Successful Speeches At Singapore Clubs

 I visited about 8 clubs in Singapore. The presidents in Singapore open with a brief speech telling an inspiring story from their own lives, local hero, hero from the day's newspaper, or a famous speaker.  Then the President or the toastmaster of the evening goes round the room asking all the guests their names and whey they came to Toastmasters. 

If the programme is short of people: 

a) Ask each guest and member to start the evening by adding to their name, and area where they live or club (if a visitor from another club) their thoughts on a topical subject such as, what I do on summer evenings. (eg Sit under an apple tree writing speeches.) 

b) Fill in time by getting each person in the room to comment/evaluate each speech.

c)  Expand table topics so every person in the room speaks.

At the end of the evening the guests are asked to give feedback, what they liked, what they'd improve, and if they are likely to become members.