Friday, July 1, 2011

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!

Monday, May 23, 2011

TOASTMASTERS DIVISION K CONVENTION – Brunei 19th – 20th March 2011

It was a two-day event with speeches and workshops that have moved, expressed and inspired each one of us who attended the convention.

The two-day event  started with Division K Council Meeting.
 

Area K Governors with Organising Chairperson – Elizabeth Sim

Convention Workshop

Clovis Lai, CTM, charter member of Brunei’s speaker club. An entrepreneur himself, conducted the workshop in the topic of “Talking Heart to Heart”. Clovis shared with us how to make an impactful heartfelt speech by first tuning in to the audience and recognizing their feelings and personalities.

Our second speaker of the workshop was none other than our District Governor MD Ariff, DTM. He shared with us, how an impression impacts our intelligence and reliability through our appearance. – Image, Impact, Influence

Welcome Night Dinner

It was a truly Glamorous night at the Oscars inspired Welcome Dinner at the Rizquin Hotel. We sure felt elegant and poised as we walked down that red carpet. Our fellow Bruneian Toastmasters really made us feel special!


Each Area from Division K were represented by their members with Oscar-worthy performances that kept audiences entertained all night.  It was a heartwarming evening with great camaraderie and Toastmasters spirit among Division K Toastmasters.

Area K1, performed a spoof of the Academy Awards Nominated movies of 2011 – The Black Swan, The King’s Speech and Social Network. Well done ladies on such a convincing performance! And the Award goes to?... J  The award goes to… *drum roll* The Toastmasters’ Speech


Performance by Area K4


Performance by the Host – Area K6


The Word of the evening is…. “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” Phew, what a mouthful! The famous song from movie musical Mary Poppins was very cleverly performed by our Bruneian friends of  Area K6.



Division K International Speech and Table Topic Contests

THE HIGHLIGHT of the convention,  was the International Speech and Table Topic Contests. We were all inspired by all the contestants; we even shed some tears. Some of them were first time in the contest and yet, the quality of the speeches has left us s.p.e.e.c.h.l.e.s.s.


Cindy Hiew, first runner up in Table Topic Contest, representing Area K1.


The winners of Table Topic Contest – Champion Rozana Yunos from Area K6, First Runner up Cindy Hiew from Area K1, Second Runner up Liew Hon Min from Area K5.


The winners from International Speech Contest – Champion Rozana Yunos from Area K6, First Runner up Thien Kai Ling from Area K4, Second Runner Up Ping Lee from Area K5.

We were so blessed to be involved in the two days event, from the educational talks to the inspirational contests. A huge THANK YOU to our fellow Toastmasters from Brunei for the warm hospitality, and for taking us sight-seeing!


One big happy Toastmasters family!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

KKTMC International Speech and Table Topics Contests (18th Feb 2011)



Dear Fellow Toastmasters and Guests,

Please join me to congratulate the winners of the KKTMC International Speech and Table Topics Contest held on 18th Feb 2011:
                       
International Speech Contest:
Champion: Joanna Liew (Never Say Never)
1st Runner-Up: Jamie Chieng (It’s the Little Things)
2nd Runner-Up: Lily Chin (life is Unexpected)

Table Topics Contest:
Champion: Sivakumar Kumaresan
1st Runner-Up: Lily Chin
2nd Runner-Up: Karis Chong

A huge round of applause to all 6 International Speech contestants and 5 Table Topics contestants! Yes, indeed our speakers stirred us to prepare for the unexpected, adapt to surroundings with heart and mind, champion for world peace, never give up on our goals and while doing all that, never say never! What an inspiring evening it was for everyone present. Even the Table Topic question What Doesn’t Kill Us Makes Us Stronger was inspiring. Our contestants certainly proved that entering a speech contest indeed did not kill them but made them stronger! :)

So congratulations to ALL of our contestants for embracing the challenge to take one step forward, one level higher to becoming a better speaker. 

Special thanks to:
Organising Chairperson TM Christopher Shaw and his team for making this annual event another successful one.
Contest Chairs Sylvia Maten, ACS (Table Topics) and Melissa Betsy, CC (International Speech) for leading such entertaining sessions
Chief Judge Christine Yap, DTM for briefing and guiding the judges and role players

Our winners will be representing the Club to the Area K1 Level Contest on 25th February 2011 at Ahmad Nifsu Theatre, UMS @ 7.30pm. For more information, please contact Area Governor Jasmine Leong. Be sure to be there to support our champions!

Let’s continue to Move, Express and Inspire! :)

Yours in Toastmasters,
Nora Ridzwan, CC,CL
President 2010-2011
Kota Kinabalu Toastmasters Club