2008 Oct 28 - Joint Halloween-Themed Meeting

TM Wong Chong Sen (left), TM Cheah (middle) & TM SH Lim (right)
It was a special meeting on that night, for not only were we celebrating Halloween that night, we were also having a joint meeting with Farlim Toastmasters.
Despite the fact that guests were charged with RM5 entry fee, we still had ten guests at our meeting! The guests were from as near as Penang island to as far as Ipoh -- Cheah of Ipoh Toastmasters!

The whole meeting was decorated with Halloween decoratives -- pictures of ghosts and bats pasted on the walls, a Jack-O'-Lantern carved by Chia Harng, and the most striking decorative was the skeleton brought by Khai Yuen & Khai Shing! It was dressed in black and was hung at the whiteboard! There was also background music and sound effect played throughout the meeting by Khew; the music and effect was played in accordance to each session as well as for each speaker on stage!

Our lovely President, Chew Khai Yuen

Some guests and fellow members attended the meeting in bizzare costumes! If there were a costume competition, of no doubt it should go to Joanne, the devil of the night, who even brought her fork with a 'tail' trotting along behind her!

Our most supportive TM Christopher (left)& Table Topics Master TM Zi Qian (right)

The man behind the mask, TM Andy (I guess), Christopher, the devil of the night-Joanne & Eleanor




The Most Passionate Member of Our Club, Kwek
The whole meeting went on as usual except for the table topic session -- it was actually the twisted version of Trick-or-Treat practice in Halloween; the idea was suggested by Kwek the TOE and was modified by Zi Qian, the table topic master of the night. Everyone was clearly amused of the unusual session.



Christopher & Dato' Khoo were enjoying the Witch's Brew

During break time, we went to see what was served on the table -- there seemed to be quite a few trays on the table. All were stunned by the food and beverage laid on the table for there were Eerie Eyeballs, Freaky Witches' Fingers, Smiley Sandwiches and Witch's Brew! Such extraordinary food and beverage triggered photography session by fellow members and guests! This was again the fantastic idea by our ever-creative IPP, Khew! We were really proud in listening streaming praises to the remarkable idea!

When the meeting was called to an end, we were sorry that the event was over.
All in all, we enjoyed the meeting immensely!

2008 Aug 18 - Joint-Club-Contests: Humorous Speech and Evaluation

With united hearts, Penang MCA Toastmasters and Voices Toastmasters proudly presented joint Club-Level Humorous Speech Contest as well as Evaluation Contest!

Despite of the massive traffic jam at the Penang Bridge, our members and contestants from mainland still made it, though they were a mite bit late.

When the contestants settled down, the Humorous Contest started without further delay.

The contestants from Penang MCA -- Khai Shing, Kwek, Chia Siang and Narchonai, all were new faces to the audience. Yet the effort they put in the speech preparation was clearly not to be neglected!

The response from audience was good too; roars of laughter came from audience every now and then during their reciting of humorous speeches.

After a short break, the Evaluation Contest began. The contestants were solemnly observing the speaker and were jotting down every evaluation point. At the very last minute, Kwek was urged to replace Khew for the Evaluation Contest, for poor Khew fell ill just at the very night of the contest. Khai Shing and Chia Siang really did well in their evaluation; they are really experienced evaluators!

When the names of the winners for both contests were announced, the applause by the audience was vividly of generosity!

Congratulations to Kwek (champion for Humorous Speech Contest) and Khai Shing (champion for Evaluation Contest) for making it to the Area Level Contests!

May you bring fame to our Penang MCA Toastmasters Club!

As for Chia Siang (1st Runner-Up for Humorous Speech) and Narchonai, good try! Narchonai especially, for she is merely a new baby in Toastmasters! See you in other contests!

2008 Aug 02 - Joint Installation Dinner (Div N & S)

Joint Installation dinner was indeed a grand event; this auspicious event was held at the ballroom in Gurney Hotel.

Not only the ballroom is grand, the guests were looking smart as well.

And of course, not to be left out, there was our "cute cute" president -- Khai Yuen!

When she went up to the stage for the president oath, we were so proud of her that we clapped till our hands sore. One member (well, that's me) even climbed right to the front of the stage for photo-snapping of the "cute cute" president, but as all photographers were cleared-off from the area, only side-view photos were taken.


Towards the end of the dinner, there was another joyous moment: the presentation of "Outstanding Toastmaster" award.

When Khew's name was announced, she was apparently in a daze and she only moved forward when we ushered her to the direction of the stage.




Khew had recovered from the pleasant surprise and was posing with her certificate entitled "Outstanding Toastmaster" for photo-snapping session.

She is outstanding as well as photogenic!

^^


Even though Khew is only the club-level "Outstanding Toastmaster", our hearts were already filled with pride, for we truly know that she deserves this award!

When the event was over, our hands were sore due to the intense clapping.

But then it was worth the sore because we have !

2008 Jul 06 - Toastmasters Leadership Institute (TLI)

On 2008 Jul 06, exco members were asked to attend the Toastmasters Leadership Institute (TLI) held at Intel U. TLI is a good training whereby exco members are briefed on ways to improve meetings and also tips and tricks in making the clubs more successful.

For the 2008/2009 TLI, we Penang MCA Toastmasters were proud that our attendance to this TLI was very good -- 6 out of 8 of the exco members were there! Imagine that!

The greatest thing of the TLI was that Gerald Green the "Papa" of Toastmasters was amongst the audience too!

Everyone appeared to listen in awe as all speakers spoke on stage, and then there was a Q & A session in which the participants bombarded questions to the speakers. Apart from these, there were also separate sessions for respective exco members, only then the TLI came to an end.

We learnt loads throughout the training, and our Immediate Past President (IPP), Khew, was so full of enthusiasm that we were asked to stay back at the Intel U lobby for discussion. Phew!

It is of no doubt that Penang MCA Toastmasters is the best club!

2008 Jan 22 - International Speech Contest and Table Topic Contest

On Jan 22 (Tuesday), we had our club-level International Speech Contest as well as Table Topic Contest.

There were three participants for the speech contest, and five for the table topic contest.

It was vivid that the club members are improving; the three contestants for the speech contest all did so well that the audience plus judges were fascinated by their speeches.

As for the table topic contest, as I was the fourth contestant, I only managed to see Khew the club president delivering her impromptu speech. But for myself, as it was only my second time participating in the contest, I managed to start babbling away quite smoothly till I reached my dead spot -- the ending of the speech. Duh!

Anyhow, upon the result announcement, someone mockingly knocked on the table to create a tensed atmosphere.

And it was obvious that the judges had done a fair and square judging; Wong Chong Sen won the speech contest, and Khew won the table topic contest!

The champions, the first-runner-ups and the second-runner-up were awarded with trophies and certificate of participation, and they were cheered by the audience with thunderous clapping!



One of the trophies for the winners of the night: it's so grand-looking!
It showed that our club really recognises potential Toastmasters.



Even though the outcome of the Area Level Contests was not on our side -- both Wong and myself (Khew couldn't participate in the contest, so I as the second-runner-up went for it instead), it was indeed a good experience going to Area Level Contest!

Keep up the good work, Penang MCA Toastmasters!