First, there were ten, and then there were seven.  Finally, only four remained: the final four of the Humorous Speech Contest on Wednesday.  As the contest organizer, I was in the thick of the process of role confirmation.  It was quite disheartening seeing each contestant dropping out, one by one. My heart sank deeper with each cancellation.  I didn’t know how many would remain—because earlier confirmations still canceled at the very last minute.  This reflection is a day late, because I needed time to reconcile my conflicting feelings, and make sense of what my priorities are, and what I envision for you, my fellow members.

If you look back on the previous contest six months ago, you would remember a slightly different me.   Back then, the contest participation rate was 50-100% higher, even though the membership was lower.  I was quite driven, bordering on obsessive-compulsive and spent more time persuading you, challenging you to join the competition, because I believed, as I still do today, that when you compete, you maximize your learning and deepen your commitment to the club.  Then why wasn’t I as persistent this time around?  What has changed?

  Yes, I still care for you all as I did back then.  But nowadays, I’m also more cognizant of the many life priorities that everyone has to balance.  This realization was forcefully thrust on the foreground as I became the organizer for the Beijing Fall Conference.  Even though I’m terrible at organizing it (it’s going to take a miracle and a lot of effort from my teammates to get it done), I am nevertheless overwhelmed by the stress.  Compounding that is my concurrent effort to launch my future business—another time-consuming task.  So now, I know the feeling that many of you struggle with as you try to fit CHIC into your overtimes and other pursuits in life.  I also came to appreciate more of your fellowship that you have chosen to be here when you have all the reasons to stay home and rest.  It is like when you’re downloading a high-resolution movie and nobody else in your family can use the Internet because you’ve used up all the bandwidth.

Under these circumstances, I find it difficult to give issue even MORE challenges as your club President.  Yes, there are some members who need a little ‘push’ in order to grow.  Yes, there are some members who still have some bandwidth and have room to do more.  But it is not easy to strike the balance.  I remain convinced that the less you participate, the less committed you would become; I know if you’re not growing, then you’re regressing.  演讲如运舟，不进则退。 So, I am always alarmed when I see someone ‘slacking off’ and drifting away.  I still need to be proactive and reel you, so you do not lose your fire.  Because once the fire is smothered, it doesn’t come alive that easily.  But I hope I can appeal more to all of your desire to improve yourselves, to realize your potential.  For the contestants, I wrote a few lines on their certificate of participation

I compete, because I can

Discover how fast I can

Run, Jump, and Exceed

My expectations and dreams.

Yes I Can.

I compete, because I must

Know how much courage I must

Have to conquer my obstacles

To achieve the dreams of my life.

Yes I Must.

Congratulations to our contestants.  I’m very proud of you.  To our First Place Winner Luca and 2^nd place winner Lisa:  I applaud your efforts.  I am sure that as you improve your speeches for the area level contest, you will come to love that experience.

-Hubert Lin

President of CHIC Toastmasters Club Beijing