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Foreword Activities / EventsOctober 2011 Mega Workshop by LGET Team November 2011 Soar Convention Reflections of Div T Contestants Tampines Changkat Adv TMC Workshops Snippets of Div B, S and Z COT2 Senior District Officers Training in Sydney Lifecycle of a Toastmasters Workshop Part II

by Lynda Neo, DPRO

by Crispin Rodrigues by K.W. Ching by Somnuk & Prantik by Michael Wee by District Officers by DG Michael Rodrigues by Karen Tan

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Special FeaturesSpeakers' Bureau Focus on Membership RecruitmentOrganising the Speechcraft Programme Speechcraft Success Story Speechcraft Success Story by Richard Sng by Kelvin Koh by Catherine Goh by Brahmakumar by John Sih by Siriporn Yongpiyanan by Wekie Tay

Speaking Off the Cuff Script of an Impromptu Speech Div T SRU TMC 3rd Anniversary How Toastmasters cope in Div TPhitsanulok Phrae

by Pipat Puengmongkolchaikij by Thawesak Thadajanyawong by LGM & DPRO

Mediacorp 938 Live Interview

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New ClubsAlexandra Hospital TMC First Bahasa Melayu TMCby Keen Leong by Mohamad Saddiqi

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NewsflashDiv T COT2 Div L Escapade to Bintan Island Div L 2012 Lunar New Year Celebrations

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'WOW' Annual Convention May 2012

by Angeline Koh

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With the release of this second newsletter we are already more than halfway through the term ending June 2012whew! Perhaps, some of our toastmasters who are serving exco, leadership or district 80 roles may say: "yippee, only less than 6 months to go before term ends!" Our District Governor, Michael Rodrigues, DTM, in his 2011 year-end message commended on the accolades we have achieved in District 80: more efficient financial control procedures, Youth Bureau, Speakers Bureau, healthy work-in-progress on the charter of new clubs, first ever Bahasa Melayu Toastmasters club, initiatives with Peoples Association for more community centre clubs, the first ever nationwide promotion of Toastmasters movement on "The Living Room" program of Mediacorp's FM93.8... and if I may add, quality Toastmasters workshops & more workshops at district and club levels. As I move around in my Toastmasters' circles at clubs, activities, events, I can't help being taken in by the higher level of enthusiasm, energy and elation. Even the two rounds of Club officers training programmes brought about a much higher level of attendance & participation overall! Lieutenant Governor of Marketing, Pradeep Kumar, DTM, in his opening message in the first newsletter urged us that unless we change our mindsets by being more responsible and accountable for our actions, we will not grow as a quality District..Yes ! Its happening & I fervently believe District 80 is evolving to be the district we can all be even prouder of! As Oliver Wendell Holmes said, "The greatest thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving." At half-time, if you are already 50 percent of the way to your goals, I congratulate you for your resolve. If not, it is never too late to recreate and finetune your plans to achieve your goals. I know I have to... I sincerely thank all Toastmasters who have contributed to this second issue of our newsletter. Please continue to email: lynneo@singnet.com.sg on happenings, events, articles, etc., to help our DPRO team stay 'in sync' for District 80 Toastmasters.

by Lynda Neo, DPRO

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Amazing & Fantastic October Mega-Workshop MonthContributed by the District 80 Education & Training Committee

It was an amazing series of workshops!, commented one of the participants. The term 2011-2012 started with a bang with the announcement of 5 educational workshops announced by the Lt. Gov. Education and Training, Patrick Oei, DTM, during the first Education and Training Committee meeting. Five titles were chosen, namely: From Crafting to Speaking - The Art of Making Inspirational Speeches Rediscover the Fun of Exciting Meetings Mastering Evaluation Xin Fa Speaking off the Cuff Presenting Humorous & Entertaining Speeches

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Held throughout the month of October, these workshops aimed to bring in some of the finest speakers from across the district under one roof to impart their wisdom and experience to the audience, who were keen to take down notes and actively participate in the variety of educational segments throughout. A wide variety of topics was covered. Every aspect of the Toastmasters meeting was touched on, from adding humour and excitement to speeches, to attempting table topics, to enhancing the value of meetings as well as the ability to be a sound and effective evaluator. Besides the workshop proper, we also took the opportunity to celebrate the birthdays of our Toastmasters members for the month in October along with the celebration of the founding of the Toastmasters movement.

The overall feedback of our October Workshop was a positive one. Participants were pleased with the line-up of presenters and topics that were discussed. There was something for everyone, whether they were a district or club officer, a seasoned Toastmaster or even a new member. Toastmasters can be a much more enriching journey when you are able to reinforce your in-club experience with tips and techniques from some of the finest in the district who have had years of Toastmasters and public speaking experience. As we look towards the second half of the term, we are committed to bring you workshops of the highest quality and relevance to your club and members. So, continue to keep on learning and sharpening your saw in everything you do in Toastmasters as you continue to pursue your communication goals and leadership goals. Let us continue to create memorable moments that we can treasure for life.

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November 2011 Semi-Annual Convention Soar To Even Greater Heightsby Editor K.W. Ching

Set at the historical site of Fort Canning, our District 80 Semi-Annual Convention 2011 held at the YWCA Fort Canning Lodge opened on November 12, 2011 with a big bang by Toastmasters beating the Japanese Drums. Christine Temblique, DTM, International Director Region 14, Toastmasters International, graced the convention and delivered a heart warming speech following speeches by Organizing Chair, Lawrence Quek, DTM, District Governor, Michael Rodrigues, DTM, and Guest of Honour Ms Ellen Lee Geck Hoon, PBM. The first day of events featured Tim Wade, a motivational business growth speaker in Singapore, who delivered an entertaining and educational keynote speech on goals. Two more public speakers who hailed from Singapore inspired us with their personal insights. Christian Chua spoke about Making Money While Sipping Coffee while Kenneth Kwan spoke about The Pursuit of Excellence. Tim Wade concluded the days speaking events with his take on Speaking for Positive Influence.

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The gala dinner held in evening was filled with entertainments. Indian Dancers, Belly Dancers, and more. Sakol, immediate past Division T Governor, our fabulous singing toastmaster from Thailand even entertained us with two love songs. The Humorous Speech and Speech Evaluation contests held at the Legends Ballroom, Fort Canning Hotel, was packed with toastmasters from wall to wall. The winners are: Mandarin Humorous Speech Contest Champion : Ng Siew Leng 1st Runner Up : Yeo Chor Huang 2nd Runner Up : Lee Hong Mei Mandarin Speech Evaluation Contest Champion : Yeo Chor Huang 1st Runner Up : Xiong Ying 2nd Runner Up : Tan Siew Kiow English Humorous Speech Contest Champion : Ann Marie Gutierrez 1st Runner Up : Ng Cher Khim 2nd Runner Up : Nurliza Sawi English Speech Evaluation Contest Champion : Manoj Vasudevan 1st Runner Up : Ang Soo Kuang 2nd Runner Up : Benjamin Loh

With the curtain closed on yet another successful convention and as we look forward to the next, feedback from many regular convention goers lamented the absence of speakers who are also toastmasters of international stature, unlike the good old days. The organizers of future conventions might want take this feedback into consideration.

