WAVE- The Millennium TMC Newsletter Term 2

WAVE

NEWSLETTER TERM 02 2022/23

THE MILLENNIUM TOASTMASTERS CLUB

''WHERE LEADERS ARE MADE''

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Toastmaster Mission

We empower individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders

Club Mission

We provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self- confidence and personal growth.

Toastmasters International Core Values Integrity

Respect Service

Excellence

Toastmasters International Envisioned Future

Toastmasters International Envisioned Future

To be the first-choice provider of dynamic, high-value, experiential communication and leadership skills development

Meeting Time, Day and Venue

We meet every 1st& 3rd Tuesdays of the month from 6 15p m to 8 15 p m at Royal College, Union Skills Centre, Colombo 7.

President

Amritha Allahakkoon 077 299 1753

amritha allahakkoon@yahoo.com

VP Education

Kauminie Samarakone 071 278 6666

kauminie@gmail.com

VP Membership

Tharindu Ameresekere 077 748 1581

tharindu@compeetglobal.com

VP Public Relations

B. Banukrishanthini 0764865648

b.banukrisha@gmail.com

Secretary

Shashikala Ranasinghe 0777586815

shashi125@yahoo com

Treasurer

Erandi Weerasooriya 0773721585

erandhiweerasuriya@gmail com

Sergeant at Arms

Kavithi Hewage

0770634026

kavithihewage@gmail com

Immediate Past President

Clive James 0777668344

clive.jms@gmail.com

CONTENTS

PAGE 4 - THOUGHTS FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

PAGE 6 - MESSAGE FROM DIVISION E DIRECTOR

PAGE 7 - MEMBERS ACHIEVEMENTS

PAGE 8 - EMBRACE GROWTH - TM B JAWAHARLAL (RALPH TMC)

PAGE 9 - MENTORING-A SELF-FULFILLING LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE - TM DELANIE JAYESURIA

PAGE 10 - SPECIAL THEMED MEETINGS

PAGE 12 - THE HABIT OF SPEECH - TM PROMODHYA ABEYSEKARA

PAGE 13 - SPECIAL ASPECTS IN EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS

PAGE 14 - THE MODERN WORKPLACE TODAY IS INTERPERSONALTM AMILA SAMANTHI

PAGE 15 - COAST TO COAST-AREA E1 JOINT MEETING

PAGE 16 - MASTER PLAN - VP EDUCATION & CLUB CALENDAR

PAGE 17 - WELCOME TO THE MILLENNIUM TMC FAMILY

PAGE 18 - OVATION 2023

PAGE 19- FROM THE DESK OF THE EDITOR

As the President of The Millennium Toastmasters Club, I couldn't be happier about all the achievements and recognitions We as a club have received throughout the year 2022 - 23 I together with the vibrant Executive Committee have maintained above par standards and variety in our meetings to keep the membership constantly engaged and interested. Membership building furthermore, has been a key area of focus this year and we, The Millennium TMC have excelled in retaining as well as growing the club membership. We are a Presidents’ Distinguished club for the third consecutive year and a top performer in the Area as well as District 82 and my only wish is that the club grow from strength to strength in years to come

EDUCATION

Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts” Winston S. Churchill said. This is what I started to firmly believe as I continue playing the role of VP Education When taking up the role of VP Education I thought I just needed to continue the standard practice. Just one month in to the role I realized how wrong I was It has been one exciting journey facing Bouncers to Yorkers to Leg cutters! No Two days were the same and I like to conclude that this has been a fulfilling journey where I have learnt so much making use of the talents I have acquired during my so called Journey of Life. Thank you Millennium Toastmasters for giving me this golden opportunity I sincerely hope I have been able to add value to each and every member TM journey!

VP MEMBERSHIP

“It brings me great pleasure to be part and penning a message to l to another exciting edition of our Toastmasters newsletter. As your Vice President Membership, I encourage you to make the most of this opportunity to engage with your fellow Toastmasters and learn from the inspiring stories shared by our members

Remember, Toastmasters is not just about improving your public speaking skills but also about building meaningful relationships and a strong sense of community. So, let's continue to support each other and grow together as we navigate this challenging yet rewarding journey of self-improvement.

