QMTC GAZETTE - ISSUE 1

The QMTC Gazette

From the Editor’s Desk

2022 September, when the Qatar Mother's Toastmasters Club was chartered,Iwasluckyenoughtogetthe opportunitytojoinasVPPRfortheclub. Being an absolute 'newbie' to the world of Toastmasters, taking on the role opened up a world of opportunities for me. At the time, being VPPR just meant maintaining the social media posts, designing flyers, and trying to build relationshipsfortheclub. It was at COT 1 that I discovered what theVPPRroleentails.Havingdiscovered alltheenormoustasksaVPPRshouldbe handling, I must say it was quite

overwhelming to keep up with the dynamic VPPR community of District 116. The fantastic flyers, newsletters, videos, and PR campaigns have inspired me to do more than just design that bimonthlyflyerannouncingourmeetings. All this inspiration has brought me to design the first issue of the QMTC Gazette, the very first newsletter from theQatarMother'sToastmastersClub!

Our Founder

Qatar Mother's Toastmasters Club was the brainchild of TM Fathima Najmudeen, a seasoned Toastmaster from the Care n Cure Toastmasters. It was hervisiontoempower motherslike her to be able to communicate as leaders and invest in themselves for self-growth. She started this as a club for the moms of the school her children go to but decided to make it a platform for mothers across Qatar to come together and share their stories and experiences through club meetings

while ensuringpersonal growththrough better communication and confident publicspeaking.

She helped lay the foundation for a supportive group of women who meet regularly to overcome their fears, express themselves confidently, and connect with like-minded women in meaningfulways.

EXCOM SEP 2022 – FEB 2023

Duetothisbeingagroupofmoms,with most of us working, it has been a challenge to achieve club goals. Despite all odds, the first cohort of EXCOM members managed to conduct 10 successful meetings with all members completingtheirIceBreakerprojects.

In addition, our VPE Salma Shyboub,

under the guidance of President Fathima, facilitated several educational modulesforthegroupfullofnewbiesto the Toastmasters' world. More on that later, but a special mention and thanks toourresilientEXCOMCohort1.

INDUCTION CEREMONY EXCOM SEP 2022 – FEB 2023

Our EXCOM officer induction was facilitated by Respected DTM Sabeena M K, District Club Growth Director, and Area17DirectorRajendMenon.

In addition to the new officer installation, DTM Sabeena also presented a module for the orientation of New Members. It was a thoroughly informative module with explicit tips on leveraging the resources and opportunities offered by Toastmasters Internationaltoitscommunity.

DTM Sabeena also inspired every member present to aim for the highest possible goals. 'Say you want to be an International Champion or a DTM or Division Director. Don’t just aim to be a successful communicator. Aim for the highest, and you will get there!' she

INDUCTION CEREMONY EXCOM SEP 2022 – FEB 2023

EXCOM MARCH 2023 - PRESENT

The new year brought with it several exciting changes. The most significant one that impacted our club was that PresidentFathimahadsecuredanewjob with an even more challenging role than her last. This meant that she would be unabletoleadtheclubasPresident.

To ensure the club continues its journey successfully, President Fathima nominated TM Amina as the new President.

Apart from a new VPPR, several other

EXCOM roles needed to be revisited, and a new dynamic cohort of the EXCOM has been created. The new EXCOM aims to continue the club's previous accomplishments and has already begun taking significant strides on the Toastmasters'path.

VISITS FROM LEGENDS

They say a good start is half the battle, and the initial meetings at Qatar Mothers Toastmasters Club demonstrated the true mission of Toastmasters – to provide a supportive environment. We were fortunate to have several legends of the Toastmasters community grace our meetings with their presence,

including our very own Div E Director DTM Lakshmi Sarada, as well as DTM Nisha Shivram, DTM Susmita Patnaik, DTM Joseph Stanley, DTM Alarmel Mangai, DTM Anupama Kasibatla, DTMManiRoytonameafew.

HEART TO HEART

Guardian Angels

Born and raised in Kerala, India, I was the second child in a middle-class family. I've come across several guardian angels disguised as people in my life. My first experience of an angel was my mother who was responsible for my strong educational foundation. Despite her tremendous support, I faced several challenges throughout my student life. From financial limitations to a brother with an illness, I was met with several obstacles in my educational journey. Overcoming all odds, and with the support of my second guardian angel, my father's friend, I was able to pursue and earn the B Pharm degree. After moving to Qatar, I realized how difficult the job market was. Without clearing the MOH exam in Qatar, I couldn't secure a job in the pharma industry here. After a year of struggling, I was finally hired by a reputed pharmaceutical company. During this role, I came across the third guardian angel in my journey, DTM Shanmuga Sundaram. As my manager, he pushed me to take on several responsibilities and delegated numerous tasks which were molding me to become a leader. Besides helping me grow professionally, DTM Shanmuga also introduced me to Toastmasters, helping me develop my communication skills along with the leadership skills he had been honing. Although I have left the organization now to embark on a new role of more seniority, I take with me the lessons I learned there for life.

