Blue heron 3

VOL:01 ISSUE:03 MARCH 2015

WINNING WAYS DREAM AWAY THE MANY FACETS OF TIME COVER STORY

FACE TO FACE WITH MORAG MATHIESON CHAT WITH GAYATHRI KRISHNAN IAS MILLENNIUM EVENTS

PATH TO MASTERY FOCUS ON MISSION 2016

PICTURE TALKS

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Meeting Venue: Foodlands Restaurant, Airport Road, Abu Dhabi Meeting Time: 8-10pm Alternate Tuesdays

A quarterly newsletter of Millennium Toastmasters, Abu Dhabi. “The bird Blue Heron stands for selfdetermination and self-reliance. They represent an ability to progress and evolve.” - Ted Andrews

President Bijoy Kuruvila 050-3290980 VP Education TM Kuldeep Kaushik 050-1063756 VP Membership TM Dileep Raj 050-6123692 VP Public Relations TM Abdul Nasser 050-6713413 Secretary TM Suresh Gopal 050-6719002 Treasurer TM Jayan Balakrishnan 050-4917028 Sergeant-At-Arms TM Rajesh Babu 050-4685430 Past President MTM Rency Patcheco 050-6611970 Catch us on web http://6664.toastmastersclubs.org Facebook facebook.com/millennium.toastmasters.auh

THE TEAM PUBLISHER TM Bijoy Kuruvila bijoy.kuruvila@gmail.com EDITOR TM Abdul Nasser kpanaser@gmail.com EDITORIAL SUPPORT TM Ravi Moosad PHOTOGRAPHY TM Abdul Nasser ART DIRECTION TM Abdul Nasser GRAPHIC DESIGN TM Abdul Nasser GUIDANCE TM Sunil D Kottarathil, DTM

Disclaimer: Blue Heron is a newsletter by Millennium Toastmasters, Abu Dhabi. The publisher and the editor are not responsible for the writers’ views, opinions and ideas in the articles published here.

www.toastmasters.org

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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

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MESSAGE FROM THE DIVISION GOVERNOR

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MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

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READER COMMENTS ON BLUE HERON-2

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THE MANY FACETS OF TIME TM SIVAPRASAD GOWDA

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WINNING WAYS

TM SUJIT SUKUMARAN

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COVER STORY “BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE” TM RAVI MOOSAD

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CO NT EN TS 32

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DREAM AWAY

TM DEVLAL SAHADEVAN

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MEMBER ACHIEVEMENT

TM ABDUL RAZACK DILEEP RAJ

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“SEIZE THE MOMENT” TM SURESH KUMAR

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LIFE LESSONS

TM ABRAHAM RAJU

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FOCUS ON MISSION 2016 TM AHSAN GHORI

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MILLENNIUM EVENTS

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PICTURE TALKS

TM ABDUL NASSER

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CLUB AWARDS

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Toastmasters International Fact Sheet Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of meeting locations. Headquartered in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, the organization has more than 313,000 memberships in more than 14,650 clubs in 126 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people of all backgrounds become more confident in front of an audience.

Founded

October 22, 1924

Updated Brand August 17, 2011

Leadership Mohammed Murad International President Jim Kokocki President-Elect Mike Storkey First Vice President Balraj Arunasalam Second Vice President Daniel Rex Chief Executive Officer

Benefits

• Clearer communication • Improved leadership skills • Enhanced teamwork • Effective meetings • Increased productivity • Positive mentoring • Complements existing training programs • Cost effective

Number of Toastmaster Clubs Worldwide clubs: 14,350+ U.S. clubs: 8,500+ International clubs (not including U.S.): 5,850+

Types of Clubs

• Community • Corporate • College • Government agency • Religious

Notable Corporate Clubs

• American Express • Apple • AT&T • Coca-Cola • Disney • Google • IBM • Johnson & Johnson • Microsoft • Sony • Toyota

Toastmasters Member Demographics

Gender distribution • 52% female • 48% male Income level • Average member annual household income is $50,000-$74,999 • 30% of members earn $100,000+ annually

Level of education

• 74% of members have a bachelor›s degree or higher • 35% of members have a master›s degree or higher

Toastmasters International Mission

We empower individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders.

Toastmasters International Values

• Integrity • Respect • Service • 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 self-confidence and personal growth.

A Toastmaster’s Promise

As a member of Toastmasters International and my club, I promise • To attend club meetings regularly • To prepare all of my speech and leadership projects to the best of my ability, basing them on projects in the Competent Communication, Advanced Communication, or Competent Leadership manuals • To prepare for and fulfill meeting assignments • To provide fellow members with helpful, constructive evaluations • To help the club maintain the positive, friendly environment necessary for all members to learn and grow • To serve my club as an officer when called upon to do so • To treat my fellow club members and our guests with respect and courtesy • To bring guests to club meetings so they can see the benefits Toastmasters membership offers • To adhere to the guidelines and rules for all Toastmasters education and recognition programs • To maintain honest and highly ethical standards during the conduct of all Toastmasters activities.

For more information: www.toastmasters.org Media Contacts: Dennis Olson | 949-835-1305 | dolson@toastmasters.org Suzanne Frey | 949-835-1306 | sfrey@toastmasters.org

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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

ADDITIONAL GOAL “The world recognize you on the basis of what you have achieved and what you gave, irrespective of whether your aim was high or you hit the target. You should always strive for the maximum.”

Many of us make resolutions to quit smoking, eat healthier and reduce weight. Some people aim at change in position, change in job and so on. Being a member of Toastmasters International we all have an extra goal to achieve in our club. This may vary from getting a CC award to DTM or to become a Speech Champion. There are some Toastmasters who express this as “further development of confidence and public speaking skills”. How you can do this?

The answer is to continue membership with Toastmasters International, deliver speeches frequently in club meetings and make use of every opportunity to deliver speeches in a formal setting.

Positive thinking, imagination and visualization are the tools for solving problems in achieving our objectives. If you are confident enough, you would overcome all the hindrances on your way. The interferences from your rivals may not affect you at all. Aiming high is very important in achieving excellence.

Aiming is the act of directing anything at or towards a particular point or target.

Most people fail in life not because they aim too high and miss but because they

aim too low and hit (Lee Brown). Your target should be high enough to use your maximum capabilities and give to the world whatever is possible by you.

The world recognize you on the basis of what you have achieved and what you gave, irrespective of whether your aim was high or you hit the target. You should always strive for the maximum.

In a Toastmasters Club, the number of projects you have completed matter in determining your progress in the educational and leadership track. In your family and organization, what is most important is your talent in conveying your idea and thoughts effectively and efficiently. Your ability to influence your subordinates or convince your superiors are important in achieving your organizational goals easily and within time. Toastmasters International helps you to acquire this talent through it’s various communication and leadership projects. It provides ample opportunities to practice and re-practice various projects till you acquire confidence and skills in communication and leadership.

To extinguish your fear and enhance

confidence, what is most important in a Toastmaster Club is your determination to deliver speeches frequently and taking up of various roles. Grab every opportunity to speak in the club meetings even if it is a joke in the humor session. With frequent practice, you can gradually increase your confidence level and communication skills.

Continuous practice can take you closer to perfection. Regular involvement in club activities can help you achieve your goals easier and contribute better to your club, family and organization. Aim high, be determined, work hard and you will succeed.

Bijoy Kuruvila President Millennium Toastmasters, Abu Dhabi

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MESSAGE FROM THE DIVISION GOVERNOR

THE JOURNEY OF EXCELLENCE “The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.”

