ChinaPa in May

Who would have thought year 2014 would have become a fantastic party-goers year for golden ladies Toastmasters? After District 67 Spring Conference 2014 in April, golden ladies held a celebration party at Music Corner with one of the best house bands in town. We decided to try out all restaurants with bands in Taipei to experience the crazy wild night life together!

Many thanks to Pamela for recommending newly moved and renovated ChinaPa at the Core City for our gathering in May! Nine golden ladies plus one young lady toastmaster, the niece of Pamela, made the perfect 10 for the evening party. We started dinner at 7:30, followed by chitchatting, drinking, and laughing. Gina brought ten colorful rings she bought in Peking when she visited the Peking Olympics in 2008. We couldn't wait to put them on and share our ties and frienship with one another.

When the band started singing and performing, all golden ladies kept dancing on the floor non-stop with the band. When we left ChinaPa at half past one this morning, one waiter approached me and complimented golden ladies energy and passion for life! I'm sure golden ladies Toastmasters shall soon become the talk of town among night clubs in Taipei!

Cooking Class--Manti （Turkish Dumplings）

Whenever there is a cooking class for general public at Antatolia Formosa Association, I jump at the opportunity to savor the authentic Turkish delicacies.

We made two kinds of Turkish dumplings in shapes (won-ton and shau-mai) this afternoon, May 25th. Turkish dumplings are smaller than Chinese ones in size.  They are more like Italian Ravioli.

All participants were eager to watch the demo by  Berrin, from mixing the flour, making a dough, slicing into fine square-shaped dumpling skins, filling with minced beef, and wrapping the dumplings. Turkish dumplings are served with Yogurt Sauce mixed with chopped schallot, garlic and a bit chilly powder. Yummy~~

Fight or Flight

Be it chilly and rainy on the street, we shared our thoughts about the challenge of the big data from Helen Lin and the threat of unprecedented rampage killing incidence in Taipei from Yoland Wu! Everybody was in a great shock about the college student manic who killed 4 and wounded 20+ passengers on MRT this afternoon, May 21st.

In this rapid changing word, we are obliged to hone our skills to help others to help ourselves. From now on, when I take MRT, I shall get near the alarm. Just in case of emergency, I can save as many people as possible. In stead of flight, I choose fight. I shall use my bag to protect myself to fight the killer (maybe, to save the killer, too).

It was the night Immediate Past President May Hwang nominated incoming club officers at Grand Toastmasters Club. Before the meeting, I prepared 18 slides of Revitalized Education Program (REP) Update and uploaded them on Picasa and urged club members to study them in advance to know their duties in the coming year. While Toastmasters International is facing new challenges to revitalize the education program, it's important that club officers get the firsthand information from the headquarters.

During my 10 minutes talk, I tried to mimic the Webinar scenario and asked the members to see the 18 slides on their smart phones while I delivered my update. Without me standing in front using the powerpoint presentation, it was a new experience for me and for Granders.

After a quick glance at the REP Update for 5 minutes and Q&A for 5 minutes, I believe members are as excited about the REP as me, especially incoming EVP and MVP, who will be invited to join beta test in early 2015! I hope that incoming club officers of Grand Toastmasters Club cherish the revitalized education program by participating in the beta test with eager and passion.

Let's embrace the big changes in the education program and excel ourselves in communication and leadership skills in the biggest non-profit educational organization of Toastmasters where leaders are made!

Revitalized Education Program (REP) Update in May

Without hesitation, I signed up the first session* of REP Update - May 2014 Wednesday, May 14, 2014 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM PDT (Thursday, May 15, 2014 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Taipei Time), the moment I received the invitation from the headquarters of Toastmasters International.

Without any knowledge and experience of Webinar, I feel excited to get connected to headquarters sitting in front of my desktop in Taipei, to understand the update of revitalized education program through a video conferencing software provided by Citrix Online. Now I need to know more about Webinar before Thursday morning, May 15th.

Webinar, short for Web-based seminar, is a presentation, lecture, workshop or seminar that is transmitted over the Web using video conferencing software. A key feature of a Webinar is its interactive elements -- the ability to give, receive and discuss information. Contrast with Webcast, in which the data transmission is one way and does not allow interaction between the presenter and the audience.

Just imagine, Toastmasters from all over the world could participate in a cyber meeting without leaving home. Isn't it exciting to enjoy the revitalized education program with a group of toastmasters ( I wonder how many District 67 Officers would be at the first session?) from all walks of life, all corners of the world in different time zones?

