Oasis Outlook Vol 3 Issue 2 - April 2021

ISSUE 03 • VOL 02 • APRIL 2021

OASIS OUTLOOK E X P L O R E

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E X C E L L E N C E

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E N J O Y

editor's note -TM GIHAN JAYAWEERA CHIEF EDITOR - OASIS OUTLOOK VPPR OF OASIS TOASTMASTERS 2020/2021 I am delighted to be the Editor-in-Chief of the third edition of the oasis toastmasters club's oasis outlook magazine.

My main objective was to bring to you the most interesting aspects of the activities of our club which were carried out with some difficulty but continuously subject to the new rules and regulations imposed in the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation from the beginning of the year.

I strongly believe that there is nothing impossible as a team and I have created a small team of people from the oasis family with different abilities and ideas to support me in this work as well.

TM Chamodith Ranasinghe, TM Sithiji Kavishma and TM Muzaffar Mazaheem are members of my team and their support as content creators was a great help in completing this task. It is my responsibility to create a backup team for the future PR activities of the club as the current VPPR of the club and I have started training the above team for this.

The advice and guidance of the experienced members of our club was a great help in making the second volume of third launch of oasis out look a success and my special thanks to TM Chamil Madusanka and TM Chirantha Sirikumara who have always been with us advising from the beginning.

Finally, a big thank you to my team, authors of articles, and our lovely

members

&

guests

for

their

utmost

commitment

and

contribution in giving life to Oasis Outlook. after all, it is this care and devotion that ignites the spirit and binds a family together!

TM MUZAFFAR

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MESSAGE OF AREA DIRECTOR -TM CHAMIL MADUSANKA -

It’s my great pleasure to share my thoughts through the second Newsletter of Oasis Toastmasters Club, in the toastmasters year 2020/2021.

At the beginning of the year, Area F1 set the goal with the theme of “Grow Together” 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.

Oasis TMC has become a pillar of Area F1 in every aspect. The new leadership of the Oasis 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 that I had with Oasis TMC for the last ten months, I’m delighted with how the leadership of Oasis has driven this club with a splendid effort to achieve numerous goals and milestones.

Strengthening membership during the first 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.

They have already achieved 10 DCP points, the Smedley award, Talk up Award, 8-80 award.

Therefore, I’m confident that members will get the maximum benefits

through the Toastmaster's experience because of this effort of the leadership. The other point that I have noticed is how members of Oasis are enjoying themselves at every point that they will be connected and working together. This reflects the positive culture that supports members to grow with a positive learning experience.

I would wish all the members of the Oasis Toastmasters Club all the best to achieve the pinnacle of success this year.

Chamil Madusanka Area Director Area 1 | Division F | District 82

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MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT -TM NEETHA PERERA-

First of all let me say it has been a very wonderful and rewarding year for me as the president at oasis toastmasters club. Even though we have faced great difficulties with covid pandemic we could manage to continue our club meetings regularly. The Exco members also did a remarkable job. All members worked very hard to make the club outstanding. I want to thank exco members especially , our immediate past president AD TM Chamil Madusanka and our VP Education TM Chirantha Sirikumara for their unconditional support.

This year we have achieved “President distinguished” status and we are ahead on to the Golden Gavel award.

I am proud to have been a part of this past year's progress. Most of us initially joined toastmasters

with one common goal of improving our public speaking. But after

joining toastmasters I experienced lots of things like Leadership ,Friendship , loyalty and helpfulness .That is why I am so happy about my decision of being a toastmaster.

A toastmasters meeting is unlike any other—Here you speak, you play roles ,you evaluate and you mentor. At the end of each meeting you come out with a feeling of a sense of accomplishment and feel like you found new family ,that you can never get elsewhere.

