ABOUT SIYANE’ TOASTMASTERS CLUB Siyane’ Toastmasters Club is affiliated to Toastmasters International. The club was chartered on 27th September 2010. Club number is 1553096 and it belongs to Area3 of Division F in District 82. TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL MISSION We empower individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders . 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.
2018/2019 Executive Committee President TM Eranga Dilhan Vice President Education TM Chamin Athauda Vice President Membership TM Waruni Perera Vice President Public Relations TM Ruwanthi Perera Secretary TM Praweena Weerasinghe Treasurer TM Pubudu Ginige Sergeant –At-Arms TM Nuwan Kumara Immediate Past President TM Nilantha Bandara
EDITORIAL TEAM For information on joining: siyane.toastmasters.club@gmail.com Article Submission: ruwanthie@gmail.com
TM Shehara Dissanayaka TM Chamin Athauda TM Roshini Perera TM Ruwanthi Perera
2
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE members while strengthening our membership up to 53 surpassing the base of 51 along with memorable club and area contests for humorous and
evaluations, launching of Siyane‘ Talent
Academy , theme meeting and joint meeting , achievement of 05 DCP goals, rolling out linguistic skill enhancement programs, prominent branding of Toastmasters and Club image through active presence in social media etc. It‘s a pleasure to witness that members are stepping up It‘s almost halfway through in this exciting
to grab all these opportunities adding value to
Toastmasters year for us at Siyane, surpassing some
members, club, toastmasters fraternity and soci-
of the set milestones in annual strategy of unleashing
ety. Further, stepping up of senior members of
the Potential of our members through striving
Siyane‘ family to support and guide our new
towards 04 areas of excellence, 03 strategic priorities
members is commendable and it is one of the
and 02 behaviors. As the leadership of this amazing
unique strengths that Siyane is blessed with over
family of Siyane, we stepped up with this strategy to
the years.
serve our members and to provide maximum opportunities through Toastmasters‘ experience to
However, there is a long way for us to go as a
excel
family to accomplish the core objective of
themselves
in
leadership
skills
and
communication skills focusing achievement of their
unleashing the untapped
professional and personal goals while enriching,
members through effective implementation of set
engaging and enjoying themselves.
strategy while adhering to core values of
potential
of
our
Toastmasters Integrity, Respect, Service and I would appreciate the outstanding effort of my
Excellence. I would encourage every one of you
executive committee has made through stepping up
to step up and grab every opportunity to
to create numerous avenues for our members to align
explore,
wi t h
yourselves.
this
am b i t i o u s
and
ch al l en gi n g
experience,
engage
and
enlighten
objective. Numerous avenues have been created by my EXCO team for the benefits of members, our most valuable asset. I‘m thrilled that many members of
Siyane‘ family have stepped up to grab these
opportunities
and
reflect
themselves
through Eranga Dilhan CC, CL President Siyane’ Toastmasters Club
remarkable interventions. Therefore, it led us to have a very successful membership drive which provided framework for us to have ten passionate new 3
Inside this issue: “Public Speaking”– A Universal Language By TM Apsara Ranasinghe
05
Upcoming Events
07
A Bookworm Behind A Silver Tongue TM Roshini Perera
08
Highlights of Contest Season
10
Idioms
13
Importance of Continuous Practice TM Punsirimewan Kamburawala
14
Gallery
16
Pathways
17
Use these words instead
19
Step Up– Theme Article
20
Let’s Say it Right TM Chamin Athauda
22
Commonly Mispronounced words
24
Inception of Toastmasters in Gampaha DTM Ruwan P. Perera
25
Member Recognition
28
Club Events– Orientation and Induction
29
Celebrations and Educational Meetings
30
Beyond Club News
33
Life as a Toastmaster of Siyane TM Dilan Perera
34
94th Anniversary of Toastmasters International
36
Rise to the Challenge
39 4
EXPERIENCE
―Public Speaking‖- A Universal Language TM Apsara Ranasinghe, CC The day was 25 August 2018 at McCormick Place
In the evening, I entered a similar hall to witness
Convention Centre, Chicago, Illinois.
the ―World Championship of Public Speaking -
th
2018‖. I was dressed in a Kandyan saree which
I entered the level 3 of the Convention Centre. The
is the traditional attire for Sinhala Sri Lankan
moment I entered, I saw our very own DTM Balraj,
ladies and was attracted by many Toastmasters.
Immediate Past International President conducting
Some
the business meeting to elect the 2 vice president of nd
me
Toastmasters International. It was a new experience
continue the friendships as Toastmasters. DTM
conducted the session, how he handled the massive consisting
of
multinationals
was
because of my attire. They had friendly
chats with me, presented their business cards to
for me and I was looking at him proudly; the way he crowd
ladies wanted to take photographs with
LoAn Nguyen, Club Growth Director, District
so
101, DTM Madusha Nanayakkara, Club Growth
impressive. During intervals of voting, music was
Director, District 79 were among them.
played and the audience started to dance. I also started to dance to the prelude of the song
The competition started and the hall was full.