VP PUBLIC RELATIONS

What a year its been to me As its been said ‘we are never ready to take up an opportunity due to the fear barrier’ Yet we have to come out of our comfort Zone to seize that moment. That’s how I felt when I got the opportunity to be Vice President Public Relations for this Committee. It has made a huge impact in both in my personal and professional growth. Also, I am honored to be part of Executive Committee of this prestigious Toastmaster club and able to contribute in a small way to the club which has added value and shaped me the person who I am today There’s more to experience, I look forward to continue to grow with this amazing family-The Millennium Toastmasters Club

Amritha Allahakkoon

VP

Tharindu Ameresekere

Kauminie Samarakone

B. Banukrishanthini

B. Banukrishanthini

As the secretary of the Executive Committee of this wonderful family I have been with for the last one year, I must tell you, it’s been one of the most rewarding roles I was able to contribute my self with. The team that I have worked with has been an amazing Team. Supportive, Encouraging and Enjoyable. Not only I was able to keep a tab on the activities of each of the Meetings that occurred, but also to be in par with Organizing and documenting them, being punctual in keeping the members informed of the meetings that were ahead planned It makes me very happy, that at the end of the day, the contribution I made through my role would help to make,The Millennium Toastmasters Club as one of the best clubs in the country today.

TREASURER

In 2021, I was searching for a family where I am able to nurture my public speaking skills to shine Joining the The Millennium Toastmasters Club was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life because it has provided a platform for novice speakers like myself to deal with speech anxiety, to overcome the fear of speaking in front of an audience and build up confidence The Millennium Toastmaters Club gave me a good start coupled with supportive, positive and extremely friendly environment to grow with confidence Every word of encouragement you receive from this family plays a massive role in shaping you to be a better version of yourself This amazing family of Toastmasters doesn’.t only help improve your public speaking but also it paves the way to become leaders of tomorrow Being able to serve the Executive Committee 22/23 as the Treasurer is one of the achievements I have ever had in my Toastmaster’s journey. Thanks to The Millennium Toastmasters Club, today I have been strengthen my communication skills and has build selfconfidence

SERGEANT AT ARMS

It was a tremendous honour for me to serve The Millennium Toastmasters Club in the capacity of sergeant- at-arms. For the past year, I learned many things The position is undoubtedly challenging, but knowing my Executive Committee team was there to support me encouraged me to do my best Being the youngest in the member of the team, I enjoyed myself in the effort of making the meetings more enjoyable not forgetting the fact to keeping the value and bring the edutainment that one could look for. I am grateful to everyone who helped us as a whole to taking the club to its next level and I think our strength is this strong relationship we have all together.

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

We all make decisions, and some go wrong and we learn from them and some come out well and we cherish and make the best out of it. One such correct decision I have made in my life is joining the Millennium Toastmasters Club It has been giving me and its members the best environment to achieve the most of our Toastmasters’ journey Every Executive Committee has done their best In continuously elevating the benchmark of the club Thank you Executive Committee for giving your fullest so the members including myself have benefited the most. If we as a club go in the same direction in keep on pushing ourselves to do better and better surely the Millennium Toastmasters Club will be a club of the future.

Shashikala Ranasinghe

Erandi Weerasooriya

Kavithi Hewage

Clive James

Message From Division Director -

TM Mario De Silva

The hunters in the African countries have a classic technique of hunting monkeys for their food. They take a coconut and make a small hole just enough for the monkey to only put its hand in. Through this hole, the hunters would put some peanuts into the coconut, tie the coconuts and lay them under the trees for their prey. Then, as the monkeys approach for the peanuts inside, they are caught in the coconut trap, unable to take their fisted handfuls with peanuts, out of the tiny coconut holes. Thus, the story of a happy hunter.

Taking a different turn, if only the Monkey knew to let go off the peanuts and take his hand out of the hole, it could have survived. Doesn’t this relate to most of us as well? We are caught with countless things around us.

Unknowingly, even addicted to a few where many of them only result to pull us down. We continue to boast and believe that technology has advanced man to be more connected and productive. But, sometimes, hasn’t it served to be the other way around as well? Using the very platforms of connections, we waste much meaninglessly scrolling through social media, not connecting, rather disconnecting from the real conversations and productive engagement. As much as we are aware, still, letting go off these unhealthy habits only seem harder each day.

