Gavel Club,

Public Speaking in my opinion is the ability to convey your message to an audience by speak in front of them. This is a skill that is gaining importance as people are not encouraged to speak out. Nowadays, even the employers want their employees to be able to do public speaking. Of course for those people who are lucky to be blessed with the ability to speak well in front of any audience, good for them as they have already an useful skill with them.

So what about those who tend to stutter or shiver or in extreme cases, simple unable to get the words out of the mouth due to nervousness when standing in front of an audience? What about those who want to be a better public speaker? Well, these people can start by joining a public speaking club such as Toastmaster's Club for adults and the junior Toastmaster's club called Gavel Club, for high school students between the age of 13-18 years old. Now why must they do that? How will it help them? By joining a public speaking club, one can have to opportunity to get use speaking in front of an audience or for those who have overcome their fear, they get the opportunity to improve their public speaking skills.

As they say, "Practise makes perfect". The same goes to public speaking. In a public speaking club, one can be encouraged by the support of their peers to overcome the fear of speaking in front of an audience. One can also improve as fellow members will evaluate each other and point out each other's strengths and weaknesses. As a results, the person is able to improve the public speaking ability.

While Toastmaster's Club is more common, Gavel Club is also available in Malaysia. One Gavel Club in Malaysia is the 1st Malaysian Gavel Club. So for those who are interested, do visit their site and know more about them. http://1stmalaysiangavelclub.wordpress.com/

BON ODORI

Perhaps some of you reading this have heard or been to this festival. For me, I've only been to it once. But for those who heard of this festival or have participated in it before for many times already, do you know how this festival come about? Like all festivals, there is always an interesting story in it. Here's some info I got from another website.

The Bon Odori FestivalOver a two day period July or August many Japanese American communities celebrate the Bon Odori Festival. This Buddhist dance festival is celebrated as a reminder of the gratefulness one should feel toward their ancestors. Bon Odori originates from the story of a Buddhist disciple who envisioned his deceased mother in the Realm of Hungry Ghosts where she was endulging in her own selfishness. Greatly disturbed, he went to Buddha and asked how he could release his mother from this realm. Buddha advised his disciple to perform some charitable act in memory of his mother. The disciple did this and, thus, saw his mother's release for the Realm of Hungry Ghosts. He also began to see the true nature of her past unselfishness and the many sacrifices that she had made for him. The disciple, happy because of his mother's release and grateful for his mother's kindness, danced with joy. From this dance of joy comes Bon Odori or Bon Dance, a time in which our ancestors and their sacrifices are remembered and appreciated.
Today the Bon Odori Festival participants continue this custom as they dance in traditional Japanese dress, including kimonos, yukata (cotton kimonos), and hopi coats (short coats styled like a kimono top). The dances may include the use of fans, castinets, straw hats or cotton towels and recall both daily life in Japan and rememberance of ancestors.
There is also a variety of other activities to take part in at the festival. Many of the Buddhist Churches hosting the Bon Odori Festivals will offer tours of the church and explanations of Buddhist practices. There are also performances throughout the day by community music groups including band music and taiko, Japanese Performance Drumming. Usually a variety of Japanese foods and crafts as well as games for both adults and children are also offered.

For those who wants to experience it, there's one in Malaysia at Mashushitta Stadium on 12th of July at night. I'm not sure about the time it starts but i guess it's around 8pm. So go there and have some fun!!!

Pope & Ah Peh

About a century or two ago, the Pope decided that all the Chinese had to leave Italy. Naturally there was a big uproar from the Chinese community. So the Pope made a deal. He would have a religious debate with a member of the Chinese community. If the Chinese wins, they could stay. If the Pope wins, the Chinese would leave. The Chinese realized that they had no other choice. So they picked a middle-aged man named Ah Peh to represent them. Ah Peh asked for one condition to be added to the debate. "To make it more interesting", he said, "neither side would be allowed to talk".The Pope agreed. The day of the great debate came. Ah Peh and the Pope sat opposite each other for a full minute. Then the Pope raised his hand and showed three fingers. Ah Peh looked back at him and raised one finger. The Pope waved his fingers in a circle around his head. Ah Peh pointed to the ground at where he sat. The Pope pulled out a loaf and a glass of wine. Ah Peh pull out an apple.The Pope stood up and said: "I give up. This man is too good. The Chinese can stay."An hour later, the cardinals were all around The Pope asking him what happened?. The Pope said, "first I held up three fingers to represent the holy trinity. He responded by holding up one finger to remind me that there was still one God common to both our religions.""Then I waved my finger around me to show him that God was all around us." He responded by pointing to the ground and showing that God was also right here with us.”"I pulled out the wine and loaf to show that God absolves all sin. He showed me an apple to remind us of the original sin. He had an answer for everything. What could I do?"Meanwhile, the Chinese community had crowded around Ah Peh. "What happened?" they asked."Well," said Ah Peh, "First he indicated to me that all Chinese had 3 days to get out of here. I replied to him f**k off and not one of us was leaving."

"Then he pointed out that this whole city would be cleared of Chinese. I showed him that we are staying right here." "Yes, and then???" asked the crowd. "I don't know", said Ah Peh, "He took out his lunch, and I took out mine!!!"