―Macarena‖. A kind hearted Toastmaster who was an
Audience was looking at the stage without
African lady (asked me to enter) invited me into the
blinking their eyes.
hall. It was heartfelt. I experienced the uniqueness of Toastmasters in spite of different nationalities. All enjoyed the music and danced during voting.
5
When the speeches were going on, the audience
After the above event, I took photographs with
began to cheer the speakers by saying ―wow!‖,
winners and spoke with many Sri Lankans who are
screaming and clapping together. It was an
Toastmasters
awesome and unforgettable experience for me.
countries. I left the place with an unforgettable,
I knew that ―music‖ is a universal language but on that particular day I realized that ―Public Speaking‖
attached
to
clubs
in
different
lifetime experience with the inspiration to help youth in Sri Lanka to become Toastmasters in order to develop and improve their communication and leadership skills.
too is another beautiful universal language which was proved by the audience of Toastmasters from all over the world, who belong to different nations were of different nationalities, speaking different languages and having a range of skin colour who breathed, laughed, sang and applauded together as one family. All were in the same platform of enjoying ―Public Speaking‖ which felt for me as an ―Art‖. I realized again and again the sense of uniqueness of Toastmasters. Finally three ladies, Toastmaster Ramona Smith, Sherrie Su and Anita Taylor were chosen as winners. The details they shared with the audience at the interviews about their personal lives, Toastmasters career, how they had been prepared for the speech were very encouraging.
TM Apsara Ranasinghe
6
7
COMMUNICATION
A Bookworm Behind a Silver Tongue -An admiration of ReadingBy TM Roshini Perera
Speaking is all about words.
Right words with right voice can win a heart, inspire a mind, transform a thought and change the
Reading gives you plenty of examples to follow.
world.
Not only vocabulary, it also improves grammar. A good book, a magazine or any reading
Therefore, improving your vocabulary is of utmost
material is the surest place to learn proper
importance as a speaker. Different kinds of methods
grammar. And as mentioned above you have the
can be used to improve language skills. Among them,
easiest chance of going through the patterns over
―reading‖ is a wonderful way to learn a language
and over and study them. Then, it gives you the
which is an essential part of being a good speaker.
chance of meeting different styles of using
The day you learned to read, you were handed over
language. Furthermore, reading exposes you to
the key which unlocks a door to a world of unlimited
the advanced language points which are essential
opportunities. And how many of us have used that
to colour your speech.
key so far? You will be learning a spectrum of phrases, Reading has many advantages over other language
idioms, quotes and proverbs which will make
learning methods. One is that it gives you something
your speech rich. All these language tips mold
tangible at your hands and gives you ample time to
you into a better script writer. Isn‘t a speech
study each word, each sentence and its structure.
more successful with a better script?
During the time we read a lot of
Continuous reading has another advantage.
new words and language patterns
Silent reading is a silent conversation you are
burn into the subconscious mind.
engaging in. Therefore, the more you read the
These words add to the mind vocabulary and with
Even without you knowing, your internal
time will be dancing off your tongue as you speak.
conversation will switch languages, from your
Having a rich vocabulary is not enough. We can
mother tongue to the language you want to
make the most of it only if we know when to use the
study, in this case, English.
more you tend to have a richer internal dialogue.
most effective word out of all the synonyms. 8
At this point, you will be trying out all the words and structures in your head to construct your thoughts. Images of pages and pages of good language burned into your subconscious mind are the backing force behind this process. When you keep on repeating this process inside your head, you will never go out of words. During your speech, every full stop and every pause will be followed by a word which will spring and snake into sentences and paragraphs with effortless ease. Do you want to improve your Ah count? Here is the way. Reading improves imagination. It gives us the chance to experience different lives, different viewpoints and different attitudes during a single life time. As George Martin beautifully states
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies”,
this very experience
seasons us to possess any character during a speech which will give it a natural air. And Plato has said, “Books give a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything”. If so, won‘t it do wonders to your speech? Make friends with books. They will tell you a world of stories so that you may never run out of topics to speak about. Get yourself armed with their wisdom. That will entertain your audience, open up minds and teach the world something new. According to the famous author Mark Twain, ―The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them‖. Therefore, why don‘t we take that advantage and step up to the next level as a Toastmaster? 9
HIGHLIGHTS OF CONTEST SEASON Club Contest– Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contest
Contest Chair– TM Punsirimewan Kamburawala
Contest Chair– TM Punsirimewan Kamburawala
Contest Master—TM Shaman Senanayeka
Contest Master—TM Hasanthi Jayakody
Winner– TM Waruni Perera
Winner– TM Kemiya Kodithuwakku
First Runner Up– TM Kemiya Kodithuwakku
First Runner Up– TM Chamin Athauda
Second Runner Up– TM Ruwanthi Perera
Second Runner Up– TM Eranga Dilhan
Area Contest of Area F 3– Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contest
10
Siyane Toastmasters showed talents in both humorous speech contest and evaluation contest and were able to be among the top three in both contests. TM Kemiya Kodithuwakku won the first place in humorous speech contest and was the second runner-up of evaluation speech contest. TM Chamin Athauda won the first place in evaluation contest and TM Waruni Perera won the first runner-up humorous speech contest. Apart from the contestants, Siyane Toastmasters also took part as role players. TM Apsara Ranasinghe served as the contest chair and TM Pubudu Ginige and TM Nuwan Kumara took part as timer and sergeant-at-arms respectively.
