TMTC Newsletter June 2023

C O M M U N I Q U É J U N E 2 K 2 3

EUPHORIA

MOMENTS OF HAPPINESS

T A B L E

Photography By Deepa Jilla Photography By Shilpa Misra Photography By Saral Mehrotra Photography By Manjula Iyer Photography By Simran Lodhi Photography By Shweta Joshi

T A B L E

XV. TMTC BINGO

X. SPECIAL MEETINGS

XI. HASHTAG AWARDS

XII. TOASTMASTERS OF THE MONTH

XIII. NEW EX-COM TERM JUL-DEC

XVI. EUPHORIC MOMENTS

EDITOR'S EDITOR'S NOTE NOTE

Dear Readers,

“It is not possible to experience constant euphoria, but if you're grateful, you can find happiness in everything.”

- Pharrell Williams

Introducing “Euphoria: Moments of Happiness”, the 24th Communique Edition.

This newsletter has regular features such as the President’s address, and the milestones reached in the past six months and it also encases a blend of articles, poems, & experiences of members which gives the feeling of euphoria that you can not only feel the emotions embedded in them, in fact, you can visualize them.

We welcome your feedback & suggestions for future editions of the newsletter at share2communique. We hope you relish reading this newsletter.

Happy reading!

NEWSLETTER TEAM

Shivani Maurya Editor Iin Chief

Shweta Joshi Proof Reader

Manjula Iyer Shilpa Mishra Ekta Sinha Mayuri Sadawarti

PRESIDENTS'

ADDRESS

TCS and Toastmasters are the 2 words very near to my heart, which became part of my life at different times and in different ways You all must have heard me say this many times by now - “I am a Tastesmaster first, and then a TCSer, but proud to be both.”

I joined the Toastmasters International organization only 2.5 years ago, in December 2020, when everything was virtual. I started my journey with Palava and became part of the TMTC family in October 2022.

Being the youngest member of my family, I hardly got chances to make any decisions, hence I never imagined taking up the role of President until TM Sankalp approached me He believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself, and I am thankful to him for giving me that push in life which was much needed Since that day, I never stopped believing in myself, and today I stand as the Area Director for Area 3, Division D of Distinct 98 2023-24.

Our path was sometimes smooth and sometimes rough with lots of potholes. But in the past 6 months, we eventually learned to drive on the worst roads and became the best version of ourselves as a team and individuals.

VPM Shubham Kanade, is an all-time goto person for any work needed and is one of the hardworking team members of our team. He conducted a few membership campaigns (at TCS Olympus) and 1 open house (Online), which helped us to promote the club and bring some

talented gems to the TMTC family. Even though he faced some health issues in this tenure, he was so determined to work and fulfill his responsibilities as the VPM. Shubham, with other members, did a tremendous job on increasing the member count and retaining the old members.

VPPR Shivani, the person who never says no to any requests at any time The creative head of our team, she designed some wonderful posters and created a few beautiful videos for the club meetings and events. One of the hardworking, determined and quick learners of our team. She has also done a stupendous job as the head of the newsletter team for the current term.

VPE Reena Kumari, always on toes to complete her tasks and conduct meetings with full role players Thanks to her sheer dedication and the efforts she has put in to conduct 25+ meetings in the whole term. Not to forget her love for the club, which brought her all the way to Mumbai from Bhubaneswar to Mumbai to meet the club members and be a part of club celebrations Also, I am overjoyed and proud of the fact that Reena will be serving as my successor for the next 6 months and am sure she will do wonders in her term as the club President.

Treasurer Pravina, smoothly managed all club accounts throughout the term. TM Pravine and VPM Shubham made a great team, who undoubtedly completed all payments on time and

PRESIDENTS' ADDRESS

made sure no dues for any club members remained. With some major events conducted, she managed all bills and accounts smoothly throughout the term

Sergeant At Arms Pallavi, started all meetings on time with smooth audio video check. The one who plays behind the screen and always stays till the end She fulfilled all her responsibilities of SAA - spotlighting the speakers, creating polls and certificates during the meetings etc. It seems like an easy task, but it isn't that easy At times she wore multiple hats and still gave her best to fulfill her responsibilities as SAA very gracefully. She made sure no glitches or issues were there anytime.

Secretary Simran Lodhi, was very apt and keen on minutes of meetings of all club meetings. Being attentive for the whole 2 hours and sharing the moments in imaginary words with crips and short points seems easy, but is a difficult task, and Secretary Simran did it well As one of the ex-Executive committee members, she also guided the current team members in all aspects whenever required

Our IPP Sankalp always had our back and was ever ready to guide us. From taking up last moment roles to advising us by sharing his experiences, he was always there for the club as our constant support system

The newsletter team of a few creative heads of our club - Shilpa, Manjula, Ekta, Mayuri, Saral, Shweta and a few Ex-com members led by VPPR Shivani contributed immensely to the creation of the newsletter. We are extremely proud of their service.

