Author: Bruce Yu

Love For Our Elders | Junqing Warmmail

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Sea Dragons Gavel Club is bringing more love and connection to local seniors with the launch of a Dear Elder Mailbox in China, Junqing Warmmail, inviting the community to take part in the simple yet powerful act of writing heartfelt letters to older adults as part of a movement that has delivered more than 1 million letters.

The Dear Elder Mailbox initiative, organized by the nonprofit Love For Our Elders, encourages community members to stop by, write a note, and drop it in the mailbox. Through Junqing Warmmail, these handwritten letters will then be delivered to local senior communities, ensuring that older adults receive messages of kindness and encouragement.

“My grandfather passed away last December after a year-long battle with cancer. As his grandson, I witnessed how quickly time can pass—one year before, he could still travel with us; two months before, he could sit and share a meal; one week before, he could still raise his hand. In his final moments, he tried to open his eyes to see the world one last time, but he did not have the chance. That experience showed me how much love and encouragement matter, and I hope this mailbox can offer comfort to more elders and families facing similar moments. That is what motivated us to find Love For Our Elders and start Junqing Warmmail, named in memory of my grandfather,” said Bruce Yu, President of Sea Dragons Gavel Club.

Located at Room 3601, Building 40, Tinghai Xuan, China Resources Xiaojingwan, Xiachong Subdistrict, Daya Bay, Huiyang District, Huizhou City, Guangdong Province, P.R. China, the mailbox is open for participation. Letters may be handwritten and submitted to the address, or shared digitally online. Letters should be uplifting and free from religious or political content. Love For Our Elders provides letter-writing guidelines to ensure that every message is meaningful and appropriate.

DEAR ELDER
Older adults are among the most vulnerable to loneliness and isolation, and handwritten letters can be a powerful way to remind them that they are valued and remembered. Through initiatives like the Dear Elder Mailbox and Junqing Warmmail, communities can work together to spread kindness—one letter at a time.

About Love For Our Elders
Love For Our Elders is a nonprofit dedicated to fighting loneliness with love, one letter at a time. Since its founding in 2013, the organization has delivered more than 1 million handwritten letters to older adults experiencing isolation. Learn more at loveforourelders.org.

For more information about this Dear Elder Mailbox in China:
Contact Sea Dragons Gavel Club at info@seadragonsgavel.org

For more information about Love For Our Elders and Dear Elder Mailbox:
Contact Love For Our Elders at press@loveforourelders.org

Erika’s Lighthouse | Give Today

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Support Student Mental Health

Sea Dragons Gavel Club is an affiliate of Erika’s Lighthouse, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring no student feels alone in their depression. Through this affiliation, we are fundraising to support their free, evidence-informed mental health education and suicide prevention programs for middle and high schools around the world.

Erika’s Lighthouse Impact

These programs are already making a real impact:

  • Over 1 million students reached in a single school year across 49 states and 26 countries
  • 91% of students report they understand how to care for their mental health
  • 92% say the program is helpful and important
  • Most students report they would seek help from a trusted adult if a friend was in crisis

Erika’s Lighthouse operates through four pillars — Classroom Education, Empowerment Clubs, Family Engagement, and Staff Training — helping schools build supportive communities and reduce stigma around mental health.

Why Donations Matter

Because the resources are provided completely free to schools, donations are essential.
About $2 can bring mental health education to one student.

  • $50 can support a classroom curriculum
  • $250 can help launch a student Empowerment Club
  • $1,000 can support a new school partnership

Your contribution is more than a donation — it gives students knowledge, confidence, and the courage to seek help.

Building Toward the Future

Erika’s Lighthouse has already reached its goal of impacting 1 million students, but the need continues to grow. The organization now aims to reach 2.5 million students each year by 2030.

Ongoing support helps:

  • Expand free programs to underserved schools
  • Strengthen data tracking to measure real outcomes
  • Grow student-led Empowerment Clubs
  • Sustain year-round mental health education

Lasting change requires more than a single gift — it requires a community committed to supporting young people.

Join the Effort

Sea Dragons Gavel Club is committed to service and leadership, and supporting youth mental health is part of that mission. We invite you to join us in supporting this important cause.

Donate today and help ensure every student knows they are not alone.

Donate Today

SMART 525th & SHIP 914th Meeting | Survival Guide to CNY

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Have you ever wondered when marriage will happen—or what it truly means to love someone?

Over the Lunar New Year break, Sea Dragons Gavel Club President Bruce Yu had the opportunity to visit the joint 525th meeting of Smart Toastmasters Club and the 914th meeting of Ship Toastmasters Club in Shenzhen, China. The theme, “Chinese New Year Holiday: Survival Guide to ‘When Will You Marry?’”, tackled these profound questions, and Bruce Yu was impressed by the energy of the members and how open they were to share their personal stories.