11
Division Conference– Division F—Journey to Fulfilment TM Chamin Athauda from Siyane Toastmasters Club secured the 1st place at Evaluation Contest of the division conference. TM Kemiya Kodithuwakku and TM Waruni Perera also performed impressively at the humorous Speech contest of Division F. TM Praweena Weerasinghe and TM Dilan Perera also played contest master for evaluation contest and chief-sergeant-at- arms respectively.
12
IDIOMS
13
LEADERSHIP
Importance of Continuous Practice to be a better speaker or a leader TM Punsirimewan Kamburawala ACB, ALB The legend in heavyweight boxing Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) who has conquered the world in heavyweight boxing was sentenced to jail for 3 years for refusing to join the army. It was the American Law. He was released after 3 years and started boxing again. He was defeated over and over again and once got his jaw broken too. Yet he did not give up. He started practicing rigorously and regained his position as the world heavyweight boxing champion again.
I had a strong desire to be a good communicator
Cassius Clay‘s story shows us the importance of continuous practice for sports. Continuous Practice is
and
a leader, which drove me to attend club
meetings regularly.
important not only for sports but also for any work we
I started writing and delivering speeches. I per-
do in our day to day life. Perfect practice makes you
formed a meeting role when I was not doing a
perfect. This is true for public speaking too. Once I
speech at a club meeting and completed my CL
forgot my entire speech when I visited another club.
Manual prior to my CC manual. I attended all
Some champion speakers have forgotten their
the training programs and conferences, gathered
speeches during speech contests due to lack of
knowledge and got the opportunity to network
practice.
with many experienced Toastmasters. However,
I did not have the experience in public speaking when
all my activities were limited to my club.
I joined Toastmasters in 2006 at age 56. I could not
It reminded me of one of the Dr. Wilfred
speak a few words in front of a gathering even in my
Thomason Grenfell‘s saying:
mother tongue. I studied for my National Diploma in Technology in English medium and passed all exams in my first attempt. I had the experience in writing minutes, preparing memoranda and preparing project proposals in English. But I could not speak for 20
―The purpose of this world is not to have and hold, but to serve‖.
seconds without getting stuck during the Round Robin Session when I joined Toastmasters. It took me 4
When DTM Balraj Arunasalam once told me
months to deliver my Icebreaker Speech. I did not
―Kamburawala, Toastmasters
speak even during Table Topic Session during those 4
improve our communication and leadership
months.
skills. 14
is not only to
It is our duty to help others to improve, when we
DISCOVER YOUR TRUE POTENTIAL
are benefitted. We are doing a social service. It is our duty to provide guidance to those who seek it. You will improve a lot and gain immense experience while serving society.‖ These words rooted deeply in my mind and I started going beyond my club. I got involved in forming new clubs
and
Gavel
clubs,
got
involved
in
conducting Speechcraft Programs and Youth Leadership Programs. The mental satisfaction I gained
by
doing
these
was
immense.
Consequently, I became more confident by speaking to different types of audiences. As Toastmasters, always try to grab the opportunities to improve yourselves. Visit other clubs and deliver speeches, participate in Speechcraft Programs and Youth Leadership Programs,
do
speeches
and
educational
presentations, provide evaluations for others to improve. By doing all these you will also improve tremendously. Dr. Wilfred Thomason put the idea to words when he said:
Download the Application from https://1553096.toastmastersclubs.org/ downloads.html
―The service we render to others is really the rent we pay for our room on earth.‖
Quick tips for beginners:
Ask for a mentor, an experienced Toastmaster to help you with meeting roles and speeches.
Use stories, examples and anecdotes to craft a speech.
Don't overwhelm your audience with too much information.
Practice speaking. Practice often.
Begin and end every speech strongly. https://www.toastmasters.org/membership/facts-for-first-timers 15
GALLERY
16
What is PATHWAYS? Pathways is the new educational programme of Toastmasters International. It is an exciting, flexible and interactive way to build skills and help others grow theirs. This evolution of the Toastmasters experience was a result of the effort took by the Board of Directors to make prevailing education programme more modern so that it would better reflect real world communication scenarios and be more in line with powerful leadership lessons one learn
Pathways learning program consists of
59 unique
projects divided into 10 paths. There are 300 unique competencies and more than 60 in each path The choice of which skill you develop through Pathways is completely up to you. Five primary Competencies of Pathways 1. Public Speaking
What‘s
2. Interpersonal Communication
Pathways is that it combines
3. Management
Public
4. Strategic Leadership
Leadership in a variety of
5. Confidence
disciplines that addresses real world
special
about
Speaking
scenarios
you
and
find
yourself in.