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Reflections of Div T Contestantsby Somnuk & Prantik

To become a part of Toastmasters' community is one of the greatest investments I can make in myself. It is the community of outstanding leaders and master communicators. This is a special place where I can learn how to become a professional public speaker and to develop my leadership skills. I was very proud to represent Division T for the Speech Evaluation contest in District 80 Semi Annual Convention in 2011. I was so nervous and I didn't think I was proficient enough to enter any speech contests. This exciting experience gave me more than I ever expected. In the course of preparing for and participating in the contests, I gained valuable stage experience and speaking techniques. This is a big step to fulfill my journey as a professional speaker. I regard it as "a breakthrough in my life". I soared to greater heights when I gained more confidence in my public speaking skills. I have expanded my boundary of thinking and behavior. Things I thought I could not do suddenly became possible. I totally changed and became a "New Me" who loves to be on stage. This reminded me the quote from Leo Buscaglia, "Change is the end result of all true learning". Last but not least, a thousand thanks to fellow Toastmasters in Singapore for their continued support, dedication and hospitality. My sincere appreciation towards Toastmasters International for giving me a platform to practice and to show my communication and leadership skills. Also, my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Ralph Smedley who established Toastmasters community, the organization dedicated to the individual.

********************With my Singapore trip for the Toastmasters District 80 Humorous Speech contest, I continued with my tradition of returning from Singapore without any "trophy"!! I love Singapore for 2 reasons, chili crab and Singlish. The night before the competition I went out with a very good Indian friend of mine and his new Singaporean friends. We had lots of chili crab (and later some very expensive water and drinks), and I had a great time listening to my new Singaporean friends talking in Singlish. On the taxi back to my friends place I was feeling actually very good about myself. When I was at the venue for the Speech Contests, the Fort Canning Hotel and waiting for my turn to speak, I was getting very intimidated. Why I was intimidated?? There are two main reasons. First, I think I made a bad mistake of reading all about Fort Cannings history prior to my departure from Bangkok. Second, no one speaks Singlish on stage!! Every speaker seems to forget that they are in Singapore!! So for my latest trip to Singapore, I put the blame for my failure to win a trophy to the Internet and to the "Speak Good English Movement" (the Singapore Government campaign). No good lah. All puns apart, I think this is my best speaking experience. I learned a lot and I hope I would make it to the division level sometime soon so that I can match horns with the best speakers in Singapore again!!

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Tampines Changkat Advanced Toastmasters Club presents...by Michael Wee

The Tampines Changkat Advanced Toastmasters Club recently presented two workshops which were favourably received by participants. Both were held at the Tampines Changkat Community Club to capacity audiences. The first workshop on "Winning Hearts and Minds in Speeches" was conducted by Stuart Tan on 5th November 2011. Stuart is a Licensed NLP Trainer and a Certified NLP Training Consultant and had been a trainer since 1994. He is also the bestselling co-author of Master Your Mind, Design Your Destiny with Adam Khoo (2004) and bestselling author of The Secrets Of Internet Millionaires (2007). What does it take for a speaker to win over your heart and mind? What do you like in a speech during a speech contest? Are they the same things? According to Stuart, they are very different. While contest speakers are" judges oriented", speakers who can win over hearts and minds are "audience oriented". Speakers like the Dalai Lama and Mother Theresa are unlikely to win speech contests. But they win over hearts and minds because they speak passionately on their personal visions in life. They are inspiring and they are authentic. The second workshop was held on 7th January, 2012. Titled "Mind Blasting Presentations", it was conducted by Ramesh Muthusamy. Many will remember Ramesh from his mind-blasting presentation at the District 80 International Speech Contest held in May last year. What some may not know is that this is, in fact, Ramesh's third win at the district level. It was a whole day event, highly interactive and participative as you can see from the pictures taken at the workshop. Registration started at 9.30 in the morning and it did not end till 6.00 in the evening.

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Throughout his delivery & presentation, humour was key & the audience loved every bit of it including our '2-time District 80 humourous champion': Ng Cher Khim. The following is what Cher Khim had to share: Have you ever wondered why Indians are so funny? In his workshop, Ramesh Muthusamy answered this perplexing question which has puzzled so many of us for so long. I felt his answer was spot on. This is one of the many things I learnt from this dramatic, entertaining and high energy workshop. The tips and techniques shared by Ramesh on presenting mind blasting presentations were pertinent, poignant and practical (heehee, I use alliteration). I have benefited so much from this workshop. On my way home, I met my neighbour at the lift lobby. She said I looked wiser. Oh, are you still wondering why Indians are so funny? Don't miss Ramesh's future workshops. Honest to goodnesss, the rare treat is that participants got to learn all the skills in public speaking that one would expect in such a workshop except that Ramesh was able to present these to us from the perspective of a '3-time district' international speech champion! Our District Public Relations Officer, Lynda Neo remarked that it was one of the best workshops she had attended in her 9 years in Toastmasters & the first workshop she had heard from Ramesh! She further remarked that most Toastmasters' workshops have always been 'value for money' but Ramesh's workshop was 'godsend' & for those who have missed it, when will he ever conduct one again ? (another 9 yrs later ??) For me, what I wanted to hear from Ramesh was that one item in the programme which read, "The Million Dollar Secret in Public Speaking". And I heard it when he said, "Public speaking must have a purpose. At one level, Toastmasters is just a place to pick up a few skills but, at the heart of it, the purpose is to train you so that when you step up to speak.....you breathe life into the people who have come to listen to you." "Your speech may be insignificant to eighty percent of the people in the audience. But, all you are looking for every time you speak is for that one person in the room who needed to hear your message. Because, if you can make a difference in just one person's life I think the world will become a better place. In the words of Lim Seh Leng DTM, "Stuart Tan & Ramesh Muthusamy's workshops certainly raise the bar for what we could expect, in terms of learning about public speaking in Toastmasters. There was so much sincere and generous sharing of knowledge by both speakers that it would shorten the learning curve for both new and old Toastmasters." Indeed , both workshops were terrific. And on behalf of Tampines Changkat Advanced Toastmasters and all those who have benefitted from their selfless sharing, I thank Stuart and Ramesh for these enriching experiences.

