D105 | Last Lap| Newsletter -May 2023

LAST LAP THE

DISTRICT 105

REGION 11

District Director

Rania Abul-Rub, DTM

Program Quality Directors

Deepa Surendran, DTM

Jameel Mohmmed Shakeel, DTM

Club Growth Directors

Shameema Ahmed, DTM

Saiju Victor, DTM

Administration Manager

TM Sudha Gomati Narayan

Finance Manager

Ramanujam Raghavan, DTM

Public Relations Manager

TM Shuchita Mohit Udas

Logisitics Manager

TM Ahmed Abdulla

Immediate Past District Director

Gurbinder Singh Punn, DTM

Parliamentarian

Mohammed Murad, DTM (Past International President)

Arabic Committee Chair

TM Johara Ahmed Abualnass

Welcome to our first edition of The Last Lap, a newsletter from District 105! It is an honor to share the ideas, visions, and achievements of our dear toastmasters with all our readers.

Enjoy every moment you have because there are no rewinds in life, only flashbacks. For you, we have worked hard to bring up an exhilarating flashback of the events and happenings in the past few toastmaster years.

This newsletter will serve to reinforce and allow increased awareness, improved interaction, and integration among all of us. THE LAST LAP will be a way to give credit and respect to all the people who work around the clock behind the scenes to plan things and get things done.

This newsletter has great relevance as District 105 is subject to reformation. It was a pleasant journey together, with nothing less than the fervor of a long run. Now it’s about to touch the finish line. Yes, we are on THE LAST LAP.

We shall finish blissfully and start another course of action together.

Happy reading.

Rajulal Rafeek, DTM CHIEF EDITOR

All Respected Divisions Directors and Area Directors

DIGITAL EDITOR

Raja Govindan, DTM

EDITOR

TM Lakshmi Ajith

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

BUCKLE UP AND ENJOY THE LAST LAP

Rania Abul-Rub, DTM District Director

LOVE, SUPPORT AND GROWTH OF EVERYONE

Deepa Surendran, DTM Program Quality Director

ALOHA DISTRICT 105 SUPER STAR

Jameel Mohammed Shakeel, DTM Program Quality Director

THE CHANGE AS A CATALYST OF GROWTH

Shameema Ahmed, DTM Club Growth Director

THE ONE WHO COUNSELED TELEMACHUS

Saiju Victor, DTM Club Growth Director

LET’S FINISH IT STRONG

TM Sudha Gomati Narayan Administration Manager

CLUB OFFICER TRAINNING

Picture Collage

The “last lap” is a term used in running races. Especially with long races. District 105 is rushing towards an inevitable reformation. Inspired by the running races, as if we were in action together and nearing the finish line, the word “The Last Lap” has been adopted

13

HAPPY CRESTING

Ramanujam Raghavan, DTM Finance Manager

14 16

A FRISSON OF FISSION

TM Shuchita Mohit Udas Public Relation Manager

15

CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND GROW

TM Ahmed Abdullah Logistics Manager

NO ONE IS IMMUNE TO PAIN AND SUFFERING

Gurbinder Singh Punn, DTM Immediate Past District Director

ENCOURAGE EDUCATE

JOURNEY INTO LEADERSHIP

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL

SOME GLITTERING MOMENTS OF MILESTONES

HEALTHY CHALLENGE

2020 - 2021

PLAN, PERSEVERE AND STAY POSITIVE

REALLY UNFORGETTABLE

2018 - 2019

TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATE RECOGNITION - HSBC

THUS SPOKE AARON BEVERLEY…

LEADERSHIP FORUM

EMPOWER

Muhammed Murad, DTM Past International President

Rajulal Rafeek. DTM

Picture Collage

Robin Anand, DTM District Director 2019-2020

Nelson Menezes , DTM District 105 Director

Nagabhushan Balaji , DTM District 105 Director

TM Johara Abualnass Arabic Committee Chair

Sunil Kottarathil, DTM District 105 Director 2017-2018

Picture Collage

Picture Collage

In this rushing world, characterized by hustle and bustle and fast-paced nature, we tend to be carried away by that race imposed on us unconsciously, always in a rush to beat time along the way.

The question to ask here, what do we achieve in the end?

We might make it for the last lap of the race, however, we ultimately realize that we have lost the essence of the journey, as we tend to forget the essential fact that rushing never saved the time that planning did.

Don’t we face this in our Toastmasters journey, being engulfed in the race of deadlines and meeting goals? Don’t we tend to remember that in the last lap, after which we exert pressure and tension on ourselves and our fellow members to get to our destination?

