the
WORD BLAST Newsletter of Word Blasters Toastmasters Club
January -March 2017
We were at the Officer Training Program January 22, 2017 @ RCU Skills Center...
TM Prabath Karunanayake (President), TM Lal Jayawardene (VP Ed), TM Ramon Aldons (VP PR), TM K.G. Gamage (Treasure) and TM Charith Perera (VP Mem) listening attentively to the Area Director
Contents Speechcraft Season 7 Grand Finale
2
Different Location Meeting
3
Themed Meeting
5
Speech Contests International Speech and Table Topics
7
Why Public Speaking is Important for Corporate Executives
8
Wordblasters' Achievements
10
A word from the President This has been yet another eventful three months for Wordblasters TMC. Starting with the very first Grand Finale for a Speechcraft programme, to an entertaining Outside Venue meeting at the Cafe Iceland, to a Themed Meeting on valentine's Day, and to the International Speech and Table Topics club contests, the past three months kept all the members and the ExCo highly involved in Toastmasters activities. This is in addition to the community speechcraft programme season 7 and the corporate speechcraft at ICC which required many of the members to sacrifice their Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons for Toastmasters business. Looking back at the events during this period, we can be really prooud of the achievements of the Club. Now that the present ExCo is nearing the end of its term, we all can hold our heads high because during our tenure the Club has grown in every aspect. In terms of communication we produced two CCs, one ACS and one ACG in addition to podium finishes in both International Speech and Table Topics contests at the Area level. In terms of leadership we produced two ALBs and, of course, an Area Director. The past has been bright, the future will be brighter! TM Prabath Karunanayake ACS, ALB
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Speechcraft Season 6 Grand Finale For the very first time, a Speechcraft program was followed by a glittering Grand Finale. True to the word, it was a GRAND finale. The highlight of the evening was the speech contest among the speechcrafters. It was an awesome display of speaking talent, to say the least. All 6 contestants, the youngest being only 12 years, demonstrated what could be gained through a well-designed and welldelivered Speechcraft program. How can you forget the entertainment items performed by the participants. They made it clear that it is not only speaking that they are good at, but also signing and dancing. Kasun Hettiarachchi
Second runner-up Rishni Weeraman
Rasika Nandanie
First runner-up Chathura Samaraweera
Winner Sachini Uduge THE WORD BLAST n Page 2
Different location meeting Date : Monday, 23rd January 2017 Venue : Café Iceland, Iceland Business Center, Colombo 3 “It is a special meeting. Firstly, it is held at an outside venue which brings in variety and interest. Secondly, there are as much as 7 guests from the last speechcraft.” Round Robin
THEME of the day
Action dinner Gastronomy (noun)
The practice of choosing, cooking and eating good food.
WORD of the day
Prepared Speeches Role players
TM Prabath Karunanayake ACS10 Manual Specialty Speeches Project Read out loud Topic The monk who sold his Ferrari Evaluator TM Mahesh Abeysekara Citing Jallikattu as an example, theme given for the Round Robin was animal cruelty and using animals in games and recreation. Speakers enthusiastically spoke about protecting animal rights and what we as individuals can do for that.
Table Topics Master TM Carmel Clayton Evaluator KG Gamage Bringing a twist to the Table Topics, TT Master brought cases of Titanic victims and survivors and challenged the speakers to relate to the emotions of the family members when they heard the news. TM Sehan Soyza and TM Ravi Wisidaqama took up the challenge.
Toastmaster TM Aruna Wickramarachchi Prabath completed
ACS
TM Imara Ismeth CC6
Competent Communicator Manual Vocal variety Project A moment of nervous excitement Topic TM Naleef Kitchil Evaluator
General Evaluator TM Charles Anton George
TM Koushalya Weerawardene CC4 Manual Competent Communicator Project How to say it Topic Power of Power Evaluator TM Mahesh Abeysekara
Grammarian TM Ramon Aldons
TM Carmel Clayton CC7
Competent Communicator Manual Research your topic Project How safe is air travel Topic TM Naleef Kitchil Evaluator
Timer TM Nishantha Liyanage
TM George Silva CC8
Manual Competent Communicator Project Visual aids Topic Use of Colour in Business Evaluator TM Prabath Karunanayake
Ah-counter TM Falulullah Maulana
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Themed meeting Date : Monday, 13th February 2017 Venue : Royal College Union Skills Center, Colombo 07 “This is a time to celebrate love, cherish relationships and appreciate the loved ones who have made our lives ever so brighter and to spread the word of love all across the world.” Round Robin Going by the theme of the meeting, the Round Robin was conducted around the theme of love and affection.
Table Topics Master TM Aruna Wickramarachchi Evaluator TM Carmel Clayton The topics selected by the Topics Master matched the them of the day. ‘My dream partner’, ‘Most romantic dinner’, ‘My first love’, ‘Most romantic holiday destination’ and ‘How I met my partner’ were the topics. The speakers took part enthusiastically and poured their hearts out on some life secrets.
