Imprint 2023 - Coimbatore Toastmasters Club

TOASTMASTERS

For almost a century, Toastmasters have the first choice program for enriching life skills like communication and leadership Toastmasters International is an organization for enthusiastic individuals to become confident public speakers and innovative leaders There is a supportive learn-by-doing environment that allows the members to achieve their goals in their own pace. This society also serves as an effective socializing platform to build personal and professional networks.

Toastmasters International Mission

We empower individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders.

District Mission

We build new clubs and support all clubs in achieving excellence

Club Mission

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

Toastmasters International Core Values Integrity

Respect

Service Excellence

Toastmasters International Envisioned Future

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

CoimbatoreToastmastersClub

Coimbatore Toastmasters club (CTC) was the first Toastmasters club to be established outside Chennai in Tamil nadu, India It was started in 2011, by DTM Sivakumar Palaniappan who had the vision to bring this wonderful program that will benefit the people of Coimbatore Now, there are 30 + active members who are a mix of Students, Entrepreneurs, corporate Trainers, etc. Since its inception, the club has come a long way in shaping great leaders and eminent speakers.

CTC meets at PSG Institute of Management located at Peelamedu in C i b SG i f h b h i C C i

COIMBATORE TOASTMASTERS CLUB

Contents

0 5 Editor’s Desk

TMJegathshreeSathish

Magical Moments

GanesanKL

Friends

0 7

Designer’s Desk TMYashKRajani 0 6 Executive Committee (January -June 2023)

0 8 Executive Committee (July -December 2023)

0 9 CTC President’s Welcome

TMMayurVenkateshS

1 0 Past President’s Address

1 1

TMAbdul Toastmasters - A Tribe

TMGauravJain

Spotlight 1: Interview with TM Gayathri 1 2 1 5

Who is going to pack your parachute

World is a stage

TMVenkataLakshmi

Turkey: The Perfect Traveler's Delight

Mentor-Mentee moment featuring

DTM Mayur

A Dream Run

Enlighten as a Leader

DTMMohanakrishnanG You can, You will TMManoj

1 7 1 9

TMAneeshVP Spotlight 2: Interview with DTM Sridhar Ranganathn

Mystery of the Filler Words: Don’t eliminate them; Make them serve a purpose

TMDeepaSampathKumar

New toastmasters in town Achievements

CTC Milestones

Pictures

CTC Testimonials

I feel immense pleasure to be a part of the Coimbatore Toastmasters Club for bringing out the creative personas of our fellow Toastmasters The magazine served as a platform for all our members to showcase their creative expression

This magazine is not an individual's effort but a team of Toastmasters who made it a complete package with extraordinary articles quoting their personal moments, experiences and achievements

My hearty wishes and thank you to everybody who came together to bring out the best. Happy reading!!

TM Jegathshree Sathish Magazine Editor

Coimbatore Toastmasters Club

Designer’sDesk

A Journey of Creativity and Collaboration

As a designer for the Toastmasters magazine, I believe that the design process is not simply about putting together a visually pleasing layout, but rather, it's about storytelling. Each edition of the magazine tells a unique story, and it's my job as designer to bring that story to life through my design

Designer has no pre-planned ideas .But as he works and progress his design is formed and takes shape.

But designing a magazine is not a one-person job. It takes a team effort, and I am grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with all of y'all especially TM Jegathshree (Editor) and DTM Mayur (Club President) in bringing this magazine to life.

Design is Art.I love and enjoy designing., and I look forward to the journey ahead.

TM Yash K Rajani

Magazine Designer

ExecutiveCommittee(Jan-Jun23)

(APR - JUN)

Vice President PR (JAN - MAR)

TM DHARUN

Vice President PR (APR-JUN)

TM Yash

DTM Mayur V S

TM Abdul

CTCPresident'sWelcome

Writing for another edition of Coimbatore Toastmasters Club's imprint as the club president gives me immense joy. Over the years, our club's cheerful atmosphere, engaging sessions, priceless fellowship and many other things glued me to it.

As I write this welcome address, I'm overjoyed that we have yet again received the President's Distinguished Toastmasters club award for 2022-23.

This consistent achievement is no mean feat, especially when we have been in a transition phase of shifting from online meetings to hybrid and in-person sessions

We have gone that extra mile because of our club member's passion, exemplary contribution, engagement and dedication.

I would also like to extend appreciation for the work of the club's editorial team in making this year's imprint a success I wish you all a joyous newsletter-reading experience

DTM Mayur Venkatesh S Club President Coimbatore Toastmasters club

PastPresident’sAddress

We need courage to bring change, or even move away from the status quo. When the pandemic hit, we were confined to our digital devices

But the Executive Committee of our Coimbatore Toastmasters Club had an opportunity to bring about change A few clubs from around the world were experimenting with hybrid meetings. Inspired by this, we, the Excom proposed to go hybrid The members of our club came on board with this daunting yet adventurous idea. There were challenges aplenty, but we were blessed with a team of enthusiastic Toastmasters that could adapt and face any roadblocks.

Initially, we noticed the eagerness in members to be back on the stage. As weeks progressed, we had sufficient members turnout in person. The joy of catching up with familiar faces on Saturday evenings was back again. Soon after a collective decision from the members, we went for in-person sessions in October.

The transition was scary as we had doubts about the attendance, but as weeks progressed, we were also able to add new members which aided in getting the needed role-takers. Weekly progress also helped us achieve President's Distinguished Club status.

