I was saddened to hear about the passing of Lilian Lau, DTM, Past District Governor of District 51.  Although we had been told that she was not doing well, the finality of the "notice" was still disturbing to me.

Lilian was one of my heroes and the example she set will continue to be an inspiration to me.  

Lilian was a lady of integrity.  She knew what was right and what wasn't .  And if something was not right, she did not hesitate to speak up.  Unfortunately, too often Lilian was alone in standing up.  I admired her courage and supported her the best I could from across the ocean.  We continue to need more leaders like Lilian Lau in Toastmasters International.  And I don't mean just in South East Asia - I mean all over the Toastmasters world!

Although Lilian spoke in a soft voice, her message carried great strength.  Yes, she was direct, and not always diplomatic in how she delivered the message.  But there was never a question about the issue.  She was determined and focused.  And she truly loved Toastmasters.  Lilian looked out for the best interests of all Toastmasters in her District - dealing with all of the multiple cultures and countries the best she could.  

I considered Lilian a friend.  I was honored to be the International President at the same time that she was a District Governor.  And although I will miss her, I am comforted to know that her pain is no more, and she is back with God.  I will keep Lilian and those close to her in my thoughts and prayers.
 

Toastmasters from around the world mourn the loss of a great member, Lilian Lau DTM. Lilian was a very capable, committed and dedicated leader. When she was District 51 Governor in 2001-2002, she led District 51 to the Top President's Distinguished District. She was passionate, soft spoken and dynamic. She has dedicated her life to Toastmasters. She lived and breathed Toastmasters. She was twice a plenary session speaker at Toastmasters International convention. Her sharing on building new Toastmasters Clubs have benefited lots of lives around the world. We express our deepest sympathy to members of her family. John Lau DTM International Director 2005-2007 Toastmasters International

When a star dies, it collapses upon itself and into darkness. But its light, emitted over the eons, continue their journey and for centuries to come, continue to touch lives. As a star in the Toastmaster’s firmament, Lilian Lau had shone and lit the path for many of us. Over the years, she had sponsored and served as mentor to many Toastmasters clubs in both Districts 51 and 80. She had encouraged and guided individual members. I remember receiving a call from Lilian a few days before my departure for the district officers’ training in Toronto in August. Though very sick and weak, she had called to prepare me and to brief me on what to expect at the training sessions. I was very touched by her care and concern. Her passion for Toastmasters remained to the very end. The star that was Lilian Lau had dimmed and faded away. But I strongly believe that the light she had cast will continue to touch lives for a long, long time to come.

