Joint Toastmasters Meeting of Bayan Baru with Singapore Toastmasters from Tampines Changkat, Tampines Changkat Advanced, Brilliant Advanced Clubs

What an extraordinary meeting on April 7, 2011 Thursday night from 8pm until past midnight as Bayan Baru Toastmasters Club of Penang island hosted a joint meeting teeming with visiting Toastmasters from Singapore, primarily Tampines Changkat, Tampines Changkat Advanced, Brilliant Advanced and other clubs from Singapore and Penang island. My apologies - photos are blur but you can still make up and sense the excitement, enthusiasm and camaraderie.

Click on photo for larger view



There were 3 Club Presidents to jointly lead the meeting - Goh Hock Hai of Bayan Baru, Coen Tan of Tampines Changkat and Julie Ng of Tampines Changkat Advanced.



There were four fearless and fearsome project speakers, starting with Terence Lee of Bayan Baru doing Project 3.



Linda Huang of Tampines Changkat doing Project 9.



Teh Ghim Hong of Bayan Baru doing Project 6.



Coen Tan of Tampines Changkat doing Project 10, completing his Competent Communicator. Congratulations.



Toastmaster of the Evening was Margaret Chan of Bayan Baru. Thought of the Day was given by Eileyn Chua, VPE of Bayan Baru. Word of the Day was Lim Seh Leng of Brilliant Advanced. Humorist was Ong Swee Keat of Bayan Baru.



There were 8 brave speakers for the Table Topics session led by Rosalind Chan of Bayan Baru. Table Topics evaluation was done by Chong Cheng Lee of Tampines Changkat. Timer was Jack Ch'ng of Bayan Baru, Ah Counter was Lim Kar Ying of Bayan Baru and Grammarian was Lim Seh Leng of Brilliant Advanced.



Project evaluators were Michael Wee of Tampines Changkat/Tampines Changkat Advanced, John Yeoh of Bayan Baru, Constance Yip of Tampines Changkat/Tampines Changkat Advanced and Michael Xavier of Bayan Baru.



Coen Tan of Tampines Changkat was voted best project speaker, TK Mah of Bayan Baru was best Table Topics speaker and Michael Xavier was best Project Evaluator.



The meeting was graced by current District 51 Governor Thannimalai of YMCA Penang Toastmasters Club and his team of District Offers as well Past District 80 Governor Michael Wee of Tampines Changkat/Tampines Changkat Advanced and Past District 51 Governor SL Liew of Bayan Baru.



Tonight was like a deja vu. Back in 1996, newly chartered Bayan Baru members assisted me to organize a joint meeting of Penang and Singapore Toastmasters hosted by Butterworth Toastmasters at the Tanjung Club, Penang island. Visiting Singapore Toastmasters included Kevin Ong, Augustine Lee, Aileen Tan, Christopher Teoh, Lilian Lau, Aziz Mustajab and many others. Last year, Bayan Baru under IPDG Jessica Teo organized a trip to Southern Thailand for a joint meeting with Hatyai Songkhla Toastmasters. Tonight, Bayan Baru under President Goh Hock Hai had successfully hosted a historic joint meeting between Bayan Baru and Singapore Toastmasters. Well done!

What members said about District 80 Semi Annual Convention@ Singapore....

I have just received this email of photos and comments from our International Director Poh Kim Siong.

District 80 (Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Thailand) is our twin sister District held their recent Semi-Annual Convention during Nov 21-22, 2008 at YMCA Fort Canning Lodge, Singapore.

District 80 Official Website






What members said about District 80 Semi Annual Convnetion @ Singapore ..




CTM - Cozy, Timely & Meaningful convention
ATM - Amazing Time Mingling with all TM delegates
DTM - Don't miss next Time to Meet in HK Convention May 2009

Ivy Chan, ATMB, CL
Division H Governor 2008-2009
Hong Kong




“Learned to be Thankful”

Besides being touched by the Keynote Speaker and Workshop Speakers; inspired by breathtaking District Humorous Speech & Evaluation Contests; warmed by caring hospitality of the Organizing Committee, what I learnt most in the Singapore 2008 Semi-Annual Convention is to be Thankful!

