Weprovideasupportiveand positivelearningexperiencein whichmembersare empoweredtodevelop communicationandleadership skills,resultingin greaterself-confidenceand personalgrowth.
The ICC ONE TOASTMASTERS Club (International Competent Communicators) is oneoftheoldestclubsinDoha,Qatar.Itwas founded on 21st May 2003, by Mohomed Ikhlas Farid, DTM. It is an Open Community Club, which focuses on helping members improvetheirPublicSpeakingandLeadership Skills. It welcomes and encourages guests to attend meetings and hopes, that they would eventually join as members. We meet every 1stand3rdMondayofeverymonth.
The Echo reverberates. In this issue a number of our members showcase their writing skills, which in any case is a prerequisite to writing a goodspeech.
Weevenswooptotakeabird’seyeviewofhow, someofourmembersarefaringatthemoment.
Many are busy, with commitments and deadlines, with the FIFA games just round the corner. Very likely, Toastmasters would be talking about these unique events for quite some time to come. We are delighted to be a partofit.
Thenwehaveapuzzle: weattemptedtodiscoverwhatladyToastmastersfeel,about theroletheyplayinToastmasters. Severalladieswereinvitedtowrite,buttheyonly smiledmysteriously andintheenddidnotrespond. Theremustbesomethingthat missestheeye.
A point to ponder: do Toastmasters just ‘come and go’ like in the words of a famous song? IsourrelationshipatToastmastermeetingsjustsuperficial,ordowemanageto formalsodeepandenduringfriendships?
Finally,abigthankyoutoallwhohavecontributedtothisissueof‘TheEcho.’Itwould nothaveseenthelightofdaywithoutthetremendouseffortsofTMAshwiniSonawane whoputtogethertheentirenewsletter,atshortnotice.
Goodbye,thenuntilwemeetagain eitherphysicallyorincyberspace,aspertheneed oftheday.
AnthonyMascarenhas
ForEditorialTeam
TMAnthonyMascarenhas
Thank you to all leaders and members of ICC One ToastmastersClubforyoursupporttothe District. District116isproudtohavesuchavibrantclub in its midst. The TI dash board speaks a lot about the commitment and dedication of the club.
Theclubwithpositivemembershipgrowthand achieving4DCPpointsinthefirstquarteritself, issomethinggreattocelebrate. Now, the Golden Quarter is something special and needs extra attention, which the club leaders have focused on. The results are also visible on TI dash board. Special appreciation forthesame.
RajeshVC,DTM
Theinitiativeofreleasinganewsletterinthefirstquarterprovesthecommitmentofthe clubtotapthecreativewritingskillsofthemembers.Oneofthebestthingsaclubcan do to is to upskill its members, other than just improving their communication and leadership skills. Kudos to the Club leaders for leading to leave a legacy and special appreciationtomembersforactivelyparticipating.
Once again congratulations to all the members and leaders of the Club. As District Director,Iwouldalwaysbeavailableatyourservice.
‘Engage to Empower’ is the theme of the District Director for the term 2022 23. I am surethatthisthemecantransformlife.EngagewiththeToastmastersprograminletter andspirit,tobeempowered.
ENGAGETOEMPOWER:Toastmasters WhereLeadersaremade.
RajeshVC,DTM District116Director.
1)Whereareyouoriginallyfrom?
I am from Calicut, India, and was completely raised in Qatar.
2)Tellussomethingaboutyourfamilyandbackground. MydadworksatQatarEnergy,andmymomisateacher. Ourfamilyconsistsof5kids,andIamthe4th.
The perfect word to describe my family would be ‘dreamers.’Eachofushavegonethroughdifferent challenges to reach where we are today, and we keep battlingmorechallengestoreachevengreater heights.
3)Wherehaveyoustudiedearlier,andwherenowatpresent?
IcompletedmydiplomainInformationSystems SoftwarefromtheCollegeofNorth Atlantic Qatar and my bachelor's in Business Information Systems from Middlesex University. I have simultaneously completed a distant degree in BBA. Currently I am doingadistantdegreeinBCAandworkingattheSupremeCommitteeforDeliveryand Legacy.
