My First Experience

Thanks to Oasis Toastmasters club, I received an opportunity to be the event chair of the Speakathon in June.

Initially, when I was being asked to be the project chair, I knew nothing of a Speakathon, let alone the role of a project chair. However, I truly believed that it would be a project which could enhance my leadership skills effectively, and I decided to take the role without any hesitation. This was even though I joined toastmaster just a month earlier.

Oasis Toastmaster’s Club is a very good place for you to develop yourself in different aspects, as long as you have the mind to improve yourself. So, why does one want to join TM? I believe that improving ones speech and leadership should be some of the right reasons. Before the event, I had to prepare the MC script and contact the speakers. It was a very good exposure for a new member to get know the other members and enhance the running of TM.

What's more? The more important thing is Oasis has many senior members and their feedback was the vital learning I received through this event. The comments and encouragement from the TM members and peers are my treasures, it made me understand my room of being better.

All in all, please grasp your every opportunity to take up a role. Once you do this, you immediately get a platform to improve to learn and better yourself.

 

- By Cheng Lung, Anson (Co-Vice President Membership, Oasis Toastmasters Club)

From a Group to a Team

“Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is a progress, working together is a success”- a quote by Henry ford and lived by participants in ‘’Oasis Team Building Trip 2014’’ held in GuangZhou China.

 

Let’s take a look at some of the participants' opinions:

 

“Nice, cheerful and wonderful, I am looking forward to our next club activities” - Allen Po(Co-Vice President, Public Relations, Oasis Toastmasters Club).

 

“Very Compact and fruitful training, relationship building was the highlight. Nice experience of learning by doing’’Alwin (Member, Oasis Toastmasters Club).

 

“Inspiring, fun team building and a chance to gather with team members and get to know each other more’’ Wallis ( Co- Vice President, Membership, Oasis Toastmasters Club).

 

Here is a sneak peek into the team building sessions which got these amazing reviews: 

The first team building session was facilitated by Priya Gururaj - A passionate trainer, who started the session with an inspiring song, and a chorus was a refreshing start. The session progressed with games which were fun and yet capable of delivering impactful messages to participants.
 

Key takeaways from this session were:

* Listening – A key skill to know your team well.

* Knowing yourself - Everyone is unique in their own way yet a part of team and this uniqueness makes a team stronger.

* Connectivity – Connectivity between team members plays an important role, when it comes to problem-solving and bonding. 
 

What followed was an energetic session led by K.F. Tam, an  experienced, most loved and ever smiling member of Oasis. There was lots of energy, laughter and fun, and besides all that a lot to learn, and think about. Highlights of this session were: 

* Teamwork - Working together for one purpose and emerge as a strong team.

* Creativity - Thinking out of the box and exploring less obvious solution to a problem.

* Innovation - Let go fears of criticism and losing. 

The day ended with members sketching classic portraits of each other and sharing positive comments about them. This left us with a light head, warmth and pride in our hearts. 

On day 2, the final training session was led by the dynamic and lively Steve Yu.The session focused on how to convince people to listen to your thoughts and how to work efficiently with each other . This was beautifully wrapped up with lavish and entertaining karaoke lunch. High points of this session were:

* Creativity - Being creative to make efficient plans.

* Synergy as a team - Working together and taking directions from team members.

* Team spirit - Coordinate and help each other to get a collective goal. 

This splendid string of training sessions wound up with the finale event - The 6 club joint toastmaster meeting. There was no better way to spend two wholesome days for a true toastmaster.

 

- By Pragya Trivedi - Member, Oasis Toastmasters Club

Oasis Meeting Note 11th Aug 2014

Oasis Meeting Note 28th Jul 2014

Oasis Meeting Notes 14th Jul 2014

A New Beginning

It’s that time of the year at Toastmaster’s where there is buzz about the “New”. We at Oasis Toastmaster’s definitely are in the midst of this excitement. The “New” is “The Beginning of a New term”, “ The New Excom Committee”, “ The New Goals to work out”, “The New Accolades to be won”.

