Dr Chan to be guest of honour at Toastmasters convention in Miri

KUCHING - Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr George Chan has encouraged Toastmasters to participate in the Sarawak Tourism Year by promoting the State to foreign tourists. He suggested that Toastmasters compile stories on Sarawak and share them with the tourists.

He made the call when representatives from District 51 Toastmasters International visited him in his office yesterday afternoon. The contingent was led by District 51 Governor Dr. John Lau. Accompanying Lau were Lawrence Tay, Division E Governor, Jee Kee Hiong, Area E2 Governor, Ting Men Choon, Area E4 Governor, Chhoa Kim Hock, Area E6 Governor, Adeline Liong, president of Hornbill City Toastmasters Club, Margaret Loh, president of Kuching Toastmasters Club, Yii Ching Huong, president of Miri Mandarin Toastmasters Club, James Phe, Organizing Chairman of 10th annual District 51 convention and Koh Ek Chong, past president of Miri Mandarin Toastmasters Club.

The District is organising its 10th annual convention which will be held in Miri from May 16 to 18. Members from New Zealand, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines, USA, Indonesia and Malaysia will be joining the convention. It is expected that there will be 700 delegates.  Dr Chan will be the guest of honour of the convention.

During the courtesy call, Lau briefed the Deputy Chief Minister on the development of Toastmasters in District 51 which comprised member clubs in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong. Brunei and Macau.  The District was chartered in 1993, and in the last 10 years, the number of clubs in the District has grown from 46 to 340 and the membership from 1,800 to 9,300.

Lau told Dr Chan that District 51 Council had passed a resolution at its 2002 semi annual convention in Singapore to split the District into 2.  Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei will be in one District and Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and Macau in the other District.

Lau added that District 51 had achieved the highest Toastmasters International award by achieving the President Distinguished District for six continuous years since 1996/1997. District 51 was also the Number One District in the world for four consecutive years since 1998/1999.

Toastmasters is an organisation devoted to making effective communication a worldwide reality.