Recap: 223rd Chapter Meeting - 25th November 2023

The 223rd Chapter Meeting was commenced by Audrey Lim PM3, VP Membership, by sharing the theme of the meeting, which was a table topic topics contest simulation and evaluation. She then shared her views on the theme and encouraged all members to share their views as well. All members and guests shared their views on the competition and their opinions about participating in it.

Joseph Tan, DL5, EC5 PM1, delivered his opening speech by sharing the AVCC Toastmasters Club arranged workshops, such as a table topics workshop, an evaluation workshop, and a speech writing workshop, to encourage new and old members of the club to participate in the upcoming contest in January 2024. He also shared his contest experience from the previous year and the agenda for the meeting.

 

First segment of the meeting was Project Speeches where Chong wee Kim, Murugan Velsamy, and Nicolas Tay delivered their prepared speeches.

Wee Kim's speech, titled "Who Am I?", focused on the importance of self-awareness and personal development. She shared her own experiences in discovering her identity and purpose, and she encouraged the audience to reflect on their own values and goals. Murugan's speech, titled "Financial Literacy", provided practical advice on managing money and building wealth. He covered topics such as budgeting, saving, investing, and debt management. Nicolas' speech, titled "Leap of Faith and Step into Unknown", was about the importance of taking risks and embracing changes. All three speeches were well-received by the audience, and sparked lively discussions among audience on the topics covered.

Then Table Topics Contest simulation was undertaken by Table Topics Master, Joseph . The participants were Meetu, Audrey, Rusman, Wee Kim, and Murugan. The speech title was "Do You Want to Travel Alone?". The contest simulation gave the participants an experience of what it is like to participate in a real table topics contest. Each participant had to give a short speech on the given topic, with minimal preparation time. The contest simulation was a success, and all of the participants performed well. They all gave insightful and engaging speeches on the topic.

 

 

The next segment was prepared speech evaluation by evaluators Rusman Hadijanto,  Gerald Ong DTM, and Sabrina Cham. They carefully evaluated the speeches delivered by Kim, Murugan and Nicolas respectively. One interesting thing to note was that Gerald Ong DTM used Lego blocks to make notes and showed that Lego while presenting his evaluation.

 

The next segment was a speech specially arranged for the evaluation contest simulation session and given by Qian Hui from Temasek Poly Toastmasters Club. Her speech title was "Dad's Regret", and it was a really amazing and emotional speech. 

And then Audrey, Rusman, and Constantine participated in the speech evaluation contest simulation by judging Qian Hui's speech. This segment was also conducted as a real speech evaluation contest simulation, and everyone who participated had a real experience of competing in the evaluation contest. 

General evaluator Richard Sng, DTM shared his overall evaluation of all aspects of the club meeting, including procedures, breaks, food service, speech writing and delivery, evaluation, and more. He covered almost all aspects of club meetings and public speaking. Everyone had learnt a lot from his feedback, which came from his vast experiences and expertise. We are grateful to Richard for sharing his detailed and excellent feedback.

The last segment was award presentation and  presented by Joseph. Following were the awards and winners. Heartily congratulations to all the winners.  

1.    Ice breaker speech award – Chong Wee Kim

2.    Best evaluator speech award – Rusman Hadijanto

3.    Table topics contest simulation winner - Rusman Hadijanto

4.    Best prepared Speech award – Nicolas Tay

  

We sincerely appreciated all appointment holders for preparing and making this chapter meeting a success and we were grateful to all guests and members who took the time to attend this meeting. Special thanks to the timer Li Shan Shan, DTM who had helped to ensure the meeting was on track.

Do stay tune for our next chapter meeting we welcome you to join us as guest. 

Together We Shine!

Anchorvale CC Toastmasters Club

Written by Murugan Velsamy

Recap: 222nd Chapter Meeting - 11th November 2023

On the 11th of November, just before the joyous Diwali festival, Toastmasters Singapore hosted a special workshop led by DTM Michael Wader, a seasoned Toastmaster and expert in leadership excellence, power walking, inspirational catalysis, and edutainment. The workshop, aptly titled "Weighing Your Feedback," delved into the art of providing constructive and effective feedback, aligning perfectly with the day's theme of "Triumph of Good over Evil."