As the President, I got the opportunity to connect with all club members and also add changes to a few club activities like :

- Introduced 2 club level awards (Best Role Player, Best Auxiliary Role Player)

- Started with monthly hybrid meetings

- Conducted offline membership campaigns

- Celebrated 800th meeting at TCS Kensington

- Celebrated 19th Anniversary with traditional dress code, at TCS Olympus and much more

Being the President of TCS Maitree Toastmasters Club was an honor and It has been an honor to serve the club as President for the past 6 months and I am grateful for your trust and the opportunity And I promise to give my best support and guidance to the new Executive Committee, in the upcoming term as the Immediate Past President of the club

EX-COM'S ADDRESS

10 Months ago, I joined the TCS Maitree Toastmasters Club. I was very nervous. Being an introvert, I never thought that I would speak with any of our club members, but with the guidance and support I got from all the club members, in just a few months I started talking with people and saw the confidence in me that I can communicate with people. After I became VPEd, all of a sudden, many opportunities to improve myself appeared. I got the chance to learn more, grow more, make more good connections, and also get a chance to serve our club, which has given me a lot since day 1 when I joined the club.

REENA KUMARI

The last six months have been a memorable journey with such an awesome Excom team. Together, we saw many ups and downs, but with the support of each other, in the end, everything got sorted. Through a lot of planning and concentrated efforts, we won many accolades and awards. This we could achieve because of the guidance and support of our past president, Sankalp, and all of our club members.

I thank all of you for your trust, support, and guidance.

If you told me that within 6 months of being in the club, I would be a part of the ex-com, I would have definitely given you a strange look. But yes, what the club has given me came to light on December 22, when I got elected as VPM for the term Jan.–June 2023. Directly or indirectly, it was written, and I am glad today that I got this post. What is networking exactly? The role taught me. Especially interacting with strangers (TCSers) and convincing them to join the club was a defining phase of my term as a VPM. Sometimes you get denials from people; handling the same is a key part, and I think I managed it pretty well.

Support from the Ex-Com team when it was actually required boosted me and indeed did proper justice to this role. Lastly, I would like to toast this to all the members who have played a helping hand for me this term.

#BetterStrongerTogether.

SHUBHAM KANADE

EX-COM'S ADDRESS

“Never stop dreaming, never stop believing, never give up, never stop trying, and never stop learning.”

Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

SHIVANI MAURYA

I had always thought that I don’t have any creative skills. I was not good at drawing, painting & crafts and I just assumed that maybe this is not made for me Vice President Public Relation was my second choice for the Ex-Com elections and see, I got elected as VPPR only. And then I take it this role very positively & decided to give my best. I have learnt many things making posters, writing a perfect description & socializing on social media. Being in the Executive Committee was a great opportunity, it teaches me how to work in a team, how to handle last-minute situations & what not. But the most important thing which I have learnt is to recognize & believing in myself. Maybe I hadn’t made the best posters or video but it teaches me keep learning, keep growing & keep believing in yourself.

I remember one of the excom members telling me to be the secretary of the club, but at that time I was a bit confused, but I am glad I made a decision and took part in excom from January to June 2023. By carefully listening to others and writing down the main content of the meeting, I improve my listening skills.

As a member of the excom team, I learned not only as a club secretary , but also teamwork. These experiences added lessons to my improvement journey.

I'm thankful for every member who helped me throughout the journey.

SIMRAN LODHI

EX-COM'S ADDRESS

PRAVINA BHALERAO

Hello, I am Pravina Bhalerao, the treasurer of TMTC. Being the Treasurer of our incredible Toastmasters club has been a truly transformative experience. It is a privilege to witness the unwavering passion and dedication that each member brings, and I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the growth of our community. I have had the privilege of witnessing the remarkable efforts of our Excomm team, who worked tirelessly to ensure the success of every event. I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation for their creativity and hard work, especially in organising our Hybrid meetings after the pandemic. Their innovative ideas made each event memorable for everyone involved. With the support of our members' contributions, we have been able to host engaging events, provide valuable educational resources, and foster an inclusive environment that benefits us all. I want to extend my sincere gratitude to each and every member for making this experience truly wonderful. Thank you all.

It was last minute decision to take up the SAA role. My nomination was on the spot After electing as SAA, I learned many things like creating certificates and creating Microsoft forms, which kept me active as I had to manage spotlighting. It taught me punctuality, as I had to join meetings for 15 mins to do an audio-video check of every member. I also got to know how the ex-com team works together to make every meeting successful I encourage you all to take any role in ex-com, it will always help you to grow as a person professionally and personally.

