University of Malaya Toastmasters Club (UMTMC): About Toastmasters International

TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL

Toastmasters International is a non profit organization. From its humble beginnings in California, it is now a global organization. Most importantly Toastmasters produces results. Why do we say so? Around the world more than 4 million men and women from all ages have benefited from Toastmasters training and more than 1000 corporations, universities, government agencies use Toastmasters training.

The first Toastmasters club was founded in the basement of the YMCA in Santa Ana, California in 1924. Toastmasters was the brain child of a Midwesterner by the name of Dr. Ralph C Smedley.

MISSION OF TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL

Toastmasters International is the leading movement devoted to making effective oral communication a worldwide reality. Through its member clubs, Toastmasters International helps men and women learn the arts of speaking, listening and thinking – vital skills that promote self-actualization, enhance leadership potential, foster human understanding and contribute to the betterment of mankind. It is basic to this mission that Toastmasters International continually expand its worldwide network of clubs, thereby offering ever-greater numbers of people the opportunity to benefit from its programs.

VISION OF TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL

Toastmasters International empowers people to achieve their full potential and realize their dreams. Through our member clubs, people throughout the world can improve their communication and leadership skills, and find the courage to change.

VALUES OF TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL

Toastmasters International’s core values are integrity, dedication to excellence, service to the member and respect for the individual. These are values worthy of a great organization, and we believe we should incorporate them as anchor points in every decision we make. Our core values provide us with a means of not only guiding but also evaluating our operations, our planning and our vision for the future.

* For further information on Toastmasters International please click on the link provided in the sidebar on your right under the category LINKS.

BRIEF HISTORY OF UM

UM was founded in Singapore in 1949, after the Second World War, with the amalgamation of two pre-war colleges in Singapore — the King Edward VII College of Medicine, founded in 1905 (offering medical, dental and pharmaceutical courses) and the Raffles College, founded in 1929 (arts and science courses). In 1957, there was only a “virtual” UM in KL offering arts courses with “flying” lecturers from UM in Singapore shuttling between both locations. Following the establishment of the Faculty of Engineering in KL in 1958, UM then had two divisions, UM in KL and UM in Singapore. The faculty in KL was the only IHL in Malaya offering courses in civil engineering. UM in Singapore became the University of Singapore in 1962. In 1980, it became the National University of Singapore after merging with Nanyang University. In 1962, UM in KL retained its original name, and offered courses in engineering, arts, science and agriculture.

(taken from The Star Online)