* First Session  Wednesday, May 14, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM (PDT)
   Second Session Thursday, May 15, 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM (PDT)
   Third Session Friday, May 16, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (PDT)

PS: I almost gave up the REP Update in May, because the system Window 2000 of my desktop couldn't support Webinar powered by Citrix Online. I had to cancel my registration at the last minute Wednesday evening, May 14th. But, my husband didn't give up. He got up early to set up Window XP on my laptop Thursday morning, May 15th, just in time for me to participate in  the first session of REP Update with success. The one hour REP Update conducted by Sally Newell Cohen, Chief Operations Officer, Toastmasters International, was very informative and exciting.

During the REP Update in May, there was only presentation transmitted over the Web. There was no interactive discussion between the presenter and the audience. I didn't know why, maybe there were some technical problems! While the headquarters is yet to decide which video conferencing software will be used for Webinar! I look forward to more interactive Webinar REP Updates in the near future!

The Visionary Leader

Toastmaster Jimmy Wu wished to share his investment experiences in the US stock market with Granders only. Gina opened her cozy apartment for the gathering today, May 4th, entertain 14 members from Grand. The lunch menu included fresh fruits juice, chicken soup with pineapple and bitter melon.

Before Jimmy Wu's workshop, I used to watch cnYES from time to time. From now on, I shall include CNBC, Bloomberg, Seeking Alpha as my favorite websites to poke my nose in a new gold mine in the US stock market. Hopefully, I could be as successful as Jimmy Wu in financial investment one day!


Ian left before lunch to join the Marathon in the EAST at 6PM. Gina prepared a super rich lunch box for him to enjoy on the train. Star and Maureen left immediately after lunch to celebrate Mother's Day with their families! I love the homemade chocolate cookies Maureen brought to the gathering today. Yummy~

After lunch, I gave a presentation on the Leadership Excellence Series -- The Visionary Leader, with an aim to get my ALS (Advanced Leader Silver) after I complete my term as Area H1 Governor 2013-2014. The reason why I choose the visionary leader, the first topic of the Leadership Excellence Series, is to address the subject of leadership for members to become successful leaders inside and outside of Toastmasters.

In toastmasters, after a member gets CC and CL awards and serves as the club officer for six months, he or she can receive ALB award by conducting any two presentations from The Successful Club Series and/or The Leadership Excellence Series. I'm eager to apply for my CL, ALB in July 2014.

In the visionary leader, I talked about how leaders create and communicate a vision for their organization to help it be successful. Being Area H1 governor, I am happy to lead my area to become the first President distinguished area in District 67. It is my firm belief that a club with a vision is a club of inspiration and aspiration! Grand is about to celebrate the 40th anniversary. Let's come up a vision for Grand Toastmasters Club.

Area Visit Report of Club 01024720

It was MOFA Toastmasters Club's second monthly meeting in Japanese this afternoon, April 24th. I was delighted to serve as the General Evaluator along with the full support from senior members of Pacific Toastmasters Club and graduate students from Fu-jen University.

President Charles Teng greeted participants warmly in English to start the meeting with a great success. Even though MOFA TMC Japanese chapter operated for the second time since MOFA toastmasters Club became a bilingual club of English and Japanese in February 2014. It is our hope that more young Japanese-speaking diplomats will be interested in joining MOFA TMC Japanese chapter.

Since July 2013, MOFA has done an amazing job recruiting 9 new English-speaking members. New members are well oriented with a formal induction ceremony and mentors are assigned to new members! MOFA always has high quality meetings both in English and in Japanese!

MOFA Toastmasters Club members participated outside of club meetings actively, including visiting other clubs and joining district conferences. MOFA member Pierre won the champion of both tabletopics contest and speech contest in Japanese at District 67 Spring Conference 2014. MOFA members are competent speakers. Members take assigned meeting roles with due diligence. Every assignment taker does his or her best to perform the duty well.

MOFA had 9 new members since July 2013, but MOFA can't retain old members. MOFA toastmasters will be dispatched abroad. Two active members Pierre Chen and Wei-ling will be dispatched to Japan and to England in July and September 2014.

MOFA is facing a problem of shortage of club officers to run the club. MOFA has high quality meetings, but MOFA's weakness is membership! Members achievements are well tracked and recognized. MOFA has achieved DCP 5 points, but MOFA could not be recognized unless MOFA has 20 paid members (at the moment MOFA has only 10 paid members).

New Leadership Roles in Toastmasters

It's nice to live in the history, specifically in Toastmasters history. I received an exciting news from the headquarters this morning. The Board of Directors decided in February on new district leader titles that will take effect on July 1, 2015. The incoming district leaders assume their new leadership roles. They will be the first generation of leaders to carry the new and contemporary district leader titles.

The title of Area Governor will be obsolete. The title of Area Director will be effective from July, 2015. That prompts me to take up the Division Director 2015-2016 to align with the Toastmasters' strategic plan objective to modernize the educational programs with a renewed focus on leadership.

