Cheap DIY Green Screen for Online Meetings

With the Covid Pandemic upon us, most Toastmasters clubs have moved towards online meetings. We, at the BF Community Toastmasters Club, had our first online meeting last Mar.21, 2020 using the Zoom platform. It has been our mode of meeting from then on.

Suit Jacket or Blazer with Floral Shirt

Some people describe me as one with poor fashion sense. The summer (hot or dry season) had intensified recently and I thought to myself, "hmmm, maybe it's time to take out the floral shirt I have". Haha.

I wasn't sure though if wearing the blazer (or suit jacket) to go with the shirt was a good idea. After all, in all my previous meetings wearing the blazer, I'd have a plain print or plaid shirt underneath.

Also, with the heat, is it even practical to wear the blazer? Well, what the heck, I thought. I have this customized Toastmasters shoulder briefcase bag that I use as a carry-on for my blazer. I'll just keep it there until it's time to take it out.

Toastmasters Document Briefcase - Customized!

I've recently found out that the Toastmasters Document Briefcase that was gifted to us (Area Directors) by District Director Benz Lim, could alternate as a garment bag. In other words it would double as a shoulder bag for a suit jacket or blazer.

But if the main compartment would be used for storing the blazer or jacket, then the outside pockets need to be modified a bit to contain other items like documents, notebooks, etc.

As it is, the outside pockets are just that - outside open pockets. There's no cover or closing mechanism that would secure contents and prevent them from sliding or falling out.

Shoulder Bag / Briefcase for Suit Jacket or Blazer

For quite some time now, I've been wearing a blazer (sometimes called a suit jacket) in most of my Toastmasters meetings. This is regardless whether the meeting is in my own home club at BF Community TMC or in other clubs or in Toastmasters events that I visit.

The first time I wore a blazer was when I gave a lecture on Body Language and Gestures at the 2018 Speakers Summit. But the wearing of a blazer became the norm when I did my round of club visits as an Area Director.

Toastmasters Document Briefcase from District Director

During the Power Dressing Seminar, Division Director Dolly handed to me what looked like a small package.

When I opened it, the package turned out to be a Toastmasters Document Briefcase. And inside the briefcase were a couple of promotional bookmarks and button pins. The package was a gift from our District 75 Director, Benz Lim.

As of this writing, the item description as advertised in the TI website is shown below:

How to Fix Misspelled Words on a Tarpaulin

How do you feel when your organization emphasizes improvement of communication skills yet uses demonstration charts with incorrect spellings? Embarrassing!

This article will show how I corrected misspellings on a tarp.

Toastmasters Timing Lights - Simple and Easy DIY - Part 3

(This is the continuation from Part 2 - Toastmasters Timing Lights)

• Convenient and Easy-to-use
  
  I'm almost tempted to say any idiot could operate this unit because every one should be familiar with the parts that make it up.
  
  I even stuck a sticker-label saying "This is NOT a Toy" just to emphasize my point to whoever wants to play with it. It is THAT easy to use.
  
  Because of the three independent switches, I suppose the operation of this unit is much more intuitive than that of the old unit with the rotary switch.
  

Toastmasters Timing Lights - Simple and Easy DIY - Part 2

(This is the continuation from Part 1 - Toastmasters Timing Lights)

After laying out the parts of the Do-It-Yourself Toastmasters timing lights device, it's now time to assemble the device.

You don't need to prepare any electrical tapes or fastening tools. There is no soldering, no taping, no splicing, no wiring, no gluing and no attaching of any other electrical parts.

Toastmasters Timing Lights - Simple and Easy DIY

Thus far, the club is still using the improvised speech timing cards that I made, but with a Demo Meeting coming up which our club is sponsoring, I wanted something more impressive.

The old Toastmasters Signal Lights that was assembled for me is still gathering dust in a corner. I don't think I may be able to have it repaired anytime soon.

Then I thought, does a timing lights device really need to be built from scratch, just like the one that I requested to be assembled? It's google search time once again and here's one I saw from the Bayan Baru Toastmasters Club.

Toastmasters Speech Timing Cards - Improvised & DIY - Part 2

(This is the continuation of Toastmasters Speech Timing Cards - Improvised & DIY)

Do the same when the midpoint time is up for the yellow card and the maximum time is up for the red card.

If you are a bit far away from the speaker, you may raise the colored card to attract the speaker's attention. This is similar to when a student in a class raises his hand to get the teacher's attention.

This isn't too distracting for the audience, if you as Meeting Timer, is far back at the table or room. If, however, you're somewhere in the middle, you could subdue the motion to avoid unnecessary distractions for the audience.

Toastmasters Speech Timing Cards - Improvised & DIY

Today, I finished making a set of improvised signal cards for timing Toastmasters speeches. Others would call these "timing cards". They're quite durable since they're really made of heavy plastic.

These timing cards are meant to replace the battery-operated Toastmaster signal lights device that we previously used at the club. That timing lights device seems to have some circuit contact problems.

Even with the rotary switch clicking into the correct position, one or two lamps don't light up. It might take a little bit of twisting or nudging on the switch knob for contact to happen and the LED light to light up. So there are two problems: getting the LED to light up is one thing, getting the LED to stay lit is another.

Toastmasters Signal Lights for Timing Speeches - Part 3

(This is the continuation of Part 2 -Toastmasters Signal Lights for Timing Speeches)

The Toastmasters timing lights device cost me Php 800 - still relatively cheap. This was negotiated down from the original quoted price of Php 1500. Cost of materials (LED lights, box, wires, switch, etc.) was estimated at Php 400.

But still, the lack of brightness coming from the ping-pong "bulbs" is a major issue for me.

For one of the lamps, I removed the blue threaded plastic part where the ping-pong ball was glued. It exposed the two LED lights.

Toastmasters Signal Lights for Timing Speeches - Part 2

(This is the continuation of Part 2 - Toastmasters Signal Lights for Timing Speeches)

The timing lights device box was lightweight and seemed empty. When I got home I opened it to see how the inside looked like and where to replace the batteries.

Yes, the LED lights are all battery-operated.

The box is easily collapsible. All detachable parts of the box are actually held together by just a couple of screws at the bottom of the box. You only need a Phillips-type screwdriver to disassemble.

Toastmasters Signal Lights for Timing Speeches

Ever since I joined Toastmasters, I don't recall seeing a timing lights device being used either in my present club or in the previous one. If at all, the timers used colored cards or some other items.

Of course, it is different when it comes to Toastmasters competitions at the area (or above) levels. You can be sure that signalling lights for timing Toastmasters speeches would be available.

Usually, the sponsoring club or one other competing club will be bringing their own timing device for use. When I see these timing lights, I actually become envious. They look professionally made and look so cool.

Improvised Toastmasters Pin Holder with Clip

After receiving my Competent Communicator pin from Toastmasters, I planned to wear it regularly in Toastmasters club meetings. After all, what better way to promote Toastmasters than to wear it with pride?


Wear Your Toastmasters Pin with Pride

A Toastmasters pin can easily become a conversation piece. When someone asks about it, you can talk about how you got into Toastmasters, enumerate its benefits, and then later promote the organization and your club.