1st Malaysian Gavel Club
A club to hone public speaking skillsHappy Thaipusam!
It seems that I’ve been posting a lot of well wishes for celebrations lately.
But anyway, I’m sure everyone appreaciates a public holiday. It’s a day for you to catch up with homework (for me, anyway!), spend time with friends, or family.
So this year, make sure you spend Thaipusam to the fullest! Don’t waste a second!
Public Speaking Competition 2008
An all expenses paid trip to London.
Got your attention? In today’s Star newspaper there was an article on the sixth English Speaking Union of Malaysia (ESUM) – The Star – HSBC Public Speaking Competition 2008.
The competition shall begin with workshops conducted by public speaking experts on Feb 16 in K.L., and Feb 23 in P.J., Penang, Kuching, Kuala Terengganu and Muar. On March 8, preliminary rounds will be held simultaneously in all the venues except K.L.
The competition’s preliminary round is based on the theme New Horizons, New Frontiers. The national finals will be held on March 29. The winner and runner-up will receive an all-expenses paid trip to London to represent Malaysia in the International Public Speaking Competition in May.
The competition is open to Malaysian students aged between 16 and 20 as of May 9.
The Star can be contacted at 03-7967 1388.
Next Meeting: 13 Jan 08
So, after such a long break, I guess everyone’s itching to get back.
Our next meeting will be held on the 13th of January, 2008 at Subang Jaya Buddhist Association (SJBA) from 2.30pm till 4.30pm.
If you would like to participate as a guest, or would like to have more information, please contact:
Ee Ping (President)- 0123651782
OR
Ai Vee (Vice President Education)- 0169682525
Alternatively, you can post your queries here as well. We hope to see you there!
Happy New Year
Christmas has come and gone, and now we find ourselves getting ready for another celebration: New Year!
So what have you all gonna do? A day out with friends? Dinner with family? Everyone has started to plan what they’ll do on New Year’s Eve.
And let’s not forget resolutions. Did you accomplish everything on the list? Or have you misplaced it? Well, now’s the time to make a new list, and try not to lose it.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Merry Christmas!
As you all know, Christmas is fast approaching. So have you started to buy present sfor family and friends? I seem to fail miserably at this, maybe because I can’t afford most gifts! Haha.
I’m sure you all have plans for Christmas. Perhaps a good book? Or a good movie?
Anyway, since I’ll be away for a few days at my grandparents’ for Christmas, I’ll just wish all of you out there first:
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Top 5 movies at the box office
The school holidays hasn’t ended yet!
So why not head to the cinema with family and friends and watch that movie you’ve been itching to set your eyes on! Here’s the top 5:
1. The Golden Compass
2. Enchanted
3. This Christmas (I don’t think it’s in Malaysian cinemas though)
4. Fred Claus (Same)
5. Beowulf
I’ve also just realised that out of the top 5, I’ve watched all that’s shown at Malaysian cinemas!
The Golden Compass is based on the first of Philip Pullman’s fantasy trilogy, Northern Lights. It’s about a girl who embarks on a journey to save her father and friends from danger with a remarkable instrument.
Enchanted is a Disney production. So if you dislike Disney movies, I suggest you pick something else instead. Although, it IS a little different. It’s about a girl from some fairy tale who ends up being in New York! So it’s not exactly the normal Disney film. Yet, I have friends who regretted watching it.
Beowulf is based on an old English poem. That’s all I know about it. Oh, and it’s slightly animated. I don’t know what you call it.
So hurry up and get tickets! Time waits for no man, or woman!
Monsieur YC Lim
Our mentor, Toastmaster Lim Yeong Chuan, is now in France. You can still keep in contact with him by visiting his blog at http://lychuan.blogspot.com/.
Also, I added a link to Extol Toastmasters’ blog.
A Brief History: Toastmasters International
Sorry for the inactiveness. Since this blog is about the gavel club, I thought I’ll just give a brief history on how Toastmasters was formed.
Ralph C. Smedley held a meeting in 1924, a meeting that would eventually become the first ever Toastmasters International meeting. And of all places the meeting could have taken place, it was in a basement. A BASEMENT!!! But hey, no worries! It’s not the type that is full of cobwebs. It was the YMCA building basement in Santa Ana, California.
The meeting has took place because Smedley noticed that many young people are shy and withdrawn. Hence, he formed and named a club called The Toastmasters Club.
Soon after, more and more people became interested and other Toastmasters Club were formed. In 1930, the name was changed to Toastmasters International.
We certainly owe a lot to Mr Ralph Smedley. Now, Toastnasters International boasts of having 11,300 clubs and more than 220,000 members in 90 countries! Astounding how a basement meeting fluorished, isn’t it?