4)Asapreviousonlinemeeting,youjoinedinratherlateintheevening,rightafter your class, sitting in your car. How do you balance your role as a high-ranking Toastmasteraswellasyourresponsibilitiesasastudent?
I have always been fond of multi tasking. Unless I really can't do something, I am alwaysreadytotakeupanything.IhaveaplannerwhereInotedownallthedifferent meetingsandtasksIhavetocompletedailyandthishelpsmetobeontrack.Onthe previousnight,Ialwaysmakesuretoalignmyforthcomingday,whilebeingreadyto accept any last minute changes. I think my skills of multi tasking and flexibility keep megoing.Ofcourse,theimmensesupportandmotivationfrommymotherandfather arethebaseofitall.
I know that opportunities don't knock twice and this is my motivation to accept anything.
TMZainabZubairMalol CGDMentorCommittee ChairMy dad is a veteran Toastmaster and a holder of the Competent Toastmaster award. Althoughheisnotactiveintheorganizationcurrently,heistheonewhomotivatedme tobeactiveintheclub.WhilewestartedtheToastmastersclubatCNAQ,Icouldnever take part in the meetings consistently because I was studying for 2 degrees (1 on campusand1distant)whileworkingpart timeoncampusandbeingactiveinallother extracurricularactivities.
The ‘Icebreaker,’ being the first speech for a member who hates to speak about themself, was truly challenging for me. Thus, I had skipped doing any prepared speechesforsolongandinsteadtookonlyotherrolesduringameeting.Oncewhileit was time to renew my club membership, my dad asked me how the meetings were going,andthatiswhenIdecidedtobreakmybubbleanddomyfirstspeech.
Then, I started attending more meetings outside my own club and networked with others worldwide. I took advantage of online Toastmasters and took up various speakingroles.Idiscoveredthedifferentrolesandawardsintheorganization.Ilearned abouttheDTMawardandtheAreaDirectorroleandnoticedthatmostoftheseawards and roles hardly had students. This motivated me to become the Youngest Area DirectorinQatar,andIamjustwaitingforapprovaltoreceivemyDTMAward.
6)Wewouldnowliketohaveaspecialmessagefromyouforalltheladieswhoare inToastmastersinQatar.
- Everyone has a story to share, and we women have the best ones. We never know whomwecancreateanimpacton.Thus,letusremembertoseizetheopportunityof Toastmastersanduseourvoicestochangelives.
After spending 3 years in Toastmasters, I feel privileged to write this message as current PresidentofICCONE.
Anewtermhasbegun-anothernewyearand we continue to shine as a team, building an exemplaryplatformtoachievetheDistrictand Toastmaster’smission.Wesawavicissitudeof situations during the last few years, yet we managed to sail successfully and illustrate how we are better together, standing against theodds. The 400th meeting celebration and being chosen as one of the best clubs in our districtaretestimonytotheunspokenfacts.
We also earned the ‘Presidents Distinguished’ stat g withseveralotherPQDandCGDawardslastyear.Iwouldsay,theawardsorDCPpoints are only guidelines or recognition criteria, to ensure that the quality of the club is maintained. At ICC ONE we are beyond just membership building or achieving championship.OurmemberstakeprideinservingtheToastmasterfraternity,without expectations.
ThefactthatIjoinedtheICCONEClubafewyearsagotoovercomemyfearofpublic speakingandthatIamnowstandinghereinfrontofyouasaleaderandPresidentsays alotaboutourclubandthevalueitprovidestotheToastmastersfraternity.
I have learnt a lot on how to collaborate better, face multiple challenges and provide solutions,whereverrequired.Mostofall,IwelcomethewidenetworkandreachIget throughthishumongousplatform.
Itistruethatwechangelivesandcreatebetterleaders.ThisisICCONEToastmasters Club!
Onbehalfofmyselfandallclubofficers,welookforwardtohavinganotherfruitfulyear andhopefully shallhelptoempoweryoutobecomebettercommunicatorsandleaders.