- Confucius

Millennium Toastmasters Club has once again demonstrated the power of self belief, focus and hard work. As the first half of the toastmasters year draws to a close, it is a matter of immense pride to see Millennium Toastmasters club showing excellent growth in many areas.

One core feature that has elevated the club to great heights is the teamwork of the club officers. That all the officer’s roles have been utilized as an opportunity of growth, rather than just duties to be fulfilled, is very evident from the club’s immense success. The unified commitment shown by Millennium Toastmasters club officers to achieve the desired results is laudable. When the club officers consider themselves as a group of people brought together to do things that they could not have achieved alone, then we see the amazing power of teamwork!!

plan for future growth – for the club and its members. The leaders can explore other leadership roles to serve in a different spot, next year. The benefits and challenges of serving in various Toastmasters leadership positions is incomparable. The club will definitely will capture greater heights if it keeps continues its pattern of going the extra mile.

“If you advance confidently in the direction of your dreams, and endeavor to live the life that you have imagined, you will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” - Henry David Thoreau

A picture is worth a thousand words. The monthly promotional posters created by the club are true testimonials of the long term vision the club has towards excellence. It is then of no wonder that the club posters have received recognition from all over the world. The inspirational and innovational posters invariably beckon people from all over the world, to embrace and experience the benefits of toastmasters educational program.

As we step onto the last quarter of the toastmasters year, it is very imperative to

TM Sunil Kottarathil, DTM Division H Governor (2014-15)

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MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

STAY AHEAD OF TIME Win a contest! Win a business deal! Win a race! Win love!

Win relationships! Win even a smile… The whole world is evolving around a winning strategy. To stay ahead of time, we need to plan out a winning formula for everything we do. We live in a world of competitions and only the fittest will survive here. We use our knowledge and resources to establish and prove that we are better than our peers. Sometimes we go to that extreme and try to win by hook or by crook.

Victory always gives us immense pleasure and happiness. It gives us energy and strength to move forward and achieve the unachievable. But failure gives us an opportunity to learn and correct our mistakes. A sincere effort and commitment to correct the mistakes will surely lead us to the ultimate victory.

“You may not be able to stay as a winner forever but you can always improve your performance and stay ahead of time forever”

It is the season of contests and we have a collection of inspiring and motivational articles on winning strategies for competitions and for life in general.

District 20 LGET, Sujit Sukumaran DTM has put forward a 10 way winning strategy for ultimate success through his article ‘winning ways’. TM Devlal Sahadevan claims ultimate victory can be achieved by practicing ‘Lucid dreaming’.

With these rich content, trust you will enjoy reading this issue of BLUE HERON. To me winning is not being first but doing better than what you have done before. You may not be able to stay as a winner forever but you can always improve your performance and stay ahead of time forever.

In his article, TM Shivprasad Gowda talks about time and its importance in life, while Abraham Raju DTM asks us to follow certain life principles to lead a successful life in his article ‘Life Lessons’.

TM Ahsan Ghori has 8 QMS principles to follow and meet the objectives of Millennium Toastmasters Vision 2016. A successful toastmasters journey shared from own experience can motivate us – see what TM Dileepraj Abdul Razack has to share, as you turn the pages.

Success is all about seizing the right moment. In this issue, Toastmaster turned IAS officer Gayathri Krishnan shares her success story with Millennium Toastmasters.

According to our Regional Advisor, Morag Mathieson, DTM, you have to be the best you can be, and you can not measure your achievement against anyone else.

TM Abdul Nasser Vice President - Public Relation Millennium Toastmasters, Abu Dhabi.

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WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THE SECOND ISSUE OF BLUE HERON

it - try to reflect the season. Like now year end festivities and new year will happen, so possibly the next newsletter can embellish some of the new year’s aims, ambitions and resolutions of the toastmasters. TM Ravi had put a very interesting post at the start of 2014 - a list of his new years resolutions for 2014 and I asked him recently on his blog how many of them he had completed - he said None!!

I think many TMs can share their thoughts and views on new years resolutions and what it takes to fulfil them.

Also, the feedback from the first newsletter gave suggestions of adding some jokes or quotes - general one-liners where you think it would add value. Do keep this one in mind - humour especially can lighten the overall reading experience.

That’s pretty much it. No more words to express how beautiful your work is.

Congratulations, really proud of you.”

MTM Rency Patcheco Past President

“This one surpasses the previous one, again very impressive. To be honest, I keenly await Millennium’s newsletter than Toastmasters International Newsletter.

The articles are worth a read and also some top class pictures that speak more than a thousand words. Apart from your newsletters, I simply love your publicity posters, specially the one that went viral ‘The roar back’. Salute to your creativity and keep up the good work.”

TM Derick D’Souza Division Manager- Marketing “You already know what I think about every newsletter that you have published so far - both are spectacular in their own way and profoundly engaging.

This newsletter somehow feels a little overpowered by my articles - 3 of them so kind a feel a bit odd for eating up too much footage!!

“One thing I really liked about last newsletter is the slick presentation of articles and photographs, the layout and the content which was covered. Great job by the PR team of Millennium and this will serve to be a benchmark for many magazines in the years to come - sort of like a ‘Millennium Model.”

TM Sujit Sukumaran LGET, Division H “Commentable work, Blue Heron-2 has travelled further heights from it’s first issue in many ways. Rich in contents, graphics, design and pleasing to eyes - Blue Heron soars high. All the best.”

TM Sunil Kottarathil Division H Governor “Millennium is always a ‘trendsetter’.

Millennium has created a big impact to the division/district/international with their creative magazine/posters and innovative programs”.

TM Sujith Vijayamohan Past President (2011-12)

The entire newsletter is a work of Art, especially the photography, the layout, the page colour themes that literally takes the reader on a smooth sailing till the end where the killer poster blows you away.

Best poster yet!!

“The Best thing about Abdul Nasser is, he gives his heart to the Magazine to make it more beautiful and knowledgeable. What I like about the Magazine is everyone from the Club and the Area are very well connected, and that shows togetherness.

This is what we have to maintain in Toastmasters. Hats off TM. Abdul Nasser.....

You are really genious” MTM Pratima Mishra Division Manager - Training

Suggestions for the next newsletter depending on when you plan to release

“Hi Abdul. Holy Toledo! (An American expression for “That is amazing”)

You have had fun!! I hope we meet one day as your obvious enthusiasm and creativity is inspiring. I am impressed.”

TM John Lovering VPE, Triangle Toastmasters, Australia.

“With Blue Heron 2, VP PR Abdul Nasser has successfully met the difficult challenge of bettering an already great work. The excellent quality of the articles are further amplified by the creative title graphics, illustrations and photographs. I just can’t wait for Blue Heron 3!!”

TM Ravi Moosad Area 23 Governor (2014-15) International Toastmaster community expressed their opinion on Facebook page.

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THE MANY FACETS OF TIME

By TM Shivaprasad Gowda

Time, Time ,Time … what’s TIME all about?

so much that while some suffer the scorching day light the other cuddle in frosty night.

I wish time was such a simple phenomenon where you turn your wrist and tell the other person what is the time and probably how is his time!!!!

Time sometimes resemble a wild horse. If you can control it, you are the master and time is the best ever servant to have. If you contempt time even if you spend a fortune you will not get it back. It will not budge if you try to persuade time to your terms. People who have seen many an ordeal and joys of life have always professed that “when we have time make sensible use of it”

Some say “time flies” whereas some say “it is difficult to pass time” Your days/months are not the same as your father’s or mother’s. Your years/decades are different from that of your kids. Your minutes/hours are never similar to that of a share market enthusiast. Your seconds/ nano seconds are not equal to that of a professional athlete. Also physical nature of time across the globe varies

Time is indeed such a suave magician who can alter the prominence of anything and everything. There may be something or someone you love more than your own self. Time can transform that thing or that person to be the one you hate the most. Time has the power of disguising your likes and dislikes. If you cherished eating

Italian pasta, time can make you love Japanese sushi and hate pasta.

