The Last Presidential Note for 2008/2009
Today is my last day as President!
I have to say it is a funny feeling. After exactly one year being in this hot seat, I never imagined that all in a Toastmasters’ season would happen so quickly. It only felt like yesterday when I called Hedzri – whom I still hold in high regards as my honourable IPP – to ask on club educational plans and membership issues. It only felt like it was just the other day that I listened to another inspiring speech by our faithful old guard, Tan Kah Yong!
When I first took up the club presidency, I took it with my highest pride, knowing that I’ll be leading a club so rich in history. Then the real challenge came to surface. At the beginning of the term, almost all members were new and their understanding of Toastmasters was near to zero. Thus, members had to be educated on the significance of the Distinguished Club Program and why achieving its goals will be regarded in the highest delight in the Toastmasters fraternity. It was important especially if we were to retain our President’s Distinguished Club standing!
I discovered that members’ confidence was a major area of concern. All new members would have second thoughts to do a project speech, let alone Table Topics. The same club officers had to play meeting roles over and over, especially that of TME. Members had the impression that Toastmasters is “only for those with good English”. Hence, they mainly viewed Toastmasters as the gold-plated platform for the talented, and not in its original purpose as a platform to learn and grow.
This was the perception that needed to be overhauled. Together with my loyal officers, we began to embark on a phase of change. Members were individually supported to do their project speeches with the assurance that as long as they prepare, they would never fail. Role players were rotated among all club members. Slowly but gradually, my club officers and I took pains to convince members to embrace the culture of Toastmasters that everything we do is only intended to help ourselves improve. In doing so, we took the learning process to our hearts even closer.
Then the “clubbing” notion began to enter the UEM Toastmasters vocabulary. All members were, and still are, encouraged to visit outside clubs to witness Toastmasters in a wider perspective. This was the turning point that changed the members’ view. Amazed by the enthusiasm of outside club speakers, they gleefully returned to our home clubs with one vision in mind – to exponentially raise the competency level of our speakers and to upgrade our own UEM clubs’ standards even better!
After one whole year of tussling and toiling as well as enjoying and partying (yeah..), we have worthily raised the bar to another level. Today as we approach the very end of the term, I can now say it with pride that I couldn’t feel more prouder to have been a UEM Toastmasters club president during this excellent term of 2008-2009!
Therefore fellow Toastmasters and incoming officers, let us all continue our neverending hardwork and tireless efforts into the new term. Let us all set our sights high to keep aiming for the sky, to reach the pinnacle where we truly belong.
It has been my ultimate pleasure to serve you during this wonderful term. Thank you to all of you wonderful people.
"COMMUNICATE WITH EMOTIONS"
Yours devotedly,
Mohd Hadzrin Shah, ACB, CL
President
UEM Academy Toastmasters Club 2008/2009
I have to say it is a funny feeling. After exactly one year being in this hot seat, I never imagined that all in a Toastmasters’ season would happen so quickly. It only felt like yesterday when I called Hedzri – whom I still hold in high regards as my honourable IPP – to ask on club educational plans and membership issues. It only felt like it was just the other day that I listened to another inspiring speech by our faithful old guard, Tan Kah Yong!
When I first took up the club presidency, I took it with my highest pride, knowing that I’ll be leading a club so rich in history. Then the real challenge came to surface. At the beginning of the term, almost all members were new and their understanding of Toastmasters was near to zero. Thus, members had to be educated on the significance of the Distinguished Club Program and why achieving its goals will be regarded in the highest delight in the Toastmasters fraternity. It was important especially if we were to retain our President’s Distinguished Club standing!
I discovered that members’ confidence was a major area of concern. All new members would have second thoughts to do a project speech, let alone Table Topics. The same club officers had to play meeting roles over and over, especially that of TME. Members had the impression that Toastmasters is “only for those with good English”. Hence, they mainly viewed Toastmasters as the gold-plated platform for the talented, and not in its original purpose as a platform to learn and grow.
This was the perception that needed to be overhauled. Together with my loyal officers, we began to embark on a phase of change. Members were individually supported to do their project speeches with the assurance that as long as they prepare, they would never fail. Role players were rotated among all club members. Slowly but gradually, my club officers and I took pains to convince members to embrace the culture of Toastmasters that everything we do is only intended to help ourselves improve. In doing so, we took the learning process to our hearts even closer.
Then the “clubbing” notion began to enter the UEM Toastmasters vocabulary. All members were, and still are, encouraged to visit outside clubs to witness Toastmasters in a wider perspective. This was the turning point that changed the members’ view. Amazed by the enthusiasm of outside club speakers, they gleefully returned to our home clubs with one vision in mind – to exponentially raise the competency level of our speakers and to upgrade our own UEM clubs’ standards even better!
After one whole year of tussling and toiling as well as enjoying and partying (yeah..), we have worthily raised the bar to another level. Today as we approach the very end of the term, I can now say it with pride that I couldn’t feel more prouder to have been a UEM Toastmasters club president during this excellent term of 2008-2009!
Therefore fellow Toastmasters and incoming officers, let us all continue our neverending hardwork and tireless efforts into the new term. Let us all set our sights high to keep aiming for the sky, to reach the pinnacle where we truly belong.
It has been my ultimate pleasure to serve you during this wonderful term. Thank you to all of you wonderful people.
"COMMUNICATE WITH EMOTIONS"
Yours devotedly,
Mohd Hadzrin Shah, ACB, CL
President
UEM Academy Toastmasters Club 2008/2009
Comments
Read your “final thoughts” for UEM TC at the blog site.
Wow, great content and written with sincerity and humility. Aside from that, could not detect any spelling nor grammatical errors.
But there is no vocal variety, no eye contact and I could not see any hand gestures – of course-lah have to listen and watch you deliver the speech! When ah?
Regards,
Henry Fu
AG W8
2009/2010
P.S. Your tears were there but they flowed directly to your heart and that’s because you have developed such a strong bonding and emotional attachment to the Club and its members during the last term. If you had delivered the speech, I am sure you would have received a standing ovation for the commendable transformation that you have created for the Club’s members. Well-done!