Monday, March 8, 2010

New Millennium Advanced TMC - International & Table Topic Speech contest on 8/3/09

Dear participants, members and our esteemed appointment holders,
 
Thanks so much in contributing to a great success in our International and Table Topic Speech contests tonight, on such a significant day, 3rd March 2010. I've never imagine celebrating 3.8 International Woman Day with such zeal, energy and positive vibes. I'm sure all members, guests, appointment holders and definitely the participants enjoyed themselves tremendously.
 
We were treated with wonderful stories and personal life lessons from the various speakers. Contestant Bruno Pereira sharing with us his ordeal and memories of his father, to cherish & to love before its too late, Contestant Yip Pei Shan reminiscing her moments of her grandfather and importance to cherish and live life to each moment, Contestant S. Narayanaswamy bringing history to life, sharing the significance of the flag on top of the Supreme Court, Contestant Mark Leong slicing the choices of life & death between a samurai & a tea maker, Contestant Vera Wee pouring out her personal struggles liken to a mule trapped in a well, and Contestant Shridar Narayanaswamy encouraging us to move from ungraciousness to graciousness, unfairness to fairness.
 
I'm very sure that the audience had a good time, and judges had a hard time judging. Our motherly Tay Yiang Ping prepared nice refreshment for all present. A well-deserved break indeed. Thanks Yiang Ping.
 
The session is followed by 8 courageous impromptu speaking participants, namely Angela Oh, Bruno Pereira, Mark Leong, S. Narayanaswamy, Shridar Narayanaswamy, Theresa Sng, Vera Wee and Yip Pei Shan (alphabetical order). I believe the topic "A bad craftsman blame his tools", is definitely cut & slice in various forms by our 8 speakers.
 
Indeed, the meeting closed off with rousing applauses and moving appreciation.
 
Thank you all appointment holders, judges, participants. You really made a difference today. My most heartfelt thanks to Organizing Chair Kandimathi who had made superb effort to keep everything in place, my joyous appreciation to my wonderful friend and contest chair Daryl Neo, who kept the proceeding proper and enjoyable, my sincere thanks to Tally counters Ming Shu and Catherine On, Timers Sienna and Bernice, SAA Ah Cheng and Meng Chung, for their utmost dedication to their duties, and of course, my most immerse thanks to Chief Judge Choon Kiat and his panel of judges, for making the precious time and effort to listen and discern. (CJ, do forward this email to your esteemed judges, thank you)
 
Congratulation to our winners. The winners will represent our club in the Area D3 contest held at ERA Hersing Hub on 24 March 2010 (Wed), 7pm. Do support them if you can.
 
International Speech Contest 2010
Winner: Vera Wee
1st Runner Up: Yip Pei Shan
2nd Runner Up: Mark Leong
 
Table Topic Speech Contest 2010
Winner: Bruno Pereira 
1st Runner Up: Vera Wee
2nd Runner Up: Yip Pei Shan
 
Our next meeting will resume on April 12, 2010 (2nd Monday of the month), 7:15pm, Cairnhill CC. Members who like to do their project do inform either myself or Theresa.
 
A most memorable and most entertaining night. Thank You and I hope to see you in our next meeting.
 
 
Mark Leong
New Millennium Advanced Toastmaster Club
President
URL: www.nmatmc.org

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Tips in Preparing for the Table Topics Contest

Dear Members, this is gathered through observations of videos at many contests.

The Key Thing to remember:

A Clear Structure of Handling the Topics


Important Techniques to remember:

Technique 1: PREP

Position: This is what I think

Reason: This is the reason why I think

Example: This is the example how it works

Position: This is the reason why I think what I think


Technique 2: Past, Present, Future

The Past: What do you see in the past?

The Present: What do you see in the present?

The Future: What do you see in the future?


Technique 3: Problem, Cause, Solution

The Problem: This is what it is wrong

The Cause: Here’s what we came about

The Solution: This is what we can do about it.


Technique 4: Tell x3

Tell: them what you are going to tell them

Tell: them why you told them

Tell: them what you have told them

Noticed

  • Your stand must be clear


Magnificent

  • Your structure can be easily noticed through the various techniques


Ace

  • Work your way towards becoming a Table Topics Champion


Remember the techniques and key points; you will be having a fun time during your contest.


Regards,

Gerald Ong

Vice President (Membership) 2009-2010

New Millennium Advanced TMC

The NMA formula in the International Speech Contest

Dear Members,

What is NMA formula to the International Speech Contest? Let me share my thoughts after watching some past contest videos

N- Never

1. Pause Fillers- They are the number 2 killer in all speeches. Research & observations have shown that the average pause filler can last up to 10 seconds, depending on its nature and the vocal rate of the speaker
2. Protocol - Never have such a long protocol that takes up 20 seconds of your introduction. Poor time management at the beginning of your speech

M-
Magnify

1. Emphasis of speech value - Message can be enforced through stories at least 5-7 times to get the message with the point across.
2. Language Usage- Make it frilly with plenty of language usage, i.e. triads.
3. Emotional Connection - It has emotional appeal to the audience.
4. Vocal Variety- Comfortable Listening Speed to the audience with inflection, pitch variation, tone variation to create different scenes.

A- Ace

1. Speech Title - KISS - Keep It Short & Sweet
2. Timing - rehearse your speech until 6 minutes. Anything more than that may cause to risk having an overtime disqualification.
3. Humour - Tickle the audience at some points of your speech
4. Visual Aid - Demonstrate your point strongly.
5. Body Language - Keep it Natural and portray it with clear meaning

Best of Luck to all our Contestants.