I thank so many impassioned Toastmasters friends and distinguished leaders who have given their heart to help us promote and enroll registrations for Macau 2009 Convention. We have received more than 120 registrations in 2 days.

THANK YOU for believing in Toastmasters Conventions, believing in Macau , and believing in Reaching … for your Dreams!

Melanie Hoi
Macau 2009 Semi Annual Convention Chair
Reach For Your Dreams




"Good place, good rest, good food, good performances and good friends! "

Happy to be with brothers / sisters in Singapore Semi Annual Convention. Thanks all for such a good entertaining. See YOU soon in Hong Kong Convention !!

Cheers!
Supin Chaiboonruang, CTM CL
Past Area Governor T4,
President The First Thai TMC Thailand




You demonstrated greatness and humility. You have endeared yourself to the hearts of many. May I salute you, International Director!

Chin Mei Har, DTM
Singapore

Year 2008 - Year of Election

In 2008, we have seen many dramatic elections in Malaysia, around the world and soon on November 4 in USA.

In Toastmasters, we enjoy annual elections at Club, Area, Division, District and International level.

Here is a report of a successful election campaign last August at Toastmasters International Convention in Calgary, Canada.

1) Poh Kim Siong (Chua Chu Kang Toastmasters, Singapore) won the election to be our International Director for Districts outside North America, 2008-2010.

2) His campaign manager was Past District 80 Governor Gea Ban Peng (Braddel Heights Advanced, Singapore) who had written this article below to share.

3) I first met Poh Kim Siong at Toastmasters International Palm Desert Convention 1998 when we were convention delegate hotel room-mates.

Gea Ban Peng was Division S Governor (Singapore) in 1997-98 when I was District 51 Governor. When it comes to good stuff, everyone is related.
-------------------------------------------------------



Kim Siong & Ban Peng

On Friday 15th August 2008 in Calgary, Canada at the 77th Annual Convention of Toastmasters International - Poh Kim Siong, DTM became the first member in District 80 to be elected to the Board of Directors of Toastmasters International. I was his election campaign manager.

We faced many challenges. We surmounted them. We enjoyed every minute of it. Many thoughts filled my mind. Below are four, not in any order, they just happened to pop up and I want to get this piece written quickly so that I can get back to work!

Begin with the end in mind.
7 Habits of Highly Successful People – Steven CoveyThe mathematics for success was easy. All we needed was 50% of the votes plus one more vote. That would give us a simply majority, a seat on the board, and a simply amazing feeling of confidence that we can do it. It gave us the courage to conquer.

Your daily life is your temple and your religion.
The Prophet by Kahlil GibranAll Kim Siong had to do was to be himself. He possess all the 4 qualities the voting delegates were looking for (1) a caring person - they could feel he truly cared for them – he was there for them, (2) a trustworthy person – they know the can trust Kim Siong to honor his commitment, (3) a humble man – they could see he was not arrogant - he would listen, and (4) a competent leader – his leadership track record was impeccable.

The journey is the mission – Journey to the West – Chinese Legend
The whole purpose of the journey to Calgary was to do things we have never done before, to experience, to learn, and to share. The learning, the growing, and the friends we make during the 4 days of intense work on the campaign trail was simply amazing. We were determined to enjoy the journey. And enjoy we did – especially Goh Wei Koon, Neil Sy, Aziz Mustajab, Arthur Ting, Desiree, Julia, Kim Siong, and I.

Happiness cannot be pursued. It must ensue.
Men’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Success, like happiness, cannot be pursued. It is the happy by-product of one dedicating oneself to a cause greater to oneself. In this case, Kim Siong selflessly dedicated himself to bring the benefits of Toastmasters to more people. That is a good cause. He cannot help but succeed.

Now, this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But, perhaps, it is the end of the beginning. – Sir Winston Churchill Speech in November 1942
Winning the election did not bring us to the end of the journey. It is, in fact, the end of the beginning of the journey. There is so much to be done. Let us give our newly elected International Director, Poh Kim Siong DTM, a ready hand to help bring more benefits of the Toastmasters training program to a greater number of people.

Sincerely, Gea Ban Peng DTM
District 80 Governor 2004-2005
Presidential Citation 2006-2007