Michael Wee DTM / Club President / Tampines Changkat Advanced TMC

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Snippets of Div B COT2by Area B3 Governor Siva

Div B COT2 was held on Sat 7 Jan (2:15 pm) at Queenstown Secondary School. There were about 80 attendees including appointment holders & Club officers from other Divisions. 3 Senior District Officers supported the event by presenting the following topics: 1) Aziz Mustajab, DTM, IPDG - Leadership Succession Plan 2) Patrick Oei, DTM, LGET - Going Back to Basics 3) Pradeep Kumar, DTM, LGM - Working In The Team Environment Special design of the programme included a heart enclosing tightly ALL Div B Clubs. At the first COT held at the beginning of the term, Div B Governor mentioned that her heart is with all Div B Clubs. The heart in the programme signifies that her heart is still very much strong with Div B Clubs. LGET also presented educational award pins to recognise TMs who have completed CC/ACB/ACS/ACG this term by end Dec 2011. After the break, there was a 7 member Panel comprising of members from Div B Council where they addressed issues raised from the floor. There was no separate Breakout according to roles. All attendees were in the same room so that other roles could learn from the issues raised. It was a lively discussion. Too bad we had to control the timing, otherwise, the COT2 would have ended at midnight.

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Division S COT2 with a Difference!by D80 Secretary Goh Sor Hoon

Divsison S had their COT2 on Saturday afternoon, 10th December 2011. The Exco members were entertained with a sketch by the Division S drama artists. It was a prelude to the Key Note Speech on Dos & Donts by DTM Fenando Young. Fernando Young the enthraller mesmerised the audience with his enthralling speech, he acclimatized the audience with his spicy anecdotes and analogies. There was not a dull moment, only hilarious laughter filled the room. The take home message for the Exco members was not forgotten, it was sunk in. From laughter to frustration, our Division S Governor CC Chia Choon Kiat had a heart of gold for his Club Executive Committee members; he gave them a shoulder to cry on during the breakout session. Club Executive Committee members aired their frustrations and woes. Each group was led by a facilitator with a listening ear and a helping hand. After the tears had dried up and hearts weighed lighter, the Club Executive Committee members were given jigsaw puzzles to complete in 5 minutes to drive home a point on teamwork and leadership. It was a wonderful worthwhile time spent at Division S COT2. Kudos to the Organizing Committee!

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Division Z COT2by Vincent Lim

1) More than 100 members attended, 89 of them reserved seats one week before the event 2) Almost all members stayed throughout the session 3) The organizing team packed 3 fruitful workshops, 6 group discussions, 1 panel discussion, and 1 appreciation session, and ended exactly on time (just like every Division Z event since start of term). 4) Numerous members mentioned that they have learnt a lot from the COT. 5) Lets hear some of the comments: a. This is THE best COT I have ever attended. Great speakers with relevant content. The entire training was 100% focused on addressing the issues and challenges of club officers! (by a well known trainer and public speaker, he also re-stated this on Division Z facebook) b. This opens up my mind, I didnt know COT can be this inspiring and exciting (by a long-serving club officer) c. I really thought the Div Z COT was more vibrant & upbeat than many of the COTs Ive attended so far (by a senior district 80 officer)

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SENIOR DISTRICT OFFICERS MID-YEAR TRAINING, JANUARY 13 & 14 2012, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIAOur Top Three District Officers together with those from Regions 12 and 14 attended the District Officers Mid-Year Training in Sydney, Australia on January 13th. and 14th. 2012. The training was held at the historical and quaint Menzies Hotel in the Central Business District of Sydney, just a stones throw away from the icons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. The Training was quite intense over the two days and the topics covered were: Team Dynamics Vision, Mission and Values Three Steps to Distinguished Club Quality and Member Retention Motivate and Empower your Team (for District Governors) Enhance Training and Solutions to Achieve District Goals (For LGETs) Know the Market to Build Clubs (For LGMs) Financial Management At the end of the Training we were presented with Certificates of Participation. The most rewarding aspect of the Training was the networking with other District Officers, sharing our problems and solutions and recognizing our common goals and aspirations. The trainers, Carol Gregory (from TI), Sue Haynes and Mike Storkey (Region 12), Christine Tembelique (Region 14) and Dan Rex (TI) were inspirational, motivational and well versed. There was extensive interaction among the participants, Teamwork Games, Contests and also open discussions of our common problems. We also enjoyed our breaks, roaming downtown Sydney from China Town and Hay Market to The Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. In my opinion these Mid-Year Training sessions are worthwhile to remind us why we are District Officers and what our goals and responsibilities are. I am sure our two Lt. Governors will agree with me. Michael Rodrigues DTM District Governor District 80, Toastmasters International.

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Lifecycle of a Toastmasters Club - Part 2by Karen Tan

This workshop is one of the few occasions when we have three distinguished speakers sharing their ideas and experiences. The session kicked-off with an opening address by our Lieutenant Governor (Marketing), Distinguished Toastmaster Pradeep Kumar. He shared a quote that spoke to our hearts... "At this time, I am the whole reason my ancestors existed at all" from the movie Amistad. He reiterated that whatever we do today reflects on our ancestors/forefathers and will determine how our future generations turn out. The consequences of our own actions will affect the attitudes and culture of our future generations. We should live a life full of honesty and integrity so as to be a role model for our children and their children in turn, for we will someday be ancestors to our future generations, just as we have followed the footsteps and lived in the shadows of our forefathers. The first speaker, Distinguished Toastmaster Yeo Chai Tun, spoke about Clubs' Membership Growth and Development. He commenced his speech with words of wisdom from Dr Smedley. He expounded on two profound ideas; firstly, it is vital for club membership growth to be "organic growth" in nature because it is easier, more cost effective and resources savings by increasing memberships through existing clubs than building new clubs. Second, a successful club should have a minimum of at least 30 members to be operationally ready and effective. The speaker also remarked that based on his experience, those clubs that manage to consistently remain vibrant possess distinctive characteristics. There is more often than not one or more drivers at the helm that steers it forward towards ultimate success. He urged us not to underestimate the role of Area Governors. They play an important role in trouble shooting problems within the club but also serve as the conduit between the club and the District. If every Area Governor was to perform his or her role diligently, many perceived challenges within clubs could be attended to and resolved before it becomes a source of consternation.

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Distinguished Toastmaster Michael Wee, our second speaker, spoke on Club Restoration. He commenced his sharing by quizzing members of the audience as to the reasons clubs do not rise or live up to their full potential. The reasons can be divided more often than not into two categories, Leadership Failure and/or Ineffective Program. Low attendance, conflicts between members, difficulty in finding successors and lack of commitment were just some of the other reasons put forth by the audience. Michael ended his workshop with pointers on how to run successful club meetings and sustaining the club. The final speaker for the afternoon was, District Governor, Distinguished Toastmaster Michael Rodrigues, who touched on Club Leadership and Succession. As usual in his trademark delivery style, our District Governor peppered his sharing with a healthy dose of humour. His audience was rolling in fits of laughter. He also gave us invaluable lessons about what makes a good club leader, how do we identify and cultivate future leaders and Servant Leadership. He succinctly concluded his session with a quote: Remember: Today decides Tomorrow! Without a shadow of doubt, the efforts garnered by District Marketing Team all these months for this workshop, bore ripe fruits in abundance. It was an afternoon well spent for the cause of Toastmasters!

