The Scent of A Speech

Carrie Chiang encouraged us to read Patrick Suskind's "Perfume" when we read "One Word After Another" in "the Art of Speechwriting" in Toastmaster Magazine January issue. I was curious and saw the DVD immediately.

I played again and again the part when Giuseppe Baldini taught Jean Baptiste Grenouille the secret of making a perfume, "Just like a musical chord, a perfume chord contains fours essences of notes carefully selected for their harmonic affinity. Each perfume contains three chords: the head, the heart and the base, necessitating twelve notes in all. The head chord contains the first impression lasting a few minutes before giving way to the heart chord. The theme of the perfume lasts several hours. Finally, the base chord, the trail of the perfume lasts several days."

Somehow the standard operation procedures of making a perfume reminded me of the color codes of speech crafting by Marilynn Mobley. Once she finishes an early draft, she marks each line with a different colored marker--red might be for facts and figures, green for anecdotes, and yellow for humor. She then spreads out the whole speech on the floor or tapes it to a wall to allow her to scan for wide swatches for red, green or yellow.

But Giuseppe Baldini added that, "twelve essences could be identified but the 13th, vital one could never be determined, that will ring out and dominate the others. The ancient Egyptians believed that one can only create a truly original perfume by adding an extra note, one final essence. Legend has it that an amphora was once found in a pharaoh's tomb. And when it was opened, a perfume was released. After all those thousands of years, a perfume of such subtle beauty and yet such power, that for one single moment, every person on earth believed they were in paradise."

If the soul of beings is their scent, so is it of speeches. I need to activate my nose to find scent for my next speech, a head, a heart, a base, and a vital essence.

Toastmaster Magazine Reading Gathering in January

Grand Toastmasters Club's first Toastmaster Magazine reading gathering took place this morning at Ikari Cafe in Hsin-tien. There were five of us, four club officiers and one new member. We studied three articles in January issue, 1. The Art of Speechwriting by David Zielinski Page 10; 2. Visualize Success--And It Can Be Yours by Judy M. Bailey Page 24; 3. The Joy of Journaling by Joy Lardner, DTM Page 27.

Liya Huang took charge of Article 1 and shared with us her experiences about the art of speechwriting, including the research process, one word after another, and writing for the ears. She echoed with Hal Gordon to daw a picture with words and cited the famous remark of President Franklin Roosevelt's "I hate war". She agreed with Marilynn Mobley, the really great writers and speakerss give us insight and make us say, "I never thought of it that way".

Carrie Chiang took charge of Article 2 and shared with us her ture story of the power of the will. When she opened the magazine, turned to page 24, read the article, she was overwhelmed by the contents. It was like a taylor made article for her because she just visited a dream shop she wished to own. She announced her goal, visualized it, and she is on her way to take action. We wish her all the best!

Yvan Chu took charge of Article 3 and was proud of her sense and ability to decipher the nationality of the writer. While reading the article, she felt the writer was not a US citizen. She was right. Joy is Canadian. She also compared the joy of journaling with the happiness of game playing to get a token of encouragement by achieving a goal at a time.

As the hostess of the first reading gathering, I encourage every participant to practice visualization of the goal and journaling to spark the creativity in our spare time as the homework to upload on Grand's website for other members' reference. 1. Visualize the Goal with Five Senses (page 26); 2. Write down 10 things you like about youself, five good things that happened today, five goals you are working on and 10 things that bring you ease. (Page 28)

Reading Toastmaster Magazine with the young is no different from with the golden ladies. It is fulfilling and inspiring to see the young Toastmasters get motivated by the authors and ready to take their advices and follow their footsteps to become a better communicator and leader in their lives.

The Joint 10th Anniversary of Pacific and Peace Toastmasters Clubs

Peace Toastmasters Club (7370) was chartered on February 10, 1998. The Headquarters of the Toastmasters International sent me a letter to congratulate me on my appointment as Mentor of Club 7370 on March 17, 1998.

At the Joint 10th Anniversary of Pacific and Peace Toastmasters Club last Saturday afternoon, January 19, 2008, I saw many old and new members, guests celebrating the great achievements of the first Japanese speaking clubs in Taipei in the past ten years. Seven Toastmasters fellows and friends came all the way from Japan to share our joy and happiness. Former D76 Governor Inatsugi Masahiko came to Taiwan to support the toastmasters activities for the 9th time. It was a meaningful and fruitful moment for more than 120 participants.