As we gather today to reflect on the workshop, we are reminded of the importance of balance in all aspects of life. In the realm of communication, feedback plays a crucial role in helping us grow and develop. However, not all feedback is created equal. Constructive feedback, delivered with care and consideration, can be a powerful tool for personal and professional improvement.

Michael Wader, renowned for his ability to educate and entertain simultaneously, captivated the audience with his engaging presentation, highlighting the importance of balancing positive and constructive feedback. He emphasized the need to start with the positives, using phrases like "I liked" to set a supportive tone. This positive foundation allows for more impactful delivery of constructive feedback, which should be specific, actionable, and delivered with empathy.

To illustrate his point, Michael introduced the "Burger 1-2-3" approach, a simple yet effective framework for delivering constructive feedback. The first bun represents the positive aspects, acknowledging what the speaker did well. The burger itself comprises two to three specific, actionable suggestions for improvement, and the second bun serves as a summary, reiterating the key takeaways.

Throughout the workshop, Michael emphasized the importance of providing feedback with the intention of helping the recipient grow and develop. He reminded participants to avoid personal attacks or overly critical language, instead focusing on offering guidance and support.

Here are some key takeaways from the session:

• Address the Speaker's Strengths First: Begin with positive feedback to establish a supportive foundation.
• Be Specific and Actionable: Provide concrete examples of what can be improved.
• Deliver Feedback with Empathy: Consider the speaker's feelings and offer constructive suggestions.
• Use the "Burger 1-2-3" Approach: Structure feedback in a clear and organized manner.
• Focus on Growth and Development: Provide feedback with the intention of helping the speaker improve.

Michael Wader's workshop on "Weighing Your Feedback" provided valuable insights into the art of giving constructive feedback. By emphasizing positive reinforcement, specificity, empathy, and a structured approach, participants learned how to provide feedback that helps others grow and develop. The workshop also served as a reminder that feedback, when delivered thoughtfully and with the intention of helping, can be a powerful tool for personal and professional growth.

Following the enlightening workshop, we were treated to a trio of prepared speeches that captivated and inspired us. Sandhya's speech, titled "Three Things Learned from My Daughter," was a poignant reminder of the power of courage, empathy, and patience in navigating life's challenges. She recounted the harrowing experience of her daughter's accident, highlighting how her daughter's resilience and unwavering spirit epitomized these virtues.

The second speaker Chloe, delivered a speech titled "How, Now, and Wow," energized us with their fresh and creative perspectives on turning setbacks into stepping stones. Her message resonated with the audience, reminding us that failures are not roadblocks but opportunities for growth and reinvention.

Constantine Koh's speech, titled "Embracing Networks," eloquently showcased the transformative power of networking in shaping personal, professional, and social spheres. His experiences illustrated how networking fosters connections, expands horizons, and opens doors to new possibilities.

The table topics, skilfully guided by TTM Doreen, sparked lively discussions that delved into profound life lessons. Each topic, ranging from "We Rise by Lifting Others" to "What Do You Understand by Kindness?" ignited thought-provoking conversations and encouraged the audience to reflect on their own values and beliefs.

The speakers' insightful perspectives and confident delivery captivated the audience, making for an engaging and enriching session. The session concluded with a well-deserved recognition for Constantine Koh as the best speaker for prepared speech and DTM Michael Wader as the best Table Topics Speaker, and a heartwarming moment when all three prepared speech evaluators TM Darrell Tan, Coach & TM Jason Thong, and our Godmother DTM Jenny Au were awarded the best evaluator award, reflecting the equal merit of their contributions.

Acting President Joseph Tan’s closing remarks brought the session to a close, leaving us with a sense of fulfilment and renewed motivation to continue our Toastmasters journey. As always, this session was a testament to the transformative power of Toastmasters, fostering personal growth, communication skills, and a deep sense of community.

Thank you, Michael Wader, for sharing your wisdom and inspiring us to be better communicators and leaders. Thank you to all the speakers, evaluators, and participants for making this session a truly memorable experience.