Overall, we succeeded in going back to in-person, quality and enjoyable meetings all because of the collective efforts of the members of the Coimbatore Toastmasters Club. I'm unable to pick any one person to credit this success to. Someone was always there to back the team when there was a need. As a club President, I'm overjoyed and grateful to have been a part of such an experience

TM Abdul Past president Coimbatore Toastmasters Club

Toastmasters-ATribe

In a Ted Talk, American author Simon Sinek spoke about the Navy SEALs. Navy SEAL is the most elite military force in the United States, trained specially for a critical mission involving high stakes Each member of the team is the epitome of agility, endurance and resilience

Yet, supreme physical strength does not confirm anyone a seat in this elite team.

Simon describes a long screening process where candidates are put through tough terrains and obstacles to judge their attributes. Apart from physical fitness, each candidate is tested for their trustworthiness, their team spirit and whether they place the group's interest ahead of personal interests. What emerges from the entire process is not just a team of superfit individuals but rather, a Tribe.

We here at Toastmasters are one such Tribe - a group of people that uplift one another in spirits and wisdom. The strength of this tribe lies in the numbers and diversity – thousands of members belonging to wildly different backgrounds with wildly diverse experiences coming together once a week to learn and grow

No wonder, the tribe has been a perfect resource for first fallbacks and second opinions to individual members’ dilemmas. More than a resource, it has been an engine for personal growth. It is said that every person is the average of the people he hangs out with. The Toastmasters Tribe is the intellectual hangout of each member that drastically uplifts their averages.To a keen observer, it may reflect that this piece has zero reference to Public Speaking or Leadership –the two hallmarks of Toastmasters This deflection is not by accident but rather by design. I believe that these hallmarks may drive people into the club, but once inside, it is only those with shared sentiments and a feeling of belongingness to the Tribe that stay put.

Here’s my heartiest greeting to all members of this tribe I express my gratitude for uplifting me in spirits and wisdom

Gaurav Jain

Chartered Account and Entrepreneur Toastmasters Club of Guwahati

InterviewwithDTMGayathri

ToastmasterGayathri

WhatmadeyoujoinToastmasters?

DTM Gayathri: Thanks to my school teachers, I loved Public Speaking. But unfortunately, I could never pursue it beyond my College. So, an opportunity for adults to practice public Speaking was the first thing that attracted me to Toastmasters.

Sharesomeinstanceswhereyou'vemadeuseoflearning fromToastmastersinyourprofessionallife

DTM Gayathri: Being a Project Manager, my primary role involves working with people Unlike technology, every human is unique and needs a different strategy to influence, inspire and persuade.

Being in Toastmasters helps me to understand individuals’ strengths and weaknesses and choose the best approach I use evaluation techniques to share feedback. All my appreciations are specific and inspiring. Every meeting is documented and appraisal discussions are well prepared I think after a certain number of years, we start using every learning in everyday life and it becomes our habit even without our conscience

Being a leader how would you advise young leaders to plantheirpathinToastmasters?

DTM Gayathri: There is no single best way to complete a Path However, ensuring a few points will help enjoy the best benefits. Before beginning a Path, it helps to understand the immediate need in their life (Eg: Looking for a promotion in their profession / Being able to speak with strangers / Making a good presentation ) Based on the above need, a milestone in their life can be planned ( Eg: Presenting to college students on a date after 3 months / going to a new place and interacting with people by a particular date ) They can then go through the various projects in every path and see which one will help them accomplish what they are intending to do in their life

InterviewwithTMGayathri

Being a leader how would you advise young leaders to plantheirpathinToastmasters?

DTM Gayathri: Many projects in Pathways take more time and they are the ones that give the best output There is a project that makes us observe our day-to-day thought process and journal. If we sincerely do this for 3 months, we can see the immense transformation Once we do the path, we need to go to the milestone task and complete it. Over a period of time, I have done this many times and suggested this to many of my protégés and this has given the best benefit.

When there's a leadership void in a club what are your ideastofixit?

DTM Gayathri: In our professional life, we rarely say NO to a leadership opportunity. So if the members are not interested, it either means they haven't seen the benefits fully or they have burnt out already. Speaking with members and helping them identify how this can help in their professional and personal life would help resolve this issue.

Proactively making the members listen to the benefits of a Toastmasters leadership journey and helping them create their leadership path would also benefit both the club and the members to make the best of the journey. Earlier in the competent leader program, there was a track that nurtured leaders with a set of tasks.

How do you see the revised system addressing that focus area?Howcanwedevelopmoreleadersinourclubs?

DTM Gayathri: Pathways integrate both communication and leadership journeys into a single path. Some of the projects require a lot of background work and effort and then the same needs to be presented as a speech. I believe this is an enhanced version of achieving leadership skills. In terms of the requirements such as performing roles in club meetings, pathways don't provide credits, however, we do have Rock Star and Emerging Rock Star recognition in our District that will encourage members to accomplish the same

InterviewwithTMGayathri

How has your journey been in Toastmasters? What are some attributes of Toastmasters that keeps you coming back?

TM Gayathri: Transformative is the one word I can say. I entered this fraternity 10 years ago and am proud of my transformation I have become more empathetic, more strategic and more humane. Every opportunity in Toastmasters offers a wonderful learning, Every person we meet offers a wonderful lesson and every meeting provides a new idea. I think Toastmasters is the only forum that offers these opportunities and I think anyone who has seen these benefits will keep coming back.

Somethingexcitingyoudidrecently?

DTM Gayathri: Every opportunity in Toastmasters is exciting. Recently I took it as a challenge to deliver 8 different addresses in the 8 Division Contests. I had to look for unique content, relevant and interesting to the audience. I also had to prepare and present in very short periods as it was not easy to find the content. But when I attempted it, I mostly surprised myself on the stage. I enjoyed all the content and when I had people coming down and speaking about my address, I realised it was impactful. Toastmasters has many such opportunities and when we challenge ourselves, it will help us move forward and transform for the bettermnt.