We are part of a fraternity that nurtures growth

BUCKLE UP AND ENJOY THE LAST LAP

Rania Abul-Rub, DTM

in the friendliest environment one can ever think of. Friendly in Toastmasters is synonymous to enjoyment and self-paced growth. These attributes can only be achieved by strategic planning and setting the targets well in advance, so when the time comes for our last lap of any milestone we aspire to achieve, then we are ready and set to go, we are equipped with all the necessary tools to enjoy that one last lap towards success and glory.

Never rush the process my fellow friends and leaders, as good things and valuable moments take time. I invite you all to plan and prepare well in advance, then buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Yours in Toastmasters,

Rania Abul-Rub, DTM District 105 Director

Dear District 105 family,

Parting is always difficult, but it is the unfortunate and inevitable outcome of growth.

District 105 is on the verge of parting, that too in such short number of years. This is a clear indication of us growing - growing in number and in club standards as well.

If we look back to our leaders since District 105, we can see giants leading the best of best toastmasters of the world.

DTM Sunil Kottarathil, DTM Balaji Naghbhushan, DTM Robin Anand, DTM Nelson Menezes, DTM Gurbinder

Punn and DTM Rania Abu-Rub, let’s all thank them for maintaining such high standards at the club level so that continuous growth is ensured at the District. They

LOVE, SUPPORT AND GROWTH OF EVERYONE

are all still respected for their commitment. They were also guided by other Giants in the District, and will continue to guide future giants as well.

At this moment, I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the mentors and members of our dynamic district who are bonded by love, support and growth of everyone.

Let’s work towards establishing two very strong and sustainable district’s which will again grow in the similar fashion helping it’s members to achieve their goals.

Cheers,

Deepa Surendran, DTM District - 105 Program Quality Director

The faster runner in suit and tie is Adam Campbell

Deepa Surendran, DTM

Time and tide wait for none and true to that we are already nearing the end of the first quarter in our current Toastmasters year.

While there are many uncertainties still around us, it is exciting to see the rekindling of energy and enthusiasm amongst our members with the return to in-person meetings for many clubs and the adoption of hybrid meetings by future-ready clubs.

This year is, at the risk of sounding cliché, unlike any other year preceding it. For this is the year that our beloved District 105 will undergo its final step of reformation which began two years ago and by the end we will have forged out the

ALOHA DISTRICT 105 SUPER STAR

newest District in the world. In essence, we are all a part of this historical journey that will culminate in a memorable milestone.

While this is a bittersweet moment, it is paramount to remember that this moment of pride culminates years of growth and success. We have all contributed to this moment in our various ways, and we need to commit to strengthen our resolve to do even better as we surge forward.

I urge you all to leave no stone unturned in our quest to make this a memorable year and end on a high to serve as inspiration for years to come.

Jameel Mohammed Shakeel, DTM District - 105 Program Quality Director

The ancient men acquired the capability to run long mileage around 2.6 million years ago

Jameel Mohammed Shakeel, DTM

THE CHANGE AS A CATALYST OF GROWTH

Good morning dear District 105 family,

it has been a journey of challenges and accomplishments over past couple of years. Along with the world, we took on the pandemic on our strides, faced whatever it threw at us as individuals, as professionals and as Toastmasters. We are all proud that our resilience spoke loud and clear, and each one of us, as members, clubs, areas, divisions and the district dug deep into our inner strengths to sail over the challenges, with new enablers, new visions and most importantly a rejuvenated urge to stay afloat and grow.

As we culminate our journey as District 105 together spanning five wonderful countries and step into a new era of growth from next year onwards as two districts, it opens up doors for more engagement and growth through collaborations and synergistic vision. For us, growth always is a catalyst of change that brings a feeling of accomplishment and trigger visions for our future.

Let us wish ourselves a great journey ahead, a journey

of unbridled joy and growth in Toastmasters, riding on our core values of Service, Integrity, Respect and Excellence, in whatever we do.”

Before 1980, medical science prohibited women from joining marathons

SHAMEEMA AHMED, DTM District 105 Club Growth Director

Shameema Ahmed, DTM

Yes, I have done a half Marathan.

True, he dropped out of marathan halfway through.

THE ONE WHO COUNSELED TELEMACHUS

In the ancient Greek epic “ODISSI,” there is a mythical tale of a young child ‘TELEMACHUS,’ whose father ODYSSEUS was the king of Ethica. He leaves for the Trojan War, leaving behind his young son Telemachus and lovely wife, Penelope.

Odysseus does not return even after ten years; gradually, some power-hungry unscrupulous people rise one by one. They do crazy things and plan to take over the country.

