editorial team
PUBLISHER
MPKATRAK,DTM
EDITOR
SUNITAPINTO,TC3
CONTENTCURATOR
TMROHINISSUJITH
DESIGN,LAYOUT
DEVLALSAHADEVAN,DTM
Fromthe Editor
Celebratinga Milestone
DearHumoroidsmembers, Aswegathertocelebratea remarkablemilestone,it fillsmewithimmensepride andjoytoannouncethat Humoriodshas successfullycompletedits 200thmeeting.This achievementisa testamenttothe dedication,passion,and hardworkofeverymember involved AtHumoriods,we havealwaysbelievedin nurturingcommunication andleadershipskills,and ourClubhasbeena shiningexampleofthis commitment Overtheyears,ourclub hasbecomeavibrant communitywheresenior
andnewmembersalike cometogethertoworkon theirpublicspeakingand leadershipskills Ourclubhasseen participationfrom members,showcasinga widerangeofspeeches, fromheartfeltpersonal storiestoinsightful discussionsonglobal issues Membershave consistentlyparticipatedin Toastmasters competitions,bringing backnumerousaccolades andrecognitionfortheir outstandingperformances Manyofourmembershave takenonleadershiproles developing essentialskillsthatwill servethemwellintheir personalandProfessional Lives.
Aswecelebratethis milestone,wealsolook forwardtothefuturewith enthusiasmand determination Thejourney ofaToastmasterisneverending,andthereisalways roomforgrowthand improvement We encourageallour memberstocontinue pushingtheirboundaries, exploringnewtopics,and honingtheirskills. Aheartfeltthankyoutoall theFoundermembers, seniormembersand mentors,whohavebeen instrumentalinourjourney thisfar.Here'stothenext 200meetingsandbeyond, aswecontinueto empowereachotherand makestridestowards becomingconfident communicatorsand leaders.
President’s Message
IntheAnimalKingdom,thedictumis“Survival oftheFittest” Inourcompetitiveworld,itisthe communicationskillsandnotthephysical fitnesswhichallowsustosustainourselvesin theenvironment Irrespectiveoftheprofession, wehavetoattaintheskillstoconvincethose whomwedealwith.ThankstoToastmasters, especiallyHumoroidsToastmastersclub,we areallroaringatourplaceofwork.
DTMMPKatrak
MyWhatsAppstatusreads,“Dotherightthing evenwhennooneislooking Itiscalled integrity.”However,itlooksmorelikeadictum whichallHumoroidiansfollow,evenmorethan me Beenamemberfor22years,servedasa ClubPresidentandAreaGovernorinthepast, buthavenevercomeacrosssuchatalented, dedicated,enthusiasticgroupofclub members,especiallythenewjoiners.They havebeencomingaheadandtakingupallthe rolesandhelpingtheclubatalltimes Lately,ourClubpresenceisfeltonsocial mediathankstoTMRohini. DearToastmasters,allowmetosharewhatI readinRobinSharma’sbook,TheGreatness Guide;“Eachday,lifewillsendyoulittle windowsofopportunity.Yourdestinywill ultimatelybedefinedbyhowyourespondto thesewindowsofopportunity”.Thewayour membersarerespondingtotheopportunities theyget,Iamconfidenttheywilltakeourclub tonewheightsneverachievedinthepast
BestwishestoallandBestoflucktoour contestantsattheAreacontestandbeyond
DrMerezbanKatrak,DTM isthePresidentof HumoroidsToastmasters Club HeisaConsultant SurgeonandHeadof DepartmentofSurgeryat NMCSpecialtyHospital, AbuDhabi.
Hebecamea Toastmasterin2003and hasservedleadership positionsasClub Presidentandarea Director Heisalsothewinnerof theDistricthumorous speechchampionshipin 2016.