In the Table Topics session, members shared a variety of experiences. One male member talked about a female colleague who developed feelings for him, only for the relationship to end because she had a boyfriend from high school. He reflected on how complicated love can be, especially in the workplace. A female member shared her own perspective, saying, “The best way to know if you’ve found the right person is that there’s no clear answer—because the feeling becomes more important after many dates.”

A Mexican guest also shared a thought-provoking view: “I found my love today in this meeting—the love of socializing, the love of getting to know one another, and the love of learning by doing. Love isn’t just one thing.” His perspective was a refreshing reminder that love transcends the boundaries of romantic relationships.

The guest was also quick to compliment Bruce Yu on his height. After Bruce Yu introduced himself and shared some of his hobbies, the guest eagerly asked, “Do you play basketball?” Bruce Yu was delighted to meet someone so warm and positive, especially late in the evening.

The meeting took place at Walmart’s headquarters in China, and many of the members worked for Walmart China. This gave Bruce Yu an incredible opportunity to learn about how people in the corporate world view love, relationships, and inclusiveness. The experience underscored the importance of fostering open dialogue and connection, both in and outside of the workplace.

FSTT 227th Meeting | Golden Hours

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At the start of the Lunar New Year break, Sea Dragons Gavel Club President Bruce Yu visited the FSTT Toastmasters Club (From Speakers to Trainers) in Shenzhen, China. The visit strengthened connections between clubs and promoted shared learning. FSTT members demonstrated strong English proficiency and excellent communication skills, reflecting the club’s high standards of training and development.

The theme of the 227th meeting, “Golden Hours,” encouraged members to share meaningful moments through the Table Topics and Prepared Speech sessions. Zoe Wang, the meeting’s Harkmaster, noted, “Asking questions during the Harkmaster report section is my golden hour.” Her thoughtful preparation and attentive listening contributed greatly to the meeting’s energy and engagement.

Early in the meeting, Bruce Yu delivered a guest introduction, sharing his enthusiasm for visiting Toastmasters clubs and exchanging experiences. He also introduced his interests in biking and watching movies. In the Table Topics session, he presented a two-minute impromptu speech on applying the “Golden Hour” concept to daily life, including his experience of using it to write articles for Toastmasters magazine. He also introduced key sections of the magazine to members who were unfamiliar with them.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Bruce Yu was recognized as the Most Dazzling Guest. He expressed appreciation for the club’s welcoming and inclusive atmosphere and assisted with venue cleanup before extending Lunar New Year greetings to all members. Although FSTT Toastmasters Club has been established for only four years, it has built a strong reputation for professionalism, dedication, and positive community spirit.

Rotary District 3450 | Service Above Self

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Sea Dragons Gavel Club discovered the Toastmasters–Rotary Alliance and saw a chance to offer students long-term community service through local Rotary and Rotaract Clubs. Many students wanted to give back to society but didn’t know where to start, and most of the opportunities available were short-term. Bruce Yu and Dylan Guo, as leaders of Sea Dragons Gavel Club, wanted to create something more stable and meaningful for students to get involved in.

The main obstacle was contacting Rotary Clubs in China, which are mostly located in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. Despite reaching out to several clubs, no one responded. Determined to make it work, Bruce Yu and Dylan Guo decided to take a trip to Rotary District 3450 Headquarters and Rotary Clubs in Hong Kong during Christmas break.

Hong Kong’s vibrant Christmas atmosphere made the trip more enjoyable, but what truly warmed their hearts was the support they received from countless people throughout the journey.

Upon arriving at the Rotary District 3450 Headquarters building, Bruce Yu and Dylan Guo were unsure whether the location information was outdated or whether security would allow them to enter. As they entered the building, a kind elderly man with white hair stood up and asked where they needed to go. They showed him the headquarters information, and he quickly said “Rotary” in Cantonese, “fu4 leon4 se5.” He guided them to the elevator, holding the door open, and told them which floor to select. They were relieved to have arrived at the right place and felt grateful for his kindness and inclusiveness toward the two shy students.

When they reached the floor, they finally saw the Rotary District 3450 logo on the wall. A young lady opened the door and listened attentively to their mission without interruption. She didn’t show impatience after hearing that they were high school students seeking collaboration between Toastmasters and Rotary for student community service. They asked her many questions regarding Rotary Clubs in China, and she provided them with the updated contact information for the president of the Rotary Club of Shenzhen. Her willingness to listen, combined with her positive attitude, made them feel that all the effort and challenges they had faced so far were truly worthwhile.

