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FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
‘The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.’ - William Arthur Ward When I joined Toastmasters I told myself I can do without a mentor. They appointed one for me anyway. If I was lackadaisical about taking notes from him, he seemed to care even less and it suited us fine. So there I was, bringing to toastmasters, my own agenda, delightfully vague about the objectives of each project. Then with some pertinent remarks from the evaluators and some stirrings from within, I realized that I was getting less and less from a program that was so solid, that it had withstood 90 years of weather and clime. Soon I threw coyness and shame out of the window and asked a senior to be my mentor. And then began the wondrous journey of sharing. The year 2016 represents two colors: Rose Quartz and Serenity. The former, a light pink, is a persuasive yet gentle tone that conveys compassion and a sense of composure. The latter is a cool blue that, comforts with a calming effect, bringing feelings of respite and relaxation even in turbulent times. We live in a world that is hurtling towards victory and we need to feel relaxed and secure, we need to seek mindfulness and well-being as an antidote to the stress of modern day lives. We have to convert stumbling blocks into stepping
Beena Mandrekar Newsletter Editor, District 98 stones that lead us safely over troubled waters. We have to accept the guiding hand of our mentor and take the leap of faith. Only if we do that, the safety net appears like magic. As we enter the New Year some clubs start afresh with a newly elected Executive Committee that trains under senior Toastmasters and promises to serve the Toastmasters’ community with renewed vigor. We also enter the exciting period of contests: both Table Topics and International Speech, and the winner of the latter goes on to represent District 98 at the international level. We have a lot to look forward to toastmasters, so gird up your loins, put your shoulder to the wheel and get going.
‘The best antidote for worry is work. The best medicine for despair is service. The best cure for weariness is to help someone even more tired.’ President Gordon B. Hinckley
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COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
CONTENTS
Features
10 A Mentor Speaks SOWMYA CHAKILAM
Area Director F1
Articles
6 VETERANS TALK
White Water Rafting DR. BRILLIAN SK, DTM
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District Director
History of New Year Resolutions
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AMMON SHEA
Distinguished...is how you see your club CHANDRASHEKAR DP, DTM
Program Quality Director
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Can I Get Back?
DISTRICT 98 CORE
SRINIDHI DASAKA
Know Your Leaders
District Public Relations Manager
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And the Winner is…..
TEAM
AMBRANSH BHANDARI
Communicate 98
Chandigarh Toastmasters Club
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COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
CONTENTS
14 Blanket Donation Drive VIKRAM CHANDRA
Area Director, F2
13 Resolution 2016 SNIGDHA NIGAM
Citi eXpressions Toastmasters Club
18 From Anchoring To Singing
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MANISH KAMDAR
Mentees Maketh Me
Bombay Toastmasters Club
ANUPRIYA SINHA
Area Director C3
3 ways to be connected with your
District 98 on the GO ! Follow us on
@d98tm Facebook ‘district98’ Twitter
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COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
CONTENTS
11 Getting ‘TAG’ged PANKAJ PRADHAN
Mumbai Toastmasters Club
16 The Learning Curve SAHIL SHARMA
Area Director B1
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17 Livin’ La Vida Loca
Homo sapiens can be Humorous
SADANANDA KONCHADY
MANDEEP SAINI
Toastmasters Club of Pune North East
FMS Toastmasters Club
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Networking And Toastmasters
Why Toastmasters
MANISH RAHATEKAR
NAVNEET PERI
Area Director F3
Area Director E1
TABLOID A DIGITAL FLYER TO CONNECT YOU ALL Know what’s going on in other Divisions/Areas/Clubs Mail us your Division/Area/club achievements to make your clubs presence in TABLOID Let us know how unique is your club Happenings @ your Division/Area/Club Acknowledge your club members while they complete CC,CL
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WHITE WATER RAFTING
COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
‘The best way to honour the good times in your leadership journey is to relish them ’ - Anon On the 31st December 2015, I was on a vacation with my family, visiting Manali. The world over, people were getting ready to welcome 2016. Life however had different plans for me. After an eight day long journey, our team was now on the banks of the River Beas waiting to experience white water rafting. Though I was excited, I was not sure if I wanted to get into the ice cold waters. The ambient temperature was touching 2 degrees Celsius and I feared the water would be much colder... While the rest got ready, I stayed back within the comforts of the bus, hoping that they would return soon. My thoughts were conflicting: I was afraid but the water looked seductive, serene and still. Should I join the others...Suddenly my wife Vaishali shot an icicle at me: why don't you go and enjoy? Hmm... You know how it is with wives, I had no option and so I decided to join them. I went down to the river bed and stood listening attentively to the trainer. As if sensing my reluctance I was asked to be the lead rower and placed in front! Our main rafter and coach Anil Singh sat behind controlling the main oars. With just two front rowers, we assumed that it would be a tough ride.