Public Speaking and Management
Public Speaking and Strategic Leadership
Interpersonal Communication and Management
Interpersonal Communication and Strategic Leadership
Public Speaking and Interpersonal Communication
To learn about Pathways visit: https://www.toastmasters.org/pathways-overview 17
PATHWAYS
How Far Have We Gone on
No. Enrolled in Pathways
39
Enrolment Percentage
73%
Percentage of New Member Enrolment
100%
1 1
3
Dynamic Leadership
2
Effective Coaching
9
Innovative Planning Leadership Development Motivational Strategies 12
1
Persuasive Influence Presentation Mastery Team Collaboration
6
Visionary Communication
4
Icebreaker Projects
14
Level 1 Completions
03
18
19
THEME
STEP UP The Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking
For a Toastmaster, stepping stones come in the form
of year 2008, LaShunda Rundles is one of the six women
of evaluations, educational sessions or basically any
to win the world championship of public speaking. She is
opportunity to speak or lead. What is important is that
also the first African American woman to ever win. She
you learn something from these opportunities and
was a single mum and severely physically challenged,
most importantly adopt the good practices to make
having eight toes amputated due to lupus erythematosus-
yourself a better speaker or a leader.
an autoimmune disease.
Human beings being social animals acceptance and
She said, ― When I speak, I speak in a loud voice. I may
approval makes human beings happy. At each stage of
not be able to save my own life, but someday I may save
your Toastmasters journey you will be accepted for
someone
to
who you are and you will be appreciated for every tiny
complications of Lupus on August 21, 2012. But not
step. Toastmasters could be the only place in the world
before as she was quoted saying, ― I think it will be hard
where you can make all the blunders but could be
for others not to know I was here ―
commended for the courage to come up and speak.
else's.‖
LaShunda
sadly
succumbed
At the same championship was TM Rich Hopkins to whom everybody kept on saying, ―Give up, stop this
That is all the courage one needs to bring one‘s self to a higher level.
nonsense.‖ This was when he was dreaming and preparing
The theme Step Up is a call to take yourself to the next
for the world championship. He was financially struggling
level because standing on the same step will not take
with five kids and a wife to support and has had to
you any higher. Stepping up requires careful
amputate his leg and was on a prosthesis due to an
examination of one‘s own strengths and weaknesses. It
undiagnosed illness. He was placed third in 2006 World
is about recognizing your style and building on it.
Championship of public speaking and was a finalist at 2008 world
championship. He says, ―You are never as
good as you think you are and you are never as bad as you think you are.‖
How do we do it? Pay close attention to the evaluation you received for your speech. Analyse and dissect them. Evaluations are only helpful if you incorporate the suggestions into your speaking style. Speak to club
These two individuals having all the right in the world to
members who were there and ask for feedback and do
complain about the thorns in the rose bushes, instead
the speech again incorporating the improvements. You
focused on the roses among the thorns and managed to
will be amazed at the heights you can reach. If you
reach heights unimaginable by the ordinary.
have difficulties in language, put some extra effort to
This is the spirit of Toastmasters we all should aspire to. Stepping up to a higher level than we were yesterday using the many stepping stones we come across throughout our Toastmasters Journey.
20
learn it. If you have pronunciation difficulties, ask someone to help you. If you feel like you could use some guidance, ask for a mentor.
Don‘t hesitate to ask more members to give you an
By being a mentor, an evaluator, a coordinator and a
evaluation. Evaluations are not meant for the speaker
participant in a speechcraft programme each one of
only; all members can learn from evaluations if we take
us can help another person in the community to step
time to pay close attention.
up in their public speaking or leadership skills
Use every opportunity to go in front of different
ladder.
audiences. Taking part in speech competitions will
By taking up a role in the club meeting or by
definitely open up a treasure trough of experience for
delivering a speech or serving as a club officer you
you to improve your public speaking and leadership
are leaving a legacy and inspiring someone.
skills. At Siyane Toastmasters extra club activities are abound- speech craft programmes and educational programmes for Toastmasters to enhance their public speaking, networking and leadership skills.
Think about it, Toastmasters International has taken giant step up when they introduced the new Toastmasters Educational Programme, Pathways. It happened because they took time to analyse the
Psychologists have found out that good communication
current position and they realized and accepted that
skills inspire confidence, recognition and improve
there is room for improvements. They worked on it,
status. Public speaking and leadership skills are
diligently and passionately and took the educational
invaluable in realizing your potential in whatever
experience to a totally new dimension.
position you are Think about it. Good communication and leadership skills can rally employees around entrepreneurs and customers around a product or service. Step up, enhance your public speaking skills
So why not take a step out from our hectic schedule and think whether we are making a difference, realizing our potential, are we leaving a legacy?
and leadership skills, and you never know your big
Step up ,you can be the next great orator in the
career breakthrough will come to you in no time.
making, who but you will discover the hidden
Effective communication skills and leadership skills are
potential in you. Greatness is when you create
rare than you think. Step up, take that seemingly
something with your life that is not only bigger than
insurmountable step now.
you but also outlast you.