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New Horizon in Toastmasters: Introducing the District 80 Speakers' BureauNeed a speaker to motivate your Club members during meeting? Would your upcoming training need someone with specialised knowledge? Ever wonder where to find credible speakers and trainers to assist your organization? The District 80 Speakers' Bureau can help. Comprising of Toastmasters who are also speakers and trainers of considerable experience along with various specialisations, the Bureau Speakers add that extra flair and solid punch to your club meetings and special events. Over the years, our District has seen a growth of speakers and trainers within its membership. The formation of the District Speakers' Bureau signifies an attainment of enhanced speaking standards and professionalism in the realm of public speaking, training and delivery. Coming together as a helpful resource for Clubs and the community, the District 80 Speakers' Bureau aims to support you in your educational journey towards better speaking, leading or even other possible concentrations within the speakers forte. Established to further provide windows of speaking opportunities, the bureau speakers are ready to be at your club trainings and even your own company and organization to render their presentation and training services. The District Speakers' Bureau is a community and public service-based initiative of Toastmasters, reaching out to fellow Toastmasters, your community and the public. When contacted through the Bureau, there is no charge for the speakers. Any honorarium and donations received will be placed in the District funds. With professional topics such as Neuro-Linguistic Programming, specific communication knowledge and more, your Toastmasters Clubs, Areas, Divisions and organizations outside of Toastmasters stand to benefit from the enhanced advantages that these speakers bring. Your Club members will definitely appreciate the refreshing variety and renewed vigour of the Bureau Speakers. For other Toastmasters, it can be a welcoming educational experience as they take learning to a new dimension and greater heights via discovering multiple skills. Your own organization can also get to hear about the benefits of Toastmasters while gaining applicable insights from several topics. To me, the formation of a Speakers' Bureau has been in my thoughts for the past 13 years. Having done intensive research and studies on how similar bureaus work throughout the world, this new operation strives to ensure quality and value for you. The entire District 80, as a result, can advance from the increase in standards and training competencies. If your Club is making plans for your upcoming meetings or should your company intend to have a showcase from Toastmasters with specific content, do consider having a District Speaker present at your next session. For more information, please keep a lookout for updated District Speakers' Bureau information through our District 80 website. Wishing you the very best to your learning and growth! Wekie Tay, DTM District 80 Speakers' Bureau Coordinator

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Editor: In this second issue of the District 80 Newsletter, the editorial team decided on a theme of membership retention and recruitment. Indeed, nothing matters more in the satisfying progress in our learning through this Toastmasters journey than to ensure that the very club we belong to has a healthy membership. We learn our communication and leadership skills through helping each other grow. When membership dwindles, our learning is hampered as well. Speechcraft is a trademark feature of Toastmasters for the recruitment and retention of members. The editorial team has invited our Speechcraft Chair, Richard Sng, DTM, to contribute a synopsis of his well received training programme, Organising the Speechcraft Programme, as well as two other toastmasters who have successfully run Speechcraft programmes to share their valuable experience with us.

Organising the Speechcraft Programmeby Richard Sng, DTM (District 80 Speechcraft Chair 2011-2012)

How does your club go about organising, planning, publicising, promoting and implementing the Speechcraft programme to ensure its success? How do you maximise and capitalise on the programme to beef up and boost up your club membership? How does your club add value to its members through their participation in the programme? The 7Ps towards a Promising Programme 1st P ~ PEOPLE: (Speechcraft Committee) o Organising Chair (Club President appoints a senior member) o Co-Organising Chair (to learn the ropes to chair subsequent programme) o Speechcraft Adviser (a past Organising Chair or Speechcraft Co-ordinator) o Speechcraft Co-ordinator (a senior club member/past club officer) o Executive Committee Support (involve the club officers) o Roles & Responsibilities (to identify for each committee member) o Club Members (attend free, involve senior / newer members , train potential speechcraft co-ordinators, educational presentations speakers) 2nd P ~ PLANNING: (Logistics & Support) o Timeline (2-month plan, identify the dates) o Manpower (for each session/various roles, a balance of senior/newer members) o Materials (TIs website) o Manuals (order Speechcrafters/Speechcraft Co-ordinators manuals, certificates) o Number of Sessions (between 4 8) o Duration (1.1/2 2.1/2 hours per session) o Venue (ensure availability of room for all sessions) o Fees (determine amount to charge each participant, not to price too low)

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3rd P ~ PUBLICITY: (Marketing, Promoting & Publicising the Workshop) o Websites (clubs own) o Friends (word-0f-mouth invitation) o Emails (organisations, colleagues, associates, friends) o Guest Book (first and second time visitors at past years club meetings) o Flyers (manual distribution : housing estates, MRT stations, bus interchanges) o Banner (text, design, size, material, layout, simplicity, cost) o Posters (locations : community centres/clubs, resident committees, MRT stations, bus interchanges) 4th P ~ PLAYERS: (Roles & Responsibilities) o Organising Chair (organise, deputise, supervise committee members) o Co-Chair (assist in follow-ups : publicity, programmes, speakers, presenters) o Evaluators (rotate individual, panel, paired evaluations) o Language Evaluator (appoint from 2nd session onwards) o Timer (explain importance of timing for speeches, especially) o Ah Counter (highlight the value of pause fillers) 5th P ~ PROGRAMME: (Content & Resources) o Sessions 1, 2, 3, 4, . . . (email programme several days earlier) o Speechcrafters Manual (5 copies for clubs conducting the programme) o Speechcraft Co-ordinators Manual (1 copy will be given.) o Competent Communicator Manual (use it with the Speechcraft manuals) o Toastmasters International Website (resources are available) o P1 P3 Manual Speeches (can be credited towards the CC award) o Closing the Sale (encourage Speechcrafters to be members) 6th P ~ PRESENTERS: (Educational Presentations) The following topics can be presented during each session. The duration for each can be between 5 to 15 min. o The Speechcraft Programme (What is Speechcraft?) o What is Toastmasters? o Importance of Effective Communication Skills o What is Public Speaking? o Introduction to Public Speaking o What is Impromptu Speaking? o Introduction to Impromptu Speaking o The Ice Breaker Speech (A recent club member can present a demo-speech.) o Speech Structure o Get to the Point

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o Vocal Variety o Your Body Speaks o Types of Speeches o Selection of Speeches o Preparing a Speech o Introducing a Speaker o Evaluate to Motivate o Lectern Etiquette Club Resources: Get club members to present the educational segments.) Foreign Talents: Invite Toastmasters from other clubs if club resources are lacking.) Ensure presentations are of quality. Book them early!!! 7th P ~ PARTICIPANTS: (Speechcrafters) o Commitment (seriousness) o Dress Code (being properly and neatly attired, formally) o Presence (listening, thinking and speaking) o Punctuality (highlight the virtue of being early) o Preparation (the importance of preparing for P1 P3 speeches) o Participation (the value of taking part in speaking impromptu) o Attendance (instil a 100% attendance, to reap the benefits of the programme) o Experience Sharing (What have you learnt? How much have you benefitted?) o Speechcrafters Feedback (before first, end of each and after final session) o Closing the Sale (ask if participants are serious about continuing the journey)

