Miri Convention - Day 1 (part 2)

The afternoon and evening, district council meeting - where they elect and nominate and vote for the various division govenors and the splitting of divisions due to 'overcrowding'.

The meeting was formal, but with the quirk comments of those on the floor, laughter made the longer than usual meeting bearable.

Later, it's the 'Welcome Night' with its theme of 'Denim'.

Looking forward to it.

Miri Convention - Day 1

It is day 1 of the convention and people are pouring in from all over. Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei.

Woke up early this morning at 8am, but my housemates woke up even earlier and chatted amiably while I covered myself with my make-shift blanket, a bedsheet.

As we took our time to shower and brush our teeth, taking turns in that one bathroom, the mood was high and jovial.

We registered ourselves for the convention and took our bags of program book, and nametags. However, my nametag was not in the bunch. Probably because I registered late.

We went out in search of breakfast and ended up at a coffeeshop about 100m from the hotel.

They ate laksa (which was quite good) while I ate mee suah in chicken wine (the wine was not enough!).

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My brain is forgetting my speech, but I am trying not to concentrate on that very much. It would not be good to worry myself beforehand.

My club members have been extremely supportive. Wanting to make my stay comfortable and ensuring that I get a good rest.

THANKS to all of you who have been so encouraging!

Miri Convention (Day -1)

ONE DAY BEFORE THE CONVENTION

Arrived Miri at 7:40pm, after a 2 hour flight on Airasia. Slept most of the way since I was tired from sleeping late and waking up early.

Arriving at the airport, reminds me of Subang airport. Smaller, but the design seems similar. But it's definitely nicer than JB's Senai ariport (for now since Senai is going through a revamp).

Sharing a cab, going to the hotel, and seeing many other toastmasters getting their keys to the rooms.

Imperial Hotel is located in town and I was very glad to see many shops nearby, especially food. We were hungry.

The hotel is ok, clean. Not new, but satisfactorily maintained. It's next to Imperial Mall - we'll see what there is tomorrow.

Sharing a two-room apartment, which usually sleeps only 3, with 4 others (ie 5 of us in one apartment. Namely, Nancy, Joyce, Lucy and MK. That makes me the youngest!

So far, it's proving alright, and it seems that my luggage is the biggest too. That's what happens when you pack only the morning when you have to leave for the airport at 2:45.

I literally dumped my clothes into the luggage, not being sure of which I would want to wear for the next few days, hence, causing me to overpack and checking in a 13kg luggage.

The laptop is important, as I have decided to update this blog with all the sights and sounds that I will be experiencing these few days.

I am wondering how the next few days will be like.

Being a relatively new toastmaster, my first time to east Malaysia and my first trip to a toastmasters convention, I have totally no idea of what is in store.

Tonight might be the only night that I have some time to myself. Who knows, by tomorrow, I will be sucked up into the festivity of it all.

Till tomorrow...

(by Division A International Speech Contest Champion, Charlotte Goh, CC)

District 51 Div A International Speech Contest 2010

IT'S ALL IN YOUR MIND (9 May 2010)

I was the last contestant out of 8. It's nerve wrecking to be the last. To listen to 7 other speeches that are just as good and to feel jittery and restless.

However, it was truly an amazing feeling when your name is called and you realise you've achieved something regional and going on national.

Thank you to those who went for the contest today, and for those of you who supported me and believed in me.

~ it's all in our mind ~ charlotte ~

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URGENT NOTE - Change Venue

Dear all,

Please be informed that due to some unforeseen circumstances, the

venue for the Workshop and Division A International Speech and Table-Topic

Contests this coming Sunday, 9th May 2010 has been changed to :-

TAMPOI CHESHIRE HOME

JALAN JUMAAT

KG. UNGKU MOHSIN

80350 JOHOR BAHRU

The workshop is from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm

The Contests will be from 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm (Registration starts at 1.30 pm)

We have a total of 32 participants for the Workshop and about 100 pax for

the Contests.

For those who have registered for the workshop, please bring along your

Competent Communication Manual. The workshop will be highly interactive

and discussions will be centred on Speech Project No. 2, 3, 4, 7 and

possibly 9 & 10.

For further information, pls contact me at 012-7233710

Thank you.

Best Regards,

Cindy Wong

Division A Gov 2009/2010

Taking on Challenges in Life

Challenges are put into our life everyday. It may be small challenges or big challenges.

But today, I was given a challenge.

To do one good deed everyday.

It struck me that we hardly do that anymore. We're so protective of ourselves, of our money, of our reputation - that we forget about others.

Strangers in the street. Strangers in the shop.

A good deed does not need to be giving of a million dollars to a person. But it could be something simple like picking up a bag dropped by someone. Or even to buy a drink for the salesman that asks you to buy a toothbrush while you're having lunch.

Taking up the challenge, to help fellow toastmasters to become better leaders, to become better speakers. to become better communicators.

Taking up the challenge, to greet and smile at strangers. To make another person's day better.

Life is already full of stress. Doing a good deed not only helps others, but it lifts up your spirits as well. You feel better, you become less stressed. When you feel less stressed, you will automatically feel more confident.

That's the reason why many people like the way toastmasters clubs conduct their meetings. We encourage. We exhort. We praise.

I look forward to seeing you at our next meeting!!

(by VPPR Charlotte Goh)

International Speech and Table Topics Competition (Area A4)

I got 1st runner-up!

The last Humorous Speech Contest, I did not manage to go for the Division level competition. So I'm now making it a point to go for the division A competition on 9 May 2010.

My speech was "It's All In Your Mind".

I thank those of you who went for the competition today. Your support and 'All the Best' gave me courage and confidence to remember a speech I wrote only the night before.

I also thank the person who gave me pointers on my previous speech, thus my need to rewrite a whole new speech.

As you give more speeches, it becomes more difficult to find topics. No matter how confident you are, if you can't find a topic, the confidence level falls.

However, putting together your ideas and making it your own great speech is not difficult.

A few pointers to finding a topic:

1. Imagine what would be relevant to your audience. Topics that are close to the audience's heart, will bring you nods and 'yes' and a big round of applause.
2. Put your topic into a manner where your examples emphasise your topic.
   
3. Repeat your message at least 3 times throughout your speech, ingraining the message you want the audience to remember.

Finding a topic requires research. Writing the speech requires concentration. Rehearsing your speech is important.

Because I finished writing my speech only the night before the contest, I read it out loud twice before I fell asleep, rearranging certain paragraphs in my mind. When I woke up, I read it out again one more time. And I read it out loud again on my way to the venue. Lastly, I wrote out the sequence of my speech in point-form to make sure I remember what to say before and after.

I share my experiences, in the hope that those of you who read this will be encouraged and write better speeches than I have.

Lastly, PLEASE DO NOT WRITE YOUR SPEECH AT THE LAST MINUTE!

I'll see all of you on the next MIM Toastmasters Club meeting!

Club Speech & Table Topics Contest 2010

Congratulations to all those who participated in the contest. For those who took part for the first time, give yourself a pat on your back because you have all done very well!



Speech Contest Winners

Au Yong Lucy (Champion)
Charlotte Goh (1st Runner-up)
Ee Jun Wai (2nd Runner-up)



Table Topics Contest Winners

Charlotte Goh (Champion)
Ee Jun wai (1st Runner-up)
Md Shaharis (2nd Runner-up)