-BhuvanaAnnadurai
PresidentICCOneToastmastersClub
DTM M.I. Farid is the Founde of ICC One Toastmasters joined Toastmasters in Qa year 2003. He is a Di Toastmaster twice over, ac coveted title first in the under the old system an January 2021 under Pathways. A qualified Accountant in Qatar sinc years, he is married daughters, a son and f children. He was the Governor for the year 2007 the District 20 Treasurer for the year 2008 2009.
“Strivenottobeasuccess,
The Recruiter Journal has once rightly said, “Values are like lighthouses; they aresignalsgivingusdirection,meaning, andpurpose.”
So it is with Toastmasters! The Toastmaster curricula is like a lighthouse, it gives direction, meaning and purpose to improve one’s communicationandleadershipskills!
BUT just joining Toastmasters has no value!
One has to be sincere, conscientiously do the various projects, follow the advise of the EvaluatorsandMentorsandhavethe innerdesiretoexcel!
Once you do the projects from the heart, there is no stopping you from becomingaChampionSpeakeroran Administratorparexcellence!
Jim Rohn, the American businessman, a self made millionaire before he turned 31, author and motivational speaker has said, “Time is more valuable than money.Youcangetmoremoney,butyoucannotgetmoretime.”
Toastmastersteachesusthevalueoftime. AGAINITISFORMEMBERSWHOWISH TOFOLLOW!
Inmy19yearswithToastmasters,Ihaveseenmembers(whovaluetheirjoining) improve and reaching greater heights. Our Club boasts of such exemplary members,whohavebecomeRoleModelsandMentorstonumerousnewcomers! InconclusionIleaveyouwithapertinentquote,“Strivenottobeasuccess,but rathertobeofvalue!”
DTM Sebastian Mascarenhas has been working at Qatar Energy since the past 22 years. Married, with two boys, he has been a Toastmaster for more than a decade. He loves humor and has attended four district level contests for humorous speeches. Social service is his favorite pastime, especially for the old. His motto is ‘Live life one day at a time.’
I thought I knew everything. Of course, I have donemuchinmylife.Ihavebeenamasterof ceremonies,anannouncerandraisedtoastsat weddings I read in religious places and also delivereulogiesatfunerals.
I thought I knew everything about public speaking. Then one fine day a good friend of mine, Koka Prasad, asked me to come to a Toastmasters meeting. I said, “Koka, I don't want to waste my time. What you want to know, just ask me I will tell you.” But being a good friend, I relented, saying, “Let me go to this meeting and see what you guys are really upto.”
Loandbehold,Iwasshockedtoseehowmuch Ididnotknowaboutpublicspeaking.Thiswas the 7th of July 2007. It's been 15 years for me asaToastmasterandIamstilllearning.Infact, IamevangelizingaboutToastmasterstoevery personwhomIcomeacross allwhomayneed theartofpublicspeaking.
NowwhatdidIlearn?Alot ithasmademea thinkingspeaker.Toastmastershastaughtme notonlytospeaksense,butalsohowtospeak andwhentospeak.Thishasnotonlymademe more confident as a person, but immensely helpedmeimpressmysuperiorsatwork.
It also helped me to impress people at interviews,orcommonpeopleImeeton ajourneyorataparty..Youkindofcuta niche for yourself, leaving a lasting impression on people whom you might have met just for a couple of minutes.
Basically,Toastmastersteachesyouhow toputyourbestfootforward.Personally, I would recommend Toastmasters to everysingleperson.Theysay,ifyouneed to climb the ladder, you need a helping hand and that helping hand is Toastmasters.
IregretthatIcouldnotbeapartofthis great institution a lot earlier, but it's nevertoolate.
Iwillleaveyouwithathought provoking statement.Therichestplaceintheworld is the graveyard where great learned men have taken their immense knowledge to dust with them. But we, Toastmasters love to share and are always eager to go on a journey to augmentpeoples’lives.
DTMSebastianMascarenhas (Guestwriter)Neutral, free of any divide called gender, class, creed, caste and community, Toastmastersistrulyanobleendeavorand affableplatform.Theonlybottomlineisthe desiretogrowandfindyourbetterversion.
