Issue 2           Special Edition            September 2015

Manoj Vasudevan Made History

For the first time in District 80's history, Manoj Vasudevan, from Toastmasters Club of Singapore, reached the finals and placed third at the World Championship of Public Speaking. He brought unprecedented and unequal honor to the district.

Extreme right: Manoj Vasudevan (Singapore), 2nd Runner up; Center: Aditya Maheswaran (India), 1st Runner up; Extreme left:  Mohamed Qahtani (Saudi Arabia), Champion

District 80 - Select Distinguished District 2014-2015

At the Toastmasters International Convention held in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada last 12-15 August 2015, District 80 was accorded the recognition for having achieved Select Distinguished District for the term 2014-2015 as led by Immediate Past District Governor Chew Ban Seng DTM, Excellence in Education and Training as led by Immediate Past Lt. Governor for Education and Training Tay Yiang Ping DTM, Excellence in Marketing as led by Ernest Chen DTM and Excellence in Leadership for having achieved the minimum Distinguished District Award for the last three years in a row with Presidents Distinguished District 2013-2014 as led by Past District Governor Pradeep Kumar DTM and Select Distinguished District 2012-2013 as led by Past District Governor Patrick Oei DTM.

From left: Region 14 Advisor Md Ariff Azahari DTM, International Director Patrick Oei DTM; 4th from left: PQD Patricia Lum DTM, CGD Tay Tiam Teang DTM; Back row: Marshall Cooper; 7th from left: Division S Director Vicky Soo, District Director Tay Yiang Ping DTM, Immediate Past District Governor Chew Ban Seng DTM and Immediate Past International President Muhammad Murad DTM

 HONOUR ROLL

Monthly feature of Toastmasters in District 80 who are either a success story or has inspired others because of membership in the organization 

   Manoj Vasudevan ACS,CL   

Manoj Vasudevan ACS, CL, a member of Toastmasters Club of Singapore, won the third place of the prestigious World Championship of Public Speaking, the world's largest speech contest. The contest was held last month at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, USA. Manoj spoke in front of 2,500 people. Thousands of others from around the world watched the event via live-streaming. He reached the championship level after several eliminating rounds that began six months ago with 30,000 participants in 100 countries. This is the first time in the 90 year history of Toastmasters, that Singapore’s representative achieved such a feat.

Manoj joined Toastmasters in September 2008, but delivered his first speech only in April 2009. He joined Toastmasters primarily to overcome his fear of public speaking. He went on to become a Leadership Coach and the CEO of Thought Expressions. He is a co-author of an Amazon #1 bestseller and he coaches bureaucrats, diplomats, professionals and students to equip them with shortcuts to communicate their thoughts clearly, confidently and convincingly. Manoj is truly an inspiration to all Toastmasters. Here’s the link to Manoj’s winning speech. http://bit.ly/1N45PoZ

Poh Kim Siong DTM

When Distinguished Toastmaster Poh Kim Siong attended his first Toastmasters meeting as a guest in 1992, he was unable to speak for two minutes during the Table Topics session. This spurred him to join Toastmasters in March 1993 with the intention to be able to speak on any topic for two minutes in front of any audience. He has achieved well beyond his original target. Today, Kim Siong is a confident, much sought after speaker at various Club and District Officers' Training and overseas District Conferences. He has served District 80 in many distinguished appointments with excellent achievements. This includes his appointments as District Governor 2006 – 2007, and as the International Director 2008 - 2010.

Kim Siong believes in empowering people to build wonderful relationships, to make the right choices, and to live their lives to the fullest. Not only has Kim Siong impacted the English Toastmasters circle, he has also forged a bridge to the Mandarin Toastmasters circle by serving as the club advisor of his home club. We salute Kim Siong - a beacon of inspiration.