In the different phases of time you can see yourself growing physically and also you can see changes in your thoughts. When you introspect you will find it to be true that time is a mirror which you may hate to see or may love to see depending on your journey of life.

It is time which makes you the king or a pauper in your own eyes or the eyes of others. Time gives you confidence but it may also take away your pride to make you dull. Time changes the pace of your life. It sometimes makes you run for everything and sometimes makes you wait.

Give time the due it deserves and utilize it to the maximum. Prioritize your programs to suite your time and not the other way round.

Friends, this is crucial. Before time slips from your grip like minute grains of sand, help time to help you.

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WINNING WAYS! TM Sujit Sukumaran, LGET

Many people I have met right from the advent of my TM journey have had only this question to ask me most of the time discussions have come up. What’s the secret of winning?

Well, having seen a fair share of both competitive as well as leadership related situations where winning strategies are to be employed, here are 10 strategies that I feel are most vital to win..

1. Know why you want to win and what you are going to do after it.

Many a time, most TMs only aspire to win, truth is very few TMs are willing to perspire to win. Fewer still know why they want to and what they are going to do beyond it. Remember that a win means two things. One that you were the best among the lot on that day, since competition is relative and that the trophy and the acclaim are only a statement of your performance on that day. A winner wins once, twice, a champion more consistently and a legend just enjoys himself and the accolades come.

Strive to be a legend. Excel in your craft and soon everything will work out. Have a purpose beyond the trophy and soon you will see yourself rise.

2. Have a core team, be shameless, fearless and humble.

Even the best of speakers or leaders are only as good as their coaches or teams of advisors. Be shameless in accepting criticism even if it is from the most junior of TMs or even gaveliers as they are the most objective and innocent, be fearless to go and do it again and again till you succeed and be humble and do NOT let the success go to your head.

3. Be a good LOSER! Some of my best learnings have come not on the days I have won, but on the days I have lost. Lost BAD and big time. Oh it did hurt. Some days I even won but it hurt. In 2008 when I competed in the Division in three contests all except Humorous, I won 2nd in two and 3rd in one. Imagine

me standing with three trophies but the pain of being unable to make it to the next level!

It not only strengthened my resolve to go back to the drawing board, but I focused and only took part in Table Topics in 2009 in Abu Dhabi. I blitzed through each round and won the 1st place at DTAC in Table Topics. Had I not lost in 2008, had it not hurt, I would have never come back hungry. Treat every loss as a chance to improve and you will rise soon!

4. Know your craft.

Every time you go on to the sacred space of the stage, treat it as a tremendous responsibility and chance you have to reach and not preach to your audience. Remember that through your speaking voice you can inspire and move but also demotivate and destroy. Use it with care. Also hone your craft so people look forward to hearing you speak and the accolades will follow.

5. Know the game.

Most of the time, contestants do not understand that contests are a judges game, not a gallery sport. No matter what the audience feels beyond a point unless you hit the grid of the score sheet and make sense to the judge concerned, winning is a distant dream.

6. Manage your reputation, keep them thirsty.

Let your reputation as a fabulous speaker precede you. Be choosy about where you speak and what you speak on, what commitments you accept after reaching a level of finesse, especially officially. For stage time, go to smaller or different division clubs or outside TM clubs where you can sharpen your SAW, but inside the organization make every performance flawless, like an Aamir Khan movie, doesn’t matter if you do one project a year, but blow the audience away.

7. Repeat the basics.

Many times when we get advanced,

we think we can “wing” it. I also have been guilty of this. Going to some meetings without rehearsal or writing at least an outline of a speech. True the speeches may have been applauded and well accepted, but the truth is inside I knew I wasn’t at my best. Be honest to your art and the art will always honor you. Fool around with it and it will make a fool of you.

8. Understand nothing is permanent but change.

A result is not the end of the world, an opponent is not an enemy for life.

Many of my ex-competitors are working with me on various committees, some are Area Governors, some Division and District officers. Sure we are competitive no doubt even still for that is the nature of a dynamic man but no one has any bad feelings for each other. A loss is a loss that can be made a win, a win if not sustained becomes a loss. Ups and downs are part of the game, love it and live with it.

9. Winning is about consistency, resilience and sticking up.

Most of your competition get old, wither away, leave TM and maybe just focus lesser and lesser. If you keep at it, anything for that matter not only TM, eventually you will be the last man standing. While doing so if you continuously aim to improvise and have a never say die attitude and determination, slowly you will be unstoppable.

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10. Be yourself!

You are the best you that you can be. Develop a personality and an infectious enthusiasm. Be a lighthouse to all those who need direction, gauge people and give required feedback. Hard where it is

required, soft when needed, be a person of character and aim to excel at all you touch in your own unique way. Greatness will be at your feet and winning then will become a part of your persona!

SUJIT SUKUMARAN • DTAC Table Topics Champion - 2009 • Area Governor - 2011-12 • DTM - 2012 • Division Governor - 2013 -14 • LGET - 2014 - 15 • TM for 8 years • Gavelier for 5 years Sujit Sukumaran has proven that life is not about what happens to you, but what you do after the “happening” that decides how your life actually is.

Diagnosed at birth with Cerebral Palsy diplegia, he has surmounted most odds and proven that everyone here on this planet is worth their purpose that the Creator has envisaged for them, able bodied or not.

He works as the Corporate HR Manager for a diversified business group primarily into education in Dubai. Some of his achievements are:

• Tedx Speaker, frequently invited to

Union National Bank, Mashreq Bank, Bayt.com, Al Ain Women’s College, Millennium Insurance Brokers and other organizations to give sessions on organizational synergy, success and leadership through conflict.

• Winner of Innovation in Training

Award from Dubai Government’s Dubai Quality Group for the Champions Incubator initiative – for training non-speakers to consummate speakers and Toastmasters.

• Founding Member of SAATHI

(Society for Advocacy and Awareness Towards Holistic Inclusion) – a non-profit disability management association, under the aegis of the Indian Consulate and the UAE Government.

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COVER STORY

MORAG MATHIESON TMI REGION 11 ADVISOR Europe, Middle East and Africa.

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BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE «

»

A chat with TM Morag Mathieson by TM Ravi Moosad.

Recently, Toastmasters Region 11 Advisor Morag Mathieson was in Abu Dhabi. Despite a packed schedule, she was happy to spend some time for Millennium Toastmasters Club. It’s difficult to print her infectious smile and radiant energy on paper. However, in the edited excerpts of our chat given below, you can find some valuable information, inspiration and wisdom in addition to a bit of casual chit chat.

Can you please briefly explain your role as Regional Advisor?

Certainly. Your Division is a part of District 20 covering several countries across Middle East. Toastmasters offer support to District Leaders and for that the Districts are grouped into Regions. District 20 belongs Region 11 which consists of all eight Districts covering Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Regional Advisors are experienced District Governors who have been through the whole process of leading a District and who are put in a position to support the District Leadership in developing future leaders and also to support them in marketing and promoting Toastmasters there by helping them to fulfill their District

mission. The mission of a district which is also the mission of your Division is to grow new clubs and to support all the existing clubs in achieving excellence.

So it’s my role to support the District Leadership teams to help them do that.

