09032015 MVTMC International Speech and Table Topic Contest (Written by Lai Yee, Edited by Timothy Nakayama)

9^th March 2015, KUALA LUMPUR: Mid Valley Toastmasters Club organized the most anticipated contest of the year – the International Speech and Table Topics Contest 2015. This was the night where the contestants were there to take to the stage and shine, as well as to inspire the audience and mesmerize the judges. Organizing Chair, Sky Siew pulled off the event brilliantly, with full support from his hardworking team of role players.

Before the contest began, there were a few things all going on simultaneously: contestant registration, dinner and refreshments, chit-chatting and making new friends, contestants silently rehearsing their speeches and then going on to draw lots. Mid Valley Cititel, 5^th Floor was awash with new and familiar faces, all happy, all smiling.

The contest began sharp at 7.30 pm, starting first with the International Speech Contest. Becky Benjamin, Contest Chair for the International Speech Contest, called upon the contestants one by one and welcomed them onto the stage to deliver their rousing 5-7 minute speeches. All the speeches were inspiring and informative, and I believe that the audience would have benefited from hearing all 7 speakers deliver their best.  

The contestants’ names and speech titles were as follows:
1) Wong Woon Pen - A Perfect Match
2) Chong Chee Siong – Too Early
3)    Ivy Liew – Small Roles Makes us Great
4)    Ang Chee Yong – Power of Dream
5)    Ian Lai – I believe I can …
6)    Cheky Ng – The Journey
7)    Timothy Nakayama – Say Yes

~ The Power of Dream can only be realized if You Believe You Can achieve it and consistently Say Yes to open up opportunities; it will not be Too Early to start achieving your dreams by doing Small Roles which Make Us Great and don’t forget to enjoy The Journey with your Perfect Match! ~

After a refreshment break, we moved on and began the Table Topics Contest. This contest is very exciting as the speakers do not know what the Table Topic will be beforehand – upon being called to the stage and being presented with it, they have to immediately deliver an impromptu speech within 1-2 minutes. There were 5 brave souls (Wong Woon Pen, Chong Chee Siong, Chong Carmen, Timothy Nakayama & Ian Lai) who took up the challenge, and each of them had to face Contest Chair Yeap Wei Leeng’s interesting Table Topic : If you had a Super Power to change the world, what would you change?” There were different types of super powers that night: from the ability to change the world with just a single cute move like Sailormoon to the ability read people’s minds. The Table Topic Contest and the interviewing of the contestants that followed brought howls of laughter from the audience.

Finally, it’s result time! Drum Roll please~

Table Topic Contest Winner goes to:

Champion: Ian Lai

1^st Runner Up: Chong Carmen

2^nd Runner Up: Chong Chee Siong

International Speech Contest Winner goes to:

Champion: Timothy Nakayama

1^st Runner Up: Ian Lai

2^nd Runner Up: Wong Woon Pen

Congratulations to all the winners. For those who did not win, do enjoy your journey and learning from the contests. You still have 1 year’s time to improve your speaking skills and remember to “Say Yes” when we ask you to participate in the contest again. See you next year!

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Also, bravo to the role players, as without them, the event would not have taken place! Thank you! Organising Chair - Sky Siew - International Speech Contest Chair - Becky – Table Topic Contest Chair – Yeap Wei Leeng – Timer – Chee Loon & Mi Shan – Ballot Counter – Eve Chong & Ivan – SAA – Daniel Lim & Lai Yee – Chief Judge – NJ Singam