Joni Siah DTM

Distinguished Toastmaster Joni Siah joined Toastmasters in April 1996 when she was a trainee teacher. She felt she needed to improve her communication skills as she didn't want to put her students to sleep. Toastmasters has imbued Joni with confidence to speak up and speak out. She is no longer the timid, reticent person in the audience looking down whenever a question is posed. She even emerged a District 80 Speech Evaluation Champion in 2010. When she was teaching at Fairfield Methodist Secondary School, she volunteered for all the emcee roles most other teachers shunned. In her own words, she was "raring to go” and has kept going to this day.

Joni believes that the learning never ends in Toastmasters. In her various EXCO appointments, Joni has never stopped learning, be it how to write newsletters, plan meetings, motivate members to be committed, manage a blog or mentor new members. Joni also believes everyone has an opinion and a right to share it. No one should be afraid to speak up. Joni is still speaking out loud and clear. Joni, we will continue to listen and learn from you.

 FEATURES

TOASTMASTERS AWARENESS MONTH (TAM) THIS SEPTEMBER

One of the major events of the TAM this month is "Invest in Yourself, Transform Your Life",where three Toastmasters of impeccable expertise in their specific fields and proven vast contributions in the Toastmasters movement, are invited to share their journey in the organization. It is quite a feat and a rarity to be able to have the three of them together in one night to speak. We still have much to learn from their success stories and how membership in the organization developed them to be better speakers and leaders. Barring any other more important things to do, it is encouraged that you attend the event and invite your fellow club members too. But, because of the priority to Non-Toastmasters awareness of our organization, in order to gain entry, you have to bring Non-Toastmasters guests as well. This is a not to be missed opportunity to listen to these accomplished Toastmasters.

The event flyer with all the details is below and registration is at:

First 30 Toastmasters to register at least 2 Non-Toastmasters guests and to have them attend the event will get a special edition District 80 t-shirt.

Video Competition

*Still accepting entries up to 15 September 2015*

 UPCOMING EVENTS

24th and 25th October 

The much anticipated "Capital of Ideas"District 80 NTU Semi-annual Conference 2015

About Conference Keynote Speaker - Ted Corcoran DTM

Ted joined Fingal Toastmasters Club in Dublin, in 1985 and was elected its first president. Then, he was elected District Governor of District 71 in 1994-1995 and led his district to Presidents Distinguished District status, finishing second in the world in achievements that year. He went on to become the International President in 2003-2004, the first, and still the only, European to do so in the 90 year history of the organisation. In total, Ted served for seven years on the Board of Directors – five as an officer and two as a director.  He also served as Region Advisor for Region 11 in 2011-2012. He is an honorary member of six toastmaster clubs and regularly attends both the Fingal and Swords clubs.

Ted is a member of the Irish Institute of Logistics and Transport, a Fellow of the Institute of Railway Operators. He has also been a member of Rotary International since 1991 and served as the president of the Dublin Rotary club (founded in 1911) in 2001-2002.

Ted has also published a book on leadership, entitled “The Leadership Bus”.His business, Ted Corcoran and Associates, provides training in all aspects of communication and leadership. He feels, particularly, that leadership training is the most neglected aspect of business training today and, where it is provided, is often not very practical or easily understood.

Sign Up URL:  tinyurl.com/ntusac2015

ANNOUNCEMENTS OR REMINDERS

Amendments to District 80 Directory

Please take note of the amendments in some of the information in the District 80 directory at this link:

http://www.district80.org/Amendment.htm

Renewal of Membership Dues

Please submit dues renewals at the TI website through Club Central by 1st October 2015.

To check the status of October Dues Payment, visit: 

http://reports.toastmasters.org/reports/dprReports.cfm?r=1&d=80&s=Renewal_Status&sortOrder=1

Publisher 

District Director Tay Yiang Ping, DTM 

Managing Editor

DPRM Annabelle Fabia de Arroz, DTM

 Chief Editor 

Helen Tan

           Contributing Editors      

Ida Lee

  Chay Wen Liang

    Daniel Zhou

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 D80dpr@gmail.com      Website: www.district80.org    

DISCLAIMER

"Any member contact information in this newsletter is for the sole use of Toastmasters members for Toastmasters business only. It is not to be used for solicitation and distribution of non-Toastmasters materials or information."