Dear all, As some of you may have been aware of, Lilian had been ill for quite some time and she finally left us last Friday (see the message from Susan Wong, DTM, District 80 Secretary, forwarding the message from Dr. CP Khong, DTM, District 80 Governor). Those from Hong Kong who initiated the lobbying process in having Toastmasters clubs in Hong Kong joining District 51 at the Kuching Annual Convention in May 1998 probably still remember a time when Lilian was a past Division Governor from Singapore. At the time she was running for a position in the District executive committee. Though unsuccessful, Lilian gracefully congratulated her opponent. The year that followed Lilian travelled all over the clubs in the district - Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. Although Lilian's strongest point was on the administrative side of Toastmasters, she had superb skills in creating personal rapport with individuals on a one-to-one basis, and listened attentively to the view of others. It was her persuasive skills that probably won the votes so required to land on the position of Lt-Governor (Marketing) in 1999. On a rather unusual note, she was challenged on the position of Lt-Governor (Education & Training) in 2000. By that time because of her contact with Toastmasters all over the district, she managed to obtain supportive statements, including mine as the President of the Hong Kong Toastmasters, to be included in the election campaign flyers. Because of her due diligence, the rest, as we all know, is history. In 2001, Lilian was installed as the District 51 Governor in the 8th Annual Convention in Hong Kong (it was the annual convention with Mrs. Anson Chan, the former Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong SAR Government, as the guest-of-honour). Lilian was one of the anchors of District 51 during the time when the district was expanding speedily. Her great effort in upkeeping the performance of the District was a hard act for anyone to follow. On a personal note, Lilian, like many of us in Toastmasters, also experienced breakthroughs in areas far beyond making speeches. Those who remember how the Hong Kong Toastmasters Club became the Number One Club in the world at one stage, finished the year with the President's Distinguished Top 5 Club in the old point-competitive Distinguished Club Program (which is no longer offered by TI and was since replaced by the less convoluted 10-goal DCP which every club can comply with using reasonable effort) will remember the role Lilian played as an encouragement, as well as an inspiration when the same club became one of the 3 clubs in the district to attain all 10 goals in the new DCP in only 7 and a half months later. Lilian also served as an adviser in the District 51 Annual Convention held in HK in 2001. The name "Lilian Lau" has entered the history book of Hong Kong Toastmasters (both The Hong Kong Toastmasters Club in the historical sense and Toastmasters in Hong Kong in the current setting) long before last Friday (11 Nov 2005). While I will leave the rest to her closer aides and friends, I take the liberty to say that the older generation of Hong Kong Toastmasters who brought the Club and the rest of Toastmasters in Hong Kong into District 51 - represented by Andy See (President, July to December 1997), Philip Lai (President, January to June 1998), Dr. John Wong (President, 1998-1999), Bernard Yue (President 1999-2000) and Dora Wong (President 2000-2001) will miss Lilian dearly. May Lilian rest in peace. With deepest condolences, Bernard Yue, ATM-S & CL Area K2 Governor, District 80, 2005-2006 President, The Hong Kong Toastmasters Club, 1999-2000 Founding Secretary, First Hong Kong Area Council, 1998-1999 Author, "The Story of the Hong Kong Toastmasters Club: 1954-2004: 50 Years of Communication & Leadership"

Lilian Lau is one person who has definitely paved the way for toastmasters and spreading the benefits. Although she may have appeared quiet and soft spoken she was genuinely interested in getting to know you and share your aspirations about toastmasters. Although she will not physically be with us any more her spirit will be there with us.

It was with great sadness that I heard about the Lillian's passing. Lillian was instrumental in helping us get the Sky Media Toastmasters Chapter started in 1997-1998. She was a wonderful woman with a great passion for helping others get the most out of life. We will all miss her. My sincere condolences go out to her family. Mark Watson, Ottawa, ON

Li Yo Wei

pays tribute to PDG Lilian Lau DTM:

We are terribly sorry that our great toastmasters leader DTM Lilian Lau passed away.  It is surely a great loss to Toastmasters International and Toastmasters - Hong Kong.

SL Liew

Anthony Leong

Many of us know that Lilian Lau was an extremely dedicated and passionate Toastmaster who groomed many toastmasters from

Toa Payoh South. She sponsored New Millennium Advanced Toastmasters.

It is a great loss and a sad day.

May she rest in peace.

Henry Kong

Remembering Lilian...

Many of us had failed to fully appreciate Lilian's strength, leadership, dedication to office, commitment to a cause, and even friendship, until she was no longer with us...

Yet this had been one outstanding leader in Dist 51 who was single-minded about her work in Toastmasters. Her insistence on details, efficiency and effectiveness had perhaps agitated some toastmasters who perceived her as being rigid, yet we could never deny the fact that when Lilian set her mind on getting something done, there was no stopping - until she reached her goals. How else could District 51 etched its name in Toastmasters International as the No 1 District in the world?!

I had listend to Ming telling me the story of how Lilian got involved in Toastmasters and I couldn't comprehend her extreme passion...I still don't, but such was Lilian's definition of COMMITMENT, and it does put many of us past and current District leaders to shame.

