Communique Issue1

LEADERSHIP

OCTOBER 2009

COMMUNICATION

Division TEAMBUILDING

A

Newsletter

VOLUM E 1

ISS UE 1

PAGE 1

Communiqué

TO ASTMASTERS CH ANGE THE WORLD!

PAGE 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITORIAL TEAM

2

MESSAGE FROM THE DIVISION GOVERNOR

3

MESSAGE FROM THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING by DTM Uma Radhakrishnan

4 Dear readers, 

MESSAGE FROM LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FOR MARKETING by DTM Khalid Al Kholoud

5

TOASTMASTERS CHANGE THE WORLD by Snehdeep Fulzele

6

DISTRICT 79 HALL OF FAME

7-11

JOURNEY TO EXCELLENCE by Krishna Veni

12

9 O’CLOCK TRAIN by Mohammed Mohsin

13

BUSH OR TREE, BE THE BEST OF WHO YOU ARE by Jimmy Kandathil JOURNEY THAT REWROTE HISTORY by Syed Zia ur Rahman

14

MY JOURNEY TO TOASTMASTERING by Jayanta Mog

15

DARE TO DREAM by Gururajan

16

POSITIVE THINKING by Devaraj

17

VISITING THE SPEAKING SITE by Nestor Galang

18

THE ART OF SPEECH EVALUATION by Srinivasan

19

TOASTMASTERING BRINGS LIFE TO TALK by Mohamed Himayath

20

ATTITUDEATTITUDE- GET SCIENTIFICALLY ENCHANTED by Riaz Ahmad

21

TOASTMASTERS ARE NOT CRABS by Jovett Lopez

22

TMI AREA 5: PRTC CONDUCTS SPEECHCRAFT FOR GBPSA 2009 CANDIDATES by James Edward Taruc

23

QUICK WIT MARATHON…. by Yuri Akira

24

   We  are  happy  to  present  to  you  the  very  first  Division  A        Newsletter. It is a combined effort of few toastmasters ... from  19 clubs and around 400 to 500 Toastmasters, is  it not strange  that only a handful contributed?     Granted,  most  of  us  were  on  vacation.  Admittedly,  that  made  our  task  tough.  But  not  everyone  was  on  vacation.  Besides,  most of us have access to emails wherever we go. We need to  ask ourselves, why only few of us step out of comfort zones and  fewer want to become leaders?     By  doing,  we  learn!  So  for  learning,  we  must  do,  act  at  every   opportunity.     Through  this  Newsletter,  we  at  Area  1  really  enjoyed  opening  this  Toastmasters  year  with  a  bang.  We  would  like  to  thank        everyone  who  contributed.  Special  thanks  to  our  colleague        TM Jovett Lopez for doing a wonderful job of designing and also  choosing an apt name for the newsletter ‐ “Communique”.     Much  is  waiting  to  happen  ..  this  year.  Area  1  and  Area  5  are  together conducting training for Judges and Chief Judges on 9th  October.  'Quick  Wit'  Marathon  is  planned  by  PRTC  on        30th  October.  RTM  has  planned  a  special  training  on  'Parliamentarian' in November.     It  is  wonderful  how  much  we  learn  by  just  attending,  listening  and of course ... doing.    Happy Reading!     Sincerely Yours,  

  The Editorial Team    Snehdeep Fulzele, CC, CL    Area 1 Governor    Jayanta Mog, ACB, CL  Assistant Governor for Marketing ‐ Area 1    Jovett Lopez, CC  VP Public Relations, Toast of Comsofil (TOC) 

PAGE 3

Division-A Governor’s Message   Hassan Abbas Maghazel   Division A Governor   District 79

SUCCESS OF TEAM In public speaking, we deliver our thoughts in a clear and timely manner. Today, we are using another method to communicate through the first Newsletter at Division A. When you are delivering a speech, you have only one chance to convey your message to the audience but our readers will have numerous occasions to receive our messages in a different way. As usual, we all learn by doing. As a Division A Governor, I started this year with a dream to build the division further on the foundation laid by my illustrious predecessors. One of stepping stones to that dream is this newsletter. Toastmasters all over the world are known for working together as one family. With the same exemplary team spirit, this year I am blessed to have so many toastmasters in Division A who are working very hard to support the efforts of every Toastmaster to improve his/ her communication and leadership skills. We are also receiving tremendous support from the District officers. The message from our District Governor TM George Thomas continues to ring in my ears ‐ "this is an opportunity to re‐dedicate the leaders themselves to the servant leader concept". I would like to encourage all toastmasters to challenge themselves for the better tomorrow so that the chain of benefits for all of us and every new member joining us not only strengthens but also grows. I would like to appreciate all members and leaders at Division A for taking initiatives and supporting each other. I have no doubt that the Division A at the end of this year will be number one like its alphabet A. Also, I would like to appreciate the Area 1 Governor TM Snehdeep Fulzele for his excellent coordination in order to produce this Newsletter. DTM Carl Duivenvoordi once said, “Maybe you cannot change the whole world but you can change your corner of it and when you change your corner, you actually change the world”. Let us work together to reach our desired destination.   TO ASTMASTERS CH ANGE THE WORLD!

Message from Lieutenant Governor for Education and Training

PAGE 4

DTM Uma Radhakrishnan  Dear Leaders and Members of Division A, Salutations from your LGET for 2009‐2010. We in District 79 have a “strategic plan”, it’s called “doing things!” So we started out our toastmasters’ year well before July 1, 2009. A lot of thinking went into making the strategic plan to continue our District’s success story. And to make sure that we do stick to our plans, we are going to be really busy this year! And for District 79, busy days are happy days! We saw substantial growth last year. And that growth is our challenge this year. We have to ensure that while we grow in quantity we work twice as hard to improve our quality. Towards this we are dedicated to conducting focused training programs addressing the clubs needs. We have trained trainers who are in the process of developing tailor made modules to improve the performance of clubs and members. We have initiated the new approach to District training using the TLI (Toastmasters Leadership Institute) format so that the educational opportunities are available to both officers and members alike. Our goal is to help sustain and nourish the quality and vibrancy of members and clubs, towards achieving the highest recognition possible. Our mission is to give direction and focus to the Club, Area and Division officers and raise the quality and standard of existing clubs. We are proud to acknowledge the hard work put in by Division A in serving its clubs and members. 7 CLs and 8CCs to your credit already! I’m positive that with the support of your Division team and the self motivation of your members, Division A will see a unique year ahead. And now, the first plume on your hat, the first newsletter! And as Zig Zigler said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more,  learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader”.  Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try! I urge the members to take advantage of the opportunities presented to you and continue leading. Stay trained! At your service, Uma Radhakrishnan, DTM  Lieutenant Governor Education & Training  District 79  TO ASTMASTERS CH ANGE THE WORLD!

