CHATT...ERRR AMDAVAD TOASTMASTERS CLUB NEWSLETTER
COLORS OF LIFE INSIDE THIS ISSUE
GALLERY
Interview - Hasnain Changi
SYNERGY 2018 ATM
Blessings in Disguise
Executive Committee
Garden
Educational Awards Club
Different shades of life
P R Events
How a child taught me creative life lessons? Seasons of Life
CREATIVE CORNER
When will I grow up?
Poetry
Colorful journey at Toastmasters
Art Corner
Art of Evaluation
Colour through Lens
PATHWAYS
AMDAVAD
Selfie Zone
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From the Editors Desk
RASHI MISHRA
GIRISH KULKARNI
It is our privilege to welcome all the readers to the April 2018 issue of Amdavad Toastmaster Newsletter - "CHATT...ERRR". Every passing year, Amdavad Toastmaters Club is growing to newer heights owing to all the members who brings in diversity to the club. Though we all come in different shades,yet we all belong to the same hue. While everyone has his own strengths and skillsets,at the same time what binds us together is our shared desire to grow and become a better communicator ,leader and more importantly a good human being. Hence in this newsletter we have tried to capture the various tinges of the members of ATM with the theme "Colors of Life". As the theme suggests, the newsletter indeed offers insights on multiple aspects of our life.Be it man on the mission – Our Division A Director Mr. Hasnain Changi sharing his vision. President Tm Krishna Kumhar and Pathways Guide Tm Manish are helping the club in shifting towards a new exciting education system rolled out by Toastmasters International.The members of ATM have made newsletter magnificent with their contributions.All their stories are truly inspiring and thought provoking that would undoubtedly display the immense possibilities one is capable of while slowly unfolding multiple facets,virtues and values of human personalities. The stories and poems will intrigue you with questions,compel you to question your learnings,sit up and take notice of the never say die attitude,mesmerize you with the innocence of childhood,make you realize that this is the time to break those inflated egos and in the end,remind us the true meaning of compassion and of being a human. The colorful journey painted by Toastmasters in the form of art and Photograph will remind us of our forgotten times. Also,this quarter witnessed many milestone accomplishments in the form of : Competent Communication Award to Tm Ronak, Tm Khushal, Tm Jayaraj Competent Leadership Award to Tm Ranjan Triple Crown Award to Tm Nancy & Advanced Leadership Bronze to ever young Tm Kp Jani We hope you enjoy browsing through the CHATT.....ERRR as much as we had a time of our life while curating it for you.
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS - TM KRISHNA
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The founders of the club took that step in 2012 and established Amdavad Toastmasters. Since then, the club has grown multifold owing to the sustained efforts of the members, who have relentlessly emphasized on quality and always served the club at various leadership roles. I am indeed elated to share that Amdavad Toastmasters has sustained its efforts to support and establish new clubs in Gujarat, with the addition of the youngest sibling – Heritage City Toastmasters Club. After the success of our PR activity at the Ahmedabad Food Festival , wherein we received over 250 enquiries, we have scaled up our PR efforts by conducting several demo meetings and Toastmasters’ Open House Sessions at EXL, PDPU and Dipti Shah’s institute of English. We received very encouraging responses from the guests. Collaboration is the key to maximize the learning and we joined hands with TCS Beat Gandhinagar in January for a “Joint Meeting” that helped the members to network, exchange ideas and share the best practices. Another effort by the education team to provide ample learning opportunity for the members was by conducting education sessions beyond the Toastmasters Education Program. One such session on Food & Fitness: 2 Sides of the Coin by Toastmaster Shaily, was also live streamed on Facebook by our enthusiastic PR team and the post received over 800 views. The passion of our members to contribute by incorporating such innovative techniques to accentuate learning is what makes our club unique. Recognition and Awards are not only essential also a great way to motivate members and appreciate their efforts. Since January 2018, 7 of our club members have received Education Awards from TI, including the prestigious Triple Crown award for receiving 3 Education awards in 1 Toastmaster Year. This year, Amdavad Toastmasters has also received the Talk up Toastmasters Membership Award, adding 17 new members and 2 member reinstatements. We all evolve as better communicators and leaders with every toastmaster meeting but while doing so and each member of the club must strive to set a short term and a long team goal, and Focusing on the education track laid down by TI can be a good starting point. This May, as we prepare ourselves for the revamped education system - Pathways, I urge each one of you to continue your quest to
Sustain, Innovate and Evolve while you march vigorously towards your goal and potential.
NEWSLETTER Committee
EDITOR - TM RASHI MISHRA
Co-EDITOR - TM Girish Kulkarni
VP Pr - tm aBHISHA Proofreader – tm k p jani
Designer - TM Prarthana
CO-DESIGNER :- TM SOHEL
Excecutive Com mittee of amdavad ToastmasTERS
PRESIDENT KRISHNA KUMHAR
VICE PRESIDENT PUBLIC RELATIONS ABHISHA THAKER
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS AAKASH VASWANI
VICE PRESIDENT EDUCATION HIREN DHOLAKIA
TREASURER R U C H I R M E H TA
VICE PRESIDENT MEMBERSHIP YASH RAJAI
SECRETARY VIKASHKUMAR JHA
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT VRANDA RATHI
Blessings in disguise ~ Rajiv Vassanji [ CC,CL]
“Everything in our lives without exceptions is either a blessing or a blessing in disguise” ~ Joel Patinos We all share the same, basic human needs, and each of our action are a strategy to meet one or more of these needs. At some point in life we all have experienced disappointments, despair, hopelessness, anxieties, and ruminated on overcoming our challenges. “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So, you must trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You must trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart even when it leads you off the well-worn path; and that will make all the difference.” ~ Steve Jobs. When I look backwards and connect my dots, I realize how important were those setbacks and pitfalls I suffered.