Finally, I am very pleased to become a member of oasis family and we are very proud of being on the way of success as a team NEETHA PERERA PRESIDENT OF OASIS TOASTMASTERS 2020/2021

REMEMBERING

FOUNDER PRESIDENT TM CHANDRA LIYANAARACHCHI 2010/11 EXPLORE I S S U E

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PRESIDENTS WHO LED THE CLUB 2010/11 TMCHANDRA LIYANAARACHCHI

2012/13 TM SARATH LIYANARACHCHI

2013/14 TM NIPUNA WEERAKKODY

2014/15 TM UPENDRA WELGAMA 2016/17TM MANJULA DIAS

2018/19TM CHIRANTHA SIRIKUMARA

2020/21 TM NEETHA PERERA

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2011/12 TM MEENAKSHI RANASINGHE

2015/16 TM PULITHA SIYSMBSLSGODA 2017/18 TM WIMAL RAJAPAKSHA

2019/20 TM CHAMIL MADUSANKA

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JOURNEY TO THE SUCCESS I’m very happy to serve as the Vice President of Education at Oasis Toastmasters Club during Toastmaster year 2020/21. We are all aware that this year was not a regular year due to the Covid 19 pandemic. There were lots of challenges that we had to overcome,but as a club and as a team, we were able to face those challenges successfully. Now we come to the end of the first half of the Toastmaster year 2020/21. By the mid of April 2021, as a club, we were able to achieve a lot.

Following are a few achievements.

Achieved 10 DCP points 100% pathway enrolment Gained 94 points – Club Quality & Engagement Points - As of 15th April 2021 Now we are almost towards the end of toastmasters year 2020/21. As vp Education I’m proud to say we have achieved all the education targets given by Toastmasters International. Although we have enough educational achievements, we always encourage our members to complete their educational goals.

As the Vice President of Education, it is my duty to train the next team of VP Education. For this I have selected four members from my club, namely TM Senodi Adhikari, TM Sithiji Kavishma, TM Chamodith Ranasinghe and TM Pushpitha Senerath. Now they are working with me for all VP Education related work and gradually I pass my knowledge and experience to them so that they can learn the role and perform better than me in the future.

CHIRANTHA SIRIKUMARA VP EDUCATION - OASIS TMC

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member achievements

PATHWAYS LEVEL - 5

PATHWAYS LEVEL - 4

PATHWAYS LEVEL - 3

PATHWAYS LEVEL - 2

PATHWAYS LEVEL - 1

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This is life

So, what should I do when I want to give up?

“Life is never easy. There is work to be done and obligations to be met – obligations to truth, to justice, and to liberty.” - John F. Kennedy

TM SITHIJI

KAVISHMA TM Sithiji is a recent Oasis toastmaster connecting with great enthusiasm. Currently, she is reading her BA(Hons) in the University of Kaleniya, and meantime she is a TV personality. She has completed her Level 1 and has launched Level 2 under the pathway of Effective coaching.

I am struggling today. If you

But

have

consistent

struggling today. Today, I don't

you

care

want to study. Today, I don’t

about, maybe my efforts will

want to stick to the routine.

resonate with you.

Today, I don’t think my brain

with

tried

to

be

something

today?

supports

me

Well,

with

I

my

am

daily

It is nearly 365 days since I

studies. Looks like my mind is

have started my degree. Some

exhausted, and I don’t have

days most glorious, some days

enough time to give myself a

most frustrating and stressful I

break or procrastinate. Today,

have

I want to give up.

managed

to

my

best

level so far.

TODAY I WANT TO GIVE UP

YOUR MIND IS A SUGGESTION ENGINE Consider every idea you think is a suggestion, not an order.

Now, my thoughts show that I am tired. Suggest that I give up. This shows that I have taken a simple path.

However, if I pause for a while, I will find new suggestions. My thoughts also imply that once this work is completed, I will

Research from the University

be very happy. This shows that

of

I will respect the identity I am

Pennsylvania

shows

that

perseverance is a trait closely

building

related to success. I can use

schedule. This shows that I

some grit today.

can complete this task, even if

when

I

follow

the

I don't want to.

This is what I want to remind myself when I want to give

Remember, these suggestions

up...

are not commands. They are just choices. I have the right to choose the option to follow.

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ONCE COMPLETED, YOU WILL NEVER REGRET GOOD WORK.