DTM CG Gayathri is serving as the Program Quality Director for District 120.

Whoisgoingtopackyourparachute

We meet different people in our day-to-day life.

But who are these people?

Are they important to us?

Do they play any role in our life?

Why do we meet different people, and who controls all these meetings?

If you believe in God, you may say that, it is God’s decision, and if you are an atheist, you might say that it is just a coincidence!

Captain Charlie Plumb was an ace fighter Pilot with the US Navy. He was a **TOP GUN.** He flew 75 operational sorties over Vietnam! On his 75th sortie, his jet got shot down by an air missile.

He realized the emergency, ejected out by opening his parachute, and safely landed on the ground However, unfortunately, he landed on the enemy territory, and he became a Prisoner of War!

He stayed in jail for almost six years. He was tortured in various ways by the Vietnam Army. However, he was not ready to give up. He was a true soldier!

He then got released after six years and returned to the US The US Navy gave a warm welcome to him. He served in US Navy for a few more years and retired later. Years passed, and no one remembered the incident.

One day Captain Plumb was sitting in a coffee shop with his wife. A man walked towards him and asked,

Are you Captain Plumb?

The Capt replied yes

The stranger asked the Captain,

"Capt you flew 75 times to Vietnam, and on your last sortie, your jet got shot down, and you ejected out safely and became a Prisoner of War "

Captain stopped drinking, slowly raised his head and said, ”Yes, but who are you, and how do you know this?"

Whoisgoingtopackyourparachute

The stranger replied with a smiling face and said, “Captain, I packed your parachute, and I hope it worked"

Captain Plumb gasped!

He just dropped his Coffee mug on the table and stood up with gratitude because the stranger was his lifesaver. Captain held the stranger’s hand firmly and said, ”Thank you so much! Of course, it worked, that’s why I am standing here today” Captain did not know what to say and what to do He was full of gratitude! The stranger smiled and released his hand, and slowly walked away into the crowd.

Captain Plumb returned home with a heavy heart. He could not sleep that night. He kept thinking about that incident. He wondered and asked himself, "how many times I must have seen him standing on the deck of my warship He must have saluted me several times, but I did not return the salute just because I am a fighter pilot and he was a sailor! But I am alive today because of him!"

This incident changed his perception towards the people around him. He decided to share this incident with the world He started talking to people around him about this incident and his military experience Later he became a renowned public speaker in the USA. This real-life incident shows the true beauty of life. An ignorant sailor became the life saviour of a renowned fighter pilot.

Let us change our perception towards the people around us and remember but not ignore the ones who cross paths with us Because we do not know “Who is going to pack our parachute?

TM Aneesh VP SGT (Retd) Indian Air Force Veteran

InterviewwithDTMSridharRanganathan

DTMSridharRanganathan

HowdidyourTMjourneystart?

DTM Sridhar Ranganathan: It was a time when, neither at home nor at work, anyone listened to me. That’s when I found a place where people not only listened to whatever I spoke but also appreciated and applauded me for anything I spoke..

Jokes apart, I saw a reference to Toastmasters in the book, “The Magic of Thinking Big” That was also the time when the first club in Chennai was starting. I fell in love in the very first meeting itself. There was no looking back

Tell about the early influencers who made an impact onyourTMexperience.

DTM Sridhar Ranganathan: DTM Nina John and DTM Abraham Zachariah created a long lasting impact with their selfless contributions

On many occasions, I used to wonder if they had anything at all to do, beyond Toastmasters They brought the right mould and made sure that this clay became an adorable object.

Youhaveaflairforspeechcontests.Howdoyoukeepthe curiositytocontestburning?

DTM Sridhar Ranganathan: Contests, to me, are like IPL of Cricket. Of course, not from the point of not so good things IPL is know for but from the point of it being the right platform to exhibit our talent.

I felt, there is no point playing if I didn’t represent at the contest level. Initially, I did have some issues to get right topics to speak. I used to be so conscious if I was doing the right thing. At some stage, I felt it was more a problem for the audience than it was for me. :) But, the audience being the great motivators they are, acknowledged every bit of my effort and started recognising. From a stage of hating the contest I eventually started dating the contest.

InterviewwithDTMSridharRanganathan

Tell us about how mentoring helped you- as a mentor andprotegee.

DTM Sridhar Ranganathan: I am a product of mentoring. When someone asked me for 5 things to become a champion speaker, I told I would not know what those 5 things are, but I have a mentor who knew what those 5 things are. My mentors are the most precious gifts I received in Toastmasters. When I first became a mentor I was overwhelmed, rather I went overboard. I remember pushing one of my first mentees very hard. She won the best speaker for her first speech. We both were so happy, but could not come up with another speech to her satisfaction. She ended up quitting Toastmasters. I realised mentoring is about just setting the right framework for the mentees to find the best way to express themselves.

Contest results can be tough on the contestants at times, howdoweseparatetheresultfromtheexperience?

DTM Sridhar Ranganathan: Even assuming that the results are unfair, it did not reflect my actual performance and what I deserved, I would always tell myself - If I cant overcome all the challenges like content, delivery, audience connect, audio issues, judging errors, contest time, speaking slot - then I don’t deserve to be a champion. So every tough result is a tough learning and helps me prepare for the next level

What's your suggestion for new members to experiment newideas?

DTM Sridhar Ranganathan: Be realistic in your expectations. We are not here to transform people with our words of wisdom. We are here to share our experiences and when we do it with utmost sincerety, we will find people relating themselves to those experiences and get connected. That, to me, is the biggest success we can achieve

MysteryoftheFillerWords:Don’t eliminatethem;Makethemserveapurpose

Filler words are an intrinsic part of spoken language. Every language in the world has its version of filler words and sounds - even sign language!

