End of Decade Gila Gila 2 Fellowship at Seremban Steamboat Centre.

PD Toastmasters Club celebrate end of decade bashing at Seremban Steamboat Centre. A big thank you to all members and friends for a great decade at PD Toastmasters Club and looking forward to another greater decade!Lots of 3Fs; fun, friends and fellowship.

ACS Rosa Phua having trouble with her camera and ATMB Dr Subhassh busy with his ice cream. Special thanks to TM Dharma for taking time off to join us and a special word of appreciation to CC Sukumaran for making to this Gila night after a tiring flight from India.

Monica and DTM Robert Tan looking great on this night. ACS Lee Kah Tor is lost without ACB Donna around and CC Kay is as beautiful as ever!

End of Decade Fellowship Celebration.

Port Dickson Toastmasters Club decided to end the decade on a high note. Our Gila Gila 2 steamboat fellowship dinner on the 29th December in Seremban 2 was a smashing success with 18 members and friends. Come join our celebration in photos. More photos to follow. CC Kay Ku is looking for her oyster in the seafood. CTM Margaret, CTM Yeoh Lian Geok, CC Vallie and TM Chandran looks on.

They were told steamboat can steam hair to grow! TM Dharma and CC Sukumaran in the believer group.

Our President, CTM R Kala is very happy because CC Zulkarnain and ATMB Tan Lai Hock is making sure she is sticking to her diet! They are eating everything up for her (look at Lai Hock's and Zul's stomach size).

Last Meeting for 2009-Memories for All

Port Dickson Toastmasters Club's last meeting of the year held on the 22th December 2009 in Sg Ujong Club in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. These photos are especially meant for members and friends who cannot make it to the Christmas theme meeting! This meeting is full of songs and gifts. More photos to follow! Our core member ATMB Dr Subhassh discussing with our Ah Counter CC Zulkarnain to be more generous with his counting as a end year present to members. Our 'new' old member Valentine Sia pretending not to hear.

Our 4 Santarinas, ACB Amy Siew, ACS Rosa Phua, CTM Yeoh Lian Geok, and CTM Margaret waiting for Santa Claus to turn up.

A New Decade....A New Goal....

Port Dickson Toastmasters Club wishes all members and friends a new beginning in toastmastering in 2010!

Gila-Gila 2 Steaming Boat-Last Update

It will not be complete for year 2009 without a PD toast masters club fellowship.

We shall meet tomorrow night at 7.30pm ,29th Dec .

Subject : Gila-gila 2
Time : 7.30pm
Venue : S2 Seafood steamboat/BBQ(Buffet) Behind Jusco , next to a hardware shop.
Attire : Smart Casual
( I have surveyed the place, Seremban Police Force celebrated their annual dinner in the restaurant ,so for second thought, singlet might not be appropriate)
Price : RM 18 ++

Dinner is booked under PDTMC, See you all there.

Kay

The Language Perfectionist: Lie Down When You Read This One

By Don Hauptman

What's wrong with this sentence?

"How pleasant to lie prone on one's back on the cool grass, and gaze upward through the shady green canopy of boughs...."

The word prone means lying on one's stomach, face down. Thus, "prone on one's back" is a physical impossibility, even for a contortionist!

Here's how to distinguish among adjectives that describe various reclining postures:

• prone: lying face down

• supine: lying face up

• prostrate: lying face down, or at full length; can imply submission or humiliation

• recumbent: lying in a position of comfort or rest
  

Finally -- and this could be important -- don't confuse prostrate with prostate. This is a surprisingly common error, as indicated by the following example: "As men get older, the prostrate gland can cause quite a few problems..."

E- books on How to Make Life Easier

2010 is just round the corner. Do you want to start the year right and easier? Than just read one suggestion per day from these ebooks '100 Ways to Make Life Easier 1 and 2' by Marcia Weider

http://www.dreamcoach.com/pdfs/Fundamental_ebook1.pdf?utm_source=DreamZine&utm_campaign=375b6c5050-DC+Pre-Launch+1&utm_medium=email

http://www.dreamcoach.com/pdfs/Fundamental_ebook2.pdf?utm_source=DreamZine&utm_campaign=375b6c5050-DC+Pre-Launch+1&utm_medium=email

I am sure you will discover more passion, do more what you love and fill your life with ease.

Have a great 2010.

Word of the Day-Tawdry

Tawdry (TAW-dree) -- short for St. Audrey lace -- means gaudy; tastelessly showy and cheap.

Example : "I love Christmas time -- even the parts of it that are tawdry and blatantly commercial."