Regards,

Gerald Ong ACG, ALB
Vice President (Membership)
New Millennium Advanced Toastmasters Club

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Online Dues Renewals March 2010

Club Officers: Please Look For Your Renewal Reminder in Your E-Mail Inbox!

Organizations around the world are focused on environmental concerns, and Toastmasters International is no exception. In an effort to combine first-rate service to members with environmental stewardship, WHQ sends a member dues renewal reminder to club officers via e-mail, rather than an invoice sent through the postal service. In order to protect the privacy of members, the e-mail reminder for the membership dues will not include a copy of your club's invoice.

Starting the first week of March, you can view and print a copy of the invoice for your club's membership dues. Visit the Club Business login at: www.toastmasters.org/clubbusiness

Important Notes for Processing Membership Payments:

  • Renewals can be submitted online, by mail or by fax.
  • We recommend that you do not submit renewals by e-mail because it is not secure.
  • If paying by credit card, dues renewals can be paid online.
  • At least six members must pay dues; three must be renewing.
  • If paying by check, you can print the list with the renewing members checked, and mail, along with payment to World Headquarters. Check must be payable to Toastmasters International.

Remember...
Club officers, please look for the April 2010 dues renewal reminder in your e-mail inbox the last week of February. Remember, membership renewals are due by April 1, 2010. Club officers will be able to submit renewals online through the Club Business login: www.toastmasters.org/clubbusiness starting the first week of March.

We welcome your support in helping Toastmasters International be more environmentally responsible!

Monday, March 1, 2010

Welcome to New Millennium Advanced TMC

Dear Members, I would like to welcome the following new members to our Club:












(L-R)
Angela Oh (Toa Payoh Central TMC)
Emely Tan (Cairnhill CC TMC)
Grace Oh (Cairnhill CC TMC)













(L-R)
Lubna Razak (Changi Simei TMC)
Shen Wen Qing (Bukit Batok TMC)
Vera Wee (Changi Simei TMC)
Lorraine Chin (Bunoa Vista TMC)

No photo provided: Ma Qing

Regards,

Gerald Ong
Co-Organizing Chair
New Millennium Advanced Speechcraft 2010

Vice-President (Membership) 2009-2010

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

International & Table Topic Contest 2010

Friday, February 19, 2010

A farewell to NMA TMC - for further studies in NSW, Australia

My fellow members of New Millennium Advanced Toastmasters Club,

I will be leaving for Sydney, New South Wales, Australia to pursue my further studies in Mechanical Engineering at University of New South Wales, Kensington Campus, Australia. (According to TI WHQ directory, NSW resides in Toastmasters International District 70. Part of NSW resides in District 69)

Meanwhile, I will drop by to some Toastmasters Club within Australia during my vacation period and keep you posted on the happenings in Sydney. Do inform me if you are visiting Sydney during the Singapore School Holidays.

My heartiest congratulations to Bruno Pereira & Kandimathi who came 2nd Runner-Up in our Area D3 Humourous Speech & Evaluation Contest 2009 respectively. Both of you have kept our consistent performance at speech contests.

In March 2009, Kandimathi has came in 2nd Runner-Up in Area D7 Table Topics Contest 2009 & Catherine Goh has came in 1st Runner-Up in Area D7 International Speech Contest 2009.

My mentors, Theresa Sng (and her late hubby Tong Hai) & Bruno Pereira, thank you for the guidance and support you have given me in my basic 10 projects. I am proud to be able to go independently. The friendships that we have forged will always be remembered.

Yiang Ping, thank you for arranging the District 80 Annual Convention 2008, Macau Semi-Annual Convention 2009 tickets for me when I needed your assistance. Your invaluable experience helped me in handling the delicate membership issues.

Sam Chee Yee, Mark Leong & Mark Chow, thank you for your guidance in the my Club Executive Committee Role as Sergent-At-Arms, Vice President Membership & Vice President Education respectively.

Meng Chung, thanks for keeping the club together despite the pitfalls. We managed to overcome and build ourselves back.

Pei Shan, may your Inspirational Series of talks continue to keep the NMA flag flying high.

Kandimathi, a treasured friend who constantly enjoys my support at the contests & chapter meetings and keen to learn more things. Hope we had enjoyed our fun in Macau last year.

To all our Advanced Speechcrafters 2010, may you continue your pursuit of educational goals with the appreciation of the Toastmasters Experience. My email helpdesk is always open 24 hrs / 7 days/ 52 weeks.

To others who aren't mentioned in this posting, your invaluable support was always appreciated.

Here are my contact details if you wish to stay connected with me during my studies in Australia:
Skype: gtows86
MSN: gtows86@hotmail.com
Gmail / Facebook chat: geraldong86@gmail.com

I will update everyone again with my Australian Contact details as soon as it is available.

I will also be preparing to compete in the 2010 Humourous Speech & Table Topics Contest in District 70, Australia.

I will continue to update this blog with the latest materials and articles from time to time.

Our Club will be known for bringing Novices to Marvellous Adventurers in their Toastmasters Journey through continual mentoring & coaching for all contests.

Covering my duties as Acting Vice-President (Membership) till June 2010 will be Yip Pei Shan, ACB, CL.
Covering my duties as Secretary till June 2010 will be Tay Yiang Ping, DTM

I will also remember New Millennium Advanced Toastmasters Club no matter what.

I will return to the club when I am comfortable after my studies and started working.

Regards,













Gerald Ong ACG, ALB
Vice-President (Membership) 2009-2010
Vice-President (Education) 2008-2009
Sergeant-at-Arms 2007-2008
New Millennium Advanced Toastmasters Club
18February 2010