President's Opening Address 17 June 2010
EXCO Installation Night – 17 Jun 2010
First of all, I would like to thank our Katong members for choosing me as President of the Club for the new term. It is indeed an honour. Thank you once again.
I joined the club about four years ago, and I watched it grow from a toddler then to a mature adult now. I remembered in its infancy, we barely had more than 10 active members. However, a team of dedicated founding members trotted on, keeping the club alive for those few struggling years. We would have suffered a premature death had there not been the dedication of this group of individuals to see the club through. Since then, the club has progressed well under the leadership of the past few presidents with the support of new members, and we are now a club to be contended with when it comes to speech competitions. However, what I am most proud of are the camaraderie and the mutual encouragement we have shown each other.
Talking about mutual support and spirit of giving, I would like to share a very special story that happened some years back. A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled along the track a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back. One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said: "This will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes.
Why?
Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters is that we work together as a team, as a club, to help each other win. In this club, we want to help each other to achieve our objective of joining the toastmasters club, that is, to be the best speaker that you can be. Along the way, we may stumble and be discouraged. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help for you know that, at Katong Toastmasters Club, we will all be walking together with you to the finish line.
First of all, I would like to thank our Katong members for choosing me as President of the Club for the new term. It is indeed an honour. Thank you once again.
I joined the club about four years ago, and I watched it grow from a toddler then to a mature adult now. I remembered in its infancy, we barely had more than 10 active members. However, a team of dedicated founding members trotted on, keeping the club alive for those few struggling years. We would have suffered a premature death had there not been the dedication of this group of individuals to see the club through. Since then, the club has progressed well under the leadership of the past few presidents with the support of new members, and we are now a club to be contended with when it comes to speech competitions. However, what I am most proud of are the camaraderie and the mutual encouragement we have shown each other.
Talking about mutual support and spirit of giving, I would like to share a very special story that happened some years back. A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled along the track a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back. One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said: "This will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes.
Why?
Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters is that we work together as a team, as a club, to help each other win. In this club, we want to help each other to achieve our objective of joining the toastmasters club, that is, to be the best speaker that you can be. Along the way, we may stumble and be discouraged. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help for you know that, at Katong Toastmasters Club, we will all be walking together with you to the finish line.
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