Semi Annual Convention 2012 - M.A.D

One of the most awaited events of the year has arrived – the Semi Annual Convention 2012 with the theme 'Make A Difference'. It was not only a distinguished and grand occasion for all Toastmasters members under District 51; it was also the time where champions from 11 divisions came together to compete for the Best Humorous Speaker and Best Evaluator titles in District 51. 

This year, Area W3 is extremely privileged to have our Assistant Area Governor of Education & Training, Timothy Nakayama to represent us to compete for both Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contest in the District 51 Semi Annual Convention on 17^th November 2012. He was also honorably represented our division, Division W.

Timothy came from a long way; he joined Friendship Toastmasters Club in January this year. Since joining the club, Timothy actively, enthusiastically and vigorously delivered his project speeches and evaluations in every meeting, as well as in other Toastmasters club meetings. Within the few months, he achieved the title as Advance Communicator Silver. 

Timothy’s long battle in the Humorous Speech and Evaluation contest began since Friendship Toastmasters Club Contest on August 7^th 2012. After winning as club’s best humorous speaker and evaluator, he moved on to Area W3 contest on September 7^th. He continued to conquer both titles all the way to Division W contest on September 29^th. Finally, he was there to compete against 11 district-finalists at the Semi Annual Convention.

As the day came, Timothy was all prepared and ready. Both Humorous Speech and Evaluation contests were furious and challenging as all contestants were outstanding and elite. Timothy resiliently competed with focus, perseverance and believes. Finally, he won the 1^st Runner-Up in the District 51 Humorous Speech Contest. Heartiest Congratulations to Timothy! He made a triumphant breakthrough for being the first Area W3 member winning in a District Humorous Speech Contest. 

Timothy Nakayama receiving the 1st Runner-Up for Humorous Speech trophy from D51 Lieutenant Governor Education and Training, DTM Kiang Faang Pyng

Support, glory and pride. Friendship members who came along at the Semi Annual Convention to give power-whoosh to Timothy, including (from left to right) President Alexandra, VPM Sylvia Tan, VPE Daphne Au, Geok Ean, Immediate past President Angeline Lee and Sivadas (busy at the back)

Another marvelous thing that happened during the Semi Annual Convention was receiving the President’s Distinguished Club Award. Last term, Friendship Toastmasters Club and KPMG KL Toastmasters Club have served their best for members and achieved President’s Distinguished Club Award. Congratulations! 

Friendship members receiving the President’s Distinguished Club Award from Immediate Past District Governor, Sue Chan

Contributed by,

Alexandra Lau  

President of Friendship Toastmasters Club 2012/13

About Area W3

For 2012/2013, Area W3 consists of five (5) Clubs under Area Governor Chor Chee Hoe.

They are

1. Friendship Toastmasters Club
2. IBM Malaysia Toastmasters Club
3. Hasil Toastmasters Club
4. KPMG KL Toastmasters
5. EXACT ADC Toastmasters Club

For 2011/2012, Area W3 consists of five (5) Clubs under Area Governor Kimmy Foo.

They are

1. Friendship Toastmasters Club
2. IBM Malaysia Toastmasters Club
3. Hasil Toastmasters Club
4. KPMG KL Toastmasters
5. EXACT ADC Toastmasters Club

For 2010/2011, Area W3 consists of five (5) Clubs under Area Governor Angeline Lee.
They are

1. Friendship Toastmasters Club
2. One World Toastmasters Club
3. Hasil Toastmasters Club
4. KPMG KL Toastmasters
5. EXACT ADC Toastmasters Club

For 2009/2010, Area W7 consists of six (6) Clubs under Area Governor Tan Lay Theng.
They are 

1. Friendship Toastmasters Club
2. Ireka Toastmasters Club
3. ING Leadership Toastmasters Club
4. Hasil Toastmasters Club
5. KPMG KL Toastmasters
6. EXACT ADC Toastmasters Club

Greetings from Area Governor 2012/13

Greetings fellow Toastmasters of Area W3!

Seize The Moment - Go For It!

As your Area Governor for this term, I am happy and privileged to be entrusted with the role of helping every member of Area W3 to achieve your Toastmasters goals, in the communication track as well as the leadership track.
Let's seize the moment and achieve what we desire!

As it is not possible to do this on my own, I will be working together with your Club Officers of Exact ADC, Friendship, Hasil, IBM Malaysia and KPMG KL, to help you in your 'Go For It' journey.

In addition, we have three amazing individuals who will be helping us and they are

Assistant Area Governor of Education and Training - Timothy Nakayama (Friendship TMC)
Area W3 Secretary - Wendy Yap (IBM Malaysia TMC)
Area W3 Webmaster - Daphne Au (Friendship TMC)


Wishing you a happy and fruitful journey ahead of you in your quest to achieve your goals!


