“Part of the journey is the end” – Tony Stark, aka Ironman, in Avengers End Game, 2018.
It all begins with a shared journey, a desire, a purpose of wanting to Grow and Blossom in this term. At the same time, we are committed to safeguard this little sanctuary with our values of Respect, Integrity, Sentient and Enjoyable.
As I mentioned in my first speech as Club President: “There is no point in getting Distinguished Club Points (DCPs) if our members are not growing personally. Our club performance should be measured by its members’ success in life”. I am proud and privileged to witness some of the most profound personal growth in our club during this term.
As of 24 May 2021, we had achieved 8 DCPs. I am proud to inform that we achieve 150% for our education goal (18 out of 12 goals). As for Club Officers’ training, we achieved 163% of our target (13 out of 8 goals). I am extremely delighted by this achievement, as it is a strong testament our members hold on to our club vision and values. We overachieved it for the sake of our life successes. As additional feather in our cap, we received Super Seven Award from District. We won the Best Blog Entry of District 102 in December 2020! Despite COVID-10 chaos, we attracted 3 new members: Su Ling, Sam and Ying Hui, who shared our values and decided to onboard this great Friend-ship.
Even though we have 8 DCPs to be at least Select Distinguished Club, the bad news is we are not qualified for any DCP awards as of date. We have not met the minimum requirement of 20 members to qualify. To date, we have 15 active members. I inherited a base of 21 members at the beginning of the term. However, under my leadership, 8 members decided not to renew during the term. That is staggering one-third of our total membership.
I can conveniently pass blame to pandemic or said: “It is their choice. I can’t do anything.” But the truth is: I failed to convince and demonstrate to them FTMC is the platform for personal growth and retain base membership. Members choose to leave this platform, as I have not demonstrated and clearly communicate the values and club vision to them.
I realized I spend much time engaging with the EXCO team, and I have neglected other club members. My assumption of “Exco first, the club will grow itself” was proven gravely wrong. Effort to increase participation of members left much to be desired. While having an eloquent Presidential speech is great, leadership is taking responsibility for the people around us. It is about taking care the people to the left and to the right of us. The highlight should be always on the club members, not on the President.
To my dear members, I apologize for unable to win any award for the club. Under my leadership, we were unqualified. As the President of FTMC, this responsibility of failure is mine, and is mine alone.
I would like to express my utmost gratitude to my dedicated Exco team. I may be ill-qualified to be Club President, yet I was blessed with the best team I had ever worked with. Your sufferings to my stupid jokes are coming to an end. Special gratitude to our IPP Claire and Club Advisor, Lay Theng. Not to forget our Area Director, Clement Chew, whom I have serious love-hate relationship with. They are my beacons in course of dispensing my duty as President.
The Infinity War of COVID-19 is indeed chaotic, heart-wrenching, and lethargic. Time has come for the current Exco team to End Game. To quote Joybell C: “Ends are not bad things, they just mean that something else is about to begin.”
Finally, I see the finish line. I look forward to embarking on the new chapter of Friend-ship story. I love you all x2,998.
By the authority of Toastmasters International vested in me,
mandate entrusted as outgoing Club President, knowing deeply part of the
journey is the end, I hereby passing the gavel to incoming club President for
next term.
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