T H E
HNB TOASTMASTERS
HYBRID MODE
ABOUT TOASTMASTERS
What is Toastmasters?
ToastmastersInternationalisanonprofit educationalorganizationthatbuilds confidenceandteachespublicspeakingskills throughaworldwidenetworkofclubsthat meetonlineandinperson.Inasupportive communityorcorporateenvironment, membersprepareanddeliverspeeches, respondtoimpromptuquestions,andgiveand receiveconstructivefeedback.Itisthroughthis regularpracticethatmembersareempowered tomeetpersonalandprofessional communicationgoals.Foundedin1924,the organizationisheadquarteredinEnglewood, Coloradowithapproximately270,000 membersinmorethan14,000clubsin150 countries
Toastmasters Toastmasters IInternational nternational Mission Mission
Weempowerindividualsto becomemoreeffective communicatorsandleaders.
District District Mission Mission
Webuildnewclubsandsupportall clubsinachievingexcellence
Toastmasters International Envisioned Future
Tobethefirst-choiceproviderofdynamic, high-value,experientialcommunication andleadershipskillsdevelopment.
ClubMission ClubMission
Weprovideasupportiveand positivelearningexperiencein whichmembersareempowered todevelopcommunicationand leadershipskills,resultingin greaterself-confidenceand personalgrowth.
CORE
VALUES INTEGRITY RESPECT SERVICE EXCELLENCE
Message From The Area Director (G1)
Embracing the Power of Community for Personal
and Collective Growth
As the Area Director for Area 1, Division G, it is with immense pride and admiration that I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the newly appointed executive committee on taking up the challenge of navigating HNB TMC’s chapter 21. Stepping into leadership roles is a testament to your commitment, and I have no doubt that under your guidance, the HNB Toastmasters Club will continue to flourish HNB Toastmasters Club stands out as a corporate club in the realm of Toastmasters This unique position brings with it an immense responsibility to enhance the quality of our members in communication, leadership, branding, and social presence As a corporate club, our mission is not only to foster individual growth but also to add tangible value to HNB as an organization The skills we develop here directly contribute to the overall strength and reputation of HNB, making our journey even more impactful
Belonging to a community like Toastmasters is more than just attending meetings or giving speeches; it is about being part of a dynamic environment that is constantly focused on the development, progress, and transformation of its members Here, we find ourselves on a journey not just to improve our communication and leadership skills, but to become more confident, empowered individuals In Toastmasters, every role we take on, every speech we deliver, every piece of feedback we receive, and every connection we make is a step towards becoming better versions of ourselves We learn, we grow, and most importantly, we inspire one another It is this spirit of mutual support and continuous improvement that makes our community so special
As we embark on this new chapter, let us remember the importance of supporting one another, of pushing beyond our comfort zones, and of embracing the opportunities that lie ahead The journey may not always be easy, but it is through challenges that we discover our true potential
I encourage each of you to fully immerse yourselves in this experience, to take risks, to lead with passion, and to speak with confidence. The transformation you seek is within reach, and it begins with your commitment to this incredible community. Together, we can achieve great things. Let’s continue to build a strong, vibrant, and a supportive Toastmasters club that not only enhances our individual skills but also contributes to the success of our collective vision and to HNB’s overarching goals. Here’s to a year of growth, achievement, and transformation!
