Toastmaster Leadership and Communication Expo 2017

Have you ever felt inspired after attending a conference? 

Let me share with you a little bit about the today’s Toastmaster Leadership and Communication Expo (LACE) that got me inspired and kept me up all night!

What I enjoyed about LACE is that not only did it provided great speakers, but the amazing energy that I received from other participants there. Everyone I met were so positive and friendly.  I mean they are Toasties!  This means they are people from Toastmasters.  I created my own word, "Toastie" because everyone from my club is so warm and friendly.  We are as close as toasts in the oven together.  

Most people I chatted with had some kind of service that they want to offer to the world.  And as for me?  I thought it would be a great opportunity to hone my leadership and communication skills.  Little did I know, I gained much more!

My take-ways are learning about the Five Ways to Get Paid written by Christopher Duncan and the live improv show by National Comedy Theatre.  Chris provided eight ways to create your show and get paid for it! Some of these strategies include: to entertain, teach, interview, research, using social media, and also use case studies.  He explains that these strategies, and more, will provide you audience members. You need an audience to start your show.  You might be asking yourself, “Is building an audience the key to getting paid?” Chris says, “Definitely.” Now, go and create your own show!

Another workshop I enjoyed about LACE, learning the cheapest way to get your book published.  I learned that this is through an e-book! 

Additionally, a key phrase I kept hearing throughout the day is “Take Action!” For instance, I was so inspired after this talk that I upgraded my yoga business though research and marketing.  You can do the same!

I also discovered that I love live improv shows!  The National Comedy Theatre segment at the end of LACE was entertaining.  I found myself laughing my heart and eyes out! 

However, LACE had a few minor downsides.  For instance, one downside was that I was able to find two things that I was disappointed to hear about and I hope that LACE San Diego will improve on not encouraging their speakers and instructors to sell their business.  From the speakers to the instructors for the workshops, they were either selling their products or want you to sign up for their workshops.  The second downside, I would say, is LACE did not provide enough food for their participants.  I am not sure how many people did not end up getting their lunch, but I had a conversation with one of them and gave him my granola bar.  He was disappointed and hungry.  Poor guy. For the future, LACE needs to order more food than they expect so this won't happen again.  

Overall, I really enjoyed LACE and I thought they did a great job by providing a variety of leadership and communication activities.  I was so pumped that I ended up writing about it later!  I haven't written an entry for months! 

Meanwhile, here is some information for those who are interested in attending future Leadership and Communication Expos.  I hope you enjoy these pictures!

Boun Loun- A Passionate Photographer and Graphic Designer

A native of Durham, North Carolina, Boun Loun, 27, began taking pictures when she was a sophomore in high school. Boun was the only and first Cambodian in her predominantly white community. While she was exploring her identity and trying to figure out how she fit in the society norm, Boun found true passion in many forms of arts and decided to put her energy in taking pictures. Like most artists, Boun sacrificed her time, energy and money in order to pursue her passion in photography, “I love to shoot all day, either I get paid for it or make it on my own. I love what I do,” she emphasized. These days, she is at Ocean Beach Starsbuck in San Diego, CA, a barrister, helping customers with their daily coffee wake up call. She is also a full-time stay-at-home mom. During her time off, Boun is a photographer and graphic designer. She has the passion for photography and works hard for it, “The most exciting part to me is when I am done with the photos and I hand it to the clients and they are very happy with the results. It is a great feeling when you know you make someone happy,” she said.

Are you a 100% Cambodian?
Boun: Mostly Cambodian, I have just a trace of Chinese and Vietnamese but mostly Cambodian.

Where were you born? Where are you based?
Boun: I was born in the Philippines and I am based out of San Diego, CA.

What kind of photography do you do?
Boun: I basically do everything. I do weddings, music, events, press reviews and family photos. Pretty much anything I can put my hands on.
What are you using to shoot with? Natural light or in studio?
Boun: I usually focus and capitalize on natural lighting.

When did you realize you wanted to be a photographer?
Boun: Pretty early on, I remember as a sophomore in high school. My dad took me to a college fair. We were discussing colleges and majors. Right away I wanted to be a photographer. To my father, coming from a medical background, was kind of hilarious to him. He thought I was just kidding. I still perused it and now he sees the work that I do. He respects it and accepts that is what I do and have passion for. I have always loved art. I started drawing in elementary school. I think it has always been in my blood any type of arts.

Do you remember the first photograph you took, which led you to become professional? What was the photo of?
Boun: My first paid gig as photographer, I would say it was a few years back. I did a high school dance team. It was a nerve racking. It was with a completely different age group, which was of high school girls. It was a bit off guard too because they wanted to be on the beach and not at the school. They wanted something more on location. However, it was a cool as well as a great experience and the excitement that came with it was a rush. They kept me on my toes. It was good to test the water my first time shooting professionally.