Message from Lieutenant Governor for Marketing

PAGE 5

DTM Khalid Al Kholud

Dear Toastmasters, Whenever I think of achieving something in life, I remember members of my Toastmasters team. It was team that made all the difference. We achieved success as planned in the year 2008/2009 ‐ from strategies to projects. The achievements explain very well the theme of “Teamwork”. Simply put, it is less of ME and more of WE. Teamwork is undoubtedly the greatest thing I learned from my journey in toastmasters. It is the initiative, participa‐ tion and enthusiasm of everyone that results in action and yields desired vision. The age or origin of team member is of no significance. Everyone brings his own unique set of skills and the same great values they learn from the school of Toastmasters. This does not mean that leaders are no longer important in the teamwork space. On the contrary, effectiveness and efficiency among individuals at work gets it’s vital results when each finds his place in the group. It is similar to the bees in the Beehive; different roles, but one common goal. Start planning your team through focusing on 8

fundamental

questions

to

build

high‐spirit

solidarity, they are as follows: Who are we?   Where are we now?   Where are we going?   How will we get there?   What is expected from us?   What support do we need?   How effective are we?   What type of recognition we want to get? 

District 79 representatives at Toastmasters   International Convention 

All teams are groups of individuals but not all groups of individuals necessarily demonstrate the cohesiveness of a team. The energy of teamwork develops or starts when team members work together and fuse their personal ener‐ gies and talents to perform outstanding results which can make the dreams a reality! And not to forget the benefits of teamwork, that can build future leaders through dividing the workload, reinforcing individual capabilities, motivating new joiners and by making better decisions. ”Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” ‐ Michael Jordan Individually, we can do little. Collectively, there is nothing that we cannot achieve...

TO ASTMASTERS CH ANGE THE WORLD!

PAGE 6

Toastmasters Change the World! Remember the first time you visited Toastmasters meeting? I remember it vividly. One TM took me to the meeting on 26th September 2005. I was received warmly by unknown bunch of people with smiles dancing on their lips. They seemed genu‐ Snehdeep Fulzele, CC, CL  inely interested in welcoming me. My host gave a speech that Area 1 Governor  day for which he was applauded and then rewarded with something these toastmasters called, CTM.

I was awed and at the same time energized by interacting with these people. The venue, meeting, snacks – everything was neatly organized. Everyone dazzled at the lectern. In my heart, I just wished for a moment of my own at that podium. The more I thought about it, the more impossible it looked. How can I be at the lectern? For 13 years after doing MBA, I had longed for the moment and at the same time dreaded it. Every time I thought there was an outside chance when I might be called, I prayed to the God to take that moment away from me. God, as always, had been kind – saving me and the organizers the moment of embarrassment. “Hi, if others can do it, you can do it, too.” I heard my inner voice prodding me as I returned from the first Toastmasters meeting. Those dreadful moments of the past when I made myself disappear from the gaze of anyone who had the power to call me to speak were confusing, insulting, frustrating and above all lowered me in my eyes. I needed to change. Soon, I became one of them – a Toastmaster. By just being a part of every meeting, I started to gain the confidence to speak. I vividly recall the first time – I was called to address the Table Topics, I gave the speech, I got the winner’s ribbon, I received the applause, the recognition … within first six months I became Competent Communicator. Without my realiza‐ tion ‐ I had become a mentor, a role model, the President, the Area Governor. After that first step of joining the Toastmas‐ ters, progress had been swift. What exactly happened? Looking back, my fear of public speaking was slaughtered by the encouragement I received. The fear of ridicule was nipped in the bud by warmth from others. Everyone knew exactly what I was passing through. Because those other members men‐ tored me, evaluated me in a friendly manner and recognized my every effort, I discovered myself. For 13 years, I could not change myself. But within six months, Toastmasters changed me. Toastmasters are blessed with a power to change others. One TM changed my world. The only way, I can repay my friend is by introducing another one like me to the Toastmasters. As a toastmaster, my power is not limited to change one person’s world. Now I can share my thoughts and ideas with an audience. I have the power to make a difference to hundreds and thousands of people. Toastmasters change the world. Toastmasters have power to change the world through empathy and encouragement. Let us not be ignorant towards the power we possess. Let us be aware of it and let us use it wisely.

Indeed, Toastmasters change the world!

From a humble beginning in 1924 at the YMCA in Santa Ana, California, Toastmasters Inter‐ national has grown to become a world leader in helping people become more competent  and comfortable in front of an audience. The nonprofit organization now has nearly 250,000  members in more than 12,500 clubs in 106 countries, offering a proven – and enjoyable! –  way to practice and hone communication and leadership skills.   TO ASTMASTERS CH ANGE THE WORLD!

PAGE 7

President Distinguished Club in Division A with 10 DCP Points for 3+ Years to now Club # 32

Club Name Saudico

Years at 10 5+

Triple Crown Education Award from Division A, Area 1 Member

Club

Count

Awards

Jayanta Kumar Mog

Toast of Comsofil # 1157

3

CL, ACB, CC

District 79, Division A, 5 Years Achievement Distinguished Division Level

Division Metric

2004‐05

2005‐06

2006‐07

2007‐08

2008‐09

Division Performance Paid Clubs

Select Dist

President Dist

‐

Pres. Dist.

‐

13

17

20

22

17

Dist. Areas

3

2

5

4

4

Select Dist.

Dist. Areas

3

2

5

4

4

President’s Dist.

Paid Clubs

13

17

20

22

17

Retention Rate

68.9%

63.7%

51.4%

55.7%

52.6%

Distinguished

District 79, Division A, DCP Point Achievement Area

2004‐05

2005‐06

2006‐07

2007‐08

2008‐09

Area 1

Pres. Dist.

Pres. Dist.

Dist.

Dist.

Select Dist.

Area 4

Dist.

Pres. Dist.

Select Dist.

Pres. Dist.

Dist.

Area 5

N/A

3 of 5 goals

Dist.

Dist.

Dist.

Area 22

3 of 5 goals

N/A

Select Dist.

Select Dist.

Select Dist.

Area 38

N/A

N/A

Dist.

1 of 5 goals

2 of 5 goals

“We are a group of people brought together to do things we could not do alone.” ‐ Johnny Uy, 2006‐2007 International President, Toastmasters TO ASTMASTERS CH ANGE THE WORLD!

PAGE 8

District 79, Division A, Area Clubs DCP Point History

Area #

Club #

Club DCP History

Club Name 2004‐05

Area 1

Area4

Area 5

Area 22

Area 38

2005‐06

2006‐07

2007‐08

2008‐09

6/30/09 Paid Members

1157

TOC

9

10

10

9

9

35

6897

RTM

9

10

9

9

9

57

857160

Budget

‐

1

1

1

3

18

1158

Taj

5

4

7

7

7

27

2496

Serendib

9

10

9

9

9

34

6059

Mabuhay

4

6

8

7

4

11

1150580

Dairicos

‐

‐

‐

‐

5

22

8490

PRTC

9

9

9

9

9

23

686210

Himalayan

10

2

9

9

4

18

738545

PSU

1

5

4

6

5

47

32

Saudico

10

10

10

10

10

27

1434

RITM

2

1

‐

2

2

6

2789

SDTC

6

8

10

3

2

12

9209

Kohinoor

1

9

10

10

7

23

9078

Najd

7

3

2

3

2

10

9462

Desert Diamonds

4

9

9

8

4

38

925526

Arabian Stallions Sabic Stars

‐

‐

‐

6

0

11

‐

‐

‐

‐

4

18

1198137

“It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubts.” - Benedict J. Goltra TO ASTMASTERS CH ANGE THE WORLD!

