When the Sun Rises Again

Fall seven times, stand up eight! ~Japanese proverb

I'd like to thank Sunrise Toastmasters Club for inviting me to deliver my prepared speech "Toastmasters in Mongolia" Tuesday evening, April 27th. I finished the entire speech in six minutes and 37 seconds without any slip of the tongue this time.

It was indeed healing and soothing for me. I stood up from where I fell. I was not afraid of watching the videoclip of my anticlimactic performance at D67 International speech contest 2010 in Tai-chung any more. I am confident that I could and I would do better next time I am on stage at a national, regional, or even at an international level. I have a new goal in my life, to become a better speaker!

I like Sunrise Toastmasters Club. It is full of diligent and promising young people. Quite a few members speak fluent English. The meeting atmosphere is lively and joyful. I was invited to join the debate on "Searching on the Internet of the Convicts" and I won the best Tabletopics Speaker Award this evening.

During the intermission, YS Liao, D67 LGM Elect 2010-2011, donated two big pizza and a bottle of Pepsi Cola to show his thanks to Sunrise members for their support of his running for D67 LGM at the D67 Spring Conference 2010. I was lucky to join the celebration party. I confessed that I had two big slices of pizza, bacon and seafood topping respectively. YS also said that he would bring fried chicken to Sunrise next time he shows up. Count me in, YS!

On my way to the MRT station after Sunrise's meeting, Toastmaster Nebula Ou asked me about how to search for the correct pronunication on the internet. I recommend the free on-line dictionary http://www.howjsay.com/. Toastmaster Nai-ling Liu and I took the metro back to Hsin-tien. We talked about chartering a Toastmasters club in Hsin-tien before we said good-bye. What I lovely evening I had with Sunrise. I saw the bright future of Toastmasters in Taiwan.

Ode to Love-- Singing Along with District 67 Toastmasters

Music begins where language ends. ~E.T.A. Hoffmann

Singing aloud is fun, to let out every bit of emotion and energy within our bodies and souls. Eating and drinking is fun, to uptake food and drinks to replenish our bodies and souls.

The happy singing Toastmasters of District 67 gave a lovely and joyful "Ode to Love" chorus recital Friday evening, April 23rd, to celebrate the Spring in April.

The reception started from 6:30PM. A dozen of hungry and thirsty singers and guests gathered around a big table full of refreshments & beverage prepared Lulu, Michael, Sherry, Nico, and Timothy. At seven o'clock, handsome, tall, and slim Master of Ceremony Bill Wan walked in with a yellow beret to join the TGIF eating and drinking party.

After the warm-up happy hour, the chorus recital started at 8 o'clock sharp with three group songs in a row, Believe Me, Dear; If We Open Our Hearts; and Autumn Cicadas, followed by a group dance of Nobody of Wonder Girls led by Toastmaster Bill Wan. All singers performed to the best of their abilities under the marvelous alcoholic effect.

The second half hour recital was an arena for individual singers. Every singer was great, including Four Seasons by three couples, Athena, Nico, Mary, Michael, Michael Junior, Erick; Let It Be Me by female vocal singers Hsiling, Lulu, Athena, Sherry, Nico, Mary; Devoted To You by Duet Lulu & Timothy; All I Have To Do Is Dream by two couples Erick, Timothy, Athena, Lulu and a group dance of Sorry Sorry of Super Junior led by Toastmaster Bill Wan.

The TGIF singing party ended with a group song of Wish You the Best by all participants. Master of Ceremony Bill Wan closed the chorus recital by lighting up a candle in the dark to encourage every singing Toastmaster to share their feelings about the chorus class in the past three months. It was a touching and warm moment Many thanks were given to guitarist Timothy Liu, pianist Hekki Wu, chorus leader Athena Lien.

What a pleasant gathering on Friday evening, to sing with Toastmasters, to laugh with Toastmasters, to enjoy with Toastmasters!

How to deliver a good English Speech by Pat Johnson, DTM

Ms. Pat Johnson, DTM, Senior Vice President of Toastmasters International
delivered a keynote speech "How to deliver a good English Speech- from a native-English speaker's perspective?" at MOFA Toastmasters Club Thursday noon, April 22nd.

I was excited to invite golden ladies Toastmasters to listen to Pat's keynote speech. Trini and Pam managed to take a long lunch break from their school and office. We all had Toastmaster magazine April issue with us. How nice it would be if we could take a photo with the Pat, the Incoming International President of the Toastmasters International. We would be feeling closer to her when we read her messages in the Toastmaster magazine.

I sat at the front row next to DG James Lin, DTM. It was easy to identify us, James in his white suit and me with my yellow and blue District 67 jacket on. It was an informative training course for one hour. Pat shared with us her secrets how to talk down her speeches without reservations.

Pat urged us to study the audience first, that is, to access the need of the audience. After determining the purpose of the speech, be it persuasive, entertaining, inspiring, we then set the tone of the speech. Pat usually started preparing her speech from the body first, followed by the opening, and ended with a strong conclusion to echo the opening.

Pat prefers to use the quotations to start her speech, in addition to singing a song. I am sure we shall learn her favorite quotations from the Toastmaster Monthly from September 2010 till August 2011. Pat entertained many questions after her keynote speech. She took photos with Toastmasters and friends waiting in line.

Even Trini, Pam and I didn't have a chance to take a photo with Pat, I shall meet with Pat again at D76 Fall Conference 2010 in Kumamoto. I shall bring the Toastmaster magazine along to have a photo with her. I wish many golden ladies Toastmasters can attend D76 Fall Conference 2010 in Kumamoto with me!

