14th Meeting 2012-2013 (22nd January 2013)

Dear Fellow Toastmasters and friends,

Gong Xi Fa Cai and Happy Chinese New Year!! I hope everyone enjoyed a great Thursday of……no work?  I’m blessed because I’m in Malaysia, a country that celebrates its multicultural backgrounds and honors them with public holidays!

Speaking of multicultural, we just celebrated our exuberant Chinese New Year Themed meeting on Tuesday! Our normal meeting room was decorated with red packets and right in the middle of the room, a huge “Jin Yuan Bao” (Translation: Gold Ingot) that was supposed to bring us prosperity and everything that is good! You’ll see what I mean in the photo embedded here below. Thanks to Celyn Hotel! 

Our meeting started on time as our first timer ASAA Aaron Vun called the meeting to order before handing control over to, also first timer, invocator Melinda Chua, where she reminded us to give thanks and count our blessings, something that we tend to forget in the midst of overwhelming busyness! Thank you Melinda for that thoughtful thought of the evening! 

Our TME Joanna Liew, ACB, CL took the stage with a breeze and in no time getting us warmed up and conducting us to a CNY song with just “Dong, Qiang & Gong Xi Fa Cai”! She first divided us into 3 groups; then as she pointed to each group, we’re supposed to sing out our group name “Dong, Qiang, or Gong Xi Fa Cai”! I think we did very well even though in the absence of music and beats! I would like to specially commend her for she took her responsibility as the TME seriously, and she diligently called up members to fill up roles and made sure they came on time and properly briefed! Thank you Joanna!

Then as our Table Topics Master Abu Bakar Sheriff, DTM took control of his session, he got me excited because he swished and flashed ang paos around and told us that there are hidden goodies in the red packets! Some were doubtful until respondents open up the packets and found money and also their Table Topics questions attached to it! Definitely a great touch to the session! Thank you Bakar! 

Our Table Topics Evaluator Richard Gontusan, DTM had also given us quite a few useful tips on how to handle table topics questions “Express and you’ll impress; try to impress, and you’ll depress”! Wise words indeed!

We also celebrated the birthday for all born in the month of January! As we were preparing the birthday cake, we realized that the cake knife wasn’t given with the box! So our darling SAA Darvis Chong rushed to get one from the hotel and guess what? He came back with a knife longer than the birthday cake itself!

After the break, we prepared ourselves for 2 talented speakers. Intan Salwana (project CC8 “Toy Story”)decided to give us an unconventional method of visual aids. Instead of using the usual power point slides, she brought along a boxful of toys and a photo of her 2 darling boys! Between her props and humorous speech, she gave us some useful tips on choosing toys wisely for children, and a nice message of learning from a child’s pure spirit of fun. 

Her evaluator Yee That Hian, DTM raised some good points for improvement though – even though this is a project on visual aid, props or slides used should be apt so the audiences’ attention is kept on the speaker.

Next, we have Eilvane Chieng (project CC7 “Om Nom Nom”) touches on a subject very dear to all Malaysian. FOOD! More importantly, food or snacks for the weight watchers. Dark chocolate, popcorn, peanut butter… Didn’t know these foods if taken moderately can be healthy and not weight hazardous, right? 

Her evaluator Jasmine Leong, ACS, ALS, pointed out that a research topic should be backed up with credible research to render the speech better.

All in all, both speakers were marvelous and improving at a rocket pace! Well done!

This CNY themed meeting we gave out prizes to the best Chinese costume of the night:

Best Dressed Male: Ronald Tang, DTM (with his gold Wong Sifu shirt)

Best Dressed Female: Jasmine Leong, ACS, ALS  (with her red Cheongsam with embroidered flowers)

Finally, and I must say this every time, Thank you! Thank you to all the role players, members and guests who had chipped in your efforts, laughter and most importantly, your presence!

Till then, I look forward to seeing everyone again at our next meeting 5 February 2012 – Valentine’s Themed Meeting! So do come and join us and dress in a color that reminds you of love! 

Wishing you Gong Xi Fa Cai, and have a Happy, Prosperous Chinese New Year!

Yours in Toastmasters,

Jamie Chieng

When I speak, Listen! Listen! Listen!

Happy Chinese New Year from KKTMC gorgeous looking people!

Intan and the dinosaur

Ready!? Take 1,2,3,4,5..andddd it's a wrap!

Another KKTMC Permanent Resident (PR)

13th Meeting 2012-2013 (8th January 2013)

Dear Fellow Toastmasters and friends,

The word of the evening, Paucity, certainly didn't describe our last KKTMC New Year's themed meeting! :) If it was a word to describe our New Year's Themed Meeting, it would be - Abundant! Throughout the meeting , there was an abundance of positive energy, abundance of laughters and fun learning! and That my friends, are the qualities of an awesome meeting! :)

This meeting, we had FOUR first timers from of our newest members; Rogers Tiam, Emylia Philip, Melinda Chua & Kevin Ng who all within the last 2 meetings but wasted no time in taking up a role at our meetings, and did a fantastic job at that too! I especially liked how Invocator Emylia has inspired us to "take the first step in realizing our dreams. Be a Toastmaster!" Definitely shared my thoughts and took the words out of my mouth! Good job you guys!!