Toastmasters is a place to give as much as to take. And
Step up Toastmasters, use your words to initiate the
teaching what you know to another is a sure way to take
change you want to see in yourself and in the world.
us another step above. It was John F. Kennedy, one of
Transform yourselves into that speaker you always
the best loved presidents of United States who said,
dreamed yourself to be.
“For of those to whom much is given, much is required.” i.e. If we are blessed with talents, wealth, knowledge, time, and the like, it is expected that we use these to benefit others. Happiness that you give away, comes to shine on you.
21
TM Lakmalie Jayaweera
COMMUNICATION
Let’s Say it Right By TM Chamin Athauda CC, ALB Vice President Education– Siyane Toastmasters What is the most commonly used language in the world? Maybe some of you believe that it is English.
But it is not. It is Mandarin Chinese,
second is Spanish and English is in the third position. But English has become the international language and that is the simple reason behind we, Toastmasters want to be fluent in English, out of thousands of other languages in the world. I personally believe English is a very easy language to learn and speak comparing with my mother
also build your confidence. How many times have we witnessed that some of us try to swallow some words or pronounce with low volume when we are not sure of the sound of a word? Following tips may help you tackle this issue. Check the right pronunciation using an online
tongue, Sinhala.
dictionary. Your smart phones have access to the internet. Whenever you come across a word which
Pronunciation VS Accent It is fine to use a simple language when you are talking to someone since the purpose of having a conversation is not to show how well you know the language but to make the other person understand the point you are trying to make. But it is very important to pronounce the words correctly. It is
you are not sure about the pronunciation just Google it, check it using an online dictionary like Dictionary.com or Oxford online Dictionary (you can download these dictionaries as an application on your phone).
not about the accent but the right pronunciation. (And correct
until you are familiar with the
pronunciation is not having an
sound.
accent.) ―Pronunciation‖ is the way in which a word is pronounced where as ―accent‖ is a distinctive way of
pronouncing
Listen to the word a few times
a
language,
especially
Practise the right pronunciation by saying it aloud, because your
one
associated with a particular country, area, or social
lips and jaw muscles should
class.
also be familiar with the right
Tips to Improve Your Pronunciation
sound, not only your ears.
Knowing and using the right pronunciation will not only help the listener understand you clearly but 22
Use the newly learnt words as
[contest (noun)- /ˈkɒntɛst/ contest (verb) - /kənˈtɛst/].
much
very
According to some resources, Oxford editors add
carefully until you become
Dictionaries Online every year. That means 2-3
as
possible
Watch
and
1,000
new
entries
to
listen
to
the
programs of native speakers.
The best thing, therefore, is setting aside some time every single day to spend with this beautiful language to become an effective communicator. Keep learning and keep growing!
The programs can vary depending on your preference, like news, talk shows, movies,
The Phonetic Alphabet
dramas, speeches or motivational videos. This can benefit us in many ways. We are able to learn the right way of pronouncing words, and different tones to use in different occasions, how to add emotions to the words, how to be polite when having conversations and many more. Learning
about
the
International
Phonetic
Alphabet (IPA) where it shows sounds of different words in the language. One thing we need to bare in our mind is that there can be more than one pronunciation for some words. For instance, there are a few main pronunciation types in English such as British, American
and
Australian
Oxford
words every day.
confident with it
approximately
Pronunciation.
In these pronunciations same words have different sounds. Director, master, ask, schedule, stance and often are some of the words. And some words have different sounds depending on their type. As an example the sound of the word ―contest‖ has one sound when it is used as a noun and another sound when it is a verb. 23
24
Inception of Toastmasters in Gampaha There are many dreams we live within our lifetime.
were able to make the minimum head count for a
Some come true and some do not. But if you can
meeting. In the very first meetings we had a very
take a lead to make it a reality, it will be a game
few new members and more visiting senior
changer for you and for many around you.
Toastmasters. On some days the visiting senior Toastmasters outnumbered the club members.
A few of the country‘s best politicians were born in
The first Vice President Education and Treasurer
Gampaha. A few of the most recognized authors
of the club had left by the time of registering the
were born in Gampaha. In most educational exams best
results
in
the
country
is
club. But still with new additions we were able to
from
register the club on 27th September 2010.
Gampaha. Ultimately, here you easily find the brains which can be easily trained to be the country‘s best
Selecting the name of the club was also very
leaders and communicators.
much tricky. There were many suggestions like Gampaha
Toastmasters,
Gampaha
Orators,
In our childhood, we were members of several youth
Smedley
Community
Gampaha,
Siyane
leadership
communication
Speakers. But with finally we selected it as
development was a big limitation we had; but that
Siyane Toastmasters. Well, for the next club that
dream of being effective communicators stayed
comes up from Gampaha you have name options
unrealized as we were not aware of Toastmasters at
now.
movements
but
that time. We grew up. So were our expectations.