My overused filler words are 'you know' and 'ah'. Many of us term them disfluencies which have no place in fluent speech

Are they all disfluencies?

Filler words have often been defined as words that do not change the meaning of the sentence if eliminated- words that disturb the continuity of speech. Is this really true? Look closer, filler words can have their purpose too and have their pragmatic functions. These days, AI (Artificial Intelligence) systems are trying to understand the significance and place of filler words in human speech. Look at the illustration below. 'Ah' has been used here to indicate hesitance and reluctance Without the 'Ah', the conversation might have sounded rude. Used sparingly and correctly, filler words are called filled pauses, hesitation markers or planners When used unnecessarily, they can be called disfluencies, crutch words, repetitive words or verbal viruses.

Ah can be used to indicate politeness; huh can be interrogative and Hmm can indicate thoughtfulness

Good communication demands conciseness When we are narrating emotional stories or fascinating facts, filler words can act as disturbances breaking the flow and preventing the audience from hanging on to every word being said Filtering away the filler words while listening takes cognitive effort and hence these words could tune out our listeners

According to some studies, an average speaker uses 5 filler words per minute while it has been observed the optimum frequency should ideally be 1 filler word per minute I have often noticed filler words in my speech increasing in frequency when I am anxious, when I am not comfortable with my content or when I speed up my speech.

MysteryoftheFillerWords:Don’t eliminatethem;Makethemserveapurpose

The days I use them excessively are also days where I am not conscious of their appearance Now that we know we need to remove the unnecessary filler words or perform the um-ah-ectomy, the next question is- how to do it?

Methods one can adopt to reduce speech disfluencies:

Be aware and conscious of your favourite filler words. Awareness helps reduce the use.

Incorporate ways to reduce anxiety and remain calm by taking deep breaths before speaking and taking pauses to breathe in between Go slow to gather your thoughts if you feel you are speeding up Embrace the Pause to Eliminate the Fillers. Pause when inclined to utter a filler word. Use the pause to emphasize keywords and to breathe. Hand gestures can reduce filler words. Use them. Prepare for speeches in advance so that you are comfortable with their structure and flow Easy recall reduces filler words

As you attempt your next speech or even while you are part of a conversation, try the above methods. The aim is not to completely eliminate them but make them serve a purpose.

https://hbr.org/2018/08/how-to-stop-saying-um-ah-and-you-know

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749596X85710327

Deepa Sampath Kumar Speech Weavers Club Public speaking and communication coach

MagicalMoments

Do we know where would we be born?

Do we know to whom would we be born?

Do we know why are we born?

Yet we are born, and we live. Life is one of the magical moments. Yes, my life is one of the magical moments

Being a native of Blue Mountain and living there with the serene, eye-catching landscapes buffeted by icy winds till my college days, it was a magical moment. In college, I was running behind beauties and accumulating arrears, and yet when I got my degree in first class, it was a magical moment.

After getting my degree in 1980, baby boomers would rarely be leaving the cool climate of native Nilgiris, and yet when I decided to leave my village to go to Mumbai for good, it was a magical moment.

In Mumbai, I was roaming around the streets attending interviews and looking for a job. Finally, when I got the job in my dream company Ashok Leyland, it was a magical moment

After getting the job, the same families who refused to accept me as a groom came back and proposed to their girls for marriage, it was a magical moment. Post-marriage, we were mad at each other and made two wonderful children and, when I saw their innocent smiles, it was a magical moment.

MagicalMoments

Through crests and troughs, when we celebrated the silver jubilee marriage anniversary, it was a magical moment.

When I was elevated to head the same division where I joined as an executive in my Company, it was a magical moment.

I ran away from the podium during the Long Service Award function in my Company as I could not speak before a big audience, and now when I speak in front of you, it is a magical moment.

Yes, life is one of the magical moments.

Where was I born and to whom was I born? It was God’s magical moment.

Why am I born?

It was time for me to find the answer and I found it in Toastmasters:

To become a good communicator and to make Millennials and Gen-Zs, effective Communicators and Leaders.

Yes, the day I accomplish this pursuit, will truly be my magical moment

TM GANESAN KL Coimbatore Toast Masters Club

Friends

Friends make our life more beautiful does not matter if we don't speak or see each other every day

They are by our side throughout life at every stage .

They are the brothers or sisters we never had .

We can be ourselves with them . No make up!!!Our true selves.

It is difficult to put into words how Thankful we are for such friends. It is hard to explain it's not something we learn in school or college or buy from a store .It's the emotion or feeling which we feel in our heart.

True friendships are that which grow even when separated but don't grow apart.

Each friend brings out our varied skills and talents and only when they come into our lives this friendship is born.

TM Yash K Rajani VP-PR

Worldisastage

Fear of death is Necrophobia. The fear of public speaking is called Glossophobia. Can you imagine, more people are affected by the second! This article is going to be more about my encounter with this monster, who turned a friend, called public speaking!

Do you know, when this monster became my friend? When I realized this whole world is just a stage!! I am sure all of us must have faced this monster at least once in our life. For some seasoned speakers among us, now it must have become a fun friend who brings you euphoria

I still remember my first encounter with the stage when I was in my 5th standard, in a speech competition.

Until then my stage participation was limited to a few stage plays, where I was playing a soldier behind the king & a girl holding the lamp in the centre where all girls will be dancing around me.

I remember my school days, I was the tallest in the class, tallest than most of the boys I was identified as the tallest girl in the school.

So when that tall girl went on to the stage to give her speech she did as tall as the mike, still like a mike in fact, standing there with her eyes widely open, clutching the script with sweaty hands, trying to hold herself up without collapsing.