Dr. Brillian S. K. DTM District Director District 98 As the raft slowly slid into the river, I could hear gushing sounds. The water that looked still from far, had a violent flow. Amidst the silence these sounds got louder as we moved ahead. Aware that we had a trained rower as our coach, I started to relax and enjoy the waters. Suddenly the coach barked an order ‘Row!’ I started to move my hands vigorously. Within seconds a large rapid hit us and I was drenched from head to toe. Water had found its way into the raft and thanks to my socks, my feet were getting frozen. We were happy to have steered our raft out of the rapids. In unison we shouted ‘Hurray!’ This was our first little achievement. As the white water spanned ahead of us, I experienced and enjoyed another thrill: the sounds of the birds and the water. Now we knew that we could help reduce the burden on the coach, and so we started to row slowly. Within minutes, I began experiencing the joy of rowing as I felt connected with the raft and the members. There were times when the rapids would drench me, but by then I had let go of the fear of the cold and the shivers. All we did as
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CONTD...
COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
we conquered each rapid was- scream in joy. As we reached the end of the rafting experience, I stepped out of the white-water with an exhilarating experience of a lifetime. Little did I know, I would be taking back lessons in leadership on this last day of the year 2015. I would like to share some of them with you. Leadership experience has many parallels to whitewater rafting. Leadership is Dynamic - There are times when there is lot of action, there are times when there is a lull. Leadership may not always be about action, there are times when nothing happens. As a leader we must learn to enjoy the whole journey and not just the action part. We need to adjust ourselves to embrace both the silence and the rapids! Silent periods are for us to review our goals, validate our strategy and make amends as required. Rapids help us test our execution and see how each member contributes. Leadership is about being positive- There are times when you feel low, but as a leader, we must learn to ignore these minor distractions and focus on the big picture. In an ideal world everything would be hunky dory. However reality is far away from this. Things that you may have no control over, may get into the raft and ride with you, making you uncomfortable (frozen feet). We need to learn to adjust and keep moving without being affected. As a leader we must be positive and ensure the team stays positive all through the journey.
Leadership is about the Team Everyone has a role to play. The members sitting in the centre without the oar, or those who cannot row; all have some role to play in keeping the raft afloat. Engage them –make them cheer leaders and ensure that the journey becomes one super experience. Though we had an experienced Coach who was in charge, he ‘asked’ for help. As a leader we often tend to think “I can do it”, however asking the team to pitch in always helps. Remember it's our journey. Leadership is Celebrating and having Fun together. When we started, none of us knew each other. As we crossed the first rapid, we all shouted ‘Hurray’ and a connection was made. Slowly as we started to enjoy the thrill, we experienced fun and bonded. Anil started to laugh with us and share some stories keeping us motivated and taking our minds off the shiver and cold. As leaders, it is important to celebrate, individual wins and team wins! Each time we crossed a rapid, the team would scream out loud, thereby signalling that we achieved something. Leadership is about staying focussed. It is not about the final destination, it’s about the adventure and fun along the journey that counts. During the journey while we had fun and enjoyed, Anil was always alert, giving instructions and guiding us. Be it the silent stream or the rapids, as a leader we must stay focussed and ensure that we provide timely guidance and instructions to the team.
