The Power Presentation Workshop - The Subtle Way

Amy getting a new hair-do.Our model, Hung Jui

Shuling and President Mentor, Hwee Ling, after makeover

The workshop was conducted by 2 experienced Toastmasters. The first segment was conducted by CC, CL, Wu Shuling. She taught us on making the right visual impression - how we look, dress, and present would speak volumes about us. This was followed by our language perfectionist, CC, CL, Ronald Lim, who shared with us on how to create an impact by using anthithesis in our speeches. The presentations by these 2 powerful speakers impressed and empowered 20 listeners. To teach is a passion, but to learn is in fashion. Tonight, we had a passionate fashion display, because in Cheng San Toastmasters Club we grow in unison. From the overwhelming response, there shall be a part two to the workshop soon!

Written by, Daniel Kwek

Toastmaster for the Evening

The Power Presentation Workshop - The Subtle Way

Want to learn how to establish instant credibility even before you deliver your presentation?

Keen to know how to win over your audience by sending subtle messages in your speeches?

Join us in this fun and interactive workshop now!

Date: 29 October 2008 (Wednesday)

Time: 7.30pm - 10pm

Venue: Cheng San CC

Topics: How to Captivate your Audience & Image Management

Speakers:

Competent Leader, Wu Shuling. With 5 years of experience in the beauty and wellness industry as well as Toastmasters International, she hopes to share her knowledge on image management with her fellow Toastmasters.

Competent Leader, Ronald Lim has won numerous speech contests at club, area and division levels since 2004. He will be sharing with us tips on the Power Presentation.

*Contributions of $5 are welcome for refreshments.*

Admission is free for Cheng San Toastmasters. (Membership must have its privileges.)
Non-members to pay S$10.

Please RSVP to Shuling at shuling44@hotmail.com

Outing to Southern Ridges on 27th October

On October 27th, a couple of Toastmasters decided to use the Deepavali public holiday to the fullest by heading to Southern Ridges for a hike.

And photos galore...

Smile! (Tricia, superstar Lani and Ying Jie)


At the end of the journey.

Getting dizzzzzzy....


Our guest Chong Hao from China.

On the Henderson Waves.

Stopping for a rest.

A surprise celebration for Tricia.

Thank you Amy and family, Shui Sheng and family, Lani, Tricia, Ying Jie, Hung Jui, Chong Hao, Sherry for participating in the 2 hours trek (with lots of photo-taking involved).

Another outing proudly brought to you by the Cheng San TM Recreation Club. Watch out for the Christmas BBQ on 23rd November and remember to bring along the gifts!

Click on chengsantmc.multiply.com for more photos!

Friends from Raffles Institution

Yesterday we had several guests with us, including 16 foreign students from Raffles Institution.

The evening was packed with guests!

Some students attempted table topics. As a form of encouragement, we presented a First Timer Ribbon to them.

Hieu 1 with our President, Esther Lim

Serjio attemping at a table topic

Hieu 2 receiving a First Timer ribbon.

We are very honoured to have students from Raffles Institution joining us tonight. 3 of them made fantastic attempts at the Table Topics segment! Well done!

On behalf of the club, thank you for participating and we hope to see all of you again at Cheng San Toastmasters Club.

For more photos please visit http://chengsantmc.multiply.com/

By Shuling, Asst VPPR

The Toastmaster for the Evening.

Appointment Holders' Tips (Part 2 of 8)

Appointment holders' Tips (Part 1 of 8) talked about being the timer.

Let's move on to talk about the Ah Counter.

Of course, the Ah Counter is not required to check the mouths of Toastmasters... AHHHHH!

So what does the Ah Counter do?

The Ah Counter counts the number of pause fillers every speaker makes. Erm (that counts one.), you know what I mean.

How do they go about doing it?

There is currently an A3-sized booklet in the cupboard for the recording. It has the list of all our members' names, as well as the pause fillers, and boxes for you to tick off.

1. Get the booklet, put down the names of guests or visiting Toastmasters who are at the meeting, and record their pause fillers too. The introduction at the start of the meeting is a good way to get all their names.

2. Start recording when the SAA kick starts the meeting. Some of us have the misconception that the recording only starts when the project speeches begin.

3. Recording only ends after the language evaluation.

4. You also may want to give a brief explanation of the Ah Counter before reporting.

Eg. The purpose of the Ah Counter is to allow us to be more aware of the pause fillers that we make, because too many pause fillers can be distracting.

5. When reporting,
- Say the name of the person
- Say the specific category of the pause fillers
- State the number of pause fillers in that category
- State the total number of pause fillers for the person

Eg. Andy had 5 ahs, 3 okays, 7 you knows and 9 so's. Total 24. (Huh? So many ah? - that counts another 2.)

6. Should we be running overtime, only report the total number of pause fillers for each person.

7. Remind all members to pay 10 cents per pause filler, to a maximum cap of $2. Guests and visiting Toastmasters are exempted!

8. You will collect the money individually from each member. (OWE $$ PAY $$.)

9. Pass the total and the ah counter booklet to the treasurer, Shui Sheng or Han Wen who will initial and record as petty cash.

Petty cash in our club goes to buying refreshments. So eat your fill because you are paying for it!

By the Ah Counter Master,
who always gets more than $3 each time she does ah counter...
Muahahahaha...