EX-COM'S ADDRESS

The executive committee team of January–June 20 was highly creative, motivated, and dedicated. The tea was always open to receiving feedback from memb and implemented it for the growth of the club a members, which continued to enhance the quality meetings. The team never hesitated to experiment w meetings and conducted many special meetings th kept the members engaged. As an Immediate P President, it was a great experience watching t executive members lead from the front; their collect efforts helped the club grow. I wish all the club members the very best for their future endeavors and roles.

SANKALP SINGH

First Impressions - 90%

Membership Orientation - 80%

Fellowship, Variety & Communication - 94%

Program Planning & Meeting Organization - 86%

Achievement Recognition - 94%

Membership Strength - 74%

MEET NEW GEMS OF

Dreams in your Eyes

No matter who you are, what's your age, Keep your fire alive, fire of courage, Let that fire free all your dreams, Which you've locked in a cage, Let that fire, ignite your ability to desire, to change the reality of your dreams, It's not hard as it seems, Can't you see, the dreams in your eyes, Can't you feel, a fire within you lies!

You are a liar, when you say you can't achieve, all your desires, you just need to belief, that you are the one, who is born to shine like a sun.

You are a liar, when you say you are weak, Unleash your fire, let the world feel the heat, Of your dreams, It's not hard as it seems, Can't you see, the dreams in your eyes, Can't you feel, a fire within you lies!

-Sankalp Singh

Once 'Money' asked 'Time', who is more important, me or you?

To which 'Time' replied, "Of course, you dude, as people are ready to work overtime in order to have you, but satirically, they say to their loved ones that they don't have time."

All that glitters is not gold. Sometimes it's just a faux pas. The same is true for humans. They are just their own replicas. One is for the world, and another is for themselves. The former one is fake. That can be either selfish or sacrificing. It can bear a smile, confidence, or attitude.

Continuously in the race against the clock. But the latter one is pure and eternal.

It is always in a state of deep chaos, Whether to go with the faux or not. It prefers serenity over race. Peace over wealth

Contentment over haste, but the truth is that No one likes the latter one. Or even if one prefers it, This world won't allow it to be one, as in this way, he will be behind IN THE RACE THAT IS endless.

A Poem on Poet

Whether it is Gulzar or Robert Frost poems, I melt into their lines, How could they pen down such concoctions?

Deep down somewhere all these men have been brushed, With brushes that were too hard.

That took their souls out and spread it on the paper. Beautiful imagery that flows like a river.

Wonder at times if they squeezed their souls, With creative thoughts dripping as ink, Intoxicating the readers with the poet’s concocted drink.

-Shilpa Misra

Afresh Thoughts

If we have a life full of green petals, then we have thorns too…

To avoid thorns, we don’t stop growing plants…

We grow them affectionately because our love for flowers or petals is more important than anything else.

In the same way, no matter how long our hardship lasts, we should not stop growing.

We should not stop…

Believe me!

The task I thought most difficult to accomplish, surprisingly it got over within the ETA.

The only difference before commencing the troubleshooting and after completing is - Right Mindset with firm determination.

Often, we find ourselves in such situations where our heart keeps telling us that 'It is impossible'.

However, once we become determined we can move a rock with the little finger...

-Shweta Joshi

Dream Big: Live Life To The Fullest

Life is meant to enjoy all the comfort and luxury one could wish for, but in the right way.

Human beings have achieved all they ever wanted through the power of dreams. It takes time to achieve our goals, but it’s worth it.

The ability to imagine what the future will look like really brings the vision into reality. The best part is that we human beings are blessed with powers that can change our lives in a positive way.

Leaders always have vision, which helps them bring their ideas into reality, and the result is the best products or services that are offered against the company's profits. In a similar way, one can always think about how he wants one’s life to be and then take actions accordingly.

In conclusion, one can bring change to his or her life through dreams. Proactive actions and decisions with good intentions would help in achieving the goals, which will bring the happy emotions to reality.

One of the ways to a great life is through dreams.

a

I joined TCS 14 years ago, and since my TCS career, I have been part of the associate engagement program and volunteering initiatives. I was a part of the TCS Maitree Team. I had a wonderful experience working with Maitree, which helped me interact daily with new associates, schools, and stakeholders from underprivileged rural areas. I enjoyed Saturday morning treks, nature trail walks to parks, and teaching kids in government schools. I enjoyed working with Maitree, but the biggest problem I had was being reluctant to speak and communicate with the audience. I tried, but I was not able to break the ice. The most unexpected thing that came into my life was in the year 2015 when then SAA TM Ashutosh sent me the invitation mail to attend the session as a guest. I made up my mind on Thursday evening that I would attend the session on Friday morning. Again, on Friday morning, I started shivering and could not hold the courage to knock and open the door. This continued for a month when finally, SAA came to my desk on and pushed me inside the meeting room. The first meeting was very new to me; when I was called by the president to introduce myself, I was fumbling. Later, postmeeting, all members of the committee encouraged me to attend regular meetings, which would ease the fear. Slowly and gradually, I started attending meetings every Friday, and I became a member in 2015.

