"Kegalle Keen" Newsletter Issue 2 - April 2021

Together as a family, let’s make a great history

April Edition

Volume 1, Issue 2

What’s inside Division Director’s message

2

Area Director’s message

3

Club President’s message

4

Editor’s Message

5

Club Executive Committee

6

Family Members

7

Meeting memories

8

New Family members

12

Family Achievements

13

Family Talents

15

Page 2

KEGALLE KEEN

Division Director’s Message

TM Shazuli Raheem

“This simple formula is the thought process of the Club being one family.”

It gives me great joy and humbled pride to be able to pen these few words in the second issue of “Kegalle Keen”. This joy and pride are purely because Kegalle Toastmasters Club has stuck to its goals by not only putting their mark on the TMI dashboard, but because the club has stood up for its members and “Rooted for Each Other”.

I believe this is the secret for Kegalle TMC becoming such a strong Club, such a unit that embodies Team spirit. This is reflected in the Club being recognised as one of the first ten Clubs to achieve 10 DCP points in the District as well as adding up the highest number of points in the Club Quality and Engagement Tracker. I would like to recognize the Club Leadership Team led by TM Prarthana who were focused on ensuring the Club Mission in their environment. I believe this supportive and positive environment is coming from a simple formula. This simple formula is the thought process of the Club being one family. Watching out for each other. Needless to say, such an atmosphere goes beyond working towards DCP points or working towards District awards and creates a quality Club experience resulting in adding value to each member. The significant increase in Club membership during this year bears ample evidence to this Club quality experience. I would like to mention the contribution made by pioneers in the likes of TM Padmini who created this atmosphere of belonging.

Speaking at the Club Executive Committee installation ceremony in September 2020, I stated my expectation of each member moving in the Pathways program. Looking at the TMI dashboard I am more than glad to see the Club posting completion of Pathways levels in addition to the requirements under the DCP. This again indicates the inclusive and focused development of each member.

Finally, I would like to thank Kegalle Toastmasters Club for the contribution made towards the Division and the District by supporting other Clubs as well as actively participating in Division and District activities.

I wish Kegalle Toastmasters Club all the very best and look forward to seeing many leaders emerging from this beacon in years to come.

Page 3

KEGALLE KEEN

Area Director’s Message It’s my great pleasure to share my thought through the second Newsletter of Kegalle Toastmasters Club, in the toastmasters year 2020/2021.

TM Chamil Madusanka

“...Achieved 10 DCP points, Smedley award,

Talk Up Award,

At the beginning of the year, Area F1 set the which focuses on enhancing quality, strengthening membership, and providing more opportunities for our members within and outside the clubs and support each other in the area to grow themselves.

The new leadership of the Kegalle Toastmasters club had the challenge to move the club in the right direction while focusing on the next level of club quality and standards with the achievement of the President's Distinguished status last year. With the experience I had with Kegalle TMC for the last ten months, I’m delighted with the leadership of Kegalle have driven this club with a splendid effort to achieve numerous goals and milestones.

8-80 award in both terms, and leading the way of CLUB

Strengthening membership during the both membership drive of the year, 100% pathways enrollment, the progress of district goals submission, creating many channels of member engagement with fun full events, the performance of members at Area, and division contests were some of the memorable achievements that I witnessed throughout.

QUALITY AND ENGAGEMENT TRACKER…”

Team Kegalle has invested time in planning for the year and execute the plan effectively. As a result of that, they have already achieved 10 DCP points, Smedley award, Talk Up Award, 8-80 award in both terms, and leading the way of CLUB QUALITY AND ENGAGEMENT TRACKER by completeing the criteria of Golden Gavel. Therefore, I’m confident that members achived get the maximum benefits through the Toastmaster's experience because of this effort of the leadership and the members. This reflects the positive culture that supports members to grow with a positive learning experience.

I would wish all the members of the Kegalle Toastmasters Club all the best to achieve the pinnacle of success in the future as well.

Page 4

KEGALLE KEEN

Club President’s Message

TM Prarthana Liyanaarachchi

“...the direction of a kite is dependent on the person who bears the thread of it.”

It is a great privilege for me to add a note for the second issue of Kegalle Toastmasters Newsletter, Kegalle Keen. Today we as one family have come a long way which is amazing and remarkable.

As I always believe, a leader is nothing without the team. most valuable factor in our club is the human resource. diversity of Kegalle Toastmasters membership is immense this has contributed a lot to the club to make it a quality club to top the club in District dashboard this year.