My first white-water rafting experience has left me richer in experience and fuelled my curiosity. I wish each one of you a great time rafting - enjoy the rapids and the silence in your journey towards excellence
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COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
DISTINGUSHED Is how you see your Club...
Of the 3 critical factors in the recently revised Distinguished District Program (DDP), the Distinguished Club Program is arguably the easiest for Districts to achieve. The distinguished district goal requires that 40% or more of a District’s clubs achieve “Distinguished” club status or higher by June 30. In recent years, results show that all but a few of our Districts achieved this 40% threshold for Distinguished Clubs. By comparison, each year large number of our Districts are unable to achieve the Membership growth goal or achieve the club growth Goal. The “DCP” factor however, affects the other two critical success factors in the DDP. The membership growth is affected directly; the club growth goal, indirectly. That’s one big reason why District leaders would be wrong to “take for granted” the DCP goal in the DDP. Another – but less important – reason is that for those Districts that achieve Distinguished, Select Distinguished and President’s Distinguished recognition, their rankings within those categories are determined solely by the percentage of their clubs that are Distinguished or higher.
Strong clubs help Districts directly to achieve their Membership growth goals. After all, membership growth ultimately depends upon guests and members (newcomers and veterans alike) enjoying a quality educational experience in their Toastmasters clubs. Prospects join. Happy members renew. They also invite friends, family, co-workers and clients to join their clubs. Disappointed members, however, stay for one or two semiannual periods before heading out. Unimpressed guests rarely come back for a second look. As for the third Critical Success Factor - Club Growth, the happiest, most satisfied members are the ones most likely to consider starting a new club. This they can do where they work, or where they live, or where they went to college, or at a professional, social or religious organisation they belong to. In that sense, we can see how thriving Toastmasters clubs – those that are committed both to the “Moments of Truth” and to the ten goals in the Distinguished Club program – can at least indirectly affect a District’s success in achieving Club Growth Goals.
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Chandrashekar (CSK) Program Quality Director Myth Buster Unlike the pre 2012 version of the DDP, in the new DDP the top most districts in the final rankings are not necessarily those with the highest growth rates for membership payments or paid clubs. In the 2012-13 rankings, for example, the #1 District in the world was actually ranked 6th in membership payments growth and 7th in growth of paid clubs. It earned the #1 ranking because it was #1 in percentage of Distinguished Clubs or higher among the President’s Distinguished Districts.
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COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
Action Steps to promote Distinguished Club Program Clubs that achieve DCP goals help Districts to achieve DDP goals. Promoting the DCP is clearly a very smart thing for District leaders to do. Here are 4 action steps for you:
Ensure that all training events include general sessions devoted to explaining the features and benefits to clubs from using the DCP and the MoT program.
Division Directors form a Club Success Committee that has representatives from each Area and is chaired by an experienced past District leader. The committee and its chair report to the DvD and the Trio and work directly with the club leaders to help them understand the value of using the Distinguished Club Program and other management tools from WHQ to build successful clubs.
Many of our clubs have healthy traditions that include a high regard for the DCP and a commitment to earn Distinguished Club honours every year. On the other hand, some clubs, unfortunately, have consistently performed poorly in the DCP. Together, we need to generously provide the required eco-system to promote strong practices and envision all our clubs become 'DISTINGUISHED', for if we can see it we can do it!
Use every aspect of District operations (including the District/Division Newsletter, Website, Conferences, etc.) to promote use of the DCP. The Club Success Committee should be encouraged to develop and disseminate materials that promote the DCP and quality meetings. In addition to promoting the DCP, promote at all levels the use of the "Moments of Truth" program. Help clubs to see the 36 standards in the MoT program as a checklist of essential benchmarks for measuring the quality of club meetings.
