Ben Deng CC/CL, GDNT Toastmasters club
CC+CL achieved in Sep.19, 2010
I and Toastmasters
I will remember Aug. 13, 2010 and Sep. 21st, 2010 when I was awarded Competent Leader (CL) and Competent Communicator (CC) by Toastmasters International. The awards are not only the acknowledgement for my staggered achievement, but also the encouragement for me to move forward as a toastmaster.
The first time when I knew Toastmasters was round Jan. 2007 in the new member recruiting post for the newly founded GDNT toastmasters Club. After going through the 9 pages of well-designed PPT charts, I was attracted by toastmasters immediately and was aware that Toastmasters was the exact thing for which I had been looking for a long tine to improve my public speak skills. I applied to the club’s membership immediately. After about 3 meetings, I took my first CL role and then after another one month I gave my ice-breaking speech….. Everything went smoothly. The comments and suggestions from the evaluators have been encouraging me to improve myself. I could not remember from exact what time, I changed from a shy person to have the willingness to speak in group discussions and in front of a large of audiences. And I could use the skills smoothly as if I was born with them.
In my 3 years’ experience with Toastmasters, I took many CL roles and served as VPE for a half-year term and then as club president for another two years. Taking CL roles has helped me to improve my productivity. The time management skills and critical thinking skills gained from Toastmasters experiences are very important in my everyday work. Taking officer positions has made me more willing to take on more responsibility.
I am now a Competent Leader (CL) and a Competent Communicator (CC). The achievement is not my ultimate goal as a toastmaster, but the new beginning of my new toastmaster journey. In toastmasters, I still have many things to learn, to try, and to practice.
Ben Deng CC/CL
President 2010 – 2011
GDNT Toastmasters club (Club ID: 01522699)