Until we meet again, let us continue to hone our communication skills, embrace the power of networking, and always strive to embody the values of courage, empathy, and patience and many more qualities that will undoubtedly guide us towards success in all aspects of life. 

Do stay tune for our next chapter meeting We welcome you to join us as guest. 

Together We Shine! 

Anchorvale CC Toastmasters Club 

Written by Sandhya Rani Maruvada

Anchorvale CC TMC and Braddell Heights II TMC Joint Meeting on 28th October 2023

On the bright and sunny afternoon of October 28th, Anchorvale CC Toastmasters Club and Braddell Heights II Toastmasters Club had a joint meeting. It was a wonderful experience for members of Anchorvale CC Toastmasters Club members to participate in the joint meeting with another club. A large number of participants from both clubs attended the meeting in person, with some on zoom, making it a great way to share knowledge and grow together across the teams.

The joint chapter meeting started with the Sergeant-at-Arms, Julia Tay (PM2) introducing the meeting with the theme of "Art of Excellence, Thriving Under Pressure". Members actively participated by sharing their thoughts and discussing how to excel under pressure.

 

The baton was then passed on to Constantine Koh (SR2) who acted as the Toastmaster for the day (TMD) to run the meeting. With his good natural instincts and an amazing smile, Constantine began the role of TMD by introducing the agenda and the team members who participated in the meeting for their respective roles.

 

 Anchorvale CC Toastmasters Club President Adeline Yeo (PM5, EC5, PI1) delivered an inspiring speech whereby she encouraged all the members to face challenges with strength and excel under any pressure that comes their way. She shared her personal experience of delivering a speech in Mandarin in Taiwan on short notice despite her voice being broken due to waking up early in the morning and the pressure of delivering the speech well. Despite the challenges, she managed to deliver the speech to a large audience, which received good feedback from the organisers. Adeline urged all the team members to take up challenges, deliver more speeches, overcome pressure and strive for excellence, just as diamonds shine under any circumstances. She also encouraged all the members to be well-prepared for the upcoming contests by practising more during the chapter meetings to thrive and excel. 

 

The workshop on "How to Tackle Table Topics" by Aparna Raja (EC5, VC4) was a valuable opportunity for members to learn new skills and techniques to improve their impromptu speaking abilities, especially with the table topics competition approaching. Aparna provided a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of table topics, and then delved into the step-by-step procedures, rules, and strategies for delivering a successful speech from start to finish.

The last part of Aparna's presentation featured a complete demonstration of delivering a table-topic speech in the contest from start to end which was the core target and focus of the workshop. The 30-minute workshop was highly informative and offered many key takeaways. Aparna emphasized the importance of reading, listening, observation, and practice in preparing to be a successful impromptu speaker for table topics.

 

The second half of the meeting included prepared speeches, table topics, and project evaluations for prepared speeches that involved participants from both club members.

 

For the Prepared Speeches Segment, the first speaker, Murugan Velsamy, a new member of Anchorvale CC Toastmasters club, delivered an inspiring ice-breaker speech where he shared his story of growing up in a small village in India and how he achieved success despite facing numerous challenges. Murugan graduated in computer science and is now a successful IT project manager in Singapore. His speech emphasized the importance of strong motivation, hard work, perseverance, and a never-give-up attitude when striving to succeed under pressure.

The second speaker, Michael Spencer Go, delivered an engaging speech about his lifelong passion for public speaking and his unwavering determination to excel as a good public speaker in any situation. 

Prabha Jayaraman was the third speaker who gave a speech titled "From Ordinary to Out of Ordinary." She shared her love of working in a zoo which is often considered extraordinary as people love to see the animals at the zoo but are afraid to work with them. Additionally, she talked about her passion for heritage which has become a trending hobby across the world to capture the glorious past. The fourth speaker, Manikandan, gave a speech titled "Are You Retiring at the Right Age?" In his speech, he emphasised the importance of having a well-planned retirement that includes clear goals and targets. Manikandan stressed the need for early planning instead of just drifting through retirement without knowing what to do.   