D67 International Speech Contest 2010

If the Toastmasters is not a family, what is? Even I didn’t place at D67 International Speech Contest 2010 Sunday afternoon, April 18th, I felt more attached to Grand Toastmasters Club, I felt the bond between me and the members of District 67 and District 76.

It’s been more than a decade since I last joined the International Speech Contest. As a veteran Toastmaster, I consider it more exciting me to see young people grow and develop on stage in Toastmasters, in stead of me taking the stage, playing the old trick.

Year 2010 is special. I just came back from Mongolia to help the descendants of Chenghiskhan charter the first Toastmasters Club in Mongolia. Grand will be celebrating her 35th anniversary in July. If I don’t speak up to let people know about Toastmasters in Mongolia and Grand, when?

I was the first running-up at Grand’s in-house speech contest. I was the first runner-up at Area H1 in-house speech contest. I claimed the trophy at Division H speech contest. After I became the contestant for Division H, I received a lot of suggestions from many toastmasters. Even at the last minute of the International Speech Contest, I was recommended to use another better word in my speech. I experienced the Toastmasters spirit of "helping people succeed". I was amazed and moved by the toastmasters fellowship!

For the past two weeks, everything on my mind was about "Toastmasters in Mongolia". I shopped for the costume, hat, shoes, I had my hair permed, dyed. Sunday at noon, I sat at Mentor beauty parlor to have my hair set. At Room 543 of Shinkanshen Garden Hotel, I put on the false eyelashes, I wore the silver jewelry set Mongolian friends gave me at the farewell party. When my name was called upon, I was ready to break my leg to promote Toastmasters in Mongolia, to promote Grand Toastmasters Club!

At the speech contest, I did a phenomenal job promoting Toastmasters in Mongolia to an audience of 700 supportive toastmasters. It was an inspirational speech, but to my surprise, it turned out to be the most humorous speech I had given in my life. I was overwhelmed by the contagious laughter. When I saw the green board, I was only half way of my speech and I got panic!

I learned a lesson. A good speech is not only about the content and delivery, but also about how to manage the response of the audience. A speaker is a big chorus director who leads the singing group to achieve the best effect. Even I didn't place at the D67 International Speech Contest, but I became keener in observing outstanding contestants on stage, I also moved up to a higher level of the Toastmaster ladder as a communicator and leader.

On the bus from Taichung back to Taipei after the D67 Spring Conference 2010, we were the only Toastmasters group of three, Yvan Chiu, Grand Toastmasters Club's Incumbent President, Gary Kao, a new member of Grand Toastmasters Club, and I. Yvan and I sat next to each other and we talked. What a solace Yvan gave me just being there for me! All my regrets, sorrows, tears went away when Yvan told me that I looked elegant on stage. Gary was sitting at the back of the bus, whenever I looked back, he smiled at me with his thumb up. Gary saw my performance at the in-house, Area H1, Division H, District 67, he told me I gave my best performance at the District 67 International Speech Contest. I was so much at home with Grand’s Cheerleaders team.

The curtain of D67 International Speech Contest 2010 has come down. Was I upset at my unsatisfactory performance? Oh, yes, I had to take a sleeping pill last night, in order not to think about where I fell on stage.

After a good night sound sleep, I am a new Toastmaster today. I want to thank toastmasters friends who supported me, prayed for me, laughed with me during the D67 Spring Conference 2010. I have more stories to share till the curtain of D67 International Speech Contest rises again.

The Welcome Party of D67 Spring Conference 2010

District 67 Governor James Lin was generous to host a welcome dinner party for Senior Vice President Pat Johnson and nine delegates from District 76 (Japan) led by District 76 Governor Minoru Tamura at Hotel National in Tai-chung. I was invited to the gala dinner party of two dozen Toastmasters dignitaries because I was the Charter President of Kyoto Toastmasters Club.

When Ms. Pat Johnson walked into the party venue, my eyes were wide open to her bright yellow suit, matching necklace and earrings. On top of that, her colorful high-heeled shoes were gorgeous. As a fashion aficionado, I liked Pat at the first sight. I can read Pat from her outfit. We are what we wear, aren't we?

Just imagine a full house of fun loving toastmasters at dinner! Can you hear a house full of laughter from your end? I sat at the table with LGET Mike Yang, LGM Grace Shih, Organizing Committee Members of D67 Spring Conference 2010 and three delegates from Japan, including Toastmaster Euisook Chae, VPM of Nihonbashi Century Toastmasters Club. Ms. Euisook Chae is a young and beautiful Korean lady, working in Japan. She speaks fluent English and Japan. Ms. Chae sat next to handsome Mike Yang and Mike smiled to the beautiful Lady of Daisy (Euisook called herself) during the entire dinner.

When Taiwanese, Korean and Japanese Toastmasters drank merrily together, how could we not learn the courteous hand gestures of Kanbai in Korean, Japanese, Taiwan way from one another. Can you tell the differences from the above photo?

When the dinner party came to an end, I proposed we had a group photo. Pat went back to her room to fetch the huge Canadian flag she carried along with her. I took out the banner of Grand Toastmasters Club in my suitcase. Luckily, I carried the Toastmasters banner for my speech at the D67 International Speech Contest 2010.

For one group photo, it took more than five minutes to pose. Do you know why? Every participant at dinner wanted to remember the happy and meaningful moment. Two waitresses help us take group photos with 20 digital cameras. It was the first time Pat experienced the Oriental way of taking photos, one camera after another. We are the Toastmasters dignitaries, aren't we?