3 incidences changed my life completely… In 2001, I was fired and was jobless. I had more debts & very little savings. I could survive hardly for a month or two maximum. A day came when I had no money to buy rice and had to sell my 8GB hard drive from my second-hand computer to buy groceries for the family. Without any school degree and with right elbow damaged, I believed myself to be a failure of all times.
By nature, I am self-conscientious, I could not understand why the fate was so cruel with me. What had I done to deserve these miseries? During my search for ways to survive, I came across a man called Carlos, whom I had helped a lot and he was looking for help. Carlos was a small importer of computers and I had helped him on configuring and repairs of his computers for free. Knowing that I was jobless he offered me to start selling computers and told me to do what I was passionate about – computers. He left one computer without any payment and told me to sell it & that was the beginning… Fast forwarding to present, I am a successful entrepreneur, my IT company has 17 employees, 10 brands such as HP, Brother, Microsoft, Kaspersky, and so on, owner of Evolution brand. My company Shiva Enterprise distributes computers and IT accessories nationwide in Mozambique to IT Companies, Government and corporates. I am financially well secured, so much that I can easily retire at an early age. In the hindsight, now I feel, being fired was necessary to accomplish my dreams. The journey wasn’t easy but it was worthwhile. However, being successful after the hardship should have brought more wisdom in me but the material success quickly went to my head without my awareness. I became a proud and arrogant person. None the less, Universe has its own ways to correct and bring us back on the right path. Next two incidents literally changed me. In December 2007, my family and I suffered a car accident while we were travelling to Johannesburg for vacation. My wife was hospitalized
and was in ICU in a critical condition. The Doctors almost left it to almighty & I was praying for her survival. By God grace she survived. Even before I could recover from this blow, I suffered another one within a year. My younger sister’s husband died from a sudden heart attack, leaving behind her and two babies. These two blows brought me to my knees. I realized that life was much more than any material success. There is a message for me. A yearning to serve, contribute and uplift others started getting stronger every day. In 2013, I along with my business partner founded Shiva Foundation. The Objective is to help and support unprivileged people of Maputo city. Our focus is to provide nutrition, education, and health-care to those who were parked in margins of society. This year, in February 2018, we are working on a project to donate 100 cataract eye-surgeries to those who are in waiting list of Health Ministry of Mozambique. It’s truly satisfying when you see smiles of joy and gratitude in the eyes of those whom we could support and help. Looking backwards, I realized that both the blows were blessings in disguise to
destroy my ego and open my heart, to learn compassion, love, and contribution.
“Remember, sometimes, not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck”. ~ Dalai Lama.
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GARDENING LESSONS ~RIDDHAM MANNA
My garden was my heaven during my childhood. My garden was witness to precious memories of childhood. Whenever going got tough, I sought refuge in my garden. Nothing was more joyful than getting lost in the folds of mother nature. I have never imagined life without garden, forget living without it. So, when I moved to Gandhinagar home, I just couldn’t live with the fact that I don’t have garden anymore. I was restless, as days passed, I missed my garden more and more, Whether I am happy or sad, I needed myself in the lap on nature. I was desperate to set up a garden, I didn’t know how but I wanted somehow. I knew, it was a Herculean task however I was determined.
Where there is a will, there is a way. So, I started with the first challenge --- Open land. Since we had none, I decided to convert terrace into a garden. Adding to this, I utilized the empty places at first and second floor. I was on the move … I started developing garden using planters, pots and growbags. I placed the earthen pots on ground floor, Plastic planters on first floor & combination of all three on the terrace. Next challenge came in the form of growth medium. I found a very creative solution. I mixed coco peat, soil and vermicompost in equal proportions. Believe me , I also added cow dung! While coco peat retained water, Vermicompost and cow dung substituted for manures. Then came the million-dollar question- What to grow? This depends on agro-climatic conditions like place, seasons, and time. For e.g. Watermelons grow in more sandy soil & early January is a good time to plant it.
One also must look at space constraints. Plants that bear multiple instances of fruits or vegetables at a time such as Vines of bottle gourd or bitter gourd, tomatoes, chilies, okra, beans are good selections. Cabbage, cauliflower and many slow growing plants should be avoided. I am an ardent follower of organic farming. I hate using pesticides. However, when there are plants, common pests such as Aphids, mealy bugs, mites, leaf miners are bound to attack. Controlling them is a critical. Healthy insects such as lady bugs munch on mealy bugs. Various fungi are allies in this war against pests. Verticilli and trichoderma can be used. Last but not the least is fertilizers. They should be used at every stage of the growth cycle. Various organic liquid fertilizers and compost tea can be used.
Gardening taught me many lessons. Important among them were patience and consistency. My garden today is not only a haven for me but also for children who don’t get to play in the mud. Sitting in the garden & watching the bees hover over the plants is a beautiful sight. Time stands still and there is a moment of oneness with the bees. I feel where the real life is.