Riqaza won the prize for the best TT speaker
THEME of the day
Valentine’s Day Unconditional
(adjective) Not limited by conditions
WORD of the day
Prepared Speeches Role players
TM Janaka Dias CC1
Manual Competent Communicator Project Ice Breaker Topic My life story Evaluator TM Nishantha Liyanage
TM Aruna Mapalagamage CC8
Toastmaster TM Koushi Weerawardene
Competent Communicator Manual Visual Aids Project Solar Power Topic TM Prabath Karunanayake Evaluator
TM Carmel Clayton CC8
Manual Competent Communicator Project Visual Aids Topic Our National Flag Evaluator TM Nishantha Liyanage
TM George Antony Silva CC9
Competent Communicator Manual Persuade with Power Project Dark Chocolate Topic TM Prabath Karunanayake Evaluator
Educational Session TM Lal Jayawardene conducted a very informative educational session on ‘Toastmasters Educational Programme’. He emphasized the importance of progressing on both communication and leadership tracks simultaneously and encouraged the new members to pay attention to the CL manual as well.
General Evaluator TM Mahesh Abeysekara
Grammarian TM Indika Tantreewattage
Timer TM K.G. Gamage
Ah-counter TM Falulullah Maulana
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Speech Contests International Speech and Table Topics The sixth International Speech and Table Topics contests of Wordblasters TMC was held on 20th February 2017 at the RCU Skills Center. The International Speech contest was contested by four and the Table Topics contest by five. There were excellent speeches put on show by the contestants. TM Nadarasar Bahavan spoke passionately about the menace of child abuse while TM George Antony Silva entertained the audience with a speech on the power of smile.
TM Ramon Aldons and TM Prabath Karunanayake inspired the audience with speeches on overcoming disability and pursuing happiness respectively. The Chief Judge, TM Nalin de Silva posed a challenging Table Topic for the contestants – ‘Rolling stone gathers no moss’. The contestants were upto the task and delivered some fantastic speeches.
Chief Judge, TM Nalin de Silva, TM George Antony Silva (Second runner-up – International Speech), TM Prabath Karunanayake (Winner – International Speech and Table Topics), TM Ramon Aldons, TM Nadarasar Bahavan (First runner-up – International Speech and Table Topics), TM Indika Tantreewattage and Contest Chair, TM Charith Perera. TM Prabath Karunanayake and TM George Antony Silva (since TM Nadarasar Bahavan could not make it) represented Wordblasters at the Area E2 contest held at Ceylinco Life Auditorium. TM Prabath Karunanayake was placed as the first runner-up at the International Speech contest and second runner-up at the Table Topics contest. He will be representing Wordblasters at the Division Contest on 02nd April 2017. THE WORD BLAST n Page 7
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you could reach if you stood up on stage and had them all gathered together in an audience! If you’re speaking to an audience of 500 versus one-on-one, then you’re driving serious change. The more people you’re able to speak to, the more change you can implement. You will get to know yourself If you want to learn to inspire others, you have to first connect to yourself. Who are you? What do you believe in? What change do you seek in the world at large – and how does that relate to the work you’re doing?
You will gain greater clarity of message If you hone your skills and become a very inspiring speaker, that involves figuring out clearly what you want to say. Rather than throwing forward ‘here’s all the things I want to say’, you filter it for your audience. An inspiring public speaker will be able to take one idea, one narrative thread, and make that the focus of their speech. They will take that thread and allow it to guide the audience through the message. Brilliant public speaking is just as much about filtering out information as it is providing information. If you are able to communicate in a simple and clear way, you will be able to communicate more effectively to a greater number of people whether they are internal experts or external clients.
You will connect with people more easily People ‘buy’ people. As an inspiring speaker you will learn how to be passionate in the right moments and vulnerable in the right mo-
ments. People will be able to relate to you more as a human being. Public speaking can definitely serve you in your career by promoting more alliances, liking and trusting you more as they see you being empathetic. If you speak in a way that is honest, public speaking can make you the ‘people’s champion’ in your organization. Connect with your personal stories, share who you are and you’ll be amazed at how your audience will connect with you.
You will be able to drive change
Who do we listen to more; the convincing voice spoken to our faces, or the convincing email sent straight to our inbox? The person speaking is always going to be more convincing than a note sent across the internet. You could spend your time going from person to person, if that is your comfort zone. But think about how many more people
The big picture thinker is always needed in an organization, to hold course, whilst the technicians do the leg-work. If you want to be that big picture thinker, who ultimately directs the future of your organization, it makes sense for you to learn the skill of inspiring public speaking. With these outrageous returns on investment, would you even spend a minute in contemplation before joining the band wagon? Shed all your doubts and negative thoughts about public speaking and get on board. Join the Toastmasters movement, and the day won’t be far when you reap the highlighted benefits to make your corporate career a success. Contributor Dr. Prabath Karunanayake ACS, ALB President, Word Blasters Toastmasters Club Director HR, China Harbour Engineering
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