Workshop designed by: Richard Sng, DTM District 80 Speechcraft Chair 2011-2012

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Speechcraft Success Factors - A workshop designed to educate, market and recruit for Toastmastersby Kelvin Koh

As we usher in the New Year, it is good time to reflect on club recruitment strategies for the second half of the term. Fellow Toastmasters, what is one of the best ways to engage the community, educate them about improving their communication skills and enhancing their market values? Holding a Speechcraft workshop is one of the best ways to do so. For existing members of your club, Speechcraft also provides a chance for them to grow as leaders by working as a team to organize the workshop, run it and learn skills that go beyond just delivering speeches. Telok Blangah Toastmasters Club has organized a few successful Speechcraft workshops in the past 2 years and here are some golden nuggets that were crucial to our success. The Whos, Whats and How-tos of Planning Speechcraft Quickly form a team of about two to three people, one Coordinator, who will be the overall in charge of planning each session, and two Co-Coordinators who will support the Coordinator in planning. Seek the guidance of your club mentors and advisors on the planning and running of the workshop. It is best for the club to create a customized How to Organize Speechcraft Manual and templates (program sheets, introductions, etc.) for ease of planning. Make clear the roles and responsibilities of these Coordinators. Also, secure the crucial appointment holders such as speakers for the educational segments early to avoid a last minute rush for finding them and have backups established to prepare for changes. Consider having a section to pitch about joining Toastmasters during Speechcraft, this could be done during the second last session. Get your marketing out early Market Speechcraft extensively in the neighbourhood or organization that you are in by using push and pull marketing. Use simple push marketing efforts like banners, posters and your club's website and Facebook page. Pull marketing would rely more on your members to help promote Speechcraft. Give them the tools such as physical or soft copy posters to share online through email or Facebook or just pass the information on to their friends. All the marketing should be started at least 2 months before the start of the projected Speechcraft. Follow up quickly with those who are interested and secure them as confirmed participants. If they sign up early enough, follow up by inviting them to preview your Chapter Meeting before Speechcraft starts. Ensure that the Coordinating team also sends reminders and follow-up emails the week before the start date to ensure logistics and planning can be adjusted in case of any changes. An Opportunity for Current Toastmasters to Grow Just like Chapter Meetings, existing members and Toastmasters from other clubs can contribute by volunteering for appointment roles or doing project speeches during Speechcraft. Imagine having 4 sessions of Speechcraft within a month, it means 4 additional chances for existing members to speak. Identify "educators" who have experience in particular topics to give educational talks, or mentor new "educators" to carry this out. In so doing, members can hone their skills by becoming "more aware" of body language matters when giving a talk on body language. Members will also learn how to teach instead of just delivering a project speech. Fellowship is the cornerstone of not only the Toastmasters program, but Speechcraft too. It is an avenue for existing Toastmasters to network and connect with Speechcraft participants or potential Toastmasters. By providing a supportive learning environment, hopefully these participants will come to embrace the Toastmasters program and eventually join the club as members. Kelvin Koh Club President Telok Blangah Toastmasters Club

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A Worthy Campaign There is much work to be put in to plan and execute a successful Speechcraft workshop. However, if you see it as a chance not just to recruit new members but also for existing members to grow, then planning a Speechcraft becomes very worthwhile. We encourage all to make it a New Year resolution for your club to plan one this year to support your recruitment drive and for your members to learn more and grow as leaders too.

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Reflections on Speechcraftby Catherine Goh

Our club, Toastmasters @ Hope has only 10 members left by the time our new term starts in July 2011. It was clear that the need to recruit new members must take precedence above all other needs. Speechcraft naturally came to my mind, and my Exco and I started working on it in September to have these workshop sessions in Nov and Dec. Our Speechcraft workshops were a roaring success with 8 members signing up. The fact that all my speechcrafters gave us positive reviews and said that they have learnt a lot from these sessions greatly encouraged my Exco and gave us great satisfaction. We had our sessions over four consecutive Saturday mornings, except for that weekend when the District 80 Semi-Annual Convention was held. Strangely, our publicity using flyers that were distributed to the houses within the vicinity of our meeting place as well as slotted underneath the windscreen wipers of cars did not bring in any enquiries. We learned in the process that it would be better if we had given out the flyers face-to-face to potential participants. This is better because it allows them to ask questions and for us to respond and clarify. We believe that this will be a more effective way of gaining publicity for our Speechcraft workshops. Interestingly, I also noticed that the initial enquiries about learning public speaking skills came about mostly due to these people noticing our Toastmasters banner and our Toastmasters @ Hope website. Personally, I have learned that following up on any queries as well as any individuals who came by personal invitations of our members is of utmost importance. Followup was carried out on a regular basis prior to the start of the Speechcraft via sms, phone calls, and emails with publicity materials attached. The personal touch is important! The other important thing that I have learned is to involve members in the Speechcraft sessions so that there is ownership. This also gave them many opportunities to learn. My more experienced members were assigned as Advisors/Mentors, and were working together (if needed) with external Distinguished Toastmasters to assist and encourage our Speechcrafters. New club members were encouraged to participate as speechcrafters, while others deliver demo speeches. Below are the thoughts / take-away on the workshop sessions from one of my Speechcrafters, who is now our full-fledged member at Toastmasters @ Hope. Despite spending several years in the corporate world, I felt that there is something missing in my leadership and communication armory when it comes to giving inspirational speeches to sales staff, attending group meetings or putting a persuasive sales pitch together for clients. I knew that I had to sharpen my communication and leadership skills if I want to rise further in the corporate world, and I was anxious to fix this skill gap, but did not know how to bridge it. Then I came to know about the "Speechcraft Workshop" organized by Toastmasters @ Hope last year.

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After some initial reluctance, I decided to enroll for the program which entailed four sessions. After attending the first session and meeting all the illustrious Toastmasters, I became convinced that this is exactly what I was searching for. The workshop sessions were extremely comprehensive and touched on several aspects of speech crafting / speech delivery including (i) how to structure your speeches better to engage the audiences, (ii) what are essential ingredients of effective speech writing (iii) importance of tonality, speech delivery, how to use pauses to capture and maintain audience attention, etc. These were all new and exciting stuff for me. I felt as if I have entered into a complete new world of communication, oratory, and word wizardry. I was so eager and convinced to start on this exciting knowledge journey that soon after the Speechcraft workshop, I signed up as a club member of Toastmasters@Hope. I have already delivered four speeches since becoming a member - I still have butterflies in my stomach when I stand up to deliver a speech, but now I started to enjoy those butterflies and use them to build passion and energy in my speeches. I realized that the Toastmasters journey is long and arduous, which will take hard work, time and effort, but it builds tremendous bounty of success for those who persist and persevere, and I intend to embark on this exciting journey towards becoming a better speaker, leader and listener for a long-long time to come. Shahnawaz Lalani Well, I must say through organizing the Speechcraft workshops, my communication skills and leadership skills also grew a lot. These are the amazing benefits in my Toastmasters journey the more you do, the more you learn! Catherine Goh Club President Toastmasters@Hope

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Editor: Table Topics is a trademark feature of Toastmasters for learning how to think on ones feet and make impromptu speeches. In this issue of the District 80 Newsletter, an experienced toastmaster, Brahmakumar, DTM, Singapore Tamil Toastmasters Club (STTC), shares with us an effective technique.