I remember it was my 299th meeting, and we celebrated the 300th milestone meeting with new innovative ideas and fun games. Journey from 300 to celebrating the 800-plus milestone, and now that we have reached our 19th year, it's really a mixed bag of happy emotions and feelings. The club has really traveled a long distance. I learned a lot from our club members; I had done many roles in my duration as a member, and I still want to continue the journey. Congratulations to the TCS Maitree TM Club for completing 19 successful years.

The first time I participated in Blood Donation Camp, I felt so content that I was able to contribute to the needy. On that day itself, I made the decision to contribute in all means to society and environment. I started to volunteer in Bhumi NGO programs, Corporate CSR events where I shared my knowledge and skill sets with underprivileged students, which made me feel gratified. The time spent with them made me learn many new things.

At one NGO event, I came across Neelam Gehani’s hair donation drive for making wigs to Cancer and Alopecia patients which gave me another opportunity to give back to society. It took me almost 2 years to grow and maintain my hair length so that I can donate it to cancer patients and help them build their self-esteem and confidence. Especially, to bring a smile to their face.

My very first step of hair donation to Cancer patients was to encourage people around me to participate for the same. I could have donated the minimum length, however, to create awareness I chose to go bald. When I shared my plans with my friends they were motivated and joined me in a hair donation drive which made me feel bliss. I have shared hair donation drive pictures on a social media platform to create awareness among people and to motivate more participations. My upcoming steps are to tie up with NGO’s, Corporates and to take initiative in helping underprivileged patients financially. Also, to spend more time with Cancer patients by volunteering and giving them moral support.

My vision would be to see a Cancer free world for which I believe the key is – ‘To create awareness’ among people. We should conduct seminars, webinars, use social media platform to share knowledge on how Cancer gets spread in body and how it can be controlled with right habits. We should also conduct regular screening tests at discounted rates so that we can detect cancer at early stages and cure it in a better manner.

-Manjula Iyer

The Half Marathon I Skipped

Everything was going just as planned. I re-started my ma p Covid - 19 with a 10 km virtual run in the TCS Bangalore event. It was a good warm up for me. I was not bothered about timing, was more interested in seeing how my mind and body took the stress. Thankfully all went well. So, I immediately registered for the upcoming 21km Navy half marathon.

21km after a gap of literally one and half years. Training next to nil. So, my performance was very much like it. I managed to finish the race within 2hrs 50 minutes, my personal worst since I started running 21km. So bad that an ambulance started keeping pace with me lest I collapse before I reached the finishing line. Well! no use crying over spilt milk, I started getting ready for the VasaiVirar 21km. This one happens to be my favorite. The first and foremost reason is that the open atmosphere over there with mud tracks in some places and greenery too gives a runner serenity from the usual roads of Mumbai filled with traffic. Secondly, because of the way the public there, from school children to grown-ups, enjoy encouraging the runners and helping them by providing fruits, juice, and water. I was close to my personal worst here too, by finishing the half marathon in 2hrs 45 mins. But wow! An improvement of 5 minutes. Trust me, even a minute's difference matters a lot while completing a marathon.

Although Vasai-Virar marathon is the one, I like most, TCS Marathon conducted in the month of January, somewhere around 15th or 16th January every year is a marathon which I look forward never to missing in my life.

Originally known as Standard Chartered Marathon, as it was started by them, it's a marathon attended not only by Mumbaikars but athletes from around the world. The atmosphere, arrangements everything is a class apart. Additionally running on the Sea link (Rajiv Gandhi Sagare Setu) also uplifts one's spirit.

Naturally I started preparing for it. I had a month in my hand, and I put in my best. I wanted to come into the face saving 2-hour 30 mins timing. So, I was aiming for a 15-minute improvement.

Two days before the marathon on 13th January 2023 I had two major back-to-back epileptic fits in my office. Thanks to the security staff and my colleagues I was back on my feet the same day, but I had crumbled inside.

Everyone gave a single advice skip this year's marathon, you can do it again in the coming year. They were pressing on it because I was not ready to give up. It was a difficult decision for me as I didn’t want to bow before epilepsy. I wanted to prove that epilepsy cannot stop me from running, from doing what I like. I did not want it to triumph over me. It has robbed me of many things which I never wanted to let go of. Finally, with the continuous coaxing of my fellow colleagues, my family, and my neurologist it dawned upon me this is not the end. The sun will rise again when the time comes, and I will be able to run again.