Yours in Toastmasters service,
Chor Chee Hoe

Area W3 Update June 2012

Divsion W Governor 2012/2013 Lay Theng

Area W3 is pleased and proud to announce that our incoming Division W Governor for 2012/2013 is Tan Lay Theng. Without a doubt, she will serve to the best of her ability, with her leadership skills gained while serving in the following roles

• Club President of Friendship Toastmasters Club 2008/2009. Friendship achieved President Distinguished Club status during her term
• Area W7 Governor 2009/2010. Area W7 achieved President Distinguished Area status under her capable leadership
• Assistant Division W Governor Education 2011/2012 

Area W3 Governor 2012/2013 Chee Hoe

Area W3 is also pleased to announce that our Area Governor for 2012/2013 is Chor Chee Hoe. In his 2 years Toastmasters journey, he has undertaken the following leadership roles

• Vice President Membership of Friendship Toastmasters Club 2010/2011
• Vice President Education of Friendship Toastmasters Club 2011/2012
• Assistant Area W3 Governor Marketing 2010/2011
• Assistant Area W3 Governor Education & Training 2011/2012

Division W and Area W3 will be in capable hands when both Lay Theng and Chee Hoe take up their Division Governor and Area Governor roles on 1 July 2012.

With their continuous desire and effort to lead members of Division W, with their humble attitude to learn and to share what they have learnt, we are fortunate to have them as our leaders.

Division W Contest 17 March 2012

Division W Governor Marian Lee with TME John Cheah

Division W International Speech Contest

Five brave contestants gave their best on a Saturday afternoon, and the appreciative audience enjoyed various topics about never giving up, Dec 12 2012, smelling the roses, being not good enough and the meaning of death.

Apart from winning the trophies generously provided by District 51, the champions for Division W International Speech Contest and Table Topics Contest will proceed to District 51’s contests to be held on Sun 29 April 2012 at Sunway Convention Centre.

Our third place winner spoke of impending doomsday on Dec 12 2012, according to the Mayan calendar. He even bought his own Mayan calendar to show us the time. With less than 300 days to go before Dec 12, he advocated doing more charity work.

Our second place winner learnt about the meaning of death from his friend, the nicest guy that he knew of. One day, as he was about to board the flight to Singapore to visit his friend, he received the devastating news that his friend has just passed away, at the age of 21. He regretted not visiting him more often, while his friend was undergoing treatment for leukemia. From that day onwards, he resolved to live his life with no regrets.

Our champion was told that he was useless, that he was not good enough and not smart enough when his team members rejected him, his teacher and his bus driver scolded him. On a fateful day, a book that belonged to another student ended in his hands. He decided to read this book that told the tales of famous persons who had faced rejection and ridicule before they became successful. He found inspiration in the early struggles of Albert Einstein, Michael Jordan and George Custard. From them, he learnt that we should believe in ourselves, because all of us have the potential to do great things.

International Speech Contest Chair, CC, ALB Teoh Chun Ming (right) presenting the certificate of participation to the Teo Soo Loon, Area W3 contestant

International Speech Contest Results
Champion – Lee Han-Sen (TTDI)
1st runner up – Dominic Teoh (HSBC KL)
2nd runner up – Lawrence Hoo (Speakers Dream)

Division W Table Topics Contest

After a refreshing break where we mingled and chatted while we enjoy the delicious spread of fried beehoon, popiah, vegetables and delicious chicken curry, it was time for another entertaining session.

The question posed to our five contestants was – having no choices makes you happier than having more choices.

Our third place winner chose to be happy. In life, we have choices when we choose to change jobs, to settle down and start a family. In life, we also have no choice when it comes to death. Whether we have choices or none, our contestant choose to be happy.

Our second place winner humorously told us that at her age, having no choice is better for her. It was time for her to hold someone’s hand, to walk down the red carpet and to grow old together. She is looking forward to finding her life partner, for whom she is his choice!

Our champion advocated having variety in life, to escape the monotonous routine of life. For him, he found that as he grew older, he has more choices as he is still single. Ultimately, he believes that each of us has a higher purpose in life and we would know what choice to make, when the time comes.

Table Topics Contest Chair, DTM G Sivalingam (right) presenting the certificate of participation to Guok Lee Lee, Area W3 contestant

Table Topics Contest Results
Champion – Mark Lee (Speakers Dream)
1st runner up – E Son Lee (MAICSA)
2nd runner up – Lee Xi Wen (TTDI)

Division W International Speech Champion Han-Sen (left) with Division W Table Topic Champion Mark

As winners of the International Speech Contest and Table Topics Contest, both Han-Sen and Mark now have no choice but to proceed to District 51 Contests on 29 April! We know that both of them are more than good enough, and that they have the potential to do great things.