I still remember vividly the good old days when we got together regularly to discuss how to build and develop Japanese speaking clubs in Taiwan ten years ago. As the proud Club 7370 Mentor, I'm grateful I've been given the chance to grow with Peace for the past ten years. I went to Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation of National Taiwan Normal University 9 years ago. I went to Graduate School of International Relations of Ritsumeikan University 7 years ago. I've improved English and Japanese language skills. I've made countless Toastmasters friends around the world.

I hope I can build more Japanese speaking clubs in Taipei in the future. The pride of being a club mentor motivates me to shoulder more duties and responsibilities in Toastmasters to the best of my ability. Hopefully, I can collect a distinguished toastmaster(DTM) badge in another decade to come.

Toastmaster Magazine Reading Gathering in January

On January 20, Athena, Irene, Kate, Linda and Michelle were present at the 1st reading gathering of 2008. It was a wonderful gathering. The atmosphere was warm and relaxing, and the learning was effective and productive.

Kate volunteered to be the first one to report what she learnt from "Reframing Three Major Fears About Public Speaking". Like removing a stone from the road, if we forget about our faces, past bad experience and perfectionism, the journey of public speaking will be smoother. Kate's past disastrous experience with Table Topics 30 years ago made her chickened out from the Toastmasters. However, she happily found that her 5-minutes report without preparation was like a good table topic answer, which was well presented. Thanks to the Toastmasters for 10-year training.

Michelle introduced Julie Bawden Davis' conversion from a producer to a pianist, how relaxing Julie was when she talked and performed her song. Michelle also stressed on the important message conveyed in the article. Practicing a speech all the way through, not stopping and staring again and again when we make a mistake. The most diligent golden lady, Linda, went on the net suggested by Malcolm Kushner and enjoyed the discovery of funny messages.

Two friends who have the names starting with "B" – Beauty and Beast, which one would you like to be with? Irene connected Judi Bailey's article "Beauty and Beast" to people around us. Beauty is happy, encouraging and positive; Beast is negative, critical and discouraging. Looking things from the bright side and keeping away from negative people can help us have a happier life. Irene claimed that her Toastmaster friends who are positive always encourage her.

Athena, who is not yet an eligible golden lady in terms of age, when she talked about her interaction with her son, amazed us all. She applied of lot of skills learnt from the Toastmasters and led her son to have a good communication with her. Athena is not only an outstanding Toastmaster, but also a marvelous mother.

We ended the meeting at 6:00pm sharp and said good-bye to each other with a hug. By Kate Hsu

A Lesson Learned on A Beautiful Sunday Morning

I didn't know how big and complex the Taipei Train Station was till Sunday morning. It took me 15 minutes running up and downstairs of a small corner of the huge Taipei Train Station to look for the VIPs from Japan. At last, after one hour of blind chasing in the mammoth maze and three international phone calls, we found one another at MRT (Massive Transit System) TRA (Taiwan Railways Administration) Transfer Area. I knew the delay would have happened, but I didn't know it would have been that long. It was all because of the wrong meeting point I had chosen and I learned a lesson.

When I told five toastmasters and friends, including Inatsugi Masahiko, Hiramatsu Shiro, Azuma Kiminari, Mutsuko Miyajima, Shida Mizue, after the Joint 10th Anniversary of Pacifc and Peace Toastmasters Clubs Dinner Party Saturday evening, about the meeting point Sunday morning, I received nothing but puzzled faces. I told them to find the TRA sign when they got off the MRT-Red Line, I would be waiting for them right there. They wouldn't miss it. I was a little too optimistic (ignorant to be precise) so to speak.

I thought it was easy, convenient and accessible to meet at the transfer point to take the train to Taoyuan since most VIPs stayed at the hotels along the MRT-Red Line. But, just imagine, five Japanese to the TRA for the first time, they were no doubt in a foreign labyrinth. They were in the massive flow of people at the crossroads of two major transportation routes. On top of that, they needed to find MRT TRA Transfer in a short time. But, they MADE it! Toastmasters are indeed a smart and shrewd pact. Toastmaster Azuma even drew the whole layout of TRA and came up with a better idea for future improvement in case of TRA Renovation takes place.

Being in a rush, I purchased five tickets at the last minute. When we passed the ticket checkup point, the lady in charge was so happy for me to find my missing friends from afar. She didn't even verify the number of the tickets. And I forgot to buy a ticket for myself.

The chaotic beautiful Sunday TRA adventure opened a successful and fruitful meeting at Success Toastmasters Club. Even though the meeting was 15 minutes late, it was one of the best meetings at Success Toastmasters Club. D67 Governor Jack Tsai, DTM waited for us patiently to deliver his welcome message and left in a rush to another important Toastmasters gathering.

