U-SWOT Toastmasters Club 優勢活英語演講會

What drives the growth of Toastmasters? I think that can be answered by the founder, Dr. Ralph C. Smedley's words: "The simple fact is that we grow or learn or work better when we enjoy what you are doing, and this is essentially the secret of success in Toastmasters. Our meetings are made enjoyably by a fine, helpful fellowship, in a pleasant, social atmosphere, with activities carefully planned…"Isn't it amazing that even after 85 years Toastmasters was founded, Toastmasters clubs all over the world are still strive to live up to what its founder's vision? U-SWOT Toastmasters Club cordially invit you to discover the magic of Toastmasters by participating events list below:

MEETING

• Nov. 5 New Member Induction Ceremony & Regular Meeting
• Nov. 19 Workshop & Regular Meeting
• Dec. 3 Workshop & Regular Meeting
• Dec. 17 Special Presentation : Grab Bag Meeting

"Your Toastmasters club is your laboratory in which to try experiments in better communication."Smedley wrote in a 1995 issue of the Toastmaster magazine. Therefore, in these two months, we kick it off by hosting an induction ceremony for our new members. And as usual, we will have workshop in each meeting to hone members with speaking skill. Plus, for the last meeting in 2009－Dec.17th, we are going to play a "Grab Bag Meeting." That is, all members are to draw their meeting role on the spot from slips in a paper bag, except those prepared speech speakers. So members, be prepared! Its going to be very excited!

TRAINING & CONTEST

• Nov. 7 Division C Humorous Speech & Evaluation Contest at Tatung University
• Nov. 28-29 Fall Conference, at Chung Shan Hall

As Dr. Smedley described it: "Toastmasters is a 'do-it-yourself' activities…Don't be afraid to use your imagination and initiative…Listen to others and evaluate their thinking－then form your own conclusions and speak for yourself."And that is how we do in the evaluation part of Toastmasters training. Therefore, after Club and Area level Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contests, contestants from areas are going to compete in Division level contest and finally, the arena in Fall conference for the national champion of 2009 Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contest! Come to cheer up for them and learn from them. Who knows who will be the next star?

OUTING

• Nov. 1 Biking at Jingualiao, Pinglin
• Dec. 12-13 Division C Outing/Meeting in Hualien
• Dec. 27 English Song Karaoke Party

Jointing Toastmasters is not only good for your mind, also good for your body! Why? Because soon after you joined it, you will find that you keep receiving a variety of outing invitations all the time, both English related or non English related activities are involved. In fact, all Toastmasters have a common trait: They are an active group and adventurous to try everything. Once you joined Toastmasters, you will never short of activity!

-by Sylvia Chen, CC, CL, President of U-SWOT TMC, 2009-2010 

On Sep. 19th, 2009, a group of Toastmasters formed a river tracing team to explore the beauty ofdeerskin brook in Nanao, Yilan. Although most of us were novice to river tracing, with the help of three experienced coaches we were able to accomplish the expedition safe and sound.  

It was a raining day in the beginning and everyone was upset about the bad weather. But by the time we set our feet in the water, the sky started to clear and the sun begun to shine. The pure scenery of deerskin brook was unfolded in front of us. On the way to our destination, the Jin-yue waterfall, we experienced cliff climbing, swimming through deep waters, and sometimes we had to walk hand in hand to cross jet streams. 

Before long we had arrived the Jin-yue waterfall. It poured down from a 30 meter high cliff forming a magnificent shape. Everyone was rejoiced at the scene and forgot the hardship we had gone through. With coaches' encouragement, we tried water jumping nearby the waterfall. The excitement of arriving the final destination made everyone went crazy and eager to give it a try.  

In fact, on the way back the coaches worry that we were too much exhausted and advised if some of us would like to go back by land route instead of water route. Surprisingly, everyone had addicted to the pleasure of river tracing and reluctant to leave the water! 

Except climbed through cliffs and crossed jet rivers, we adopted some different methods on the way back: flowing on water in some smooth water and more water jumping! Actually most of us tried water jumping for the first time nearby the Jin-yue waterfall. With the fever run high, when encountered the second water jumping spot, with a short slop for run and jump and a whirlpool down under to escape, still, everyone was bold to jump with excitement.  

The final test of courage was jumping from a small waterfall of one story high. I believe, most of us did watch that kind of performance on TV but never thought of trying that by ourselves! This time, we did give it a second thought. And some of us even considered go back by land. After about 3 minutes of turmoil, someone took the lead, then the second one, the third one and everyone followed! Some of us were brave enough to jump off the waterfall and some just sat at the edge of running water and let the force of water push down. Yes! We all made it! 

When we arrived the starting point, everyone seem used up all the energy. But we kept talking what we had experience with big laughers. There was a feeling that we had prove to ourselves, with courage and friendship, everything could be conquered. 

Before we leaved, someone asked:"When will we go river tracing next time?"Well, lets wait when the summer comes! 

-by Bea Chang, CC, EVP of U-SWOT TMC 2009-2010

By our sister club Innovative Toastmasters Club invitation, I had a chance to join two experienced Toastmasters June Yeh and Amanda Uy, who both serving as Area Governors this term, to form a team to compete in Innovative Toastmasters Club debate contest on Sep. 29, 2009.

If you ask me, did I have any idea what the debate contest is and how to do it? At that time, honestly speaking, I knew nothing about it. However, as a Toastmaster, I was happily to take the challenge because I believe during the process, I will learn something. In fact, debate is something out of my expectation.