TM Amali De Silva
Area Director, Area 1- Division G
District 82
Toastmasters International
Message From
The President
Together We Rise A Vision for Excellence
of President for this tenure, I am filled with ent for the journey ahead. Having been a part of rate club for some time, I am deeply honored to and the nomination committee’s confidence in nt to extend my heartfelt thanks to each n my leadership and vision for the future of our
tee, composed of seven dedicated individuals, on, Vice President Membership, Vice President Secretary, Club Treasurer, Sergeant at Arms, ent and myself has already begun working t this year is one of growth, innovation, and or our club Each officer brings unique tives, and together we are committed to experience for all our members rimary focus will be on enhancing the quality of more opportunities for each member to shine, of continuous improvement We recognize the ng each of you as you pursue your personal opment goals, and we will strive to provide the agement you need to succeed an ambitious goal: to make our mark on the Toastmasters While this is a challenging and ng objective, I am confident that with our ication, and unwavering commitment to hieve it Together, we can propel HNB heights and showcase our talents on a global acon of what a strong, united club can
for your trust and support As we embark on gether, let’s aim high, embrace the challenges a year to remember for all the right reasons HNB Toastmasters Club
Message From
Editor
Our Story with Words
to present to you our quarterly newsletter, centered e “The Word ” In Toastmasters, words are our most hey shape our speeches, influence our audience, and our growth as communicators and leaders This wsletter reflects the power and significance of "The rney as Toastmasters sident of Public Relations, and being relatively new to ommunity, I have found this role both challenging and rding It has not only enhanced my public speaking allowed me to explore new dimensions of creativity hinking The process of creating this newsletter has ament to the power of words in connecting, inspiring, g our members
s the result of a collective effort, and I would like to felt thanks to all the content providers who contributed sdom, insights, and experiences Your contributions his edition, making it a true reflection of our club’s
to express my deep gratitude to the editorial bers, whose dedication and hard work were ringing this newsletter to life Their meticulous il, creativity, and commitment ensured that we could uality publication that resonates with our theme and ub’s achievements ugh the pages, you will find highlights of our club and er achievements, insights from our HNB Best t, a special feature in our New Member Corner and r successful Speechcraft Programs All of these asize the importance of "The Word" in our shared urney.
our continued support and engagement. Let us keep rds alive in our speeches, our interactions, and our we move forward.
rishnan
Public Relations (2024/25) ers Club
WEENGAGED QUALIFIIED, VIBRANTAND TALENTED TOASTMASTERS FROMTHE FRATINITYTO GROOMOUR CONTESTANTS
HNB
ESTB SPEAKER ONTEST
PRESENTINGTHE WINNERSANDTHE PARTICIPANTS FROMTHE PRELIMINARY LEVEL
HNB BSC 2024 AT A GLANCE
HNB BSC 2024
HNB BSC 2024 Project Team
MESSAGE FROM THE FACILITATOR
We are very pleased with the success of our recent Best Speaker Contest, organized by the HNB Toastmasters Club The contest was a fantastic opportunity for our staff who are not professional speakers or Toastmasters to demonstrate their speaking skills in both prepared and impromptu categories
The contest, which included preliminaries, semi-finals, and finals, showcased the remarkable talents inherent within the Hatna Family
We extend our sincere thanks to everyone involved, and particularly to the HNB Toastmasters Club for their efforts in organizing this event, the Regional Heads and Branch Leaders for encouraging your staff and supporting the regional contests Your hard work and support are greatly appreciated We look forward to more participation of our staff in the future
Gayathri Ganeshan Senior Manager – Talent Development / Facilitator - HNB Toastmasters Club
MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF JUDGE
Coming from a Toastmasters background, I knew that serving as a C contest requires a great deal of homework, planning, organizatio leadership, and networking But overseeing 27 contests? That different challenge one that I initially found daunting When I was for the role of Chief Judge, I had my doubts Could I really manage with days of careful planning and collaboration, we managed to craft highly effective way Not knowing the contestants beforehand made m planning the contest To overcome this uncertainty, I relied on a ta Toastmasters who served as Regional Coordinators Their expert were instrumental in making my job smoother I was fortunate to have 176 judges from across the country, each of all 150% in selecting the best of the best to advance to the nex these judges were individuals I had never met before, yet t wholeheartedly Working with new faces, leading separate team objectives, planning numerous contests without any room for err perspectives of all 176 judges, and coordinating various teams to ac goal this experience transformed my leadership style
The HNB Best Speaker Contest 2024 was a remarkable event, and it serve as its Chief Judge I am deeply grateful to the HNB Toastmast this incredible opportunity This two-month journey concluded in style valuable experiences, new connections, and a sense of accomplishment Congratulations to the winners and all 338 contestants who brought this annual event to life Cheers to the organizing committee, and best of luck in your upcoming contests!