In 1992, Toastmasters changed the fiscal year from January till December to July to June. I was delighted to served as EVP of Grand Toastmasters Club for one and a half years. I became President of Grand in July 1993. It is a special to remembered the dates by living in the period!

Area Visit Report of Club 03454147

At the last minute, I accepted the invitation from Division H Governor Lawrence Huang to be Area H1 Governor in late June 2013. I had never thought of serving as Area Governor as easy as it could have been. I started with two clubs (Grand and MOFA), and I have four clubs in my area, including two new clubs, TGIF and CDE.

I paid my official visit to TGIF Christian Toastmasters for the second round Friday evening, April 18th, mainly to show my gratitude to their full support and active participation in District 67 Spring Conference 2014 in Taipei the weekend before.

Be TGIF Christian Toastmaster a young club of six months old, Charter President Lester Lin leads club officers and members with the face of brotherly love. Every member is empowered to pursue their educational goal by participating actively in club meetings. It's not surprising TGIF becomes one of the 18 clubs to achieve Distinguished club in District 67 before the end of March. And TGIF becomes the first club to achieve President Distinguished Club in District 67 in April.

It's an exciting experience to join TGIF meeting full of laughter. Every performer was enthusiastic about the meeting role. Each member is encouraged to grow in a fun-loving environment. TGIF has a clear DCP goal, to be President-Distinguished-Club. Members are acknowledged for their contributions of their educational achievements and members participate outside of club meetings actively to get DCP points. Out of DCP 9 points, President Lester Lin contributes more than 2 points, including 1 CC, 1 ALS, 1 DTM in 2013-2014.

Area Visit Report of Club 00001447

Grand Toastmasters Club is my home club. After I was installed as Area H1 Governor from the first of July, I attended Grand’s meetings regularly, and I was glad that I contributed one DCP point as ACS.

I joined Grand in 1986. There were not many toastmasters clubs back then. I became President in 1993 when I was the Secretary General of Taiwan Pharmaceutical Industry Association where club meetings were held for two and half years.

Grand Toastmasters was established in 1975. It will celebrate the 40th anniversary next year. Being the 4th Toastmasters in District 67, there are quite a few senior members in Grand. The young and the old get along to achieve DCP 8 points before the end of March.

Senior members attend club meetings regularly. Junior members are eager to achieve their individual educational goals. Grand has a right size of membership so that every member has the opportunity to take a role in the club meeting. However, senior members should be encouraged to achieve educational goals as well.

At Grand, new members are well taken care of by club officers. New members feel at home and take assignments timely! Grand is like a family to all members, both young and old. Club meetings are enjoyable, including warm-up joke session, creative tabletopics session, prepared speeches session, evaluation session. Members are supportive of one another inside and outside club meetings.

Members participate outside of club meetings actively. Eight members from Grand participated in District 67 Spring Conference 2014 by performing Lion Dance at the opening ceremony!

Spring Into the World


This is the 31st advanced speech to be delivered at Grand Toastmasters Club this evening, April 16. It's The Entertaining Speech, the Series on The Entertaining Speaker.

Opening
I love show business. I love to be in the spotlight on stage. I love to surprise the audience. Laughter and tears are my rewards.
Body
Since young, I love singing and dancing. I'm still attending singing and dancing classes now. In addition, I learn drumming and Taiwanese opera. I belong to several performing groups. We visit nursing homes on regular basis to cheer up the elderly and to hone our performing skills.

Year 2014 is special. Toastmasters are celebrating 90th anniversary since the establishment of the world's largest non profit education organization by Dr. Ralph C. Smedley in 1924. When I was invited to take charge of the opening ceremony of Spring Conference 2014, I jumped at the chance to bring Chinese culture on stage, suona, beiguan, drum & gong, lion dance. Yes, at District 67 Spring Conference 2014, we sprung into the world with treasures and assets from our ancestors with a huge success!

To see is to believe. Now open your eyes and ears. I give you the lion dance from Grand Toastmasters Club.

Three minutes Lion Dance Performance.

 Even though most lion dance team members were first timers performers of lion dance, we did our very best to present a holy and ritual opening of spring conference to bring fortune to all participants. Area H3 Governor Christine Liu's younger daughter was so excited that she made the highest jump ever as the lead small lion. For Granders, we developed teamwork and built solidarity among us by springing into the world together.

Conclusion
I'd like to take the opportunity to show my deepest appreciation to lion dance team members for their trust in me and for their enthusiasm in learning a new skill. Everybody was so cooperative, we rehearsed till the last minute. It was a great achievement for me to make the lion dance happen at District 67 Spring Conference 2014. Last but not lease, we created a lion dance team in District 67.

District 67 Spring Conference 2014

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