Having worked with Lilian (she was the then-Dist Governor) in organising KL2002 Annual Convention, I realised that PASSION had to be the one thing that drove people to exceed all expectations. When I was working on the theme for KL2004 Semi-Annual Convention, 'Passion Ignites. Fuel the Power of Toastmasters' became evidently the theme I adopted.

Yet I haven't met one who could match Lilian's passion for Toastmasters.

"This world is not my home, I am just a-passing through..."
In death, she has found Life - in heaven above.


 

Dear Friends and family members of Lilian Lau,

My deepest condolence to the family members of Lilian.

I am sad to learn of her giving up the ghost. She left a lasting impression on me for her leadership and dedication to the Toastmasters movement.

May God be with you always.

 

Dear All,
It was an honour to serve the late PDG Lilian Lau
As her District 51 Secretary 2001-2002. It was a most memoral period from
the Installation in Hong Kong 2001 to the Celebration of District 51 as
the
Number 1 district in the world at San Antonio 2002, USA and the Hall of
Fame
in Singapore 2002.

Through it all,
...her passion for excellence
...her passion for integrity
...her passion for high standards
...her dedication and commitment
...her determination and drive
...her understanding and concern
...her inspiring leadership
...her firm belief that District 51 can "Create its Destiny"
was the fire that kept the District 51 torch burning right till the last
moment.

The Destiny was created...
The Dream was crystallized
The Goal was achieved
DG 51 2001-2002 has created history
"District 51 is No. 1"

I know that PDG Lilian will Rest In Peace
I am glad that she will not suffer any more pain
PDG Lilian is free from the world's sorrows
I will miss her very much as mentor and friend.

 

LeAnn Tang DTM District Public Relations Officer 2001-2002

Dear Toastmasters Friends of District 51  and District 80

It was with deep sadness in my heart to learn of Lilian's demise.  I first

met her in 1998 and that sparked off a wonderful friendship till her final

days.  She impressed upon me the noble mission of toastmasters and

encouraged and inspired me to actively participate in the toastmasters

leadership program.  I saw Lilian's trial and tribulation as she ascended

the toastmasters hierarchy.  She invited me to be the District Public

Relations Officer during her term as District Governor.  It was indeed an

unforgettable experience for me, and I thank Lilian for the wonderful

opportunity.

Lilian was a true blue blood toastmasters.  She lived for Toastmasters.  She

breathed Toastmasters.  She dedicated her life to Toastmasters.  In my last

conversation with Lilian, her thoughts were selflessly for all her friends

in Toastmasters.  She touched countless lives and she left behind a legacy

of dedication and service to all Toastmasters in District 51 and 80.

Good bye to you, my friend.  You will be sadly missed but you will live in

our hearts forever.

Dear Chooi Peng;

Many Toastmasters will miss her presence and her calm & quiet tenacity & determination in pursuing what she wants. I am sure her immediate family surely needs all the support they can get.

This news came as a shock to me. Lillian struck me as a very strong person and I am not surprised that she fought till the end. I remember her from the KL Convention.... May she rest in peace.

Thanks for letting me know this news.

Love and Gratitude,

Dear Fellow Toastmasters,
I regret to inform you that Past District 51 Governor - DTM Lillian Lau has left us.
The very sad news is that she has passed away on last Friday - 11th November 2005.
As District 51 Governor she had the theme "Create your destiny" which became famous,
and influenced and inspired all Toastmasters during her term from 2001 - 2002.
I'd like to request Toastmasters of Division T to join me in expressing our deepest condolence
for the loss of DTM Lilian Lau.
“DTM Lilian Lau - you are the candle light which is still shining in our hearts"

Regards,

 

Dear Toastmaster friends,

I was told that Lilian had been diagnosed of the illness some time back in 2002/03. She had kept it very low profile while fighting the disease. Unfortunately she finally lost the battle and was called home on last Friday.

