Demo meeting on 28th April 2011

On 28th April 2011, the PD TMC was invited to give a demonstration on what toastmastering is all about.
It was held at the Le paris International Hotel in Port Dickson. The demo was given to a big group of 67 Pengetuas and 27 Guru Besars. Here you can catch aglimpse of the audience.









Another view of the audience.

The President opening the demonstration.

The backdrop says it all. Its a meeting of Excellent Schools administrators i.e Principals and Headmasters.

Another view of the audience.

The front view of the audience.

TM Yeoh Lian Geok was Tabletopics master.

Tm Dr Subhassh was the first to be called for Tabletopics.

Next it was VPPR TM Chua Eu Chieh.

Then it was yours trully's turn.

An added bonus was the presence of 1980's athletic darling, Marina Chin.

She participated in the tabletopics session.

TM Harold Gomez was drag out of retirement to help us in the tabletopics. Thank you my friend.

Looking forward to having you back in our fold. We just love you.

TM Kay Ku was not spared either.

This principal volunteered to speak in tabletopics and she was good.

TM Capt Khalid evaluated the tabletopics.

The President got every one laughing with his humorous speech. This is certainly his best speech.

TM Lee Kah Tor evaluated the President's humorous speech at the Demo meeting.

Here TM Amy Siew is seen playing her role as the Language Evaluator.

TM Kala was there too playing her role as the timekeeper.

The AH counter looking preety and smiling for the cameraman.

TM Robert Tan was full of gestures during his General Evaluation.

After a successful demo meeting, it was time to receive a momento from the organiser.

The meeting was a huge success. We hope we have left an excellent impression in the minds of the Principals and Headmasters. Onward with Toastmasters in the schools. Its Toastmasters moving forward.

Meeting on 26th April 2011

On 26th April, as usual we had our normal Toastmasters meeting. The meeting started off as usual with the President having his say.

The President so handsome and commanding.

The Toastmaster of the evening, TM Kenneth is so professional nowadays. He has improved tremendously.



















Tabletopics master was TM Dr Subhassh.

TM Chuah Eu Chieh was the first to be called for tabletopics.

Next it was ATMG Lee Kah Tor.



















Then it was DTM Robert Tan's turn to respond.



















The President was not spared either.



















The board shows it all - Who is playing what role.



















A view of the audience. Were you there?



















TM Kay Ku was tabletopics evaluator.



















Wow! Look at them. Busy eating and still want to pose for the camera man.

TM Chandran was full of passion delivering his speech.

























TM Chua evaluating a speech.



















TM Kala was evaluator.





















ATMG Lee kah Tor was General Evaluator.

TM Yeoh acted as Language Evaluator.

Donna counted the number of "Ahs" for us.

TM Vallie kept time.

Yours trully was Best Tabletopics speaker.

TM Amy was Best Speaker.

TM Chua was Best Evaluator.

TM Chua gave a special presentation on membership.

The President then closed the meeting. It was an eventful meeting. We spoke. We laughed and most of all we enjoyed ourselves while learning to be better speakers and leaders.

PD Toastmasters Language Perfectionist: Another Spell

By Don Hauptman

I recently wrote a column on what may be the 14 most common misspellings in the English language. But additional candidates can readily be found.

In a newspaper article about automated parking garages, the word palate was used repeatedly for pallet. A pallet is "a portable platform used for storing or moving cargo or freight." A palate is a part of the mouth, or, metaphorically, the sense of taste.

Here are other frequently misspelled words, caught in print and online:

· "The National Spinal Chord Injury Association hosts its Mardi Gras Fundraiser."

This is a surprisingly common error. A chord is a combination of musical tones; a cord is a rope or wire - or in the case of the spinal cord, a column of nerve tissue that runs through the backbone.

· Film synopsis: "Arrowsmith's troubles are only beginning, as the dead will not rest easily and soon return to assure that this wicked scoundrel gets his just desserts!"

The expression is just deserts, meaning a merited punishment or reward. The spelling just desserts is incorrect, although it's often used punningly in names of restaurants and food companies.

· "This framework provides a sense of realism and versimilitude that contrasts sharply with the fantastic nature of the tales...."

The correct spelling is verisimilitude, meaning "the quality of appearing to be true or real." The pronunciation is "ver-uh-sih-MIL-uh-tood."

· "Even though our favorite community liason, Theresa, is now working in another town and is not readily available...."

Here's another case of a missing "i." The proper spelling is liaison, meaning a link or communication channel between groups. As for pronunciation, this is one of those words for which several pronunciations are acceptable, but I recommend "LEE-ay-zahn." Note, however, that pronouncing the first syllable "lay" is wrong.

Port Dickson Toastmasters Word of the Day: Redoubt

A redoubt (rih-DOUT) - from the Latin for "refuge" - is a temporary structure built to defend a pass, hilltop, etc.

Example (as used by Victor Hugo in Les Miserables): "The four walls of the living redoubt had fallen, hardly could a quivering be detected here and there among the corpses; and thus the French legions, grander than the Roman legions, expired at Mont-Saint-Jean on ground soaked in rain and blood, in the somber wheatfields, at the spot where today at four in the morning, whistling, and gaily whipping up his horse, Joseph drives by with the mail from Nivelles."