TM Dilrukshi Mervin Chief Judge - HNB BSC 2024
GAYATHRI GANESHAN SENIOR MANAGER - TALENT
/
TM DILRUKSHI
TheGrandFinale
PREPARED SPEECH WINNERS
2
1
HIRUNISAMARASINGHE-CCO
WhenIfirstgottoknowaboutbestspeakercontest2024,Iwasn'texcitedtoapplybecauseIwas petrifiedofpublicspeaking.However,mysuperiorsatCCOdepartmentforcedmetoapplyfor thecontestbecausetheydiscoveredthatIwasgoodatcompering Luckily,IwassupportedbytheSeniortoastmastersandseniormanagersofCCOdepartment abouthowshouldIstandinfrontoftheaudienceconfidentlyandnarratemyspeech.Themost importantadvicetheygavemewas"Enjoyyourmomentonstage Those7minuteswillbethe bestexperienceyou'regoingtohave" Evenafterbeingscaredofpublicspeaking,Itookthe opportunityandgavemybestnotonlytowinthetitlebutalsotohavethebestfewminuteson stagesharingmyexperiencewithawonderfulcrowd Ispoke&theylistened! I'mgratefultothetoastmastersclubfororganizingsucheventswherestaffmemberscan discovertheirhiddentalentsandgetnewexperiences
HARSHAPERERA-ANAMADUWA
"HNBBestSpeakercontest2024isathrillingexperiencethatI'llneverforget Thisexperiencetaught methevalueofpreparation,theimportanceofconfidenceandthepowerofeffectivecommunication Italsoreinforcedmybeliefthatwhenyou'repassionateaboutsomething,thatpassioncaninspire andmoveothers Competitionslikethesepushustostepoutofourcomfortzonesandstrivefor excellence Iamtrulygratefulfor’HNBToastmastersClub'fororganizingsuchafabulouseventto share"MyMelodyofPerseverance",whichmadehundredsofpeoplescreammyname-Harsha HarshaHarsha "
3
BINALIWIJEKOON-NUGEGODA
"HNBBestSpeaker2024reallydidjusticetomyinnerchattypersonality Whatajourneyit was!!Fromblankingoutinthepreliminaryroundstosecuringaplaceamongstthetop03 finalistsquiteprovedmyselfthatyoucoulddowondersyourselfbysteppingoutofyour comfortzonesandgivingityourbestshot!!Frombeingmentoredbytopprofessionalsand intensegroomingsessions,thisexperiencenotjustboostedmyselfesteemtogreaterheights butpoweredmyconfidenceasagoodspeakertoo!!"
IMPROMPTU SPEECH WINNERS
MAHESHIKAMAPA-NAWALA
1
3
WinningfirstplaceintheBestSpeakercontest(impromptu)hasbeenanincrediblehonor This experiencehasnotonlyboostedmyconfidencebutalsoreinforcedmypassionforpublicspeaking. I’mgratefulfortheopportunitytosharemyideasandconnectwithanaudienceonsuchameaningful level Thejourneyhastaughtmetheimportanceofpreparation,authenticity,andembracing challenges.Iwanttothankeveryonewhosupportedandencouragedmealongtheway.This achievementisareminderthatwithdedicationandperseverance,anythingispossible
2 SUMUDUFERNANDO-BATTARAMULLA
ParticipatingintheBestSpeakerContestwasatransformativeexperience.Iknewthiswasa uniqueopportunitytotestmypublicspeakingskillsandconnectwithotherswhoshareda passionforcommunication Sincethiswasanimpromptuspeech,IdidnotknowwhatIam goingtospeakon,butstillIconnectedmytopicwithmyexperienceandwhatIhaveread. Whentheresultswereannounced,IwasoverjoyedtohearthatIhadplacedamongthetop speakers Inconclusion,theBestSpeakerContestwasmorethanjustacompetition;itwasajourneyof self-discoveryandimprovement Itremindedmethateveryopportunitytospeakisan opportunitytolearn,andthatthetruerewardliesintheconnectionswemakethroughour words."