AreaDirector’s Message
Ihopethismessagefindsyouwell. Iwouldliketoextendmyheartfelt gratitudetoeverymemberof HumoroidsToastmastersclubfor yourrelentlessdedicationand enthusiasm.Itisyourcommitment thatshapesthesuccessofyour club Iamsoproudthatyourclub includesexperiencedand championToastmasters.Youall canlearnalotfromthese seasonedToastmasters Furthermore,theHumoroids ToastmasterClubisentirely distinctfromotherclubs Yourclub performseveryroleinaunique way,whichhelpsyoualltolearn quicklyandinalighthearted manner
Atthesametime,wemustremind ourselvestodeliveringspeeches onaregularbasis.Thiswillhelpus toachieveall10DCPgoalsandto attainthePresident'sDistinguished Clubstatus.Iamcertainthatthe Excomandallmembershavea clearplanonhowtoachievethese DCPgoals
Iwishalltheverybestforyourclub toachievemoresuccessinthe comingmonths
DTM Rizvi Rasheed is the Area 7 Director and a Toastmaster since 2009. He is also a former Division Director Rizvi is a Chartered accountant working with E& and an active sportsman who has excelled in various events such as Athletics, Football and Rugby
DTMRizviRasheed Area7Director, DivisionB
Division Director’s Message
DTMSaravananRajalouisachartered Engineer,workingasDirectoratan internationalengineeringconsultancy. HehasbeenaToastmasterforthepast6 yearsandisamemberofAbuDhabi Toastmastersclub
DTM Saravanan Rajalou Division B Director Laugh,Learn,Lead:
Sinceitsfoundingin2011,Humoroids ToastmastersClubhasbeenahubfor learningandgrowth.Accordingtoclub statistics,overthelast13years,300plus individualshavebeenempoweredto becomeconfidentspeakersandleaders whilealsohelpingdeveloptheirsenseof humour.
ThetruestrengthofaToastmastersclub liesinitsabilitytocreateanenvironment whereindividualsfeelempoweredand encouragedtoexpressthemselves. HumoroidsTMCisaperfectexample,and Ihadthehonorofexperiencingitduring its13thanniversarymeetinginSep2024
Organizingsuchamilestoneevent requireddedicatedteamworkfromclub officers,allunitedbyasharedgoalmakingitasuccess.Theclub’sculture wasevidentthroughoutthemeeting.The relaxedatmosphereencouraged everyonetosharejokesandpuns,while light-heartedroastshelpedbreaktheice, evenbeforeamember’sformal Icebreakerspeech
Engagingwithguests,Irealisedthat Humoroidsismorethanaplatformfor honingpublicspeakingandleadership skills—it’savibrantcommunitywhere personalgrowthhappensnaturally Beyondspeechesandevaluations,the spiritofcamaraderiestoodout,offering newcomersaglimpseintotheclub’s welcomingandsupportiveenvironment Byconsistentlyraisingthebarin communicationandleadership, HumoroidsClub’simpactextendsbeyond individualachievements,fosteringa uniqueculturewheremembersupliftand inspireoneanother
Inessence,HumoroidsToastmastersis notjustaclub itisamovementthat empowersindividualstoLaugh,Learn, Lead.Thismilestonemeetingreaffirmed thatitssuccessisbuiltoncollectiveeffort. MybestwishestoHumoroidsasit continuesshapingconfidentspeakers andvisionaryleadersenroutetoitssilver jubilee
h, t h e w a l k !
Weseeitdaily,yetwearemesmerisedbythe huesandshadesoforangepaintedacrossthe sky Morningsaresobeautifulanywhere Ifyou havehadagoodsleep,youarelikelytofeel energisedandclearlythereispositivityintheair ComeOctober,thatharbingerofautumnand winter,bringsincoolmornings,withagentle breeze TheweatherinUAEisfantastic Mornings aregreatforwalking.Ilovewalkingaroundthe Cornichearea.Walkingaroundwaterbodiesis exhilaratingwiththecoolbreezeblowingthrough ourhair.Thefreshairfillingupmylungsislikean elixir,makingmefeelyoungandgivingabounce tomyfeet.Forbirdwatchers,morningsareatreat, especiallyinawoodedareaorhillstation Ithinkweobservemoreinthemornings-atleastI do Iobservebirds:pigeons,mynasanddoves OncewhenIwentforawalk,Icameacrossacute brownkittenplayingallbyitselfwithapieceof tatteredcloth Ithinkoursensoryperceptionisat itspeakinthemorning.
Ilikewalkingwithmyfriends.WhilechattingI barelynoticehowfarwehavegone.Theotherday Iwastalkingandwasallearstosomejuicygossip onlytorealizethatwehadalreadywalkedsome 8000steps.Nothingbetterthangossiptomake youwalk Youmeetyourhealthgoals,andyou treatyourearstosomeinterestingnews Walking, jogging,runningorjuststretching,peoplejust wanttocashinonthemorningtime Withsome,it hasbecomeanobsession Ireadsomewherethat HarukiMurakami,theJapaneseauthorhadaset routine,hewritesforafewhoursinthemorning, thenruns10kilometresdaily.