So, you will be the link between District Leadership and Toastmasters International?

Yes. I’m one of the links there.

Obviously there are all the headquarters staff that support in many many practical ways. Also there are the International Directors who come from the regions that connect with the headquarters and are on the board.

Is extensive travelling a part of your role?

During a Regional Advisor’s term of 15 months, you need to visit each district once. In my case it’s eight Districts and hence eight visits. In my case I’m unusual in having such a widespread Region covering North Pole to South Pole. It’s an incredible opportunity and a real privilege to lead in this Region and support the leaders here.

I see the leaders also for their main training in August and then again for their mid-year training in January.

That’s the reason for my visit here this time, to visit District 20 and also to be one of the trainers for the mid-year training for all of the leaders from our Region and also from Australia and New Zealand. It’s taking place in Dubai at the end of this week.

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“If we take any role in Toastmasters it’s a leadership investment opportunity. You are investing in yourself to learn something new”.

So, you have been travelling a quite a lot. Of all the places that you have visited, which is your favorite place?

I think every place has its own charm.

Do I have a favorite place? I don’t know if I do. I have visited several fantastic places. I have visited London where I used to live and also Belfast where I used to live. I have visited Lomé, the capital of Togo, in West Africa, which was a completely new cultural experience. Then I have been to South Africa, Johannesburg and Cape Town which again was a different experience altogether. This

Morag Mathieson with TM Ravi Moosad.

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week I’m in United Arab Emirates, later I will be in Spain and my final visit of the year will be to Saudi Arabia.

How is your UAE trip so far?

It has been wonderful so far. The people I have met have been very friendly, welcoming and incredibly professional. A very positive experience.

You have seen Toastmasters across multiple continents. Have you noticed any difference in the way Toastmasters function in different places?

I think there are certain differences that come from the culture. For example a German Toastmasters club is very strict about time compared to an African Toastmasters club. But there are much more similarities than differences. We have the same program and the core values and I think we see the same spirit in all Toastmasters.

When it comes to taking up leadership roles or speech projects, lack of time is the most common excuse that we hear from the club members. With a Regional Advisor’s responsibilities which includes extensive travelling, how do you manage your time?

Time is an interesting thing. I think you can have time and I think you can also make time. Because for anything we do in life, we choose our priorities. For me this is a role that I really wanted to take. I really wanted

to serve the Districts in the Region and so chose to sacrifice some of my personal time. I have the good fortune to be self-employed so I can be flexible.

But that means sometimes I turn down some work that I could do so that I can travel. I realize that’s a bit of luxury but it’s also a choice because I think if we take any role in Toastmasters it’s a leadership investment opportunity.

You are investing in yourself to learn something new.

That’s interesting. You consider the time you spend in Toastmasters as an investment.

I see it as an investment. I’m giving back in a sense to the organization but I’m also gaining for me because I›m learning new things about me, I’m learning new skills for me. One of the biggest exposures here has been the cultural exposure in this role.

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“You have to be the best you can be.

Whether that’s the best speaker, best leader, best club president, best mentor or whatever you chose to do in Millennium Toastmasters”.

When I was the District Governor of District 59 which at that time included 18 different countries in Continental Europe and I thought I have seen a lot of cultural difference but then adding in Middle East and adding in Africa, you see a whole other spectrum of culture.

I’m really broadening my horizons and it’s giving me the enormous privilege of working with people from all those different backgrounds.

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“ New opportunities always come along and when you take those opportunities you learn from them and then you think, Ok I’ve learned something new.”

Just out of curiosity, what is your profession?

I’m trained as a pharmacist and then spent quite a lot of time in education and training and then I worked as a professional development and training consultant.

Do you think Toastmasters practically helped your profession in any manner?

I think, for me as a new person in a new country, when I joined Toastmasters what it did for me was to expand my network of contacts and it helped me to settle into a brand new society in a new situation, helped me to build my confidence, helped me add to the skills that I already had and it also gave me an opportunity to showcase what I could do in a brand new setting.

You have been a Toastmaster since 2006. What made you stick to this organization?

There have been constantly new things to learn. Constantly, because new opportunities always come along and when you take those opportunities you learn from them and then you think, Ok, I’ve learned something new.

Now what I can do with that learning.

I think you will always find something new. That’s one side of it. The other side about giving back. Because I think when you gain a lot there is that side of you that wants to give back.

When I think of the people who invested in me, who gave me opportunities I want to do that for someone else too. I think that was a big driver for me personally

and I totally believe in what Helen Blanchard, the first woman President had to say... When she said that ‘If you get out of Toastmasters all you can get out of Toastmasters, you’ll never get out of Toastmasters.’ Because I think it keeps evolving and changing and you keep evolving and changing.

I had the experience of being the president of my club for the second time. I was the president of my club in 2008-09 and then again last year and I did the job in a completely different way when I did it last year because of all the things that I had learned in the intervening time.

you can’t measure your achievement against that of anyone else. I think you have to be the best you can be. Whether that’s the best speaker, best leader, best club president, best mentor or whatever you chose to do in Millennium Toastmasters. Be the best you can be and then you will always be satisfied and always be happy and always be looking to take the next step.

That was really inspiring. Thank you very much for spending your time for us. We wish you great success in endeavors in and out of Toastmasters.

You are welcome.

Recently we have been experiencing a trend of experienced and talented members leaving the club. How do you think we can motivate an experienced Toastmaster stay?

If you do any survey or speak to those members, some interesting questions to ask them would be ‘Why did you join Toastmasters? What was your goal? Have you met that goal already?

If you did, what could be the next goal in your development here?’ I have seen experienced Toastmasters who have come back after this since they still see a benefit or since they feel ‘my initial goal was to achieve X but I haven’t achieved it yet. So you’re right I should come back’.

However not all of them come back. Sometimes people just leave.

Sometimes their priorities just change or they just don’t see their future there. New members coming to the club keeps the club fresh but it’s a shame to lose the talent that has been around for a long time.

So I think it’s good to have a conversation with the members who chose not to renew their membership.

Before concluding, do you have any message to the member of Millennium Toastmasters Club?

My message would be to be the best that you can be. Because then and only then you will be satisfied. I think

Ravi Moosad, ACS ALB Governor, Area 23 Ravi is an active Toastmaster since 2008 and is currently Area 23 Governor. He is a Chartered Accountant by Qualification and Technology Consultant by profession.

He can be found online at www.moosad.com and can be reached at ravi@moosad.com

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DREAM AWAY!

By TM Devlal Sahadevan

The possibilities of altering the process, course, end of an event: a thought that is fascinating and at times scary. It isn’t humanly possible.

But being a dreamer by design, I end up doing it very often. What if it had happened! You think about for a while, see it in your mind’s eye, and smile! I say, that’s the most genuine smile you could ever produce. Like someone said, when you smile when you are alone, it is genuine!

So, what if it could happen? The ‘IT’ in this context could be anything. I would have carried on this basically meaningless conscious dreaming, had I not come across an article on “lucid dreaming”. That got me sitting up and thinking.

Some would explain lucid dreaming as “waking up in your dream & gaining control of it”. Personally, I like that word “lucid”. It even sounds so smooth & easy. What if I could get into a dream mode, see something nice, wake up in my dream, and yet am capable to see what I have been seeing!

Lucid dreaming isn’t just a staged indulgence played by your next door psychic. It is a scientifically verified phenomenon. Some studies have revealed that lucid dreaming can help people who constantly suffer from nightmares. Even though it has attracted a lot of attention these days, it isn’t really new age science. It was in the 5th century that there was one of the earliest written examples of a lucid dream, in a letter written by St. Augustine of Hippo in the year 415.