PAGE 9

District 79, Division A, Area 1, 5 Years Performance

Distinguished area level

Dist. (Any 4 of 5 goals)

Select Dist. (all 8)

Pres. Dist. (all 9)

Area metric

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

Area performance

Pres. Dist.

Pres. Dist.

Dist.

Dist.

Select Dist.

Oct dues

3

4

3

3

3

Apr dues

3

5

2

3

3

CCs

8

10

7

7

10

ACs

4

4

4

3

2

Dist. Clubs

2

2

2

2

2

Nov visits

3

4

2

3

4

May visits

3

4

3

0

3

Club 20+ members Plus one club (total) Retention Rate

4

3

3

3

3

4

5

3

4

3

64.5%

65.7%

61.3%

74.8%

59.1%

District 79, Division A, Area 4, 5 Years Performance

Distinguished area level

Dist. (Any 4 of 5 goals)

Select Dist. (all 8)

Pres. Dist. (all 9)

Area metric

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

Area performance

Dist.

Pres. Dist.

Select Dist.

Pres. Dist.

Dist.

Oct dues

2

4

3

3

4

Apr dues

2

4

4

4

3

CCs

2

11

8

6

6

ACs

2

7

4

2

3

Dist. Clubs

1

3

2

3

3

Nov visits

3

4

3

3

3

May visits

0

3

3

4

3

Club 20+ members Plus one club (total) Retention Rate

1

7

2

3

3

2

7

4

4

3

86.5%

67.3%

56.6%

54.9%

58.5%

TO ASTMASTERS CH ANGE THE WORLD!

District 79, Division A, Area 5, 5 Years Performance

Distinguished area level

Dist. (Any 4 of 5 goals)

Select Dist. (all 8)

Pres. Dist. (all 9)

PAGE 10

Area metric

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

Area performance

3 of 5 goals

Dist.

Dist.

Dist.

Select Dist.

Oct dues

N/A

3

4

4

3

Apr dues

N/A

4

4

4

3

CCs

N/A

7

13

10

6

ACs

N/A

2

4

4

3

Dist. Clubs

N/A

2

2

3

2

Nov visits

N/A

0

2

0

4

May visits

N/A

0

0

0

3

Club 20+ members Plus one club (total) Retention Rate

N/A

2

2

3

2

N/A

5

4

4

3

N/A

54.9%

52.6%

52.2%

38.6%

District 79, Division A, Area 22, 5 Years Performance Distinguished area level

Dist. (Any 4 of 5 goals)

Select Dist. (all 8)

Pres. Dist. (all 9)

Area metric

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

Area performance

3 of 5 goals

N/A

Select Dist.

Select Dist.

Select Dist.

Oct dues

4

N/A

3

4

4

Apr dues

4

N/A

4

4

4

CCs

5

N/A

12

8

7

ACs

4

N/A

6

4

2

Dist. Clubs

1

N/A

3

2

2

Nov visits

0

N/A

4

4

4

May visits

0

N/A

4

3

4

Club 20+ members Plus one club (total) Retention Rate

1

N/A

3

2

2

4

N/A

4

4

4

70.2%

N/A

50.6%

50.0%

63.2%

TO ASTMASTERS CH ANGE THE WORLD!

PAGE 11

District 79, Division A, Area 38, 5 Years Performance Area metric Distinguished area level

Dist. (Any 4 of 5 goals)

Select Dist. (all 8)

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

Area performance

N/A

N/A

Dist.

1 of 5

2 of 5

N/A

Oct dues

N/A

N/A

3

1

4

N/A

Apr dues

N/A

N/A

2

1

4

N/A

CCs

N/A

N/A

13

7

2

N/A

ACs

N/A

N/A

4

1

0

N/A

Dist. Clubs

N/A

N/A

1

1

0

N/A

Nov visits

N/A

N/A

0

0

3

N/A

May visits

N/A

N/A

0

0

4

N/A

Club 20+ members Plus one club (total) Retention Rate

N/A

N/A

1

3

1

N/A

N/A

3

4

4

N/A

N/A

7.1%

39.2%

42.9%

N/A N/A

  "All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront          

unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of  leadership."  — John Kenneth Galbraith    Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate, and doubt to  offer a solution everybody can understand."  — General Colin Powell    "How do you know you have won? When the energy is coming the other way and when your people are  visibly growing individually and as a group."  — Sir John Harvey‐Jones    "He makes a great mistake ... who supposes that authority is firmer or better established when it is  founded by force than that which is welded by affection."  — Terence    "The leader must know, must know that he knows, and must be able to make it abun‐ dantly clear to those around him that he knows."  — Clarence Randall  TO ASTMASTERS CH ANGE THE WORLD!

Journey to Excellence

PAGE 12

Krishna Veni  Winner of International Speech Contest at Division A in 2009 

It all began in January 2008 when for the first time I entered contests and even won the 1st place at the Club level. But at the Area, I was completely washed out. I was frustrated and decided to boycott Toastmasters, once and for all. True to the decision I did so. During that period, my family and the Kohinoor Toastmasters family were continuously encouraging me and waiting for me to come back. Finally when the contest season started again in February 2009, I decided to restart once more, hoping that history may not repeat itself. As I imagined, I was able to rewrite the history. I confidently won the Club level again and aimed only to win at least the 3rd place at the Area. When the results were being announced, my name was not an‐ nounced as the 3rd place winner. I was disappointed and for a second I just thought, maybe history is going to repeat itself again. But when I heard my name being called out as the 1st place winner, it was unbelievable and my joy knew no bounds. My journey proceeded to the Division level. I was fully content with my victory at the Area level and didn’t even think about winning the Division Contest. I just felt it a great honor to speak in the presence of our World Champion TM Vikas Jhingran. I stretched the rubber band of my potential a little more and gave my best shot. Guess what, the planets were lined up in favor of me this year. I was lucky. I won the Division too. I moved up to take part in the DTAC 2009 at Abu Dhabi, which I had not even dreamt about. I would like to use this forum, to thank the people without whom this journey would not have been possible. TM Syed Zia Ur Rahman {Sand Dunes} and TM Syed Abdul Qadir {Saudico} for their tremendous encouragement. They were the starting point of this journey. My parents are my supporting pillars day and night. The Kohinoor Toastmasters Club including the new members, who welcomed me back and took me into their warm umbrella. They are always with me in all my ups and downs. I would like to make a special mention about our VP Education TM Sivadas. Kohinoor true to its name, was the best, is the best and will be the best. I am very proud of being a part of this club and Area 22, with such selfless and in‐ spiring Toastmasters. Our soft and ever smiling Division Governor TM Hasan Maghazel is a continuous motivating factor throughout the DTAC and until now. And not to forget all the other club members in our division who helped me in my journey to the DTAC, specially our past Division Governor TM Sridhar, Saudico, Sand Dunes and Riyadh Toastmasters Club. This year I won the 1st place in the Club Contest, Area Contest and the Division Contest. But the biggest victory of my life is participating in DTAC. Though I lost there, I am a WINNER! I won 1} the great experience of participating in a District Conference and the proceedings of the District Council Meeting for the first time. 2} hearing the award winning speeches of District Champions and education sessions of 2 World Champions 3} new friendships with senior Toastmasters from across the Gulf. This journey completely changed my perspective of Toastmasters. Winning the Club level was like seeing a beautiful view from the window of my home. Winning the area was like seeing the same view from the 1st floor of the building. At Division, I saw the view from the 10th floor. And finally the DTAC was like seeing it from the vantage point on top of the Kingdom Towers, the tallest building in Riyadh. From then on, I decided to attend all the Toastmaster meetings religiously and I am all set on the path to achieve my next milestones in toastmastering, AC‐Bronze and AL‐ Bronze. Having made up my mind, though I may or may not be a contestant in the DTAC 2010 in Kuwait, I have decided to participate in contests. And I am also aspiring to attend the Annual International Convention in the near future. TOASTMASTER ROCKS! TO ASTMASTERS CH ANGE THE WORLD!