DISCOMFORT IS TEMPORARY Compared to the usual day or

Theodore Roosevelt once famously said: "Far and away the

time of the week, nearly any

best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at

habit

over

work worth doing.." Therefore, we often seem to want to easily

quickly. Your workout will be

complete the work that is worth doing. . We want our work to

completed

two

be helpful and respected, but we don't want to struggle in our

be

work. We want our stomachs to be flat and our arms strong,

submitted tomorrow morning.

but we don't want to wear it through another workout. We

This article will be completed

need the final result, not the failed attempt before the final

soon.

result. We need gold, but no grinding.

Life now is easier than ever.

Anyone would want a gold medal. But a few people want to

300 years ago, if you didn't

train like Olympians.

hours.

you

perform in

Your

one

report

is or will

hunt for your food and build your own house, you would

However, despite our resistance, after completing the due

die. Today, we complain and

hard work, I have never found myself feeling worse. There

whine

were days when it was so difficult to start assignments with

about

forgetting

our

iPhone charger.

three-four due in a week, but it was always worth completing.

Sometimes, even the simple act of appearing ordinary and

Maintain perspective. Your life

having

is good, and your discomfort is

celebrating.

temporary.

THIS IS LIFE ❤ ❤

Step

into

the

moment of thinking pattern and

let

it

increase

your

strength.

the

courage

to

do

the

work

is

a

victory

worth

Life is a constant balance between giving in to the ease of distraction or overcoming the pain of discipline. It is no exaggeration to say that our lives and identities are defined in this delicate balance. What is life, if not the sum of 100,000 daily battles and small decisions to either make it or give it up?

This moment you don’t feel like doing the work? This is not a moment to be thrown away. This is not a dress rehearsal. This moment, like any other moment, is your life. The way you spend it will ultimately make you proud.

Let the world decide

So, what should I do when I want to give up? I show up.

Do I show up at my best? I doubt it. But my job is not to judge how good or bad I am.

My job is to do things to my best level and let my teachers decide.

- TM Sithiji Kavishma EXPLORE I S S U E

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JOINT MEETINGS 2020/21 There are friends, there's family and then there are friends that become family. Oasis Toastmasters Club, Nittambuwa had a speacial joint meeting with Kegalle Toastmasters Club. With the idea of celebrating the marriage of TM Chamil Madushanka and TM Prarthana Liyanaarachchi,they got the theme as "නෑග ". Entire Meeting was full with love and Happiness.

All the participants were informed to follow Covid 19 rules regarding the situation of the country. Toastmaster of the day was TM Senodi Adhikari from Oasis TMC and TM Deshanie Abeysinghe from Kegalle TMC was the General Evaluator on that day.

All the role players from both clubs had done their best. The meeting was rich with fantastic prepared speakers, energetic table topic speakers and clever Evaluators.

Two ice breakers started their Toastmasters Journey from such a lovely day. TM Thulsee Karunarathna from Oasis and TM Oshini Senevirathne from Kegalle received everyone's congratulations for the wonderful ice breaker speeches done.

By the vote of the participants, Best Speaker was TM Pushpitha Senerath and the Best evaluator was TM Chamira Silva. Best TT Speaker was TM Prarthana Liyanaarachchi.

There were speacial Celebrations during the meeting and also after the meeting. At the end of the day they proved 'when they have each other, they have everything'.

Anyway the day was over, adding another colourful memory to the oasis toastmasters Diary

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Chatterbox The tongue weighs practically nothing, but so few people can hold it.....

TM Thanuri Edirithilake is an experienced toastmaster who is connecting with great pleasure. Currently, she is a Veterinary surgeon after completing her degree at the University of Peradeniya.

“If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

A person may gossip on average 52 minutes per day.

It is one of the cardinal virtues

in

many

religions.

However, we fail miserably to resist our temptation of “small talk” place

Even of

the

hell

designated

for

gossipers

WHY PEOPLE GOSSIP? Gossip

communicate

PURPOSE OF INCLUDES: 1. Information

exchange

–

dissemination

of

won’t prevent us from getting

evaluative descriptions of the

those

remarks

out

social behaviors of others in

efficient

chest.