The The and and

As a team, we have been able to do wonders during this year. In addition to being among the first five clubs to achieve DCP 10 points, we could be eligible for the Golden Gavel Award for the very first time in Kegalle Toastmasters history while earning the highest points in the District by the cut-off date. We could also get 8-80 membership award in both terms. We have achieved much more which will take few more paragraphs for me to elaborate. We are so proud to share these achievements with others simply because this is just the ultimate result of selfless commitment and enthusiasm of the Executive Committee, the members and the guests.

Toastmasters year, 2020/21 is a bliss to Kegalle Toastmasters family. We could add more success stories to the history during this year. The most important success story is the strong bond we could create among each other. As I feel this family bonding is the key for our journey so far. That is why I would love to call ourselves as “Kegalle Toastmasters Family”.

We as a family, now have a bigger challenge to continue this momentum in the coming years too. Leaders will come and go, but the club always will be there for generations. That is why, our focus must be on correct leadership in the coming years, because the direction of a kite is dependent on the person who bears the thread of it.

Long live Kegalle Toastmasters Family!

Volume 1, Issue 2

Page 5

Editor’s Message “Together as a family, let’s make a great history.”

TM Sonali Subasinghe It is a great opportunity for me to work on “KEEN”, the second newsletter of Kegalle Toastmasters Club. At first, I had no idea about this, especially in designing a newsletter, yet I’m happy to say that I was able to nail this task as well by failing and learning. I believe one should accept the challenges to master any skill.

For this newsletter, by the help of all the members of the executive committee, we decided to take the theme “Together as a family, let’s make a great history.” for we have achieved a lot in Toastmasters as a family. I would like to thank our madam president and everyone who supported me.

Hope you would enjoy this.

Club Executive Committee

VP Education

TM Chamira Silva

VP Membership

VP Public Relations

TM Pradeep Lakpriya

TM Sonali Subasinghe

President

Immediate Past President TM Nalaka Illangaratne

TM Prarthana Liyanaarachchi

Secretary

Treasurer

Sergeant At Arms

TM Asha Hapuarachchi

TM Rohan Pushpakumara

TM Deshanie Abeysinghe

Family Members Chamira Silva

Ajith Ranathunge

Chamila Ganegoda

Chamila Gamage

Asha Hapuarachchi

Upali Senevirathne

Parakrama Bandara

Nalaka Illangaratne

Anura Jayatilaka

Chathura Weerasinghe Sonali Subasinghe

Dulani Thilakarathne Madushani Kumari

Ruvindu Eranjana

Janaka Premarathne

Deshanie Abeysinghe

Manoj Weerasinghe

Oshani Senevirathne Padmini Herath Jayasena Pahan Fernando

Pradeep Lakpriya Prarthana Liyanaarachchi Thanuja Peramuna

Rohan Pushpakumara

Anuruddhika Balasooriya

Sithum Herath

Thusitha Senevirathna Thejith Senevirathne

Dhammika Weerasekara Reshani Tamasha

Thilak Bandara

Thinura Fernando

Tharshanan Kathiresapillai

Meeting Memories Outdoor meeting Outdoor meeting of Kegalle Toastmasters Club was held on 7th February 2021 at Akiriyagala School under the theme “FRESH AIR”. It was a wonderful meeting with mother nature.

Area Director’s visit Area Director’s visit to Kegalle Toastmasters Club happened on 13th February 2021. The meeting was held at Kurulu Kale Inn as usual and the theme was “BE MY VALENTINE”. Almost all were in red and it was an amazing meeting.

At the meeting Area Director was presented with the very first newsletter of Kegalle Toastmasters.

Meeting Memories “Nagam” Joint Meeting with Oasis Toastmasters On March 20th at about 08.20 in the morning I reached Kegalle and went to Chamira’s and Deshanie’s place where we all decided to gather. Some were already there, but there were some who were yet to come. So, we stayed for about 10 more minutes and at 8.30 in the morning our journey to Veyangoda started with my fellow Toastmasters. We picked our president on the way. While travelling my fellow toastmasters never forgot to share their funny memorable stories with everyone. Especially TM Prarthana shared some of her embarrassing school time memories which were really fun to listen. In the meantime, we even forgot about our scheduled time for the meeting. We got a bit late to start our journey, so after sometime we realized that we were going to be late for the meeting with all the traffic that we met on the way. So, we started to rush our journey.

While we were struggling with the traffic jam, TM Prarthana our beloved president who was with us in the car suggested a short cut. Well, to be honest that road was the worst road I’ve ever seen. Our

beloved TM Chamira who was driving the car wasn’t happy either. Thanks to her and her short cut, we got even late but the struggle to reach the destination and the constant trolling about the short cut was really fun for the back-seat members. After about an hour-long journey we arrived at a hotel named “Chance Palace” at Veyangoda. It was a breath-taking place surrounded with a beautiful garden.