Naturally women find a special role in a place, which does not put them down or put them up on a pedestal. They definitely finditconducivetothinkcalmly,actcoolly anddowhattheyaregoodat.Ithelpsthem toshedtheirinhibitionsthatshacklesthem androamfreely,toself discoverandattain thenew foundfreedomthatgivesthemthe edge.
Thereisnoglassceilingtobreakorsocietal conditions to conform to in Toastmasters.
They are on equal footing to groom themselves, without feeling bogged down atanystep.
Do women find a special role in Toastmasters?TMRubanDevadas (VPMembership)
Q1:HowdoyoufeelaboutthisaccomplishmentandwhatdoesbecomingaDTM meantoyou?
DTMNalini-DTMwasproofthatIcanactuallywriteandgivespeeches
DTM Anjali: I must say, the journey was more enriching and fulfilling than the destination.WhenIjoinedToastmasters,"BecomingaDTM''wasneveronmylist.I just followed the path shown by our seniors and things were falling in place. I got connectedwithaninspiringarrayofToastmastersandmylearningsgotmulti fold.I livedthephrase"Whatmattersisthejourneyandnotthedestination.Thejourney madeallofitbeautiful.
DTMAjaya:ItisindeedagreatfeelingthatIhaveachievedthehighestpinnacleat ToastmastersInternational.Itisanappreciationofthehardworkanddedicationof themembers.IfeelproudtobeaDistinguishedToastmaster.
Q2:Whatwouldyousayaboutyourbestexperiencethroughoutthisjourney?
DTMNalini:BeingthePresidentofICCONE:memorable
DTMAnjali:WItheveryspeechIdelivered,Ifoundachangeinmyself.Participation inanycontestisalwaysanexcitingthingforme.
DTMAjaya:TakinguptheClubExecutivecommitteerolessuchasVPPR,VPM,VPE andnowthePresidentisthebestwaytoexperienceandhoneyourleadershipand managementskills.
DTMNaliniGPMathur Interview with Anjali and DTMAnjali Pimple DTMAjayaRogiyeDTMNalini:The ambition to finish a milestone drove me to achieve DTM also the factthatitsaysDistinguished beingfirstamongequals.
DTMAnjali:AsIsaidearlier,itwasnevermypriority.Yet,Ibelieveitmusthavebeen theurgeofbecomingabetterversionofmyselfandnothingelse.
DTMAjaya:ItwasmydreamtoachievetheDTMasearlyaspossible,tobringmyself outofmycomfortzoneandbringbackmyconfidence.
Q4: How did you overcome the challenges that you may have come across duringthejourney?
DTMNalini:Asolutionscoutingmindset
DTM Anjali: My husband Amol and children Aadi Apoorv were always with me. Whenever I found myself feeling low, they were the source of enthusiasm. In addition to that, it is the guidance of my mentors and fellow Toastmasters which madeitallpossible.
DTMAjaya:Astheysay,lifeisajourneythatmustbetravelednomatterhowbad the roads are. I was lucky to get the wholehearted support of my family, friends, well wishers, and last but not least, my mentors, who guided me throughout my journey.
Q5: What is the best attribute that you have come to possess after you commencedthisjourney?
DTMNalini:Persistence
DTMAnjali:TheaffectionandsupportIreceivedfromyouall,wasalife cherishing andenrichingmemoryforme.
DTMAjaya:Hardworkandconsistentefforts
Q6:HowwouldyoudefineToastmastersandwhatvaluesdiditengraveonyour character?
DTMNalini:Toastmastersisagoodpracticegroundforanyskillyouwantto.
DTMAnjali:Ifyoulackinspiration,dojoinToastmastersandseeyourselfimproving inleapsandbounds.Everystephastocomefromyouandsurelyyouwillgetmany helpinghandstomakeyouwalkonthispath.
DTM Ajaya: Toastmasters is a platform that helps to spread our wings with a plethora of information, senior Toastmasters support and guidance to uplift our confidencetobecomebetterleadersandspeakers.
The core values engraved in me after joining Toastmasters are our dedication to excellence,servicetothememberandrespectfortheindividual.