Newspaper article
Read The Star on Wednesday September 12 2007?
Cos’ we’re in it!
There was an article about our club in Star Two, page 5. Although it wasn’t a very long one, it’s a start for more wonderful things to come!! For those of you who didn’t get the article, here it is, from The Star Online:
Strike the gavel
Malaysia’s first Gavel Club is not just about speeches, it is also about empowerment.
“LEARNING to communicate better has convinced a teenager that she is ready to take on the world.
Gavel Club president Yeoh Ee Ping says that she has not only acquired communication skills, but has also gained from the experience of organising and conducting activities to encourage her peers to become confident and eloquent speakers.
Not many have heard of Gavel Club, but it is actually the junior affiliation of the Toastmasters International. The first Gavel Club was set up last year, and is open to those between 13 and 17.
“I’m truly glad that we started this club. This is because we get to expose more teenagers to this vital aspect of life called communications skills,” said 16-year-old Ee Ping during the club’s second installation night at Subang Jaya recently.
About 100 guests attended the function that was also graced by club patron Subang Jaya assemblyman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng.
Lee said communication skills are by far the most important thing in life because without it, an individual would have a tough time getting a job even if he or she excels academically.
“I’m impressed by the good work done by the senior Toastmasters who are mentors to this club, Azmi Shahrin and Lim Yeong Chuan, in making the Gaveliers more effective speakers.
“The credit goes to their mentors and parents for their strong support, encouragement and sacrifices. Not every teenager of this age is able to stand in front of an audience to deliver a speech,” said Lee.
Ee Ping said the first Malaysian Gavel Club is not just about giving speeches.
“Although delivering speeches are central to the club’s activities, the end result that we want to achieve is to empower our members to take control of their lives,” she added.
She outlined four main tasks that the club will undertake this year – education, membership recruitment drive, leadership programmes, and community outreach programmes to reach out to less privileged teenagers in society.
The Gaveliers meet every second and fourth Sundays of the month at the Subang Jaya Buddhist Association (SJBA) from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.
For enquiries, call Ee Ping (012-365 1782) or vice president of education Chuan Ai Vee (016-968 2525). ”
That’s the end of it… Hope all of you out there enjoyed it!
1st Malaysian Gavel Club’s 2nd Installation Night
It’s our time again!
Yeapz, our Installation Night.
The night started as members arrived and awaited the arrival of parents and guests. After all were seated, everyone waited patiently for the arrival of our patron, Dato’ Lee Hwa Beng, the ADUN of Subang Jaya.
Our entrance this year was different compared to last, as we used a sketch instead. It was a entertaining guys versus girls argument. Thankfully, our mentor, DTM Azmi and our club President, Yeoh Ee Ping ’saved’ the day.
The emcees of the day, Yeh Vin and Swea Ching, took charge and invited the Organizing Chairperson, Chuan Ai Vee to give her speech. It was followed by an address by Dato’ Lee. The Night reached its climax when the time for the Installation Ceremony came. Committee members stood on the stage and one by one took the oath. The Sergeant-At-Arms is Chuan Yeh Vin. The next to be installed was Tan Swea Phin as Treasurer. The job of Secretary was held by Tan Swea Ching. Yours truly, Lam Jer Renn was next to be installed as Vice President Public Relations. Low Yee Xin was installed as Vice President Membership. Chuan Ai Vee took the oath for Vice President Education. Finally, came the time. For the installation of the club President. Yeoh Ee Ping was installed as the President for the second year as charter presidents have that privilege.
What would a ceremony be without a speech by the President? Ee Ping delivered her speech confidently and naturally.
Then, there was also the Education Awards. We’re happy to announce that we have 3 Competent Gavelier Communicators, namely Swea Phin, Yeh Vin and Ai Vee.
After dinner, a round of lucky draw was conducted, followed by a poetry recitation by the younger sibling of Yeh Vin and Ai Vee, Xin Vee.
Another lucky draw was conducted and quickly followed by a performance by members. It was a sketch in a sketch, whereby 3 judges were interviewing people for roles for a upcoming movie. Different situations were given, for example, a wife angered by her husband in the kitchen, a guy giving a love letter and roses to a girl he likes, and so on.
After that, audiences were entertained by a game by Toastmaster Francis Yeoh, the famous gamemaster.
A last round of lucky draw was conducted, followed by the closing address by the President before everyone headed home. What a night, eh?
The 1st Malaysian Gavel Club would like to thank all people involved in making this dinner a success, without forgetting the sponsors for the prizes! So a big thank you once again to all of you, and we’ll hope to see you again next year!