SANJAYPRINSKUMAR
CompetingintheToastmastersBestSpeakerContestwasanincredibleexperience Thechallenge pushedmetorefinemyspeakingskillsandembracetheartofstorytelling Connectingwiththe audience,feelingthetensionandenergyintheroommadeitaninvaluableexperience Mostofall, ThenewfriendshipsI'veformedalongthewayarewhatIcherishprimarily
ks That ed Me
First of all, I am not an avid book reader Nevertheless, the few books that I have read, I read them with great enthusiasm Even though I rarely read books, buying books in the hope of reading them one day has become a habit for me
When I think of books, there are three books that influenced me greatly One such book is the “3 in 1 story book of “The Famous Five” by Enid Blyton I got it when I was young from my aunty It was one of the few books I loved when I was young When I started to read the book, I could not stop reading it
The book had three great stories which kept me hooked So, one day when my mother called me to have my meal while I was reading the book, I simply ignored her I cannot remember whether it was lunch or dinner but I can remember she called me few times
Next thing I knew, my mother was standing next to me, staring down at me with an angry face, just like the villain in the story! She grabbed the book from me and hit my head with the book and told sternly, when I ask you to come, you will come Come to think of it, it was dinner time because I can remember seeing stars at that time I cannot remember what was the story in the book, but the lesson I learnt is that when your mother calls, you stop whatever you do and you will answer her
The next book, “Rana Maga Osse Nandikadal” written by General Kamal Gunaratne, is a book which I have never read in my life I do not think I will ever read it It is about the Civil War in Sri Lanka and I do not like to read about war I prefer to read less violent books which allows me to stay in a fairy tale world On the other hand, my brother who is in a whole different level, actually searches for books on war to read I should clarify that he is not after violence, he simply likes to read about the strategies and history, which also makes him a lot smarter than me
Now you might be wondering how a book which I have never read in my life, influenced me So for the context, every year for my brother’s birthday, I ask him what he wants for his birthday I ask him to tell me something cheap which I can buy for him But every year he fails! Every year he tells me something that is expensive like this book which he wanted for his birthday in year 2020 Even though his birthday was in March, I happened to be in Borella in February So I thought since I am already in Borella where there are few bookshops, I will buy his birthday gift Fortunately, the first bookshop I stepped into, M D Gunasena bookshop had the book It was 3,000 rupees! So I was wondering whether I should buy the book? Should I wait till October where there will be discounts for the books Then I thought whether I can change my brother, to have a brother with less expensive tastes Probably not Once a sibling, always a sibling So, after giving lot of thought, I finally bought the book for Rs 3000
Then comes March 2020, the whole country is under lockdown due to Covid While my parents were wondering how to buy a gift for my brother because they never imagined there will be a lockdown, there I was with the book I already bought for him But even I didn’t think there will be a lockdown so I did not have any wrapping paper That is where “Do It Yourself” comes in handy I wrapped the book in newspaper and tied a nice bow, then called it creative gift wrapping My brother was so happy to get the book, which made me happy too It was the only gift he got on his birthday that year and he could read it leisurely while being struck at home All the other gifts were delayed because of the lockdown That day I was thinking to myself, what if I didn’t buy the book in February? What if I got Covid and died before I could buy the book? Those were real possibilities at that time Even though I have never read this book, this book taught me that we should never postpone things when it comes to family It also taught me that some memories are more valuable than money
Then there is another book which I have read so many times, I lost count Because it is my favourite book I read this book whenever I feel down It was written by Bill Bryson who writes about his travels around the world with lot of humour mixed in He has a talent to show any situation in a humorous perspective Reading his books helped me to develop my sense of humour as well
Back to the book, “A Walk in the Woods” is about two friends, the author and his friend, hiking the longest hiking trail in America named Appalachian Trail They hike for months and months surrounded by the forest I first read the book when I was a teenager and soon after reading the book, I was able to hike through a forest with my siblings while on that hike, I could relate to the book, even though I hiked only for around 1 hour I imagined myself hiking the Appalachian Trail It was the hike which made me fall in love with hiking This book helped me to discover my love for hiking
Now my dream is to go on a hike for a few days but being a woman I do not know whether I will ever feel safe enough to hike alone Even in the book, it says about two women who were killed while hiking Therefore, I do not think my dream will ever become a reality But that is one reason why there are books You can simply read a book and imagine while at home without actually experiencing dangerous situations So, until my dream becomes a reality, I will keep on reading this book and imagine myself on that trail hiking along with Bill Bryson
In conclusion, you do not need to read books to learn lessons from them All you need is a family likes mine They will help you to learn lessons from books without actually reading them
THIS TRAINING SESSION AIMED TO EQUIP THE CLUB OFFICERS WITH THE NECESSARY TOOL AND KNOWLEDGE TO EFFECTIVELY LEADOURCLUBTOSUCCESS.