Q7:HowmanyyearshaveyoubeenwithToastmasters?Andcouldyouexplain yourfirstimpressionaboutthismovement?
DTMNalini:Ithasbeen5yearsanditwastransformative.
DTM Anjali: I joined my home club ICC ONE Toastmasters in Dec 2018 and I have likedthisforumsincedayonetilltoday.Irememberreceivingthe"BestTTSpeaker" awardinmyfirstmeeting.
DTMAjaya:IjoinedToastmastersinDecember2018.Thefirstimpressionwasthat thiswastheplacewhereIcanlearn,unlearnandrelearn.
Q8:Whathasbeenyourbestspeechaccordingtoyouandwhy?
DTMNalini:myIcebreakerformysecondpath.Lovedreinventingtheproject
DTMAnjali:MySpeechat"QatarTalks-2019"inthepreliminaryround,isoneofthe mostmemorablespeechesforme.Idon'tknowhowmanytimesIrehearsed/timed thatspeechtomakeittothefinals.
DTMAjaya:Istillremembermyspeechwiththetitle“DietorDieinit”.Asthename suggests,itwasahumorousoneandthatwasthefirsttimeIrealizedthatIhadsuch wittoticklethefunnyboneofanyoneImet.Ipresentedthisspeechforthefirsttime outside my home club as a test speaker for an Evaluation contest. The feedback I receivedfromallthecontestantswasoverwhelming.Thatwasmybestspeechasit helped to boost my confidence and participate in the Annual Humorous speech contest.
Q 9: As a DTM, what advice would you give to those who want to achieve this title?
DTMNalini:Itisworthit.
DTMAnjali:It'snotaboutthetitle,butit'sthelearningonthewaywhichwillhelp yougrowfurther.
DTM Ajaya: Perseverance and hard work is a key to success. Keep putting consistenteffortsintherightdirection.
DTM Anjali: I am fortunate to have mentors like M I Farid Sir DTM, TM Chandrashekar Angadi and DTM Abhijit Kuwalekar. They were my constant torch bearersonthisjourney.Theyweretheonewhoignitedmyfireofbecomingabetter speaker and a better leader. I owe all of it to them. When I see my mentees improvingwitheveryspeechtheydeliverandeveryroletheytakeintheclub,Ifeel proudandalsohumbled.
DTMAjaya:Ifeelproudwhenmymenteesperformandcomeoutoftheircomfort zone.IfeelitismyresponsibilitytogivebacktomymenteeswhatIlearnedfrommy seniors.
Toastmasters,especiallyDistrict116isaplacewhereyougettolearnfromalotof seasonedToastmasters.IfeelluckytohavementorslikeM.I.Farid,DTM,TMDeepak Shivankar, Vinod Pishorm, DTM, Abhijit Kuwalekar, TM Chandrashekhar Angadi, DTM,SKNaidu,DTM,RaviKumar,DTM,TMAbhayandDeeptiPotnis,DTM.Iowemy success to all of them, they continuously helped me not only to become a better speaker,butalsotobeabetterhumanbeing.
DTMNalini:Writethatspeech,givethatproject,takethatrole…goon
DTMAnjali:YouareAWESOME.3CheerstoICCONEFamily.LoveyouAll.
DTMAjaya:Donotcompetewithanyone.Trytobethebestversionofyourself.To keeponlearningshouldbeyourultimategoal.
DTM R.S.K. Naidu is a founder member of ICC One Toastmasters Club. Hailing from the Indian city of Bangalore, he is married with two children. He is a sports lover, with cricket and tennis being his favourites. In fact, he was the Tennis Campion in the year 2014 in the veteran doubles category. He is also a music lover, playing both the guitar and the veena. Amazingly, he is also a linguist and can speak and sing in 7 languages.
Hi!!nobodyreallycaredwhatateam,thatgetstomakinganeventpitchperfect actually looks like. There is an obsessive preference to see these faces in the so We de
Sitting: M.I.Farid, Pavithra, Philip,Khalid,Susmita, KumarNaidu Standing:Ruben,Madhusoodan,Lornalyn,Nalini,Ravi,Muneer,Abihijit.