Now what's the good news? Time for me to put on my running shoes and start practicing again is round the corner. So! Come what may, never lose hope. There's always a be

Stepping into the Spotlight

"Stepping into the Spotlight: My First Experience in the TCS Toastmasters International Table Topics Contest at the Club Level"

Stepping out of one's comfort zone and embracing new challenges is a pivotal aspect of personal growth. As a member of the TCS Maitree Toastmasters Club, I recently took a leap of faith and participated in the Table Topics Contest for the first time. This article delves into my exhilarating experience, the lessons learned, and the tremendous personal development that ensued.

I joined the club in Sept 2022 in order to develop my public speaking skills and impromptu speaking which is the heart of Toastmasters club. I wanted to develop the skill of thinking on my feet and speaking smartly. In the month Jan/Feb 23, our club arranged a table topic contest. At first I was hesitant but I reminded myself the main purpose of joining the club was to improve impromptu speaking. There was an educational session conducted before the contest which gave me an idea of how I should prepare myself for the contest.

The following are some of the tips that I learned and Implemented from the session: Embracing the Unknown: Entering the Table Topics Contest for the first time was both exciting and nervewracking. The prospect of delivering an impromptu speech on an unknown topic in front of a supportive yet discerning audience was both intimidating and thrilling. I reminded myself that growth lies beyond our comfort zones and that participating in this contest would provide a unique opportunity to enhance my speaking skills.

Preparing Mentally:

As the contest date approached, I focused on preparing myself mentally for the challenge ahead. I acknowledged that the key to success lay in staying calm, thinking on my feet, and trusting my abilities. I visualized myself confidently delivering impromptu speeches and embraced a positive mindset to overcome any self-doubt.

Enhancing General Speaking Skills:

To excel in the Table Topics Contest, I understood the importance of honing my general speaking skills. I actively engaged in club meetings, leveraging opportunities like Table Topics sessions to practice impromptu speaking and being the Table Topic Master to observe people’s responses to particular topics. I created some generic answers for emotions like joy, fear, and sadness. I also remembered some personal experiences related to that emotion.

Developing a Structured Approach:

While impromptu speaking calls for spontaneity, I discovered that incorporating a basic structure in my responses added clarity and coherence to my speeches. I practiced outlining my thoughts quickly, focusing on a concise introduction, supporting points with relevant examples, and delivering a succinct conclusion. This structured approach enabled me to deliver a well-rounded speech within the given time frame.

Celebrating the Journey:

Participating in the TCS Maitree Toastmasters Club Table Topics Contest for the first time was an unforgettable journey of personal growth and discovery. While the contest challenged me, it also opened doors to new connections, camaraderie, and a community of like-minded individuals dedicated to self-improvement. The experience not only enhanced my speaking skills but also fostered self-confidence, resilience, and a sense of accomplishment.

On that memorable day, we were fortunate to have Chief Chair Toastmaster Raganathan guiding and facilitating the entire meeting. All the speakers were presented with the same thought-provoking topic: "Do not judge a book by its cover." A day before the contest, we received the speaking order and guidelines, with each participant given a strict time limit of 2 minutes for their speeches.

As the second speaker, when I received the topic, a flood of childhood memories and familiar sayings rushed to my mind. I shared a personal example of how people often perceive me as reserved or unfriendly initially, but once they get to know me, they realize I am approachable and friendly. I emphasized the truth behind the proverb and encouraged everyone to look beyond external appearances, taking the extra step to truly understand others. Each participant delivered their speeches eloquently, adhering to the time limit and effectively conveying their perspectives.

The moment of truth arrived with the nerve-wracking announcement of the winners Toastmaster Ranganath engaged in a discussion about our experiences and asked us to share our favorite proverbs. I shared my favorite, "Never give up," highlighting the importance of facing our fears rather than avoiding them. The results were then revealed, and to my astonishment, I secured the second-place position, a pleasant surprise that I had not anticipated. Through this experience, I conquered my fears and ventured outside of my comfort zone.

Participating in the TCS Maitree Toastmasters Club Table Topics Contest for the first time proved to be an empowering and transformative journey. It taught me the significance of embracing challenges, speaking confidently on unfamiliar topics, and continuously pushing myself to grow. The supportive atmosphere, camaraderie among participants, and valuable feedback received during the contest contributed to my personal and professional development.

In conclusion, my debut in the TCS Maitree Toastmasters Club Table Topics Contest was a remarkable experience that allowed me to overcome fears, develop my public speaking skills, and foster a sense of accomplishment. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate and look forward to continued growth and success within the Toastmasters community.

-Pravina Bhalerao

Eloquence’23 - I never thought I would be a part of this enormous Toastmaster event, as it was unplanned I am glad I took that last moment decision and booked the tickets for eloquence 2023 for me as well as my family. As we say, first impressions last forever. And it was my first Eloquence experience, first visit to Gujrat(Ahmedabad), first trip by Vande Bharat train, first time meeting so many veteran toastmasters.

