Wednesday, July 07, 2010

BnT Officers Take Off

by Faye Melegrito, Club Secretary


Guided by the vision of District 75’s Governor Wilson Lee of Toastmasters soaring high to the next level, Toastmasters from Divisions A, B, G, and H gathered together for an Officers’ Training last July 3 and a Mass Installation last July 4 at the West Greenhills Clubhouse in San Juan.

Where learning is offered, BnT Toasties are not far behind. Five officers for the new term 2010-2011 – headed by President Jun Roy who was joined by Immediate Past President Pat Pascua, Vice President for Education Sheila Mapanao, Vice President for Public Relations Alvin Abrantes, and Sgt.-at-Arms Ed Ebreo – attended the whole day event last Saturday.

Though the food left their tummies wanting for more (urging them to take additional bites elsewhere) the five toasties feasted themselves on officer training, toastmaster learnings, and inspiring messages. During the Officers’ Training proper, the officers went to their respective groups depending on their position and eventually learned tips on how to effectively perform their duties. Messages marked the beginning and end of the day. Sandy Prieto opened it in the morning with her Keynote Address, followed by Gov. Lee’s Overview and Lt. Gov. for Education & Training Vic Navales on Achieving Educational Norms. Lt. Gov. for Marketing Grace Paras started the afternoon session with her speech on Membership and Club Growth, then Francis Kong’s great speech. Gov. Lee closed the day with the Commitment Declaration and Signing.

For the Mass Installation the following afternoon, BnT President Jun Roy returned to the Clubhouse with Vice President for Membership Gege Sugue, Secretary Faye Melegrito, Treasurer Eden Alemania-Dayrit, and last term’s Sgt.-at-Arms Boom San Agustin. Outgoing Division B Gov. JJ Letargo and Jazz Encarnacion were also with them.

The above toasties from the wacky Butter N Toast had themselves in stitches as Mike Unson gave inputs on how to make one’s speech entertaining and fun to watch and listen to. Mike ably masked any formality of the lecture with his humorous renditions of Hong Kong’s MTR and Philippines’ MRT voice-overs, gender benders, and compare-and-contrast samplers.

The afternoon’s main event promptly started at 5PM. Each of the outgoing Division Governors from Divisions A, B, G, H gave their valedictory address, followed by the inauguration address of their respective division’s incoming Division Governors. Division A’s outgoing Gov. Corazon Oliva-Rodil talked about the GIFT during her term: guide, inspire, forge, and trust friendship, and gifted the audience with her words, “It is not where one is today, but where one is going that counts.” Incoming Gov. Melvin Paulino challenged his division to aim for unity in diversity and to make a mark for eternity, with the clubs existing for their members and guiding each member to achieve the needed norm. Division B’s outgoing Gov. Katrina Letargo (BnT’s very own JJ!) exclaimed that Division B had a blast building leaders and speakers together by being big in numbers, bold in competition, and brave in taking leadership role. Incoming Gov. Yolanda Meru confirmed that there is no turning back for her and encouraged the members to always have room for improvement and rise to the next level of speeches. Division G’s outgoing Gov. Jonathan Yogawin felt great and grateful, showed it, and invited the members to feel the same. Incoming Gov. Angelica del Rosario called on the power in commitment, in teamwork, and in love. Division H’s outgoing Gov. Malou Ranario called on the audience to unleash their X factor and ignite the H magic, making achieving goals with integrity and character. Incoming Gov. Raul de la Vega then asserted that a toastmaster always keeps his promise.

Thereafter, Jun and Boom stood up along with other outgoing officers, as they were officially discharged from their duties for the term 2009-2010. Lt. Gov. Paras declared them released, albeit temporarily, from obligations in District 75, then reminded them that “once a toastmaster, always a toastmaster.”

The incoming officers for the term 2010-2011 were then asked to come up the stage as their positions were called, and they were eventually charged by Lt. Gov. Navales to assume their duties until their term ends on June 30, 2011.

The swearing-in followed, with District Gov. Lee calling on everyone to raise right hands and take oath to do their duties as officers of their Toastmasters Club, to be one with District 75’s theme for the term, and to finally take off and soar high to the next level.

On the first weekend of their term, the BnT officers took off on a flight of a lifetime. With the cooperation of the members, the officers will be Bringing and Rousing Individuals to Greater Heights in Toastmasters, towards a BRIGHT Butter N Toast!

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