Restart
Everyone fears failure It's a universal human experie what sets us apart is how we respond to it Today, I share with you the remarkable story of Manoj Sharma, an ordinary boy from India who faced failur on, only to emerge as an inspiration for d everywhere
Born in 1977 in a small village in the Morena di Madhya Pradesh, Manoj's early life was marked by f struggles His father, employed in the Departm Agriculture, worked tirelessly to make ends meet f family Academically, Manoj wasn't exceptional, earn a third division in Class IX and X But it was in Class his life took a decisive turn Manoj's academic failures seemed like the end of t for him, until love intervened He fell deeply in lo Shraddha Joshi, a turning point that ignited a fire wit t t i f thi t D it hi
Inotherwords,theemployerandemployeeareoneitherendofasinglepoll. Employersnaturallyseektomaximizetheutilizationofresources,aimingto harness the optimal employee contributions that decipher into achieving strategic goals and securing market winning share. On the other hand, employees yearn for a fulfilling performance, employment that could showcase their strengths and bring them joy and life fulfillment. It's like finding the right music, that moves them and lets them shine The expectation of an employee for a self-fulfilling career, which could leverage their strengths to become a better contributor to the organization. Hence, achieving career satisfaction and overall life satisfaction (Farla, Baharudin, Yuliansyah & Muhammad, 2019) A prudent way to ensure business stability and long-term success in the market dynamics. Because employees are the keydriverstodriveallotherresourcesofanorganization,foritsfullcapacity ofoptimumutilizationphenomenon
Likethe"rightmusic"iscrucialforbothsidesintheballetperformance,the idealmatchiswhentheemployerfindstheidealemployee,it'slikeaperfect fitwiththeidealmelody Movetogetherseamlessly,buildingastrongerand thrives ThisisespeciallyimportantinSri essionalismwithapersonaltouchislike n dance Even with modern technology, mitable Think of a warm smile during a hearts, together to achieve a common ifanemployeedoesn'tfindtheirperfect eadtotheirperformancemisery.It'slike msy and frustrating accompanied by an llet, an employment seeker's ability to aramountlikeselectingtherightpartner h parties Finding the right fit fosters a tionshipbuiltonsatisfaction.Thisholds abor-intensivebankingsectorwherethe yandahigherlevelofworkcommitment ansformstheindustry,thehumantouch customer touchpoints Furthermore, Sri onalconnectednessideology,makingit ness
optimization directly linked with career nario When employers can identify n their careers with their strengths and nt mismatches and workplace burnout turn, contributes to a positive work evelsofjobsatisfactionandoptimaljob woaba, 2015; Boxall & Purcell, 2008; ggeststhatemployeeunderperformance matches displays potentially severe ese mismatches can lead to a significant ecline in market competitiveness This to burnout and lost profits for the
WALTZ
the ideal employee placement process n achieve their goals. It's like dancing y for the dance As such, by prioritizing hafocusoneffectivejobselection,both chieve their goals. This collaborative iving workplace capitalized on mutual dividual skills deeply invested in their ng
THE OFFICE TM MANJULI DE ZOYSA
“It'slikedancing togethertofindthe
“ALLWHATIS IMPORTANTIS,YOU CONNECTWITHTHE AUDIENCE”
DTM PIYAKARA JAYARATNE
NavigatedChangewithGrace. HowOurClubEmbraced AdaptabilityandFlourished!
