Hi Everyone

Hi Guys

I hate to open my conversation with an apology but in this case I like to make an exception. I have promised you guys to have this blog up after our last week session so that it would be easier for you guys to get information and at the same time share the information with the rest of the Group members.

My apologies - this is all due to my wife Masdiana who on Monday slipped and fell at Taipan, near our USJ house and broke her hip bone. I rushed form my office in Dataran Prima to Taipan and carried her with the help of many kind gentlemen at the scene to my car and rushed her to UH. To cut the matter short, she is still in hospital and just yesterday had her major operation done, a hip bone transfer. I guess you know how you would feel when your wife is in hospital and you have to make sure everything goes on well at home including the office.

I guess that is enough for now on my apologies and I will now go right into business.

Let me first explain the objective of this blog. This is to make communication between Batch I, Groups B & D members more expedient and I hope we can all share between members and myself.

My task is to post into the blog what I feel is important for you guys and hopefully, more will visit this blog to update themselves on the Speakers Club Program.

We have completed three Sessions and our next session will be on 6 September. During this session Mama Walia will present to us on "Substance for Speech Presentation" in the morning and "Research for Materials" in the afternoon.

Basically, under this Session you are required to look for materials to enhance your speech. A speech is a speech but a speech that has value is when the speaker takes time to look for information that is not already known. I would therefore, recommend that you first Strategise your Presentation. What is it that you want the audience to know, to learn or to do. Once you have decided on this, find out who is your audience. In this Club you can imagine the audience to be your colleagues, your Board Members or even your family members. State your strategies well in advance to the Introducer.

Once you have clear strategy, than start to Structure your speech with a Catchy opening and a powerful conclusion. The materials you have researched will be incorporated as your Body and here you will use what Masdiana had taught you last week. If you need the slides, send your email to me at mohamad@aaogroup.com .

My suggestion is that you make every speech a great speech, with good flow, well structured, impactful substance and powerful delivery. I am sure you too will enjoy your own speech when it is delivered well. However, I would like to warn you not to 'fall in love' with your own speech. Your speech is intended to convey a message to the audience and not for your own self-gratification.

This is my first installment. As time permit I will post more items for you guys. Don't forget to write to me or even make your comments here if you need to. However, let us be practical and focussed. I do not want to discuss anything else besides the Speakers Club matters here.