中壢英語國際演講會 Chungli Toastmasters Club

Date: Oct. 3, 2008

Title: The man we respect

Speaker: Chad Huang, ACB, CL

Project No. : A12

Advance Manual: Occasion Speeches - Speaking in Phraise

Family members of Mr. Ma, ladies and Gentleman. Today we sit here together on a Saturday morning is for the same reason –To remember our beloved friend, Jerry Ma and say goodbye to this forever young man.  

Jerry was a man who enjoyed life’s beauty and added colors to his life.  He was the one teaching us like a mentor, joking with us like a close friend and playing with us like a child. Laughter and wisdom always accompanied him wherever he went   People enjoyed being with him.

With 26 years Toastmasters membership since 1980, Jerry had dedicated himself to this organization and successfully chartered many clubs.  Not to mention how many people were inspired by his encouraging words, which led them to a happy life.

No matter what, Jerry was always supportive to members who gave speeches. He always said positive words to encourage them to continue.  However sometimes in his evaluation, he played a naughty game. We usually followed the candy theory: KISS, KICK, KISS.  But, he always said KISS, KICK, then KILL. Then, you would see a naughty smile on his face. That was followed by everyone’s laughter in the whole meeting room.  But, he still could bring it back to the serious part.  Kelly remembers he said: “there is no perfect speech in meetings. The perfect speech only happens on your way home.”  There is always some room for improvement and it’s always good to listen to other’s evaluation. On one hand, he encouraged you to move forward. On the other hand, he mentioned the spirit of self-reflection.

Serving as A4 Governor from 1989 to 1995, in these 5 years, Jerry helped build the Taoyuan, ChungLi and Hsinchu clubs, as well as many other language clubs.  He said “I go to Sampo clubs on Monday, Mandarin club on Tuesday, Taiwanese club on Wednesday, Bilingual club on Thursday, and come to Chungli club on Friday.”  And on weekends, he went to a dancing club and bible study class.  He was so busy, but he enjoyed his life.   So people here in Taoyuan area call him “the God Father”.  There is no question about that

The source of his power and inspiration was his interest in everything. One of our members, Elaine, said “she remembers how Jerry was so interested in leaning things because his mind was always open to new ideas.  In his upper pocket, he has one small booklet attached with one pen which looked very old from outside. However, on the inside were a lot of beautiful sentences and words.  Whenever he heard golden words or funny stories, he took out this Treasure Box and put them in.

In school, he encouraged students to stand on stage to give presentations and trained them to evaluate each other.  In daily life, he brought his friends to Toastmasters club. Because in his mind, to spread happiness in a learning group with everybody was the most enjoyable thing in his life.

Many members around Taiwan, including you and me, said we received a lot from Jerry’s concrete supports in both actions and words. And they were shocked and sad to hear he has said goodbye to everybody.  But, what we shall do is to take over his spirit and spread it over to the circle of our lives.  Since we have benefited from others for ages, why don’t we stand up to become the givers? Ladies and Gentlemen, just like what Jerry said in his Inaugural Speech of District Governor in 1998, Toastmasters is a land of opportunity, which is available to everyone. Toastmasters is a door, open to all individuals.  If, at his age he could say he was the youngest in the club, who can say he is too old to move and too late to start?  If Jerry could spread out his influential power to so many people and enjoy every minute of his life including the last minute of that in dancing, why can’t we add more colors in our lives in the same way?  Let us salute our forever mentor and follow his spirit and example. And put him in our memory forever.               Toastmasters