Season's Greetings to All Members and Friends

Port Dickson Toastmasters Club

wishes all Members and Friends

a Merry Christmas and Happy

New Year.

Steaming Gila Gila 2 Steamboat-Update 4

Our steamboat dinner is picking up steam now! Get yourself registered now before the steaming members can't talk to you! (Too busy eating and sweating)

Our Count up to now; 16 and still counting

GO:
1.Zulkarnain
2.Tan lai Hock
3.Rosa
4.Vallie
5.Kala
6.Tan Soo Guan
7.Kay Ku
8.Lian Geok
9.Indra (vegetarian)
10.Sukumaran (vegetarian)
11.GT Singam
12.Dr.Subhassh
13.Lee Kah Tor
14.Chandran
15.Robert Tan
16.Monica Tan

No go with apologies
1.Amy Siew
2.Kat Lee Lan
3.Chua Eu Chieh
4.Valentine Sia
5.Nageswari

Kay
Secretary PDTMC

A Great E-Book to Finish the Year

To finish the year on a positive note, read this e-book, Conversation with Millionaires by Michael Litman. Conversation with famous teachers like Jim Rohn, Mark Victor Hansen, Wally 'Famous' Amos, Jack Canfield, Sharon Lechter, etc on what drives them to success.

This 205 pages ebook is a must read for anyone who is aiming to go to the next level in 2010.

Go to this link http://www.mikelitman.com/finerminds/cwmbookfinal.pdf

Enjoy!

Madness Gila-Gila 2 Dinner- Updates 3

GT , Dr and Kah Tor replied to join Gila gila 2 dinner on the 29th Dec 2009 night.

Do not hesitate, it is definite an auspicious day with the awesome crowd. Please check the following list , we do not want to miss you.

Our Count up to now;

GO:
1.Zulkarnain
2.Tan lai Hock
3.Rosa
4.Vallie
5.Kala
6.Tan Soo Guan
7.Kay Ku
8.Lian Geok
9.Indra (vegetarian)
10.Sukumaran (vegetarian)
11.GT Singam
12.Dr.Subhassh
13.Lee Kah Tor

No go with apologies
1.Amy Siew
2.Kat Lee Lan
3.Chua Eu Chieh
4.Valentine Sia
5.Nageswari

Let us have a contest, the 1st three faces to be captured in the camera will be uploaded in our PDTMC blog. He.He.( now we can decide to have singlet or gown!! )

Kay
Secretary PDTMC

The Language Perfectionist: Always Avoid Ambiguity

By Don Hauptman

Some problems with the written word don't qualify as formal mistakes but rather are issues of style and expression. That doesn't make them any less serious.

One of these problems is the sentence so poorly worded that it's ambiguous and confusing. It forces the reader to stop and wonder: What is the writer trying to say? What does he mean?

Here are a few examples I caught recently in major newspapers:

• "Although Mr. Bush has given several speeches since leaving office... this is the first event where he has invited reporters to announce a new venture."
  
  Of course, the former president didn't suggest to reporters that they announce their own new venture. Better: "... this is the first event where he announced a new venture to invited reporters."

• "But while it may seem to be bad form, in some cases, it is legal for a credit-card issuer to close an active account...."
  
  It's not the "bad form" that "in some cases" refers to, but rather the legality of the account terminations. Omitting the comma after "cases" would clarify matters.

• "Our survey of consumers in five large country markets found a range of reasons why people opt for counterfeits."
  
  Are we talking about rural flea markets that aren't small? Nope. A subsequent paragraph makes it clear that the reference is to Brazil, Russia, India, China, and America. The problem can be fixed via hyphenation: "large-country markets."

Word of the Day-Innocuous

Innocuous (ih-NOK-yoo-us) -- from the Latin -- is another way of saying harmless.

Example: "Internal distractions may seem innocuous. But they can completely derail your schedule and put you off track."

Gila Gila Dinner 2- Update 2

Your response and support for this event had energised me even way before the event day. Thank you!

Our count had increased. Sukumaran from Chennai had also replied to participate. Let us all pray for his son's fast recovery.

I am trying to talk to the restaurant for some vegetarian food.

