MyToastmasterJourney

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Created2001
Revamp7May05
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My Toastmasters Journey

Toastmasters: As a Judge in the Area B5 Table Topics and International Speech Contest Apr 2005.

Toastmasters: Training Seminar at College East on 29 Apr 2005.

Goals and Achievements

Leadership

> Joined ITE Toastmasters Club in Sep 2002
> Vice President (Public Relations) 2002/03

> Vice President (Membership) 2003/04
> Vice President (Education) 2004/05

> Begin Judging from Mar 2005
> Achieved CL on 25 May 2005

> Club Mentor for "Born Genius Toastmasters Club" from Apr 2005
(Did not complete)
> Member 2005/06

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Ongoing
> Setup up ITE College West Gavel Club Feb 2006/07
> Vice President (Education) 2006/07
> Member, District 80 Marketing Team 2006/07

Long Term Goals in Leadership
One Gavel Club in each College by 2012
Member, District 80 Education and Training by 2007 Jul
Area Governorship by 2007 Jul
Division Governorship by 2009 Jul
District 80 Trainer
Advanced Leader by Jul 2008

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Communication Skills

> Achieved CTM on 29 May 2004
(from Sep 2002 - 29 May 2004, 1yr 8 mths)

> 2nd Runners Up in Area B5 Humorous Speech Contest in Oct04
> Champion Evaluator in Area B5 Evaluation Speech Contest in Oct 04
> Compete in Division B Evaluation Speech Contest on 30 Oct 04

Long Term Goals in Communication Skills

Advanced Toastmasters Bronze by Dec 2006
Advanced Toastmasters Silver by Dec 2007
Advanced Toastmasters Gold by Jul 2008

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"Changing Lives...One at a Time"

TAM ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION

�How Joining A Toastmasters Club Has Made A Significant Difference In My Life� (Albert Chan, ChengSan)

From young, I was cast under the spell of a mantra that chanted, �Silence is Golden�. So I grew up hating my own voice, and cut a low profile that matched my low self-esteem. Opportunities for career growth drifted in and out of my life like feathers in the wind. But I let each one pass. I dreaded public speaking. I was not prepared. But, every new job offer required communication skills. When I asked my boss if I could have one that did not require this, he replied, �Be an undertaker�. So, I dug through life till I reached the slippery side of forty. Then, in 1995, I hit pay dirt. I discovered Toastmasters. It was a watershed event that changed my life.

The supportive environment of the Toastmasters Club enabled me to develop self-confidence as I learnt the rudiments of public speaking, using the time-tested Toastmasters� Communications & Leadership program. I also benefited from intense involvement in Club leadership, mentoring, and from participation in speech contests. These activities challenged me to apply communication and leadership skills; to push the limits; and discover untapped talents. Toastmasters empowers the individual to help himself.

I have missed great opportunities because I was not prepared. But joining Toastmasters has made a significant difference to my life: I am now prepared for every opportunity. Are you prepared? If not, let Toastmasters make a difference to your life! Today !
MSWord count : 250

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How Joining a Toastmasters� Club
Has Made a Significant Difference in My Life (Ng Seng Chuan, LionCity)

�Speeches are like babies � easy to conceive, but hard to deliver!� So said a speech teacher once. How true! Listening to a speech, you think it�s easy. Try it yourself, and it�s a lot harder.

I learnt this valuable truth from being a Toastmaster. As a professional speaker even before joining Toastmasters, I often gave long speeches (thirty to forty minutes). At Toastmasters� clubs, the speeches are mostly short (six to eight minutes). I thought this would be easy. I was wrong. Short speeches require better skill at craftsmanship.

I learnt many other useful lessons I had not expected to learn. I learnt humility. You think you are a good speaker, but your evaluator may not think so! You may be good, and still not win a ribbon or a contest. You learn to be more humble.

You also sometimes get to hear great speeches from very ordinary people. This is testimony to the untapped potential that public speaking can draw from people.

Finally, I learnt to stretch that potential within myself. I learnt to take risks and move out of my comfort zone, like taking part in speech contests. If I win at one level, I aim for a higher level. If I lose, I learn from my mistakes and try to improve.