TMAnuradhaSharma
Iamnotveryregularwithmywalksbut therearepeoplewhowouldn’tmiss evenaday.Readyintheirjogging pants,trainers,andsportingearbuds, theycompletetheirtargets Whyshould wewalk10,000steps?Idon’tknow!I rarelyeverreachthatgoal Iwalkto enjoynaturewithasmallhopeinmy heartthatthefewstepsthatItake outsidewillshowitsresultsonmybody.
Afriendofminerunsformiles assiduouslywithoutfail.Sheisafitness freakandahealthenthusiast.Sheeven participatesinalmostallthemarathons heldinUAEandoftenwins Iamalways inspiredbyherdrivebutmebeingme, endupprocrastinatingandcannever matchherdiscipline Abeautiful,fit bodyalwaysbearsastrongmind
STRONGMIND.
Onedaywhilewalking,myempty rumblingstomachgetsitsjuicesroiled upas deliciousaromaswaftthrough theair. Ispottedarestaurantwith abigqueue.Ohyes,thisisthefamous restaurantwhosereelsaretrending.My hungerisconjuringmetovisualizeall theimagesIviewedonthereel, churningupmygastricjuicesfurther ABEAUTIFUL,FITBODYALWAYSBEARSA
TMAnuradhaSharma Anuradhaisamathteacherturned homemakerwholovestoreadliterary fictionandhistoricalfiction.Her favoriteauthorsareElifShafakand MargaretAtwood.
Iaskmyfriendwhethersheisintrigued bytheinvitingsmellsofspicesand herbs.Webothagreethatwecannot resistthetemptationtodivein Now thatbeatsthepurposeofourwalk Igo forawalktoshedsomeweightbut instead,Igloatatthecalorieintake DidI takeawalktoreduceortogainweight? Ican'tdecide!Butwhatthehell,Iam devouringthedisheshere!Moralofthe story:Anemptystomachisbad,andits cravingsoverpoweryourfitnessregime. Buttheworsearetheamazingaromas aroundarestaurant.
ButthenextmorningIgoforawalk afterhavinghadalightbreakfast,butI don’tgoneartherestaurant,leastIfall preytothearomasandenduphogging attheeateryagain!
TheSting andthe Song
Imagineanoldandmightyoaktree. Resplendentinitsdensegreenfoliage, everybranchladenwithtinyacorns peepingfrombehindtheleaves Splashesofbrightcolorsinflight,creepy crawlieshurryingalongthebranches, busybeesbuzzingaroundgathering pollenandthesuddencacophonyof screechesandsquawkssettlingdown toanoccasionaltweet.Itisateeming huboflife,auniverseonitsown.
Thismightyparadoxstandstallatthe veryedgeofmydad’sfarm.The harmoniouscoexistenceofthese creaturesneverfailstomystifyme.The branchesarethebaseonwhichthe glisteningbeehivesrestwhilejust furtheralongtheforkthetinyfledglings nest Theindustriousantsgoabouttheir businessinbetween,oblivioustothe songortothesting How?Why?
It’sbecausetheyarean unequivocalpartofan ecosystem;butmorethan thattheywholeheartedly acceptthenatureslawand order.Acceptanceand inclusivityatitsbest.
It’snotasifthebeesdon’tstingtheir fellowcreaturesorthatthebirdsdon’t eatinsectsorcreepycrawliesdon’t feastonmeatdeadoralive Butthen howcomethereisnomayhem?
CCCLShuchitaUdas
It’sbecausetheyareanunequivocal partofanecosystem;butmorethan thattheywholeheartedlyacceptthe natureslawandorder.Acceptanceand inclusivityatitsbest.
Sowhydowe,withthemostevolved andrefinedintelligencehaveselective inclusivity,selectiveempathyand acceptancepepperedwithourown termsandconditions?
Canwenotappreciateanindividualas awhole?Eachoneofushasastingand asongwithin Survivalafterallisatthe coreofthenatureslaw Butcanwestop justifyingtherampantstinganduseit onlywhenutmostnecessary?