The small youngster protests, but no one pays attention. He’s inexperienced and lacks confidence. Seeing this, Goddess Athena assumed the shape of an elderly man. The old man counseled Telemachus, giving him courage and assisting him in reaching out for guidance from other kings and warriors. That strengthened the young man’s self-confidence.

He evolves into a powerful and mature young prince, holding the fort until his father arrives to assume control as king.

The name of the elderly man / Goddess Athena’s makeover was MENTOR. He was the one who turned Telemachus into a champion. That persona inspired the term “mentor,” which is now extensively used in many fields, particularly in Toastmasters.

Dear Leaders and Friends, The mentor is both a motivator and a nurturer. A mentor can guide you down the right road. During these challenging times, let us deliberate in finding the right ‘MENTORS’ for our clubs and us in our journey ahead.

Reaching out to the right MENTOR can transform the future.

Do you have a MENTOR?

Saiju Victor, DTM District 105 - Club Growth Director

During every run, the midbrain sharpens in function

Saiju Victor, DTM

LET’S FINISH IT STRONG

Dear Fellow District 105 members,

It seemed like yesterday when I was in UAE for my first experience of the in-person First District Ex-Comm Meeting for the year 2022-2023 as the District Administrative Manager.

Few blinks and it is seven months gone and we are into the contest season and the renewals are round the corner.

With so much to accomplish and not many months left, and as it seems like our cup of woes are over flowing and it gets overwhelming, just pause and remember to breathe and breathe deep. We have choices on what is the legacy we want to leave behind especially as we are on the threshold of our District never going to be as it is now. Our district is all set to be realigned and become two and what we leave behind will be our legacy to be quoted / referenced. Let us make it a good reference.

Very early in my professional career, when things seemed to go south be it difficult situations or people, I had little chit I would open and read to help me reframe the situation. It has made me take the bull by the horns (sometimes stupidly too) and tackle the problems as opportunities Sharing it here and hope it help you to reframe some of the challenges we are facing in our

toastmaster journey, professional or personal life. Be thankful for the troubles of your job. They provide about half your income. Because if it were not for the things that go wrong, the difficult people that you have to deal with, and the problems and unpleasantness of your working day, someone could be found to handle your job for half of what you are paid.

It takes intelligence, resourcefulness, patience, tact and courage to meet the troubles of any job. That is why you hold your present job. And it may be the reason you aren’t holding down an even bigger one.

If all of us would start to look for more troubles, and learn to handle them cheerfully and with good judgement, as opportunities rather than irritations, we would find ourselves getting ahead at a surprising rate. For it is a fact that there are plenty of big jobs waiting for men and women who are not afraid of the troubles connected with them.

Visualizing us finishing strong with all our collective efforts rooted in our core toastmaster values of integrity, respect, service or excellence!

Let’s do all it takes to finish strong!

TM Sudha Gomati Narayan Administration Manager, District 105

Even for at least 30 minutes daily, running shows proven health benefits

TM Sudha Gomati Narayan

HAPPY CRESTING

It is still fresh in my memory, my first day of stepping into a toastmaster meeting where the table topic master invited me to speak about a topic and I was utterly clueless about the topic, fumbled, had numerous long pauses, and couldn’t even speak for 1 minute. I was pushed into uncharted territory and individuals by continuously attending Toastmasters gatherings and adopting roles.

I was surrounded by encouraging people who were eager to help me climb the ladder of public speaking. Weeks passed, months passed, and years passed. Yet one thing that stayed with me was volunteering at my club for personal development and to help my fellow members. Gradually I could understand the basic of public speaking. Still, I have a long way to go. Even now, when I get onto the platform to give a presentation, I get butterflies in my stomach for few seconds. I am sure, each member in the District has such experiences. We’ve all learned to maneuver and swim through life’s whirlpools.

Our organization’s membership is rising at an exponential rate, similar to how the waves are massive and forceful. There are certain aspects of life that are beyond your control and some aspects that are in our control. Reformation and alignment of the district are something beyond our control.

As we all move again to an unchartered territory with a tag of new District numbers, let’s look back and re-kindle our thoughts. It is a time for reflecting on what has been achieved, what could have been better, and the people who have supported us along the way. It is a time to think about our legacy and what we have accomplished in our lives with learnings of the toastmasters. It is a time to be thankful for the good times and to take stock of the lessons we have learned.

One thing that stands out throughout our organization’s 99year history, which was built on the foundations of integrity, respect, service, and excellence, is our commitment to our club. As we are just months away as one combined District, let’s take a vow in making our clubs stronger and achieving excellence.