Four weeks before the debate date, we received the debate topic “Children’s Expenditures Should Be Strictly Controlled by Parents.” And we were the affirmative side. Also, the debate contest will follow the “Oregon Rule.” Oregon Rule is an international standard procedure of debating. To explain it in a simple way, both affirmative and negative sides have 3 team members, and both sides take turns to send a debater to express their point of view about the topic. Then after one debater finishes his/her 3 minutes time limit, the opposite side would send another debater to cross-examining his/her argument.

From the “Oregon Rule,” I presume “Debating” is an “advanced version” of table topics in Toastmasters meeting. Why do I call it that way? Because debating just is like a combination of prepared speech and impromptu talk. Besides that, you have to do it logically, aggressively and directly.

June, Amanda and I had a preparation meeting two weeks before the debate day. We decided the speaking order: June is the first one, and she is responsible for the opening, definition of topic and supporting idea explanations. And I’m the second. I’m to focus on the major reasons of the supporting idea explanations and pick true stories as examples to emphasis our point of view. Then Amanda was the third but the most important debater in our team because she will make conclusion and grasp the last chance to express some missing points June and I forget to mention. In addition, we also exchanged our opinion about the content of the topic and set scenario of the negative side questionings and practiced our answers.

On the debate date, Innovative Toastmaster Club had Edward Chen, DTM as Chief Judge and Shang Su, Champion of National English Humorous Speech Contest 2007 as one of the judges. That was a very nervous day to me, because it was the first time for me to conducted debate in English. Luckily, I completed my part smoothly. Also, good news is June and Amanda won the best debater and the best question drawer that day. Though the Judge didn’t announce which team won, but I felt, our team should win more scores than the opposite team. Because we had two team members earned the awards. ^_^

By the end of the contest, Edward Chen, DTM pointed out something we could do better next time. Here I list those as below to share with you:

1. For the Affirmative side, the first debater should make definition of the topic in the very beginning of the debating content, which could help both sides to determine the scope of the topic.
2. If the Negative side disagrees with the definition from Affirmative side, the first debater of the team is able to make definition again.
3. During the “Cross-examining,” debaters should create the yes-no question but not the open question. Because “Yes-no” question could lead the answer to your favor direction, and open question will give chance to the debater to explain his point of view better.
4. During the “Cross-examining,” questions should be drawn directly and simply, and better to lead to a scenario which could support the points the debater want to emphasis.

Debate contest is a very exciting and unforgettable experience. I hope all Toastmasters can give it a try whenever there is an opportunity!

During the month of June to August this year, U-SWOT Toastmasters Club experienced a tumbling time in the quest of finding a suitable venue for hosting future meetings due to the original venue was no longer available. Luckily, with the help of neighbor in the same building, we simply just move from 4F to B1! 

The new meeting venue is actually a cafeteria belongs to a church. It is very cozy and spacious for hosting a standard of 20 to 30 members Toastmasters meeting. A good meeting environment is an essential part of Toastmasters meeting because it not only affects speaker performance but also members' participation. Its true that people perform better when they feel comfortable and secure with the surroundings. 

If you are looking for a Toastmasters club to join, you definitely can't miss U-SWOT Toastmasters club! We hold our meeting on a regular basis (1st & 3rd Thursday of every month), and our members are often credited by visiting Toastmasters with good command of English capability. Plus, we guarantee to host quality meeting every time! Welcome to visit our meeting. For learning and for fun!

It has come to the time of the year to hone your humorous speaking & evaluation skills. In these two months, there are not only exciting speech contest awaiting you, but also thrilling outing to test your guts! But don't worry. In Toastmasters, there will always be trainer or coach stand-by to assist you. So lets “Dig More, Reap More.” together in these programs!

MEETING

• Sep.3  Evaluation Workshop & Regular Meeting
• Sep.17 Humorous Speech Workshop & Regular Meeting
• Oct.1 Speech Contest Workshop & Regular Meeting
• Oct.15 In-house Humorous Speech & Evaluation Contest

“ The primary goal of entering the contest is to grow. If you lose and grow, you've come out on top. If you win and don't grow, you've wasted your time…”

Come to these meetings to prepare yourself with the knowledge of humorous speaking and evaluation technique. Then entering the contest is the best way to exanimate how much you have learned. In Toastmasters, we learn by doing. Only when you really try it, you improve. Why not register as contestant with our EVP Bea today!

OUTING

• Sep.19 River Tracing at Deerskin Brook, Nanao
• Oct.17 Home Party at Irving's House

For those young and energetic, we have arranged something special for you–river tracing in a scenic spot- deerskin brook. You will experience the joy of nature by crossing the river, climbing the waterfall, jumping waters and more! And home party is for everyone. We will have BBQ under the moonlight, poker game, etc. We welcome members' families' participation.

TRAINING & CONTEST OUTSIDE OF CLUB

• Sep.12 Judge Training at Tatung University
• Sep.29 English Debate Meeting at Innovative TMC
• Oct.25 Area C3 Humorous Speech & Evaluation Contest

As an old saying goes “There Is No End In Learning.” Toastmasters can serve as the best example.  In the beginning, you may simply want to be a better speaker, then you become a host, a contestant, a debater, a workshop presenter… In a word: you will become a MASTER of communication!