Dreaming, as we know, is the most inexpensive way to take a round-the world-tour. You can also become anyone in your dreams not having to worry about what somebody would think of you. But beyond all this, it is Illustration: Abdul Nasser

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a deep well of resources from where you can draw what you want. Artists, writers, poets: all have used lucid dreaming. Once you have mastered the technique, board the dream wagon and, get down at a scenic spot!

Dream away, to come back fresh with ideas, a dozen of them!

Those who engage in competitive sports benefit enormously from lucid dreaming. They visualize themselves in the competition and try out what they learned. In the end, they finish by raising their arms in victory. The applications and possibilities of lucid dreaming are endless. It takes only a little bit of internet research for you to find the simple techniques required to do this.

Cartoons by Devlal Sahadevan

No.... I am your tormentor and you are my snack.

Are you my mentor?

So go ahead…and dream away!

You do use a lot of gestures. You would have won the contest if you hadn’t poked the judges in their eyes.

Devlal Sahadevan Hospitality management graduate, certified trainer. Toastmaster & member of Millennium since 2006.

Represented Division H in Humorous speech competition at DTAC in 2008.

Created the region’s first Advanced TM club specializing in humour, “Humoroids”.

Fond of blogging, cartooning, martial arts and drums. Hoping to write a book, make a movie and travel the world…sometime in the future

You didn’t speak even for a minute!

Well, you must take into consideration that I took almost two days to get on to the stage..

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PATH TO MASTERY TM Abdul Razack Dileep Raj Talking in front of a crowd had never been a problem for me. I used to perform on the stage as a singer, musician, actor etc. I was exposed to the stage on many occasions; at school, college, community meetings and family gatherings. Though I was aware of Toastmasters organization for several years, I kept on procrastinating on my decision to join. Why do I need to join Toastmasters!!! I am used to performing on the stage.

One evening, a friendly meeting with TM Abdul Nasser altered my thoughts. He enthusiastically discussed his Toastmasters experience along with our common friends (and Toastmasters) TM Jayan and TM Suresh Gopal. I asked, “I’m a speaker, what more is there for me to learn? I’m conducting full day training sessions and I can “speak” about anything”.

Almost at the same time, a strong desire to learn the saxophone came to my mind after watching a friend of mine playing romantic blues on stage.

We used to perform together on the stage, with me playing the drums.

Psychologists would argue that learning has four stages.

Stage 1: You don’t know that you don’t know, stage of ignorance Stage 2: You know that you don’t know, stage of conscious incompetence Stage 3: You know that you know, stage of conscious competence Stage 4: You don’t know that you know, unconscious competence or mastery.

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I was at stage 1, the stage of ignorance and complacency. I didn’t even know that I need to improve on my public speaking skills. That night I was invited

by TM Abdul Nasser to be a guest at Millennium Toastmasters. Wow!!!

That was the expression that I had.

A speech can be well crafted even it is only for two minutes. Everything happens for a reason. In January 2014, the club competition was held.

Being a “brand new Toastmaster” and not having given any speech in the club, I was not at all thinking about participating in any contests. Just one day before the competition, a chat with TM Ahsan Ghori inspired me to participate as Table Topic speaker. I couldn’t believe it when the results were announced. I was the winner.

Great! But there was an insight as well.

At this stage of ignorance, if I can be fit enough to be somewhere on the Toastmaster scale, then with focused efforts I could reach my target of being an international speaker. That really fuelled my inspiration.

The CC journey was not an easy one as I thought initially. Now I recognizes that I was at stage 1. I don’t know that I don’t know. It’s difficult for one to identify this stage. The earlier you identify stage 1, the faster your success is.

I gave my first speech “The Ice Breaker” on 4th February 2014 and started with full confidence assuming that I’m a great speaker. My heart was pounding.

Though I had the script, I felt like I was going blank. I didn’t see anyone’s face front of me. I kept a large smile on my face and somehow managed to start and finish my Ice Breaker. As usual all the TMs in the room said “Great speech”. But, I was burning inside.

Could I deliver at least 15% of what I’d scripted?

That’s where I recognized stage 2; I know that I don’t know. My desire to learn sax became stronger. I bought a second-hand saxophone. I knew the notations as I am a drummer and play the keyboard reasonably well. I started browsing and subscribed to a few free saxophone lessons. I started making some noise around my home.

But I was feeling the gap. I was not getting structured instructions and feedback to my progress as I receive in Toastmasters. I was then preparing for my second project, CC2 – Organize Your Speech. Amazing insights! I felt I’m on top of the world - the

techniques for a well crafted speech unveiling in front of me. It’s a new world.

levels of stage 3. ACB, ACS and ACG will take me through stage 4 academically – That will be the real Mastery.

Doing Projects 2 – 9 was a great learning experience and I was enjoying each moment of that learning and gaining confidence. I was watching Toastmasters International Events. I started going through Stage 3 : I know that I know. I started my conscious work on speech, scripts, gestures, vocal variety, body language, research and so on. Mmmmm……

I was getting more consistent in public speaking style and ability and with best practices added flair to my speeches.

I believe that, with great support around, own commitment and pursuit for FOCUSED GOALS will land you at the heights of success. It is my life’s lesson.

At toastmasters we have the support ground and feedback. Particularly in Millennium Toastmasters Club it is an unconditional support each other. It is your will and hunger towards peak performance that will take you beyond miles.

Simultaneously I continued my journey on learning saxophone as well. At times I could make some noise and some melody , but not in a consistent fashion due to improper guidance and feed back that I received.

About TM Dileep Abdlrazack: He is an IT Engineer by profession and live with his wife, Simi and 4 wonderful kids (Fathma, Aysha, Raziq and Zayed).

I did my ninth project, “Persuade with Power” in ICAI Toastmasters club with full confidence, not the confidence of Stage 1 – I don’t know that I don’t know, but with the confidence of Stage 3 – I know that I know. Now it is another journey to stage 4, where I will be doing things automatically.

Stage 4: I don’t know that I know. Now my speech was more spontaneous and my movements were semi unconscious. For my CC10 project, I didn’t have to think much. What else is more inspiring than my own journey.

CC10 - “Inspire Your Audience” is my own story of learning, progressing and mastering of two different skills in a year. But there was a difference, one had a proper guidance and feedback and the other had no proper guidance and feedback.

All thanks to Almighty, He is great and perfect !!!

He is a committed and ambitious Toastmaster, VP Membership and the coordinator for Millennium Gavel Club.

Currently employed as an IT & Strategy Advisor to a prestigious government organization in Abu Dhabi. He has secured multiple masters (MBA Finance and Msc IT) and several professional certifications such as CISA, PMP, SixSigma BlackBelt, Balance Score Card Etc. He is also a non-commercial freelance trainer for children as well as adults in the area of self-motivation and creative thinking. He was recently awarded the prestigious CIO 100 Award, 2015. He is currently pursuing his doctorate which is in his own words- “that’s going to be one of the best sound to my ears by mid 2016”, Dr. Dileep AbdulRazack”.

His prime role models are his proud parents Mr. Abdul Razack and Mrs. Kunhimmu Razack.

I’m still struggling to blow a tune on my saxophone, still struggling between stages 2 and 3. I’m sure with proper guidance and feedback, one day I will perform on the stage with saxophone.

Public speaking is like learning music.

You need to perfect it with practice and with proper guidance and feedback. I did my tenth speech with ease a few months ago and I’m a CC (Competent Communicator) now.

