Today’s meeting recap is dedicated to our ever humble and
kind Club founder Owen, who was unable to attend.
Like the stormy clouds that had gathered in the skies, a
storm was brewing inside Anchorvale Toastmasters. With so many strong speakers
blowing in like the powerful winds, the walls shook in fear, almost unable to
contain the cackling energy and talent gathered in the room. The atmosphere was
electrifying and the tension almost palpable. All the speakers were ready to
win.
Like a referee, Dino stepped up to open the meeting with
everyone’s stories about April’s Fool, but instead he unleashed the floodgates
of everyone’s mouths as everyone excitedly shared how much they enjoyed being
lied, tricked and deceived.
Club President Norman, rose to the stage to talk about the
importance of stepping up and being responsible of your own Toastmasters
journey. He might as well have not spoken at all as everyone clearly was in
complete control, almost ready to unsheathe their swords and draw blood with
their prepared speeches.
Yuet Cheng, our Language Evaluator of the Day came up next
to remind speakers about using the Word of the Day, “Rich” and to use proper
English or face the devastating consequence of her wrath.
And so Hemant our Toastmaster of the Day signalled the start
of the prepared speeches, and the beginning of the bloodbath.
Prepared Speeches
Bao Long enthralled the audience with a swooning speech
about how parents should allow their kids to step out of their parental ‘umbrella’.
I have never saw such an apt use of an umbrella before, although it might have
been due to the rain earlier.
Refusing to be outdone, his bromance buddy Kelvin stunned
the audience when he demonstrated the brilliant use of a … DUSTBIN to remind
everyone that the future was in our hands and in our choices.
Everyone wants a picture of rising star, Kelvin
Next, Weite sauntered on stage, flashing her signature zipped
smile and setting hearts aflutter. ‘Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish and Keep the
Spark Alive’ – that was all the audience could and should remember from her
spell-bindingly mesmerizing speech.
At long last, our guest speaker Bei’an swept on stage like a
tempest, delivering a LKY–esque rousing speech about the Singapore-Malaysia
separation. When he finished, the crowd broke into thunderous applause and
carried him outside for a good five minute cheer.\
We teared. We sobbed and we cheered as the prepared speeches
drew to a close. Gathering our emotions over pizza, we next had the Evaluation
speech segment.
Evaluations
Like a clinical surgeon, Muthu drew first blood with his
incisive and on-point analysis of Bao Long’s speech. Note to self: Do not let
this guy near a knife.
Not to be outdone, Sathyamoorthi jumped into the fray and
eviscerated and exonerated Kelvin’s speech in his all-so-classic Sathya’s
style, but not before offering some fruit juice to Kelvin who was moved to
tears by this point.
Emotional was the essence of the next evaluation, as Norman
gave an assessment of Weite’s speech and promptly broke down, lamenting at how
his plight at work was so similar to what Weite had spoke. As Norman was then
evacuated to the nearest clinic, Melvyn who was also not feeling well,
delivered an all-powerful evaluation of Bei’an speech and then went to join
Norman at the clinic.
After two brutal rounds of prepared speeches and
evaluations, the audience was still yearning for more. And this was when the
all-out royal rumble started, with our fearsome and intimidating Rusman being
the Angel of Death/ Table Topics Master.
Table Topics
Kudos to our brave new members!
Thereafter, 8 brave contestants rose to the challenge by
Rusman. The list of warriors were Yuet Cheng, Nicholas, Sweta, Weite, Yong
Kang, Helena, Sarah and Alice as they were each given a famous person and quote
to emulate. It was a fearsome battle of wits, deceit and duplicity as each
speaker tried to outwit, outplay and outlast the rest. One by one, the fallen
warriors were removed from the arena until Alice from Wonderland emerged
victorious
Pretty ladies of Anchorvale!
After a thunderous and intense storm of 3 hours, the 102nd
Chapter meeting finally came to a close and it was time for the audience to go
home, relive the actions and lick their wounds sustained today. Regardless, we
know that deep down each of them will still return stronger and better, because
that is what every Anchorvale member shares – the endless drive and determination
to improve always.
Best Speaker: Kelvin Ho, TM
Best Evaluator: Melvyn Goh, ACB, CL
Best Table Topics: Alice Ow, CC, CL
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