What would you say was your most embarrassing moment on the job?
Boun: In general, it is always nerve racking. Actually few weeks ago, I experienced my first embarrassing moment when my equipment failed! I was on a shoot and for some reason my memory card couldn’t read any of the images! Basically I lost the images! I had to take it to the camera shop. Lucky, I was able to recover all of them. If I couldn’t recover it, you don’t really know where to go from there with the clients. It teaches you to always come prepared and have a backup, i.e. bring a battery and extra card. It is always hard to have backup in this industry because the equipment is so expensive. If you have friends who are in the same field, it is always good to borrow or exchange equipment with them. You just have to always stay clam and stay professional at all time.

What would you say the coolest experience and most exciting part of your job?
Boun: I would say, when you are with a band you get to be on stage with them and catching the moment is the coolest experience. The most exciting part of my job, I would say looking back after I got my photos done and hand it to the clients. It is a great feeling to see their excitement in the final product. The most exciting thing to me is when you see the clients are just so happy with their photos that you shot and you worked so hard on the project. It is a great feeling when you know you make someone happy.

What would you say is the most challenging part of your job?
Boun: I would say one of the challenges, as a photographer is that I can’t always control the conditions. You can’t always control the time of the day or the sun. Things that I run into a lot are time conflicts. I always think that I am finished but I end up staying longer. The clients need to understand quality takes a lot of time. That is a downside.

I noticed you received your BA degree in Graphic Design and not photography?
Boun: I went to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh to receive my Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design. I actually do both photography and graphic design. To me, they really go hand in hand and complement each other. For example, if I need to do something graphically, I can use my own image through my own shooting. That is comforting because I can use my own image and work. I can offer a band by saying; hey I can do both your press photos and design your album cover. It is like the whole package but one person does it. Even though I do not have my degree in photography, I grew up using the camera and have professional experience. I am comfortable with the camera. The reason I got a degree in Graphic Design because it is more marketable.

When did you start your graphic design and photography company?
Boun: My business started while I was in college. I started with freelance jobs and slowly in 2007, I officially got my business license and website. Just recently that my business is starting to pick up through established clients. It is nice to build your clients. Then you can start doing their family and friends. I hope to look for clients that I can build on and lasting relationships.

What do you favor more? Photography or Graphic Design?
Boun: Its funny the other day, I was thinking what I like more? Sometimes I think I like photography more. Other times when I am working on a graphic design project, I think I like that more. To be honest, I love both them equally. They give me a different rush for different reasons. Being on the field shooting, you catch the moment. When you are designing something, it is like wow I created that appealing product.

What are your goals and hopes for the future for your company?
Boun: Ideally, I would like to continue with my own business or be a contactor for National Geographic or a huge band. I would love to shoot all day and either get paid for it or make it on my own. I love what I do. I get a rush out of it. I am in the process of shooting for a concert. The next big step is shooting for a big band. Right now, most of my clients are local. I meet them through Starsbuck. As much as I do not like waking up at 4:00am, it is a nice way to meet clients.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to get into photography?
Boun: If you have a passion for photography and art, it is a great job. It takes a lot of time unless you make it really big and become well established, it is a hard living. You really have to sacrifice especially it is hard on your family. But it is all worth it when you doing it at the moment and out in the field. I am always pumped. If you are willing to put some hard work into it and have passion for it, then I say go for it.

What is your favorite Khmer dish?
Boun: Well I can’t say I have a favorite, but I’m a big fan of a variety of stir-fry with white rice!

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Job Mentor; help refugees obtain their first employment in America

I have been volunteering as a Job Mentor at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) since last December (2010). As a job mentor, by far, I help new immigrants who were refugees from Thailand to find jobs in the United States, especially in the San Diego area. Within the first few weeks and months, I work closely with mentees on important tasks to get a job in America. Some of the skills I have taught are how to search for jobs online and/or in person, fill out applications online and/or print, do a follow up, and prepare for an interview. The last three months, I have been helping and providing assistance to four refugees from Burma (Myanmar). The first two Burmese, were a mother and a son. Although I was able to help the mother and son to achieve an employment, I am determined to find jobs for the newly arrived married couple who are eager to work hard for employment opportunities.

A few weeks ago, I met with Nee and Sem (made up names). They are in their mid 20s and have lived in America for about a month. Although I was surprised how thin they both are, I understand the malnourishment of refugee camps. Like my parents, Nee and Sem met in a refugee camp in Thailand. Similar to many Cambodian refugees I had interviewed, the couple has lived in Thai refugee camps for 14 years of their lives before they resettled in America. Nee arrived to the camp at age six and Sem at seven years old. The last camp they lived in is call Mae la oo in Thailand. In the camp, they received their high school diplomas. They shared with me that they learned Karen (native tongue), Burmese and Basic English along with math and science. (I am so pleased to have discovered that they had opportunities to learn while they were growing up in a refugee camp. Refugee camps today have changed and improved since I was in the camp.)