Speaking Off The Cuffby Brahmakumar

Fellow toastmasters, have you noticed that often at Toastmasters chapter meetings, once the Table Topic master calls for volunteers, most people tend to look away or cast their eyes downwards to avoid being called up? This stems from their inherent fear of saying something silly or embarrassing, as they are unprepared for table topics. I used to be like one of them until I started visiting other clubs and attended courses. In the process, it dawned upon me that there are techniques and strategies to handle table topics. Today, I will share with you a technique known as the 'time'. This technique uses chronology (i.e. the past, present and the future) to speak on a topic. I recall a chapter meeting where a speaker was stumped for a few moments when he was shown the picture of the telegraph lines by the Table Topic master. In this instance, the speaker could have deployed the time technique. He could have used the picture to speak about how communication has evolved over the ages - how man moved from using pigeons, to phones, to the Internet to communicate. Then, he could have concluded by sharing his opinion of how communication would develop further in the future. The technique would be most effective if the speaker has a good knowledge of history, which brings me to the next point. Every speaker needs to build up a bank of knowledge on different topics. One way is to read up on topics as diverse as astrology, botany, cooking, economics, geography, history, information technology, literature, medicine, politics, sociology, and so on. Another way to increase our knowledge would be to cultivate the habit of collating and collecting newspaper or magazine articles for future reference. The Readers Digest is another good source. Let us see how we can use the 'time' technique on another table topic: Can One Be Effectively Bilingual? "In ancient times, people were usually restricted to a geographical region and spoke only one language- The Chinese spoke Chinese; the British spoke English and South Americans spoke their native tongues. With conquests and colonisation, people had to learn the languages of their imperial masters in addition to their mother tongues. Over time, it was common for people to be fluent on two or three languages. Rabindranath Tagore, the first Asian Nobel Prize winner for Literature was fluent in English and Bengali. Today, Muslims over the world are familiar with the Arabic language, their native tongue and probably English or some other colonial languages, which they had inherited. In countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, or Thailand, national policies have caused minority ethnic groups to be fluent in the official language and their native tongues. In Singapore, our top political leaders are fluent in three languages. When we formed the worlds first Tamil Toastmasters club in 2001, our fluency in Tamil and English was beneficial as we had to translate from scratch the manuals, the appointments and the procedures from English to Tamil. In the future, with increasing globalisation and transmigration of people across continents, it would become even more common for people to be fluent in two or even three languages. This can be seen in Australia, which is encouraging her students to learn Mandarin as a second language to cope with the economic rise of China." The above examples illustrate how the 'time' technique could be deployed to answer table topics. To be an effective table topic speaker, one requires an indomitable spirit and a fervid desire to excel. It is not an impossible task. As they say, "Practice makes perfect." In my next article, I will share tips on another area in public speaking.

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Editor: John Sih, DTM, an experienced toastmaster and a professional trainer, delivered the following impromptu speech at Toa Payoh South CC Toastmasters Club. He graciously contributed to this issue of our Newsletter a transcript of that creative impromptu speech from his memory. We all can surely learn something from it. Enjoy!

Script of an Impromptu Speechby John Sih

Venue: Toa Payoh South CC Toastmasters Club Date: 13th September 2011 Table-Topic: Describe Your Life If You Are A Rubbish Bin Along Orchard Road. I will Always be seen as Filthy and Smelly! Nobody would give me a second look. In fact, Nobody notices me! Everyone would be avoiding me! Some ladies and children would pinch their noses as they walk pass me, as I emit a Strong, Compelling Stench! After all, Im only a Filthy, Smelly, Rubbish Bin! But Im proud of who I am and what I do! Ive never seen myself as smelly or dirty, just because I hold Discarded, Unwanted rubbish from humans. Some will spit on me. Others will vomit into me. And still others will kick, shove and abuse me. But Im Proud of myself, because I keep Singapore Clean and Green! In fact, I should be Well-Appreciated, because when tourists and Singaporeans walk along Orchard Road, they will notice how clean and spotless it is All Because of ME! It is the rubbish I hold that is Filthy, Discarded and Unwanted. But I will NEVER be discarded or unwanted, because without me, there will NEVER be a Clean Singapore! I am Strong and Sturdy The Rock of Gibraltar! as I can hold tons of rubbish and I will NEVER complain! Once in a long while, the rubbish collector will wash me, and I will be spanking clean and smelling good again! I am the Unsung Hero, the Quiet Achiever, working 24 hours a day; for because of me, Singapore is World-Renowned as a Clean and Green Garden City! Time Taken: 2mins 15secs

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SRU Toastmasters Club Celebrates Its 3rd Anniversary in Samui Islandby Siriporn Yongpiyanan

January 12, 2012 marks the 3rd anniversary of Suratthani Rajabhat University Toastmasters Club (SRUTC). It was the 26th Club in Division T, under District 80 and the first government university club in Thailand. SRU Toastmasters Club was initially located at its main campus in Suratthani province, in the South of Thailand. The club was relocated to Samui island campus in 2010 with the opening of its International College of Tourism on this internationally known island. At the same time, the club activity was also extended to the Bangkok campus at Laksis IT Square. Today SRU Toastmasters Club is one of the growing college clubs in Division T, District 80. With merely 20 members in 2009, the club has now grown to nearly 60 active members. It was awarded the Select Distinguished Club and the Presidents Distinguished Club in 2009 and 2010 respectively. Its educational achievements include 3ACBs, 2ALBs, 5CLS, and 15 CCs. Its members, who are mostly students, received well rounded trainings and were exposed to various activities at club, area, division, and district levels. Our club is very grateful for the valuable advice and encouragement given by our senior colleagues, both in Division T and District 80, which have contributed to our achievements. said its IPP/VPE Siriporn Yongpiyanan, ACB/ALB. SRU Toastmasters Club has become a place where its student members reap the benefits from their practices in English speaking and communication skill development. Many of our members are attracted by airlines and related service industry, during their internship, and offered a better job opportunity, partly due to their English communication skill training at our club, said its PRESIDENT Kawin Asawachatroj, ACB/ALB SRU Toastmasters Club chose to advance the celebration of its 3rd anniversary to Monday, December 26, 2011 so as to combine the occasion with the Christmas and new year 2012 festive seasons, and to avoid the long school holidays after the new year. The site for this year was also shifted from Bangkok to its campus in the beautiful surroundings of Samui island. Attached are some pictures taken during its 3rd anniversary celebration on Monday, December 26, 2011, at its International School of Tourism, Suratthani Rajabhat University, Samui island.

