林以凡
I-Fan Lin
2019.08.05.

從第一次的演講開始, 我就設下目標, 上台不帶稿, 為的就是讓自己的演說不像是念稿, 於是每次上 台演講前都在家裡反覆排練30幾次甚至有時候40次以上, 有時候出門買菜, 在超市裡面還一邊推著 推車, 一邊小小聲的排練.
　

有一次在暑假例會結束, 隔天中午是我們分會的暑期戶外野餐, 會員鼓勵我給一個演講, 那時心想, 怎麼可能, 時間這麼趕, 該講什麼呢? 但是為了挑戰自己, 我決定試試看, 既然是在暑假, 那就講講以 前暑假有什麼有趣的事情吧, 晚上開始寫稿, 寫完開始一次又一次反覆的排練, 隔天早上醒來一邊準 備野餐食物一邊繼續對著房子裡的空氣大聲排練, 上台前還猶豫要不要帶著稿上台, 最後仍然心一橫, 挑戰自己發掘潛力, 最後非常順利的給了大家一個很有趣的演說, 也從那之後, 有如打通任督二 脈, 對於之後如何選擇演講題目, 準備講稿, 以及內容的舖成都不再那麼吃力, 這短短不到20小時的 扎實挑戰, 讓我越來越喜歡公眾演說.
　

一開始加入英語演講會, 壓根都沒想過會拿到傑出榮譽會員獎(DTM), 至始至終的目標都是想說得 一口更流利的英文, 站在台上不會怯懦, 於是設定小目標及計畫, 一步一步的去完成(拼命給演講), 結 果在兩年半完成了所有的要求, 拿到DTM. 這對我來說是一個自我成長的極大鼓勵及動力, 但是這並 不是終點, 我還會繼續加強公眾演說的技巧, 把所有舊制新制的演講手冊都完成.
　

PS.
一直希望可以把美國一些新穎的例會方式帶進台灣, 讓台灣的例會有更多不同的元素, 會員們也能 夠有不一樣的方式更增進自己的演說能力及領導能力, 謝謝許多人的支持及鼓勵, 與我一起創了一 個新的(微美式)分會可以跟大家一起學習
林以凡
　

Goals Setting and Goals Planning

It took me two and half years to receive DTM award.

In February 2017, Toastmasters at Purdue held an open house. I attended their meeting and the meeting amazed me. After visiting three more times, I decided to join the Toastmasters world. I knew I could benefit a lot at my public speaking from those experienced native speakers. I set up a goal: giving speech on stage without taking notes.

Therefore, I rehearsed each of my speech more than 30 times or even 40 before going on stage. I even rehearsed my speech by murmuring at Walmart when I was doing grocery shopping and trundling a cart (and almost hit a shopper). Also, I set up the schedule, giving the speech every other two weeks. Therefore, I completed ten speeches and received CC award in 7 months. I wanted to thank my mentor, Jennifer Merzdorf. She helped me a lot in selecting my speech topics and gave me many suggestions. After giving three speeches, I could find the topics easily and I knew how to prepare an organized humorous speech.

I thought all the projects were done after receiving CC award. However, one day, I noticed a name badge from our member with ACB after her name. I realized my Toastmasters journey was not done yet. There were many fun and specific manuals for me to do. Hence, I kept practicing the public speaking skills by being a host at a TV show, reading a fairy tale story with five characters, demonstrating the usage of a rubber band, introducing street food in Taiwan to foreigners, etc. I loved the advanced manuals!

I served as VP Membership after I joined Toastmasters in four months. I set up a goal. I wanted to help the club win the Smedley Award and Talk Up Toastmasters Award. Therefore, when the guests visited our weekly meeting, I gave them the guest packet including a nice folder with Toastmasters flyers, our club newsletter, and membership form. After the meeting, I voluntarily talked to them and encouraged them to join. I also sent a follow-up email to the guests right after the meeting. Besides, I suggested our members to sit beside the guests in the meeting.

So, the guests did not sit in a group and the members were in another group. During the two years as I served as VP Membership, our club had around 40 new members! Many members told me that they were inspired by my passion and enthusiasm. They joined because they wanted to learn with me together!

What I have learned in Toastmasters is goal setting and goal planning. If you have a clear and specific goal, you can easily achieve it. What is your goal in Toastmasters? To improve your public speaking is very vague. To build your leadership skill is also obscure. Think about it deeply!

I-Fan Lin, DTM
President
We Rock Toastmasters Club