PAGE 13

9 O'clock Train Mohammed Mohsin  Assistant Division‐A Governor   For instance when I was staying in Naseem area and I had to attend a toastmasters Education & Training 

Have you heard of the word “Late Latif”? Though most of you know what it is, for those who don’t know – Late Latif is a slang word (Urdu/Hindi) used for the person who is al‐ ways late. I was a well known late Latif among my friends in the past. What about now? Still I’m Late Latif, but improved. Hey, improved not on a negative scale but on a positive scale. I am sure I am not alone in this category, many of you are also in the same boat. Is not it? I tried to analyze this character of my per‐ sonality and found that I never plan, I do not prioritize my work and my time calculation is always wrong.

meeting in Multinational School near Exit 7, I used to consider 20 minutes for travelling which is OK without traffic jams, but impossi‐ ble on weekdays rush hours. I was always on the dot or late but never before time. Probably I was influenced by our culture where people invite guests one hour ahead of sched‐ ule, assuming guests will not come on time. I never found any marriage ceremony that stuck to the printed schedule on the invitation card. A funny aphorism is used in Bangladesh “Noytar train koytay ashe?” means “what time the 9o’clock train arrives?” It is obvious that 9’o clock train will arrive at nine, but as the train started to reach late, people started to ask “what time the 9o’clock’s train will arrive?” Really ridiculous!

Bush or Tree, Be the Best of Who You Are

Past International President DTM Johnny Uy rightly said “Toastmasters‐simply amazing”. This simply amazing platform is helping me to get rid of the title of ‘Late Latif’. Very simple steps but yet very powerful. Meeting starts & ends on time, table topics 2:30 min, evaluation 3:30 min, timed prepared speeches. If you are even 1 second beyond the time limit, you are disqualified. So everybody tries to be in time, is not it? This time management in toastmasters made me realize how important the time manage‐ ment is and I started to improve. Though I am a beginner in time manage‐ ment, I try to plan, prioritize, schedule and delegate. The first step to improve is awareness. I am sure that I will pave my way of time management in the coming years and call others Late Latif. What about you? Are you also paving your way? Or you want others to call you Late Latif?

Jimmy John Kandathil  Assistant Area 1 Governor  Education & Training 

For the last 12 years my uncle Mathew is on the bed unable to communicate anything. Drops of tears fall through his cheeks when he sees his friends and relatives. We can make out that he recognizes every body and knows whatever is going on around him. But he cannot move his hands or legs. Neither he can speak nor even make a noise. He is paralyzed due to a cerebral hemorrhage. What a pity. Can you imagine a life without communication? Luckily none of us are in that condition. I have cited an extreme case to understand the value of communica‐ tion. Perhaps the other extreme is becoming a world Champion. What level of communication do we need? Do we need to be a World Champion? Do we need to win a contest? We need just enough communication skills to empower us to achieve our full potential and realize our dreams. That is the vision of Toastmasters International. After I joined Toastmasters, my vision also changed. Now my dream is to help our younger generation to reach their full potential. And the role of Assistant Area Governor is a step in that direction. What keeps me going with whatever little I have are the words of some great leaders: Mahatma Gandhi ‐ “Whatever you do may seem insignificant, but it is most important that you do it” Dale Carnegie ‐”Don't be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much  stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves.”    Oprah Winfrey ‐ “Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.” Leonardo da Vinci ‐ “Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.”   None of these great leaders have won the World Championship for the best speaker. But they communicated their ideas and put them into practice. And for us we are somewhere in between great leaders and my uncle Mathew. So let us put into action the proverb “Do the  best you can, where you are, with what you have, now”. Let us work together to be the best speakers and the best leaders we could be.

What is Toastmasters? No, we don't make toasters! Most Toastmasters meetings are comprised of approximately 20 people who meet weekly for an hour or two.   Participants  practice and learn skills by filling a meeting role, ranging from giving a prepared speech or an impromptu one to serving as  timer, evaluator or grammarian. There is no instructor; instead, each speech and meeting is evaluated by a member in a  positive manner, focusing on what was done right and what could be improved.   TO ASTMASTERS CH ANGE THE WORLD!

Journey that Rewrote History

PAGE 14

Syed Zia ur Rahman  Assistant Area 22 Governor  Education & Training 

It was almost nine years back when I was attending one commu‐ nity function in Riyadh Palace Hotel back in 2000, I was impressed by the presenter’s performance the way he hosted the program, it was simply fantastic. Curious to know his background, I enquired. That is when I came to know about Toastmasters. Initially, I was hesitant to join due to my non‐English background and fear of public speaking. It took me four years to join. For many, it may have been love at first sight. For me, it was perennial fright at every sight. Since I joined, my impression about toastmasters has undergone a complete transformation. I was under the impression that people would make fun of me, but to my surprise every time I went to the lectern I got praised, my nervousness gradually gave way to confidence and today I can speak in front of gathering of any size without any fear. To me, it is a huge personal accomplishment. Let me share with you one secret. After launching Portal for Non‐Resident Indian, www.yahind.com, I became talk of the towns ‐ not only in Riyadh but in the entire Gulf and in India. First time in my life one NRIs organization in Jeddah invited me to recognize my achievement but I excused myself from attending their function and did not accept their honor because of fear of public speaking. Thanks to Toastmasters, I have learned a lot and built that confidence to face the audience. After joining Toastmasters, I not only took part in club and area contests but I have organized large public functions for yahind.com and other com‐ munities. In the year 2004 in NRI Convention held in Hyderabad I was one of the Keynote speakers where late Y S Ra‐ jashekara Reddy, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, India was the Chief Guest. Without Toastmasters, I would not have attended that function and once again history would have repeated itself. Toastmasters changed history. Toastmasters changed me. Thank you, Toastmasters.

Dave Zielinski says a team’s chances of success depends on the leader’s ability to:  • • • • •

Use “people skills.” Set precise and measurable objectives. Provide regular and actionable feedback. Promote peer pressure as a tool for accountability. Offer meaningful rewards for good performance.