A full length humorous speech is my dream. That’s the time… I will position myself at stage 4 I don’t know that I know. I’m enjoying the advanced

Supplied Photo

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“ SEIZE

THE MOMENT ! ” A special moment with Mrs. Gayathri Krishnan IAS, Assistant Collector, Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, India.

In an exclusive interview with TM Suresh Kumar, she shares her views about perseverance, success and how Toastmasters helped in her career growth.

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Publicly available information (indianofficer. com, mrunal.org, 2012) indicates Mrs. Gayathri Krishnan as “the lady with 7 months old son clearing Indian UPSC exam on her first attempt” is an inspiration for thousands of youth with a passion to excel.

Having seen many Indian movies depicting IAS officers and their characterised roles, I was taken aback when I met Mrs. Gayathri Krishnan at her residence in UAE; dressed in simple clothes, soft spoken and with a great welcoming smile. While our talented VP PR TM Abdul Nasser was getting ready for the shots; we sat down and had a quick chat with her family.

Thereafter, I got the interview started with a note on inspiration.

Inspiration: When asked what was Mrs. Gayathri’s inspiration that led to taking up the IAS (Indian Administrative Service) challenge, she humbly smiled and said that she always loved to study, read, enhance her knowledge and make most of what life has to offer.

Even during her early childhood, her dream was to take up Public Service; but did not materialize then for many reasons. However, when she had her baby, she grabbed the opportunity of the time available and made the most out of it to attain the IAS.

Gayathri Krishnan IAS with TM Suresh Kumar.

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Journey in brief: A computer engineer with an MBA in HR. She went to India in 2009 after couple of years of residence in UAE and in 2010, she returned with her 6 months old baby and a bundle of books (relating to Public Service exams) to restart studies and attain her childhood dream. She considered the additional study activities similar to a job anyone who has a baby would consider and attempted her initial UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) exam in 2011. She cleared it and was selected for Defence Account Service in 2012.

She left UAE thereafter and joined the Service in 2013.

All through her journey, she had the complete support of her family.

Her family consists of her husband Ravi Moosad (who is a prominent Toastmaster), 5-year-old son Arjun, father - a priest and mother - a teacher. “What other Blessings would anyone ever need?� I commented; and Gayathri consented readily to it. It

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was her parents who nurtured the habit accepted her, supported and instilled of reading, writing and studying in her, confidence in her and its members.

• Public speaking is a soft-skill that can throughout her childhood. be used in any sphere of life.

• Speaking projects in TM helped Involvement in Toastmasters (TM) her to read a lot and gain additional Club: It was her husband Ravi who knowledge. introduced her to Toastmasters; • In her exam interview she had which she found very interesting, mentioned public speaking as one of informative and where like-minded her hobbies and that she progressed individuals gathered to help each through Toastmasters; which also other improve their public speaking skills. She had done nearly all the roles improved her professional and career profile. in a Toastmasters Club, completed CC, ALB and also served in the position of Importance of Public Speaking: Two Division-H VP-PR. She had also won direct qualitative questions (rating on many prizes in the Club, Area, and Division level for International Speech, a scale from 1 to 10) were posed to Mrs. Gayathri in the interview; and her Evaluation and Table Topics contests. spontaneous response was a rate of 9 How TM contributed to her success?: to “the importance of public speaking skills for any individual” and a rate of With confidence Gayathri initiated 8 to “how much Toastmasters helped her response by saying that “public speaking plays a big part in my career”; her in her personal and professional growth and career”! and gave the below pointers to emphasize TM contributions.

Even though her busy schedule paused her involvement with • TM is a group of individuals who

Toastmasters, she expressed her immense interest in joining TM back once her current training and posting is completed and aims to take up and complete the Distinguished Toastmaster credentials. You are most Welcome Gayathri!

In one of her blog comments dating back to 2009 in humorpower.com, she has stated that “Toastmasters is getting better and better” … great statement.

We Toastmasters should be proud of being involved in such a prestigious and mutually rewarding and wellcommented community!

Hobbies: Apart from her hobbies of public speaking and reading, Gayathri has written much; including contributing articles on her website/ blog gayathrimoosad.com and has written an e-book. too In her e-book titled “The Master’s Secret: Control

Gayathri Krishnan with husband TM Ravi Moosad and son Arjun.

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“Anything in life will come to you if you really wanted it badly enough; and strive hard towards it”.

Your Destiny” , available on her blog, she talks about finding and cultivating your personal power that every individual has; and taking advance steps towards it … moving from who you are and what you want to be.

Advise to balance lifestyle in UAE: I asked Mrs. Gayathri a personal question that could also provide us a learning curve. “How is it possible for you to live in the UAE, take care of your baby, be busy and still achieve the goal of studying, passing the exams and becoming an IAS officer?” Again with a smile and a giggle she said, “life in UAE is comparatively more convenient …”. How could that be convenient? I argued. “Yes” she said, “there are many facilities available in the UAE which would reduce the time otherwise spent for mundane activities. Also they are easier in UAE than in India; with organizations like Toastmasters and others helping you”. Also the people here are very helpful to each other.

Just a sincere and deep interest within you will get you to where you want to go.

Advise to Toastmasters: Hurdles and obstacles are something that we must overcome to succeed. Overcoming the hardest obstacles brings out the most positive and successful outcomes. In Gayathri’s case for instance, she had sacrificed much of her sleep (after putting her baby to sleep) to do her studies and help reach her goals.

When I asked her to share the top 3 factors of success based on her personal experience, she stated: 1. Anything in life will come to you if you really wanted it badly enough; and strive hard towards it.

2. When you have the above desire, the required resources will come to you.

3. And if your efforts are sincere, others will get attracted to you, to be a part of a successful project and also invest in you and assist you through.

One of Gayathri’s exam essays was “Cinema’s impact on society”. I asked her why not write on “Impact of Toastmasters on personal success”.

Her response was that that success depends largely on oneself.

“Seize The Moment” she says: Right now is what you have. The moment you start putting off or procrastinate, nothing is going to materialize.

What a statement! This interview was definitely an eye-opener for me in relation to the determination and successful efforts put in by Mrs. Gayathri Krishnan IAS; and am sure my fellow Toastmasters would feel the same.

We all wish her the very best for a prosperous future!

Toastmasters is a huge platform to learn from. Not just by signing up as a member, but by getting involved and participating for mutual support and improvement.

“What you give into Toastmasters would be directly proportionate to what you get out of it” was her statement.

Future Plans / Next Destination: On a personal front she has plans to pursue PhD and do a Masters in Public Administration. In career, she will still continue studies; select a field of interest and aim for the related collectorship and the career path thereon.

Final words: Time went on talking about Gayathri’s success stories and views; and I had to wind up by asking her one last question as in; “If there was one thing that she would do differently in the past, what would that be and why?” Her prompt response was that she would do all what she had done a bit sooner! How fast could it go? She took 4 years to do her engineering. And if she got those years now, she would multi task and do many more activities in addition to the engineering. And she is right. In the current fast-paced world, we too have to go with the flow. Multitask and work hard to the best of our available resources and capabilities.

TM Suresh Kumar A passionate toastmaster. He has 22 years’ professional experience in the domains of Information Technology, Strategy, Security, Auditing, Governance, Business Continuity, Finance and Management.

Currently works for the Abu Dhabi Government - ADSIC: Abu Dhabi Systems & Information Centre as IT Manager and has held roles of IT Director, Chief Information Security Officer, Auditor and others.

Suresh received his masters MSc. and MBA from UK Universities, Bachelor’s in Commerce from India. He is also doing research in pursuit of his Doctoral degree.

