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DISTRICT 98
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DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TEAM 2020-21 DISTRICT DISTRICT98 98
April 2021
COMMUNICATE 98
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In This Issue DISTRICT 98
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District Director’s Address
Editor’s Address
Cross District Connect
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11
13
Growth
Member Speaks
14 ELOQUENCE
16 Headline’s Bulletin
April 2021
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Crossword
19 Clubs’ Milestone
21 Meet the Team
COMMUNICATE 98
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District Director’s Address DISTRICT 98
April 2021
PATIENCE
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f all the skills we have learned in the past year, patience is one skill that stands out. It has been challenging to stay inside our houses, having limited contact with friends and family. We have been challenged mentally and physically by the pandemic. Gradually, we have started trying to accept the situation with patience, which has somewhat helped ease the strain on our mental health. We always look for lessons from the people who are our idols. It was 2012. I was having a casual discussion with my favourite leader, and he could sense how frustrated I was getting for things not moving as planned, not getting what I expected I deserved, with others slowing me down. He said, “Niteash, you have to be patient. In life, if you are impatient, then you will go nowhere. I have leaders under me, and I, too, face this situation. If I am impatient with everyone, nothing will get done. TIME takes its time to help you become mature. If you get somewhere too soon, you have an equal risk of going down.” That was a powerful lesson I learned. It was too early for me to understand, but TIME taught me that patience is a virtue. If I speak only about my Toastmasters journey, those who have seen me grow here will realise how patience has helped me reach this stage. After my Area Governor term was over back in 2014, I wanted to progress quickly and
reach the District Director position. Today, I am glad I didn’t do that or that it did not happen to me. TIME wanted me to advance one step at a time, understand success and failure along the way and then reach the milestone I had set for myself. It has been a fruitful journey as I come close to the end of my term. I share the experience since your terms, or the terms of your club officers are coming to an end. There may have been plans for numerous things to be achieved together. I am sure many would have been achieved, but the feeling that the other plans should have been achieved might be there too. Toastmasters provides us with many opportunities to execute our dream. I encourage you to take on the next leadership journey in your Club/District and be patient as your TIME will come.
Niteash Agarwal, DTM Districtor Director 4
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Editor’s Address DISTRICT 98
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April 2021
PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
reetings fellow and future toastmasters,
“The future depends on what you do today.” - Mahatma Gandhi. Keeping the above quote in mind, when we were preparing for this edition of the Newsletter, we were determined to give our best shot. In fact, this is the edition for which we took the maximum time in planning, trying to give you something different, entertaining yet educational. When you read this, I know all the Division contests for this term must be a past now, preparation for eloquence the present; and semi-finals and Eloquence the future. Thus, keeping that in mind, we came up with the theme – Past, Present and Future.
In this edition we have Cajetan Barretto, DTM from District 20, sharing tips related to the platform ZOOM; and our Admin Manager, Himanshu Inamdar, DTM sharing his experience related to chartering new clubs. We also have toastmasters sharing their travelling experience and much more. Happy reading! Stay safe!
KNOW YOUR EDITORS
- Pinky Bahroos Chief Newsletter Editor
Prajwal Choudhary
Namrata Shah
Muskaan Asher
Juhi Dhruva
Working on the D98 team has been a riot of a journey. From late nights to last-minute rides, it’s taught us the power of words and the magic of teamwork. We have come this far and cant wait to see what’s more. To an opportunity that we shall cherish for life!
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Cross District Connect DISTRICT 98
April 2021
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UNLEASH THE POWER OF ZOOM
t has been a year since clubs were forced The Security Toolbar to switch to online meetings and members had to learn skills to conduct meetings and club business using ZOOM.
Figure 1: A typical Toastmasters ZOOM meeting
Based on the current situation, we can expect this status quo to continue for another 6-12 months. Most of us have the rudimentary knowledge of joining and participating in online meetings. We even made the phrase ‘Am I audible?’ the most used phrase of 2020. The question is: Have you invested the time to go beyond the basics? Have you learned the nuances of conducting a successful ZOOM meeting?
Figure 2: Security Toolbar
Mastering the security toolbar is the key to conducting a flawless meeting that looks and feels like a professional event. If you are a host (or a co-host), the correct use of the security toolbar will ensure that members do not accidentally (or deliberately) unmute themselves and disturb the speaker or share inappropriate content. When a speaker starts speaking, I recommend that you click on the ‘Security’ button and disable ‘Unmute Themselves’. Once the speaker finishes the speech, you can enable the option.