Toastmaster Ravindran Pandian (DL5, PM4) from Braddell Heights II CC club conducted the table topic segment, which provided members with an opportunity for impromptu public speaking. The session was focused on the theme of green living, recycling, and sustainable products. Members actively participated in the session and took advantage of the opportunity to improve their impromptu speaking abilities and prepare themselves for the upcoming Table Topic contest.

Next segment was the project evaluation prepared speeches where our honourable evaluators, Wilson Lim (DTM), Imam Hossain, Lim Li Li (ACS) and Wee Chee Sian (ACB, ALB, PM1) provided their honest and positive feedback to the project speakers. They gave constructive feedback on areas of strength and suggested ways for improvements to speakers elevate their speeches to a higher level.

Mr. SS Cheng (AGC) from Braddell Heights II CC Toastmasters Club diligently monitoring every member's use of filler words and presented a detailed Ah Counter report.

Behind the screen, Sivakumar played a key role as the timer, recording all speakers' timing with diligence and sincerity, probably unnoticed by many.

Next was the award presentation to the top winners. The awards were presented to winners jointly by two club presidents Adeline Yeo and Uppli Srinivasan, followed by the closing address by Uppli, President of Braddell Heights II Toastmasters Club. 

Best Speaker – Spencer Go

Best Table Topic Speaker – Jason Thong, PM5

Best Project Evaluator – Wee Chee Sian

We sincerely appreciated all appointment holders who made this chapter meeting a success, and we were grateful to the guests and members who attended either in person or via zoom. 

Do look out for our future chapter meeting. 

Together We Shine!! 

Anchorvale CC Toastmasters Club

Written by Imam Hossain

Recap: 220th Chapter Meeting – 14th October 2023

The 220th Chapter Meeting commenced with a beautiful greeting by SAA Joseph Tan (LD5, EC5, PM5, MS3). Joseph started with a personal story “I never thought I can inspire others” and today he has showed up to his calling and make a significant impact to people around him through his sincere actions.

Next up is TMD Marc Wong (DL5, PM1) who extended a warm welcome to all toastmasters and gave us an introduction to the Chapter meeting’s agenda.

Our club President Adeline Yeo, (PM5, EC4, MS1) who set the tone with an opening address that resonated deeply. She shared an impactful story about J.K. Rowling that prompting us to reflect on the extraordinary struggles and challenges the author overcame. Rowling’ story served as a powerful reminder of her ability to defy the odds and ultimately attain the success that she enjoys today.

A beautiful afternoon encapsulated with an informative and value adding workshop by Jason Thong (PM5). The title of the workshop is “Speechwriting as easy as OBC”. Distinguished Guest Speaker Jason Thong presented us with a simplified framework “OBC” on crafting any speech. A highly engaging and interactive workshop where audience can have practical takeaways. Using the analogy of Burger for audience to remember and “Power of 3s”, “5 steps approach to organize a speech”. Fantastic workshop by Jason and our sincere appreciation to him for sharing the techniques with us. We presented the certificate of appreciation to Jason to express our heartfelt appreciation to him for taking his valuable time to conduct this workshop and add value to our guests and toastmasters.

The 2^nd segment of the meeting came long with prepared speeches by three speakers, Kelly Lei (Taiwan Toastmaster Club), Sandhya Maruvand and Rusman (CL.DL5,PI5).

Kelly’s speech was about FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) Movement and FIRO (Financial Independence and Retire Optional). A new perspective on how we can create the life we want based on the different lifestyle, cultures and personal financial goals that we planned and projected.

Sandhya’s speech was about a personal story of her daughter and how we can learn the 3 powerful traits displayed by her daughter during a paining situation. “Courage, Empathy and Patience”.

Rusman’s speech was about his personal transformative experience in his teens. A fateful encountered which let him to realise the need to choose the type of friends to be with which transform him and reshape his future destiny.  “Show your friend and I will show your future”.

Table topic segment was presented by Constantine Koh (SR2). The response I got from the audiences were creative and fun. Most importantly was the participants got to have the opportunity to try and practice “thinking on the feet”.

The last segment, the project evaluation segment, we have Imam Hossain (PM2), Adeline Yeo (PM5, EC4, MS1), Yuniati (MS5, PM2) and Charnel Izaks (IP5) presented their frank and yet encouraging evaluations to the Project Speakers and Table Topics Master, Constantine Koh. 