Photos contributed by TARC Toastmasters Club

Area W3 Contest 25 Feb 2012

On a bright Saturday afternoon, club members of Area W3 gathered at IBM office to support our club champions contesting at our Area contest. Thank you to IBM Malaysia Toastmasters Club for providing a world-class contest venue.

(L-R) W3 Contestants Freddie (Friendship), Amanda (KPMG KL), Area W3 Governor Kimmy Foo, Soo Loon & Lee Lee (Exact ADC), Aaron (KPMG KL)

As joint hosts, KPMG KL and IBM Malaysia Toastmasters Club did an excellent job in preparing the contest venue. Special thanks to Grace Loh for her fabulous potato salad which was an instant hit with the health-conscious members of Area W3. We also had sandwiches, kuih, muffins and doughnuts provided KPMG KL, Exact ADC and Friendship Toastmasters Club.

Attendees enjoying the generous spread prepared by Area W3 Clubs

Organising Chair Chee Hoe was not able to attend the contest due to his outstation work assignment at Kota Kinabalu. Area Govenor Kimmy read out his welcome message:

I'm so sorry that I couldn't make it to this contest and welcome you in person. Due to work, I have to miss this GREAT and LOVELY contest. Honestly, I'm currently bored at work because nothing will be more interesting than spending my time at the Area Contest now.

Toastmasters from Area W3 Clubs contribute to this massive event today. Because of them, I realized the true meaning of TEAMWORK.

A big THANK YOU to another group of Toastmasters - the contestants.
All of you are Champions! Your voice can make a difference!

We started with the International Speech Contest where we were amused and entertained by four talented speakers. When Aaron asked, “Who killed chivalry?”, several female members of the audience answered, “Men!”. Aaron spent the next 6 minutes hilariously explaining that it was women who killed chivalry. In his opinion the garbage man with the heart of gold should not be tossed aside as sincerity, compassion and kindness matters more than material wealth.

In “Education”, Kenny spoke seriously about the subject of public education. We may complain about the shortfalls of public education but as masters of our destiny, our success is determined by the effort we put in, not just on the textbooks and teachers we have had.

We agreed that we should “Smell the roses” after listening to Soo Loon’s speech. For years he slogged at work, always the last to leave the office. Then he began to wonder what was it all for? He decided to spend more time with his family, reading bedtime stories every night to his children. At times, he woke up earlier just to prepare his daughter’s favourite pancake breakfast. Life may be a path full of thorns, it is also a path paved with roses when we choose to make a difference to the people who matters to us.

For Freddie’s “Face-hooked” speech, it set us thinking – are we spending too much time on Facebook? Although a wonderful invention, he cautioned us not to neglect the people in our lives while we constantly check on the updates of our cyber friends.

International Speech Contest Results
Champion – Teo Soo Loon (Exact ADC)
1st runner up - Freddie Yap (Friendship)

Area W3 International Speech Champion Soo Loon

For the Table Topics Contest, the topic posed was, “Experience teaches us more than books”. In Kenny’s opinion, experience is the best teacher because when you get burnt, you will remember it for life!

As chances come and chances go, Amanda urged us to grab the opportunity to experience something new that may change your life forever. For Freddie, he recommended to read more to tap on the experiences of others. Instead of finding our way thru the jungle on our own, why not read to find out the path to take?

For Lee Lee, she started dramatically with a scene where her 6 year old daughter insisted on going out to play and she ended up getting hurt. Lee Lee had relented and allowed her daughter to go out despite the risk of getting hurt because she believed that we may read tons of books and surf the net but without experience, we have nothing.

Table Topics Contest Results
Champion – Guok Lee Lee (Exact ADC)
1st runner up - Freddie Yap (Friendship)

Area W3 Table Topic Champion Lee Lee

Our Area W3 Champions will represent W3 at Division W International Speech and Table Topics Contest on Sat 17 March 2012 at Goldhill Club, Kepong. We wish them all the best on their next destination, as they continue on their path to be a better speaker.

Here’s hoping that everyone will remember to smell the roses and enjoy life while gaining new experiences and new-found wisdom in our quests to be better than what we were yesterday.

Thank you IBM Malaysia, for an excellent contest venue.
Thank you IBM Malaysia and KPMG KL, for co-hosting this wonderful event !

Photos contributed by President Eric Low, TARC Toastmasters Club