The journey towards excellence may be hard like surfing the waves. They are huge and powerful and challenge your dexterity and balance. They cannot be controlled no matter how hard you try. But you can learn to surf them. In surfing them, you use the power of the waves to propel you forward. while maintaining a fine equilibrium. Then the waves (process of achieving excellence by contributing to our clubs regularly) that looked like a menace in the beginning, become your greatest asset

On board surfers, Happy cresting!!!

Ramanujam Raghavan, DTM Finance Manager District 105

Marathon runs are a thing for celebrities too.

Ramanujam Raghavan, DTM

Ahappy frisson engulfs me at the mere thought of the upcoming fission. Come July 2023, we shall be yet again divided into two districts. The moment will be very poignant, though. Because for the last five years we have all been together. We’ve weathered the storms of unprecedented times, and yet what has stood out as strong and unrestrained is our spirit.

When the world came to a standstill, we found ways to meet online. Not only we met, but we grew. Reviving ancient bonds far and wide and exponentially forming new ones. Just as a mighty oak grows from a little acorn, so has our district grown to become the world’s largest district. Growth cannot and should

A FRISSON OF FISSION

not be contained, and hence the time to divide is upon us. But I prefer to think of it as fission, where two separate but identical entities are formed from a single unit. Because of the toastmaster’s bounty, we all have the same core values, so we are all the same. At the same time, two separate units will definitely provide an abundance of opportunities for the new leadership to proliferate.

But till then, let’s revel in the exuberance of this present moment of our unified odyssey!

Manager

Doing a short run while at work can increase your productivity by 23%

TM Shuchita Mohit Udas Public Relation

TM Shuchita Mohit Udas

CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND GROW

Dear District 105 Toastmasters,As our time as District 105 leaders of this term comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment in our last lap to express my heartfelt gratitude for each and every one of you. Your unwavering support, dedication, and hard work have made this leadership journey an unforgettable experience.

I am humbled by the passion and drive that all our District 105 members bring to the table, and I am in awe of the incredible impact that we have all made together. From hosting successful events to mentoring new members, your contributions have left a lasting impact on our fantastic district and on each other. I am grateful for the memories we have created, the challenges we have overcome, and the progress we have made together this year.

Our teamwork and collaboration have been the driving force behind our success, and I am proud to have served alongside such a talented and dedicated group of individuals in District 105.

Your flexibility, adaptability, and commitment to excellence have enabled us to achieve our goals as a district, even in the face of challenges.

As we move into the next chapter, I am confident that our District 105 Toastmasters community will continue to thrive and grow under the leadership of our successors. I am honored to have had the opportunity to serve as a district leader and I will always cherish the time we spent together.

Thank you for your unwavering support and for the privilege of serving alongside you. I am forever grateful for this experience and for each and every one of you

TM LM

Logistics Manager

Human heart builds too much pressure while running.

Ahmed

TM LM Ahmed

NO ONE IS IMMUNE TO PAIN AND SUFFERING

Dear Members of District 105,

Greetings from your IPDD,

As a District Officer for past 3 years, I spent 36 months in office. 28 months of these were covid infected and thus I connected with you from the camera and mic in my Laptop.

Towards the end of 2021, the restrictions were eased and some In Person events started. We planned an In Person District Excom meeting in January at Dubai. This was the first In Person Event after 2 years. The event will be unforgettable for me for many reasons.

The attendance was around 50%, due to Covid scare and UAE changing its weekend. More people travelled from Outside of UAE to attend the session. The experience of connecting with a live person, the hugs, the handshakes, the selfies, the laughter brought feelings of belonging, connecting, love, joy, happiness and relief.

It was such a joy to see volunteers arriving a day early to set up the room, the gifts, sound, light, music. As we spent two days of listening, and sharing our pain of pandemic - each one of us experienced compassion.

My lesson – Compassion is fueled by understanding and accepting that were all made of strength and struggle – no one is immune to pain or suffering. Compassion is not a practice of “better than” or “I can fix you” – it’s a practice based in the beauty and pain of shared humanity.

Lots of love

Gurbinder Singh Punn, DTM Immediate Past District Director

Gurbinder Singh Punn, DTM

JOURNEY INTO LEADERSHIP

Ioften wondered What to do when a team or an individual comes close to the end of the journey. Do we let our guards down, do we sprint, or do we just cruise on auto-pilot.

There is no magic answer, “it depends”. What is certain is that we need to reflect on the previous period, our goals and future predictions compared to what we aspire to achieve. This is no easy task, it takes experience, collaboration and understanding of dynamics.

Celebrate wins, plan ahead and brace for challenges, welcome to a lifelong journey into leadership.”