Our Count up to now;

GO:
1. Zulkarnain
2. Tan lai Hock
3. Rosa
4. Vallie
5. Kala
6. Tan Soo Guan
7. Kay Ku
8. Lian Geok
9. Indra (vegetarian)
10. Sukumaran (vegetarian)

No go with apologies
1. Amy Siew
2. Donna Kat Lee Lan
3. Chua Eu Chieh
4. Valentine Sia

Let us have a contest, the 1st three faces to be captured in the camera will be upload in our PDTMC blog. He.He.( Now we can decide to have singlet or gown!! )

Kay Secretary PDTMC

The Language Perfectionist: A Gallimaufry of Gaffes

By Don Hauptman

Below, another batch of interesting mistakes, all found recently in major newspapers:

*A Pentagon spokesman on unneeded planes: "We've always frowned upon earmarks and additives that are above and beyond what we ask for."

An additive is a substance, usually a chemical, that's combined with another substance. The right word here is addition.

*"Are we telling young adults it is alright to waste half their lives in a drug stupor and somehow it will magically work out?"

Notwithstanding the widespread use of alright in popular culture (The Kids Are Alright), the correct expression is all right. It's two words, not one. Notes Garner's Modern American Usage, an excellent style guide: "Alright for all right has never been accepted as standard in American English."

*"Demi Lovato... and Selena Gomez... are paired together for this comedy."
This is a classic redundancy. The word paired tells us that the actresses are co-stars, so together should be omitted.

*"Mr. Bowman, 47, appears to have crossed some unspoken line with his $400,000 in student debt and penalties, accumulated over many years."

The problem here is a misused metaphor. The line the writer figuratively cites isn't "spoken," but rather is like a line on a map or one drawn in the sand.

*"Sadly, there is a ton of good country music, but it is not being played on radio stations."

This writer is guilty of a misplaced modifier that contradicts his meaning. The mistake is easily repaired by moving the adjective: "There is a ton of good country music but, sadly, it is not being played on radio stations."

Quote of the Day

Nothing will ever be attempted, if all possible objections must first be overcome."

-- Samuel Johnson, Essayist, Lexicographer

Gila-Gila Celebration Dinner 2-Updates

Our latest Count as at 17th Dec 2009, 2.30pm;

GO
1.Zulkarnain
2.Tan Lai Hock
3.Rosa
4.Vallie
5.Kala
6.Tan Soo Guan
7.Kay Ku

No go with Apologies
1.Amy Siew
2.Donna Kat Lee Lan

We have enough number to gila now, but we hope more will join us. If we have more ladies, we can change the law ( 1st law to change singlet to evening gown. Why not gown for steam boat?)

Kay
Secretary PDTMC

Tips on Speaking in Public

Learn some tips on how to speak in your own authentic speaking style by Heidi Parr Kerner, MA. Go to this link to a YouTube site and enjoy!

http://www.theheartandsoulofspeaking.com/authentic.htm

Gila-Gila Dinner 2

Hello Toastmasters and friends,

It is coming to last few days of 2009. Come,let us
celebrate, the PD Toastmasters way. It will not be a fun
year without a fellowship .

Let us group ourselves together on 29th Dec to bid
farewell to 2009.

    Venue:      Steam Boat in Seremban (halal)
    Time :      7.30pm,Tuesday, 29th Dec
    Dress Code :Singlet for man and woman ( steam boat
                will be hot!!!)

It is not easy to accommodate everyone's time and
preference of taste and style. We do hope you will
try your best to make it for this event. Your presence
will glorify this event.

We appreciate your reply for counting purpose.

RSVP : Kay Ku :017 2910422

Kay

Word of the Day-Indiscriminately

Indiscriminately (in-dih-SKRIM-uh-nit-lee) -- from the Latin for "not separated" -- means arbitrarily; not based on making careful distinctions.

Example: "Somehow, along the way, I stopped saying 'no' indiscriminately. As an adult, I discovered that saying 'yes' was a better way to win friends and influence people. But I also learned that there were times when 'no' really was the right answer."

Jingle Bell Jingle Bell ......Last PD Toastmasters Meeting for 2009

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle all the way........

It will be lots of fun, fellowship, Christmas atmospheres together with learning environment.

Please bring your red X'mas cap or get a glittering wear (if you do not have X'mas cap) to the next meeting. Rosa will be bringing us some cake, Lai Hock will prepare PA system for us to have Karaoke (only X'mas song).

Only YOU will make this a memorable one for 2009.

