KOTA KINABALU TOASTMASTERS CLUB: KKTMC 13th New Year Themed Meeting of the Term 2013-2014... From the Heart

Beautiful things don't ask for attention.

~Sean O'Connell, in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Dearest friends,

That is a quote which gives deep meaning to me. I find it beautiful, and hope you find it meaningful too :)

Just as I expected it to be, our KKTMC 13th New Year themed Meeting of the Term is another meaningful one. What makes it different to me was, the "game" made by our

Madam Toastmaster of the Evening Sylvia Maten. She cut out handheld sized pink cards with "I Declare" written on them. She made us think, of what we want to declare this year and the 3 best ones wins the books that she bought for us.

Thank you Madam Grammarian Nora Ridzwan for the Word of the Evening, "Imperturbable". It is, indeed, im-par-tar-ba-bal. Hee :D

This meeting, we witnessed 3 speakers embark on their journey of enhancing their public speaking skills.

TM Kamilia Kamaruzaman shared with us about The Dreadful Sickness in her Speech #2. Apparently, the dreadful sickness in her homesickness while studying abroad. You must be happy to be back, Lily! Now its your brother, Azfar's turn to have it :))

Nora Liew, CC, delivered the Speech Project Speaking in Praise, from the Manual Special Occasion Speeches. In her ACB7, spoke highly of her father, Christopher Liew, DTM, how he is a man of diligence, discipline, and very calm. Way to go Uncle Chris!

Watching Nanthakumar Kumaresan, CC deliver his ACB5, was like watching a show! He shared with us how he discovered dancing, how he started off confused as to, why he has to learn the same thing over in every single dance class, and slowly, began to embrace the art of dancing, which has now become a big part of his life.

Thank you to the dancers (Nantha & Nora Ridzwan's friends) for joining us this meeting and supporting Nantha. We hope you had a good time :)

Allow me to also thank Mr Bakar, Jamie, President Kyle Young (of UTC), Jasmine, Nantha, Nora R & Dr Sivathandavarayan Murugesan coming to the meeting, and inviting your friends over. :)

At the end of the meeting, we went back to the beginning, and look at our pink "I Declare" cards. Many, many beautiful things were written on the cards. To me, its enlightening to see, what is behind the thoughts and minds of the people present. Its nice to know, other people's visions, missions, dreams, and what matters most, to them. Thank you for sharing the beautiful thoughts. And thank you, Sylvia, for the brilliant idea.

As much as there were so many strong & beautiful declarations, we have only 3 books to give away. And the winners to the books are as follows

First Place:

I control my destiny

Toastmasters Ambassador Jess Vun, DTM

Second Place:

I am a man free of my own self-doubt, self-pity and selfishness

President Kyle, University Toastmasters Club

Third Place:

I will help my club achieve 10/10 by completing my speeches

TM Dr Sivathandavarayan Murugesan

(Our KKTMC member, now a Lahad Datu TMC Exco)

Congratulations to all winners! I am positive that they went home smiling :)))))