DTM Mohammed Murad Past International President

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL

The most beautiful thing about toastmasters is that it teaches you kindness. Kindness is giving people your time and effort to review their thoughts, and that is returned back at you. With that, people have a mutual connection in mindset and speech, and that influences society in a positive way. The purpose of that is to improve language and communication skills.

Furthermore, a great chance to learn leadership throughout different stages of toastmasters because every role affects you in several ways. For example; sometimes you differ between judge or contestant, that’s why people around the toastmasters environment should take responsibility in the way they act.

TM Johara Abualnass Arabic Committee Chair District 105

SOME GLITTERING MILESTONE MOMENTS

SOME GLITTERING MILESTONE MOMENTS

The COVID 19 pandemic had brought everything to a standstill, so when I assumed leadership of District 105 on July 1, 2020, I was aware that our district faced challenging times ahead. The new format was virtual meetings. I personally preferred to concentrate on the problems rather than the available solutions. We had to envisage a different approach as a district team.

It was then our district PR Manager DTM Deepa Surendran, introduced 21 day District 105 fitness challenge. This project was in conjunction with HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Dubai Fitness Challenge 30 X 30.

The unprecedented number of entries we received for the three-week fitness challenge astounded me. The goal of the challenge was to prepare participants for the demands of daily life by making them mentally and physically agile. To motivate the public, participating members of our district shared a 10 seconds on 1-minute-long video to their social media accounts. The posts featured the hashtags for their club, neighborhood, division, and district, highlighting the campaign slogan “Teamwork will make our dream work.”

I took part in this challenge as well, and I had fun sharing my training videos online. When members supported our district 105 project, which was a great experience in and of itself, I was ecstatic. This remains one of my most treasured memories from my time serving as district director.

Knowing that toastmasters are eager to investigate new possibilities and get fit in new fields was a very pleasant experience.

HEALTHY CHALLENGE

I agree with the American Methodist clergyman Halford E. Luccock’s observations made while I was in office.

“No one can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra to play it”

Heartfelt gratitude to every member of District 105.

Nelson Menezes, DTM District Director (2020-21)

Nelson Menezes, DTM

PLAN, PERSEVERE AND STAY POSITIVE

District 105 has been a district which has been blessed with dedicated and sincere leadership.

It has grown and most of the growth has been healthy thanks to leadership down the ranks.

COVID was the begining of really testing period and it was no different for Toastmasters. It was during my term as a District Director when it all went virtual. It was a big blow but we faced it head on.

Coming to the point about the last last lap, with my 15 plus years of experience as a Tm leader I have to say that’s when leaders are separated from others. It’s about planning, persistence and positivity.

Last lap is mostly about Persistence and remaining positive even when stacks are heavily loaded against you.

I remember once in school I participated in a marathon for the first time. Coaches made us run mini marathons, shared diet plans, some resistance exercises and strict sleep routines. Planning was good. However, running a simulated half marathon and running against all area school runners was different.

Once the race began I realised pace was faster as others

were more experienced and more proficient. I persisted and stuck to my plan and pushed myself to stay on course. It was excruciating pain and it only increased once I saw that more than 10 runners were ahead of me. I was not able to keep up and was about to give up. Persistence was loosing out planning was about to fail.

Then I heard this animated voice - it was the voice of my coach. Robin don’t give up it’s just one more lap to go. You cannot do this to yourself or people who look up to you.

You can do it. You can and You will.

That few minutes of motivation and drive made all the difference. I finished first among the first timers and in top 10 runners. More than that I was a hero to myself.

I didn’t give up and ran the last lap with pain but the positive thought was of achieving something more than just an individual goal gave me the energy to pull on.

Tm leadership specially the club, area and division leadership is challenging and last lap always tougher than it actually is.

Renewals , club growth and most importantly club health are 3 key responsibilities and last laps will test you on all the above.

My message is plan extremely well, persist with your plan and finally stay positive when all seems lost. The target is just round the corner.

Run your last Laps like your life depended on it.

The first New York City Marathon was held in 1970

Robin Anand, DTM Past District 105 Director (2018 - 2019)

Robin Anand, DTM

REALLY UNFORGETTABLE

Leadership is a journey and one that helps us to understand ourselves better as well as others who have nominated or selected you for the position. In Toastmasters, it is a great opportunity for any individual to embrace leadership because this is a place where there is great learning. Every individual and every situation we come across is a learning experience. For me, there have been several instances which I can remember which can be termed as “unforgettable”.