Division 'S' Humorous Speech & Evaluation Contest

On the 19th of October, Daniel, Tricia, Hwee Ling, Cheng Lin, Esther decided to spend their Saturday at Tampines Changkat CC for a day of learning from the best speakers and evaluators in Division 'S'.

Indeed there was a tough fight between the speakers and evaluators. As for Ronald who represented Cheng San TMC and Area S1 in the evaluation contest, he put up a tough fight although he did not emerge as the top 3. Nonetheless, having been able to compete at the division level is always a learning experience.

Here are the results!

Humorous Speech Winners
1st - Pragash (Title: Reputation & English)
2nd - Michael Leong (Title: The Art of Giving Presents)
3rd - Kelvin Thiang (Title: What May Go Wrong Will Go Wrong)

Can't imagine how such titles can be transformed into a humorous speech? You must watch contests more often then! They sure are funny.

Evaluation Winners
1st - Richard Sng
2nd - Benjamin Cheng
3rd - Cherlene Chua

Watching contests are great chances to learn from the others, as well as to see other Toastmasters in action besides our in-club people. So seize every opportunity to attend and watch contests, especially when it's FREE ADMISSION!

Editorial by Esther

Past Events of Cheng San TMC

Besides the communication skills that we learn at Toastmasters, we are a fun bunch too. So here are some pictures of our social gatherings.


Roy and Gek Choo's wedding @ The Old Parliament House

Supper after Chapter meeting @ A1

Midnight supper @ Yishun

Lani and Hung Jui dropping by my workplace.

Having some booze @ Evans Road

The blog has been quiet for a while so I thought of posting some photos of past events. Watch out for more October outing photos!

~ Asst VPPR Shuling

Division 'S' Humorous Speech & Evaluation Contest

Learn From the Best Speakers & Evaluators From Division 'S'.

Date: 18 October 2008 (Saturday)

Time: 2pm - 5pm

Venue: Tampines Changkat TMC

Investment: Your time

Ronald is also representing Area S1 in the evaluation contest. While showing support for him, laugh till you get a tummy ache from the humorous speeches!

The Power Presentation Workshop - The Subtle Way

Want to learn how to establish instant credibility even before you deliver your presentation?

Keen to know how to win over your audience by sending subtle messages in your speeches?

Join us in this fun and interactive workshop now!

Date: 29 October 2008 (Wednesday)

Time: 7.30pm - 10pm

Venue: Cheng San CC

Topics: How to Captivate your Audience & Image Management

Speakers:

Competent Leader, Wu Shuling. With 5 years of experience in the beauty and wellness industry as well as Toastmasters International, she hopes to share her knowledge on image management with her fellow Toastmasters.

Competent Leader, Ronald Lim has won numerous speech contests at club, area and division levels since 2004. He will be sharing with us tips on the Power Presentation.

*Contributions of $5 are welcome for refreshments.*

Admission is free for Cheng San Toastmasters. (Membership must have its privileges.)
Non-members to pay S$10.

Please RSVP to Shuling at shuling44@hotmail.com

Appointment Holders' Tips (Part 1 of 8)

Do you know that besides speakers and evaluators, appointment holders hold a great deal of importance in the chapter meetings?

But who are these appointment holders, what do they do and how do they go about doing it?

Appointment Holders (Part 1 of 8) is here to explain.

The first appointment to be explained: The Timer


What do they do?

The timer keeps track of the timing of all speakers for the chapter meeting.

The timer has 3 main responsibilities:

1) To time each speech/evaluation
2) To keep a timer's record for all speeches
3) To report the timings of each speech after the segment

The timer is endowed with the follow to help them:
1) A stopwatch (A digital one, not an analog one shown above, we very high-tech ok!)
2) A timing device with green, amber and red lights
3) A bell (TING TING!)

The general sequence is as follows: Light the green, amber and red light and then ring the bell. The timings of when the lights come on depend on the speeches. The bell will always sound 30 seconds after the red light is switched on.

How do they go about doing it?

For every speaker, there is an allocated time.

The timer will start timing:
1) at the first sound the speaker makes
2) at the first gesture made by the speaker
3) when the speaker begins to use a prop

After each speech, write down the time down on the timer's record sheet for each speaker/evaluator.

When reporting, say the name of the speaker, followed by the timing.

Example: Jane took 4 minutes and 50 seconds. Tom took 6 minutes and 21 seconds. Wayne took 7 minutes and 3 seconds.

Next, report the speakers who are eligible to be voted. If the speaker has spoken till the bell rang, then he/she is ineligible to be voted.

WHAT IF THE SPEAKER REFUSES TO STOP SPEAKING AFTER THE BELL RINGS?

(Throw the stopwatch at him! Just kidding, lah.)

After the bell is rung 30 seconds after the red light is switched on, ring the bell once for every extra minute spoken as a reminder that his/her time is up.

THE RATIONALE?

In Toastmasters, we respect everybody's time and the extra time should not be taken up since everyone should get a chance to speak.

By yours truly
the President, Esther

Area S1 Humorous Speech & Evaluation Contest

A few Saturdays ago, Ronald and Cheng Lin represented us in the Humorous Speech & Evaluation Contest.

Both of them went all out and Ronald won the evaluation contest. 3 cheers for both of them!

It was pretty sad that only Bernice and I were there to support them, but nonetheless...

The Champion in the making...

By the President, Esther