SEASON 21 | EPISODE 2 CHANGE ADAPTABILITY &
SEASON 21 | EPISODE 3
UnleashedUniqueness.Celebratingthe PowerofBeingDifferentinEveryMeeting!
Ven Ajahn Chah was born in 1918 in a village located in the northeastern part of Thailand He became an accomplished meditation teacher in his own right, sharing his realization of the truth with those who sought it. The essence of his teaching was rather simple: be mindful, don't hang on to anything, let go and surrender to the way things are.
When you see things in the world like banana peels that have no great value for you, then you’re free to walk in the world without being moved, without being bothered, without being hurt in any way all the things that come and passed away, whether pleasant or unpleasant. This the path that leads you to freedom.
the teachings Ven Ajahn Chah taught, are merely similes and comparisons, means to help the mind see the truth Many of the similes that Ven Ajahn Chah himself used to teach came out of his vast experience of living in the forest His practice had this strange ability to take that wordless truth and convey it to his listeners in the form of a simile that was fresh, easy to follow, sometimes humorous, sometimes poetic, but always striking a place in the heart where it would inspire the most.
We are endlessly hearing about letting go about not clinging to anything What does this mean? It means to hold but not to cling Take this flashlight, “What is this?” so, pick it up “Oh, It’s a flashlight” Then we put it down again We hold things in this way. If we didn’t hold anything at all, what could we do? We couldn’t do anything, as we hold things first. It’s wanting, we don’t cling to it, as that flashlight. We know and then we let go.
Suppose one morning, when you’re coming to office a man yells and insult you As soon as you hear his insults, your mind changes from his usual state You don’t feel so good You feel angry and hurt
A few days later, another man came and tells you, “Hey, that man abused you the other day, he’s crazy He abused everybody like that” As soon as you hear this, you are suddenly relieved That anger and hurt that is within you all these days melt away completely Why? Because you know the truth Before, you didn’t When attachment, aversion and allegory disappear, they disappear in the same way No one could show you this Only when the mind sees for itself, can it uproot and relinquish attachment.
Banana Peel
Flashlight
Crazy Man
SPEECH MARATHON
Ifsomeoneasksyouifthere'sanypurposeofwhatyouaredoingnow,Whyareyoudoing? Wewillcertainlyhavetotakesometimetothink,figureoutandcomeupwithananswer Whatisthepurposeofyouandmebeingatoastmasterorreadingthistoastmastersarticle?
FINDING PURPOSE HAS BEEN THE JOURNEY FROM SCHOOL STRUGGLES TO TOASTMASTERS SUCCESS.
Duringmyschoolyears,Ihadtogothroughafewstruggles.Travelingformorethan25kmfrommyresidencewasoneofthem,getupearly inthemorningwasaanother,stayingawakefor8periodsintheschoolwasalsoadifficulttaskforme Mostimportantly,Iwasn'tsure&waswonderingofthepurposeofthingsIlearnedinschoolinmostofthesubjects Asanexample,let’stakeHistoryasasubject,wehavethestoryofking“Pandukabaya”whowasveryillandthedoctorshadnomedicineto treattheking,wheretheysentamonkeyandapigtoIndiatogetthosemedicines.Iwasnotsureaboutthepurposeoflearning.Ievenhad tomemoriesthe16provincesofIndianamely,Anga,Magadha,Kasi,Kosala,Vrijji,Malla,Chedi,Vatsa,Kuru,Panchala,Matsya,Surasena, Asmaka,Avanti,Gandhara&Kamboja
Geography,howBritishcreatedthefirstmapknownBabylonianMapin6thcentury Whydidwelearnorratherwhatwasthepurposeof leaning,memorizingthosethings?Iwasnotawarethattime,andI’mstillnotsureonthat.
