5th Semi-Annual Kuala Lumpur Convention Report
by District Governor SL Liew, DTM

Dear Fellow Toastmasters,

Wow! What a fantastic Semi-Annual Convention in KL last weekend. This is
the second day after the convention and I am still reeling with 
excitement, intoxicated by the high standards of excellence and thrilled
by the outpouring of fellowship - hugs and kisses included. It truly
symbolizes the theme "We Can Make It Better", making it the best
Semi-Annual convention ever for District 51 that I have attended.  

Wonder boys Co-Organizing Chairmen CTM Yong Phie Loong and CTM Yow Shon
and their fabulous team, with advisor Division C Governor CTM Mohamad
Abdullah, of Kim Chow, Lucky, Ramdas, Kumar, Sudhev, Ong, Felix, Ong,
Paul, Daniel, Robert and the rest of the gang deserves our heartiest
congratulations and heart-felt thanks for a job truly well done.

It was a power packed convention.

Registration started smoothly without a hitch at 9am Saturday at
ParkRoyal Hotel, Lower Lobby. The hours of preparation and planning
showed. There were smiles, joy and laughter of seeing friends again.

The District Executive meeting started at 1:40pm and was well attended
by top District Officers, Division Governors and Area Governors who have
come from all over Malaysia and all the way from Singapore, Indonesia
and Thailand. 

I am glad to report that all Area Governors have made their Club visits
and all Division Governors have reported their high goals, aggresive
plans for new clubs, CTM and ATM and interclub activities in place for
District 51 to become the No 1 District in the world for 1996-97. 

I would like to thank both Secretary Margaret Chan and CTM Masdiana (MII
Toastmasters) and her crew for a professional job in manning the
credential desk. 

Both the first completed set of Semi-annual reports distributed and the
District Club Directory made available to all club Presidents and VPE or
proxy holders was a labor of love by the Secretary who spent hours and
weeks and months to get it done beautifully and in time.   

Not to be outdone, despite great difficulties, DPRO Christopher Teo and
his coeditor AG Lynn Desker, came out just in the nick of time the
second outstanding issue of the District Newsletter. It was even better
than the first issue!

The set up of the ballroom for the District Council meeting was
impressive with the District Governor, Lt Governor Education & Training,
Lt Governor Marketing, Public Relationship Officer, Secretary, Treasurer
and Imm Past District Governor all sitting on stage and on the floor are
front tables reserved for all Division Governors and Area Governors. I
felt I was going to chair a meeting at the United Nations!

The meeting started at 4:15 pm and included reports from all the top 
district officers and divisions, approval of appointed positions and
of the 1996-97 Year End Audit and the 1997-98 District Budget. 

It was moved and agreed that the November 1998 Semi-Annual will be in
Penang and the November 1999 Semi-Annual will be in Indonesia (possibly
Bali). 

Division C and Kota Kinabalu Toastmasters both announced their bid for
the 2000 Annual Convention. The decision will be voted in Kuching.
(FYI, the May 1998 Annual will be in Kuching and the May 1999 Annual
will be in Singapore).

The announcement by the District Governor that Toastmasters Clubs in
Hong Kong have officially written to WHQ to request to join District 51
was received favorably. This request will be considered and decided by
WHQ and the Board of Directors.

In addition, it was agreed that all Bahasa Malaysia speaking clubs will
have the prefix "Pidato", all Bahasa Indonesia speaking clubs will have
the suffix "BINA" and the official name for Mandarin clubs is "Jiang yan
hui". The District Council will consider extending the duration of the
Semi-Annual Covention at the next meeting.

I would like to thank all the District officers and Language Club
Committee Coordinators for their short and effective oral reports,
Christopher for keeping time and Dunstan Chan for being the
Parliamentarian. It was an exciting and fruitful District council
meeting.

Then at 8:00 pm, the fellowship began. The emcee Daniel Liew won the hearts
of the audience. 

The parade of the four flags got everyone's spirits high and the roll
call by Divisions with everyone waving wildly their napkins got us
further. 

The Co-chairmen CTM Yow Shon gave a beautifully crafted opening speech
that will win any speech contest. 

After dinner, the District Governor gave his stirring message on the
District theme "We Can Make It Better".  

Then the Hall of Fame with the powerful and vivacious voice of the one
and only Kim Chow saw the presentation of distinguished, select
distinguished and president's distinguished ribbons and awards to clubs,
Area Governors and Division Governors for the year 1996-97. 

The Toastmaster of the Year went to Alex Ng of SIM I Singapore and was
received by his father ATM Peter Ng of YMCA Ipoh. 

The Area Governor of the Year went to DTM Iskandar Ahmad of Kota
Kinabalu Toastmasters and Area K-1.

The Division Governor of the Year went to ATM Zacharias Adijuwono of
Jakarta, Indonesia and was received by current Division I Governor on
his behalf.

A special "SL Liew Challenge" plaque for the Super Toastmaster who had
made history went to ATM Prasad Sovani for leading his club, Braddell
Heights to be the first club in District 51 to achieve President's
Distinguished Club, the top 5 club in the category of 20-29 members.

The awards that District 51 won in New Orleans International Convention
was re-presented again. Receipients were Rene de Jesus, NCOC I, Braddell
Heights Toastmasters and 1996-97 Top 3 Officers LGM Bobby Tan, LGET SL
Liew and DG Dustan Chan.

And that was not all, the inauguaral Humourous Speech Contest was next.
The emcee ATM Lim Mung San was again at her best and melted the
audience. 

There were 10 contestants and the standard was very very very high. We
laughed till we ached. 

The champion was Magdalen Su from Division E (Sarawak), the 1st runner
up was N Ramakrishnan of Division N (Perak) and 2nd runner up was
Patricia Lim, Division B (Singapore). Congratulations. 

Let's not forget the other contestants, Audrey Lim, Fong Mun Toh, Martin
De Souza, Endang, Eleanor Fabia, Frances Ess and Paisal.

Immediately after the contest, there was dancing to the hilt, bubbling
conversation throughout the hotel and for some of us, teh tarik at 3am
along Jalan Bukit Bintang.

The next Sunday morning, after the a hearty buffet breakfast, we were
enlightened by the guest speaker, Dato Lawrence Chan on the 4 external
and 4 internal powers of a dynamic leaders. 

Next the top 3 officers shared their New Orleans experience on how we
can make it better in marketing of membership and new clubs, our
education program and the importance of focus in leadership. 

This was followed by a panel of distinguished speakers with
participation by the audience. 

Then there was a concurrent sessions of parliamentary procedures, new
clubs extension, effective club officer training and a mandarin clubs
session.

And before we knew it, it was the closing ceremony with a touching
speech by one of the contestant. 

Next the co-chairmen CTM Yong Phie Loong gave his parting thoughts of
this excellenct convention. 

Then the next Organizing Chairman Dunstan Chan invited everyone to
Kuching and followed by the District Governor officially closing the
convention. 

Soon it was buffet lunch, check out time, tears and good-byes and
promises to meet again soon. 

Thank you again KL for a wonderful Semi-Annual Convention which we will
always cherish and remember!


Rgds,
SL Liew, DTM
District Governor
Nov 24, 1997


District Theme: "We Can Make It Better"



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