Likewise, if we pause and look into ourselves, our numerous engagements with technology and addictions to it, our toxic friend circles, relationships, workplaces and even some of our day-to-day practices Have been the mantra of our downfall. Holding onto these have only let us down, unproductive and have left us stuck in the same loophole with no way out.

Just like the trapped monkey, only if we take that pause, come into selfawareness and realize where we are, only then would we understand that Letting Go a certain few would help us step-out of that loophole. Because, sometimes, letting go is the change you need to make to be more creative, more productive and more content in becoming your better version. Are you willing to make that change, the change to Let Go?

MEMBERS ACHIEVEMENTS

Embrace Growth

TM Jawaharlal Balasubramaniam

(Ralph Toastmasters Club)

Two and a half years ago, a solitary soul timidly stepped into a crowded hall filled with strangers. Anxiety and trepidation gripped the individual's heart as they were unsure of what lay ahead. The room was a kaleidoscope of individuals from all walks of life, joyfully engaged in conversation, laughter, and excitement. The individual felt like a fish out of water, not knowing anyone in the room, nor ever experiencing such a social setting before. But when the meeting commenced, he was introduced to the world of Toastmasters, and everything changed.

Each successive session was a novel and refreshing experience, and the individual knew he was at the right place. He soon joined the club and began attending meetings regularly, fostering relationships with fellow Toastmasters. From being a shy introvert, he discovered a newfound interest in his Toastmasters journey and found solace in the camaraderie and support of their fellow members

With consistent participation and active engagement in meetings, he underwent a remarkable transformation. He became more confident, articulate, and expressive in his communication, effortlessly conveying his thoughts and ideas. He also took up various roles in the club, from organizing events to serving on the executive committee, honing his leadership skills and gaining valuable experience.

Fast forward two and a half years, he has grown significantly in his journey, delivering multiple speeches, competing in speech contests, and holding leadership positions within the club. He has also forged lasting friendships and bonds with colleagues, who have supported and encouraged him through thick and thin, in all aspects of his life.

Reflecting on the journey, he has realized that joining Toastmasters was one of the best decisions he ever made. It was an investment that paid off manifold, helping him grow in many ways and developing invaluable skills for his personal and professional life. He is indebted to this organization and looks forward to continuing the journey with Toastmasters in the years to come.

The story of the hesitant individual who walked into a room filled with strangers is a testament to the transformative power of Toastmasters Through active participation, fostering relationships, and assuming leadership roles, he underwent a metamorphosis that was unthinkable a few years ago. If you are contemplating to join this movement, take the leap, and discover for yourself how Toastmasters can change your life in ways beyond imagination.

Mentoring-A Self-fulfilling Leadership Experience

TM Delanie Jayesuria

When I began my journey as a mentor, I did not fathom that this journey of mentoring will bring me immense self-fulfillment and the entire process itself will create a result-oriented individual/s

There is nothing more rewarding than sharing one’s knowledge, expertise and experience to uplift another individual to become a resultoriented individual. Before I share my encounter with my protégés lets define who a mentor and protégé means-the relationship.

Definitions

A mentor is an individual who as the capacity to share his/her knowledge, expertise and experience offering encouragement and support to his/her protégé in the way forward

A protégé is an individual who seeks knowledge to gain the foundation for building the required skills and accomplishing the goals one intends to in the journey way forward

Introductory Meeting

At the introductory meeting itself both my protégé’s and myself set the expectations communicating clear boundaries and stipulating the preferred communication methods which were agreed upon

The pivotal element of a mentoring relationship is the skill of goal setting and establishing a benchmark for a successful mentor-protégé relationship, where my proteges communicated there prime goals in the Toastmasters Journey

-Overcoming glasso-phobia and developing confidence within them

-Becoming a Competent Communicator

-Becoming a Competent Leader

Where they seek the knowledge to gain the foundation with regard to building the required skills with the intention of accomplishing their goals in the way forward

On the other hand, as their mentor, in my capacity was willing to share my knowledge, expertise and experience, offering encouragement and support they intended in accomplishing their goals in the way forward