All in all, I think Toastmasters has made me a better person � more humble and willing to learn, more appreciative of better speakers than myself, and more confident of becoming a really good speaker some day.

(250 words exactly)

Ng Seng Chuan
April 6, 2004

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Yew Run Bin, Changi Simei

As a kid, I was never popular, never outgoing, and never outstanding. Joining a Toastmasters club has helped me blossom in many ways.

I was first introduced to Toastmasters in Temasek Polytechnic. At first, I was terrified of speaking to an audience! But with each speech, my confidence grew, and that did wonders for my self-esteem. Challenging myself to improve my public speaking got me out of my comfort zone.

Like most young people, I have a burning desire to emote. Toastmasters allows me to express myself freely, without any inhibitions. Most of my speeches have been based on personal experiences. Sharing my stories in an encouraging and supportive environment has helped me to overcome shyness and bond with like-minded people.

Earlier this year, I joined the International Speech and Table Topics contest. It was purely for the fun. It was a worthwhile experience indeed. Many mentors in Toastmasters have provided me valuable tips and insights on public speaking. I was also touched by the roaring support of my Toastmaster friends from Changi Simei club. I have emerged as a stronger and more competent speaker since then.

My days as a toastmaster have been a wonderful journey of self-discovery. I did not just join a public speaking club; I have just subscribed to a lifelong education with Toastmasters. Since joining Toastmasters, I have grown by leaps and bounds. With this I am certain that joining a Toastmasters club can enrich your life too.

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Sam Choo, Changi Simei

If I have not joined a toastmasters club, I would still be sitting inconspiciously in the class, never raising my hand and never asking a question, and remain a fool forever. Today, I am no longer a fool. Naturally they look up to me as their spokesman.

If I had not joined the toastmasters club, I would have remained a shy recluse. But the club has opened up my social life so that I can see issues from many perspectives and respect differences.

If I have not joined a toastmaster club, I would have remain jobless.
The interview was like another table topics session. I was able to
speak off the cuff with confidence. In the club I would have gotten a
prize. But in that interview, I got the biggest prize of
all - the job.

If I had not joined the toastmasters club, I would have remained a
simple worker who only knows how to take order instead of making
decision. As a club leader, I have discovered the power to impact the
quality of people' lives through mentoring and organising workshops.
Using the hamburger approach in evaluation, I have become a better
listener.

If I had not joined the toastmasters club, I would still remain a
prisoner within the walls of fear of public speaking. Now it has opened
the door to a whole new world of freedom and happiness. Now I enjoy
public speaking. I have found my voice..and a new lease of life.

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How joining a Toastmasters Club has made a significant difference in my life?

Submitted by Yeo Chai Tun

When I joined Toastmasters six years ago, the thirst and hunger for public speaking skills are my very reasons for doing so. Today, I continue to be a member of this fantastic Organisation not because of my modest improvement in public speaking, but rather the realization that �helping others to help ourselves� is true and living in Toastmasters.

Andre Cheong in the recent Straits Times Recruit article on 25 Mar 2004 mentioned that happiness and fulfillment in life will come to you not when you are making yourself the centre of your universe but when you forget yourself and look outside.

Through Toastmasters, we begin by carrying out sponsorship, mentorship and club officer tasks purposefully and deliberately until this outward focus becomes a second nature to us. The good will follow afterwards. I have enjoyed and benefited from the sincere camaraderie within the Sky Media Toastmasters Club and the Toastmaster community. In many instances, the increased network of Toastmasters serves as a valuable resource to meeting my work, social and personal needs. I have learned to help others in some ways, others reciprocated in times of my own need.

I realized that by helping others to succeed in life, I become successful in my own life. The leadership, speaking and listening skills, which I have picked along the way, help in the process.

(Word Count: 223)

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ITE Toastmasters Exco: Chapter meeting at ITE College West (Dover Campus) Jul 2004.

ITE Toastmasters Club Chapter meeting
at ITE College West (Dover Campus) 27 Jul 2006.
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Toastmasters: Chartered members with mentors during one of the chapter meetings in 2003