When I arrived at home, I told my husband about the incidence at TRA. He responded to me that he didn't know where the MRT TRA Transfer was, either. What can I say but feeling lucky and fortunate that I didn't miss one of our VIPs? I hope the trouble and anxiety I had given to Toastmasters fellows and friends from Japan didn't leave a bad impression. I shall purchase and distribute the train tickets in advance in stead of naming any ambiguous meeting point at Taipei Train Station in the future.

There is an Italian saying, if things don't happen to our expectations, at least we earn an experience. I earned an experience and I learned a lesson. I hope Toastmasters fellows and friends from Japan had a good memory of TRA in Taipei.

The First Speech in Year 2008

Upon the invitation of Toastmaster Alex Hsiao, I participated in the first regular meeting of Success Toastmasters Club in year 2008 this afternoon.

Alex and and his wife Kasumi chartered Success Toastmasters Club ten years ago. Being retired from Taoyuan Elementary School, Alex and Kasumi spend most of their time promoting educational activities actively in Taoyuan area. In the past nine years, Alex and Kasumi have helped many young members hone communication and leaderships at Success Toastmasters Club with their enthusiastic, passionate and ardent gudiance and direction.

I made acquaintance with Alex ten years ago when I was invited to serve as the Club Mentor of Peace Toastmasters Club, the frist Japanese speaking toatmasters club in Taiwan. Even though I didn't speak Japanese much at that time, I was happy to take the challenge to develop Japanese speaking toastmasters clubs in Taiwan.

Ten years pass. I am grateful that I can deliver a speech in Japanese on the spot in Toastmasters. I also make a lot of friends with Japanese toastmasters. This afternoon, I was honored to deliver a speech about my one-month trip in Japan from the middle of October till the middle of November last year.

After my 30 minutes speech about transportation, education, tourist industry, toasmasters clubs in Japan, I entertained many questions from the floor. Many toastmasters members became interested in solo traveling in Japan. They asked about the budget travel and about the JR pass. On the first weekend of year 2008, I felt extremely lucky and happy to be invited to Success Toastmasters Club at Taoyuan Elementary School for five reasons.

1. It is auspicious to deliver my first speech in Year 2008 at SUCCESS toastmasters club.
2. It is auspicious to walk along the SUCCESS Road to the main gate of Taoyuan Elementary School.
3. The theme of table topics was about longevity today. Kasumi shared with us the secrets of longevity of her mother-in-law who is 102 years old this year. (Alex is 80 years old, famous for his filial piety in Taoyuan area.)
4. The granddaughter of Toastmaster Yu of Success Toastmasters Club is getting married today.
5. Taoyuan Elementary school is celebrating her 110 anniversary in 2008.

Taoyuan is not far from Taipei. It takes less than one hour from my home to Taoyuan. I hope I can visit Success Toastmasters Club more often in year 2008 to grow with Alex, Kasumi and members of SUCCESS Toastmasters Club.

The First Hour of Year 2008

It was the most exciting and breathtaking first hour of January the first in my life. I was with Toastmaster Rikuko Kanai and her huband at the foot of Taipei 101, less than 100 meters from ground zeor. When the countdown began, the collective voice of Hsin-yi district screamed in unison with highest and earnest expectations, all eyes looking up, Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, the time flew so fast and so slow.

Taipei 101 became a gigantic and gargantuan firework. Pedestrians gathering around Taipei City Hall were simply overwhelmed. The final display of the most luxious and splendid Taipei 101 Firework lasted for two minutes against a dark clear sky on a cold night. The glorious and blissful feelings made me a proud citizen of Taipei.

After the grandiose firework display, people hugged one another cheerfully and joyfully to wish each other Happy New Year on the streets. Kanai san and I walked hand in hand in the crowd of people. It was like the cinema was over. Everybody thrusted their way to leave the theatre at the same time in the same direction.

In the wee small hours, we bought three red beans pancakes to start our sweet and happy year of 2008, one for Rikuko, one for Nobu, and one for me. On the bus from Taipei 101 to Taipei Train Station, Kanai san and I sat at the back row seeing the swarms of happy and satisfied party goers along the routes. Taipei city buses and MRTs run 24 hours on the New Year Day. I love Taipei. Nothing can be more inspiring and uplifting to be part of the busiest city in the world. Kanai san loves Taipei that she will come join D67 Spring Convention in April in Taipei!

Eight (pronounced "fa") means prosperity in Cantonese. It is the favoirte number among Chinese. Year 2008 will certainly be prosperious and auspious for all in the world.