Thenlet’saccepttheuniversallawand withdrawthosestingssettingthesong within,free.Let’sveneratethemagical symphonythatwillthenvibethe longest
Theclubthat becamemy family
WhenIfirstheardabout Toastmasters,Ithoughtit wasaplacewhereserious peoplepracticedserious speeches fullofpolished oratorsdeliveringperfectly timedpausesand inspirationalwisdom.Iwasn’t afraidofpublicspeaking, andIwasn’tdreamingof becomingthenextTEDTalk sensation Iwasjustcurious WhatIfoundwhenIwalked intomyfirstmeetingwas nothinglikeIexpected it wasbetter.
Itwasn’tjustaclub itwasa vibrant,welcoming community
TMNehaAroraisthe founderofTheMind Rewiredspecializingin RapidTransformational Therapy(RTT).Witha missiontohelpindividuals breakfreefromlimiting beliefs,sheempowersher clientstoembrace profoundtransformation andunlocktheirtrue potential.Shelivesin Canada.
TMNehaArora
FormerHumoroidsmember andClubVPE
Isatdown,feelingalittle embarrassed,convincedmy attemptmusthaveseemeda bitclumsytoeveryone But instead,theyclapped Notjust polite,obligatoryclapping theyclappedlikeI’ddelivereda groundbreakingkeynote.And that’swhenithitme:thiswasn’t aroomofcritics.Thiswasa roomofcheerleaders.
AsIkeptcomingback,I realizedToastmasterswasn’t justaboutlearningtospeak It wasaboutconnecting with youraudience,yourideas,and thepeoplesittingaroundyou.
Itquicklybecameclearthat thiswasn’tyourtypicalgroup ofpeople.Itwasthekindof familywhere:
Everyonecelebratesyour successes,nomatterhow small Forgettingyour speechhalfwaythrough? That’sstillworthapplause Awkwardmomentsbecome cherishedmemories Like thetimeamember droppedtheirpropmidspeech,andsomeone jokinglyhandedthem “Toastmasters’Most DramaticGesture”award Growthisn’tjust encouraged it’sinevitable
Eachmeetingfeltlikeareunion Welaughedtogether,learned together,andgrewtogether Andsomewherealongtheway, webecamemorethanaclub
ThePowerofConnection
Toastmasterstaughtmethat publicspeakingisn’tjustabout standinginfrontofaroomand deliveringwords.It’sabout creatingaconnection Ilearnedthatvulnerability whetherit’ssharingapersonal storyorstumblingoveraline iswhatmakespeoplelisten It’s nottheperfectdeliverythat movesanaudience;it’sthe authenticity.
Andthatlessonwentbeyond speaking.Istartedapplyingitin conversations,atwork,andin myeverydaylife Ilearnedto pause,tolisten,andtolet momentsland Itwasn’tjustmy speechesthatimproved it washowIconnectedwiththe worldaroundme
LaughingThroughGrowth
Someofmyfavoritemoments inToastmastersaretheones thatwentcompletelyoff-script: ThetimeIblankedduringa speechandsaid,“Well,thisis awkward,”whichgotmore laughsthantheactualjokesI’d written
Themostembarrassing momentsturnintolegendary insidejokes,lovinglybrought up(andexaggerated)bythe Roastmasterateverychance theyget.
And,ofcourse,thecountless Table/TwistedTopicswhereI turnedrandompromptsinto metaphorsaboutpasta, sandwiches,orwhateverfood wasonmymindthatday. Toastmastersisn’taboutbeing perfect.It’saboutembracing theimperfectionsandlearning tolaughatyourselfalongthe way.
WhyHumoroidsWillAlwaysBe Home
EventhoughI’mnolongeran activemember,Humoroids remainsclosetomyheart It’s morethanaplacetopractice speaking it’saplacetobuild confidence,findconnection, andcreatelifelongmemories. Ifyou’veeverwondered whetherToastmastersisfor you,letmetellyouthis:You don’tneedtobeapolished speaker Youjustneedtoshow up,bewillingtotry,andlet yourselfgrow
BecauseatToastmasters,it’s notjustaboutthespeeches it’saboutthepeople Theones whoclapwhenyoustumble, laughwhenyoumakeajoke (evenaccidentally),andcheer youoneverystepoftheway. Whetheryou’reterrifiedof publicspeaking,lookingto fine-tuneyourskills,orjust wanttoconnectwithincredible people,Toastmastersiswaiting foryou Taketheleapandyou’llfinda homehere!
Weightless and Clueless.
