Reproduced from Article byVictor Foong :

IEM Sarawak Toastmasters Club

In the construction sector, engineers are frequently looked upon as leaders in planning and implementation of projects. As such engineers must possess good communication skills in order to communicate their message, requirements and even vision. They also need interpersonal and leadership skills to mould people in dissimilar profession into efficient teams heading towards the same goal. Realising this need, IEM Sarawak Toastmasters club was established in Nov, 2003 as a standing committee within IEM Sarawak branch with the aim of providing an avenue for the engineering community in Kuching to improve and enhance their leadership, communication and public speaking skills.

The mission of a toastmaster’s club is provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every individual member has the opportunity to develop oral communication and leadership skills, which in turn will foster self-confidence and personal growth. In order to carry out this mission, this club carries out the following:

1. Help its members improve their abilities to communicate effectively;
2. Provide for its members’ instructions, educational materials and opportunities which will give them skill and experience in the preparation and delivery of speeches;
3. Encourage its members to read and to listen analytically;
4. Provide for its members’ fair and constructive evaluation of their efforts toward self-improvement;
5. Increase its members’ knowledge of the rules of parliamentary procedure and their skills in conducting meetings and participating in group discussions;
6. Afford leadership training for its members; and
7. Provide opportunities and encouragement for its members to appear before audiences and to express their thoughts creditably
   
   The IEM Sarawak toastmasters club is an association of the Toastmasters International, a leading non-profit movement devoted to making oral communication a worldwide reality. Since its inception over 80 years ago in United States, the programme had spread and help over 4 million people all over the world become more confident leaders and effective public speakers. In Malaysia there are some 210 toastmasters club of which 17 are in Kuching.
   
   Since its formation, IEM Toastmaster’s Club has quickly risen to be one of the premier toastmasters clubs in Kuching with many of her members winning speech competitions locally and abroad. Currently the club has 29 members and holds their training meetings on 2nd and 4th Thursdays of every month. Meetings are conducted normally at the Ultimate Professional Centre’s Main Hall, Bukit Mata Kuching, which is where the IEM Sarawak’s Secretariat is base. However meetings are occasionally held in less formal environments as a social event to foster goodwill among its members.
   
   The toastmasters programme is conducted on a “learn-by-doing” philosophy. Upon joining members are provided with manuals which cover the basics of speaking in public and leadership skills. The member then carries out a series of projects contain within the manuals at a pace suitable for their want and needs. During the training meetings, members practice various skills useful in public speaking, including giving speeches, speaking extemporaneously, listening, and providing each other with feedback and evaluation. Members are also encouraged to participate in a number of contests organised by the toastmaster’s organisation. Four contests are organised each year. Each contestant must beginning competing from club level and winners will continue to compete in the higher levels at Area, Division and ultimately District. In the District level contestants comes from Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.
   
   Membership to the club is open to all who are practicing engineers; technical staffs involve in the construction industry or scientist. Membership registration forms are available at the IEM (Sarawak Branch) Secretariat (082-428506) .