DTMRSKumarNaidu
Dearfriends,individuallyweareeffectiveasourattitudeisnotofonesuperiorto the other. Collectively as a team we can achieve the impossible, doing so empatheticallyandinthebestpossibleway,becauseweusedunityattheright time to do the right thing. This is an event so meticulously planned, it’s Run Reruntillitisjustun editable,Iamsureyoucanfeelthevibe?
Wehavebeendiligentlyconductingthiscontestfor16thyearsonthetrot,aftera year in hibernation due to Covid we are back with a bang. “The Hunt for the ChampionSpeaker”ison.It’snotjusttheseniors,buttheyouthaswell.Wetake prideasateamindemonstratingourresponsibilities,promisingthatyouwillbe treatedlikeakingatthegrandfinale.
AsformeIhavebeenapartofthisteamfrominceptioni.e.16GLORIOUSyears, donning different roles consistently delivering along with The Team to accomplishagoal.Ihavebeenafinalistmyselfandbelieveme,thethrillofbeing selectedasthebest8speakersinQatarafterthegruelingpre qualifyingrounds, is really over whelming. This is because of you, my friends, our constant and trustedsupportersforyears,wehopetocontinuetoincitethespeakerinyou,to beheardthroughyourspeeches.
Pleasedovisitus@www.theqatartalks.comandyouwillgetalltheinformation: frominceptiontilldate thepastwinnersandloadsofinformation.
The pre qualifying rounds are scheduled as given below. Log in to register and exhibityourcommunicationskills:
AdultsHumorous 30thFridaySeptember2022
YouthHumorous7thFridayOctober2022
YouthInspirational14thOctober2022
AdultsInspirational21stOctober2022
LookingforwardtoseeingyouatTheGrandfinaleonFridaythe28thOctober 2022atGiwanaBallroom,RadissonBluHotel,Dohawithapromisethatyou willbetreatedtogreatspeechestruckloadsoflaughter,gifts,fun,frolicandwith apromisethatyouwillbetreatedlikeaking.
TeammemberKumarNaidu -TheHuntfortheChampionSpeaker
Ashwini Sonawane is from Mumbai (Economic capital of India). Happily married, a mother of a lovely son She joined Toastmasters International ICC One club in April2021. Current VPPR of Area 12 and ICC One Toastmasters Club. She is an Electrical Engineer by profession residing in Doha for the past 7 years. She likes to travel to different places to experience new cultures. She likes, cooking and baking, as it brings a lot of friends and fans with cooking, in comparison to other hobbies.
“Tobecreativemeanstobeinlovewithlife.
You can be creative only if you love life enough, that you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more musictoit,alittlemorepoetrytoit,alittle more dance to it.” Osho Indian spiritual teacher.
Creativethinkingisunleashingthepotential of the mind to conceive new ideas. In each Toastmasters meeting, there is a lot of scope to unleash our creativity be it an interesting theme, Word of the Day, unique Table Topic Session, etc. we can bring innovativeideastoeachmeeting.
I am just into my second year at Toastmasters. My journey has been full of activities, challenges and motivations. It ranged from developing meeting flyers, videos and newsletters to publishing on socialmedia.
In this newsletter, we are presenting many articleswrittenbyourveryownmembersof ICCOneToastmastersclub.
A huge Thank you to all the personnel who contributed in writing the wonderful and inspiring articles, withoutwhichtherewouldn'thavebeen thisnewsletterissue.
Having the support of the previous PublicRelationsteamwasagreathelp, but the role was quite challenging. I gainedvaluableexperienceandlearned several technical and communication skills.
I am very grateful to the previous and current Excom who gave me the confidence. I would like to specially acknowledgetheeffortsbyTMAnthony Mascarenhas. Really appreciate your helpsomuch.Thankyou.
AshwiniSonawane VPPR,ICCOneToastmastersClub
ThePathwayslearningexperienceisaninteractiveand flexible education program like no other. It was created to help you strengthen your communication andleadershipskillsasyougrowtowardpersonaland professionalsuccess allwhilehavingfunwithothers intheprocess!