When I took over the reins as the District Director, while I had a clear idea of who the members of the District team were, I was in a dilemma as to who should be the Parliamentarian. We had many leaders in the fray and I thought I could discuss this matter with the Past International President of Distinguished Toastmasters, Mohammad Murad, as we were returning on the same flight from Muscat to Dubai. While I posed the question

to him, it suddenly stuck in my mind-”why not ask him to be our Parliamentarian” for this year unless he had some board engagements. Without hesitation, I posed the question and was certainly pleased with his two word response-”Could Be”. I have not forgotten and will never forget these two words. All I needed to do was follow up, and eventually he became the Parliamentarian for our district that year. We are so lucky to have him with us, and as of this date, he is still the Parliamentarian for District 105— his 5th year on the trot.

Thank you, Mohammed.

Thank you to District 105 for the opportunity to lead the district, and thank you to the district team for allowing me to write my thoughts.

Nagabhushan Balaji, DTM District 105 Director (2018 - 2019)

District 105

The oldest annual marathon is the Boston Marathon.

Nagabhushan Balaji, DTM

ENCOURAGE EDUCATE EMPOWER

Creating more leaders at each level is the key to sustainability. District 105, in its very first year of reformation achieved the Presidents Distinguished status and was positioned fourth worldwide. This success was made possible due to the following strategies:-

1) focusing on encouraging leaders to take up higher level of leadership positions,

2) providing the right training thus making them capable of performing their duties and

3) empowering them to take right decisions.

Encouraging, Educating and Empowering district leaders, especially the Area Directors, made a huge impact on the district success. These well trained and passionate Area Directors, drove the clubs and its members to excellence, strengthened the clubs to sustainable status and became role models for club level leaders to take up Area level leadership roles.

Toastmasters is where leaders are made, let us make more leaders by encouraging, educating and empowering!

Sunil Kottarathil, DTM

District 105 Director ( 2017 - 2018)

Running also helps social skills

Sunil Kottarathil, DTM

THUS SPOKE AARON BEVERLEY…

BY RAJULAL RAFEEK, DTM

TM Aaron Baverly was the world champion of the 2019 Toastmasters International Contest. In fact, the winners of the world championship are chosen through a multi-level screening process. Aaron Baverly’s speech in the finals is often talked about because of how well it was written and given. Aaron Beverly’s ability to base his speeches on ordinary events that happen in life and leave an indelible imprint on his listeners has been praised by many.

He agreed to talk to the ‘Last Lap’ and that had happened a few weeks back. It was a very positive and really inspiring especially for the contest aspirants. The relevant portions of the conversation he had with TM Rajulal Rafeek, Editor, LAST LAP, can be read down.

Q -1: Good Evening, Welcome to the District 105’s Newsletter ‘LAST LAP’

A : Good Morning ( Aaron Chuckles)

Q-2 : Yeah… It’s a good morning for you. Yes, you’re in the New York time zone right now, enjoying a bountiful morning, and I’m in the Dubai time zone, enjoying the first rays of a Muscat evening. Can I say that winning the 2019 Award for Public Speaking has given you a lot of chances to learn about more cultures, people, and places?

A : Yes…Definitely. Winning the world championship had paved a lot of ways to me being exposed to great number of people. It’s so natural that when you win a world championship, a lot of people tend to listen to what you say. This I already experienced when I won second place in the World Championship of Public Speaking in 2016. Yes, 2019 winning have brought more exposure that now I have got a chance to communicate to the District 105 (Smiles).

Q-3 : Winning a world championship is the ultimate aim of every Toastmaster. I think we can discuss it more, which can help many people who want to win the World Championship. Could you recall the very day of the 2019 final stage?

A : Yes, sure. In 2019, I was a bit nervous and also up-sided, obviously. I was really consumed with the fact that I am wearing a Kurtha; that was the attire I wore that day. And I didn’t want to be seen in Kurtha by anybody before that wonderful stage. We had a dress rehearsal before the final, and I appeared in shorts and a muscle shirt. People who were watching me must have wondered what the hell he was going to wear.

Q-4: By the way, Kurtha, where did you get that? Just for my curiosity.

A : laughs (as if it’s a secret). Yes… It was not easy. Once I was on the back stage, I just really tried to calm my nerves. I tried to move around. I believe that continuing to spar is one of the worst things you could do if you were nervous. Because your body is putting all of this energy to use. and it’s telling you to move. So I just went to the back of the stage so that I could move around. I just spaced back and forth. Then I listened to some music. I just wanted to take my mind off the fact that I was competing until it was time for me to do it.

Q-5: In your opinion, what are the things a contestant has to do in the last lap of his preparations to win any contest?

A : I would say you have to be confident in your materials. and that would come from practicing. But practicing only before the day of the contest is not enough and cannot do any magic. Practicing takes several months and days. Practicing every day is required. Even if just listening to your recorded speech can also do its best. It can help editing your speech and you can addition or deletion of certain lines of your speech that can make it stronger.