During the initial discussion, with the setting of the goals, we created a succession plan, identifying the long-term, medium term and short term objectives that was specific, measurable, actionable, relevant and time bound. For example for one to be a communicator one must learn to develop the content and deliver effectively. During the discussion I was able to provide the overview of what Toastmasters is all about, the autonomy, the benefits, protocols, guidelines and more importantly the values and its curriculum that would be beneficial both in their personal and professional growth

Bridging the Gap

With the given goals of my protégés, I had to understand what gap exist and bridge that gap identifying their blind spots Blind spots were not only the weakness that was obstructing them but also the strengths that they posses in developing their competencies in the way forward. For Example: To a greater extend they had the capacity to articulate their thoughts into words and construct a speech but how could one make the speech memorable and deliver effectively This is where the mentor in a her capacity tells the protégé how to connect the audience, have an attention grabbing opening, call for an action which were needed to bridge the gap

Providing Constructive feed back

This is crucial for the development and progress of the protégés journey by the mentor. This is where the protégé will most likely grow the mostby identifying his/her current strengths and weakness, and will learn how to use them to make themselves better individuals Having right communication and leadership skills can assist the mentor’s interaction with the personality style of the protégé

A good mentor will always ensure in his/her capacity to provide the protégé with constructive feedback

As a protégé it is crucial that one listens to the feedback, not taking it personally and consider themselves elevating to the next level

Remembering it’s their growth which would benefit Today, as I reflect back on my journey as a mentor I am happy and proud to see my protégés TM Shashikala Ranasinghe, TM Shahela Sabil, TM Banukrishanthini Balakrishnan and TM Amila Samathii taking the progressive steps in the way forward

SPECIAL THEMED MEETINGS

''Christmas'' Themed Meeting

SPECIAL THEMED MEETINGS

''Thai Pongal''Themed Meeting

The Habit of Speech TM

Promodhya Abeysekara

Have you ever felt that you weren’t succeeding in life, because you weren’t able to express yourself effectively? For some of you, this is probably why you joined Toastmasters – to improve your speech to succeed in life In this article, I will take you through why I think Toastmasters is so effective in helping you achieve exactly that Jusst joining a Toastmasters club does not make you a great speaker, what it does is help you create a key ingredient we often overlook in our path to success – Habits. Every task we perform is backed by multiple habits. These habits are so strong, that we fail to realize that those are in fact habits we have formed over time. When it comes to speaking, habits are etched into your pronunciation, tone, vocabulary, and body language As such, the basic steps to improving your speech is two-fold

1 Identifying the habits etched into each of these components in speech

2 Know how to change those habits

Identifying the habits

Charles Duhigg, in his book “The Power of Habit” notes that there are three components to a habit – a cue, a routine (or an action), and a reward. To truly identify your habits, it is important that you identify these three components to your habit.

Let’s take an example, to discuss how we can identify each of these components using Toastmasters. When I initially joined Toastmasters, I used to clasp my hands during speeches – a bad habit when it comes to speaking, given that it portrays nervousness I have not noticed that I do this inadvertently It was at an evaluation during a Toastmasters meeting, when this was pointed out This helped me identify the action. What I now needed to figure out was the cue and the reward. That is where recording my speech came handy

Despite watching your own speech being an excruciating task for most of us, it helps jolt your memory of what made you do something and what you felt afterwards. In my case, I soon realized that I would clasp my hands when I felt nervous, because I was rewarded with the comfort brought on by touch. Despite watching your own speech being an excruciating task for most of us, it helps jolt your memory of what made you do something and what you felt afterwards In my case, I soon realized that I would clasp my hands when I felt nervous, because I was rewarded with the comfort brought on by touch

Making the change

According to Duhigg, once you have identified these components of your habit, the next step is to replace your routine with something more positive, while keeping the same cue and reward. It was at a Toastmasters meeting when it was suggested that I hold my thumb and pointer fingers together instead of clasping hands. I had taken this to heart, and whenever I would feel nervous (cue) – during a speech or otherwise – I would hold the two fingers together so that I am unable to clasp my hands. I soon realized that this new action, also provides the same sense of comfort as clasping hands (reward). The great thing about being in Toastmasters when you are trying to change a habit is that you are able to practice the new routine over and over again by way of participation. If you take that opportunity and participate enough this new routine automatically turns into your habit.