On a social responsibility front, he contributes as an “Advanced Emergency Response Volunteer” for UAE.’s Crisis & Emergency Team.

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LIFE LESSONS

By TM Abraham Raju, DTM BE EMPOWERED AND EMPOWER OTHERS It is hard for a normal human being to empower self and empower others.

And it is very common for us to find fault with others and highlight it to the maximum we can. Most of the people I meet here are asking me the following questions, “Hi Raju, what happened to you? You have reduced a lot! Are you diabetic? Or are you suffering some illness” and advise me “you should take care of your health” “you should eat well” etc. I am sure it is not because of their love and sympathy to me, but they say it to make me feel down and depressed. But I know very well that their intention is not good, and they are really sadist, who enjoys happiness on others failures and loss.

It needs special skill and will power to encourage and motivate others and empower self.

I remember the days of my childhood when I learned cycling. I told my desire to one of my seniors in the community. He promised to help me.

So I hired a bicycle and he helped me to ride it. It was really a hard task. I was falling and falling, but he kept on helping me and encouraging.

He told me that is the same way he learned cycling. The bracers & cuts on my legs are simple & of no worry. He kept on motivating me and helped me with patience, till I learned cycling and riding on it without holding the handles. But if he was telling me that cycling is not my cup of tea and I am not worth learning it, I would have never learned cycling.

This is exactly what Toastmasters are doing for others. They helps us to be an expert SPEAKER & LEADER. And it is important that we should practice what we learned in Toastmasters; in your home, office, in your community or in wherever you

can for the betterment of others.

I personally was and is empowered by my beloved Toastmasters and do my best to empower my fellow Toastmasters & others.

I urge all my dear Toastmasters to be empowered and empower others to the best of your ability.

ALL GOOD WILL COME BACK TO YOU. Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbeldon player was dying of AIDS which he got due to infected blood he received during a Heat Surgery in 1983.

He received letters from his fans, one of which conveyed: “Why did God have to select you for suh a bad disease?”

To this Arthur Ashe replied: 50 Million learnt to play Tennis, 500,000 learned professional Tennis, 5 Thousand reached Grandslam, 50 reached Wimbledon, 4 reached the semifinals, 2 reached the finals, And when I was holding the cup in my hand I never asked God “Why Me?” So now in pain how can I ask God “Why Me?” Happiness keeps you Sweet!!

Trials keeps you Strong!!

Sorrows keeps you Human!!

Failure keeps you Humble!!

Success keeps you Glowing!!

But only, Faith keeps you Going.

If wealth is the secret to happiness, then the rich should be dancing on the streets. But only poor kids do that.

If power ensures security, then VIPs should walk unguarded.

If beauty and fame bring ideal relationships, then celebrities should have the best marriages.

Those who live simply sleep soundly.

LIVE SIMPLY. WALK HUMBLY. And LOVE GENUIENLY…!

Then all GOOD will come back to you.

LIFE IS A JOURNEY Life is like a journey on a train... with its stations... with changes of routes... and with accidents !

We board this train when we are born and our parents are the ones who get our ticket.

We believe they will always travel on this train with us.

However, at some station our parents will get off the train, leaving us alone on this journey.

As time goes by, other passengers will board the train, many of whom will be significant - our siblings, friends, children, and even the love of our life.

Many will get off during the journey and leave a permanent vacuum in our lives.

Many will go so unnoticed that we won’t even know when they vacated their seats and got off the train!

Sometimes you are unsatisfied with your life, while many people in this world are dreaming of living your life.

This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, good-byes, and farewells.

A child on a farm sees a plane fly overhead and dreams of flying, but A pilot on the plane sees the farmhouse and dreams of returning home.

A good journey is helping, loving, having a good relationship with all co passengers... and making sure that we give our best to make their journey comfortable.

That’s life!! Enjoy yours…..

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The mystery of this fabulous journey is; We do not know at which station we ourselves are going to get off.

So, we must live in the best way adjust, forget, forgive, and offer the best of what we have.

It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to leave our seat... we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.

Thank you for being one of the important passengers on my train... don’t know when my station will come...don’t want to miss saying “THANK YOU”.

CHALLENGES IN LIFE. In our life, problems may go from “Haydards 2000” to “Haywards5000”.

But we must take them as “Royal Challenge”. Otherwise people will call us “Old Monk” and put a “Black Label” on our name. So we must learn from “Teachers” to fight like “Jack Daniel”. Live like a “Bagpiper”. Walk like “Johny Walker”. Work till “8 PM”.

Think like “Director Special”. Then life will be “Imperial” and we will become “Aristocrat”.

And there will be value for “Signature”.

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FOCUS ON MISSION 2016

By TM Ahsan Ghori

The Vision of millennium club is to be the best TM club in the region by 2016. How far have we reached in the path leading to that goal & what measures need to be taken to achieve the goal? I know for sure we have made good strides & lot of discussion have been going on in the social media about Millennium club world wide. I was pondering about things that need to be done to double the efforts & it was always in my mind.

One day I was sitting in the dining room of my home and eating my breakfast. My eyes wandered to the fruit basket kept on the table with all kinds of fruits in them. Among them was a red apple which caught my attention. I kept looking at it & the more I focused on that fruit the more intrigued I was.

Let me ask you a question, what comes to your mind when you see an apple?

Well, I started asking people around & most of them said ‘A” for apple ,“An apple day keeps the doctor away” or “Steve Jobs” so on & so forth.

Well, I could relate four things with an apple.

1. God’s gift 2. Precision & Trust 3. Inspiration 4. Quality God’s gift - According to old scriptures Adam ate the apple that was forbidden to eat by God and forever since it got stuck in all men’s throat. Place you hand in your necks and feel the protrusion. That is God’s gift to men.

Precision & trust - A sharp shooter Nelson placed the apple on his sons head and with precise aim shot the arrow to demonstrate his skills & his son had so much trust in his dad he took up that challenge. This shows trust & precision.

Inspiration- While Newton was taking rest under an apple tree, an apple fell down. The gravity of that Situation inspired Newton to discover Gravity.

Quality - The apple product which

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attained success because of innovation and Quality.

All the above are required to achieve success. But what struck me was “Quality” is one area that the Millennium club need to focus on if the mission is to be accomplished.

I suggest the simple QMS of ISO 9000 can be used effectively if implemented.

We all want Quality isn’t? We say good quality, bad quality etc., etc. but, What is Quality?

Well, there are many definitions for Quality.

Let me give you one from the consumer’s perspective “Quality is defined as Meeting or exceeding customers’ expectations”. So the premise here is to make Millennium club meet or exceed the member’s expectations. ISO 9001;2008 is based on 8 QMS principles.

1. Customer Focus.

Members make a club. So our aim should be to attract more members.

Members join the club for varied reasons & have their own goals.

We need to know the needs of the members & meet their requirements.

Strive to exceed their expectations.

2. Leadership.

Leaders take the organization to the forefront. To do that we need to create an internal environment wherein people become fully involved in achieving the organizations objectives.

3. Involvement of people.

Essence of family is its members, essence of a country is its people & essence of a club is its members.

Full involvement of the members enables the abilities of talented members to benefit the organization.

Eg we have seen in the case of Our VP PR showcasing his talent which benefited the club internationally by becoming renowned. We created a PR niche in the Toastmasters circle. I know many have not let their cat out of the bag yet and leaders need to make sure the cats come out.

4. Process Approach.

What is a process?

Input Related Activities Out put Every input has an out put. The input to output need to be managed efficiently by streamlining the things with the available resources. So the leaders need to know what resources are available with us and use it efficiently.