HeisaToastmastersince 2006andistheFounder PresidentofHumoroids.Heis aformerDivisionDirector, PathwaysAmbassador, DistrictLeadershipChairand DTACEducationChair HeworksasHeadoflearning foranMNCandisaCertified Trainer Devlalisfondof toons,cats,outdoors,MMA andtheatre.
Iflifehadatalentshow,mytalentwouldbenotgaining weightnomatterwhat Fromchildhood,Ihavealways beenthesmallestineveryroom,afactthathasbroughtits shareofhilarityandhumiliation Imaginebeingthekidwho satinthefrontrowofeveryclass,notbychoice,but becauseteachersfiguredIwouldgetlostintheback.It didn’thelpthatmydeskwaspracticallyathroneof scrutinyundertheirhawk-eyedgaze.IstillshudderwhenI hearchalkscrapingagainstablackboard.
portswereanotherbattlefield Beingafeatherweightdidn’t disqualifymefromtryingmyhandateveryeventthat requiredmass Takeshotput,forinstance Iremember liftingtheshotputwithbothmyhandsandthrowingit Itfell down15cmsawayfromme andnippedmybigtoe I screamed Everybodyelselaughed Andrunning?Let’sjust sayIperfectedtheartoftrailingsofarbehindthepack thatthePTteacherusedmeasamarkerfor"lastplace."
Highschoolbroughtfreshchallenges,particularlyinthe wardrobedepartment.Whilemyclassmatesshoppedfor trendyattire,Iwasbrowsingracksinthekids’section.Try walkingintoschoolinaT-shirtwithDaffyduckonitand explainingitistheonlythingthatfits Addinginsulttoinjury, myyoungersistergrewtallerthanme,ensuringaneverendingsupplyofjokesabouthand-me-ups
Myoneshiningextracurricularmomentcame whenIjoinedthetheaterclub.Yeah,theysaid theydidnothaveanyroles'small'enoughforme SothereIwas,buttooperatethecurtains It seemedsimpleenough Pulltherope,curtaingoes up Releasetherope,curtaingoesdown Yet, duringacrucialperformance,mylackofbody weightturnedthehumblepulleysystemintoa comedyoferrors.Mylegsgotentangledinthe mazeofnylonropes,thecurtaincamecrashing down,andIwentflyingupwardlikeSpiderman.It tookthem45minutestotakemedown.Itshould havetakenthemjust10minutes.Buttheyhadto stoplaughingfirst!
I’mstillhauntedbythelaughterthatfilledthe auditoriumthatnight
Determinedtobulkup,Ijoinedagym,aplace wheredreamsarebornandscrawnypeoplelike mearetossedaroundlikeragdolls.Picturethis:a barbell,10kilosoneachside,andmeconfidently attemptingadeadlift.Cuetheslapstickmoment asItoppledover,weightsclangingaroundme. Thegymregulars menandwomenwholooked likeMarvelsuperheroes helpedmeup,chuckling inawaythatwassomehowbothkindand condescending
Ofcourse,Ihadtogetthegainsdietright,which meantproteinshakes Spoileralert:mydigestive systemwasn’tready Onememorableweek,I becameawalkingwhoopeecushion,avoiding humaninteractionforfearofreleasinga symphonyofflatulence.
Intheprivacyofmybedroom,Iusedtolookatmy physiqueinthewardrobemirror Icouldtouchmy reflectioninthemirrorandSTILLfeelmyribs!But whenIfinallyspottedaswellingonmyarm,I thoughtI’dmadeit Anewmuscle!Imarveled, flexingdramaticallyinfrontofthemirror WoW!I pokedmynewmuscle Awww!Turnsout,itwas justasprain Mydoctorwasstrugglingtokeepa straightfacewhileexplainingthatinflammation andmuscledefinitionarenotthesame.
Ironically,myyearsofgymstruggleshaveturned meintoamagnetforpeoplewantingtolose weight.Now,I’maself-proclaimed“fitness consultant”forthosetryingtoshedpounds Inthe gym,Iwalkuptothe'pleasantlyplump’ones sweatingitout,smilekindlyandoffertosaythis much;'Iwasoncelikeyou!' Theireyespopout andwithanewfoundrigour,theygetbackto whattheyweredoing Nobodycangetthemtodo thatotherthanme.
So,whilemyquestformusclemayhaveturned intoacomedyoferrors,ithastaughtmeone thing:whenlifethrowsyoulemons,curlthem. They'reprobablytheonlyweightsyouwon’tdrop.
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