As a new member, this was a new experience for me. At that time, I had only participated in a few in – person meetings with my club members. I got the privilege to participate in one or two joint meetings with other clubs online, but this was my first time participating in a joint in - person

meeting, but my fellow toastmasters from Oasis and Kegalle club never made me feel like a stranger.

They always made me feel like home. I was excited to break my ice in front my beloved toastmaster family. My evaluator for my ice breaker was from Oasis club and she encouraged me to do even better in the future.

Meeting Memories We grew closer more like a family and a new stronger network was built. I got to meet new, wonderful and talented Toastmasters from Oasis club. I got the opportunity for witnessing their talents which inspired my Toastmasters journey even more.

We celebrated our 150th meeting of Kegalle Toastmasters Club and our president TM Prarthana Liyanaarachchi invited me and my newly joined Toastmasters to cut a tasty customized cake that was prepared for the special occasion. After the meeting, everyone gathered to celebrate the union of two love birds whose none other than our president TM Prarthana Liyanaarachchi and our Area Director Chamil Madusanka who recently tied the knot. Oasis club members and Kegalle club members shared their lovely thoughts about the two love birds which brought so much laughter to everyone that was present. After that we all got to enjoy the special lunch arranged by our president TM Prarthana Liyanaarachchi and our Area Director TM Chamil Madusanka.

Overall. it was an amazing experience. Every Toastmaster who was present there inspired me to be a better Toastmaster. Seeing their performances boosted my Toastmasters journey even more. I hope that I get more and more such experiences throughout my Toastmasters journey to expand my network with the wonderful talented souls that are present.

-Written by Oshani Senevirathna-

Meeting Memories “Aurudu” Theme Meeting

“AURUDU” theme meeting was held on 10th April 2021 at Kegalle Kurulu Kale with the participation of Area Director of Area F1; TM Chamil Madusanka.

The meeting was a super amazing one with loads of new year games which shows the team spirit. Everyone participated in games. Not only that, at the end of the meeting nobody forgot to take a bite of Sinhala & Tamil new year sweets table and to have a chat with each other.

New Family Members

Thejith Senevirathne

Sithum Herath

Dhammika Weerasekara

Thinura Fernando

Oshani Senevirathne Tharshanan Kathiresapillai Reshani Tamasha

Pahan Fernando

Family Achievements Club Level Achievements Area Level Achievements

Triple Crown Winners

Family Achievements Pathway Achievements

Awards & Achievements

Family Talents Happiness...

The truly romantic things in life

When your last hope

are those little things

for tomorrow

you do every day

Has left you

to show you care,

When your last drop of tears

and that you’re thinking of them

Fallen down from eyes

It’s going out of your way

With the paining heart

to make them happy

Come to me...

The way you hold her hand when you know she’s scared,

Let's lie down under the dying sun In a husky evening...

or you save the last piece of cake for him The random text in the middle of the day, just to say “I love you” or “I miss you”

Let's open our eyes And enjoy the calm journey of Golden clouds Towards the eternity...

They will tell us The story of the happiness...

-Chathura Weerasinghe-

The way he stops to kiss you when he passes by It’s dedicating his favorite song to her, letting her eat your fries… telling her she’s beautiful, even when she’s in her sweats... or with her hair in a ponytail and no makeup It’s putting your favorite show on pause

so, she can tell you about her day, and laughing at his joke even the really lame ones It’s slow dancing in the kitchen and kissing in the rain.

-Reshani Tamasha-

-Art work by Thejith Senevirathna-

Family Talents Life

Marriage

Two hearts waiting impatiently To share their feeling legally

When I was a little one

Hold two minds & hearts strongly

I thought life is a fairy tale,

Towards the success of life happily

As a youngster I felt it as a game I played,

Warmth of kisses….

It's totally a romantic story

Tears of pains….

When I was a teenager,

Happiness of wins….

Absolutely it's a challenge

Sorrows of defeats….

As a mother and a wife,

Just nothing,

But ………

When marriage is so strong……….

It's definitely an answerless puzzle, Although we are looking for a solution

But when trust of marriage snap……

Running speedily in a deserted island Putting useless effort to find a heaven

Life will break into uncountable pieces

I’m wondering why I couldn’t get it

Hearts will cry without any reasons

Before I reached my death………. ­-Madushani

Kumari-

Strength of soul will vanish faraway places No one knows what happen for smiles of faces

-Madushani Kumari-

KEGALLE TOASTMASTERS

ISSUE 2 I April, 2021