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 KSTMC Chapter Meeting on 25 March 2008
 
  The evening of 25th March was a memorable evening to us!

  Despite the rain, we saw a record number of visitors turning up at our
  club meeting - 7 altogether. They were Anne, Gary, Matt, Silva, Stella,
  Wing, and Winnie. The painstaking effort put in by Club President Yetti
  Chiu in creating and maintaining the club’s website finally paid off.
  Bravo! 

  Edward kicked off the meeting with a little warm-up exercise of “getting
  to know you”, i.e. asking each one to introduce himself/herself. That
  was followed by Yetti’s opening address which touched on the topic very
  relevant to the visitors - a brief introduction of Toastmasters
  International.
   
  With a jam-packed programme for the evening, we quickly moved on to the
  meeting proper. There were 2 special presentations by Dennis and Wendy
  respectively and 4 prepared speeches, covering a wide variety of
  subjects. 

  Arising from a question by his daughter, Maxie used simple words and
  metaphors to describe to us his job through some interesting dialogue
  between him and his daughter. Bee Yan unvealed the myth about the
  allegedly haunted Assisi Hospice and successfully appealed to the
  audience for supporting the funds raising activity organized by the
  hospice. Yetti put us in suspense when she told us about the bouquet of
  13 red roses she had received on one of her birthdays during her early
  working years. Finally Edward sent the audience back to 10th May 1994
  when he assumed himself as Nelson Mandela, and delivered his inaugural
  address speech.

  The break that followed was one of the busiest moments that evening. We
  made use of the time to answer queries raised by our visitors, and were
  more than delighted to see Matt and Tim join us on the spot, i.e. 2 more
  new members! 
   
  The project evaluation segment after the break was an eye opener to all
  present. Mak and Carlos, our home grown evaluators, did a wonderful job
  almost on par with Kyle and Mike, the invited heavy weight evaluators.
  Mak and Carlos, well done!

  Then came the most loved and hated game of the evening - Table Topics
  segment! Our long lost friend Winston took over the stage as the Table
  Topics Master. Perhaps partly because of the presence of his wife,
  Winston did something very innovative. He played the game using a common
  theme - Youth Olympics. He had the names of different cities written on
  different pieces of paper. The audience were asked to assume the role of
  the selection committee. Each player had to pick up one piece of paper
  and then spoke for one minute justifying why the committee should vote
  for the city (the name as shown on the paper) the speaker represented.
    
  Kyle was for Moscow. Matt represented London. Maxie picked Delhi.
  Richard promoted Sydney. Wing chose Hong Kong. It was a splendid show.
  You really have to admire their quick-wittedness and excellent
  salesmanship!
   
  The evening was full of fun and laughers. Everyone of us enjoyed it very
  much. Though reluctantly we had to call it a day after the Language
  Evaluation by our past International Director Augustine Lee, DTM. 

  It was an eventful yet fruitful evening. With 2 more new members, we now
  only have a few places left for the Speaking Skills Workshop which is scheduled
  to start on 17th  April.

  To ensure strict quality control for the workshop so that the
  participants may gain the maximum benefits out of it, we shall close the
  registration once all the places are filled. If you or your friends
  are interested in enrolling for the course, please act fast to avoid
  disappointment.

Best regards,

Edward
Vice President of Education
Kowloon-Singapore Toastmasters Club

 P.S.
Update:  All the places are filled. We have closed the registration for the Speaking Skills Workshop. Thank you for your support.

Course Dates: 17 April, 24 April, 8 May and 15 May 2008  
Time:  7:30 pm - 10 pm 
Venue: Kowloon Club, #05-02 Toa Payoh Central Community Building  
Organizer: Kowloon-Singapore Toastmasters Club
Fee: $110 for a 4-Day Course  

This is just a short post about our next chapter meeting. Guests are welcome to visit us!

