Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Magic Formula

Everybody is looking for the magic formula to achieve everything that he/she wants to achieve. How can I snatch that girl from the embrace of her boyfriend? How could I make millions of ringgit in one year? How could I make a huge impression like Loghan did? All the said dreams are actually being marred by the pseudo-effort of wanting to grab that elusive sorcery secret potion, the unevidential panacea, that fictional fairytale.

The only solution is to smack that head down hard, real hard, if not with a hammer, so that it goes through to your corpus callusom, to wake you up to smell the real coffee and get your feet firmly planted on the ground. There is NO magic formula damnit!! If you want to get that pretty girl you got to bite the bullet and trudge through with stiff upper neck and make that first move, if you want to earn your first million you got to hold the issue by the ball and do whatever it takes! If you want to speak like Loghandran you got to train like Loghandran!!!

Luckily for 12 of us, tonight’s (Monday 28 July 2008) Toastmaster demonstrated us just that. How to train and learn like Loghandran. Loghandran is training to become the first ever Malaysian to win the ultimate contest, Toastmaster World Championship Contest in Calgary on August 16, 2008. The 12 of us members and guests had the opportunity to watch Loghandran gave his championship speech, the exact words, the exact facial expression and the exact ‘awkward’ness in the speech that pitch our Malaysian treasure with the best from the whole world. He had finalized his speech for the contest and asked us for an open and frank evaluation of him. How’s that for a regular Toastmaster night?

In addition to that, Dr Devi our current Area W governor and past president of Sai Master TM made SD TM her first ever club visit since becoming the governor. Shows how important and significant our club is to the toastmaster fraternity.

The meeting went by smoothly, made interesting by the important people like Sew Chien, Soo Pon, Simon and Loghandran. The reason SD TM is able to maintain such a high benchmark on speech quality is because of the dedication and love poured by this bunch of people. We could never have survived and flourished had it not been the unenviable energy and determination sowed by them. SD TM rules!!!

Wait, there’s more! Weng Cheong crashed in his ice breaker, and did he wowed us! With such poise and readiness, delivering figurative speech never seen from an icebreaker, covering other skills only much later required, like a pro in an amateur court. So good it brought the best of the evaluator Simon, trumpeting as much praise as predictions of his future illustrious achievements, even proclaimed him as the next Loghandran.

To sum up the night, thanks for the great showing of courage to the 4 table topic speakers; Shah, Teck lee, Dr Devi and Simon. 3 other ambitious assignment speech by Mee Yee, who delivered her strategies to achieve 10 new members to SD TM and steadfastly grilled down the works in our brain, Teck Lee, who recounted his days organizing KLPAC outing, and myself, illustrating influenza in Malaysia.

Loghandran’s evaluation of Teck Lee was as usual, amazingly discerning and constructive. Thanks to Suresh, current President of Sai Master for his evaluation of Mee Yee. Also to Soo Pon who produced a strong and reflective feedback for me.

Indeed a valuable night I cherish. As most evaluator would say, which should not befits a minute writer like me here for its potential impact and at times, banality, but I am going to say it anyway “I am looking forward” for our next meeting.

regards
Lawrence Hoo
VPPR

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Tall Tales Contest

By Lawrence Hoo

For those who have not heard of Speakers' Dream Toastmaster Club, the most dynamic and vibrant Toastmaster is located at Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, diagonally opposite Eastin Hotel, across Sprint Highway.

On Monday 14 July 2008, we have done it again: this time it was organized amidst other installation nights. The Tall Tales contest aimed to find the best 'liars' among Toastmasters in many clubs around Division W. And we did find the most outrageous liars to grace the stage and entertain the 70-strong crowd coming from all over Klang Valley and Gua Musang.
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Lawrance, receiving a token from Contest Chair, K. Loghandran, DTM
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Eight contestants, three from the host, and five from diverse Toastmaster background, left the stage tongue a-wagging among the audience, throwing praises and asking from the contestants during interim, with questions like "Did it really happen?" with wide-eye amazement and ludicrous expression bordering towards sarcasm.

I get myself my fair share of compliments (ahem) for I trudged through research and readings to prepare this totally-out-of-my-realm type of storytelling. But what was most exhilarating of the whole experience is the ironical relief and internal celebration knowing that I have conquered my stage fright in front of the judging and discerning crowd – a pat in my own back indeed.
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Hilarious and exaggerated stories
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To sum up the whole event, it was seamlessly executed. We achieved our goal of 70 audiences, although we hoped to have 10 contestants, of which two supposed to come from our club pulled out due to unavoidable circumstances. Kudos to the people who made it happen: Siew Chen, SAA Soo Pon, Teck Lee, the impeccable Loghandran as the Contest Chair, Mee Yee and Ismail Fahmy, Darick, Chau Weng, and photographer KC.

Also congrats to the eventual winners, Ahmad Salehuddin, Simon Soh and Daniel Teh.
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L-R: Ismail Fahmy, Lawrence, Mee Yee, Daniel, Soo Pon, Teck Lee and Siew Chien
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For the whole audience who came and cheered for your compatriots, thank you very much and do look out for more exciting activities organized by Speakers' Dream Toastmasters Club. We hope you have thoroughly enjoyed yourselves.

Thanks and best regards

Lawrence Hoo

p.s. For people who want to remember my name, watch the 1985 Oscar-winning epic 'Lawrence of Arabia' and forever etched that face of mine with the word Arabia Lawrence Hoo.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The Tall Tale Contest

Dear Esteem Members,

Congratulations to all on a well-organized contest! Congratulations to oursecond runner up, Simon Soh; Alfred Koh and Lawrence for taking upthe challenge to bluff in front of an audience ... :-))

Also my appreciation to the Organising Chair, Ong Siew Chien who workdiligently to make the contest a success. Our Contest Chair, Loghandran whodid a great job in carrying through the contest. To Teck Lee and Soo Ponwho work tirelessly to promote the contest. Also to the roleplayers andother members who have contributed to the success of the contest.

Regards,

Chow Mun Yuen,
Club President

Click here to view 54 photos taken by KC Leong.

When you are in the photo album, click Slideshow. Click F11 to expand photos; click F11 again to return.
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The Contest Chair - K. Loghandran, DTM

Alfred Koh - the contestant from Speakers' Dream Toastmasters Club (SDTMC)
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Lawrence Hoo - another contestant from SDTMC
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Okay, one of the standard expressions when delivering a tall-tale story
x Main Hall of KGPA Club, the venue for this contest

The Sergeant-at-Arm: Mok Soo Pon

Applause for the exaggerated and humorous stories

The Runner-up: Simon Soh of SDTMC

L-R: Ismail Fahmy, Teck Lee, Mee Yee, Lawrance, Mok Soo Pon, Ong Siew Chien

Posted by KC Leong