And the first time when I looked from the stage to the audience from an opposite angle, as I always used to look up onto the stage it was all totally different as if the world was upside down and I was astonished. So astonished in the sense I went speechless. I was randomly wavering my eyes through the crowd until I found my teacher who was gesturing me to look at the script And when I started looking at the script, I couldn't take my eyes off it and................................... that was the story of my first speech which became a sermon!

I read the entire script from the paper in my hand. The judges had a great dilemma about whether to disqualify me or not! And that was my first great stage speech.

And in 6th grade when I move to an English convent, it became scarier to talk even when not on stage, when a shy girl from a Suburban school had to talk only in English with her classmates.

Luckily, I had a friend who was my companion who had equal difficulty in English.

Worldisastage

hose days there was a strict rule in convents that everyone inside the campus must talk in English.

One day, I and my friend were playing cricket on the grounds when one visitor approached and asked the way to the principal's room. When explained in Tamil, that visitor folded his hands, smiled at us and said: Aren't you supposed to talk only in English on the school campus?? We were looking at her face carefully and recollected from the photo in the school office and realized that she is the correspondent. She smiled at us and took her along to the principal room & when we met the principal she announced: Add both their names in English speech competition!!

We were horrified. Later, we learnt that the correspondent has joined our school as our English teacher. We were more horrified. We realized that she is in charge of training us for the competition We were more than horrified But I remember her fondly here, she taught me how to face the stage and how to face this world when you are on the stage!

As years passed by, my profession put me in numerous stages where I had to deliver many technical presentations, and slowly I got accustomed to the stage. Even then, I had terrible experiences here and there.

In one of the recent presentations when I was presenting a PPT I remember, I got so scared to face the audience that I turn my back towards the screen as I was talking The audience saw more of my back, than the screen!!LOL

And then during Covid, when we shifted to online presentations it was equally bizarre to look at the computer screen and talk, I got nervous at times Past 25 years, facing many stages, I have come to this: When one realizes, this world is a stage, and all of us perform every day - going by the famous lines of John Keats, one gets very comfortable with their presence on the stage. Whether I am sitting in my office talking to my colleague or when I am talking on a stage I take it the same way. I focus to take control of my breathing, I try to be very comfortable wherever I am and I consciously approach that situation in a balanced & casual way. I try to remember, the whole world is a stage and every moment is like a stage performance. When we can practice this, I may not say one can master the art of public speaking but truly they will enjoy every moment on the stage like how they enjoy every moment in this world. So the world is a stage and we all are........Well, I guess you know!! Thank you

TM Venkata Lakshmi Founder of Interface Architecture Coimbatore Toastmasters Club

Turkey:ThePerfectTraveler'sDelight

I’ve always understood that it’s travelling that brings out the best in me. The sights the sounds the smells, the freshness of it all, a simple getaway to a locale away from base is what does it for me – I call it the ultimate aphrod.

And if you think that’s what you need, then take it. Don’t bat an eyelid when you do Get away It could be to walk along that little stream that runs a couple of kilometres away or to that little hill along the highway you’ve always driven by and smiled at, but never cared to explore. But believe me, it pays off Because when life every day drags the mundane and monotony into our routines, we look for that small window through which we can stick our necks out, and escape. So when you can’t find that window, create it, set foot out with your imagination afire and there’s truly no end to expecting what might come your way!

That said, I managed to open a window last December 2018.

I didn’t need to use my imagination, all it took was the click of a couple of approves on my travel app and I found myself flying to one of the most beautiful destinations in the world –Turkey.

Words never do justice to beauty that profound but it’s been playing like music in my head, ever since I got back and I don’t think I’m going to be able to rest in peace until I rant a few lines on what captured me at Cappadocia. The weather set the perfect ambience for the cosy bunch of four that we were –it was a nice and windy 11 degree Celsius when we set out from Istanbul, and when we got to Cappadocia it had dropped to a chilly 8. Travelling from tropical climes into sheer frosty weather can always mess with the ambience in your head, but the snow peaked mountains we caught a glimpse of as we got into our taxi kept the critics in all of us sober and we proceeded to Nevşehir, a little village I promise you will evoke the romantic in anyone

Turkey:ThePerfectTraveler'sDelight

We were looking at a beautiful regurgitated mess that nature had carved out. It looked like the mountains had suffered a serious case of digestion issues and the volcanoes spewed their wrath and fury onto Mother Earth who desperately tried to calm them down. And In the process, the volcanoes lay submerged under water and have remained quiet ever since, their anger well spent. As the sun beat down each day, Mother Nature had her way and a beautiful city came to life Cappadocia

We soaked it all in, basked in the beauty, and rejuvenated our senses. Everything appeals to senses deprived and therefore I feel the highlight for me was not just the ethereal ambience that the landscape provided, but the beautiful Turkish nightlife that we got to sample! The graceful men and women dancing to traditional Turkish lore, the hapless beautiful belly dancer seducing the crowd as the wine and the food flowed, was genuinely chicken soup for our hungry souls!!

We were deprived of a hot air balloon experience since the weather didn’t permit it, but we made the best use of the time allotted and toured possibly every nook and cranny of that quaint little town, sampled my skills at pottery and purified our souls with the traditional hamam bath, which apparently is a must do, despite it being an embarrassing experience!

The mountains, tempered by the sun had turned into magnificent dwellings that the locals put to good use, and soon, it turned into fortresses where families survived, hidden and protected. Fast forward to the 21st century and we had the pleasure of sampling some of their dwellings at the Cappadocia cave suites. The cave interiors were beautifully furnished and every possible conceivable need could be met inside the suites that were as quiet as a tomb.

