Zero to Hero

At the beginning of 2023, Qatar Mothers Toastmasters, much like any other club, had humble aspirations. Our members joined with the hope of enhancing their public speaking skills, forging connections, and, perhaps most importantly, enjoying the exhilaration of delivering speeches. What we didn't anticipate, however, was that this year would unfold as a remarkable journey of transformation. It's a story of perseverance, unwavering dedication, and the relentless spirit of our members to conquer adversity and seize unforeseen opportunities.

As the year commenced, I had little inkling of the transformative journey that awaited Qatar Mothers Toastmasters. Our first encounter with AD Rajend at a demo meeting left an indelible impression. His warm demeanor and infectious enthusiasm captured our attention, even though we were unsure of his role as an Area Director. Little did we know that this encounter would set in motion a series of events that would shape our club's destiny.

In the months that followed, our club continued to meet regularly, progressing steadily through various education modules and speeches However, an invisible hindrance loomed over us: our progress on the dashboard had come toast and still. It wasn't until later, around February or March, that our interactions with AD Rajend took a deeper turn. It was during this time that he extended an unexpected invitation, one that would change the course of our journey.

The invitation was to lead the Evaluation Contest for the area a role I accepted with some hesitation. Uncertain about what lay ahead, I questioned the feasibility of the task. AD Rajend's response was simple yet powerful, "Just do it". Little did I know that this phrase would become our mantra, guiding us through the uncharted waters of our journey.

As the contest drew near, AD Rajend encouraged us to take a bolder step compete in the contest The catch? Most of our members hadn't even started their Level 1 pathways. Through determination and unwavering persistence, I managed to convince members such as Nisha, Salma, Tinu, Shirin, and Shabuna to participate. It marked the beginning of our transformation.

With sheer determination, I managed to motivate members to participate in the contest. The result? An unexpected triumph as Shirin and Shabuna emerged victorious. This victory marked a turning point in our Toastmasters journey, reigniting our passion and drive.

Following this exhilarating win, Shirin and Shabuna ventured to participate in the Div E Contests. Their unwavering dedication and commitment paid off as they clinched the 3rd place in the International and Malayalam speech categories, respectively. While they may not have advanced to the District Level, their remarkable achievements had already won the hearts of the division. They stood as young champions of a fledgling club, a testament to what determination and resilience can accomplish.

Although we had champion speakers, we were still behind in our DCP goals. With a whole lot of motivation from our Div. E Director DTM Lakshmi Sharada, we managed to progress in our membership goals. We continued to secure additional accolades at the District Level.

While our awards count might have been modest compared to well established clubs, these achievements held immense significance for us. It was a remarkable feat for a club that had been on the brink of obsolescence to not only survive but also emerge as a triumphant contender.

The arrival of summer brought unique challenges. In July, most of our club members embarked on summer vacations, leaving only a handful behind. Meetings continued, but motivation began to wane. I, too, ventured away and returned to find just 2-3 members remaining in town. We couldn't even hold a single meeting. Amid announcements for the Smedley Award and incentives, despair began to set in. Our membership had dwindled to just 12 members, compared to 21 in the previous term. The situation seemed dire, but I was determined to rise above it.

I took the decision to announce our Open House for Sep 16th.We would hold a meeting, and if we had enough guests showing interest, it would become an open house; otherwise, it would be a regular meeting. This decision carried the weight of uncertainty, but it was a risk I was willing to take.

The Division E Excellence Awards arrived, bringing both recognition and realization. We received awards based on nominations from Immediate Past Div E Director DTM Lakshmi Sharada. These awards hinted at a promising future, though our membership numbers remained far from the required target.

Part of our EXCOM team was back VPE Salma, VPM Alvia, VPPR Shabna and stand-in Secretary Seema. We conducted an impromptu meeting and delegated the responsibilities for the open house in addition to the social media posts, we reached out to influencers to share our posts. We got featured on social media pages such as @newindoha @qatarday with 120 - 150Kfollowers. Influencers including @affblogs, @mommy_musingsss and @banjarans_lifestyle shared our flyers to support.

Our newest members, AlWala, Alina, and Seema, took on crucial roles and began preparations for the open house. TM AlWala introduced a unique theme, "Thinking Outside the Box: Unleash Your Inner Superheroine Powers," which proved engaging, interactive, and empowering. The result was the addition of two new members, TM Sania and DDD Eman, within a week. The journey continued as Shahinas and Trapti joined our ranks.

As we inched closer to the Smedley Award and incentives deadline, the pressure was on District Director DTM Ravishankar's constant encouragement and support kept us going. By the end of September, we achieved the impossible. We got 10 new members! Not only did we secure the Smedley Award, but we also met the district's membership incentives.

Our journey hasn’t stopped at membership targets; we also set our sights on educational awards. VPE Salma and I completed our projects, achieving two Distinguished Club Program (DCP) goals. Our club now boasts five goals on the dashboard as of September end and is already a Distinguished club, compared to the previous year when we reached Distinguished status only in April.

This remarkable journey of Qatar Mothers Toastmasters from Zero to Hero is a testament to the power of determination, mentorship, and the relentless pursuit of excellence We could not have done it without the mentoring of AD DTM Rajend Menon or the guidance of Immediate Past Div E Director DTM Lakshmi Sharada.

Our transformation from a club with modest aspirations to one that will achieve the President's Distinguished Club status soon is a story of passion, resilience, and unwavering commitment within the Toastmasters community reiterating that it is essential to defy the impossible!