Date: 25 March 2008 (Tue evening)
Time: 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Venue: Kowloon Club Conference Room - 93 Toa Payoh Central, #05-02, Toa Payoh Central Community Building, Singapore 319194.

Have you signed up for our Speaking Skills Workshop?

“Remember, a person will not learn how to swim unless he plunges into the water. To overcome the fear of public speaking, you cannot just sit on the couch and hope that the skills you have learned from our website will somehow work one day!”

Take action - Sign up for the speaking skills workshop NOW!!!

Update:  All the places are filled. We have closed the registration for the Speaking Skills Workshop. Thank you for your support.

“Speaking Skills Workshop”

If you are one of the regular visitors of our blog, you should have by now known a bit more about public speaking and the Toastmasters movement. You may have already benefited from the free tips on speaking skills we provide in the blog here and there.

Do you feel the urge to try them out yet have the concern about not knowing how to start?

We have some good news for you - Kowloon-Singapore Toastmasters Club is going to organize a Speaking Skills Workshop in April.

Course Dates: 17 April, 24 April, 8 May and 15 May 2008
Time:  7:30 pm - 10 pm
Venue: Kowloon Club, #05-02 Toa Payoh Central Community Building
Organizer: Kowloon-Singapore Toastmasters Club
Fee: $110 for a 4-Day Course
Enquiry: Call Edward at 9173-7803

The workshop consists of 4 two-and-half-hour sessions spanning from April to May. During the workshop, you will learn some bolts and nuts of public speaking.

• You will learn how to draft your speech like a pro.
• You will learn how to answer in a professional way questions thrown to you by surprise.
• You will learn how to evaluate a speech.

Above all, you will learn how to overcome the fear of speaking in front of an audience.What’s more, you will get a bonus of Toastmasters International membership for 6 months which is worth US$47. No gimmick - This is the amount we have to remit to Toastmasters International World Headquarters in USA when you sign up for the course.

Remember, a person will not learn how to swim unless he plunges into the water. To overcome the fear of public speaking, you cannot just sit on the couch and hope that the skills you have learned from our website will somehow work one day!

Take action - Sign up for the speaking skills workshop NOW!!!

Update:  All the places are filled. We have closed the registration for the Speaking Skills Workshop. Thank you for your support.

Looking forward to meeting you at the first session of the workshop on 17th April.
Yetti
Club President 2007-2008
Kowloon-Singapore Toastmasters Club

“Helping You To Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking and Speak With Confidence!”
Website: http://public-speaking-singapore.com
Blog: http://blog.public-speaking-singapore.com

“Frequently Asked Questions about Toastmasters”

The following are some of the FAQ about Toastmasters:

What is Toastmasters?

Toastmasters is an international, non-profit making organization formed to help people improve their communication and leadership skills.

Why do people join Toastmasters?

The most common reason given for joining Toastmasters is to conquer shyness, stage fright or fear of public speaking.

How much is the cost to join Toastmasters?

Very affordable - the cost for joining a Toastmasters club for 1 year is less than a 1-hour spa treatment in Singapore.

What kind of training do I receive in Toastmasters?

Toastmasters progress at their own pace through a professionally prepared program with a lot of hands-on experience. Educational manuals are designed to offer a step-by-step approach to speech organization and presentation.

How does Toastmasters help in my career advancement?

Research shows that people who can express themselves effectively advance further and faster in their career than those who have difficulty speaking. Toastmasters provides the tools you can use to improve your performance in a variety of situations.

What does Toastmasters membership offer?

* Unlimited opportunities for personal growth and career advancement based on improved abilities and broadened experience.

* Experience in leadership development through specific trainings and involvement in club administration and management.

* Build-up of self confidence and self esteem through ability to conquer the fear of public speaking.

* Opportunity to develop a better understanding of human relations.

* Automatic subscription to “Toastmasters”, the monthly magazine with wealth of knowledge about public speaking, to be sent to each paying member free of charge.

What activities are included in a Toastmasters meeting?