ForEnglish,wehadtolearnthe12tenses Prepositions,conjunctionsandmanymore Iwasn'tsurewhywehadtolearnallthosethings, UntilImeetMrPemlath,whowasinchargeoftheEnglishClass
Hewasayoungenergeticindividualwithmorethan40yearsofteachingexperience.Eventhoughhewaslessthanhalfofmyheight,hewas acaringandunderstandingteacherwithenoughpatience Mostimportantlyhehadanamazingvoiceandwasabletokeephalftheclass asleepduringhis40minutes OnedaywehadtheEnglishperiodimmediatelyaftertheinterval,andthenightmarestartedwhenhetoldus thattwoofourteacherswereonleave,andEnglishMasterwouldtake3periods Afteraround1hours’timehenoticedthatIhadfallen asleep.Hewasfurious,“why,whythelastrowgetupandcomeinfront.”Heyelled.IstoodupandwhenIwalkedtothefrontoftheclass,I was a little bit relieved when I saw that 2 boys were already kneeling, which meant I was not the first person to get punished And the punishment was to spell the word “foolscap” Me being a fan of movies was good at understanding English but, speaking spellings was neverapieceofcakeforme,backinmyschooltime Seeingmystruggles,theMasterstartedyellingatme,“Whyareyoucomingtoschoolif youwanttosleep?Whatisthepurposeofsittinginthelastrow?”andhechasedmeoutoftheclass.Heactuallytriedtoslapmebutthe heightdifferencesavedme Withthissmallincident,Ilearnedquiteafewthings 1Youshouldbecarefulwhenyouaredealingwithsomeonelessthan5feet Ifanymaledisagreeswithmeeitheryouhaven'tdatedagirl lessthan5feetorshehasn'tupgradedyoufromafriend'szone.
2Ilearnedtospelltheword“foolscap”properly,healsoexplainedtheoriginoftheword Onarainyday,afoolranacap Heonlyhada paperonhishead,thatpapersizebecamefoolscap
3 MostimportantlyIstillremembersomeofthosewordshetoldme,“Yourparentsarestrugglingandworkinghardtoeducateyou Your mothergetsupearlyinthemorning Preparesfoodforyouandshehelpsyou Youarecomingtoschoolandsleeping Onedayyoumightbe afootballplayerandgoupinsocietyandwillhavetofaceanInterview,butyoucan'tstanduponthefeetandspeakproperEnglish Isthis whatyouaregoingtogivethemback?Whatisyourpurpose?Isthis,howyouaregoingtoshowrespecttowardsyourparentsloveforyou?”
Whensomeonespeaksaboutmother’slovewhileyouareguiltyofdoingsomethingwrong,itgoesstraighttoyourheartwithemotions AfterthatdayIwasattentiveandbehavedwellduringEnglishperiod
As a Toastmaster or guest of the Toastmasters Club, let us take a moment to reflect on ourselves What is the purpose of you being a Toastmaster?
AsyouarewellawarethisprestigiousorganizationhelpsusnotonlyinpublicspeakingbutalsoMultifacetedlike,
1Buildupyourself-confidence,belief,andself-awareness
2Workonyourleadershipability
3Enhanceyourpresentationskills
4.Embracethechallengesandsharethepassivity.
5Challengeyourselfwithself-evaluations
6Connectwithpeoplegloballyandmanymore
Butcanwegetthosebenefitsifwedon’tevenrememberwhenthenextmeetingoftheclubis. Letmeaskyouafewofthesequestionstohelpyoutofigureouthowfarwehavefulfilled thepurposeofyourToastmasterjourney
1.HowmanymeetingsdidIjoinduringthelastToastmastertenor?
2.HowmanyprojectspeechesdidIcompletewithinlastToastmastertenor?
3HowmanyrolesdidIplaywithinlastToastmastertenor?
4DoIwaittillVPEducationspeaktomeordoIspeaktohim?
5.DidIintroduceanyofmycolleaguestotheclub?
Ifwecanbehappywiththis,that'sgreat!! Ifnotlet’smakeitgreat
NEW MEMBER CORNER
UsuallyI'magoodlistenerratherthanaspeaker I'mnotthatmuchofatalkativeperson&alsoI'mgettinga littlebitnervoustotalkinfrontofthepublic.