Club charter ceremony
Finally making our long awaited dream come true,
December amidst a lot of difficulties. It happened
with the contribution of a few big hearts we were
at Wet Water Resort, Gampaha with the
able to become a part of the Toastmasters fraternity
participation
on 6th of June 2010. We had our first meeting with blessed
participation
of
some
guests
and
souvenir too. With that, we were able to strengthen our financial level up to Rs. 200,000
It was not a smooth sail. Entire membership arrived
with hard work of all stakeholders.
at the meeting packed in 3 cars. Toastmaster Ranga Punsirimewan
distinguished
conditions, it was a huge success. We published a
senior
Toastmasters.
Kariyapperuma,
of
well-wishers. Despite the extreme weather
the participation of more than 50 people along with the
happened on 4th of
Kamburawala,
It was one long journey and we all were on a
Chaminda Vithanage and I were there to provide
great mission. We had short-term targets and
transportation. We all had a vision and determination
small plans with small teams and we made a lot
to start a Toastmasters club in Gampaha. So by
of leaders at the very first instance.
cramming our cars with close friends around we 25
In the very first year,TM Ranga Kariyapperuma represented the club at Division level in humorous speech. The following year he was the 3rdPlace Winner in Table Topics at the Division level. We were invited to do the first ever Sinhala – Tamil New Year festival of Sri Lankan Toastmasters. A club just 5 months old was entrusted with a national level event. We did our best and had it at Gampaha Botanical Gardens on April 11th 2011 . When you see smooth sail today, you may not feel the initial hardships we faced. But that was fun and
come true. Siyane Toastmasters Club is a part of our lives. In the very first year as the president I never missed a meeting. My EXCO supported me with open hands .We saw that growth becomes bigger day by day with every new EXCO. I am really happy to see how this has become a game changer for so many lives. May Siyane Toastmasters Live long and make many leaders and communicators to the community.
we made it happen together.
We trusted each other. Rather than a club we were like a family. I remember during the very first meetings when someone got stuck with their speech on stage people in the front rows helped them with gestures. It was a
DTM Ruwan P. Perera Charter President Siyane Toastmasters Club
great example for other clubs and they came up with the same. Now Siyane Toastmasters Club has been serving the community for almost 9 years .The Leaders Siyane produced are in good positions in society. Starting a Community Speechcraft Programme from January 2019 will be a huge achievement and a huge success in the long run. With that it is important to retain newcomers and provide them more leadership and participation opportunities. Also it is high time to form a second club in the area which can meet on a
DTM Ruwan P. Perera As the Charter President
weekday evening as some are having issues to attend Sunday evening meetings. This was a part of our plan after first 2 years which is still a dream to 26
Charter Ceremony
Awarding Ceremony in 2011
New Year Festival 2011
50th Meeting
27
MEMBER RECOGNITION PATHWAYS LEVEL 1 ACHIVERES
COMPETENT LEADERS
TM
Punsirimewan
Toastmaster
in
Kamburawala,
Siyane
a
Toastmasters
senior
TM Pubudu Ginige achieved the Competent
club
Leadership Award. He is an exemplary leader in
achieved the Competent Leadership award for the
and outside the club.
second time proving more you practice the better you will be. 28
NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION AND INDUCTION ORIENTATION Siyane Toastmasters Club conducted an orientation program for the newly joined members. During the orientation, a special session was conducted to introduce Pathways to the members and to help them select a Path. There was also a hands-on training session on login to base camp and navigation. The orientation was open to the other clubs in the Area as well and new members from other clubs of Area F3 participated in it.
INDUCTION Five out of ten newly joined members were formally inducted as Toastmasters on 04th November 2018. TM Punsirimewan Kamburawala, one of the most senior members of the club, was the induction officer.
29
CELEBRATIONS AND EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS SIYANE CELEBRATES 8th ANNIVERSARY
Siyane‘ Toastmasters Club celebrated the 8th anniversary on 27th September 2018. The meeting was themed ―Many Happy Returns‖ and a short flashback video was played commemorating the leaders and members of the club who have contributed in many ways to bring the club to where it is today. Siyane‘ Toastmasters Club was formed in 2010 under the leadership of DTM Ruwan P. Perera and subsequently under 9 executive committees. Leaders created by Siyane‘ are serving at Area and District levels and also providing support and guidance to many other clubs exercising the leadership skills and good will they inherited from their home club.
EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS
30
JOINT MEETING
31
Joint Meeting with Expolanka Toastmasters Club and Zone 24X7 Toastmasters Club
Siyane Toastmasters Club had the first joint meeting for this Toastmaster year with Expolanka and Zone 24X7 Toastmasters Club. The meeting was hosted by Expolanka. It was a Halloween themed meeting and all Toastmasters were in their favourite Halloween costumes. It was a great learning experience in a fun– filled environment. The importance of joint meetings is that it allows growth for all the clubs involved. It gives the members the opportunity to perform in front of a different audience, listen to different kinds of speeches and receive evaluations from an evaluator who has not had their ears accustomed to your style of speaking. Moreover, it is a great source to meet new people and make friends with them.