TO ASTMASTERS CH ANGE THE WORLD!

PAGE 15

MY JOURNEY WITH “A journey of a thousand miles  begins with a single step”. 

Jayanta K. Mog, ACB, CL  Asst. Area 1 Governor for Marketing 

My first step with Toastmasters began with Toast of COMSOFIL in March 2008 without much knowledge yet about Toastmasters. I attended several meetings as a guest and I remembered the first table topics, “Action speaks louder than words”. Believe it or not, I couldn’t utter a single word. I just stared at the audience and smiled, when I saw the green light I just extended my hand to the Table Topics Master. My action spoke louder than unuttered words. I also joined Sand Dunes Toastmasters Club as a dual member in April 2008 to support the club as well as to learn and improve my personal and professional career. I could learn different techniques in public speaking and leadership from the two different clubs. I took advantage of dual membership to deliver speeches in both the clubs. Now I am working on Advanced Communicator Silver (ACS). When I started being a Toastmaster, I was incompetent, uncomfortable and without any confidence. Recently, I read an article from Toastmasters monthly magazine issued in August 2009 entitled “The Script as Friend and Foe” written by Bill Matthews where he shared his experience as a beginner in Toastmasters. As he said, our early days as speakers were fraught with terror. First, the prospect of simply standing up in a room full of people, with every eye on us, is enough to set our heart racing. Then the task of actually giving a speech to all those people – sitting there, staring at us – would freeze our blood. There are always these dry mouths, the sweaty palms, the feeling that our shirt collar is getting tighter. But worse of all, there is this lurking fear that in the middle of a presentation or speech, we could go blank. I have gone through same experiences during early days in Toastmastering especially in Table Topics segment, my heart beats faster, my hair would spike up and body would straighten up, ears color would dramatically change to red. The knees would sag and although I would try to avoid eye contact with the Table Topics Master, somehow I was always called. But when days, weeks and months passed by, I realized that the Table Topics is the wonderful segment where I can practice and build my confidence and from then on I am always trying to sit in front and volunteer if there is no one to speak up. I have served as a Club Officer in both clubs and currently I am serving as a Parliamentarian in Toast of COMSOFIL and VP for Public Relations in Sand Dunes Toastmasters Club. This year I am appointed as an Area 1 Assistant Governor for Marketing. My plan for the Area is to add minimum one club. As my journey with Toastmasters continues, I have many dreams to achieve. Today, I feel lucky that I found Toastmasters club in 2008. I could have joined the organization before 2008, yet there is always time for every opportunity. I got mine last year, so now I cherish it and I would continue to grow with Toastmasters. So I am confident that those who have the desire to be one would have a brighter future with Toastmasters. Let’s keep the flame of serving others by being an excellent toastmaster. I AM PROUD TO SAY I AM A TOASTMASTER!

Joanne McCabe’s Tips to Overcome Fear of Public Speaking

• • •

Don’t procrastinate! Always look for a speech topic Choose a topic you care about

• Organize your speech in a logical sequence

• • •

Create an attention-grabbing opening Rehearse! Visualize success

TO ASTMASTERS CH ANGE THE WORLD!

• • • • • • • •

Know your equipment needs Familiarize yourself with the setting Wear comfortable and professional-looking clothes Concentrate on the message; not the audience No matter how nervous you may feel, don’t tell the audience! Use visuals and stories relevant to your topic Speak clearly and audibly Stay in Toastmasters

Dare to Dream

PAGE 16

Gururajan President, Taj Toastmasters Club

Woodrow Wilson, charismatic British Prime Minister and better known for his decisive actions during the troubled times of the First World War, once said: “We grow great by our dreams and our vision of what we would like to be.  On a timeline called Life, with faith in the Supreme Being above guiding you,  focus on your goals with single‐minded devotion, distill your experiences, bot‐ tle your emotions and never let the dreams die. Nourish them through their bad days till they bring sunshine into your  lives!” Taking cue from the words of Mr Woodrow Wilson, I now realize that if we dare to dream, that will help us to define our goal or vision .This would propel us to action which would enable us to realize the dream. Dreams have always played an important part in my life, whether in my formative years or during university days. I would take great pleasure in recalling them and imagining my role in realizing even the most impossible ones! After achieving a fair measure of success in my work spheres through the pursuit of my goals and driven by my dreams, I looked for avenues to broaden my network of friends and to expand my circle of influence. It was then I realized how inadequately skilled I was in comparison with some of my peers and seniors in the art of communicating with an audi‐ ence. I watched famous personalities speak on TV and soon dreamt of being in their shoes and nourished a desire to speak like them! I was instantly drawn to Toastmastering and within weeks became a serious and involved TM. I looked for role models to emulate and followed the deeds of world champions in public speaking and was thrilled to listen recently to the 2007 champion TM Vikas Jhingran. I am truly amazed by his presentation skills ‐‐which is an excellent blend of speech craft, vocal variety, expression, body language, eye contact and usage of the podium. The question popped in mind “If Vikas  Jhingran could overcome his own admitted  failures, why cannot I?” I resolved to replicate his success in my Club. As the President of Taj  Toastmasters Club, today I dream of world champions of public speaking in our Club. I am persuading my fellow TMs to exhibit leadership qualities and raise the bar in weekly meetings. I have proposed to organize mock contests. I have formed education committee and have requested Senior TMs to take active roles and as‐ sist the VP‐Education in mentoring all the members. I am also providing support to the budding TMs to foster their growth by offering them enough opportunities to deliver pro‐ jects. The initiatives have just been implemented and we are sure that they will achieve a degree of success in due course. Fellow toastmasters, now is the time to ‘Dare to Dream’! The initiatives coupled with our diligent efforts, our passion for excellence and constant practice will certainly help us to rise to greater heights.

“According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Num‐ ber two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to  the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than  doing the eulogy.” ‐Jerry Seinfeld (American television Actor and Comedian)  TO ASTMASTERS CH ANGE THE WORLD!

PAGE 17 Positive thinking is a mental attitude that admits the thoughts, words and images that are conductive to growth, expansion and success. It is a mental attitude that expects good and favorable results. On one bright sunny day, a young college girl with natural beauty was returning home. Her face was glowing with bundle of dreams, but Devaraj  the destiny had different plans. Her vehicle President  met with an accident. She lost her right Dairicos   hand. Before she could absorb this shock, Toastmasters Club  both her legs were amputated due to physiological complications. At the time she was only 21 years old. It was easy for her to give up. But the powerful positive words of her mother inspired her to lead a bold life. Today, she is earning her lively hood working for a school. By using laptop with her left hand, she prepares class presentations and study material for children. This is the power of positive thinking.

The only survivor of a shipwreck ended up on a small uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for god to rescue him and everyday he scanned the horizon for help, but none turned up. He eventually managed to build a small hut for himself and to store his possessions. But one day after scavenging for food, when he arrived at his hut, he noticed that the little hut was in flames. The smoke was rolling up to the sky, he lost all his belongings. He was stunned with grief and anger. “Oh god how could you do this to me?” He cried. Early next morning he was awakened by the sound of an approaching ship. It had come to rescue him. He asked the rescu‐ ers how did you know I was here? We saw your smoke signal, they replied. It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn’t lose heart even in the midst of pain and suffering because God is at work in our lives. When one door of our life closes definitely another opens, but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us.