26 MAY - Day 1

We reached Ahmedabad, the Heritage City of India, where culture, community and craft skills are celebrated all together Post check in and registration for the event we departed for Akshardham. With no access to mobiles and even wallets, our excursion to Akshardham began It was a devotional experience. One should definitely visit this place if in Gujrat. Followed by was the beautiful and mesmerising Sound and Light Show about an Indian mythological story After a healthy networking dinner, we returned to our rooms

27 MAY - Day 2

MORNING SESSION at Fairfield by Marriott, Included- Opening ceremony , Flag March and Lamp Lighting Followed by was The Convenor Address by Dr Hiren Dholakia In Addresses by District Director, Sapna Ohri, DTM and the International Director Gauri Seshadri, DTM, they shared their toastmasters journey and welcomed everyone to the event.

The following events were conducted:

Evaluation Speech Contest District Finals conducted by Contest Chair: Neha Bhatt, DTM and Chief Judge: Dr Nishant S Mehta, DTM Mélange: Podcast Seminar by Chhavi Sachdevfounder of Sonologue, India's first podcasting production house She is also India's oldest podcaster (in experience, not age, having started in 2008).

Toastmasters Got Talent- few toastmasters showcased their singing talent and delivered a few poems gracefully. Program Quality Director Address by Hardik Shah

Mélange: Fireside Chat aka Panel Interview by Moderator: Dr Brillian S K, DTM, PRA and

Guests: Gauri Seshadri, ID and Zarna Trivedi, Head HR, Versa Networks.

Kahaani Contest Final by Host: Sapna Ohri, DTM and Chief Jurist: Raunaq Raje with contestants- vallab garh, Rakesh, Pranav, Vidya, Pinky

Music performance by Mumbai toastmasters - Poorna Pratush and Kishan. They sang a few Hollywood songs and played Bollywood songs like Pehle Nasha on the piano

Mélange: Keynote by Brigadier Sushil Bhasin- with 34 yrs. military service, 18 yrs. business world, he is a Highly sort after military inspired motivational speaker who has inspired over one lakh listeners One line shared by him which stayed with me forever is: Commanding influence- The key to success is influence not authority

Evening sessions were conducted at a place which gives absolute authentic Gujrati vibesRajwade. Events included- Awards and Fun Night, District Hall of Fame, District GEMS, Open Mic, Live Music with Garba followed by amazing Traditional Gujarati Thali

28 MAY - Day 3

The following events were conducted:

International Speech Contest District Finals by Contest Chair: Hardik Shah and Chief Judge: Ankit Dasgupta, DTM

District Officer Installation by Mukta Nadkar, DTM

District Director Elect Address by Hardik Shah

Mélange: Storytelling Workshop by Geeta Ramanujam

Medley: AD MAD is moderated by Mayur Kotak- one of the fun events where I participated with 4 other fellow toastmasters We as a team won the event and it was a wonderful experience i will remember for life.

Club Growth Director Address by Ankit Dasgupta, DTM

Impromptu Premier League Finale by Host: Ashwin Iyer and Lead Umpire: Vaibhav Jadhav

Closing Ceremony included- Recognition of Role Players, Recognition of Organizing Committee, Outgoing District Director Address by Sapna Ohri, DTM , Vote of Thanks by Co Convenor Dilip Thakkar and Announcement of contest Results.

In a way, this 3 day event changed my life and perceptions towards toastmasters. The moments of euphoria experienced during eloquence will stay with me forever

-Deepa Jilla

CHERISHABLE MOMENTS IN MUMBAI

if I have packed everything then I used to sleep and then I woke up again to check it again.

It was not when I took my bags to the airport and sat on my flight and did my trip start to Mumbai but it started 2 months before it, when I with my Ex-com team started to plan for our club 800 milestone meeting. It was during the planning of this meeting when I realized why not meet with my wonderful toastmaster family who supported me, guided me and helped me at every point of time since I became part of it and I decided to go to Mumbai. The next thing in line was to convince my parents who know that I have never travelled to Mumbai that too with a flight. All I had to do was make sure that they knew that I travelled safely, I reached my destination safely and I came back safe. The shopping spree started afterwards. I started to buy clothes, shoes, accessories, jewelry and whatnot and then the day arrived. The day on which I had to take my flight to Mumbai that's on 20th April.

In the excitement of reaching the airport I couldn't sleep that night, I was constantly getting out of my bed and checking my bag

The next morning when I finally woke up, I took my bag. I booked myself an auto and reached the airport. Upon reaching the airport I realized how massive the infrastructure is that has been built for all of us to travel. It was my first time sitting under the hanger. There were a bunch of people who were travelling to their destination. They all were sitting alongside me. There were coffee houses, there were tea houses and there were a lot of different Counters. There were air hostesses, pilots and people panicking to get to their gates. Very many different things were happening all of a sudden. A very new experience for me at first time and then after all of that then came a time when I had to step inside the airplane. There was a lady who greeted me with namaste and I greeted her back with namaste. Then I sat inside the plane and the first thing I did was look outside the window of the plane. I shot so many photos that I shared with my family. I shot so many videos that I shared with my friends and then the time came when I landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai.