In conclusion here are a few things you can do in Toastmasters to change your habits to be a great speaker.

1. Participate – speak as much as possible so that you can identify your bad habits and practice new, good habits

2 Pay attention to evaluations – analyze your evaluations and the evaluations of others to figure out what you can do differently

Record – if possible record and rewatch your speech, so that you can actively identify your habits and make changes

SPECIAL ASPECTS IN EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS

Club

Visiting Toastmaster

The Modern Workplace Today is Interpersonal TM Amila Samanthi

“Your career success in the workplace of today - independent of technical expertise - depends on the quality of your people skills - Max Messmer”

The secret behind a successful employee today, is a set of interpersonal skill the individual possess

Interpersonal skill-a soft skill, is defined as the skills we use every day when we communicate and interact with others. They include effective communication, empathy, active listening, conflict resolution, reliability, managing conflict, building lasting relationships, teamwork, leadership, negotiation, and there are many more. Some individuals have the innate ability and others need to acquire and improve them eventually. Modern workplaces highly value these skills to ensure productivity, quality, collaboration and to maintain a healthy working environment to achieve workplace goals successfully Demand of these attributes in organizations are increasing rapidly in today’s competitive world Modern HR research has proven the value of the interpersonal skills

Most of the young professional including myself in their early stages of career life focus more on the technical skills to be a good professional in a reputed organization. But in the today’s cooperate world, everyone should be focused on improving interpersonal skills parallelly to the technical skills to succeed in their career path. Interpersonal Skills gives a greater advantage to be the right candidate to be sought for in today’s workplace. Working under pressure has become a ‘norm’ today, with the uncertainties and demand from the employers. Therefore, having these personal attributes enables to interact well effectively.

Soft skills are more challenging to learn and develop as it links to a person's character People must take great effort to develop interpersonal skills by continuous practice, willingness and commitment

Toastmasters is one of the best place I found to develop my interpersonal skills which are very much helpful in my career as a Manager. I believe there is no other place better than Toastmasters to develop these skills continuously and consistently.

In a professional context, working with the different professionals form different back grounds, disciplines and age levels in the Toastmasters club helps to develop the soft skill -Empathy. There we gain the ability to understand other’s emotions, ideas from their point of view, give positive and constructive feedback, respect everyone’s ideas without complaining and criticizing, learn how to welcome anybody, acknowledge others and appreciate others When we are very empathetic, we can make a mentally healthy workplace Also, it leads to conflicts free environment Team work in Toastmaster Club develops our Team work skills by sharing knowledge, expertise and experience as a Team All these skills motivate employees in the workplace and leads to build strong and to positive working relationships.

Finally, I wish to comment that being in the capacity of a manager the Toastmasters’ journey has helped me to develop my interpersonal skills continuously and consistently which has enabled me to build the morale and productivity of my entire team in my department and organization as a whole.

Toastmasters is the journey that one could look forward to develop ones interpersonal skills for today’s workplace

COAST TO COAST - AREA E1 JOINT MEETING

An area joint meeting was held under the initiative taken by the Area Director-E1-TM Clive James with the clubs namely The Millennium Toastmasters Club, Institute of Chartered Accountants, Galle Toastmasters Club, and Maharagama Toastmasters Club which was held on November 27, 2022 in Galle.

Not only the meeting with it’s learning was concluded successfully, also built a strong networking relationship and camaraderie among the members. The game of Cricket added colour well. The Galle Toastmasters Club warmly welcomed the members of the area and hoisted the clubs for lunch.

Master Plan

TM Kauminie Samarakone

VP Education

Looking back at the educational meetings held in the last quarter, what Catherine McAuley said “We must strive to do ordinary things extraordinarily well” comes to mind!

Toastmasters’ meetings held world over would follow an identical format which after some time becomes ordinary. The challenge we faced was how to make the meetings extraordinary, so that each member would feel happy that we have added value to him or her?

When planning meetings we tried to add variety by being hosted and hosting joint meetings with other clubs Where we were hosted, our members got a glimpse of how other clubs conduct their meetings

Themed meetings added color, variety, fun and also helped our members gain more knowledge and a better understanding of the subject matter of the theme.