Seasons of life ~ HIMANSHU ARORA
[ CC, CL]
Life is unpredictable. We don’t know whether tomorrow will be a good day or a bad day. We can say the same about the upcoming weeks, months or even years. In our life no matter what happens, there will come some good times as well as there will also be some bad times. Sometimes you will find yourself into a pit of emptiness, or chaos where nothing seems to be working or getting better. Sooner than you expect good times will come back again. You Will eventually find balance and sort through the chaos. You will create new structures in life that will help you solve the current problems. Dear readers, good times and bad times are cyclical, all throughout your life. This cycle is inevitable. It’s almost like seasons of the year. Winters will follow sunny the summers & will then pave way for the great spring to blossom. Just like in nature, our life also has seasons. What does this mean? How is it helpful? Here I would like to introduce the adage of a wise farmer. This poor farmer is diligent, hardworking and loyal towards his work and family, but he is subject to all the hardships that life brings with it. He too comes across good seasons and bad seasons. Some seasons are ideal for sowing seeds, good for the harvest. But some seasons are merciless and rain on his parade every time he invests his blood and sweat into the land. But the farmer is wise. He knows that he cannot always change the nature of things. But he knows that he can align his own actions with nature in a way that best benefits him. Therefore, when the season is right for sowing, he pours all of his heart and soul into sowing as many seeds into the ground as his hours allow. This farmer knows that if he sows to his maximum potential when the season is right, he will not have to starve during the season that’s merciless to all the other sincere yet clueless farmers.
He knows the power of timing and the importance of investing all that you’ve got when you see the perfect opportunity .This allows him to prepare for tough and uncertain times of future Farmer has been a witness to both, good rains as well as drought, in his life. Thus, facing the draught that no matter how bad the winds & the skies are, he has belief, he has hope He is sure that soon enough a favorable season will arrive. Hence until the time it doesn’t come, he and his family can feed off his labour from the previous good season. That’s the definition of ‘wise’ according to me. So next time when you’re going through a rough patch, remember this adage. Remember, by keeping calm and not judging your capabilities, you can conserve the strength and energy you will need when times get good again. And times WILL turn around, for sure. When they do, roll up your sleeves, forget about the past and put in so much work, so much dedication, so much focus and sheer commitment that by the time that season is over, you will have created enough results to last you and yours for many seasons to come. Just remember, when it’s winters, some people hide inside their homes, unable to move about, while some people come out and play with the snow.
“Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better. Don’t wish for fewer problems, wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenge, wish for more wisdom.” ~ Jim Rohn.
INTERNATIONAL SPEECH CONTEST Table Topics Contest Synergy 2018 Amdavad Toastmasters organized its semi-annual club contest ‘SYNERGY' on 11thMarch, 2018. The contest witnessed highest ever participation as 11 members contested in International Speech Contest and 18 members contested in Table Topics contest. The event also witnessed a huge audience turnout as over 80 people attended the event at Ravi Shankar Art Gallery Auditorium.
P A R T I C I P A N T S O F I n t e r n a t i o n a l sp e e c h C O N T E S T , A T S YN E R G Y 2018
Participants of table topics contest , at synergy 2018
WINNERS AT SYNERGY 2018 INTERNATIONAL SPEECH CONTEST W I N N E R : K P J A NI ( 3 r d f r o m r i g h t ) 1 s t R U N N E R U P: A M I T G U L A T I ( 4 t h from right) 2 n d R U N N E R U P: NA N C Y S H AH ( 5 t h from right)
TABLE TOPICS CONTEST W I N N E R : K P J A NI ( 3 r d f r o m r i g h t ) 1 s t R U N N E R U P: A M I T G U L A T I ( 4 t h f r o m r i gh t ) 2 n d R U N N E R U P: P R E E T I P AT H A K ( 5 t h f r o m r i gh t )
ROLE PLAYERS AT SYNERGY 2018
ART OF EVALUATION
~ Krishna kumhar [ CL ]
Stage, Audience, Spotlight. We often walk on the stage during the Toastmasters’ contests with a purpose to win, to grab that ‘spotlight’. Who doesn’t feel elated when he/she is appreciated, cheered, and wins an award. When I began preparing for my 1st Evaluation Speech Contest in 2017, my mind lingered with the thoughts of ‘victory’. But my journey to the district level of the Evaluation Speech Contest transformed my perception about contests and helped me draw a few lessons about evaluations in general:
Move the spotlight: During the Evaluation Speech Contest, the evaluators grab the spotlight and often get carried away with flowery words to impress the judges and the audience. What he/she forgets is to make the speaker feel ‘special’. The target speaker often feels targeted. When we move that spotlight to the speaker and make him/her feel special, we will realize that feedback and commendation even using simple words will help the speaker improve, yet make the evaluation competitive.
Personal Opinion: As evaluators, we fall under the assumption that we represent the audience. We fail to appreciate the differences in the audience’s opinion and tend to use sentences such as – What we felt, I am sure you all will agree, etc in the evaluation. Evaluation is subjective and we must understand that each opinion is an individual one based on our perspective. Try replacing these sentences with – I personally felt, in my opinion, etc. to portray a personal opinion in the evaluation.
Connect with the speaker: Ever wondered, why should the speaker consider your feedback credible. Beginning an evaluation with a quote is clichéd, breaks the connect with the speaker and often sends a message to the audience/speaker – of a prepared introduction. Start your evaluation with a Premise – a sentence to establish a connect with the speaker/his message. A premise is a line that tells the audience/speaker why that message is relevant to you. Eg: If a speech is about Dancing and its benefits – Start with, after hearing your speech, I tapped my feet and my body began to groove, Thank you for persuading me to dance. This will make your evaluation more credible and enhances the interest of the Speaker/audience.