In this article, I share five top tips that will transform you from a ZOOM user to a ZOOM Similarly, disabling ‘Share Screen’ will master. ensure participants do not share their desktop or window (also known as ZOOM bombing) while the meeting is in progress.
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Cross District Connect DISTRICT 98 caused when a blast of air from your mouth while uttering words (containing P and B) hit When you are participating in an online the microphone capsule causing distortion in meeting, the audience will forgive bad video the audio. quality, but if your audio is incomprehensible, you will quickly lose engagement with the PowerPoint as Virtual Background: audience. Several months ago, ZOOM introduced a new feature for sharing PowerPoint presentations. “PowerPoint as virtual background” allows you to place yourself in front of a presentation instead of being sidelined as a small thumbnail on the side of the screen. You can resize your camera view to be prominent. This allows better engagement with the audience.
Figure 3: USB headset with microphone
What can you do to improve the quality of your audio? An investment in a decent USB headset with an attached microphone will go a long way to level up your audio game. The built-in microphones on your laptop or webcam are Figure 4: PowerPoint as Virtual Background usually very low quality and tend to pick up too much room noise. The option is available when you select ‘Share Screen’. Choose the ‘Advanced’ option and You want to ensure that the microphone is as select ‘PowerPoint as Virtual Background’. You close to your mouth as possible. This eliminates can select any PowerPoint presentation from background noise and allows the meeting your computer and ZOOM will convert the participants to focus on your voice. However, slides as virtual background images, as shown make sure the microphone is not directly in below: front of your mouth as that results in an audio phenomenon called plosives. Plosives are
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April 2021
Focus on the Audio:
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Cross District Connect DISTRICT 98
ZOOM provides comprehensive tools to create and manage breakout rooms. You may have experienced breakout rooms in an online speech contest, but breakout rooms can also be used for creative discussions or to conduct training sessions.
April 2021
Have fun with Breakout Rooms:
Figure 5: Using powerpoint as virtual background
Lights and more Lights: If you think that your room is too bright, it is probably not bright enough. When it comes to video, you need as much light as you can get. If the meeting is during the daytime, sitting near a window facing the daylight is an ideal way to have clear video. If natural light is not practical, consider setting up one or two LED lights in front of the desk.
Figure 7: Breakout rooms in Zoom
When delivering training sessions such as ‘Moments of Truth’, create breakout rooms and assign members to breakout rooms for private discussions. Breakout rooms add energy to a meeting, and your members will thank you for the interaction and networking provided through these breakout room sessions. Figure 6: Cheap LED light rings
Online meetings do not have to be dull and monotonous. Use the power of ZOOM to The lights should be placed approximately 45 engage your members and inspire them to degrees to the side (preferably one on each continue their Toastmaster journey. side) to prevent the light from reflecting off your eyes which can be distracting, especially if you are wearing glasses. Cajetan Barretto, DTM Kuwait Challengers Toastmasters, District 20 8
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GROW DISTRICT 98 rom the first demo meeting in February 2019 to the first charter meeting in April 2021, the journey of Kolhapur Toastmasters Club has been a long one. A journey that spanned the terms of three different District officer teams, the club was finally chartered under the leadership of Area P1 Director Supriya Acharya, Division P Director Jayesh Pindoriya, and Club Growth Director Amandeep Singh. I was fortunate to be a part of and witness this journey in three different capacities, as an Area Director, Division Director and Administration Manager. The club’s charter is a story of tenacity and determination with a lot of ups and downs on the way. With many challenges, including COVID-19, venue restrictions and financial restrictions, it was certainly not easy to bring this club to life. COVID-19 added its spin of complexities. However, the team was able to turn this to their advantage. Toastmasters International is offering a waiver for certain parts of the fees required to charter a club, which reduced the expense. Additionally, it is always challenging to sell an idea like Toastmasters in a new city where you do not have an existing club to show a model. Toastmasters from other cities cannot keep travelling for pre-charter meetings. The online model currently in place helped to make this process easier as well. Thus,
many possible leveraged well
disadvantages to form the
April 2021
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WHAT’S IN A SUCCESS STORY?
were club.
The charter of any club needs many individuals to come together to work. At times, I am amazed by the number of clubs chartered every year, considering the difficulty and unique challenges that crop up with each new club. What makes this even more complicated are the different types of clubs, such as community, corporate, or college, each having its own set of challenges. However, some elements are shared across any club. The charter of any club needs many individuals to come together to work. At times, I am amazed by the number of clubs chartered every year, considering the difficulty and unique challenges that crop up with each new club. What makes this even more complicated are the different types of clubs, such as community, corporate, or college, each having its own set of challenges. However, some elements are shared across any club.