Most

these

their

information

of

of

our small

absence.

talks represent neutral topics

information

such as weather, finance, and

positive

television.

talks

Observational

or

help

The

shared

GOSSIPS

be

either

2. Entertainment – gossip used

negative.

Small

to pass time, often these

communicate,

share stirring remarks on a

could us

studies suggest a person may

bond, and spread the news

gossip on average 52 minutes

across social networks.

per day.

targeted person 3. Friendshipexchange which

trusted of

information

brings

people

together 4. Influence – eccentric gossip accepted as a social norm 5. Evolution

–

information

necessary for survival (ids: news) 6. Dynamic utility and guilt – cathartic

release

of

emotions such as anger and anxiety

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Peng et al., 2015 found that

and the target person becomes the victim. Our individual biases

our brain behaves in different

have programmed us to praise ourselves and condescend to

ways

and

others. Even in the same situation, we justify our reasons and

The

criticize others.

while

receiving

communicating subjects

of

gossip.

the

study

were

exposed to both positive and negative

rumors

themselves, close

about

celebrities,

friends.

and

Interestingly,

this revealed that self-related gossips frontal

activated cortex

the

of

the

HOW TO DEAL WITH NEGATIVE GOSSIPS It takes emotional intelligence to deal with negatively bias rumors. A targeted person could take several steps to improve the situation. These include;

pre-

Regulate negative emotions – negative rumors engender

brain.

Participants were happier to encounter about

positive

themselves

rumors than

negative

emotions

such

Calming

strategies

may

as

anxiety,

help

anger,

regulate

and

those

horror. negative

emotions. These includes:

any

other person. A scandal of a celebrity stimulated a part of

1. Breathing

dopaminergic reward systems,

2. Mindfulness

which

3. Exercise

maintains

pleasant

emotions. This suggests that

4. Unplugging from work

we are hardwired to misjudge others

while

praising

Expand your perspective – A person may either confront the

ourselves.

gossiper or feel depressed/ashamed about a negative rumor.

However, self-focusing and redefining own values relieve this

NEGATIVE GOSSIP

tension. It is best to avoid making irrational decisions based on the stirred emotions.

Negative

gossip

devastating

may

have

consequences.

Studies imply that we take negativity about others and ourselves

more

seriously.

They have the potentiality to allude, and

wreck

stir

Gossips violate

relationships

up

the

public.

manipulate the

targeted

privacy person.

and of

the

Gossip

origin and spread follow the route of Stephen Karpman’s drama triangle (Fig:1). Here, the

persecutor

starts

and

discusses the rumor with the rescuer,

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Self-compassion and forgiveness- forgiveness is a gift for yourself. Research suggests that forgiveness improves your health and overall well-being. However, forgiveness is an internal voluntary process that requires patience, time, and determination.

De-identify the situation – negative gossips reflect the gossiper's insecurities about their positions.

People

spread

negative

rumors

to

feel

better

themselves

by

comparison.

Understanding this concept helps evade the “drama triangle” Focus on positive aspects of life.

Fig 1: The triangle represents the Stephen Karpman’s drama triangle. Each point of the

triangle

denotes

a

person:

victim

(targeted person), persecutor (gossiper), rescuer (the person who heard the gossip).

(Dreskin 2020)

“Many problems in the world would disappear if we talk to each other instead of about each other” Hence, think twice when you have to utter “I know!” in a

ARE ALL GOSSIPS BAD?

conversation. Your words have gravity to hurt or heal someone.

And always remember to

The ability to form words and

converse

is

unique

Be Humble and Kind!

to

XOXO gossip girl

humans. Also, it is considered one of the fundamental acts of

human

Positive

gossips

cooperation, and

even

promote

Dreskin, R. (2020, March 6). Letting Go of the Drama Triangle.

relationships

reduces

anxiety.

gossip

lacks

However,

REFERENCES

intelligence.

Retrieved

https://www.circlesusa.org/blog/2020/03/letting-go-of-thedrama-triangle/

authenticity.

In

Forbidden.

conclusion,

gossips

are

May

14).

