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President's Meeting Reflection, Feb24, 2010 |
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The meeting right after the Chinese New Years is open with possibilities. Because it is a start of a new year, and I have been hopeful that all our members will have gone through 2 weeks of renewals, and find their passion for CHIC, for Toastmasters, and for life. At the meeting, I was not disappointed. It was a 'red-letter' day (thanks Vivian) in many ways, therefore symbolizes a new start and milestone for many of our members.
3 new members were initiated into our club: Shuchen, Stella, and Ouyang. I have a feeling that these fine women will find more passion in our club, in our fellowship, which in turn will help them find more passion in their lives. I am ecstatic to have them new sisters in our family. Because of them, we will be stronger. Renewal!
Not only were they initiated into our club, they also immediately took part in their first role at the meeting! Can we say AMAZINGOHMYGOODNESSGRACIOUS? (That's an actual word describing how amazed I was. Grammarian can use this for word of the day). Ouyang as the timer, Stella as the ah-counter and Shuchen as the 'oops, I didn't know I am, because Hubert didn't notify me' Grammarian. Milestone!
Phil wore a wig to participate in warming up the crowd. He stepped out of his comfort zone, and learned where he needs to improve to make us laugh harder. Breakthrough!
Connie delivered the Interpersonal Communication manual, a first in our CHIC meeting. Fresh!
Ivy delivered her first speech at CHIC. Welcome back to Toastmasters. Renewal #2!
Shuchen stepped up to be the first CHIC Newsletter Editor, and Phil stepped into the VPPR shoes. I feel their passion burning even now. I am convinced that you and all of us will be changed for the better because of your leadership. Bravo!
Finally, Jeff will be a mentor for the first time. I have full confidence that he'll do a terrific job coaching Ouyang. Red-Letter day.
I know some of us still long for the days when the room is full with 人气。 I promise, that with hard work, team work, our club will see that day soon. And in the meanwhile, take comfort in and appreciate the small miracles at our smaller meetings, when we see each other grow. They are the miracles of life that define the success of our club.
Hubert Lin, President of CHIC Toastmasters Club of Beijing |
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President's Meeting Reflection Feb10, 2010 |
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This week, our dear Cindy delivered her speech #2, title: Cindy Transformed. She talked about her indifference towards the CCTMC Toastmasters meetings in the first year that she was there: Although she showed up for most meetings, she never participated, always sat in the back and never went to teambuilding events. Around September 2009, I challenged her to renew her membership and become more active. I believed, that if she was willing to spend 2 hours a week at our meeting, then she had to to have a deep need which the club could meet, even though she didn't speak of that need. She accepted my push, and in November, after a year she joined Toastmasters, she delivered her ice breaker speech. In 'Cindy Transformed', she talked about how her outlook has changed, how her passion has been set aflame, and how her timidity and indifference has been transformed into courage and fellowship at CHIC. I believe that for club officers and contributing members who had volunteered time and effort towards building the club, it is such transformation of the members that make us feel that the hard work is all worth while.
I wrote an email to the members detailing additional thoughts about this. I hope it would motivate them to contribute more of themselves. You can read the email by 'Read More'
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President's Meeting Reflection Feb3 |
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Do Things Differently
If you were at the meeting last night, I think you had just as much fun as I did. Who knew that the Black Jade Bonding Cream would be such a hit? We would have never known unless we had tried it out.
That is the message I would like members to reflect as we grow in CHIC Toastmasters Club. This is our identity. This is our culture. This should run in our blood. Let's not be afraid to do things differently.
The theme last night was Chinese New Years Celebration. I wanted to show how we can rearrange elements, modify, combine, in order to add variety to the program. Instead of calling up one role at a time, the entire evaluation team came up, then all the speakers came up, and together we chatted on stage; Host talked to the speakers before and after; skits were added in through the program; the guests came on stage to introduce themselves. Whatever worked, we know we can try it again in the future.
The only rules we cannot break are: 1. the four taboos, 2. building fellowship (respecting one another), 3. provide valuable feedback, 4. Follow the TI Education. Other than that, we have the chance to play and experiment. Isn't that fun?
If we want to make our meetings more exciting and humorous, then we have to try something new. If we keep doing what we're doing, then we'll keep experiencing what we've experienced. When it is your turn to be a Toastmaster, or TT Master, or any other roles, take a chance. Let's be CHIC! |
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President's Meeting Notes, Jan27 |
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Today, our CHIC Toastmasters meeting was half empty. But I have learned to think, that it is half full. It's been so long since I've seen such a small audience, I felt a tinge of trepidation at the start of the meeting. But these few weeks, I have learned to let go of things out of my control: instead of worrying about who isn't there, focus on who are present. And what an enjoyable ride it was. First, thanks to Carol the TM for exciting all of us throughout the meeting. (SAY YES!) It helped with the energy level tremendously.
Today, we took risks. Jeff took a risk by dressing up as a gal. (or does he do that often in real life?) Cindy too a risk by dressing up as a mustached guy, a bigger risk by being a drama queen, and the biggest risk of all by partnering up with Jeff. I took a risk by shuffling the table topics in-between the prepared speeches. This might have been the first time it's been done in Toastmasters history  . (If you like it, next time you're the TTM, you can also try it). Loose (special kind of humor) Vivien, Cindy, Vicky all took the risk by taking new roles; We took a risk by giving out new awards: Most improved, Most humorous;
It was a smaller crowd, but it was a cozy crowd. I stopped worrying, and was able to enjoy the fellowship with my members. What a risk-taking meeting. What a creative meeting. What a CHIC meeting! |
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President's Meeting Notes, Jan20 |
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Another cold day in Beijing. Today, the meeting started late, and did not open in the warmest possible situation. My reflection came up with the following reasons:
1. All the members are still getting accustomed to the new schedule and role Tonite, especially Jokemaster Yucheng, was not aware that his act begins at 6:55. And part of the sacred responsibility, that I have come to realize, is to truly warm up the audience, and not just to deliver a humorous story. In fact, that responsibility should carry forward to the President and to the Toastmasters opening as well. Let's work on that together.
2. One of the feedbacks I received from a guest is that our applause is still not wild enough. And I have to agree. I believe that as members become more accustomed to the atmosphere, they will be less inhibited to do so. And the audience warm-up session will help in this aspect as well.
3. It is a slow educational process, but I want to encourage our members to put the humor in their speech, even if it is an informative speech about finances. You can do it. Don’t be afraid to try it out. That is the purpose of creating this humorous club.
Our GE Laura is always humorous. Where does she get that humor? Next time, ask me about what she did to Molly's snack during our ride back home from our Toastmasters meeting... |
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