Choose to be happy    Find reasons to smile more often    Have faith in yourself and in the power of the universe    Read inspiring stories    Learn to master your thoughts    Learn concentration and meditation 

"A wise man speaks because he has something to say;  a fool because he has to say something." ‐Plato TO ASTMASTERS CH ANGE THE WORLD!

Visiting the Speaking Site “ If you haven’t struck oil in the first three minutes – stop boring”

I hope that this suggestion will appeal to many readers of our Division Newsletter. That poses a problem for me, however, when I try to cover all the speaking situations which different readers may be faced with. So I hope that you will select what is relevant for you…. Even if your talks are given to a small groups in your own offices, don’t be tempted to disregard this suggestion, as I think you’ll find it contains some hints and suggestions which will be conducing to you…. Where are you Speaking? Business talks are usually given in one of the following situations: * Round the Table meeting on your own premises, for example, union meeting, board meeting, sales meeting, departmental meeting, formal and informal. * Clients/customer meeting in your offices or on their premises, generally a group of less than twelve. * Regional meetings in hotels, such as sales meeting with a medium sized audience. * Conferences in hotels or conferences centers with large audiences of over 150. Always attempt to visit the site where you will be talking, allowing sufficient time to change or rectify any details which might prevent you from presenting well and effi‐ ciently. I know that this is not always possible, if, say you are in Riyadh and your client is in Dubai, but even if you see the room ten minutes before the meeting is due to start, it will enable you to familiarize yourself with the layout and make minor changes. I am listing below the points which you should bear in mind when you are visit‐ ing a site. Checklist for Small Venue * Ask yourself how you want the audience to be seated; do they need tables? Would a semicircle without table facing the speaker be a better ar‐ rangement? Are there any members you want sitting together or separated or close to you? * Is there adequate space for your notes, visual aids, handouts? Where will you position your flip chart and overhead projector? * Where are the sockets for the equipment? Will you need an extension lead? TO ASTMASTERS CH ANGE THE WORLD!

PAGE 18 Nestor Galang, ACB, CL  President  Toast of Comsofil 

* How do you dim the lights if you are showing 35 mm slides? * How can you adjust the heating or air‐ conditioning? Are the windows open? * Who is providing pens, pads, drinking water, coffee or tea? * Is it to be a smoking or non‐smoking meeting? Checklist for Large Conferences As a speaker your responsibility is to consider every aspect of your own talk and how you can ensure that your presentation will be professional and trouble free. Here are some points to consider: * How will you approach the platform/stage? * Where will you stand? * Will there be other people on the stage with you? * Is there a teleprompt? * Can you see the audience or are the lights shining into your eyes? * How are the visuals cued up? * What type of microphone is provided? Is it fixed or will you be able to move around? * Is the text of your talk being distributed to delegates and if so, when? Summary of Visiting the Site: * Always visit the site however small. * Double check everything (If something can go  wrong – it will)  * Rehearse on site. * Re‐ time everything. Most of our worries about speaking in public are based on the fear that we will make a fool of our‐ selves, or worries about what people will think of us. We want the audience to respond and our big‐ gest fear is that they won’t. In fact it is unlikely that the audience will fail to respond, but in order to realize this, we need confidence. Unfortunately you can’t conjure confidence out of the air; it will only come with practice. Your audience will believe in you if you believe in yourself. Visiting the site and practicing give you confidence and enthusi‐ asm – a winning formula.

PAGE 19

The Art of Speech Evaluation

Srinivasan Taj Toastmasters Club

It could be argued that the easiest part of toast‐mastering is evaluation followed by Table Topics, Humorous and International speech in the order of ascending difficulty. Evaluation is an ‘in situ’ process. All you have to do is listen effectively and assess accurately when the communication ‘worked’ and when it did not. The objective is to modify the areas that are less effective. In Table Topics, preparation is eternal but presence of mind plays a larger part in using the quotes, anecdotes and personal examples that you have gathered over time. Humor is an art of making people laugh and depends heavily on delivery of the story and punch‐line. International Speech is the crown as it marshals all that we have learnt and practiced over a period of time on speech‐craft and delivery. Speeches, like babies, are easy to conceive but difficult to deliver. Coming back to evaluation, the feedback criteria are divided into content, organization and platform skills. Does this not gel with the rule of three? Content focuses on relevant material for the audience knowledge level, whether it addressed the audience wants and needs, were there sufficient depth in the support material, appropriate examples and visuals for audience and situation. Organization relates to Introduction: Attention, purpose, benefit and agenda, Body: limited points, clear plan and Conclusion: Sum‐ mary, action request and final statement. Platform skills dwell on delivery: Moves comfortably, gestures naturally, eye contact with the entire audience, conversational and spon‐ taneous and handles visual aids effectively. Every toastmaster worth his salt knows the above. The trick is packaging and presenting it as miniature speech using the acronym Biker ’B’: ‐ Bang (attention‐getting ‘hook’); ‐ Introduction (route map and vehicle); ‐ Key points (focus on facts); ‐ Examples (Specifics instead of generalities); ‐ Recap (take‐away); ‐ Bang (closing ‘hook’) One opening gambit is a quote on what an effective speech is or who is a good speaker and connects it to the speech/speaker. Present three good points and three areas for improvement using sandwich approach, velvet glove or bad news pattern. Innovation always pays instead of grinding the same dough again and again. We have seen in evaluation contests, participants using the example of the burger, five course meal, rating systems etc. One of our club members (Taj), a chemist, used an innovative approach by using a test tube as a prop while evaluating. The end is summarizing what you said and closing it with a bang like if the speaker builds on his strengths and incorporates the sugges‐ tions he would reach the star (one contestant showed the star on the background in the contest hall), plant the flag of his club on the Everest, win all the contests hands down etc., Truly useful feedback is that which recognizes excellence, then points out a need for improvement and finally offers a suggestion how to make that improvement without de‐motivating the speaker. Theory is the basis. We have a subject in banking called ‘Law and Practice of Banking’ and the stress is on the latter. An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of theory. Being an effective presenter requires an ongoing process of practice and improvement.

See you at the next evaluation contest! TO ASTMASTERS CH ANGE THE WORLD!