Takethisjourneyandpartakein:
•Theopportunitytobuildmorethan300unique skillsetcompetencies
•11specializedlearningpaths
• Online content, affording you to learn anytime, anywhere
•Real world,transferableskills
The11pathsare:
ICC ONE and sister Toastmaster club, ICC ADVANCED recently held a joint meeting on 17th September 2022.
Sergeant at Arms, DTM Ajaya Rogiye, notified the ground rules of the meeting. The President of ICC Advanced: Muthurangan, DTM and Acting President of ICC ONE: TM Ruban Devedas declared the joint meetingopen
TMODChristopherAlmeida,DTMcameupwithatheme"Vacation"andemphasizedontheimportanceof vacationsaspartofourlives
Five prepared speeches delivered by club members of both the clubs were followed by the 360 degree evaluationreportprovidedbytheirevaluators.
General Evaluator DTM RSK Naidu shared his great experiences as a Toastmaster. He stressed the importanceofbeingaToastmasterandsharedhowithelpedhimtoachieveprogressinhisprofessional life
HereareafewglimpsesofthemeetingheldonSaturday,Sept.17,2022.
TMODChristopherAlmeida,DTM
By:TMSharonCoutinho
HaveyoubeentoaToastmastersmeetingandseenwhathappensthere?
Somefolksarebreakingtheice,others,theirsoulstheybare
Somehavejoinedtogetridoftheirfearofpublicspeaking
Others,tonetworkandnewcontactstheyareseeking
Youcanchooseyourownpathfromamongthemanyoptions,dependingonyourinclination Andyoucanalsowalkonmorethanonepath-ifyouhavethetimeanddetermination.
Whenyoustart,youareassignedamentorwhoactsasyourguide
Togiveyouvaluablefeedbackandbebyyourside
Themeetingshaveasimilarstructure-preparedspeecheswherethespeakerhashadtimeto prep
AndTableTopics(impromptu)whereatopicisgivenandintounknownterritoryyoumuststep!
Youmustspeakforatleastaminuteandnotmorethantwo,Onatopicofwhichyoumaynot haveaclue
Youmustthinkonyourfeet,marshalyourthoughtsandmakesureyouarewithintime BeconfidentandTrynotto‘humandhaw‘-needlesstosay,mostToastmastersdojustfine!
There’sagrammariantocomplimentyouongoodusageofaphrase
Andtellyouwhereyoucanimprove,sothatyourlevelyouraise
An‘ahcounter’willtellyouhowmanytimesyou‘uhhumed’and‘ahhed’ andhesitated, Usedfillerwordsorjustmisstated.
So,youseeit’sallaboutraisingthebar AndmostToastmastershavetraveledreallyfar
Fromthegauche,self consciousspeakerstheywereatthestart Toconfidentpersonswhodon’tneedtolearnspeechesbyheart
It’sabeautifulmovementthataimsatselfimprovement Andbecomingabetterversionofoneselfandempowerment!
Toastmaster Sharon Coutinho is a solicitor by profession and has worked in Mumbai, Hong Kong and Doha. In 2019 she took a break from work to spend time with her family and widen her horizons. She joined ICC One to improve her public speaking skills. She finds writing in verse good fun and does it every once in a while
Communication reduces conflicts and a better communicator can connectwithandinfluencethemindsofothers.
I have been in Toastmasters since the past thirty months. During thisshorttenure,Ihavefeltanenhancementinmyconfidencelevel while speaking in front of an audience I have also sharpened my leadership qualities: in my career, as well as in my personal life. CharlesDarwinoncesaid,“Itisnotthestrongestofthespeciesthat survives, nor the most intelligent; it is the one most adaptable to change”.
Thisadaptabilityisessentialforsurvival,especiallyinthechanging world. I strongly believe that the process in Toastmasters will strengthenyourleadershipaswellascommunicationskillsandgive youtheedgeatadaptabilityinallwalksoflife.
Irecommendalltobeapartofthisfraternity.
By:TMMadhusudanNair TMMadhusudanNair
By:DTMNaliniGPMathur