Next was the award presentations to the top winners.

Best Speaker: Rusman Lee (CL, DL5, PI5)

Best Table Topics: Charnel Izaks (IP5)

Best Project Evaluator: Adeline Yeo (PM5, EC4, MS1)

We sincerely appreciated all appointment holders for preparing and making this Chapter meeting a success and were grateful to all guests and members who took time to attend this online Zoom meeting.

 

Do stay tune for our next-on-site chapter meeting and we welcome you to join us as guest. 

Together We Shine!

Anchorvale CC Toastmasters Club

Written by Constantine Koh

Recap: 219th Chapter Meeting – 23rd September 2023

Welcome Welcome Welcome to AnchorvaleCC  Toastmasters Club 219^th Chapter meeting.

The Sergeant at arms kicked off the meeting with everyone introducing themselves and sharing activities that we are working towards perfection or doing our best.

Several members shared with us their interesting pursue of their perfection and there were few golden nuggets captured.

1)      Enjoy the journey of working towards perfection, not the destination.

2)      Do not enjoy the goal but enjoy the process of getting to perfection.

3)      Practices more, not for perfection but for progression.

Our lovely Madam Toastmasters of the Day took over the meeting sharing with us the program agenda and role holders for today. Our acting President, VPM Audrey Lim step forward and address us with her president opening address. Inspiring speech by her with many words of wisdom, “Many situation in business, personal life and work, don’t need to be perfect but can be executed as long as it is good enough. Aim for excellence but don’t let Perfect be the enemy of Good.

Next, our speaker segment featuring 3 prepared speech speakers.

Our first speaker Prabha Jayaraman was doing her Presentation mastery Level 1 Project 3 where her project objective was to practice using her Vocal Variety and Body language to enhance her speech. Her speech title “Feather in my Cap” and her story gave us a glimpse of her moving to Singapore, some of her challenges and her affection with birds that leave a memory of lifetime. In her closing speech, she left us a take home message that life throw challenges at us, weather the storm and sunshine will shine at the horizon. 

Our second speaker, Hedy Neo working also her Presentation mastery Level 1 Project 3, presented not only her speech but also a loaf of sourdough bread. It was 101 on bread baking, from yeast to bread storage (No no to keeping bread in fridge). How do you pronounce flour? Go google it. (“Flau.uh”). Bread contains a high amount of sodium, so let avoid eating bread everyday to prevent hypertension and heart attack. Hedy has so much love in bread baking and I have no doubt in that.

Our third speaker, Constantine Koh working on his Strategic Relationship Level 2 project 2 bring us along his journey of protege from first day of work and his toastmasters experience. Several mentors were spotlighted in his speech and he felt so valuable to be part of Anchorvale CC Toastmasters Club member.

Thereafter, Doreen Neo took us on a roller coaster ride with nail biting Table Topics segment. Salute to the many brave souls (Audrey, Hedy, Akshaya – Sandhya’s daughter, Murugan, Daniel, Kim, Chee Sian) who took up the challenges and shared very insightful thoughts on the table topic questions.

We had the luxury of a 20mins break  enjoying the sourdough bread from Hedy together with Pizza and snacks from Jenny. For me, Toastmasters meeting break is why I sign up Toastmasters 😊. Yummy food and catching up with fellow Toastmasters.

After break come the most valuable segment of Toastmasters meeting, evualtion. Dylan, Nicholas and Imam shared their compliments on how the speakers did well and suggested improvement for them. So much to take away today for me.

Today Chapter meeting was treated with a special workshop from Sarah Ong giving us insight about Personal Data Protection. If you have been receiving too many marketing calls you missed the most important highlight of the meeting. Additionally, I am filled with knowledge about my rights on my personal data. Thank you Sarah for the informative workshop.

Lastly, it was the award presentation and closing speech.

Congratulations to Constantine Koh for taking the Best Speaker award, Nicholas Tay for Best Evaluator award and Wee Chee Sian as Best Table Topic Speaker. This afternoon was one of my most valuable time spend this week.

Written by Marc Wong, DL5, PM1.