As a Job Mentor, I have to dig deep about their employment history. Although I am aware that most refugees do not work or have a job in a refugee camp, there are a few who do. I found out that both Nee and Sem worked in the camp. They were a caregiver and a youth mentor, respectively. Believe me when I say it was very hard working on their resume. I had to be creative when filling in the blanks on their resumes because their English is very limited and I do not speak Karen or Burmese. This was a challenge on both ends. It is not a surprise that there are limited IRC staff who speak the uncommon languages. I am sure within the next few years, they will have more Karen and Burmese translators. Just like any new immigrants, it is hard at first to adjust to the new country’s language and cultural barriers.

I was curious about the last camp they have lived. So I Googled “Mae la oo.” Just like that, the camp showed up. When I showed Nee and Sem the blog/website with pictures of the camp, their eyes lit up. They smiled and pointed to the screen and looked at me to make sure that I knew it was their home before America. The name of the blog is "In Burma." The blog is a great resource for me to better understand their life before arriving to San Diego, CA. I hope through learning about the camp and their background, I can better assist them in their new home in America and hopefully they both land a job soon before their terms end.

I was interested about what happens when refugees can’t find a job after their term has ended. I interviewed one of the IRC staff, Genevieve. She was happy to provide some answers. She mentioned that if they are not eligible for welfare (i.e. without children) and have not found a job at the end of their eight-month period, they would have no income. In other words, the cash aids that they received from the IRC to help them settle in America will expire. However, the IRC would continue to help them find jobs. Often what happens is those who did not find a job before their term is over, they end up depending on their family for support. In the worst case a few ended up on the street and were forced to be homeless. This is why it is very important for new immigrants to apply to as many jobs as quickly within their eight months term, so they have a better chance of obtaining a job at the end of their term.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer and helping refugees search for jobs, and follow up on job leads, you can check the IRC website: www.rescue.org/sandiego for more detailed information.

Why do you want to volunteer?

I have always been asked the question, “Why do you want to volunteer?” My answer has always been the same. Strangers continued to be curious, “You don’t get pay. So what do you get out of it?”

From my first service experience with the Cambodian Association of America (CAA) in Long Beach, California to my international community development with the Peace Corps in Costa Rica, my humanitarian practice with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and today back to domestic service with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), I honestly realized that I am committed to volunteer service and I love it. Through these last ten years or so of volunteering experiences, I have gained new skills, knowledge, friendships, and patience. I honestly value the meaning of service and my life forever has changed.

Last Tuesday I attended the IRC workshop on “Refugee 101.” It was important information on the process of refugee status in the United States (U.S). The workshop was designed to help volunteers understand more about refugees’ experiences before arriving in the San Diego areas. Although I understood most of the information in regards to refugee status due to my personal experience as a former child refugee, things have changed in the last 20 years since I resettled in the U.S. Improved projects have been established to cater new refugee arrivals. New challenges are faced by former refugees’ communities due to policies changed, after the 9/11, which impacted their lives in the U.S.

I had the opportunity to meet the executive director of the IRC office in San Diego, Bob Montgomery, who later gave a presentation on the process of refugee status in the U.S. He has worked with the IRC for over 30 years since 1976 with the first flow of refugees to San Diego from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Today, refugees from countries such as Somalia, Iraq and Myanmar are new additions to the San Diegan residents.

The highlights of the workshop for me, besides meeting the IRC staff and obtaining information on refugee status, were meeting other volunteers. It was so rich and delightful to learn about their volunteer experiences. Exchanging and sharing my volunteer experience has helped me understand why they decided to volunteer and the impact they have had made on refugees’ lives in San Diego. It makes me so happy to see and hear that others like myself are volunteering for the same reasons.

One of the volunteers asked me, “So what made you want to volunteer with the IRC?” Of course, I ended up giving them long answers. However, I tried to keep it short. I told that person, along with other interested volunteers, “I want to give back. I feel that I owe it to my family, myself, and many people who had made an impact on my life growing up. I am so blessed to be in a position to give back.”

I do hope this holiday you join me with other volunteers through giving back in your local community. It could be something as simple as just an hour a week with a non-profit or an organization (i.e. homeless shelter, youth program, or food drive) that you would love to give your skills into use and make a difference. Throughout my volunteering experience, I discovered that you do not have to be rich or have money to give back. I honestly have been volunteering for more than ten years now and have not earned an income yet, but I have a lot of time on my plate. This is my way of giving back and to spend time with those who truly need my help.

In the end, it is a great feeling for me knowing that I can make a difference in someone else’s life. If anything, I have learned a new culture and gained new friends in my new community!