I was confident in the speech that I was giving because I started preparations at least two weeks before the contest season even started. Then comes the part about execution. Once you are confident about your speech, then you can focus on other things, like the actual execution. I do recall that I did not complete the 2016 contest to the standard that was expected of me.

I do have a big regret over that. I don’t know whether I would have been the world champion even if I executed it well. But, in reality, the three-year gap until I became world champion in 2019 was a promise I made to myself. If I ever had the opportunity to compete in the world championship of public speaking final again, I vowed to adopt and practice the best methods of speech execution so that I would be fully confident in delivering my speech. Evidently, that is what I had done.

Q-6 : Have you ever imagined yourself as a champion in a vital, major public speaking contest just before you joined Toastmasters?

A: I joined Toastmasters originally to get over my fear of public speaking. I also wanted to find ways to stand out. So that might get you a job. Toastmastering is something that I can include on my resume. I didn’t even know a world championship contest in public speaking existed. But after I delivered my icebreaking speech in 2009, the Toastmaster of the Day looked at me and the audience and said, “There is a future world champion of public speaking here.” That was the first time I heard about the World Championship of Public Speaking. But I took my own time and started to compete in 2012.

Q-7 : That’s a piece of inspiration. Shall I ask you to recall three names, just three names, of people who have inspired you the most?

A : Oh… When it comes to who got me interested in public speaking, I give the credits to two individuals. First and foremost, ex-President Barack Obama.I was amazed by his ability of public speaking especially in 2008 campaigns.

The way he handled the crowd, how he inspired the crowd, etc. engrossed me. But more personally, DTM Dilip Abayasekhara, who was the president of TMI for the year 2005–06, has inspired me. Actually, he was a professor at my college. I met him in 2007, I believe, when I enrolled in a leadership program and was introduced to taostmasters. And I saw his ability to speak. Part of the table topic training he gave us asked us to choose any material in the room as the topic. We had chosen, and he created his speech from nowhere. Then I decided I also should speak like that, but still striving and

with the quest of learning to reach the top level of eloquence and wisdom.

And I can mention the name of Tostmaster Kwong Yue Yang, who was the runner up of 2001 as the third one inspired me. The speech rendering style of him really inspired me to compete for 2012contest.

Q-8 : Yes, that was a really good speech delivery. But do you think a leader should be a communicator too?

A : I have seen many people separate leadership and communication from each other and count But I believe a leader should be a communicator too. I effectively use the communication tips that I have gained from Toastmastering wherever they are required. A leader need to make sure that well communicate the vision, Making sure that the objectives being communicated, making sure that he push forward the under performers to the next level.

I came up from ordinary back grounds even considering the schooling. I promise that Toastmasters is the only place I’ve learned the best ways to talk to people. In some ways, leadership and communication are two sides of the same coin, and toastmastering will provide you with numerous opportunities to hone those skills. It really helped me advance my career, and I’m still hoping for bigger and better things with Toastmasters.

Q-9 : What would Aaron’s life be like if it weren’t for the Toastmasters World Championship?

A : That’s a really good question. I am still in the corporate world and wish to stay there for some more years. I must have been there only if I couldn’t win the world championship. But my achievement on the public speaking stage gave me more confidence. That motivated me to pursue and obtain a better job. We couldn’t have grown this much in such a short period of time if we hadn’t won the World Cup. I must have been doing the same old routine tasks for my old boss, and my career path would have been very definite.

Q-10 : After winning major titles, many speakers tend to move on as full-time speakers. Do you have any such plans?

A : In fact. I am such a person who doesn’t want to depend on only one thing. At the moment, I am a consultant, and I don’t have a quick plan to transform into a full-time speaker. But within the corporate structure, I shall focus on corporate training. Please don’t be surprised if you see me engaged in my own communication training activities after many years. I prefer to work among the youth, who really need some enhancement and support for their communication and social skill development.

Q-11 : What are the essential attributions that you think a public speaker ought to have?

A : Many people come forward and ask me what topic I should choose for public speaking or how I can excel to become a world champion in public speaking. But I would say that you should have a substantial message to share when you are on the stage. I look at the point of who can I help?” and “how can I help?” Next thing you should have a tough skin or thick skin as a speaker. There would be times that you would stumble on the stage or mess up, and you should know how to cross over the same hurdles next time. Everybody makes mistakes, and you are not excluded from making mistakes. Mistakes are guaranteed to happen, but what really matters is how you approach the same situation afterwards. At times, I still stumble. People have a misconception that world champions are perfect speakers. There is no such thing as perfect speech or a perfect speaker.

