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."

Port Dickson Toastmasters Meeting on 12th April 2011

We had our usual meeting on 12th April 2011. 3 guests attended our meeting.

The President opening the meeting.

TM Stephen Francis was Toastmaster of the evening. He came straight from office. That's why the tie was missing.







TM Kay Ku was Tabletopic master.

Among the tabletopic speakers were TM Chandran.

Capt Khalid.













Rosa Phua.














G T Singam.















Tan Lai Hock.













Lee Kah Tor.












A view of the audience at the meeting.













Dr Subhassh was tabletopic master, diagnosing the tabletopic session.










TM Yeoh Lian Geok arrange TM Kay Ku's birthday celebration.

It was time to sit and converse naturally, away from the mic and evaluation.

TM Kenneth came on next as the first speaker after the break.

Next, it was TM Indra G. She brought along her daughter to motivate her to join Toastmasters next time.

TM Amy Siew came on next.

No prize for guessing who was General Evaluator.

ATMG Lee Kah Tor was the first evaluator.

Next, it was TM G T Singam.

TM Kay Ku was the third evaluator.

TM Indra kept time for us.

TM Nageswari evaluated on the standard of language used for the night.

Our Lady Kat counted the number of "Ahs" during the meeting.

It was full attention from her. She was our guest for the night.

The other two guests, Anita and Masita.

A candid shot of Lee Kah Tor paying full attention to the speaker.

The photographer was not left out. Lucky, someone took his photo for Best Tabletopic Speaker.

The best Speaker goes to ...............

The best Evaluator was .............................

We had a good time at the meeting. It was educational and we learnt a lot. If you miss the meeting, do attend the next meeting. Hope to see you there.

Adios.

The Language Perfectionist: Of Course This Point Is Important

Another posting by Port Dickson Toastmasters Club

By Don Hauptman

The expression of course looks innocent, but it can create problems.

Writers and speakers casually insert the phrase to indicate that something is obvious or self-evident. In most cases, it's perfectly acceptable. But in others, it can sound insulting or patronizing.

The Penguin Dictionary of American English Usage and Style, by Paul W. Lovinger, has a good explanation of the trouble these two words can cause:

"A writer attaches an 'of course' to an obscure fact or arguable proposition, thereby implying to a number of readers that they are dolts for not knowing what the writer knows."

Here are a few examples, found online, demonstrating how of course may presume too much or make unintended insinuations:

· "Of course, we trust the wisdom of the bankruptcy court in supervising such a delicate endeavor."

· "Of course, the premier event of the racing year is Pimlico's Preakness Stakes..."

· "The Army is formally stating that of course combat is continuing in Iraq..."

Lovinger notes other common phrases that present similar risks of offense or condescension: as everyone knows, it goes without saying, for the simple reason that, and assorted variants.
So should you exercise care with this expression? Of course!

PD Toastmasters Club's Word of the Day: Delectation

Delectation (dee-lek-TAY-sun) - from the Latin for "to please" - is another way of saying pleasure, delight, or enjoyment.

Example: "Even after the buffet had evolved into the more functional sideboard in the 18th century, lavish arrangements of silver and porcelain continued to be put out for the delectation of guests at large dinners."