As soon as our seasoned TME took on the stage, Yee That Hian, DTM started cracking our funny bones with his ever witty punch lines! I think one of the most memorable things he said was "It takes 2 to Tango, and 2 hands to clap. If there's only 1 hand... then I can only slap you!", a simple truth, said with a straight face was all it took for everyone to burst out laughing! Thank you 'Uncle' Yee for leading us to such an amazing New Year Meeting, setting an example for future TMEs to emulate. Thank you!

Our ever bubby and vivacious Table Topics Masters Sylvia Maten, ACS came on stage fully prepared with goodies fielded 6 questions and got 7 people to respond; Joanna Liew, ACB, CL, who would choose to become a banana if she were a fruit, to my plans in making 2013 fruitful by enhancing the quality in KKTMC members. Florence Majanil, CTM shared her lessons learnt from the past and Intan Salwana gave us a glimpse of her childhood wish! Abu Bakar Sheriff, DTM gave current or future parents some tips on handling future children and Yee That Hian, DTM (employer) and VPE Fia Iskandar, CC (employee) shared the same thoughts on the recent minimum wage policy in Malaysia - that wage should reflect workload! It was a fantastic session and even though we may be thrown off when asked to give an impromptu mini speech, we are trained in Toastmasters to find our ground and speak with style!

Of course, not forgetting our young Table Topics Evaluator Raymond Wong, CC who was sharp as always in his evaluation and gave many useful tips to future Table Topics Masters!

After the break, we had 3 speakers presenting to us their prepared speeches. Vijay Panickar (project CC3 "So you think you have no talents") shared with us the "secret" formula to success - Practice, purposeful practice and self-motivation! (Shh... you're not supposed to tell anyone)!! A natural speaker, he has engaged us in his speech the minute he started speaking. Thankfully, his first timer evaluator, Intan Salwana, didn't "panic" and gave him a rounded useful evaluation! Well done!

Raoul Yong (project CC5 "The Lonesome, Lazy, Litterbug") started his speech with an interesting opening! Instead of his usual openings, he started off by blowing his nose and littering around the stage, bringing us into his speech and how to handle litterbugs! So if you ever see a litterbug dumping a piece of garbage, you pick up his trash and dispose it, then smile at the litterbug and bi d him or her a nice day!

Nora Ridzwan, CC (project ACB6 "The Play - West Side Story) reenacted 2 romantic scenes from West Side Story, where she had to play 3 distinctive characters from the play while narrating her own story! Our dancing toastmasters captivated our attention throughout with her portrayal of Tony, Maria and Anita (actions and accents included)! Wonderful presentation indeed! Both speakers were given apt evaluations by seasoned evaluators Joanna Liew, ACB, CL and Jasmine Leong, ACS, ALS respectively.

Oh! If we're ever caught speeding, we now know what to do with the police! Thanks to Humour Master Nora Liew, CC.

We also had a special presentation of "Simply the Best" pins by our District Governor Richard A. Gontusan, DTM, to every member who successfully changes their Toastmasters title during this term and also successfully brings in a friend into Toastmasters! Here are the list of recipients for the first half of the term:

Bring a Friend: Abu Bakar Sheriff, DTM

CL: Joanna Liew, CC, CL

CL: Jamie Chieng, CC, CL

ALS: Jasmine Leong, ACS, ALS

Congratulations and well done to your efforts!! :)

Finally, a big thank you to all the role players & speakers who have chipped in their efforts in making the meeting a success! Special thank you to our VPE Fia Iskandar, CC who had worked hard in making sure all our roles are filled, role players briefed, and that they came on time! :) Good job VPE! :) More importantly, our ever supportive, seasoned Toastmasters, actively participating in the meeting had surely made our meeting fruitful! Thank you! :)

I'm still reeling from the excitement and the after meeting "yamcha" session! Our 2013 has indeed started on an amazing note and I can't think of a better way than to kick start my year with a dose of Toastmasters spirit! Thank you everyone for making it such a pleasurable Journey with Toastmasters!! :)

With that, I hope to see everyone again at our next meeting, 22 Jan 2013 - Chinese New Year Theme!

Happy New Year 2013!

Yours in Toastmasters,

Jamie

 Vijay who is very keened on taking down notes for his next speech

 Our Madam Treasurer who would not missed to pose for a camera shot!

 Area Governor's face when we say that she HATES banana!

 Our enthusiastic evaluator of Raoul Yong who is trying to convey her message through.

Nora R: I better start taking down her pointers! I can't remember all!!

 Florence: DID YOU KNOW!??? I think Bakar look funny with the Magician Hat!

Sylvia: Ha! I THINK HE LOOKS HANDSOME IN IT!

  Our 3 Brave Speakers who earned their Ribbons!

 BECKY must be thinking: Sylvia is so hyper!

Our Club achievers who made effort to be presented the "Simply the Best" Pin by our District Governor Richard Gontusan

 The big mama of KKTMC!

Yee: My job is done! Back to the president!

I personally like this shot! Such natural expressions

Last but not least, thank you for viewing our blog! We know that you will enjoy our post! Our next meeting will be on:

DATE: 22nd January 2013

TIME:  7:30pm 

VENUE: Celyn Hotel, City Mall

Please come and join our KKTMC big family!