Buona Vista Toastmasters Club

What is Toastmasters?

2011-12-11T20:18:00.003+08:00

What is the difference between animals & human.

?
?
?

It is Education.

Animals also have their kind of education, like the mother animal teaches her offspring how to earn the food.
But human has a far smart higher education.
Human has records, documentation, history.
So we can know what had happened in long long ago, and we can learn techniques which was got after several researches, with the help of our records, our documentation and our education system.
Toastmasters is one of the education system to make people to become a efficient communicator, a successful leader and finally to become a smart business man.
But the teaching method of Toastmasters is not a traditional or conventional way. Its method is learning by doing. (like bicycling or swimming). Its motto is "Practice Practice Practice".
Practice makes perfect.
After a lot of repeating, a lot of preparation, a lot of doing projects, a Toastmasters member become a competent communicator and a competent leader.

Zaw Lin Myat CC
VPPR
Buona Vista Toastmasters Club

Buona Vista Toastmasters Club Speechcraft Workshop 2011

2011-11-01T16:17:00.004+08:00

According to employers, the ability to communicate competently with others and get along with people of different personalities are two of the most desirable qualities in job candidates. The ability to organize thoughts and ideas effectively is also highly sought after.

Can you express as creatively as your ideas are?
Can you persuasively present your proposals?
Can you effectively lead your team and earn their respect?

This intensive workshop exposes you to the internationally-acclaimed Toastmasters programme where you will learn from experienced speakers.

4-day Hands-On Experience
26 Nov (Sat), 2pm-5pm
01 Dec (Thurs), 7.30pm-10pm
10 Dec (Sat), 2pm-5pm
17 Dec (Sat), 2pm-5pm

Venue: Buona Vista Community Club conference room.

Registration fee at $72 - which works out to be only $18 per session of hands-on speech training.

Register now at Buona Vista CC.
Enjoy $12 discount when you sign up with PA card or with a friend or before 12 November 2011

If you have any enquiry, feel free to email us buonavistatmc@gmail.com

Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contest

2011-09-02T12:40:00.002+08:00

Humorous Speech Champion

Evaluation Champion

TI Announcement of Membership Dues Increase wef 1/10/11‏

2011-08-01T21:14:00.001+08:00

Dear Friends,

You are in our thoughts.

“On October 1 2011, Toastmasters International membership dues will increase from USD $4.50 to USD $6.”
- Summary of impact of Toastmasters International Membership Dues sanctioned by 2010-2011 International President and DTM Pat Johnson and Executive Director Daniel Rex.

As we know the importance of having a good quality education at affordable prices for the masses, we have decided not to follow the practice of other clubs in increasing the amount of membership dues collected.

We will be defraying the increase of USD $1.50 per month with the prudent surplus that our predecessors have painstakingly accumulated since club inception days. This arrangement will last until the end of our current Executive Committee term 2011-2012.

This means that a yearly club subscription in our Buona Vista Toastmasters Club will remain at an affordable S$156 until June 2012. That works out to S$13 per month, a wonderful opportunity for non-members to join us and experience the Toastmasters programme before paying more in future.

We urge members to help us in every way to ensure the continuity of a lean and cost effective club by reducing waste and volunteering your expertise when the club needs help.

Warmest Regards,
Ronald Sim
Treasurer
Executive Committee 2011-2012

My Journey in Public Speaking

2011-05-02T23:19:00.007+08:00

You have a voice that deserves to be heard.

Unlike most Toastmasters, I did not find my voice while in Toastmasters but much earlier in life.

Just like every maiden attempt in public speaking, mine was a disaster. I stood in class one afternoon setting up my presentation material as all eyes gazed upon me. I was both nervous and excited to share my team's research on Tornados but was literally sweating and jerking involuntarily throughout the presentation. My face was flushing as I answered questions from my enthusiastic classmates. At the end of the presentation, I placed a piece of dry ice into the container and turned on the motor; the mini Tornado instantly became the limelight of the presentation. I was relieved.

Subsequently, several more attempts at presentation in secondary school did not improve my public speaking skills.

I only discovered my voice much later when I was forced to speak out during my stint as a door-to-door salesperson right after finishing my 'O' Level exams. I didn't think it was the right job after my first day but it struck me that I couldn't get hired at all the other interviews because I was inexperienced and failed to speak up. With some encouragement from a friend of mine, we decided to stick with the job and move beyond our comfort zones. We learnt from some of the best sales people, the sort that could sell you a brick. But no amount of tutorship can compensate practice as we diligently talked to hundreds of prospects each day for almost half a year.