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GROW DISTRICT 98
Naturally, every charter story is not a success story. For every club that charters, there are many more that do not. However, considering the kind of organisation that Toastmasters is and its unparalleled ability to offer a laboratory for experiments in communication and leadership, every charter story, whether or not it ends up creating a club, can be a success story. It can be a success story when a determined group of individuals comes together to put in the work and learns something about communication, about leadership and something about themselves that they did not know before. It can be a success story when these individuals learn something about the gigantic effort it takes to keep a volunteer organisation like Toastmasters running and the value that the organisation provides. It is a success story when individuals grow through the work they put in.
April 2021
Every club needs a venue to meet, money to pay the charter fee and membership fee and support and guidance from experienced members, such as District officers or club sponsors and mentors. However, the most significant factor that decides whether or not a club will charter and sustain itself is the members who help form the club and the members who come after to pick up the mantle.
The initiative taken up by a few new members, who are ready to keep the precharter meetings running, who are ready to keep calling people every week and mentor them to take up meeting roles until they are ready and willing to take up roles on their own, who are ready to call new guests and invite them to the meetings every week are the people who get the job done. These are the people who charter a club. In my time as a Toastmaster over the last five years, I have seen that every clever strategy and plan falls flat in Are you ready to be a part of another success the absence of the dogged, persistent work of story? When are you planning to try and charter picking up the phone and calling, texting, or a new club? emailing people week after week and talking to them, convincing them to come to meetings. The people who show up consistently, with the readiness to put in the necessary work, are the ones who add the maximum value to themselves and the Toastmasters movement.
Himanshu Inamdar, DTM Administration Manager District 98
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Member Speaks DISTRICT 98
April 2021
CLUB MENTOR, SPONSOR, COACH As Toastmasters says - where leaders are made, the moment you form a new club you create leaders. It also gives you to test your leadership as well as your communication skills. Role played - Investis Digital India, A2 , Sponsor Sunita Saini, DTM. Toastmasters Club of Baroda, A2
ELOQUENCE EXPERIENCE Eloquence is an experience of the best of Toastmasters, it is a celebration of all the achievements through hard work done for the year and most importantly it is a festival where the family of District 98 comes from different regions to enjoy and cherish each moment. Neha Agrawal Wakad Toastmasters Club - Area C1
I was a contestant at Pune Eloquence 2017. Networking with Toastmasters from other cities was exciting. It was a holiday with education sessions interspersed with socialising. I always look forward to this annual conference. KP Jani Amdavad Toastmasters Club, A1
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Member Speaks DISTRICT 98
The memory of huge snow-capped mountains and the wintery chill that I felt when I visited Manali, always bring me joy. Best place to get lost in your thoughts. Pranav Kalra Toastmasters Club of Baroda. A2
My most favourite travel experience was my trip to Jaisalmer, Rajasthan in December 2018. Mesmerizing sand dunes and forts were just awe-inspiring. Purnima Lokwani, TCS BE@T Gandhinagar, A5 Two years ago, I travelled to Croatia for a week. We rented a boat and went island hopping. Water sports and sightseeing were amazing. KP Jani Amdavad Toastmasters Club, A1
My trip to Prague, Czech Republic was very memorable. It is a dreamy city full of culture and history. Mansi Rungta TCS Maitree toastmasters club, S4
On 13th Feb 2021, a few of us decided to meet at Marine drive for a ‘Hybrid Meeting’. Tuba Mansoor TCS Maitree Toastmasters Club, S4
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April 2021
TRAVELLING TOASTMASTERS
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Crossword DISTRICT 98
April 2021
SPEECH TERMS Name: ___________________________________________
Date: ___________________
Speech Terms 1 2
3 4
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10 11 12
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14 15 16
Across Down 3. an official speaking for a university on ceremonial occasions. 1. to encourage the audience to take action 5. what the audience will walk away with or take with them after listening to the 2. Communication that involves how a person carries themselves 4. being able to accurately recall and paraphrase something you have heard speech 6. a function of the ears; an intake of information 9. used to justify, prove or enhance the main points of the speech 7. occurs at the end of the speech to quickly recap all of the information 12. attaching a meaning to the speaker’s message presented and reinforce any other valuable points 13. Person who receives a speaker message 8. the theft or misrepresentation of intellectual property (someone’s ideas, 16. to share information with the audience beliefs or theories); the substantial unattributed copying of another’s work 10. using information to convince the audience to think or feel a certain way 11. public speaking anxiety 14. the closing of the speech; should be strong and concise 15. the major part of the speech
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Eloquence DISTRICT 98 ith less than a month to go, all our teams are gearing up to make this two-day conference into a grand redefining experience for all our D98 Toastmasters. Meanwhile, here are a few updates that we would like to share with you. SPONSORSHIP: Please help us welcome aboard two PLATINUM SPONSORS.