I’m going a little lavish on the praise here because it’s no mean feat compressing 9 days of a Turkish experience into a travel blog that’s trying to justify an experience that felt like a wonderful lucid dream. Our next stop was at Pammukale, a tiny little village where the people look and behave exactly like the unconquerable Gauls in Asterix.

Turkey:ThePerfectTraveler'sDelight

The locals were proud of the magic that the place they live in seems to hold, and it was easy to see why when we dipped our feet into the beautiful thermal springs. The contrast between the cold weather outside and the comfortably warm water heating our feet left us all smitten and ecstatic.

The breathtaking view of the Pammukale mountains didn’t make it easy on us either, we wanted to take back with us, everything that we saw The parrot that perched on my shoulder, the Hierapolis where I got to test my vocal skills, a city in ruins rendered beautiful due to devastation, yeah I wanted it all but what you want is never what you will always get, so I took back home all the precious memories that I had earned and I look back on them, every time that I feel like opening that window I’m not able to create or open when I want to stick my neck out and break away from the claustrophobia

Travelling to me is a subtle reminder always, to live simply in the moment a lot more, With no thought or concern of the days to come and love and laugh a lot more than I ever did! My advice to all you readers out there is to make that bucket list and keep checking those boxes because if you really open your eyes and see, Paradise is indeed on earth and nowhere else

TM Seema

Passionate writer, explorer and adventurer Former member of CTC

Mentor-MenteemomentfeaturingDTMMayur

Richard Feynman, one of the most renowned physicists of this generation, has said that if you want to master something, then, teach it A mentor offers encouragement and guidance to fellow members of Toastmasters while they work to accomplish their goals. A mentor has an opportunity to share experience, wisdom, and knowledge, while a protégé gains a foundation for building skills and meeting goals Mentoring can be rewarding to both the mentor and the mentee.

Over the past four and half years, I have learnt from mentors and had the experience to mentor four wonderful toastmasters- Vasigaran, Chandru, Sanjay and Vijay. I'm glad to share my experience and learning with all of you this evening

Imagination

There are no boundaries to your imagination. If you want to dream about a date with Sunny Leone, go ahead and do it, if you want to fly an Airbus A380 go do it, if you want to be the CM of Tamil Nadu do it. The sky is the limit for your dreams Vasigaran was one such person who would push the limitations of creativity His speech scripts would be so innovative and thought-provoking.

Perseverance

To move a mountain, you start with a single stone Likewise, if you want to accomplish something, do it step by step. When we set a goal, persistent efforts will get us to realise our dreams Vijay and Chandru are two people who I admire for their perseverance. Right from their first speech, they had the desire to improve After every speech or role, they would approach me and ask for my feedback.

Positivity

More often we tend to look at a glass as half empty rather than half full That's the way some of us are wired to think. I had known Sanjay from an outdoor meeting at a resort At the very first moment, I admired his jovial and fun-loving attitude.

Mentor-MenteemomentfeaturingMayur

When Sanjay came to me with a script for his icebreaker speech, I was taken aback. The content was filled with his story of struggles and hardship.

I called Sanjay and told him "It is very admirable that you've so much grit in you. But an icebreaker speech is one where you introduce yourself to a club And from what I know of you, you have the gift of humour and positivity. So you can make your speech to fit those characteristics." Sanjay did so and won the best speaker that evening. I was really happy, that I was able to give this input to Sanjay for I was just passing on the message from my mentor to my mentee.

The very first draft of my Ice breaker speech was a story of my road accident. When I shared it with my mentor Sindhu this was what she said - "Mayur as a person has so many characteristics. It is truly motivational that you've overcome all the hardship but you as a person are so much more. Try to look at the glass as half full rather than half empty". I'm happy that I was able to pass this lesson from my mentor to my mentees

Every individual is filled with so many wonderful characteristics. We can learn something useful from each and every single person. Mentoring is one such exercise where we learn that our skills multiples when we share it with someone.

DTM Mayur

Coimbatore Toastmasters Club

ADreamRun

“And that is the end of the contest season for this year…” These were my thoughts when the results of the Table Topic Contest were announced at the Division G Contest and Conference Sangamam 2023.

I was a contestant in both International Speech Contest and Table Topic Contest

The ISC results were already announced and I was not in the top 3. Then when the Table Topic Contest results were announced, my name came first as the 3rd place winner in this contest. I was extremely thrilled as this was my first podium finish at a Division Level Contest in my 10+ years in Toastmasters. I had come first in Club Level and Area Level Contests several times before but always returned home with a participation certificate at the Division Level contests. This year was certainly a dream run because I made it to the Division Level Contests in all 4 contests, Humorous Speech Contest and Evaluation Contest in the last season, International Speech Contest and Table Topic Contest this season.

The learnings that I got in my journey to the Division Level contests were truly priceless, where I learned a lot from my fellow contestants, the experience in the bigger stages, the feedback from the audience and most importantly from my Mentors during each stage of the contests. For someone in the 40s and more than a decade old in Toastmasters, there should be a compelling reason to keep renewing the membership in Toastmasters, and I found that in contests Each contest season is a new experience where we get to try something different and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t

As long as we enjoy the journey, winning or losing is insignificant. I am also glad to be mentoring a lot of my mentees and other contestants in various contests, delivering educational sessions on how to prepare for each of the 4 contests. All these experiences made me discover new things and all these have been a huge bonus for me

The best thing about Toastmasters is that it does not limit ourselves to the learnings that we get

Toastmasters has been such an important catalyst in my professional and personal space, I have been able to inspire a lot of people to join this wonderful platform and create magic in their life. There is only one thing that I keep reiterating to them, to be consistent and committed.