Eventually, when I entered polytechnic, preparing and delivering presentations became an activity I would look forward to. In fact, I was offered several leadership opportunities partly because of my public speaking ability.

Eloquence was not a gift but a matter of practice and Toastmasters serve as a means to continue honing my public speaking skills outside of work. Today, I continue to challenge myself by speaking in front of larger audiences such as the first local TEDx conference and most recently the district level contest in speech evaluation.

I can't imagine what a different life it could have been if I hadn't had my short stint in sales. The ability to speak my mind and converse in a myriad of social situations has continued to open many doors for me.

Being part of the Toastmaster movement for the past 2 years, I have witnessed that members who have persisted in overcoming their speech barriers, finding renewed strength with every delivery. I hope more doors will open for you just as it did for me as you get better with public speaking. Cheers.

---

Daylon Soh is an aspiring entrepreneur and continues to speak about subjects such as creativity, personal development and marketing whenever the opportunity arises. You may find out more about his work on his website, www.playwithideas.net

BVTMC Speechcraft Workshop 2011 - Effective Speaking & Evaluation

2011-03-05T10:24:00.006+08:00

"Click on the Image for a larger view"

BVTMC Speechcraft Workshop 2011 – Effective Speaking & Evaluation

19 March (SAT) 1.30pm–5.30pm

26 March (SAT) 1.30pm–5.30pm

Venue : Buona Vista Community Club
Block 36 Holland Drive Singapore 270036
http://www.gothere.sg/maps#q:buona%20vista%20community%20centre

Word of the Day - November 2010

2010-11-06T11:28:00.005+08:00

abate verb \ə-ˈbāt\

abat·ed abat·ing

Definition - transitive verb
: to put an end to
: to reduce in degree or intensity : moderate
: to reduce in value or amount : make less especially by way of relief
: deduct, omit

Language Evaluator- Freddy Ng, CC (SMU Toastmasters)

Daylon Soh @ TEDxSingapore - The Creative Rebel

2010-10-28T01:50:00.007+08:00

Vice President - Membership, Daylon Soh, CC speaking at TEDxSingapore.

What is TEDx? In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organised events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. TEDxSingapore organises idea events throughout the year, where x=independently organised TED event. At our TEDxSingapore events, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organised.

Word of the Day - October 2010

2010-10-06T11:16:00.002+08:00

Angst : noun \ˈäŋ(k)st, ˈaŋ(k)st\

: a feeling of anxiety, apprehension, or insecurity

Language Evaluator- Whai Aun

Humorous Speech and Evaluation Club Contest

2010-08-18T00:19:00.002+08:00

Dear Toastmasters,

You are invited to participate in our annual Humorous Speech and Evaluation Club Contest on 2nd Sept 2010. Pls take a moment to consider taking part in both contests. Both contests speeches can be used to clock your communications and leadership projects. Do not miss this opportunity!

Why Humorous Speech?
Humor is one of the most effective skill to engage your audience.

Humor breaks through barriers.
Humor relaxes your audience and puts them in a receptive mood
Humor alerts your audience to listen.
Laughter can enliven potentially dry or dull material.
Humor releases tension

Here are some links on writing a humourous speech. Which I hope to ease your decision to participate.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2067349_write-humorous-speech.html
http://www.write-out-loud.com/humorous-speech.html
http://www.speech-topics-help.com/humorous-speech-topics.html

Why Evaluation Contest?

The purpose of evaluation is to help people develop their speaking or leadership skills in various situations. And, it requires little preparation. There are no reasons to give this contest a miss. ;-)

Please kindly response your interest ASAP.

ps: appointments holders are welcome too.

Regards,
Chee-Siong
Organising Chairperson

Vote for your favorite Speechcraft Workshop Theme!

2010-07-08T22:13:00.001+08:00

Speechcraft 2011 Theme Voting - How many of you would be interested in attending a Speechcraft workshop based on the following themes:

1) Entertaining and Humor Speaking: Building rapport, enabling teams (Useful for any social situation and corporate interactions)

2) Connecting the dots: Technology and Toastmasters (Useful for anyone who wish to improve their social-media and PowerPoint know-hows professionally and personally)

3) Advance with Communication II (Useful for career focused professionals who wish to present themselves better with interview skills, resume writing tips and presentations)

Pick your favorite and tell us what you'll like to hear in the workshop!

To vote simply reply to this thread!

Area U1 Governor 2010/2011 - Shao Ning, CC

2010-07-06T21:46:00.004+08:00

Congratulation to Buona Vista CC Toastmasters Club member, Shao Ning, CC for the appointment of Area U1 Governor 2010/2011.