Embarking on a new journey brings a sense of mystery, along with deep seated emotions of thrill, anxiety, gratitude and last but not the least fear. At Toastmaster’s these emotions are dealt with ease. The sailing is smooth, because each time a toastmaster looks behind, he finds his anchors. A great club, mentors all supporting one another for mutual success.

Oasis Toastmasters stands testimony to this factor of mutual support. This year’s Excom began their new term with the able support of the previous Excom.  14^th July 2014, marked the beginning of the “New”. The Excom committee pledged to lead on under the able leadership of President Wilson Yau.

The year ahead beckons us Oasisians to take that leap and soar high towards our goals. It holds it challenges, the going may get tough but as a team we are ready. So plan on – make that speech, take on that role, grow your communication and become that leader. It’s simply because the time is Now or Never.

- By Priya Gururaj, SAA and Editor, Oasis Toastmaster's Club

Great Trip of Hangzhou Toastmasters Convention, 2012

As more and more people join and become fellow members of our Greater China Toastmasters District 85, this term is the last chance for all of our fellow Toastmasters from all over the China district, North and South, to compete head to head within a local district convention.   From next term (2012-2013), the greater China Toastmasters district will become the North China district 85 and the new South China district 89, which Macau and Hong Kong will be part of from there on.

And maybe that is why, we have over 700 representative participants from toastmasters clubs of all over China, Macau and Hong Kong, came to this Toastmasters District 85 Convention 2012 in Hangzhou.   During the 3 days from the 11th May to the 13th May, amount the 70 or so Hong Kong Toastmasters members who joined the convention, over 10 of us fellow Oasisans were glad to be part of this historical event.

As you might know, our President, Mr. Steve Yu is busy taking care of his little new baby these while, we had to go without him this time.  Our Hangzhou Convention 2012 go team includes……Immediate Past President: Derek Wong, Treasurer: Edward Ng, VPM: Wilson Yau, SAA: Kit Ng, co-VPE: Jeff Chan, seasoned member and our mentor: Grace Cheung, Grace’s friend Caroline Li, highly potential new ex-com: Iris Lui, Raymond Lee, our contestant: Angela Kwok, who represented Division H to compete in Table Topic Contest, and your humble reporter, me.

It was an eye opening event with so many people from all over different parts of China, with people whom we can call fellow toastmasters, even though you have never known the people, or even never visited that part of China in your life.  I found that the convention being such a huge occasion, to be a good place to meet friends and to make friends from other clubs from Hong Kong, or just about from anywhere from China.  We were also glad to meet the toastmasters again from GEM, Elite, with whom, we Oasis had a joint meeting in Guangzhou in Oct, 2011.

Apart from attending the winning speeches and workshops from other divisions from China, one of the most valuable experiences in this convention was participating in the workshop hosted by Keynote Speaker, Mr. Dana LaMon.  Mr. LaMon lost his ability to see when he was four.  But in return, his conversation could convince people that he is not a handicap, but a man of "Yes, I can."  His speech is humorous yet powerful, and interestingly enough, his key point of the one speech that we attended was, “Life is too short to waste time in Toastmasters.” !?   (Want to know more?  Please wait for the DVD, LIVE in Hangzhou Convention 2012.)

Furthermore, one new experience was working in Credential Desk with other members from all over China.  You could see our team spirit from our picture below.  They were all so nice and helpful.

After the convention on Sunday, Oasisan Edward Ng organized a lunch for over 20 toastmasters from Hong Kong.   When we raised our glass for a toast before we dig in, we suddenly found that we were surrounded by fellow toastmasters all over the restaurant.   We laughed as we had a loud toast from a roomful of toastmasters, and that was some nice experiences I would say.  Oh yes, we 700 or so toastmasters helped and promoted the local economy of Hangzhou in these few days.

Where is the next destination of Fall Conference 2012 and Spring Conference 2013? Chengdu and Guangzhou.

Hope to see more Oasisans join the coming conventions.  Let’s explore more in this community.  Don’t miss it!


Betty LAW
Co-Vice President, Public Relation
Oasis Toastmasters Club (2011-2012)