I landed at the airport but I didn't know how to navigate to my brother's place. The closest railway station to the Airport was Ville Parle Station. Now the task was to go to Ville Parle station to reach Kharghar and for that, I took an auto to reach Ville Parle station then I reached Khargarh also in a while.

ARTAND PHOTOGRAPHY Deepa Jilla

Sayyestonew adventures.

Manjula Iyer

Saral Mehrotra

ARTAND RAPHY

In Mumbai's vibrant heart, a club stands tall, TCS Maitree Toastmasters, beloved by all. Nineteen years of growth, a journey so grand, United we've thrived, hand in hand.

Nineteen, a number with significance profound, Symbolizing endurance, strength that's renowned. With each meeting and speech, we've honed our skill, Nineteen years of learning, a quest to fulfill.

Through laughter and tears, our bond remains true, TCS Maitree Toastmasters, the right choice for you. One club, one emotion, we proudly proclaim, Nineteen years of excellence, we acclaim!

- Akshay Singh, DTM

ICE BREAKER SPEECHES

Deepak Vaishnav

Mayuri Sadawarti

Snehal Nemane

Noor Mohammed Shilpa Mishra

Manjula Iyer

Sagnik

Sagnik

Level 4

Simran Lodhi

Mercy D'Souza

Triple Crown

Mercy DSouza

Mercy D'Souza

DISTRICT 98 HALL OF FAME 2022-23

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION 2.0 AWARDReena Kumari (VP Ed.)

POWERUP 2.0 - CLUB AWARD

BULL'S EYE AWARDSh bh K de (VPM)

LEADER IN ME AWARD (Deepa Jilla, Mercy D'Souza, Sankalp Singh, Reena Kumari, Shivani Maurya, Simran Lodhi, Shubham Kanade)

The 800th milestone meeting of TCS MAITREE Toastmasters Club, Mumbai, was celebrated on April 21, 2023, with great zeal and passion. It was successfully conducted based on the hybrid model, where the guests marked their presence virtually along with those present at the venue. A warm welcome by DTM Raj Bharat marked the beginning of the gathering.

With tremendous acclaim, President Deepa declared the 800th Milestone Meeting to have officially begun. She discussed our club's history, accomplishments, and the outstanding toastmasters it has produced who have garnered numerous honors for the club.

The hosts, TM Mayuri and TM Shivani, coordinated their efforts and smoothly led the gathering. Mayuri enthusiastically extended an invitation to the special guest, DTM Pramod Mohandas, who also happens to be the club's first DTM. He discussed his own experience as well as three life lessons he took away from TMTC. Followed by an online performance of Himanshu Sinha's Open Mic Mimicry. He stole the show by imitating numerous famous people. A storytelling game was played with teams of five people. With their fantastic teamwork in presenting stories, the game was enjoyable.

The much-anticipated cake-cutting ceremony finally took place. President Deepa bid farewell to both the online and offline members before inviting everyone to partake in the celebration-related food. Together, we celebrated, remembered, acknowledged, and admired the achievements of TMTC!

UNIQUE MEETINGS

EDUCATIONAL SESSION ON TABLE TOPICS CONTEST

An education session by DTM Avinash on the Table Topics Contest titled "Off the Cuff" along with a small meeting themed "Live a Life Less Ordinary" hosted by Toastmaster Shubham. DTM Avinash taught us the art of giving amazing impromptu speeches. He has shared the acronym ‘LOAD’ to deliver a perfect impromptu speech. ‘LOAD’ stands for listening, opinion (your thoughts about the topic), anecdotes (a short story), and derive (a conclusion), and this helped our members deliver a perfect impromptu speech. And TM Shubham's theme was related to military culture and the life of a soldier or an armed forces officer.

TABLE TOPICS CONTEST

An education session by DTM Avinash on the Table Topics Contest titled "Off the Cuff" along with a small meeting themed "Live a Life Less Ordinary" hosted by Toastmaster Shubham. DTM Avinash taught us the art of giving amazing impromptu speeches. He has shared the acronym ‘LOAD’ to deliver a perfect impromptu speech. ‘LOAD’ stands for listening, opinion (your thoughts about the topic), anecdotes (a short story), and derive (a conclusion), and this helped our members deliver a perfect impromptu speech. And TM Shubham's theme was related to military culture and the life of a soldier or an armed forces officer.

UNIQUE MEETINGS

JOINT MEETING WITH CHALK & DUSTER CLUB

TCS Maitree Toastmasters Club conducted the joint meeting with Chalk & Duster Toastmasters Club. The meeting was hosted by TM Manoj with the theme "Sound of Silence". Members from both clubs had taken part as role players, speakers, and evaluators. TM Manoj talked about discovering the silence within us and teaching us that silence has its own meaning. Everyone enjoyed the meeting and took so much away from this joint meeting.