Shao Ning has been a member of this club for past 2 years and has served in various appointment in the club's executive committee.

Words of the Day

2010-06-03T23:20:00.000+08:00

onomatopoeia
[on-uh-mat-uh-pee-uh, ‐mah-tuh‐]
–noun
1. the formation of a word, as cuckoo or boom, by imitation of a sound made by or associated with its referent. The formation or use of words such as buzz or murmur that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to.
2. a word so formed.
3. Rhetoric . the use of imitative and naturally suggestive words for rhetorical effect.

complacent
[kuhm-pley-suhnt]
–adjective
1. pleased, esp. with oneself or one's merits, advantages, situation, etc., often without awareness of some potential danger or defect; self-satisfied: The voters are too complacent to change the government.
2. pleasant; complaisant

Definitions quoted from Dictionary.com

By Language Evaluator Ho-Tan Whai Aun, CTM/CL

Notice of AGM

2010-05-28T08:56:00.005+08:00

Dear members,

The Toastmasters Term is coming to an end in June and as we await the new exciting term starting in June, we will have new leaders serving in the Executive Committee!

We will be holding our chapter meeting on 3rd June and we will be having our Annual General Meeting (AGM) after that to elect our new leaders! Remember our date!

Date: 3 June 2010 (Thursday)
Chapter Meeting : 7.30 to 9.00 pm
AGM: 9.00 to 10.00 pm
Venue: Buona Vista CC Room 2-5

Posted on behalf of AGM Chairperson and Immediate Past President Ralph Shao Ning, CC.

mediacorp interview during our Division U Contest

2010-05-03T18:31:00.004+08:00

Photo with our dear Nicholas at Division U Contest

2010-04-24T21:00:00.000+08:00

Table Topics Contest Topics

2010-03-08T11:22:00.007+08:00

The topics for Table Topics Contest is set by the Chief Judge. For our club contest, the topic was "Time to Slow Down" by Chee Kim Loon, ATMB/CL.

These are some table topics set by me for other contests as a form of reference for our contestants on the level of difficulty as they progress to the next level of contests.

1. He who asks remains a fool for 5 minutes. He who does not ask remains a fool forever. (Ulu Pandan Table Topics Contest 2 March 2010)

2. A no is not a never. A never is not a forever. (Area B1 Contest 6 March 2010)

3. It's not who you know, it's who knows you. (Area B2 Contest 6 March 2010)

4. "In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.” ~ Coco Chanel (Area B5 Contest 6 March 2010)

For table topics contest, share your own personal viewpoint or opinion about the topic. You also need to be clear whether you agree or disagree with the topic.

Some of the winning strategies I observe...

Winners usually disagree with the topic and have a strong personal viewpoint on the reason they disagree. Table topics contestants who score high points are usually those who share their own personal story to support their viewpoint. They will avoid common viewpoints that other contestants might say to differentiate themselves. The idea is to stand out from the crowd.

Other point scoring techniques...

Table topics is a mini speech... so proper introduction, body and conclusion will score points.
Body language is something that many contestants forget during table topics contests. So if you demonstrate excellent body language, you are an edge over your peers. Please don't forget your vocal variety and the use of beautiful language.

So, contestants, please familiarize yourself with the judging criterias and see how you can score points! All the best!

International Speech and Table Topics Club Contest 2010

2010-03-05T10:58:00.006+08:00

We have successfully conclude our club contest last night at Buona Vista Community Club. Congratulations to our double champion, William Tang, ACB/CL for winning both contests. William will be representing our club in Area U1 contest on 10 April 2010 (Sat), at Buona Vista Community Club.

International Speech Contest
Champion : William Tang, ACB/CL
1st Runner-up : Nicholas Tan, CC
2nd Runner-up : Shao Ning, CC/CL

Table Topics Contest
Champion : William Tang, ACB/CL
1st Runner-up : Paulin Chan, CC
2nd Runner-up : Juey Ong, CTM/CL

I would also like to thank the following for making the contests a successful.

Chief Judge, Chee Kim Loon, ATM-B/CL and his Judges
Contest Chairman : Lorraine Chin,CC
Tally Counter and SAA : Cherlene Chua, CC/CL, Jerlynn Ang, CC/CL
Timers : Edwin Seah, CC/CL, Adeline Chik

Word of the Day - February 2010

2010-02-04T23:43:00.003+08:00

procrastination
pro·cras'ti·na'tion n.
pro·cras'ti·na'tor n.