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Phitsanulokby Pipat Puengmongkolchaikij

Despite all the floods that had been threatening most of the central part of Thailand for almost two months now, Toastmasters spirit in our veins was still eager, enthusiastic, and ready to do our Toastmasters mission. On Saturday, November 19, 2011, a group of 10 Toastmasters members left Bangkok, the City of (drown) Angel, headed all the way to Phitsanulok province through the flood water. From inside the van that ran on toll way over the flooded streets below, we looked through the windows and saw a massive body of water covered everything down there to the horizon. Many people built their own temporary shelters on the toll way because their houses were totally submerged. And of course, the traffic was so crazy that it took us 7 hours to reach our destination instead of the normal 4 hours. My heart was so down when I saw all these things happening right in front of me. But the show must go on. People who were waiting for us were hoping to see cheerful hearts, not the depressed ones. After the 400-kilometer journey, we finally reached Naresuan University at 2:00 pm. We were warmly welcomed by 10 lecturers (Thais and foreigners) and 60 students there. Even though it was their very first meeting, everybody seemed to be able to speak in public very well. Among all the lecturers, there was one lecturer who used to be a Toastmasters member in the past. Together with her help, we explained the Toastmasters programs and the benefits of joining this club. We invited them to take part in the Table Topics session in which everyone could answer very well. We demonstrated the Prepared Speech session. Speeches from project 1 and project 5 from the CC manual were delivered at the meeting. We also evaluated the performance of everyone in a positive and encouraging manner in the Evaluation session. The meeting went on from 3:00 5:00 pm. Although we were not sure whether the students would understand the benefits of this club or not, we were so pleased to see that lecturers were very happy and interested in running this club in their university. With that we were ensured that they would operate this club strongly and actively. Then we left Phitsanulok province and headed to another province named Phrae. We did not have time to relax. Our schedule was tight. A Gavel club in Phrae province was waiting for our visit on the next day. And we still had to prepare something in the night for the meeting in the morning the next day.

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Phraeby Thawesak Thadajanyawong

NNneeaoowww!!!........This is not the sound of a propeller plane flying over your head, but actually the sound of our caravan vehicle rapidly running for Phrae Province. (after we finished the Phisanulok mission.) After sitting in a furious, driving van for 3 hours, we no long fear (ever again) long journeys. We had got to create an impromptu workshop and activities for our students tomorrow (according to DTM Panomporns assignment). There is a group of grade 10-12 students of Piriyalai School. Lets say around 45 persons. But we must help them break the ice before their longest 3-hour meeting tomorrow. She urged. That night, my team and I, consisted of Ball, Fan, Jack, Chai, Pat, Fai, Pupe and Hong gathered and discussed the best tools for kids instead of playing card or chit chatting. BINGO!!!... Finally we got it. I could not wait for the event tomorrow. They might love it!! (I think.) Ha ha / ha ha! / haha / haha!!! (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ha_ha) That was laughter with sincerity and happiness from the kids after we had started our first workshop. This is a new training technique on English for Students and your team had performed it wonderfully. Teacher says. We were so proud of making their 5th Gavel club meeting quite meaningful. Students had learnt and gained very useful experiences from our gang. I could say that it was really beneficial because they practiced with experienced leaders Panomporn and Pipat, and learned various English accents (by Fan and Jack). Our team had visited the right place. Students here are really brilliant and capable because of strong supports from their teacher and DTM Panomporn (and her better-half, Mr. Surasit who supported and sponsored the whole trip.) The English skills and speeches from 2 alumni students from Piriyalai school provided ample evidence to support our belief that the future success of education depends on the many helping hands. I am strongly convinced that we had made a big difference that is well worth our effort. Hurrah / hooray!!! This was the joyful voice when we reached Thai Airways head office in Bangkok at 11 PM. Each of us still had to make further trip back home. However, we felt we are going to have a good dream for sure. It is the Dream of the unforgettable trip we just had. // Double Tattoo //

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Promoting Toastmasters on 93.8live on Dec 2 2011By Lieutenant Governor Marketing, Pradeep Kumar DTM & DPRO Lynda Neo

There is an idiom which goes like this,"...the fruit of the pudding is in the eating...". What is this pudding all about, you might ask. Well, what it simply means is that the quality of something is uncertain until it has been tested directly. Just like the proverbial pudding; I never knew what to expect when I agreed to be interviewed live on Mediacorp Radio 93.8 FM. This was unchartered waters for me. Many would shirk just from the thought of being interviewed live on Radio, "...what if I made a complete jackass of myself on national radio?", "...what if I stutter and fumble when answering the interviewer's questions?", worst still, "...what if I don't have the answer?", "...oh, how I wish the ground would open up beneath me and swallow me whole..." I was not the least bit bothered by these trifling concerns neither did I loose any sleep over it. I was ready to face the music (pun intended) because Toastmasters prepared me for this day. It's true! I completed Communicating on Television advanced manual (not much different from speaking on radio); I had also completed the project "Speaking under Fire" and had enough practice with giving impromptu speeches to be able to grapple with any question fired my way. Truth be told, I went prepared for the interview. Delivering prepared speeches taught me never to face an audience without first having researched your topic and practiced your delivery. Come to think of it, I did complete the project on research your topic as well. Toastmasters International WHQ Media Department provided me with enough homework to pass muster. What is most important is that we conveyed to the public on national radio what Toastmasters was all about and the good the program can do for all who are serious about personal growth and development. The interview was also one of many firsts for our District. I had a rollicking good time during the interview and discovered what it truly meant to have a Radio voice. Neale Donald Walsch was so right when he said "life begins at the end of your comfort zone". Even if our Lieutenant Governor Marketing, Pradeep Kumar DTM had the above thoughts before the interview, I had no doubts but the utmost confidence Pradeep will be able to handle the interview throughout & I really mean throughout because I had conveyed in my initial written request that the Interviewer (Howie Lim) & Producer (Angela Lim) just interview Pradeep. Through his speaking exposures at countless contests, workshops, leadership roles & now LGM, its chicken-feed for him & I told myself I just needed to support him by being the chauffeur & bringing him there Oh yes, how I wish the ground would open up beneath me and swallow me whole when the very first question live on air "what TMs is about" was targeted at me!!! I was thrown off-guard, dumbfounded & there was indeed an uncomfortable, pretty long 'pregnant pause'! At that moment perhaps, Pradeep was silently screaming at me..."eh, Lynda, they are asking you.. it's 'live'!!" In evaluating myself later, I wondered if I could have quick-wittedly responded: "since Pradeep Kumar DTM is our Lieutenant Governor Marketing, why don't I allow him to take the lead in telling our audience what Toastmasters is all about.." At the start of the interview, the interviewers were of the impression I'm a Distinguished Toastmaster like Pradeep & when I had the opportunity to correct their thinking, I quickly chipped in. At least, it's best the audience & fellow Toastmasters who heard us on radio will know I don't have that much 'liao' (hokkien meaning 'substance') like Pradeepso pls pardon me! As the interview proceeded with Pradeep fielding the questions so eloquently & ecstatically well, I was encouraged the show must go on & thank goodness, my responses thereafter were a bit more spontaneouswhew! I am just so glad I survived this very first experience 'live' on national radio and I have to say we really owe it all to our Lieutenant Governor of Marketing, Pradeep Kumar DTM!! The following day when I was in Kuala Lumpur, I received an sms enquiry on Toastmasters from a listener who heard us on 93.8 Whoa! could it be as what Warren Buffet said when you combine ignorance & leverage, you get some pretty interesting results? Ah ha!!