Lilian might have lost in the fight for her life, but she had never lost her zeal and enthusiasm in the Toastmasters movement. I still can remember vividly the incident which happened some time this mid-June when she called me. Her health condition then had already deteriorated and she had lost her voice. However, over the phone in her coarse and weak voice she struggled very hard, but managed to gasp out,

'Edward, you must send out email to the clubs urging them to submit their club officer
lists before the end of June. This is very important for their DCP performance!'

Apparently she had checked the TI website and found that not many clubs had submitted the lists on-line at that point in time.

Can you imagine that a patient in an advanced stage of lung cancer and in such frail health conditions still did not forget to log on to the TI website to check the performance of the various divisions. If she had held any official position in the District Council, perhaps we would have attributed that to her strong sense of responsibility. But the fact is that she did not hold any official position in the District Council for the current term! Quiet, calm and composed as she might appear, within her were the strong passion and compassion, and a good heart to help us Toastmasters as much as she could!

It is sad that we have lost a very devoted and committed Toastmaster who had spent so much time and effort in helping us in the Toastmasters journey. To me she is a true Toastmaster fulfilling and executing the mission passed on to us by Dr Ralph C Smedley, founder of Toastmasters International.

While Lilian has left us, I believe her spirit for Toastmasters movement will stay with us for a long, long time. In order not to disappoint her, we should work harder in doing our project speeches and be more pro-active in taking up various appointments and responsibilities without being called upon to do so. Let's work together to realise this dream! Do it now!

Lilian - may you rest in peace.

 

I will always remember Lilian as the calm, composed and dedicated Toastmaster who dared to soar, and in the process, allowed District 51 to soar with her. Goodbye, my friend...until we meet again at that great Toastmasters Club meeting in the sky....

The passing of Lilian is indeed a sad news of everyone in the Toastmasters fraternity. Strong as steel; smooth as silk, that is what I would always remembers Lilian as. She is a strong lady of integrity with a big heart to match. I could still remember the early days of my toastmasters membership, when a group of friends and myself were setting up the Nanyang Business School Toastmasters Club (now renamed as the Nanyang Technological University Toastmasters Club). She was extremely patient and very encouraging throughout. She showed us the way and guided us along the right path. Lilian - you are like the Sun, a great source of strength, love and courage for all of us in Toastmasters. It is a great honour and privilege to have a friend and mentor like you. Thank you for all that you have done for us. Where ever you may be right now, may God's blessings be showered upon you at all times.

Dear District 51 and District 80 Toastmaster Friends: My sincere condolences to District 51, District 80, Lilian's family and friends. Today, while visiting district websites I noticed messages of Lilian Lau. Her passing utterly stunned me. As I continued to read tributes of her I was not aware she was ill these past years. Whenever we met, she always had a such beautiful smile on her face. I am truly saddened to read the news. I met Lilian at a Toastmasters convention several years ago. She projected the image of a quiet, yet strong and confident poised young lady. Later I learned achieved President's District! To achieve President’s District status is an enormous undertaking. Not only did she take the district to President’s Distinguish, but straight to the top as the number one district in the world. To inspire and motivate Toastmasters from different countries, various background and diverse cultures is a massive and challenging endeavor. It takes a very special person to accomplish it. Lilian is such a person: An outstanding leader. Her vision to help others...to better themselves as human beings is her legacy to all of us in the Toastmasters world. I will truly miss Lilian. With deepest sympathy,

"Take pride not in love for yourselves but in love for your fellow-creatures. Glory not in love for your country, but in love for all mankind. Let your eye be chaste, your hand faithful, your tongue truthful and your heart enlightened." This passage embodies the spirit of Lilian Lau. I only met her once, very briefly, in Hong Kong at an area training session. She impressed me with her warmth and sincerity. Her devotion and zeal for Toastmasters was immense. As a district, we will need to find a befitting way to honour this selfless hero. Lilian, you have a special place in our hearts and no doubt, a wonderful abode beside your Lord.