Role Players for 22nd Dec 2009

Toastmasters of The Evening : Rosa Phua, ACS
Tabletopics Masters : Yeoh Lian Geok, CL
Tabletopics Evaluator : R.Kala, CTM
Humor Master : Indra, TM
General Evaluator : Tan Soo Guan, CC
Language Evaluator : Indra, TM
Ah Counter : Kay Ku, CC
Timekeeper : Valentine Sia, TM
Speaker 1 CC #5 : Robert Tan, DTM
Speaker 2 Adv #3 : GT Singam, ACB
Speaker 3 Adv #6 : Lee Kah Tor, ACB
Evaluator 1 :
Evaluator 2 :
Evaluator 3 :

Regards,
Secretary
Kay Ku

Staying Happily Together-Part 2

This is the second part of the award winning speech by CC Tan Soo Guan at the 2009 Toastmasters Division 'C' Humor Contest.


‘O” - other people’s money.

When we just got married, when love was blind, everything was about sharing. I still remember her saying this “Darling, your money is my money and my money is also your money.”

I cannot explain what happen next but I suppose this is a natural phenomenon that evolved over time. After a while, she said “Your money is my money and my money is also my money!”

OK, I can argue with her, fight with her or explain it but I have a big heart. So I said “Sure my Darling you can have all my money and you can also have all my debt!

What do I do next? Create more debts!

It did not take her long to come back and say, “Your money is your money and your debt is also your debt.” “My money is my money and don’t touch my money, er!”

I never face money issues after that.

D- Don’t be predictable.

During my father’s times, he has only to worry how to put food on the table. Nowadays we have to worry about mother’s day, father’s day, Valentine’s Day, birthday’s days, wedding anniversary, registration anniversary, first meeting anniversary, and first kiss anniversary and so on.

You see, women basically set up these dates as markers just to get constant reminders that their men love them.

Ladies, just ask any men here and they will tell you the same thing. Men don’t love their women only certain days of the year; we love you every day of the year!

So, why do you need to set up these markers like bobby traps and whenever we miss one of these dates, ka-boom, we are dead.

Lucky for me, when love was still blind and everything is forgivable. I already planned never to celebrate any special occasions on the exact date but always a few days earlier a few days later. After a while, weeks, than months, just to be unpredictable.

Have more celebrations initially to confuse them as to which celebration that was for. Later, to save money, you can slowly reduce the number of celebrations but they will still be confused whether they have celebrated it this year or were it last year. Or was that celebration done the year before?

Finally once you broken down all these markers, dates are irrelevant.

If you are confused with what I am saying, than I know this plan will work well for you.

Follow Toastmasters and guest, when two adult of different background stays together, there is bound to be conflict. But as long as we religiously follow GOD, G-O-D, I believe that more people will be staying happily together.

Before I leave the stage, I would like to clarify to all the male audience here. Guys please don’t misunderstand me. I am not afraid of my wife.OK! My only problem is my wife is not afraid of me.

Back to Mr. Toastmaster.

The Language Perfectionist: In Its Way, It's a Frequent Error

By Don Hauptman

A fan writes to disclose her "biggest all-time pet peeve": mistakes that involve its and it's. "I see these errors every day -- on the Internet, in newsletter articles, in e-mail. Everywhere."

Examples of such punctuation gaffes: "My cat is chasing it's [its is correct] tail again." Its [It's is correct] always sunny in Philadelphia.

The word it's is a contraction of it is. The apostrophe stands for the missing letter. And its is a possessive personal pronoun that is not a contraction. Thus, it contains no apostrophe, although many people insist on inserting one.

If you're in doubt about whether to use the apostrophe, mentally substitute it is and see if the sentence is still intelligible.

In Comma Sense, a fine guide to punctuation by Richard Lederer and John Shore, the authors cite these similar sentences with quite different meanings:

A clever dog knows its master.
A clever dog knows it's master.

To language sticklers, the abuse of apostrophes is especially irritating. A group of these curmudgeons even formed an Apostrophe Protection Society! Indeed, misuses abound, as I discovered when I saw this sentence recently on the menu of a popular fast-food chain: "Kid's make your own pizza."

Award Winning 2009 Toastmasters Division 'C' Humor Speech-Part 1

We managed to persuade CC Tan Soo Guan to part with his 1st Runner's Up speech at the 2009 Toastmaster Division 'C' Humor and Evaluation Contest to share with all of us. Enjoy!

Staying Happily Together – 2009 Division 'C' Contest, Segi College, Subang Jaya, Malaysia

I know Apa Rao from my first job. Whenever I see him, I would greet him like this, “Hey, Rao! How is life?” And he would reply, “Tan, What is life without a wife?"

Soon, we both move on with our careers and lost touch. One day I meet him at Sungai Wang Plaza and I exclaimed, “Hey Rao! I understand that you are married, congratulations! How is life?” He replies, “Aiyoo! Tan, what is life with such a wife?”