Definition:
the act of procrastinating; putting off or delaying or deferring an action to a later time

Originates from the word Procrastinate (pro·cras·ti·nate)

v. pro·cras·ti·nat·ed, pro·cras·ti·nat·ing, pro·cras·ti·nates

Synonyms:
prolong, postpone

Notable Examples:
"Procrastination is the thief of time"
[Edward Young The Complaint: Night Thoughts]

- by Language Evaluator, Johnny Tan, CC (Fort Canning Toastmasters Club)

Workshop - Your Charisma, Uncover it.

2010-01-14T22:03:00.003+08:00

Money Mastery Toastmasters Club is organising a workshop on 23 January 2010.

Here are the details of the workshop:

Presenter: Mr John Sih, DTM
Topic: Your Charisma, Uncover it.
Date: 23 Jan 2010 (Sat)
Time: 2pm to 5pm
Venue: Queenstown C.C.
Price: $15/ ticket (Tea- break is provided)

Kindly contact Raymond Ho from Money Mastery Toastmasters Club for the tickets.
Mobile: 90091122 or 91811000
Email: ray_ho1122@yahoo.com

Word of the Day - January 2010

2010-01-07T23:24:00.003+08:00

Anyone who has resided in Singapore for a period of time would notice that conversations of local Singaporeans are often littered with phrases and exclamations derived from different languages and ethnicity; over time, such loose habits has turned our use of the English language into a cultural phenomenon known as Singlish.

One may agree that the use of Singlish has added much flavor and variety to the way we communicate but yet we should not ignore the synonyms which sums the beauty of the English vocabulary: synonyms which exists to replace exclamations like 'Wah Liau' / 'Wah Lau' as shared by our Langauge Evaluator, Loo Mei Mei, Competent Toastmaster (CTM).

Synonym [sin-uh-nim]
- noun

A word having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word or other words in a language.
A word or an expression that serves as a figurative or symbolic substitute for another.

Perhaps whenever you're tempted to exclaim 'Wah Liau' / 'Wah Lau', which could be grossly taken as an expletive. Why not try words like fabulous, fascinating or fantastic in the spirit of speaking good English in the year 2010.

Division U Achievers Day - 5 Dec

2009-12-04T17:37:00.004+08:00

Division U Achievers Day this year is a special one as we have decided to throw in some gifts and incentives for all of you in this Christmas season to come and attend. We have invited 3 very experienced toastmasters - John Sih, Kristina Sharmini and Patrick Chang to share with you on some tips for Language Evaluation, General Evaluation and Project Evaluation. A 3-in-1 workshop!!! Free for Division U members!!!

Date: 5 Dec 2009 (Sat)
Time: 2pm
Venue: Whampoa CC Mini Theatre

For more details, please click here.

Word of the Day - December

2009-12-03T17:48:00.000+08:00

Vicissitude [vih-SIS-i-tood]
- noun
1. A change or variation occuring in the course of something.
2. Interchange or alternation, as of states or things.
3. Vicissitudes, successive, alternating, or changing phases, or conditions, as of life or fortune; ups and downs: They remained friends through the vicissitudes of 40 years.
4. regular change or succession of one state or thing to another.
5. The quality of being changeable; mutability

* Interesting word, where the plural form of the word has negative connotations.

By Language Evaluator Terry Teza, CC

District 80 Semi-Annual Convention November 2009

2009-11-15T14:37:00.001+08:00

Dear members

It is an absolutely fulfilling trip to Macau to attend District 80 Semi-Annual Convention. We're happy to announce that Singapore bagged all the 6 trophies beating contestants from Hong Kong, Macau and Thailand. We made history!

In the photo above is the District 80 Evaluation Contest Champion - Darren Tay from Punggol Toastmasters Club. Not only is he the youngest contestant, he is a fairly new toastmaster of less than 1 year and his first time participating in the contest.

The day before the contest, the contestants drew their speaking slots and Darren told me that he was the first contestant. So I told him that either he impress all the judges and kill the rest of the contestants or risk the judges not remembering him at all as there were 9 very strong contestants. And indeed, he wowed the audience. The audience was unable to keep silent for one minute after his speech!

And his winning is truly amazing, considering he had only 5 minutes to prepare for his evaluation. If you calculate the time difference, the last contestant had another 36 minutes to organize her thoughts, so Darren's win was truly laudable and we're so proud of him.

I would like to encourage all of you to attend District conventions such as this and you will never regret what you have learnt.

Looking forward to the next convention at Bangkok on 28-30 May 2010. I've already booked my convention ticket at $220. Have you signed up yet? The tickets are running out!