Evenifthisisthecase,Imighthavetheabilitytoattractothersthroughmyspeakingstyleandbehavior,soI was hooked I believe I have the talent for public speaking and I need to explore it more to overcome my shortcomings
Afterbeingaguestinclubmeetingsforamonth,IdecidedtojointheHNBToastmastersClubasamemberin July2024&startedtodopathwaysfromMotivationalStrategy
Within the past month, as a Toastmaster, I was able to improve various aspects of my life such as speaking abilities,confidence,presentationskills,vocalvarieties,gesturecontrolling,stagebalancing,positivethinking etc &surprisedothersthroughoutmyspeeches Asaresultofthat,Iwasawardedasthebestspeakerinoneof ameetings
Dearfriends, "End"doesnotexactlymeanend Itis"effortneverdies" Besuretodreambig Haveapassioninyourlife& workhardtoownit
How did I became a Toastmaster? I know everyone has a different story but mine is completely different. In 2023 march I got selected as a TBA We were having our induction On the 1st day of the induction, a nice gentleman came to address us It was none other than our very own Toastmaster, Roshantha Jayathunge Fromthemoment,hestartedtospeaktousIfeltlikeIwasunderaspell Thewayhetalkedeffortlesslyandthe vocal tone made me think that, one day I would talk like him. Therefore I'm going to join the Toastmasters Club AstimepassedIgotachancetodoapresentationforourdepartmentinEnglish Aftermypresentation, myunitheadMr Amilacalledmeandaskedme"WouldyouliketojointheHNBToastmasterClub?Youhavea verygoodvoiceprojectionandaclearvoice" ItfeltlikeadreamcametruetomeasIalwayswantedtobea memberofToastmasterClub.
Then I went for my 1st meeting as a guest and I got surprised to see how the members spoke and how they supportedoneanother Thatmademewanttoparticipateeverymeetingaspossible MyToastmastersjourney sofar,ihavebeenamembersinceMarch2024,andbeforethataguestfor5months.I’msohappytobeapart ofthispreciousclub.I'mhopingtogoforwardinmycareerwiththesupportoftheHNBToastmastersClub. FinallyIinviteallofyoutobethepartofTheHNBToastmasterClub
When I joined Toastmasters, my goal was pretty simple: I wanted to learn how to organize my thoughts and speakinfrontofpeoplewithoutgettingtoonervous.ButwhatIdidn’texpectwashowmuchI’ddiscoverabout myself along the way Through giving speeches, I’ve realized that I have a lot of experiences I never thought muchaboutbefore Thesememorieshavemademeseemyselfinanewlight,andI’vefoundthatthere’smore tomethanIeverrealized
One thing I love about Toastmasters is the positive atmosphere. When you speak, everyone in the room is smilingatyou,evenifyoumakeamistake Thatsmileisenoughtokeepyougoingandgiveyoutheconfidence totryhardernexttime Themembersarealwaysreadytointeract,help,andsupporteachother Thisclubisa safeplacetolearn,nooneisheretojudgeyou.Everyoneispoliteandrespectful,andtheyadmireeachother’s efforts.
Itrulybelievethatit’sthememberswhokeeptheclubalive Themorepeoplewhojoinandgetinvolved,the bettertheclubbecomes.So,ifyou’veneverbeentoameeting,Ireallyencourageyoutocomeandexperience itforyourself.Beapartoftheclub,andhelpustakeittonewheights.
Being in Toastmasters has also allowed me to connect with amazing people These connections can lead to newopportunitiesyouneverimagined.Forexample,mymentor,DTMPriyakara,suggestedthatIco-emceeat anawardceremony,aroleIneverthoughtIcoulddo!Ihadn’tevendoneanythinglikethatinschool,buthereI am,challengingmyselfinwaysIneverexpected
There’s still a lot I need to learn and improve, but Toastmasters gives me the chance to do just that. The feedbackIgetaftereachspeechhelpsmecorrectmymistakesandgetbettereverytime.
Overall,Toastmastersisagreatplacetogrow,bothpersonallyandprofessionally I’mreallythankfulforthis journey, and I’m excited to see where it leads. If you’re looking for a place to learn, connect, and challenge yourself,thisistheplacetobe.Comejoinusandseeforyourself!