32
BEYOND CLUB NEWS Educational Session on Pathways by Daniel Rex An educational session on Pathways was organized by District 82 for Sri Lanka. The session was conducted by Daniel Rex, the CEO of Toastmasters International.
Daniel Rex CEO of Toastmasters International
The event was held on 23rd November at HNB Towers,
The most important aspect of the session was the
Colombo. Toastmasters representing many different
inspiration it provided to pursue the new
clubs participated in the event and it was a very
educational program. By explaining why there
important session for all the participants to clear the
was a need to upgrade the educational material,
doubts they had on the new educational program.
what the new program is going to offer and how to travel the path, Daniel Rex answered the burn-
During the session several Toastmasters shared their
ing questions in every Toastmaster‘s mind. -The
experiences and thoughts on Pathways. There were
big WHY, WHAT and HOW.
participants from all walks of Toastmasters journey and the session had benefitted everyone of them alike.
33
Life as a Toastmaster of Siyane By TM Dilan Perera
I first visited Siyane‘ Toastmasters Club as a guest
My career as a competent communicator began
on 01st October 2017, the birthday of my one and
with the Icebreaker speech and I had the
only elder brother and the day prior to my seventh
privilege of being the first in our club to
wedding anniversary.
complete Level 1 of Pathways. With the
solemn
Induction
That day I witnessed the
ceremony
of
a
batch
of
completion of the Project 1 of Level 2 which was
Toastmasters.
delivered at Kadawatha Toastmasters Club, my target is to complete the two remaining projects
Since that wonderful day, my journey as a
of Level 2 before the end of this year.
Toastmaster began progressing steadily and now I have completed little more than one year in this
The benefits I gained by joining this precious
close-knit family. Within that period of time, my
community of Toastmasters are immense and
encounters include attending Ovation 2018 - the
clearly visible to everyone. Before joining
Annual District Conference of District 82, two
Toastmasters, when delivering a speech in public
Divisional
Speech
I was in a lot of doubts as to whether my voice
Contests, Inter Club Cricket Tournament, many
would be audible enough and how I could finish
educational sessions conducted by the Toastmasters
the speech. I did not even dream of writing my
in District, Division and Club levels, attending three
own speeches and delivering it without looking
Joint Meetings as well as participating as a
at the notes. While delivering speeches and
contestant in three club contests.
performing roles, my speaking skills such as
Conferences,
two
Area
maintaining eye contact, using pauses and
Apart from those fond memories, each club meeting
management of stage movements have improved
was a new learning experience for me. My
to a greater extent. Stage fright and shyness
leadership career began as a vote counter and
experienced by me have now diminished. These
thereafter I got the opportunity to perform the roles
skills have helped me a lot in my professional
of Round Robin Master, Grammarian, Ah Counter,
career at Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation as I‘m
Table Topics Master, Table Topics Evaluator, Timer
a member of the panel of lecturers.
and finally I performed the highest role which is the Toastmaster of the Day. The only role I have not yet
The best feature I find in Siyane‘ Toastmasters
performed is the General Evaluator. In addition I‘m
Club is the homely environment with a friendly
in the subcommittee of club secretary, assisting our
touch. I‘m eagerly waiting to meet my second
dynamic secretary to perform her functions.
family every other weekend. Every member is like an own brother or sister to me. 34
EXPERIENCE I witnessed the commitment of experienced members in using their expertise knowledge to bring out the best in emerging Toastmasters during the recently concluded club contests. Senior Toastmasters including TM Chandrasiri Wanasinghe, Punsirimewan Kamburawala, Shehara Dissanayake and Ruwan Jayasooriya sacrifice their valuable time at the Siyane‘ Talent Academy to help the contestants to deliver their speeches to the best of their abilities. The commitment and dedication of the present executive
committee
is
immeasurable.
Club
leadership ranging from Sergeant-at-Arms up to the President, each officer is performing their task to the fullest. Club meetings start and finish on time. Targets set out by Toastmasters International on payment of annual membership fee, increase of membership and publication of newsletters and flyers have been successfully met. We receive timely notices on club meetings and all other events from our club secretary and the club records are properly maintained. Quality meeting agendas are prepared for each meeting and majority of members have methodically reached their educational goals. Siyane‘ Toastmasters have become exemplary leaders in the entire District in every aspect. This was visible in recently concluded Area Speech Contest. Hats off to the present executive committee for their tireless efforts. I‘m highly privileged to be a part of this prestigious entity; I look forward to serving in Siyane‘ Toastmasters for many more years. I wish each member all success in future endeavors. Long live Siyane‘ Toastmasters.
