IEM Toastmasters Club Officers’ Installation & Appreciation Dinner 2014

Master of Ceremony, Ir. Joe Yap, TM

On the 11th of July 2014, IEM Toastmasters Club proudly celebrated the excellent achievements of the club for the term 2013/2014, which was made possible by the leadership of a team of diligent and dedicated club officers together with the support and hard work of every member in the IEM Toastmasters Club family. This momentous day was celebrated with a Star-Wars-themed gala dinner at Bukit Kiara Equestrian Club Kuala Lumpur, attended by members and distinguished guests who dressed    to the nines for a night of fun and celebration. Significantly, it was a night that marked a new dawn for the incoming 2014/2015 club officers led by Club President, Ir. Ismail Omar, DTM whilst it was a night of gratitude to the 2013/2014 club officers led by Immediate Past President, Alex Lu, ACB, ALB.

Masters of ceremony for the glamorous night were the dashing and lively duo of Ir. Joe Yap, TM and Anita Wong, CTM, CL. As the night fell in the holy month of Ramadhan, our night first started with a sumptuous buffet dinner to mark the breaking of fast for our Muslims attendees who were observing their Ramadhan fast. Members and guests had a great time mingling and socializing with each other, while helping themselves to a variety of popular Malaysian dishes and delicacies. It was indeed the highlight of the year for IEM Toastmasters Club after all the effort put in by each member enabling our beloved club to once again achieve President’s Distinguished Club 10/10 for the seventh consecutive year running! Truly it was a commendable feat, the pride of every member associated with IEM Toastmasters Club.

Enjoying buffet dinner

After satisfying our hunger pangs, we began the night formally with an opening address by Organizing Chair, the ever-smiling and cheerful Ir. Lim Suleen, TM. Soon, the fun started with the entertaining and comical party games session co-chaired by Engr. Suresh Kumar, TM and Engr. Ho Aaron, TM. The first game was a charade, and the participants have to guess words relating to football, in-conjunction with the football fever experienced as a result of the FIFA World Cup 2014. Football terms such as “freekick”, “offside”, “banana kick” and many more were successfully guessed by most members who were into the most popular game on this planet. However, it was not without our selected actors painstakingly trying to act out the given words, and at the same time drawing guffaws from the crowd due to their hilarious and whimsical acting. For the next game, participants were tested of their ability to use physical senses. Two lucky participants were selected and blindfolded, and their mission was to guess the person sitting in front of them by using hands to touch and feel their hair and faces. Everyone had an enjoyable time watching the antics of the participants of the games session, indeed the games tested their senses and skills, akin to the skillful warriors of Star Wars fighting to suppress the Dark Side.

Patrick Lee, TM trying to guess the person sitting in front of him

The conclusion of the games session marks the start of our main event of the day - Appreciation and discharge of 2013/2014 term club officers and Installation of new 2014/2015 term club officers. This momentous and history ceremony was carried out by none other than our beloved Division E Governor, Madam SKL Walia, DTM. Our past term club officers were called onto the stage one after another accompanied by the thunderous applause by everyone present. The proud achievements of the club in term 2013/2014 were the fruits of success and diligence made possible by the exemplary leadership by club officers who ardently paved the road to excellence for members of IEM Toastmasters Club.

Club officers term 2013/2014 with DG SKL Walia, DTM

Next, came the moment that 2014/2015 term club officers had been waiting for, the installation of new club officers that marked the official beginning of duty and to carry on the success and heritage of the club. Sergeant-at-Arms, Engr. Ho Aaron, TM were the first to head on-stage, officially receiving the club officer's pin and taking his oath of office. Followed by Secretary, Rhoda Omar, CC, CL, and the club’s famous twin sisters of Ir. Lim Suleen, TM and Ir. Lim Juleen, TM who proudly took up the responsibilities of Vice President of Membership and Vice President of Education respectively.  Club officers not in attendance were Vice President of Public Relations, Ir. Andrew Nathan, ACS and Treasurer, Ng Yee Chia, CC. Last but not least, our club president, the commander of a team of vibrant and enthusiastic club officers, Ir. Ismail Omar, DTM, took the stage to take his oath of office. This ceremonious and decorated session ended with our Immediate Past President, Alex Lu, ACB, ALB officially handing over the club officer’s pin to Club President, Ir. Ismail Omar, DTM, under the witness of Division E Governor, Madam SKL Walia, DTM.

Club officers 2014/2015

From left, Club President, Ir. Ismail Omar, DTM; Division Governor, SKL Walia, DTM & Immediate Past President, Alex Lu, ACB, ALB

In no time, Club President, Ir. Ismail Omar, DTM began his first official duty by delivering his Presidential Speech. It was pin-drop silence as everyone listened attentively to his address, pausing briefly for laughter, as our experienced Club President expertly popped in a few jokes to relate better to his addressees.  It was indeed a speech full of vision and hope, with the President reiterating the importance of willingness and courage to take up the role of a leader. The ultimate goal for him is to groom the current pool of club members into to take up leadership roles, a herculean task which can be turned into reality with the continued effort of all members. Lastly, our distinguished guest, Immediate Past District 51 Governor, Madam Kiang Faang Pyng, DTM, was invited to say a few words. In her address, she was impressed with the achievements of IEM Toastmasters Club, which continued to produce commendable success year after year. It was her sincere hope that IEM Toastmasters Club is able to churn out proud achievements for many years to come.

Presidential address

Toastmasters event would not have been complete without a Table Topics session, hence our resourceful Table Topics Master, Patrick Lee, TM, took on the stage to preside over the Table Topics session. Three of our invited guests bravely took up the challenge, with each delivering an impromptu speech to inspire everyone present. Guests who were not members of Toastmasters were able to catch a glimpse of the ability of a Toastmaster to tackle the stage skillfully with confidence. The humor session was next on the agenda. Robert Ram, DTM, our Humor Master of the day, who was clad in a splendid Baju Melayu, tickled the crowd with his rendition of Toastmasters jokes. His witty antics, complemented the humor of his jokes, and caused everyone to burst into laughter.

Humour Session by Robert Ram, DTM

Lastly, awards session was the final agenda of the day. The lucky draw session rewarded lucky attendees with gifts. IEM Toastmasters Club Awards rewarded outstanding and dedicated members for the term of 2013/2014 who contributed significantly to the list of achievements by the club for the past year. Meera Shanmughanathan, ACB, CL won the award for the Most Outstanding Toasmaster; Ir. LimJuleen, TM was awarded with the Most Dedicated Toastmaster; and finally Ng Yee Chia,CC was voted as the Most Improved Toastmaster. Engr. Lee Meng Tze, DTM, who came dressed as a Stormtrooper, a character from the Star Wars trilogy, and Robert Ram, DTM who was in a mood of Hari Raya Aidilfitri with his Baju Melayu complete with Songkok and Kain Pelikat, took home the Best Dressed Awards for ladies and gentlemen respectively. 

Most Outstanding Toastmaster, Meera Shanmuganathan, ACB, CL

The gala dinner was declared closed by Club President, Ir.Ismail Omar, DTM with his closing speech, but not before a surprise birthday celebration for our Club President who celebrated his 75^th birthday. Wishes were made, as our Club President blew all candles signifying the years of his life, made memorable by his active involvement in Toastmasters. Everyone present gleefully took photographs with each other, before heading home with wonderful memories of the night.

Surprise 75th birthday celebration for Club President, Ir. Ismail Omar, DTM