OPEN HOUSE MEETING

An open house builds an existing club. It’s a fun, casual event, where guests can ask questions, meet members and get a feel for the unique Toastmasters culture. TCS Maitree Toastmasters Club conducted an Open House meeting on 4th March 2023, in the presence of respected Division Director Akshay, DTM. It was hosted by our oldest club member of TM Nayan. He shared his story of Toastmasters since he joined and made the session interactive with the guests. He also introduced the Toastmasters program to an entire group of non-Toastmasters with the goal of helping them to join the club.

UNIQUE MEETINGS

EDUCATIONAL SESSION ON CLUB LEADERSHIP ROLES

Educational Session on Club Leadership Roles: An Education Session on 'Club Leadership Roles' was conducted by Toastmaster Hardik Shah, where he shared some insights on club executive committee roles and responsibilities, which encouraged the members to be part of the executive committee team. Following was the Table Topics Marathon conducted by Toastmaster Mayuri Sadawarti, where she presented some interesting topics to the participants.

REVERSE MEETING

"

Be so driven that even if you were in reverse, you’d still be going forward." The reverse meeting, based on this saying, had the MOM issued before the meeting had been conducted. It was a welcome change, as the reverse order consisted of a taste of humour. Everyone enjoyed the summing up of the meeting in the beginning, followed by everything going in reverse order. And for the very first time, you may find Table Topics Master more nervous than TT speakers, as speakers get the liberty to speak on any topic they wish, and TTM needs to guess the topic name for the speeches delivered in the TT round. Overall, reverse meetings bring lots of fun, thrills, humour, and out-of-the box thinking, which is thoroughly enjoyed by the members.

AWARDS

#EXPRESSION KING

#GRAMMER POLICE

#GENEROUS EVALUATOR

RA KAR

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#HUMO

SAGNIK

#HAPPYDENT SMILE MANJULA IYER

SANKALP SINGH

NAYAN JAIN

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REENA KUMARI

#TREASURER

SHUBHAM KANADE

MAYURI SADAWARTI

#MULTITASKER ADY

TOASTMASTER OF THE MONTH

JANUARY

Snehal Nemane & Avani Sale

FEBRUARY

Sagnik Chakraborty & Raj Bharat

MARCH

Ambresh Kudtarkar & Mayuri Sadawarti

APRIL

Manjula Iyer & Noor Mohammed

MAY

Ekta Sinha & Saral Mehrotra

JUNE

Shweta Joshi & Supinder Gill

PRESIDENT

REENA KUMARI

VP EDUCATION

SUPINDER GILL

VP MEMBERSHIP

SHIVANI MAURYA

VP PUBLIC RELATIONS

SARAL MEHROTRA

SECRETARY

SHWETA JOSHI

TREASURER

NOOR MOHAMMED

SERGEANT AT ARMS

SHUBHAM KANADE

17 June 2023, TMTC 19th Anniversary Celebration

On TCS Toastmasters 19th Anniversary celebration, TOD embarked on the event with the club’s history with present members and guests. TOD requested Dr. Brillian S. K. to share his views, and the keynote speaker, Dr. Brillian S. K., DTM, gave real-world instances of how his involvement in Toastmasters has made a significant positive impact on his life. The three E's Explore, Experiment, and Enjoy —were underlined by him.

TOD had arranged for various games, viz., BOM Party, Story Telling, drawing in 1 Minute, and Fish Tank, which filled joy among Toastmasters and guests. Everyone seemed excited to take part in each game.

To attend the ceremony, Saikumar took a flight from Indore to Mumbai. As he shared his thoughts on the 19th Anniversary, he took a trip down memory lane. Additionally, he did not hesitate to share how his first icebreaker went.

Watching the excitement among the Toastmasters and Guests, HR Linoshka was ecstatic. She conveyed her happiness and wished TMTC well in its future undertakings.

Everyone was brought back to their early Toastmasters days by Ranganathan's speech, which also highlighted how rapidly TMTC is expanding. Akshay Singh, DTM went on to describe his experience with Toastmasters and how he treasures his choice to join the organization.

At the conclusion, everyone who won a game received their awards, the team performed a cake-cutting ceremony, and we took photos with all members of the club.

TMTC Bingo

Had food while the meeting was going on

Gave a speech without preparation

Attended 19th anniversary meeting

Were given a role just before the meeting

Disqualified for exceeding the time limit

Got the Best Speaker award

Never miss home Club Meetings

Been a General Evaluator

Gave a speech about your life

Joined Toastmasters in past 6 months

Took two roles in a meeting

Joined/arrived late to a meeting

M N T S

O M 44