A typical Toastmasters meeting includes the following segments:

- Prepared speeches: Speakers will present their prepared speeches in accordance with the educational manuals designed by Toastmasters International. Usually time allowed for the speeches are of 5 to 7 minutes.

- Evaluation: Feedback will be given on the prepared speeches presented by the speakers to highlight to them their strengths and areas for improvement.

- Table Topics: This is the time to practise impromptu speaking, i.e. thinking on your feet without preparation.

- Ah Counter’s Report: Toastmasters is not just about speaking. It is also about listening. An “Ah Counter” is appointed at every meeting to pick up pause fillers such as “um”, “er”, “you know”, etc. uttered by the participants during the meeting.

- Language Evaluation: The “Language Evaluator” or “Grammarian” listens carefully and highlights to the audience the strengths and areas for improvement of the language used by the speech presenters.

What speech projects are there for me to work on?

In the Basic Competent Communication Manual, there are ten speech projects:

Project 1 – The Ice Breaker (4 – 6 minutes)
- To begin speaking before an audience.
- To discover speaking skills you already have and skills that need some attention.

Project 2 – Organize Your Speech (5 – 7 minutes)
- Select an appropriate outline which allows listeners to easily follow and understand your speech.
- Make your message clear, with supporting material directly contributing to that message.
- Use appropriate transitions when moving from one idea to another.
- Create a strong opening and conclusion.

Project 3 – Get To The Point (5 – 7 minutes)
- Select a speech topic and determine its general and specific purposes.
- Organize a speech in a manner that best achieves those purposes.
- Ensure the beginning, body and conclusion reinforce the purposes.
- Project sincerely and conviction and control any nervousness you may feel.
- Strive not to use notes.

Project 4 - How To Say It (5 – 7 minutes)
- Select the right words and sentence structure to communicate your ideas clearly, accurately and vividly.
- Use rhetorical devices to enhance and emphasize ideas. Eliminate jargon and unnecessary words.
- Eliminate jargon and unnecessary words. Use correct grammar

Project 5 - Your Body Speaks (5 – 7 minutes)
- Use stance, movement, gestures, facial expressions and eye contact to express your message and achieve your speech’s s purpose.
- Make your body language smooth and natural.

Project 6 – Vocal Variety (5 – 7 minutes)
- Use voice volume, pitch, rate, and quality to reflect and add meaning and interest to your message.
- Use pauses to enhance your message.
- Use vocal variety smoothly and naturally.

Project 7 - Research Your Topic (5 – 7 minutes)
- Collect information about your topic from numerous sources.
- Carefully support your points and opinions with specific facts, examples, and illustrations gathered through research.

Project 8 - Get Comfortable With Visual Aids (5 – 7 minutes)
- Select visual aids that are appropriate for your message and the audience.
- Use visual aids correctly with ease and confidence.

Project 9 – Persuade With Power (5 – 7 minutes)
- Persuade listener to adopt your viewpoint or ideas or take some action.
- Appeal to the audience’s interest.
- Use logic and emotional to support your position.
- Avoid using notes.

Project 10 – Inspire Your Audience (8 – 10 minutes)
- To inspire the audience by appealing to noble motives and challenging the audience to achieve a higher level of beliefs or achievement.
- Appeal to the audience’s s needs and emotions, using stories, anecdotes and quotes to add drama.
- Avoid using notes.

 

“If you wish to grow and achieve…to feel confident in public communication or leadership roles…to interact with other individuals who have the same objectives - Toastmasters is your answer.”… Fran Watson (Fran Watson is a Career Counsellor and a Toastmaster. )

 If you are living in Singapore, you are welcome to visit our Kowloon-Singapore Toastmasters Club (KSTMC).

Yetti
Club President 2007-2008
Kowloon-Singapore Toastmasters Club

This Frequently Asked Questions about Toastmasters is brought to you by www.blog.public-speaking-singapore.com