Internal Clock: Does your evaluation sound sugar coated or very critical? An internal clock will help. Break the evaluation into 4 parts – Premise (15 sec); Commendation(90sec); Recommendation (75 sec); Summary (20 sec) and use an internal clock to measure these checkpoints. These checkpoints will help you strike a balance between your commendations & recommendations.
Note all, share a few : As an evaluator, your purpose is to listen to the speech and note all the key points – Purpose(General/Specific), Structure (Problem Solution/Cause Effect/Topical etc), Delivery- Body Language (Gesture/Stage movement/Stance etc), Voice Modulation (Pitch, Rate, Voice, Pause etc). However, curb your instinct to. share all and restrict it to only the main points - (top 3) commendations and recommendations that you feel are important. Variety always helps and sharing points about both content & delivery will provide a holistic evaluation to the speaker.
Catchy Transitions Transitions are not only essential for a speaker but also for an evaluator. A point generally overlooked. Transition lines in evaluations include – When moving from Premise -Commendation-Recommendation -Summary. Using Transition lines from the speech will make your evaluation stand out – It may be related to the speech or an exact phrase from the speech itself (call back). For instance, If the speech is about transformation of goals/body, transition lines used could be: The 3 things that accentuated your transformation was A, B, C (Premise – Commendation), How can the transformation be changed from a temporary one to a permanent one (Commendation – Recommendation), The driving forces of your transformation were (Recommendation to Summary). Remember, this can be mastered with due practice.
Win the hearts, not the trophy: Win the heart of the speaker and audience with the evaluation, let the trophy be just a by-product of it. Remember the purpose of evaluation – To provide constructive feedback to the speaker.The above framework, with a right mix of bright colors (Commendation) and darker shades (recommendation), if partially or completely used can make the speech more colorful and your evaluation more impactful.
Interview With
Mr.Hasnain Changi - Division A Director Interview with Division A Director Mr. Hasnain Changi conducted by Amdavad Toastmasters Club’s Newsletter Editor Rashi Mishra.
Mr.Hasnain Changi is an entrepreneur engaged in the crafting and exports of fashion accessories in leather. He is Lawyer by training, part time teacher of business laws.He joined Toastmasters 5 years ago to discover his voice and now he enjoys helping others to find theirs.He has served his home club Bombay Toastmasters Club as its VP Education and as its President.He has been Area Director of District 98 last year, and this year he has the honour to serve as Division Director for Division A in District 98.
1.In your opinion, aren't DCP goals given more emphasis off late? With the pressure to grab awards, don’t these goals promote quantity over quality? I have realized, over a period of time, that the DCP is Toastmasters way of teaching us how to set SMART goals in our life. The DCP goals are specific, measurable, relevant and attainable and because they are time bound, we have a better chance of attaining them. As a district officer it is my job to see that my district, division, area & clubs get distinguished. The goals are really not so difficult to attain and the reason we push clubs to set higher goals is to ensure that we at least achieve the minimal goal of being Distinguished. Perhaps this question is more about the member grievances when he/sheis being pushed by the VP(E)for the awards. In my experience, sometimes the member needs a little push to kick start the journey and if she is made aware about the contribution that her CC will make not just to her own growth but also to the club’s, that could be the little incentive or spark that could make her a confident communicator and a leader. Overall, without thrusting it down the members’ throat, when handled sensitively the DCP goals can be a big spur in personal as well as club growth.
2.You are based out of Mumbai and oversee operations of Mumbai & Gujarat . How has distance played a part in your role as Division Director? Has it been a bridge in understanding the needs of Toastmasters in Gujarat? I have served as an area director before serving as Division Director and I can say that this is a relatively happier place to be in. I have been blessed with having four of the most amazing area directors in my team-Dhanraj, Dipankar, Manish and Mahesh. My role becomes more of a mentor, just to provide them some solutions if required, based upon my experience, and so the distance, or physical presence doesn't matter too much. Toastmasters is the best place to learn team-building. It’s only because of well-coordinated teams all across the district, that D98 is the fastest growing district in the world. 3.
How do you manage your role in Toastmasters, your professional & personal life? What
drives you? I am still learning to manage these roles. I am happy that I have a very supportive family and now that my business is also sort of on autopilot, I am able to do more of the things that I love to do Toastmasters being one of them. I get my inspiration from people like you; young people who have tight schedules and who manage their personal, professional life so well and still are doing exemplary work in Toastmasters. My biggest drive or kick, after spending 5 years is when I come across a Toastmaster who has become a better speaker/person than he was before joining Toastmasters, and acknowledges the difference, and it feels nice to know that we have played a small part in that. 4. What vision you hold for the Division you are handling? When will Gujarat get an opportunity to host a division conference? All the District officers have a broader collective vision -to help each other grow by empowering people to become better leaders and better speakers. At the heart of the Toastmasters movement is the member; we empower members, who make the club stronger. Strong clubs strengthen the Area, the Division and eventually the District. Coming to the next part of the question, tell me why do you want to restrict yourself to holding a division conference? I would rather that Gujarat hosts a district conference. Traditionally we have the division conference at Mumbai for Divisions A, B and M for logistic convenience and to save our human and financial resources. A large proportion of clubs of Divisions A,B and M are located in and around Mumbai. There are a greater number of participants in division Conference than in a District Conference, and it becomes incumbent upon them to travel to the division conference. Many are working professionals and coming for a single day for those who may not be major stake holders might be a deterrent. Thus, following the path of least resistance, Mumbai has been a traditional choice for division Conferences. In my opinion Gujarat should try to bid for the District Conference.