Reliance Industries Limited
AGC
CONTEST TIME: From ‘Poetic Touch’ to ‘Gibb-Ture’, from the ‘Bingo Challenge’ to the ‘Crossword Trivia’ we have had multiple campaigns running on our social media platforms and we would like to thank you for your wholehearted participation.
D98 TGT: At Toastmasters, we not only encourage leadership and communication, but we also strive for a holistic development. Meet the semi-finalists for our D98 Toastmasters Got Talent.
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ELOQUENT ELOQUENCE
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Eloquence DISTRICT 98
A virtual conference with a physical environment. This year, Eloquence will held be on the 3D immersive virtual platform of VFairs, with an auditorium like feel! More details coming soon.
WHAT’s IN IT FOR YOU? Last, but not the least, here are NINE REASONS why you should attend Eloquence 2021!
Stay tuned for more news and exciting updates coming up before the contest. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: linktr.ee/Eloquence2021
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A Redefining Experience We promised you something special and here it is!
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The Headlines Bulletin DISTRICT 98 To help us learn something new, District 98 crossed the barriers and built the bridges to host the best of the speakers. Thus happened the birth of the initiative Beyond Toastmasters.
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Registrations
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April 2021
Beyond Toastmasters
FB Live
Beyond Toastmasters
234+
FB Views (Data for two events combined)
HALL OF FAME Award: BEAT THE CLOCK Here’s what the club needs to do: To add 5 new, dual or reinstated members between 1st May and 30th June 2021. And Win: TI Recognition (ribbon for club + 10% discount on all orders placed within TI store) Club Ribbon Pack Toastmasters Key ring to VP Membership
Gold Star Leader Award for the maximum paid club count towards Distinguished District
Membership Extension Award for the maximum new members addition in Region 13 Star Club builder award for Chartering Maximum Clubs in Region 13 16
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April 2021 17
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The Headlines Bulletin DISTRICT 98
April 2021 18
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Clubs’ Milestone DISTRICT 98
April 2021
Meeting No: 400 17th April 2021 TCS BE@T Gandhinagar, A5
CLUB ANNIVERSARIES Years
Club Name
Date
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ADP Hyderabad Toastmasters Club
1 Apr
9
Invesco India Toastmasters Club
11 Apr
9
John Deere Pune Toastmasters Club
18 Apr
8
Secunderabad Toastmasters Club
1 Apr
7
Ben's Toastmasters Club
1 Apr
5
DB Mumbai Toastmasters Club
26 Apr
4
Toastmasters Club of Allscripts Pune
18 Apr
4
Toastmasters Club of Allscripts Vadodara
23 Apr
4
Allstate Toastmasters Club Pune
25 Apr
3
CGI Mumbai Toastmasters Club
1 Apr
3
Accenture Pune Toastmasters Club - Magarpatta
1 Apr
3
L&T Vizag Toastmasters Club
6 Apr
3
Tangentia Toastmasters Club
12 Apr
3
Guntur Toastmasters Club
19 Apr
HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS 19
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Clubs’ Milestone DISTRICT 98
Years
Club Name
Date
3
Srujan Hindi Toastmasters Club, Pune
25 Apr
3
Birlasoft Toastmasters Club Pune
25 Apr
3
VJIM Toastmaster Club
30 Apr
2
RIL JMD Speakers Toastmasters Club
18 Apr
2
Rajkot Toastmasters Club
18 Apr
2
Pragati Toastmasters Club
26 Apr
1
Capgemini Ikigai Toastmasters Club
1 Apr
1
CKM Toastmasters Club
1 Apr
1
Fintree Toastmasters Club For Finance Professionals
8 Apr
1
Articulators Toastmasters Club
27 Apr
HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS
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April 2021
CLUB ANNIVERSARIES
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Meet The Team DISTRICT 98
April 2021
AISHWARYA VIJAY PR MANAGER
PINKY BAHROOS CHIEF NEWSLETTER EDITOR
DESIGNERS
ANUP WAGH
SATHVIK VEMUNURI
ABILASH M G
EDITORS
PRAJWAL CHOUDHARY
JUHI DHRUVA
MUSKAAN ASHER
NAMRATA SHAH
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nriching xpriences