Club 4743 U, Japan
Toastmasters Council (JTC)
24 February, 1999:
Vol. 3, Issue 3
Writer / Editor:
Yuko Komata
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It's warm in here and snow is melting gradually. We have perhaps the least member since this club began, but we had a fruitful meeting.
Attendance:
Opening thought:
Today's word
Nine members including TM Nishimori who recently came back from the U.S.
TM Firkola introduced the phrases of the famous American author and greatest salesman
in the world; Og Mandino
"Today I begin a new life. I will persist until I succeed.. I will live this day as if it is my last. I
will act now."
He read these sentences every morning and night.
TM Mukai introduced "discreet". Its noun is "discretion". Used as; He is a man of discretion.,
equal to "He's very careful." The opposite words are "indiscreet".
Table Topic session:
We
enjoyed a game by TM Ando.
Everyone spoke as if he / she were an actor / actress who is written on the paper. Members
guessed who he / she was. Mr. Shigeo Nagashima, Beat Takeshi, Beethoven, ...etc.
Current Issue Session:
TM Nishimori introduced her life in the U.S. She studied at the language school for five
month while stayed at a local family's house. She said she spent valuable days and enjoyed
the life at the Washington State. School life was busy because of lots of homework. She
concluded that she recognized herself as a Japanese, learned culture more and grew up
from the experiences.
TM Komata gave her second speech; "How to live simply". She told about the book that she read last year and showed her opinion of simple life. The book title is "How to live Simply " by Ms. Elain St. James who was in the real estate business before and now writing so many books and having lots of lectures about simple life. These kind of books aimed at saving or cut down expenses are popular now in Japan because of the economic recession. She pick up several titles from the book and told some examples. "Move to a small house", "Don't be the slave of schedule notebook." and "Find what you'd like to do most." We are exposed to so many information every day and urged to absorb the appropriate ones from our point of view. If we carry schedule notebooks, we tend to think that we have to act precisely according to the schedule. By the way, Japanese houses are full of materials. There's a TV program about "How to rearrange your house; neat and clean". She changed the layout of her room after read the book, but the number of goods hasn't been changed at all. Do you know why? As the proverb says "It's easier said than done.", to live simple is not easy. We shall start right now from minimal points like: use resources sparingly, proceed recycling and reduce garbage. TM Tsukada spoke about "How to take nature photographs ". He was a Camera Boy in school days. Every weekend he used to went outside and took photographs. He wanted to earn some money by making public in some contest but some contest rejected. Surprisingly, he waited over ten hours to take a nice one when in University. Nowadays we can take high quality photographs with cheap camera. Film quality is getting better. If you have a camera, how about going to a short trip to take good photograph? He taught the nuts and bolts; Car is better for approach to the destination than train or bus. We can reach the view point directly. Landscape photographs are valid only in the morning and evening. Sunrise from a mountain, reflection from a lake. At noon time, portrait and flower photos are recommended. If you cannot focus on the object, adjust horizontal line or slanting line in your view. You can have a chance to make your photograph public by using internet home page. You're the artist already!
Stroll down memory lane or review some advice given ...
Issues in 1998
Issues in 1999
* 10 February Issue Newsletter