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The Alexandra Health Toastmasters Clubby Chan Keen Loong

The Alexandra Health Toastmasters Club is the in-house club for staff of the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Yishun. The club was chartered on 1st October 2011. The aim of setting up the club is to help the hospitals staff to become better communicators and speakers, as it is recognised that communication is an important part of our work. Within the hospital, communication takes place between senior management and staff, between different departments and between staff and the public. To be able to communicate concisely, to be able to crystallise our thoughts and convey our ideas clearly to the listeners is vital. Alexandra Health Toastmasters Club is fortunate to have the support of the CEO, the CMB (Chairman, Medical Board) and senior management, who strongly encourage our staff to join as members and participate.

"I've been wanting to join Toastmasters Club for quite some time, but I was insecure that my stuttering and more-often-than-I-would-admit incoherent thoughts would be an embarrassment. However, after a few briefings and attending as a guest at a toastmasters club meeting, I was surprised to find out how interesting the club works. Since that first meeting and now in our very own Alexandra Health Toastmasters Club, there is this spirit of encouragement and support that helps everyone to stand up, go to the front, and speak. Such a wonderful place to be. I am thankful that I was able to enjoy this wonderful opportunity called Toastmasters Club." Robert Benton Sardual, VPM, Alexandra Health Toastmasters Club In the course of my work, I need to communicate a lot - lectures to students and trainees, public education talks, project presentations. Although I have a good grasp of the factual information, I feel that my presentation can be improved in terms of delivery style, diction and being able to hold the audiences attention. Hence, I am happy that we have an in-house TMC at my workplace, where I can brush up on my oratory skills. Chan Keen Loong, Club President, Alexandra Health Toastmasters Club

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First Bahasa Melayu TMCby Mohamad Saddiqi

The upcoming charter of the Kelab Pidato Toastmasters Temasek, or Temasek Toastmasters Club, is indeed a significant milestone in District 80's history! Temasek Toastmasters aims to be THE premier platform for effective communication and leadership training in the Malay Language. Membership is open to everyone, regardless of racial and ethnic background. The only requirement is a basic command and understanding of Malay. With the formation of the club, the Singapore Toastmasters movement now offers an effective communication and leadership platform in all the four official languages of the nation: English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. This aptly reflects the cosmopolitan and multi-racial outlook of the city-state, where many languages are spoken daily. Members keen on honing their skills in other languages now get to explore the tested Toastmasters International programme available in one more language - Malay. As Singapore is geographically situated in the heart of the Malay speaking world (Nusantara), a good command of the Malay language will definitely be an asset in communicating with the more than 250 million people who speak the language. In Malaysia for example, the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) just across the Causeway provides a whole new world for investors, corporations and individuals keen to explore new opportunities. Efforts to charter a Malay Language Club started in earnest in May 2011. The Club will be officially chartered this April 2012, at a venue to be unveiled soon. The Pro-Term Club Executive Committee now stands at 5 - counting among it's ranks two current Area Governors (U1 & Z3), a past Division S Governor, a past Area S6 Governor as well as a veteran Toastmaster who has been in the scene for the past 25 years. Furthermore, many exco members are very active in the local TI scene, serving in various capacities. Temasek's Club President is Mohamad Saddiqi, CC/CL. He currently serves as the Area Z3 Governor. The VP Education is Muhammad Taufiq, CC/ALB who is the current Area U1 Governor. The VP Membership is veteran TM Zainal Abidin Rahman, CTM. Serial contest award winner and past Area S6 Governor Mohamad Hijazi is the VP Public Relations. Sardinah Jabar, ACS/ALS of Fuchun fame (and past Division S Governor) is the club's Sergeant-At-Arms. The club has already been featured in the national media. Berita Minggu (Sunday News) and Berita Suria (malay evening news) have interviewed club members. As the Malay proverb goes: "Sikit-sikit lama-lama jadi bukit." An apt saying for a club that builds little by little each day, to become a mountain one day, bringing glory to District 80! Mohamad Saddiqi B.M.S. Club President, Temasek Toastmasters Club (Bahasa Melayu)

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Editor: Lynda Neo, DPRO visited Division T Thailand in August 2011. These are some of the pictures of the flood scenes she took in Bangkok.

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Division T COT2

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Editor: Toastmasters of Division L took an escapade to Bintan Island for 2 days and 1 night (Dec 17-18 2011) to unwind and build camaraderie. Members toured the island and shopped to their hearts' content. The following contribution is a recount of their fond memories.

LL L26---- . ---- L-----

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Div L 2012 Lunar New Year celebrations

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'WOW' Annual Convention May 2012Dear Fellow Toastmasters of District 80, Have you signed up for the 2012 District 80 Annual Convention? 1. Date & Venue: 25th-27th May 2012, Singapore Expo Convention & Exhibition Centre (Max Atria) 2. Convention Theme: WOW Already more than 260 have signed up. What are you waiting for? This is one convention you must not miss. It will be held at the brand new wing of Singapore Expo: http://maxatria.com.sg/ Together with my committee of close to 50 committed and passionate Toastmasters we are gearing up for the Wow Convention. We are planning activities that will benefit you as a Toastmaster. As a Vital member of the Toastmasters community, your participation is key! Share your memories and your memorabilia that have created the history of District 80 Toastmasters. Whether you are new or have been a Toastmaster for many years this convention is for you. Expand your Horizon. Do not just confine yourself to clubs alone. If you havent yet attended a District Toastmasters Convention, make 2012 the year you discover what everyone has been talking about. Come and be inspired by our keynote speaker, Johnny Uy DTM, Past International President (2006-2007), Gerald Green, Territorial Council Chairman (1990-1992), Paisal Saelor, DTM, Ms Lee Peh Gee, a member of Singapore Women's Everest Team, the first Singaporean woman to scale Mount Everest. Heather Hansen, Speech Specialist and Deborah Torres Partel, CEO of Expressing You Pte Ltd. Our Guest of Honour will be Ms Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Communications, Youth and The Arts and Ministry for The Environment and Water Resources. Witness the Best of the Best from your Divisions in the District International Speech and Table Topics Contests. Be inspired, be enlightened, be entertained and best of all have fun with fellow Toastmasters from District 80 and all over. Sign up now, click on the link for more info: http://wow.district80.org/ Yours truly, Angeline Koh Organising Chair 'WOW' Annual Conventon May 2012

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