After returning to Shenzhen, Bruce Yu contacted Christine Deng, the president of the Rotary Club of Shenzhen. They had a one-hour conversation where Bruce explained their vision to provide community service opportunities to their club members while introducing them to Toastmasters. Christine was supportive and encouraged them to join local Rotary meetings and activities. This started the process of building stronger connections between Toastmasters and Rotary, ultimately benefiting students by giving them access to long-term community service projects.

FCA 251th Meeting | Mindset

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Over the Thanksgiving break, Sea Dragons Gavel Club President Bruce Yu traveled to Hangzhou, a beautiful city in China, and attended a meeting of the Future Champion Advanced Toastmasters Club, one of the two Toastmasters clubs in the city where English is the primary working language. After visiting many Toastmasters clubs, he found this one to be especially strong in English proficiency. Many members demonstrated advanced speaking skills, while in other clubs he had visited, only one or two members were highly proficient.

The participants at this meeting were highly responsible and well prepared. Even first-time guests demonstrated confidence and composure. Throughout the meeting, Bruce Yu listened to three well-developed speeches: a self-introduction with detailed stories, a speech on bravery and fear, and a presentation on “hair as energy.” Each speech connected closely to the meeting theme, Mindset.

In the Table Topics session, Bruce Yu shared his reflections on the mindset of kindness. He spoke about how kindness flows through Toastmasters, as shown in this meeting, where members learn by doing in a supportive and collaborative environment. He also discussed how this spirit can be further cultivated within the Toastmasters community by focusing on improving communication and English skills, rather than emphasizing positions, ranks, or status.

PAT 446th Meeting | Leadership Transition Election

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During Presidents Advanced Toastmasters Club‘s 446th meeting and leadership transition election (19th–20th), Sea Dragons Gavel Club President Bruce Yu and Vice President Dylan Guo attended to provide support. Throughout the meeting, Dylan Guo served as the Timer to ensure that each officer nominee had a fair opportunity to deliver an election speech. Bruce Yu assisted by guiding Dylan on how to perform the Timer role effectively and when to raise the timing cards.

This election was the first officer election meeting Bruce Yu had participated in since August 2025, when he was first introduced to Toastmasters. The experience helped him better understand how Toastmasters elections operate, including the nomination process, self-nomination, support from other members, the 1.5-minute election speeches, and the requirement of a majority vote for appointment. This knowledge will be especially valuable for Sea Dragons Gavel Club, as a similar election will take place in about half a year.

This was also Dylan Guo’s first time attending an adult Toastmasters Club meeting after months of learning about Toastmasters. Before this experience, he had not fully understood the positive atmosphere of club meetings or the close, family-like community within each club. Participating in this meeting helped deepen his understanding of Toastmasters and inspired new ideas for the future development of Sea Dragons Gavel Club.

PAT 444th Meeting | How to Define “Advanced”

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Presidents Advanced Toastmasters Club is the sixth Toastmasters club in Shenzhen that Sea Dragons Gavel Club President Bruce Yu has visited since August. Each club is slightly different in meeting components and roles, but most importantly, in the people who make up the club. The connection with PAT began one month ago, when there was a strong interest in finding contact information for other Gavel Clubs for collaboration and communication. PAT members Alion Zheng, DTM, and Viola Lee, DTM, provided valuable support by helping connect with Gavel Club leaders across China. This visit gave Bruce Yu the opportunity to learn directly from their club.

At first, Presidents Advanced Toastmasters Club felt like a “mystery club,” especially with so many members serving as Toastmasters leaders, officers, and directors, and earning the Distinguished Toastmaster award. As shown by their many ribbons, including two President’s Distinguished Club Awards and a Founder’s Award on their club flag, the club has achieved outstanding results. For Bruce Yu, their “advanced” quality was reflected in the logic of their speeches, the confidence of their speakers, and the simple yet effective way they conducted meetings.

During the meeting, Bruce Yu served as the Timer, recording speaking times and helping maintain the schedule. His first experience in this role was at Pro Toastmasters Club. Meeting roles are one of the key features that distinguish Toastmasters education from other speech training programs. At PAT’s 444th meeting, themed “How to Define ‘Advanced,’” Alion Zheng, DTM, shared similar ideas during the roundtable interview. He explained that the word “leadership” is often inaccurately translated into Chinese as authority or pressure from a boss. In reality, leadership means inspiring others to take action together. Some people may be slightly ahead in this process and appear to be leaders, but everyone involved is, in fact, a leader.