Linda and Douglass join us for this episode,

Check out the video version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAKj7dI9DaQ

Today’s episode 

1. How our guests joined Toastmasters and

2. What it was like for Linda, Joe, and

3. Douglass and Linda’s highlights from joining

4. How Paul rallies people to support TGIF

5. A story that Douglass will NEVER forget

6. The differences in joining online and

7. Tips for joining the contest from our

8. What areas of growth they are looking

9. The takeaway message: Do it!

Speeches by our guests

Douglass Gilmartin: ⁠⁠Vienna Waits for You

Linda Ko: ⁠⁠In a Group

Jenny Liu and Alice Ko join us on The Story: TGIF and Born to Shine Christian Toastmasters to talk about how Born to Shine Christian Toastmasters started. These two were charter members of the club and have continued to be active speakers over its eight-year history. The Growth isn't only about TGIF expanding to another club but also the personal growth our two guests have experienced as members of Born to Shine.

Check out the video version here: https://youtu.be/TshaX3AUEJo?si=F9iR5MSoUFCwaXs_

Today’s episode 

1. Background of our guests and the club

2. Jenny and Alice's introduction to Born to Shine

3. Paul's inspiration to start Born to Shine... You won't believe what the club was almost called! 

4. The highlights of being members of the club and their Toastmasters experience before joining the club 

5. Special aspects of Born to Shine's culture: the pose and the huddle 

6. The differences between the two clubs

7. Biggest challenges for Jenny and Alice as members of the club

8. Outings organized by Born to Shine

9. Where these two members want to see growth in their lives: being givers

Speeches by our guests

Jenny Liu: ⁠戒斷你的癮⁠ 

Alice Ko: ⁠The Best Way to Spend NTD6,000⁠

In our first official episode of The Story: TGIF and Born to Shine Christian Toastmasters, Founding President Lester Lin shares how he took TGIF Christian Toastmasters out of the thought realm and made it a reality when he started the club in 2013. The Foundation takes us back to when TGIF began. 

If you want to watch the video for this episode, please check out our YouTube page.

Today’s episode 

1. How Lester joined Toastmasters and his wild ride as president of two clubs before starting TGIF 

2. Lester’s motivation to start TGIF Christian Toastmasters and lessons learned from the model of small groups in churches and the structure of Toastmasters meetings

3. TGIF as a place with members from different generations, nationalities, and religions 

4. The challenges of starting a Christian-oriented club in Toastmasters and how people reacted to TGIF 

5. Lester’s reflections on the highlights of TGIF’s ten years since chartering 

6. Two factors of TGIF and Born to Shine’s success: love for God and each other, regular attendance

7. The future of TGIF and Born to Shine: bringing the experience to a wider audience online

8. How Lester has personally grown through the club

9. A special inflection point in TGIF for Lester: the first non-Christian president of the club

In this short episode, hosts Paul Sharpe and Joe Calpin discuss what led them to start this podcast, The Story: TGIF and Born to Shine Christian Toastmasters. Over the next ten or so episodes, they will be interviewing members from these two Taipei-based clubs. Stay tuned for the first official episode, which will air early next month!

YouTube version of this episode can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/@TGIFBornToShine

Looking to learn a little more about the clubs or want to listen to some good Christmas speeches? Check out the TGIF and Born to Shine YouTube channel. Yes... Joe and Paul really do have matching Christmas penguin sweatshirts.

Joseph Calpin, "The Coming of a Gift"

https://youtu.be/s6hQJ7sb7Nw?si=_H_TXYtT-bQoMCp2

Paul Sharpe, "Will You?"

https://youtu.be/MYOVmH0tbIM?si=yBkw-dvcyy4C3rxf