For those of you who laugh the loudest; I understand how you feel. It is like when you are single, your life is really miserable and after you are married, you wish you are dead.

Fellow Toastmasters and guests, tonight, based on my 16 years of married life, I am going to share with you 3 simple ways on how to stay happily together with your spouse.
All marriages are made in heaven, so to stay happily together, we must remember GOD. G-O-D.

G- Give and Take
In any good marriage there must be a give and take attitude. Example, when I find my wife feels strongly on certain issues, I will let her give all her views. I will just stand and take it. I will take it all if I must! She gives and I take!

Of cause, don’t get me wrong, I don’t take all the time. I also give. This is when it concern money. I give and she takes. When I give her more she takes more. Ah! Now I am smarter. I only give a little bit and the balance I keep it in my pocket.

Ever since both of us joined Toastmasters Club, I was trying to convince her to follow the Tabletopics rules whenever we need to discuss issues. She will have her say for 2 minutes. Ring. Then my turn for the next 2 minutes. Ring. Then her turn. Now, pause fillers like sob, sob, ahh, ahh will be included into the 2 minutes.

This way we can truly focus on the issues and not talk about the past, her mother-in-law and everything else but the real issue.

Of cause in reality things don’t work out as planned. When it is her turn, she will think she is giving her advance speech and speak non-stop for the next one hour! I am still trying to work it out.

Continue Part 2 tomorrow

Another Self Improvement Book for Toastmasters

A new year is upon us! Have you advance in life as much as you would like to this year? Than learn about the secret of success in your toastmaster skills and life in general from this free e-book.

Go to 'The Secret of Success' by William Atkinson at :

http://www.agiftaweek.com/atkinsonsecret/William_Atkinson-The_Secret_of_Success.pdf

Download or just read it. Enjoy!

Be Grateful

Are you feeling down and out with no energy to come to the next PD Toastmasters meeting in Seremban? Nothing seems to be going right for you? Life is pretty miserable?

Than you need to download this freebie '25 Reasons to be Grateful'. Read it and be happy with all the blessings you have now. Go to http://www.evolutionezine.com/25-Reasons-to-Be-Grateful.pdf .

Enjoy!

Port Dickson Toastmaster Club Meeting- 8/12/09

Our regular fortnightly meeting at Sg Ujong Club, Seremban on the 8th Dec 2009 was highly entertaining and rewarding. DTM Robert Tan demonstrated to the newer members how to give an award winning speech when he gave his CC#4 speech.

With his listening and analytical skills horned by years of toastmasters training, no one can beat ATMB Tan Lai Hock when it comes to speech evaluation.

That night was indeed an enjoyable and a great learning experience for all of us. Come celebrate the end of 2009 and join us for the last meeting for the year on the 22nd Dec. This will be a X'mas theme meeting. Come in your Santa and Santarina suits. See you there!


DTM Robert Tan showing his passions during his speech CC#4 (Note: DTM Robert Tan is repeating his CC.) With all his passions thrown into his speech, it is not surprising that DTM Robert Tan came out winner for the night for best prepared speech. DTM Robert Tan also sweep the table topics award. Come on guys, let us give him some fight the next time!

Our founder member ATMB Tan Lai Hock getting his best evaluator award. Congratulations to the Tan clan for sweeping all 3 awards.

Note: Our President CTM R. Kala is the 'Lady in Red'.

Membership Drive for Port Dickson Toastmasters Club

We just had a committee meeting in Sg Ujong Club, Seremban, Malaysia on the 8th December 2009. One area of concern is the lack of new members. The Committee and Advisors came up with a few suggestions.

1) CTM Yeoh Lian Geok has come up with a brilliant idea to encourage guests to convert to members. When any guest attends 3 consecutive meetings and joins after that, he/she will be given a refund of RM24.

2) ATMB Tan Lai Hock reminds the President and Toastmaster of the Evening not to invite any guests to speak at the meeting. Since public speaking is so 'scary', this will discourage any guests from returning.

3) CC Tan Soo Guan reminds everyone that the 2 types of people most of us try to avoid are from the MLM and Insurance industry. Why? In fact, they should be the first people you see especially when you are starting out in life! Because, these people want us to 'commit' or sign between the dotted line and we are scare to commit.
Out of goodness in our heart, we normally rush to ask guests to sign up immediately after the first meeting! Unfortunately from our action, that will be the last time we will see them!
We must encourage guests to attend at least 2 to 3 meetings before we officially invite them to 'sign' up.

Starting 2010, the club will focus on attracting and converting guests by implementing the above three suggestions.

Regards,
VPPR