5. What would you prefer- an upscale communicator or an able leader,in your opinion? An able leader. One of the many qualities a leader must have is the ability to transfer his/her vision to the minds of the listeners. This makes it mandatory for him/her to be an effective communicator. If additionally, he/she has the skills of team building, motivating, listening, facilitating it will make him/her a better human being, one whom people would want to follow. 6. What has been the most challenging yet at the same time the most fruitful incident/experience in your Toastmasters journey so far? I was once the VP(E) at Bombay Toastmasters Club, the most challenging role I have taken so far & also the one that provided maximum learning. I come from a background, being an entrepreneur, where I never really got to practice my leadership skill. I have a team of Yes men. It was only at Toastmaster that I learnt what motivation, team building is all about and what it is to put these skills in to action and see the results. This role also stood me in good stead when I took up the role of President or Area director which taught me different skills. 7.
We will have only the Annual Conference for D98 from this year. Don't you think, with
the scrapping of the Semi Annual Conference, networking opportunities & thereby information exchange for members of D98 are hampered? What is the basis behind this decisions? I agree with you that the networking opportunities could be lessened but it's a decision that affects all districts in the world, not just District 98. The Board of Toastmasters International, deliberate over the necessity of utilisin g our resources-human and financial toward the semiannual conference and concluded that those resources could be better utilised in growing members and clubs.For the most part, if we see the statistics, we have 6000+ member in our district out of which at any conference (Annual/Semi Annual) our average attendance is 400. Of this number- district and area officers are around 65 or 70 including the district officers in non-credit roles like District Parliamentarian, District Logistics manager, District Chief Judge and others. Add 15-20 contestants and some supporters to it and that sums up to 100. Add to this, the Toastmasters in the city in which the conference is held we assume 150 participants from the host city. Hence, only 150 members are floating attendees. This works out to barely 3-4% of the entire membership who attend the conference, solely for learning, development and networking. Having said that, we do have other networking opportunities like visiting the other clubs in the city or located in the nearby cities. I would love to see more networking happen, not sure if conferenis the only way to do so and thus, scrapping the semiannual conference will not hurt the networking opportunities to as large an extent as we fear.
POETRY wRITING MY HAPPY PLACE
A WHOLE NEW ROADWAY ~ TM MEGHANA
~TM SHREYA
In the world of gala and galore, where buntings and bells adorn the screens, with people in masquerades, where emotions are a deceit, and feelings are shut blind. Where the merriness of the birds, jubilance of the waves, exuberance of the nature, can all be tamed. Where the luxuriant foliage is created, nightingale’s melody aped, and wildlife niche recreated. Here the women wear gilded crowns, and sparkling white pearls, and flaunt their seductive curves. I stand stupefied in a trance, to me it is a mere cache phony of false accomplishments. to give air or strike a pose, with hollow hearts or empty hands as if choked with embellishments? I miss the sandy, warm air which brushes my face, and the sound of gushing waters and endless high-spirited laughter. I miss the beautiful souls who kept me alive and ecstatic each day, taught me lessons on forgiveness and thankfulness, and helped me pray... gladly will I cherish and embrace this true abstract of beauty and love, for it is where I truly belong...
Oh, my embarking odyssey Are you my destiny? New culture and it's rules I try to adjust myself with its tools. Amity has started its effect Now see how I get affect. Never seen the beauty of night Like sun is shining with its full light. How far will I go? Can anyone know? Let's hope for the best By giving its teste. MY QUEEN ~TM AMIT [- cc,alb The prettiest face that could ever be seen, In that beautiful garden with grasses green At the front of the courtyard with the roof of teen Laughing and cherishing, I saw my queen. The blushing of her gentle smile compelled me to wait for a while Her eyes like a diamond in the night glue What they were up to, I had no clue. Her heart was so flooded with decency that it to be described needs extra bit of eloquency So calm and silent like brooks She gave her elegant and sober looks Soon I felt in love with her, Unable to resist I went closer Co-incidentally her mother came and took her up and up and up‌ Stop, stop, I cried hysterically.... and later laughed as I worked up and up and up.
EDUCATIONAL AWARDS
Competent Communication Award to Tm Ronak, Tm Khushal and Tm Ranjan Competent Leadership Award to Tm Jayaraj Triple Crown Award to Tm Nancy & Advanced Leadership Bronze to Tm Kp Jani
PATHWAYS ~Manish Khanolkar [ CC, CL ]
~
In 2010, the Toastmasters Board of Directors decided to revitalize the Toastmasters educational program. The Communication track was based on the basic training and was developed by the founder Ralph C. Smedley, it had not been revised since 1970’s. The Board thought of modernizing the Communication and Leadership tracks with a great emphasis on leadership development. This new and revitalized education program is called as Toastmasters Pathways learning experience. While Pathways does not change the structure of the regular meetings at Toastmasters it creates a unique learning experience for each member. An experience full of possibilities and growth. The focus of Pathways is to develop five competencies which are instrumental in Leadership Development they are: 1. Public Speaking 2. Interpersonal Communication 3. Strategic Leadership 4. Management 5. Confidence The above are the core competencies which the revitalized education program focuses on. The current education program teaches 68 competencies; Pathways helps in developing more than 250 competencies. There are 10 learning paths in Pathways and every member can select whichever path the member wishes to pursue. Toastmasters has developed an online assessment for members before they begin their Pathways journey. The assessment will help a member in identifying his or her current skills level and areas where he or she wishes to improve. Based on the assessment three paths would be recommended to the member. The member is free to choose any of the recommended path or any other path which is not recommended.