Retrieved

from

instincts/201905/the-truth-about-gossip Lynch, F. R., Rosnow, R. L., & Fine, G. A. (1978). Rumor and

engage at least two-third of

Gossip: The Social Psychology of Hearsay. Contemporary

conversation time gossiping. gossips

(2019,

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-

common in society. People

Positive

from

Sociology, 7(2), 212. https://doi.org/10.2307/2064733

enhance

- TM Thanuri Edirithilake -

relationships while negative gossips wreck relationships.

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NEW MEMBERS IDEAS "Public speaking is an essential part for many professions. It helps to enhance leadership skills and interpersonal communication. In my personal view, the Toastmasters international provides good foundation and guidance to develop public speaking ability of an individual. It's very interesting and enthusiastic reception given by the Oasis Toastmasters Club. Very innovative ways are applying to get the best outcome from the speakers and support given by the fellow TM are really important for the newcomers to start with confidence manner and to select the best path suite for their profession."

- TM Nalaka Liyanarachchi"Having known about the Oasis tostmaster club, I started having this urge to join the toastmaster family and get to know people and improve my speaking skills as well.

But after joining only I got to know that this club is not just about learning or improving English speaking skills but also it improves our leadership qualities and paves us the path of how to hang out with the society and to get rid of public speaking anxiety. Also should mention that I’m beyond happy and honoured to be a part of this family."

- TM Tulsee Karunanayake "I recently joined Toastmasters International. This is really a good platform for anyone who likes to improve their public speaking and communication skills. I highly appreciate the support always provided by the club members. I believe this is the best thing to break down the barriers impeding my journey to success.."- TM Upul RajasekaraI"Toastmasters came to my life through my father.. He's a past member of Negambo toast masters club.. Actually i'm inspired by him.. Toastmaster's clubs are foremost platform for all the pupil who have a burning desire to refine their speaking ability..

Literally Toastmaster's club is a best platform to be yourself in your journey..so i chose oasis toast master's club for my journey because club and the club members are my supporters to be myself in my journey" -TM Wayani DissanayakeSpeaking English is something really hard for me. When looking for a place to overcome my problem, so many people suggested me to join a toastmasters club. As a result, I choose oasis toastmasters club to begin my journey as a toastmaster. I was really amazed with the warm welcome and support which I recieived from other toastmasters. I think this is the best platform to succeed my goal of improving my communication skill while improving my soft skills too..

-TM Jamini Sanjula-

"A LONG JOURNEY TO RULE A KINGDOM STARTS WITH A SMALL STEP OF A PAWN"

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Gallery 2020/2021

WE CONTESTS

WE MEET

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I am forged in fire and sweat Melted, heated over a blaze To bring the sought out glaze Fine-tuned with knives and chisels Leaving no room for error, little Taken out of the burning fire

IMPERFECTIONS

And dipped in cold, freezing water Too harsh! Too harsh! It doesn’t matter

To perfect! To perfect! Coz that’s what mattered Hammered, beaten and molded to shape Cuts and scars to beautify the rest Colored and dusted to look the best From grains to crystals, I have turned From imperfect to perfect, I have burned Sparkling in the showroom wall Out casting a work that beats them all In loneliness, in dust, in pain Priced high, exquisite, in vain All this perfections has cost me a life A life filled with joy and precious lovers Turned me into something I didn’t wanted By my creator True beauty in life is not in perfection

- TM Gulzar Ahmed -

But rather in life’s imperfections

OASIS PUZZLEMENT-02

WORDS YOU SEE WILL DEFINE YOUR TM CAREER

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OASIS TOASTMASTERS SINCE 2010

WE MEET EVERY 2ND, AND 4TH SUNDAY FROM 9:00 TO 11:00AM

oasis.toastmasters.club.@gmail.com

PRESIDENT - TM NEETHA : 077 776 2820 VP.EDUCATION - TM CHIRANTHA : 077 915 3835 VP.MEMBERSHIP - TM BUDDHIKA : 077 210 6205 VP.PUBLIC RELATIONS - TM GIHAN : 077 455 2336

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