Through this newsletter, I’m glad to be sharing my dream run in the last 1 year across 2 contest seasons about my experience and the learnings that I got. One thing is sure, I will come back with new ideas, new plots and new scripts in the next contest season and I am sure it is going to be an even more action-packed journey

Cheers, Rakesh Menon, DTM

Coimbatore Toastmasters Club

EnlightenasaLeader

Knowing others is Wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment. (Especially as a Leader) - Lao

Tzu

To the members of Coimbatore Toastmasters Club, Take Pride in how far you have COME and have faith in how far you can GO!

All the best to all the members of Coimbatore Toastmasters Club. Keep doing all that you are doing.

To all the Executive Committee members and budding leaders of Coimbatore Toastmasters Club, Let me talk a bit about how to cultivate a sense of enlightenment which will help you inspire other members

Here are five points to consider:

Self-awareness: A key aspect of enlightenment is a deep understanding of oneself, including one's strengths, weaknesses, and values. As a leader, it is important to cultivate a strong sense of self-awareness in order to make wise decisions, communicate effectively with others, and inspire trust and confidence. This may involve reflecting on your own experiences and seeking feedback from others in order to better understand your own strengths and weaknesses.

Empathy: Another key aspect of enlightenment is empathy, or the ability to understand and relate to the experiences and perspectives of others As a leader, it is important to cultivate a strong sense of empathy in order to build strong relationships with those around you, inspire trust and confidence, and create a sense of shared purpose and direction. This may involve actively listening to others, seeking to understand their perspectives, and treating others with respect and compassion.

Clarity of purpose: A key aspect of effective leadership is a clear sense of purpose and direction. As a leader, it is important to be clear about your own goals and values, and to communicate these clearly to others in order to inspire and motivate them to follow your vision. This may involve developing a clear mission statement, setting clear goals and objectives, and communicating these effectively to others

EnlightenasaLeader

Strategic thinking: A key aspect of effective leadership is strategic thinking, or the ability to think critically and creatively about complex problems and opportunities. As a leader, it is important to cultivate a strong sense of strategic thinking in order to make wise decisions, anticipate challenges and opportunities, and create a plan of action that can help achieve your goals. This may involve gathering and analysing data, seeking diverse perspectives, and developing innovative solutions to complex problems.

Lifelong learning: A key aspect of enlightenment is a commitment to lifelong learning and personal growth As a leader, it is important to cultivate a strong sense of curiosity and a willingness to learn in order to stay relevant and effective in a rapidly changing world This may involve seeking out new experiences and challenges, learning from others, and staying up to date on the latest trends and developments in your field

Enlightenment is: absolute cooperation with the inevitable As a leader, be Prepared for it!

Let’s do what we LOVE and do a LOT of it.

Mohanakrishnan G, DTM Club Growth Director District 120

Youcan,Youwill

Ancient Palestine had along its eastern border, a mountain range covering all the ancient cities – Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Hebron

Also a coastal plain along the Mediterranean Sea, there was a place called Shephelah - a gorgeous part of Israel with dense oak forests, wheat fields and vineyards. Shephelah occupies a place of strategic importance as it connects the mountain range with the coastal plain. Philistines, the biggest enemies of Israelis, lived in the coastal plain

Once they made their way to the southern ridge of mountains through Shephelah They aimed to occupy Bethlehem and split the Kingdom of Israel into two. Then the King of Israel King Saul vowed to confront the Philistines Israelites pitched from the northern ridge while the Philistines from the southern ridge.

Two armies remained facing opposite, staring at each other for weeks. The army that comes down to Shephella might get completely exposed It was a perfect deadlock At this critical moment, there was only one option left i.e., single combat without bloodshed Both armies' opted for it and the venue was at Shephellah Philistines unleashed their mightiest warrior on Shephelah.

A Giant, stood tall 6 feet 9 Inches, basked in sunlight with glittering bronze armour, a razor-edged sword and shield and a sharp javelin cross on the back A glance at him was absolutely terrifying. His name was Goliath.

He thundered, "King Saul - send your mightiest man. We shall sort it out. Just the two of us."

Israeli soldiers trembled with fear. None of them wanted to fight with this Rakshas Goliath! For them, it was a death warrant? King Saul bent his head down in shame.

Witnessing all this, a young boy went up to the King and appealed. “My lord, I shall bring that giant down, grant me an opportunity”.

The whole of Israel's army burst into laughter. "How you... tiny kid… that giant Goliath…. He will gulp you in, at a stretch" they said

The boy's voice was resolute and reassuring. “I am David, a shepherd. I have defended my cattle against lions and wolves for years. I know that I can and I will!", the young boy said.

Youcan,Youwill

King had no choice He ordered to honour him with the best armour and weapons! David politely refused, "No. King No". He just picked up five stones and shoved it into his small pocket And then, walked straight down to Shephelah

Yes, it was time to meet the Goliath!

Goliath felt some movement in the distance He roared "Come to me so I can feed your flesh to the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the field". David reached closer and closer, and Goliath could not contain his laugh by noticing what David carried with him – a shepherd's sling. Goliath roared again “Am I a dog for you to carry sticks and stones?" he said David took one of the stones and put in a sling, rolled around and flew it. A few moments later, Goliath could not understand what was happening The stone hit right in between the eyes - the most vulnerable spot. Goliath fell unconscious. David runs to Goliath, took Goliath’s sword and cuts off his head

Malcolm Gladwell a renowned author and an accomplished researcher on leadership strategies gives a new dimension to this story in his book David & Goliath He says "We called David an underdog - a metaphor for improbable victories and an embodiment of courage.

Why?

David was a little kid. A shepherd boy with no track record of a warrior. "

Malcolm proved that David was an underdog for his unique winning strategy. A strategy that knits expertise and experience together.