PAGE 20

Toastmastering Brings Mohammed Himayath  Life to Talk Vice President Education  Taj Toastmasters Club 

I believe that human mind is akin to a golden mine. You only need to dive into its bowels, dig deep into its inner layers and give shape to the shining spark to arrange into a chain of pearls, express your feelings and try to entertain listeners. Easier said than done. When I joined the Toastmasters the first time I had this gut feeling that here was a club which would give me the opportunity to express my thoughts into words. Converting the thoughts into beautiful words and expressing it is an art. I had many feelings to express and many words to talk but when my turn came to speak for the first time, my lips were strangely unmoving and I just could not put expression to my thoughts. The result was silence all around. I looked around for support and saw the supporting audience, Toastmasters with encouraging look. That environment had the magical power to activate my energy and induce the rhythm to break my silence. As I derived strength from it, I could bring life to my feelings, convert thoughts into appropriate words and finally give life to my talk. This is how I realized the value of Toastmastering. As I continued to participate in the following sessions and weekly meetings and took note of the evaluators' feed‐ back , responded to the subjects during table topic sessions and took part in contests, I began to open out. I can now listen to my heart beat and make others listen to mine as well. Words have their own charisma‐ a good word can motivate and change someone's life while a kind word can give solace to a grieving soul. As we age and mellow down in life we realize just how important it is to give LIFE to WORDS and bring LIFE to talk. Toastmastering shows us the way. Glossophobia or speech anxiety is the fear of public speaking. The word glossophobia comes from the Greek glōssa, meaning tongue, and phobos, fear or dread. The fear of public speaking is called glossophobia (or, informally, "stage fright"). It is believed to be the single most common phobia — affecting as much as 75% of the population. Fear of oration is ranked even above that of death. Many careers require some ability in public speaking, for example presenting information to clients or colleagues. Public speaking and oration are sometimes considered some of the most importantly valued skills that an individual can possess. This skill can be used for almost anything. Most great speakers have a natural ability to display the skills and effectiveness that can help to engage and move an audience for whatever purpose. Language and rhetoric use are among two of the most important aspects of public speaking and interpersonal communica‐ tion. Having knowledge and understanding of the use and purpose of com‐ munication can help to make a more effective speaker communicate their message in an effectual way Stage fright may be a symptom of glossophobia. .—Wikipedia

Attitude

PAGE 21

GET SCIENTIFICALLY ENCHANTED….. Attitude Defined: Attitude is the established way of responding to people and situations that we have learned, based on the beliefs, values and assumptions we hold. Attitudes become apparent through our behavior.

Riyaz Ahmad  VP – Public Relations  Dairicos Toastmasters Club 

Attitude Drives Behavior Attitudes drive behavior. Our body language is a result of our mental attitude. By choosing our attitude, we get in that mood and send out a message that everyone understands, consciously or unconsciously. "Almost always, we have a choice as to what attitude to adopt. There is nothing in any normal work situation that dictates we must react one way or other. If we feel angry about something that happens, for instance, that's how we choose to feel. Even though it is one of the human natures, but we humans have a capability to change our response as we wish. Nothing in the event itself makes it abso‐ lutely necessary for us to feel that way. It is our choice. And since we do have a choice, most of the time we'll be better off if we choose to react in a positive rather than a negative way. The Power of Positive Attitude It is not what happens to us that counts. It is how we react to what happens to us, especially when we have unexpected problems of any kind. Learn and master powerful strategies we can use to keep ourselves thinking and acting positively and creatively. Positive Attitude Means Longer Life If we want to live a longer, healthier life then we need to develop and maintain a positive attitude – it's now a fact thanks to a study from the two American Universities. Researchers followed and studied 1500 people for 7‐years. All 1500 were in good health when the study started. Researchers followed how they aged by measuring such things as weight loss, walking speed, exhaustion and the strength of their grip. What exactly did they discover? They found that people who maintained a positive attitude were significantly less likely to show signs of aging; they were less likely to become frail and were more likely to be stronger and healthier than those that had a negative attitude. If we have a doom and gloom attitude we are actually killing ourselves and at the very least – our negative attitude is just making us weaker and weaker; bit by bit; day by day. Attitude Motivation Attitude motivation is about how people think and feel. "It is their self‐confidence, their belief in themselves, their attitude to life – be it positive or negative. It is how they feel about the future and how they react to the past." Attitude Is Infectious Our attitude is the first thing people pick up on in face‐to‐face communica‐ tion. Just as laughing, yawning, and crying are infectious, attitude is infec‐ tious. Before we say a word, our attitudes can infect the people who see us with the same behavior. Somehow just by looking or feeling, we can be in‐ fected by another person's attitude, and vice versa. When we are operating from inside a really useful attitude, such as enthusiasm, curiosity, and humil‐ ity, our body language tends to take care of it and sends out unmistakable signals of openness. Remember, our attitude determines our altitude. I am already in business at one of the world's most famous scientific enchantment centers known as "Toastmaster clubs".

There are many good reasons why Toastmasters International teaches both communi‐ cation and leadership skills. People with good communication skills are more likely to  be promoted to leadership positions, and good leaders need communication skills to be          effective.     In other words, if you want to be a leader, you have to learn to speak like a leader. And  Toastmasters International is here to help.  TO ASTMASTERS CH ANGE THE WORLD!

Toastmasters are not Crabs!

PAGE 22

Jovett Lopez, CC VP for Public Relations Toast of Comsofil

Sometimes we find ourselves in oblivion, empty‐handed and washed out. We tend to be in despair whenever we fall short. Sometimes, we develop unhealthy competitive sentiments wherein we are bothered by others’ success and achievements rather than appreciate and learn from them. As such, the so called “crab mentality” arises. This negative trait hinders one to be happy and more appreciative. It gives a feeling of discomfort and mistrust. In Wikipedia, Crab Mentality or crab in a bucket syndrome is a metaphor referring to a pot of crabs grabbing each other to escape in a useless “king of the hill” competition. The analogy in human behavior is that of a group that will attempt "pull down" (negate or diminish the importance of) any member who achieves success beyond the others, out of jealousy or competitive feelings. In public speaking, we hone ourselves to become an effective speaker regardless of barriers i.e. cultures, preferences, and background. We try our best to bring messages across effectively realizing the need, the purpose, and even the limitations. In public speaking, we become flexible even if we dare to dream ahead. Along the way, we meet people who may one or another be contented of our speech delivery by giving constructive criticisms, or probably be just ignorant as if nobody understood or care about the speech at all. In toastmastering, we value each others’ ability and eagerness to learn and to be corrected. We, as toastmasters, value time, patience, hard work and the drive to excellence. Communication only becomes effective if the message is well understood by the audience. Toastmastering mold us to become one. In our club, every role counts – timer, grammarian, word master, evaluator, speaker, listener, etc. Whatever task is allotted to each member, it has to be played properly in order for us to develop our self‐ esteem, self‐reliance and self‐confidence. We learn from our mistakes from time to time. Thus, we don’t have to be ‘crabs in a bucket’ by laughing out on other’s mistakes, or becoming irritated when one excels or one stutters, or even blame when something or someone in the club fails. We should not be a fault‐finder but a joy and hope giver. Let us not be impediments to one’s growth. As we see our colleagues soar high, let us allow them to reap the fruits of their labor as our turns will come. We work as a team, we mentor, we coach, we evaluate, and we learn all together in Toastmastering. In the end, success will be at hand. Teamwork, optimism and effective communication are vital to eliminate the ’crab in a bucket’ syndrome in every organization. Let’s have positive outlook, maintain healthy competition, and friendly atmosphere in our sessions dear toastmasters! For once a toastmaster, you forever live that legacy – to be‐ come effective communicator, leader, and mentor. We have to remember: Toastmasters should change the World...in see‐ ing (vision), listening (contemplation), speaking (communication) and doing (mission).