5. System approach.

Have a system in place To manage the resources efficiently we need to have a system in place.

Managing through a system and organizing effectively leads a step closer to achieving the objective.

6. Continual improvement.

Do you know the difference between continuous and continual?

Continual improvement should be the permanent objective because continuous improvement will peak and lead to fall whereas continual improvement will take you to higher levels gradually.

7. Factual approach to decision making.

Colecting Data: Data collection is important to know what is happening & act accordingly.

We always need data for effective decision making. We are already do it by recording the no of participants in the meetings & roles they take so on and so forth.

PLAN – DO – CHECK – ACT is a factual approach.

8. Mutually beneficial relationship.

Being friendly with other clubs Always maintain relationship with other clubs so that it is beneficial & enhances the ability to create value for our club.

This 8 simple QMS principles are the basis to get the Quality product according to the QMS manuals

by International organizations of standards. Very Simple isn’t?

If we follow the 8 basic principles of QMS I am sure we will become the apple of the eye in this region. By 2016 we will achieve the objective or Goal Mission 2016 by becoming the best in this region. Millennium is where leaders make it happen.

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EVENTS

Millennium Toastmasters celebrated their 15th anniversary along with 90th anniversary of Toastmasters International.

The Blue Heron 2nd issue was released on the same day in the presence of past presidents of Millennium club and senior leaders of Division H.

Blue Heron 2nd issue unveiled by TM Sujith Sukaumaran LGET

Excom members with TME Salim Sayyid

Blue Heron 2nd issue being unveiled

Senior leaders and past presidents cutting the celebration cake

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Congratulations CLUB CONTEST WINNERS INTERNATIONAL SPEECH

Winners: TM Suresh Gopal, Ahsan Ghori, Dileepraj Abdul Razack and Suresh Moolayil

1. TM Ahsan Ghori 2. TM Dileepraj Abdul Razack 3. TM Suresh Moolayil EVALUATION SPEECH

1. TM Ahsan Ghori 2. TM Dileepraj Abdul Razack 3. TM Suresh Gopal TABLE TOPIC SPEECH

1. TM Suresh Moolayil 2. TM Suresh Gopal 3. TM Ahsan Ghori

Contestents

The contest winners with judges and role players

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EVENTS

The 6th Club promotional poster was unveiled by MTM Pratima Mishra

CLUB PROMOTIONAL POSTERS LAUNCHED Increasing club membership is extremely important for any club. Millennium toastmasters published a series of effective promotional posters and flyers to reach out to potential members. As a result, the posters turned into many memberships. Listed below are the recent promotional posters unveiled by senior Toastmasters.

The 7th Club promotional poster was unveiled by TM Abraham Raju

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BRANDING WORKSHOP BY TM ABDUL NASSER

TM Abdul Nasser at the Branding workshop

TM Abdul Nasser with PR Team

EDUCATIONAL SESSION BY TM SALIM SAYYID

A power packed educational session was conducted by TM Salim Sayyid on ‘How to win international contests‘.

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Flowers and Quotes TM Abdul Nasser

E R U T PIC ALKS T

is the most beautiful flower, whose petals open one by one. But it will only grow in “theThemud.lotusIn order to grow and gain wisdom, first you must have the mud...the obstacles of life and its suffering. The mud speaks of the common ground that humans share, no matter what our stations in life. Whether we have it all or we have nothing, we are all faced with the same obstacles: sadness, loss, illness, dying and death. If we are to strive as human beings to gain more wisdom, more kindness and more compassion, we must have the intention to grow as a lotus and open each petal one by one - Goldie Hawn

�

Abdul Nasser M: +9712 50 6713413 Email: kpanaser@gmail.com www.nasserphotographix.com

Want to see more pictures? visit:

/nasserphotographix

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“

Bloom like a flower; unfold your own beauty - Debasish Mridha

“

“

“

Love is like a beautiful flower which I may not touch, but whose fragrance makes the garden a place of delight just the same.

- Helen Keller

“

Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower

“

- Hans Christian Andersen

“

Rose spreads its fragrance. His fragrance is his message

- Sushil Singh

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“

Love is the flower of life but happiness is the fragrance of that flower.

- Debasish Mridha

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“

Everyone was a rose but even more complex than a mere flower. Everyone was made up of infinitely layered petals. And everyone had something indescribably precious at the heart of their being. No one was shallow. Not really.

- Mary Balogh.

”

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MILLENNIUM TOASTMASTERS

CLUB AWARDS 2014-2015 Millennium Toastmasters, Abu Dhabi (Club #6664) introduces awards for both Millennium Club Members and members of other clubs, as a token of appreciation and recognition for their individual achievements and contribution to the Club during the year 2014 - 2015.

Awards to Millennium Members

• THE BEST TOASTMASTER OF THE YEAR • ATTENDANCE AWARD Awards to Members of Other Clubs

• WISDOM PROVIDER AWARD • ATTENDANCE AWARD 1. The Best Toastmaster of the Year Award [Millennium Members only] The Best Toastmaster of the year award aims at recognizing the individual member’s achievements and their contributions to the club. It is a recognition for the member’s Personal Development by encouraging active participation in club meetings and other activities. The winner of this award will be selected on the basis of points assigned to each member, for various roles she/he performed and contributions made to the club during the year 2014-2015.

2. Wisdom Provider Award [Members of Other Clubs] Millennium Toastmasters believes that sharing of knowledge is important for the development of the self as well as of others. Sharing of knowledge as well as a keen observation skills are effective ways of self development- ‘Keep company with wise men and you will be wise’. Millennium Club introduces the ‘WISDOM PROVIDER AWARD’ to members of other clubs to recognize and appreciate their contribution to Millennium club and its members. The winner of this award will be selected on the basis of points assigned against each role, for the contributions they made to Millennium Club and for the development of its members during 2014-2015.

3. Attendance Award [Millennium Club Members] The purpose of the award is to encourage members to attend maximum number of meetings. Hearing and observing others are powerful ways to advance towards individual goals, as well as for personal development. The winner will be selected on the basis of number of meetings he/she attended during 2014-2015.

4. Attendance Award [Members of Other Clubs] The award aims at maximum participation of other club members in Millennium club meetings with an objective of knowledge sharing and development. The recipient will be the Toastmaster from any other club, who attended the maximum number of Millennium Club meetings during 2014-2015.

Allocation of Points for selection Best Toastmaster of the Year and Wisdom provider awards.

Criteria Points

Criteria Points

Criteria Points

Attendance 10

Thought 2

Article for news letter

10

TME 10

Ah Counter

Education Session

10

Manual Speech

5

2

Grammarian 2

Competent/Advanced level

Speech Evaluation 3

Mentee Speech

communicator/Leader* 10

Timer 2

Humor 2

Mentors of above TMs

3

Table Topic Master 3

Guests 3

Participating in club Contest*

5

Table Topic

2

Guests to Member

Participating in area contest* 10

Word Master

2

On time payment of membership fee* 10+10

General Evaluator

5

*For Millennium members only

2

10

Participating in Div. Contest*

15

Participating in Dist. Contest* 20

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CREATED TO INSPIRE Triangle Toastmasters club from Australia got inspired by our club promotional posters and used it to promote their club. Many other international clubs had asked us earlier for the creative rights to use the images to promote their clubs. We are seeing it as an international recognition for the efforts we put in to promote Toastmasters in general. All the published posters and newsletters can be downloaded from our host site: http://6664.toastmastersclubs.org/downloads.html

Comments from the International Toastmasters Official Facebook page.

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