The 10 Paths are 1.
Dynamic Leadership
2.
Effective Coaching
3.
Innovative Planning
4.
Leadership Development
5.
Motivational Strategies
6.
Persuasive Influence
7.
Presentation Mastery
8.
Strategic Relationships
9.
Team Collaboration
10.
Visionary Communication
Toastmasters intends to add more paths in the coming years. Each of the above 10 paths focus on developing the five Leadership competencies. Each of the 10 paths includes a minimum of 14 learning projects which are a mix of required and electives. There are numerous options in electives to cater to the needs of members. Once a member selects the path the member advances through the path in five levels of progressing complexity. The levels are defined as: 1. Mastering Fundamentals 2. Learning Your Style 3. Increasing Knowledge 4. Building Skills 5. Demonstrating Expertise
Each level is designed in such a way that the member
not only learns but applies the learnings of the previous levels. The Pathways rollout has begun across various regions and is expected to be over by May 2018. In district 98 the date for rollout is 3rd May, 2018. Current members as well as prospective members who join Toastmasters before 3rd May have the option of continuing through the traditional education path as well as Pathways. Those who become members after 3rd May will necessarily have to learn on Pathways and the traditional education program is not available to them. Toastmasters has given two years from the time Pathways rolls out in the last region (which is May 2020) for current members to complete their traditional education program. Post the program or the awards under it would not be available. Toastmasters has appointed Pathway Guides in each district to ensure that clubs are aware about the Pathways program. The Pathway Guides have to visit each club and present the Pathways program, post the presentation they would conduct virtual sessions for the club officers and hand hold the club during this period of transition. So, clubs need not worry about the transition. The Pathway Guides, Pathway Ambassadors, District Ambassador and District Growth Director and Toastmasters International will ensure that the transition is smooth and club members and club officers are all geared up for this change. Exciting learning opportunities lie ahead for members. Be ready to embrace the change of Pathways a unique and exciting learning experience tailored to your needs.
ART CONTEST
Krishna By Vranda Rathi
The Perceptual By Prarthana Verma
The Engrossed Snake Charmer By Prarthana Verma
When will I grow up? K P Jani [ ACG,ALB ]
It was one of those rare, calm evenings, when I was home watching TV and sipping my cuppa. My two grand-daughters (7 and 5), were quietly doing home-work with their mother; my son about to get home from work. Suddenly I heard a commotion on the street below. The traffic was clogged. Cars were honking, and people were shouting at the top of their lungs. A car was parked almost in the middle of the road leaving no room for other vehicles to flow. I lost my cool. How could someone be so selfish and oblivious to the plight of other fellow human beings? Rather than parking at a clearing about 20 feet ahead, this driver, like other Audi and BMW owners like him, behaved as if the road was his personal property. These sorts of people have ruined the discipline, social order and economy of the country. In short, this driver and every undisciplined man or woman like him is an antinational element for most of us retired “faujis”. I jumped up from the sofa, put on my slippers and opened the door to go down. I saw my son standing in the doorway about to ring the bell. “Where are you going, Dad?” he asked. I told him my intention of “teaching a lesson” to the “traitor” down below. My son’s response rivetted me on the spot. “Grow up Dad. He would have been long gone by the time you get downstairs. The traffic jam happens daily because of the shops on the ground floor.”. I cooled down after a constructive discussion with my son and we devised a hypothetical system incorporating help from traffic police to regulate parking for shoppers. However, the words “grow up dad!”, continued to ring in my ears and reminded me of the age-old phrases “grow up son!” “grow up darling!”- the usual reminders from my parents when I was young and subsequently from my wife after marriage...and now – when I am 70 – from my son. I wonder even at this age, I am being asked to ‘grow up!”
I looked at myself in the mirror and reflected “…I have achieved a lot in life – had a fulfilling career and retired comfortably, have very successful children and adorable grand-children and a close-knit circle of friends. Could I really have arrived at the twilight of my life without growing up?”
Flashback... I was 15 years old, and one evening as I was finishing dinner, my friend called on me through the window to help him with a fight. I left in a flash and upon my return, my dad asked if all was well. I replied, “they ran away today but we’ll see them tomorrow!” My father’s wise words were, “grow up son…you are now 15; resolve your differences across the table rather than on the streets.” Today... I suddenly realized that I had regressed to the same hot-blooded, impulsive, in-your-face 15-year-old and the traffic jam was the same friend who beckoned me to a fight 50 years ago. I have aged, but not grown. I started taking stalk of other habits. I am still afraid of failure – first it was for myself, then for my children and now for my grandchildren. I still worry when my children and now my grandchildren, travel. Previously I worried for my parents. I still feel a tinge of jealousy when another child or grandchild performs better or achieves more than mine. I still feel that twitch of nerves at every Toastmasters’ speech contest and am afraid of losing. Come to think of it, I have hardly changed my habits over the last few decades. I awakened to the fact that Aging is completely different than Growing up!
The good news is, there has been a “R E A L I S A T I O N ! ” Now that AWARENESS has dawned, half the battle is won!