The biggest lesson is to never give up, to fight and tackle difficulties, and to believe in the power of angels that come into our lives when we need them most.

Fathima Beevi Najmudeen, Immediate Past President

HEART TO HEART

Journey to Success

As a child, I spent countless hours in front of the TV watching surgeries on one of the most famous Egyptian channels, 'Houras.' Despite my vision problems, I dreamed of becoming a doctor or a pharmacist, and I fought hard for that dream. When I grew up, I became a pharmacist after a long journey, but I soon realized that opportunities in my field were scarce. Undeterred, I decided to shift my career temporarily to teaching chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics while continuing to search for opportunities in my field. After three years of teaching, I finally found an opportunity to work as a pharmacist in one of the top organizations in Qatar. But I didn't stop there. I started studying PharmD to shift my career from being a pharmacist to a clinical pharmacist. I am also preparing for the American Board Certificate in Oncology, which will open many doors for me in prestigious hospitals. Through my journey, I have learned that hard times often lead to the greatest moments of my life. I believe that tough situations build strong people in the end. That's why I keep going and never give up on my dreams. In addition to my successful career in the medical field, I am also a dedicated member of Toastmasters. I am currently the VPE of the Qatar Mothers Toastmasters Club, where I use my public speaking skills to inspire others and help them grow. Toastmasters has been an incredible journey for me, and I am grateful for the opportunities it has provided me with.

My story is a true testament to the power of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. I hope to continue inspiring others to pursue their dreams and never give up on themselves.

Dr. Salma Shyboub, VPE

HEART TO HEART

Pieces of Me

Growing up in a middle-class family with limited income, my parents always encouraged me to excel in my studies. Despite being a shy introvert, I always pushed myself to participate in extracurriculars at school thanks to my parents' encouragement to try my hand at everything.

My career journey began in a bank where my boss pushed me beyond my comfort zone and made me a team leader. After a sabbatical to raise my children, I came across a position in a little startup called Science Made Fun. The name sounded interesting, and I grabbed the opportunity, although small and unknown at the time. My habit of trying things I didn't know and was afraid of, helped me grow along with the company to lead as Operations Manager. As the company reached unexpected heights, I was jolted by an unexpected curve. The company ownership changed, and with that, my dream to make the company into a big organization came crashing down. Unwilling to continue with the new ownership, I was left without a job. For a workaholic, that meant being thrown into the abyss of depression. After a couple of small stints with other startups, I finally landed a role in the organization of my dreams, Qatar Foundation.

Looking back at my journey, I realize that I've discovered so many pieces of myself in unexpected places, reminding me of one of my favorite quotes, “I found my heart on a mountain I didn't know I could climb. And I wonder how many other pieces of myself are secreted away in places I judge I cannot go.”

Toastmasters has given me the opportunity to continue discovering those pieces of myself, where I hope to develop my communication and leadership skills and maybe even discover new passions and talents along the way. I'm excited to see where this journey takes me next.

Amina Khanum, President

Laughing through Technology

A Computer Science Engineer by profession, I am happily married with 2 incredible teenage boys who keep me active and energetic. Born in the bustling city of Delhi, I moved to Kerala at a very young age where I came to appreciate the miracle that is nature and learnt how to enjoy the simple things in life. As a Malayalee I am tremendously proud of my heritage and culture which I try to inculcate in my daily life.

I work in the Energy sector, where I am constantly surrounded by technology and innovation. As a Computer Science Engineer, I find myself laughing at the hilarious quirks and glitches of machines. But as the saying goes, “If at first you don’t succeed, call it version 1.0.

When I’m not working, I enjoy gardening, cooking and dance. In fact, I started learning Indian classical dance at the age of 35. I strongly believe it’s never too late to start learning something new and we should always keep challenging ourselves to push our limits.

It is this belief that brought me to Toastmasters so I can hone my skills, improve my communication and surround myself with likeminded individuals all while becoming a better version of myself.

Sreeja Varanamkudath Member

BEYOND QATAR MOTHERS

MEMBERS OF QATAR MOTHERS TOASTMASTERS SHINE AT AREA 17 CONTEST

BEYOND QATAR MOTHERS

Contributing to the Toastmasters Community

TM Amina served as Contest Chair in the Area 17 Contest and supported with PR material design and dissemination

TM Shabuna served as Contest Manager for Area 10 Contest

TM Shirin served as MC for Div E Awards

GLIMPSES OF MEETINGS PAST FLYERS

@QATARMOTHERS

@QATARMOTHERSTOASTMASTERS

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