Q-12 : How do you get up every time you fall in the journey to reach your world championship?

A : If I had been on the winning team in 2016, I doubt I could have delivered the speech flawlessly in the 2019 finals. When I lost the title in 2016, I set goals not for winning but for reviving myself as a speaker. Throughout, I’ve done a gradual elaboration. I came as a runner-up in the district. winner of the evaluation contest. But those couldn’t satisfy me as I kept a fire in the belly burning for the world cup. But my focus was improving my performance in every single round and finding a better version of me.

Q-13 : How do you handle the criticism and feedback?

A : I would be honest with people and say that I do not like the process of getting feedback. For me, speeches are like my kids. Think, if someone is commenting that my children are worst in every way, cant digest. But I know feedback is essential for making a better product. A madam toastmaster who was the district director at the time commented that my speech title was too long and might not register properly with the audience. I felt it was relevant, and I had edited it to “an unbelievable story.” Anyone can give you feedback. But as a speaker, you should have the wisdom and comfort in what you are doing to apply the feedback. I shall assert overall the feedbacks are constructive. I would say that if someone gave me feedback on my speech, I would check the chances of inducting the feedback into my speech. If nobody gives any feedback, I shall entirely

change my speech.

Q-14 : Let’s know more about your family and their reaction to your achievement?

A : My mother was the only person from my family present there, as my sister was not able to make that trip. My mother was overjoyed, and she was relieved that I no longer needed to enter any contests, because my contests caused her stress because she wanted me to win all the time. That day, she was over the moon. After all, to me, family is important. I live with my mom and sister, who are my first audience for all of my speeches.

Q-15 : Oh… Aaron, you promised to remain a chronic bachelor?

A : (Laughs out loudly) .. I still think I have time…

Q-16 : Toastmaster Aaron, do you have a fan base?

A : Oh, yes, and it’s natural. When you are a world champion, the people are interested in you, and they seek a piece of your wisdom, at least in the form of advice.

Q-17 : What inspired you to compile your speeches?

A : While compiling my speeches, I try to incorporate two things. How they are entertaining the audience is my first concern. Second, I’d look into how it could be a lesson to someone. Usually I adapt family stories for my speeches. But for the 2019 final, I have chosen the experience of traveling to India to participate in the marriage of a pal. I infused the message of the necessity of unity into my speech.

Q-18 : Your advice to the world championship aspirants?

A : Focus more than winning. Concentrate on the integrated development of yourself as a communicator as you go towards your world championship goal.

That was the world champion of toastmaster’s public speaking in the year of 2019. The Dsistrict 105 PR team expresses gratitude to toastmaster Aaron Beverley for sharing his experience and views for the benefit of all toastmasters. All the best. Go ahead.

District 105 is super proud to announce that Toastmasters International has recognized HSBC Bank Middle East Limited for its continued support of the Toastmasters program, and for enhancing its employees’ engagement, communication, and leadership development through their membership in HSBC Toastmasters Club.

The Corporate Recognition Award was presented by Mr. Daniel Rex, Chief Executive Officer of Toastmasters International, to HSBC Deputy Chief Executive Officer Mr. Simon Calder during a special meeting held at HSBC Middle East headquarters in Dubai, UAE, on January 6th, 2023.

LEADERSHIP FORUM

District 105 rang in the New year by hosting ‘The Leadership Forum Event ‘ on Jan 9 th 2023, an evening with Toastmasters International President Matt Kinsey DTM, and Chief Executive Officer Daniel Rex along with guest leaders from other Districts. Two keynote speeches followed by an enriching panel discussion were the highlights of the high profile meeting.

When you match a right vision with the right people there results an upsurge of energy that then bursts forth on to ‘The Last Lap’. And this dynamic vital force comprises of our editors of Team PR. A big shout out to our TM Rajulal, TM Lakhsmi and Raja Govindan, DTM. Your passion and proclivity to perfection can only be eclipsed by your commitment.

Heartfelt thanks to the entire PR Team for their ubiquitous support. You all keep the PR engine running without friction.

A royal salute to all the contributors for their time and generous sharing of their experiential wisdom.

To the vibrant leaders and members of our District, a resounding tribute to your enthusiasm and love for toastmasters. It definitely fuels the service in us.

Sincere thanks to the District core leadership for their omnipresent encouragement and support.

Signing off with immense gratitude and with a hope that you all enjoyed reminiscing our odyssey!

TM Shuchita Udas Public Relations Manager District 105

DISTRICT 105

WHERE LEADERS ARE MADE SOCIAL CONNECT