Different shades of my life Nitin Bairagi Nothing mesmerizes more than the childhood memories; and I had a great childhood. I was blessed with parents who were very simple and down to earth. Though we had a humble background, my parents worked very hard for our upbringing. At home my father was my inspiration. He toiled hard to earn good living for us. They always fulfilled our requirements before theirs. I learned a lot form them. Discipline from my father, and being caring, from my mother. All in All, ours was a very loving family. I was the blue-eyed boy of my parents and my sisters. During my childhood, I was very naughty and had a lot of fun. I was always fascinated by nature and its beauty in daily life specially the sky. I always wanted to fly high and reach there. I grew up reading comics of Indian superheroes like Chahcha Chaudhary, Super Commando Dhruv and Nagraj. I loved cricket and the legendry Sachin Tendulkar always inspired me. My father always wanted me to study well and pass with good grades which I always did. I was strongly motivated by the efforts and hard work which my parents did throughout my student life. I always wanted to achieve great success in my life and make my parents proud of me. Hard work came naturally to me. After completing schooling at Dewas (MP), I got admission in Govt. Holkar Science college, Indore one of the most prestigious and historical colleges in the country. I worked hard to make the most of the opportunity. I would travel 3 hours daily from Dewas to Indore! Not just this, I would also teach at my sister’s tuition classes which also helped me self-finance my needs as well as hone my teaching skills. My first real difference of opinion came when father wanted me to pursue the career in teaching & start financially supporting the family. This would have helped my father retire from his laborious job as technician at PWD dept. However, I had different thoughts. I was strongly inspired by the life of our then president Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. I wanted to pursue a career in science and technology and contribute in nation building. Due to my special interest in Physics, I decided to pursue a master’s course in Physics after my graduation. As my family was against this decision, so I took up a job in telecom sector temporarily to finance my higher studies. During my post-graduation course, I use to teach Physics to students to fund my expenses as my elder sister had also got married by that time. However, Destiny took a different turn. After successfully completing my Master’s in physics with flying colors in 2004, I got a lecturer’s job at the Govt. college in my hometown,Dewas.
My family was very happy, specially my father who always wanted me to take up a job at our native place. But I wasn’t satisfied with the lack of challenges in my job and wanted to pursue a research career in physics I fought my battle of thoughts every day. I was being crushed between the practical financial needs to support my family and my strong passion to follow my dreams. I was not happy, I was disturbed. And then came the turning point of my life. I underwent depression due to the pressure of my unfulfilled dreams. My life was at a standstill. During those days, I felt like I had forgotten everything I had learnt during my student life. In fact, I was unable to even read newspaper with concentration. I got over those difficult times by following medical advice from a clinical psychiatrist along with the support of my family within a couple of months. It was like taking a new birth and starting a new life. My family realized my predicament and agreed to let me pursue my passion. Soon the Golden era of my life started. With the guidance of my Physics teacher, Prof. S. B. Walenkar, I joined academic position to pursue research in an Engineering college at Indore. Finally in June 2005, I was offered Department of Science and Technology (DST) fellowship for pursuing research in low temperature and high magnetic fields at UGC-DAE-CSR Indore, an advance centre for experimental condensed matter physics. In January 2007, I tied the knot with my beautiful and caring wife Nishita. Lady luck favored me and I was selected as a Scientist at Institute for Plasma Research (IPR) Gandhinagar in September 2008. It was like a dream come true for me. I have two wonderful kids, eight year old daughter Mokshada and a three year old son Dhairya. They are very loving, naughty very good at dancing like their mother. My proud parents are presently staying at our hometown and keep visiting us often. Now it is like a family which lives happily ever after.
Different shades of my life have taught me to remain humble and keep calm during difficult times because I know, ‘this shall also
pass’.
How a child taught me creative life lessons? MEENA AGRAWAL
My four years young child Kunj was running around the whole house from one corner to another, with his tiny feet, waving kite in the air, with his left hand. He was very enthusiastic while making the z0000000……mmm sound. I was trying to stop him but I couldn’t. Booming with enthusiasm, he said “Look, mumma this is my airplane, it is landing here on this airport, I am the best pilot of the world. One day I’ll buy a big airplane and I will take you around the world.” I was stunned & proud. Then I took a pause, I started observing his behavior, and what I could see, taught me a new lesson of life. His innocent, pure and fearless behavior made me realize that riding a kite can also be equally joyful experience like riding an airplane, with the amazing imagination power! His behavior reminded me the imagination power that I was born with. How good it would be if I could still enjoy all my gifted luxuries, with ultimate joy, as if I have achieved the luxuries, which is still a dream so far. As I dream for a Mercedes and I own a swift desire, then instead of being sad for not having Mercedes, can’t I use my imagination, as Kunj did, and enjoy the ride on Swift Desire, as if it is a is a Mercedes ride. Yes! a child teaches us wonderful life lessons, to be enthusiastic, to be active every time, to dream big and lot more lessons which he practically implements every day. Kunj climbed down 2000 stairs of Pavagadh with us, with his tiny feet. The next day everybody except him was exhausted, he was the only one who sprung up from the bed and said, “mummy, let’s climb up the hill again”. This spirit taught me another lesson,
“Be ready for new exhaustions.” When he gets some scar, he feels proud to show the scar to everybody, He uses it to call for more love and affection from others. This taught me one more thing,
“Even getting a scar can also be utilized in better way.” He loves going out while it’s raining. I stop him many times. But do you think my denial can stop him to ask once again to do what he loves the most? Of course not! He asks me every time when it rains, and guess what! There is a time when I can’t say ‘no’ to his innocent, pretty request. By this I could learn
“Not to be afraid of rejection.”