We conducted the Club International Speech and the Table Topics Contests successfully. The enthusiasm of the membership was evident as 6 contestants took part for the International Speech Contest and 12 contestants took part for the table topics contest.

DTM Saleem made a very timely and extremely useful presentation on “Evaluations” where he shared his knowledge and experience with our members, and helped clarify and reemphasize the “Do’s” and “Don’ts”

in speech evaluations

We brought the curtain down to a very fulfilling and eventful 3 rd quarter with the MOT implementation report being presented Areas for improvement suggested during the MOT were presented with the action taken by the executive committee to the members

Looking forward to the next quarter, we have planned for 2 themed meetings Expect a lot of surprises and variety.

New member induction where the new members are officially inducted is scheduled to be held in May. The Annual General Meeting is also scheduled to take place on the 2 nd of May.

For the benefit of all members, a presentation on Voice Variation and Body Language would be a highlight where educational presentations are concerned.

The icing on the cake would be an exciting program by a guest presenter which we have no doubt would be enjoyed by all

With the end of the 4 th quarter, The Toastmaster year ends on a high note

CLUB CALENDAR

QUARTER 4 PLANNER

QUARTER 3 PLANNER

WELCOME TO THE MILLENNIUM TMC FAMILY

OVATION 2023

TM Delanie Jayesuria

Ovation’ is an annual conference conducted by the District 82, Toastmasters International, which is a looked forward event by members of the fraternity. In the past, the conference witness an array of interesting key note speeches, educational workshops by members of the fraternity and key industry leaders from across the country, with inspiring and motivating sessions through-out the three (03) day programme.

The Key highlight is the conducting International Speech Contest where contestants of the divisions take part where the International Speech Contest Champion is selected by judges to represent the World Championship. We cannot forget the wonderful entertaining items held in between the sessions.

The Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony is yet another highlight of the three day programme, where the dazzling stars of the District and the achievements made by the district as a whole are recognized during the particular tenure and paves the way with due recognition of the incoming officials. The selection of the Toastmaster of the Year with the recognition and contribution the individual has made during the tenure.

This year, the Ovation 2023 will be held from May 26th, 27th and 28th 2023 at BMICH. Please join to witness this amazing event of ‘edutainment’-if one could describe in a single word.

From the Desk of the Editor

Hello again,

I am nothing more than proud and honoured to be able to pen a few words as the Editor of Millennium Toastmasters’ Club newsletter for the term 2- “Wave’’.Wondered by why it is called ‘Wave’? Despite our individuality as a club we are moving in same direction towards our personal growth like a wave. Even producing this newsletter is part of that growth. I believe that this tenure as Vice President-Public Relations is most valuable period in my Toastmaster’s journey as I look back as an individual I have improved as a person both in my personal and professional growth especially, as someone who is not familiar with graphic concepts and designing it was an amazing learning experience. Though it takes a lot of years to become an expert, I enjoyed the part of learning every day. And that little learning help me craft this newsletter. And another important lesson I learnt was if you don’t how to do a task just take that initial step without worrying to much about the final outcome and you’ll figure out in the way forward. Especially you find supportive people who lend their hand to help you. I take this opportunity to express my gratitude. The President for giving my space to work, and for let me make mistakes to learn from it and for being very much understanding and the Executive Committee for being an amazing team to work and all the guidance. And TM Delanie Jayesuria for being part of my editorial team and always supporting me in everything that I do and contributing to the Club’s activities never say ‘no’ every time she was asked to TM Mario De Silva –Division E Director for contributing to our newsletter and his support to the club. TM B. Jawaharalal from Ralph TMC for accept our request for an article. All the Club Members who penned such amazing articles without rejecting the request

Finally, to all the members at The Millennium Toastmasters Club for always having my back and being amazing people I have met in my life. Thank you watering your wisdom and knowledge for me to grow This has been an exciting Journey.

Happy Reading!!!

TM Banukrishanthini Balakrishnan Editor – ''Wave''

The Millennium Toastmater’s Newsletter 2022-2023 Term 2

EDITORIAL TEAM

TM Delanie Jayesuria