Toastmasters exist to help your audience laugh with you, not at you!  Injecting Humor in a speech can have several benefits such as: • Help establish a bond with the audience • Win over a hostile audience • Keep the audience interested • Emphasize or illustrate a point • Help people remember you TO ASTMASTERS CH ANGE THE WORLD!

TMI Area 5: PRTC Conduct Speechcraft for GBPSA 2009 Candidates James Edward S. Taruc

PAGE 23

Vice‐President for Public Relations PRTC

The Area 5 Council of Division A of Toastmasters International headed by its Governor ACB/ALB John Erick Tapales in cooperation with PICPA Riyadh Toastmasters Club (PRTC), a Filipino public speaking organization conducted Speechcraft for this year’s candi‐ dates of Ginoo at Binibining Pilipinas (Mr. & Ms Philippines) Saudi Arabia – Riyadh 2009, a personality pageant spearheaded by Special Events (S.E.) Productions. The 4‐session Speechcraft program started on August 21 and culmi‐ nated last September 11, 2009 at Al‐Taj International School which allowed experienced Toastmasters to present the fundamentals of public speaking to non‐members in an atmosphere of a Toastmas‐ ters club meeting. It’s a great way to promote membership in the community or company clubs, as it brings prospective members to a meeting to see, first‐hand, what Toastmasters is all about. A regular toastmasters’ meeting consists of the Prepared Speech Ses‐ sion, Table Topics and the Evaluation portion. Each of the speechcrafters has experienced participating in all of the segments mentioned. The Speechcraft coordinator, ACB/ALB John Erick shared how the program was initially conceptualized as one of the require‐ ments to achieve the Advanced Communication Gold designation, as he is already Advanced Communicator Bronze & Advance Leader Bronze (to know more about these details, please browse www.toastmasters.org), however during the planning stage, the Area 5 council where he is currently presiding decided to expand the project to community level and share to others the benefits of the toastmasters program. This is where he tapped S.E. Productions to jointly sponsor the event to enhance the speaking skills of the contestants. Ms. Neriss Tolentino, one of this year’s GBPSA hopefuls, who delivered her speech during the final session, attests how the pro‐ gram contributed to her progress, “Stage fright is one of my problems before until I had this speechcraft program, it made me overcome my fears in front of a crowd and I was able to share my ideas to everybody.” Mr. Jerome Barrera, also one of the can‐ didates and was the Table Topics Master on the culmination day added, “Through the seminar, I learned a lot, I was able to de‐ velop my whole personality, boosted my confidence in speaking, it taught me how to handle fear and face challenges. Now I can beam proud and speak my mind whenever required.” The Speechcraft Program was conducted in accordance with the Toastmasters International guidelines as follows: On Day 1, apart from the discussion on importance of good public speaking skills, educational presentations on selecting speech topics and introduction to Table Topics, participants were asked to deliver a 2‐minute speech to be assessed by attending toast‐ masters. Day 2 has educational presentation on introducing a speaker, discussion on speaking with convinction and 5 participants delivered their Icebreaker Speech, followed by speech evaluations by mentors. Day 3 has another 5 participants delivering “Be in Earnest Speeches” which were evaluated by participants, educational presentation on speech organization. The coordinator then discussed activities related to Day 4. The culminating event (Day 4) has a complete Toastmasters meeting set up with candidates serving as Toastmaster of the Program, Table Topics Master and General Evaluator along with distinguished PRTCians. Aside from Neriss & Jerome, other speechcrafters were Mr. Norwin de Ocampo, Mr. Antonio Isip, Jr., Ms. Jae Anne Mamangan, Ms. Beverly de Luna, Mr. Mark Galang, Mr. Crhitopher Redondo, Mr. Ralph Baluntang, Ms. Jestrel Contig and Ms. Lady Princess Sengson. The distinguished panel of evaluators included Gulf Champion in Public Speaking ATM‐G/CL Ron Jacobe; Division Champion Speakers ACB/ ALB Ramed Borja & CTM/CL Jose Bollozos, ACB/ALB John Erick Tapales and CC/CL Jorge Nathaniel Amores. Other PRTCians who provided assistance & support were CC/CL Wilfredo Ignacio, TM Arnold Valeriano, TM Emerson Valdezco, TM Abs Yasin and CL James Edward Taruc. Mr. Rannie Basanta, CEO of S. E. Productions gave its full support to the event. TO ASTMASTERS CH ANGE THE WORLD!

Quick Wit Marathon –

PAGE 24

A Mega Event in Gulf Toastmasters History

Yuri Akira  

Table Topics gives us a distinct kind of thrill whether we are one of the speakers called upon, the Table Topics Master calling on speakers, or just one of the enthusiastic (others nervous) witnesses to this impromptu speaking exercise in Toastmasters. For those of us who consider ourselves fairly competent in the genre, we eagerly volunteer. For those who do not have the same confidence, we get anxious every time. Either way, we always get this kind of frisson in all Table Topics session. Table Topics contest is an even bigger stage! Whether contestants or audience members, we experience a level of exhilaration so high as we listen to the question, and give our or listen to others’ answers. However, we often come out of a Table Topics contest and wondered if the winner just got lucky with that one question which he happens to have knowledge about. At the same time, we wonder why a contestant, who we know is really good, bungled up his answer. It is along these thoughts that we created the first ever Table Topics Marathon – the “Quick Wit Marathon”. Slated on 30 October 2009, the “Quick Wit Marathon” will subject contestants to a “barrage” of questions or topics designed to repeatedly challenge his stock knowledge and speaking skills to a level never before experienced in Toastmasters. Contest will be open for all Toastmasters interested without limit to just having one club representative. Contestants are not defined as club or area contestant. Each contestant comes as himself or herself, a Toastmaster vying for the title of being the 1st ever declared champion of a Table Topics Marathon – the “Quick Wit Marathon”. Indeed, the only limit to the number of contestants will be the time available to run the event. To up the ante of the competition, a seminar on Table Topics / Impromptu Speaking will be conducted. All participants will have the privilege of learning from one of the best experts in this genre, the Gulf Toastmasters Annual Convention 2001 Table Topics Champion, and 2003 International Speech Champion Advance Toastmaster Gold, Competent Leader Ron Jacobe. TM Ron will share his secrets how he receives the questions, digest them, dissect them, and build his strategy to give a winning answer. He will share his numerous techniques in putting order into the gamut of thoughts racing through his mind, and crafting a concise and precise speech. Indeed, with a whooping edu‐ cational session by the Champion  ATM Gold Ron Jacobe, with the title of being the first ever declared “Quick Wit Marathon” Champ up for grabs, and with a prize that will make it worth your learning and time, The” QUICK WIT MARA‐ THON” is a Mega Toast‐ masters Event you will want to be a part of. Come, join us in this great milestone in Gulf Toastmasters his‐ tory! Please feel free to visit and contribute write ups on our blog site http://toastmasters-ksa.blogspot.com/ Please email the editorial board [email protected] for access and queries. Thank you. TO ASTMASTERS CH ANGE THE WORLD!