Let us not belittle the sling. A release from a sling after 3 or 4 revolutions, is truly fatal. We can match it with a shot from a 0.45mm calibre handgun.

At the end of the day, I only have one message to share: Giants are not as strong as they seem. No ne that you can and you will.

TM Manoj Coimbatore Toastmasters Club

AchievementsInToastmasters

TMSindhu

DistrictChampionin SpeechevaluationContestat District120'sAnnual Conference2021-22 representingCTC

DTMJoe

HumorousSpeechContest

DistrictChampion&Evaluation

District2ndPlaceWinnerof District125(2022-2023)

DTMJoe(PastpresidentofCTC)

TMGanesanKL District120,DivisionG ChampioninInternational SpeechContest2022-23,

That'sHowWeSocializeOutside Toastmasters

CTCTestimonials

KnowWhatOurCTCMembersFeel

IlovemyToastmastersClub!!

TMSheeba

IfeltlikeIwaslivingalifewithoutanypurpose.Everydaywasjust anothercycle.Iwasonahamsterwheel,wakingdailytodomyjob.I wastryingtoidentifymypassion,andthat'swhenIcameacross ToastmastersClub.

WhenIfoundCoimbatoreToastmastersClub,Ifellinlovewithpublicspeakingand realizedtherewasabiggerroomtodevelopmyskills. CTCismysecondhome,andlikeaschool,ittaughtmethatlearningisalifelongprocess. "Whatyouthink,youbecome.Whatyoufeel,youattract."

I'mhappythatIattractedCTCtomylife.

FellowToastmaster'sencouragementandwordspushedmetoexploremoreaboutmyself. TheToastmastersforumishelpingmetomoldmypublicspeakingskillsandprovidesa greatwaytoleadmypersonallife.

IlovemyToastmastersClub!!

TMAshwin

MyreasontojoinToastmasters?

Networking,positivevibe,learningenthusiasmwithpersons

MybestmemoryofCTC

MyfirstattemptinEvaluationspeechcontest,Ibecamea qualifierandmovedtoareacontest.Itsabestmemorytocherish.

CTCTestimonials

KnowWhatOurCTCMembersFeel

"Consistencyiswhattransforms averageintoexcellence"

TMJegathshree

IjoinedtoastmastersbecauseIfiguredoutthatIlovedtalking.My mostfavouritethingabouttoastmastersishowtheylookoutfor fellowmembersandshowtrueregardsfortheirgrowthand development.

"Consistencyiswhattransformsaverageintoexcellence".Iguesstoastmastersisallabout appearingeverytimenotjustwithaspeechbutwithconfidencealongwithbutterfliesin yourstomach.That'swhatgrowthis.

MyspecialmemoryofCTCismyfirstdaywithCTCasaguest. WhenIsawthewayeverythingwasconducted,IpromisedmyselfthatIwantedtobea partofthisClub.

Aglimpsefrommyicebreakermarathonsessionwith thespeakersandtheirmentorsonstage

KnowWhatOurCTCMembersFeel

IwasaPhotomasterinabilingualmeet.Bashedthatroletheotherday..

TMJanani

ReasontojoinToastmasters? MybestmemoryofCTC

Toexperimentmyspeakingskillsandimprovemyleadership quality

Internationalspeechcontest

TMRajkumarBalan

ReasontojoinToastmasters?

Toenhancemycommunicationskills.Mymostfavouriteiscandid feedbacks

MybestmemoryofCTC

Learningeveryweekandgettingfeedbackfromothers.

CTCMemberTestimonials

KnowWhatOurCTCMembersFeel

Aplacetoexploreandendeavornewthings

TMHemalatha

ReasontojoinToastmasters?

IjoinedToastMastertoimprovemypublicspeakingandmyfavorite thingisTTM.

MybestmemoryofCTC

Myfirsticebreakingsessionandgotthebestspeakeraward.

WonderfulPlace

TMYashRajani

ReasontojoinToastmasters?

Selfdevelopment.Myfavouriteisthetabletopicsession

MybestmemoryofCTC

LoveseverythingaboutCTC

Iamanewmember.Soforhavingwonderfullearning experienceeverySaturdayfromfellowToastmasters.

TMKrushnaKumarV

ReasontojoinToastmasters?

Toimprovemycommunicationskills.

KnowWhatOurCTCMembersFeel

Beconsistentandputqualitytime

TMSivalingaamorthy

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ContinuousLearning

MybestmemoryofCTC

JoiningToastmasters

TMGanesanKL

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Passion

MybestmemoryofCTC

MyWomen'sDayspeech

Whatasupportiveforum!!

TMEdisonDevadoss

IamEdisonDevadoss.IamaSoftwareEngineer.Ihavebeenfacingaspeech impedimentproblemsincemychildhoodbecauseofwhichIalwayshavelowesteem. Iusedtoavoidtalkingwithpeople.ButinmycareerinordertogrowIneedtotalkwith theteamandclients.IusedtothinkaboutwhatpeoplewouldthinkifIstammered. OneofmyfriendsintroducedmetothisamazingforumcalledToastmasters.Ithelped mealot.

Ifyouaskme"Edison,didyouovercomeyourstammeringproblemafterjoiningthe Toastmastersclub?"IwouldsayNo.ButToastmastersprovidesmewithalotofcourage tostandinfrontofpeopleandlookintotheireyesandspeak. IhavegotmanyfriendsintheToastmastersclubwhoalwayssupportandmotivateme.

CTCGuestTestimonials

KnowWhatOurGuestsFeel GuestJananiKG

Toimprovemycommunication skillsandgetevaluated.Themost favouritethatIfoundwasthe clappinggestureandwelcoming attitudeoftheclubmembers