35
94th Anniversary of Toastmasters Smedley and the older, more experienced men evaluated short speeches, while the younger men were invited to join in the evaluations. However, as Smedley was offered positions at other YMCAs in Illinois and later, in San Jose, California, the Toastmasters began as a series of speaking clubs
fledgling clubs lacked leadership and did not flour-
organized by Ralph C. Smedley during his time
ish.
working for the YMCA (Young Men's Christian
Smedley began working at the newly organized
Association) in Bloomington, Illinois, United
YMCA in Santa Ana, California, in 1922, and for
States. As director of education at the YMCA,
the first two years, his time was spent building a
Smedley saw a need for the men in the community
home for the organization. However, his passion to
to learn how to speak, conduct meetings, plan
help others learn to speak and lead remained.
programs and work on committees, and he wanted
Once the new YMCA building was christened in
to help them.
April of 1924, he was able to introduce the idea of
Smedley decided to organize a club where they
Toastmasters to his colleagues, and organize the
could learn these skills in a social environment,
Toastmasters club that eventually became Club
and the men responded well to the concept. He
No. 1 of Toastmasters International. The first
named
Club;
meeting was held at the YMCA building on
"toastmaster" was a popular term that referred to a
October 22, 1924. Word spread about Smedley's
person who gave toasts at banquets and other
Toastmasters clubs and soon people in surrounding
occasions.
communities and other states were asking how
The first unofficial Toastmasters meeting was held
they could start their own club.
on March 24, 1905. Much like Toastmasters
To save time replying to the many letters and
meetings today, the participants took turns leading
inquiries he was receiving, Smedley wrote the
and speaking at each meeting.
"Manual of Instructions" and "Ten Lessons in
the
group
the
Toastmasters
Public Speaking," which he had printed and bound 36
in paper covers. On October 25, 1928, he secured copyrights on the publications and trademarked the name "Toastmasters Club." By 1930, nearly 30 Toastmasters clubs had formed including a club in British Columbia, Canada. To reflect expansion outside of the United States, the newly formed association was
FACTS FOR FIRST TIMERS Where are club meetings held? Club meetings are held in a variety of locations, including corporations, colleges, restaurants and local community centers. Toastmasters' global network is made of 16,400 clubs in 141 countries
re-named Toastmasters International. Two years later, in 1932, Toastmasters International was incorporated
as
a
California
non-profit
organization and Smedley took on the positions of Secretary and Editor of the new association. He resigned as YMCA Secretary in 1941 to
Do I need to contact a club before attending? We recommend you contact a club prior to visiting to get the meeting time and location confirm.
devote more time to Toastmasters. Through the war years, he operated the organization out of a small office. When the war ended, a new Secretary, Ted Blanding, replaced Smedley and remained active as Educational Director for the rest of his life, as well as a permanent member of the Board of Directors.
Am I required to speak at a club meeting? No. You are not obligated to speak when visiting a club. You may simply observe if you wish.
Today the organization has more than 357,000 memberships. Members improve their speaking and leadership skills by attending one of the 16,600 clubs in 143 countries that make up our global network of meeting locations. In 2018, Toastmasters
International
celebrated
94th
anniversary and continue to help people discover their best selves.
Can I visit more than one club? Yes. We encourage you to visit multiple clubs to find the one that best fits your preferences and needs.
How long do club meetings last? Meeting times range from 1–2 hours.
Can anyone become a member? Adapted from : https://www.toastmasters.org/ about/history
As long as you are at least 18 years old, you can join Toastmasters. 37
OVATION 2019
Ovation 2019 is the annual conference of District 82. The conference will witness 8 Speech Semi-final Contests, 4 Speech Final Contests, and an array of interesting educational workshops presented by industry leaders from across the world. The conference is expected to be attended by 1500 delegates comprising Toastmasters and non-Toastmasters. Ovation 2019 will be held on May 23th, 24th, 25th and 26th of 2019. The conference will be held at the ‗state of the art‘ 20,000 sq.ft Convention Center of Chennai Trade Center which is spread over 25.48 acres in Nandambakkam, Chennai.
TM Shanika Ranasinghe receiving the reward from TM Punsirimewan Kamburawala 38
RISE TO THE CHALLENGE
1 2
3
4
E 5 7
6
8
9 O 10 11
12@
13 N 14 C 15
E
ACROSS 2-Perfect Example 8 -A role that is not in the CL manual 9 -A storm in a _________(An Idiom) 11 - To which Toastmaster Region does Sri Lanka belong to 12 -The @username of Siyane Toastmasters club for FB and Twitter 13 -How many Pathways are there 14 -Toastmasters' most prestigious award 15 -One of five Ps of Vocal Variety
DOWN 1 -Name of the District 82Semifinals 3 -Having or showing the ability to use language clearly and effectively 4 -Present at all places at all times 5 -A way of providing Toastmasters Experience to groups who may be ineligible for regular membership 6 -In perfect condition; completely clean, fresh , neat 7 -The New educational Programme of Toastmasters 8 -Founder of Toastmasters International 10- A word including a,b,c,d,e,f
Send your answers to siyane.toastmasters.club@gmail.com by 31st January 2019 Winner will be announced on the Facebook Page of Siyane’ Toastmasters Club
39
40