Message from Mr. Lakhmichand, M.A., ATMB,CL

It has been a GREAT Term, 2007-2008

Dear Area W1 Club Officers, Club Members, Fellow Toastmasters & Friends...

On the Eve of yet another great incoming term (2008-2009), allow me to express my sincere thanks, for all the assistance you ALL gave, in making our clubs EXCELLENT Clubs, our AREA as the President's Distinguished Area -

DON'T FORGET! WE WERE THE FIRST IN DIV W! & SECOND IN THE DISTRICT!

It doesn't matter if we were not splashed in headlines! We ALL KNOW what we ACHIEVED, and ONLY WE know what we did to achieve.

The good book says we achieve ONLY what we deserve. If you did not achieve your goals(s), it is because it wasn't the time. There is always another day. So, DON'T STOP TRYING!

I THANK YOU ALL for making my work EASY, and giving me the opportunity to learn side by side! For giving me the opportunity to serve again our clubs and our Toastmasters.

Please give greater support to Satchit, our AG for 2008-2009. We elected him, and we will ensure our support to make OUR AREA a TOP AREA, again!

My sincere thanks to Div Gov, Azmi Shahrin, DTM, for always being there to support us. It has been a wonderful 12 months' exciting experience, learning new things, conquering new heights, and rediscovering ourselves!

The Div W Council has been a great supporter...

I hope in the coming term W1 clubs will have greater co-operation & understanding, & help each other to be successful clubs.

If you ever need any assistance, anytime, don't hesitate - I am just an email or an sms away!

If you wish to get some of the resources, that I often circulate, please ensure you are a member of the AsianToastmasters Yahoo group. If you are not a member, please send me an email to request for membership.

Once again, it has been wonderful knowing you all, and my Sincere THANKS to each and everyone.

Regards

Lucky
(Lakhmichand)
AG W1 (2007-2008)

Letter from En. Azmi Shahrin, DTM

Thank You For The Incredible Memories

My fellow officers and friends,

We embarked on this adventurous journey almost 366 days ago on 1 July 2007. This ride will end in several hours when the clock strikes midnight. A new team will take over to manage our Toastmasters affairs from the District right down to the Club levels. Some of us may be glad to step away from the shackles of responsibility that had bound us, while some of us may be sad to release the gavel of authority to our successors. Such is the nature of the Toastmasters International leadership program, where members become leaders not for the sake of being leaders but for the sake of learning to be leaders.

Today, as I look back on the 366 days of my term as the Division W Governor I feel happy not by the incredible statistics of our joint accomplishments but I am joyful of the fact that as of today 190 fellow members have achieved an education award, meaning that 190 fellow members can now improve their lives. I am happy that this term we have extended the benefits of the Toastmasters program to 388 new members, meaning that there are now 388 fellow members who will soon improve their lives. Beyond doubt the Toastmasters program is a life-changing program and it is simply incredible that our joint effort had been able to touch and change so many lives for the better.

Despite our success, I am pained by the simple fact that I have not done enough. The evenings I decided not to visit a club, the days I decided not to call a member and ask how she is faring, the nights when I decided to stay away from Toastmasters business, may have been at a great cost of 1 less member achieving an education award and thus improving his life or 1 more new club which could have changed the lives of 20 charter members. I could and should have done more. I know I can. Therefore, I am inconsolable.

I thank my loyal officers serving in the Division W Council who eagerly executed the DWSEP and District Programs and standing in for me as my able and capable lieutenants during 366 sunny days and rainy days of the term. I couldn't have done it without you. I thank the club presidents and officers who welcomed us to their clubs and made us a part of them. Your warm hospitality, your eagerness to hear from us, your respect for us... your everything, made my officers and I feel really special. Most importantly, I thank with all my heart the members who worked diligently preparing the speeches, who struggled to read from the notes, who shone like a lighthouse illuminating the way for other members, who touched my heart with their kind, who squeezed me out of breath, who smiled at me and made me feel so special.. You Make Me Complete.

Soon, Dr Sharon and her team will take over the reins and I wish that you support them, stand by them and live by them upon your honor as man and woman of Toastmasters International. Although, I will not be The Division W Governor anymore, I will always at your service. Please think of me kindly because I think of nothing else but the world of you.

I remain,

Azmi Shahrin
Division W Governor
012-9198557

Visit the Division W Blog at http://divw.blogspot.com

3 Magic Cures to Eliminate Aaaaaaaahs!

3 Magic Cures to Eliminate Aaaaaaaahs!
by Azmi Shahrin

A speech crutch is an annoying impediment to speakers in 2 ways. First, it distracts the audience from enjoying the speech. Secondly, it disrupts the speaker's train of thoughts.

Often as an audience when we listen to a speech punctuated by speech crutches, we start to pay attention to the crutches instead of the speech. In the end, we get so frustrated and annoyed that the idea presented is lost to us. All we are left with is the lingering stench of the incessant annoying punctuations of aaaahs, uhms and eeeeers.

When you are speaking, these crutches reverberate in your mind like the booming echo of distant thunder disrupting your thoughts until all that is left are just aaaaahs and more aaaaaahs.

8 years ago, as an apprentice speaker, my speech consisted of aaaaaahs punctuated with proper words.

I was unaware of my dependence on speech crutches until an honest evaluator brought them to my attention. Since then I have worked to eliminate them from my speeches using various techniques both recommended and improvised. I am proud to report that as a result of my efforts, I have managed to lower the frequency of my aaaaahs. On some days, I don't have any at all.

I would like to share my 3 magic cures for speech crutches which in my experience I have found to be extremely effective.

Magic Cure #1 - Speak at a slower rate. Most of us are not endowed by providence with a quick fire mind. Therefore we speak at a faster rate than we think. When our mouth opens when there's no more signal from our mind, the inevitable aaaaaaaah is emitted. Therefore, speak slower to match your thinking rate and you will cure your speech crutches.

Magic Cure #2 - Close your mouth when you have nothing to say. Speech crutches are emitted when you open your mouth without a definite idea of what to say. Learn to pause when you have a blank thought. Form the next few words in your mind and then only vocalize them. In short, speak only when necessary.

Magic Cure #3 - Punctuate with pauses. Learn to phrase your speech by grouping words forming an idea and pausing after each idea. This will replace your horrible crutches with pauses.
Consciously, use the 3 magic cures which I have recommended and you will positively eliminate your speech crutches. This will transform you into the pleasant and stylish speaker that you desire.

Source: Azmi Shahrin, DTM

Chapter Meeting No: 04 Friday, 23 May 2008

And the winner is…drumroll please!

TM Azrul received Best Speaker award from President Abdul Halim.
Also present TME Faez.

...and Best Table Topic speaker award goes to TM Zura.

CTM, CL Haji Naburi voted Best Evaluator on 23 May 2008.

Congratulations! to our winners:

Best Speaker: TM Azrul
Best Evaluator: DTM, Haji Naburi
Best Table Topic: TM Zura

...and to all other TMs, remember we’re ALL winners too.
So, we can (and should) start working in our potential!