Colourful journey at Toastmasters ~Hiren Dholakia
It is said that life is like a rainbow, you need both rain and sun to make its color appear. My life was all whites, reds, greens and blues till few years back. It was having shades of anxiety, apprehension, anger and frustrations with dark borders of ill health as well. One fine day I found a ray of hope. I realized that life is not about the few colors, it is about using full box of colorful crayons. The wonderful thing happened in my life called the “Toastmasters” I went to my first toastmasters meeting with impression of being it“Black & White”, but my thoughts were biased. It was the most colorful encounter of my life. During the meeting, I realized Toastmasters is a golden opportunity to change the course and meaning of life and eventually I joined Amdavad Toastmasters Club in Aug 2016. As a doctor, we have “White Collar Job”. We don’t realize the importance of Communication, Public speaking and Leadership skills until we go red in the face. While I was feeling blues, my fellow toastmasters were very supportive. They gave me red carpet welcome. After lots of off color meetings, I finally decided to take up the roll of a timer. I could record time but could not present crisp and vivid report. I was disheartened. I was constantly encouraged by my mentor. He used to tell me – “Use humor and your speech will be all colorful and your nervousness will disappear”. I took up my icebreaker speech after a hiatus of 4 months. I presented my life story painted in true colors. My speech was quite appreciated with its humor quotient and got some valuable inputs from the speech evaluator. From there on there was no looking back. I started enjoying toastmasters and public speaking also. I started taking up leadership roles in the executive committee.1st one was being a Club Secretary. It taught me that listening skills are very vital in our day to day life and for the interpersonal communication. I understood that an ear to listen is all what most of my patient wanted and my medical practice changed forever. The next one in the task was a club contest as a contest chair. I successfully managed the table topics contest with the help and guidance of my fellow toastmasters. The contest gave me a real learning on team building, delegation of work and collaborative success. The role of a treasurer for me was like chasing rainbows. I mastered the art of managing money and got the understanding of how important it is to be a backbone without much limelight. We tend to discount few roles and responsibilities in absence of its face value but we forget that the colour white is base of all the shades of different colours. I started climbing the ladder of success in toastmasters and became a blue eyed boy of the club. I was looked upon as a dependable person. I got an assignment as the vice president education for the club, which I accepted with lot of self-doubt. It is said that “the path of sound credence is through the thick forest of skepticism”. The role gives me immense opportunity to interact with fellow members and become a facilitator, guide and a mentor for their needs. It is said that “life is not about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself. Keep looking up; there may be a rainbow waiting for you”. For me, the colorful journey at toastmaster continues…...…
PR EVENTS PR Food Fest,an opportunity to spread the word of Toastmasters in community was presented by Mr. Dilip Thakkar at Ahmedabad Food Festival. Presence of our District Leaders – 1. Mr.Niteash Agrawal - District Public Relations Manager. 2. Mr.Hasnain Changi - Division A Director. 3. Our very own Area Director - Tm Dhanraj Kamdar. Event coverage in various newspapers such as Danik Bhaskhar ,Free Press Gujarat ,Gujarat Business Watch, Ahmedabad Express, Prabhat Ahmedabad .
Demo meetings and Toastmasters' Open House Sessions at Pandit Deendayal petroleum University and Dipti Shah's Institute of English.
Book Review - Tuesdays with Morrie Shreya Jindal
What would you do if you know you’re on the brink of death? Here’s the perspective of an ailing old man, a surprisingly calm, enthusiast brimming with joy... This book is a true story which explores the mutual relationship between the dedicated student, Mitch Albom, and his favorite social psychology, Morrie Schwartz. Fifteen years after his graduation, Mitch settles in Detroit to become a successful sports journalist. When he finally reconnects with Morrie, he learns his beloved professor has been diagnosed with life threatening disease, ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Syndrome. However, quite surprisingly Morrie did not seem to lose his smile or develop any fear for his nearing death. Instead he embraces it with open arms. He acknowledges the time he had to live & dedicates it to inculcate his values and morals in his faithful student, Mitch. Morrie’s wise introspection and reflection upon his own life helps inspire Mitch to rekindle relations with his bloodline. Reading this book reminds me of my maternal grandfather, ailing from malignant lung adenoma, representing fourth terminal stage of lung cancer which has had metastasis in the brain. Once upon a time, this sturdy young man, a lawyer and a business tycoon, who grew up his siblings apart from his own progeny, an inspiration of many, suddenly sank down in despair to think that his end was near. The world turned cartwheels for him. A few months after the diagnosis, people slowly started losing hope and backed off in helping this generous philanthropist. His condition deteriorated each day. Being a mute witness to it all, I realized it is not the cancer or the radiation which kills the person, it is his own hope and confidence. These very emotions can tread a person from pedestals of success and good health to failure or the other way round! We are quite familiar with the world-renowned scientist, Stephen Hawking... It brought tears to my eyes thinking of Morrie who chose to transform his dark, gloomy and grey days to colors full of life and beauty. His wisdom taught his readers that happiness is a choice, which comes not only by fame or money but by sitting back and cherishing the little things in life. More importantly valuing the gift of communication and developing human relations is the most precious of all...
Color through lens By Jay jani
Colorful SELFIE MOMENTS with your favourite color Dilip : Black, make me appear brighter and thinner.
Meena: Red, color of love and bravery
Uttkarsh: Black, color of authority and Power.
Abhishek: Blue, divine, color of sky and sea which represents wisdom and stability.
Dhirendra: Green, color of life and energy.
Roshni: Pink, Dad's favorite colour and he loves me more when I wear pink.