"You're more likely to achieve your goals when you help enough other people to achieve their goals." - Zig Ziglar, 1999 Toastmasters Int'l Golden Gavel Recipient
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A MENTOR SPEAKS
COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
There is a regional saying that a parent feels proud, not when he himself achieves something, but when his children scale new heights and achievements. So when I see RAVI TEJA MARRUPU Director, Division E now, leading from the front, I feel proud to tell people that he is my mentee. Reminiscing on the old associations, I remember the way he started as a member in ADP Toastmasters, the passion with which he continued to take up the challenging role of the VP-PR and then there was no looking back. Orations 2013 was a turning point for both of us, when as the accommodation chair I had to operate from the main location for health reasons
Sowmya Chakilam Area Director F1
and Ravi took up the whole responsibility of the other locations and ran it smoothly. Anytime I would call him he would be available to take care of things with that cute grin on his face. I remember the long (sometimes as long as 3 hours) conversations we had at our office and all the tips and opinions he carefully considered whenever he was taking up roles and responsibilities. Be it before his election as an Area Director or as a Division Director.
Ravi Teja Marrupu Director Div E
My heart swells with pride when I hear from people how he is now the Toastmasters’ Ambassador in ADP. And when I say he is my mentee, I am much honored to say that I have learnt more from him than he from me. And I sure hope our special relationship continues all through. And Ravi here’s one for you: ‘Once a Mentor always a Mentor’
Its ab g ht solut tent i thou n o c e th ely a h on a roug l a th ri g o m it in d m e D e im k th s i r s re e e t ft A rict N azing to es wh c t la e p e tr see y m le s e s o ! :) Th wsle t be s ours at the new th t y a t a there migh s n e t s r elf k u of To this o you B ut i m b d n p a u n h ig tc s a o e p b e d s l f il p e t o w s m o n m rtuni a Ma astea in term ty an ndre behi immaculate e design ly th h d ig n d k h a n is e a r it t d r for te he en Distr are exquis tire t ict 98 val. the ti he photos s .T fe re s e a tu c a tm u New m str ling Chris Aish slett e end s the dazz wary th w t e o a h r R s E y tl IM p a a Ch e DISCLA andr ature is th ashe G e striking fe n t. s e o kara Beena and Team A wonderful joyous s m is To d the e k n li i h a ic h stma w sters December issue with the right Club arwal amount of spirit and colour! Suyash Ag rth of Pune No b lu C rs te s Arvind Nair Toastma East Club Growth Director
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GETTING ‘TAG’GED
COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
The freshly installed Executive Committee at Mumbai Toastmasters Club had promised its members a term full of learning and new experiences. And to kick-off the series, on January 10 2016, a packed house at R.D. National College, Bandra, witnessed the first of the educational sessions, by the erudite and soft-spoken Division B Director DTM Nikhil Salvi.
Benefit outside TM: Nikhil explained how the lessons he learnt as a Timer helped him to manage deadlines in his office, by mentally setting target timelines for each stage of the office tasks. Ah Counter:
Role Play: They are all ears in a meeting. Keeping their antennas up, they catch the faintest of filler Pankaj Pradhan sounds or the briefest of amnesiac Mumbai Toastmasters Club Nikhil started by wondering pauses. The Ah counters, through aloud why the roles in the TAG their detailed reports on crutch team ( Timer Ah counter Grammarian) were taken up words, filler sounds, and repetitions, help the speakby the newbies while the seasoned Toastmasters ers spot and iron out the word-wrinkles in their shied away from them. Somewhat like the Silly Point speeches. Nikhil pointed out that this goes a long way fielding position being thrust upon the latest entrant in helping a speaker who wishes to develop a freein the cricket team… He went on to narrate how, flowing style of oratory. even after 10 years in the Toastmasters environment, Qualities developed as an Ah counter: You start hearhe still chooses to take up these roles, whenever ing even infrasonic sounds! You hear words which the available, simply to keep his saw sharpened. speaker did not even utter! Hyperbole apart, Nikhil What followed was an exposition on each role in the explained how playing an ah counter role helps one in TAG team, why they were the vital cogs that kept the becoming an active listener. meeting running smoothly and how they contributed towards enhancing the qualitative learning in every meeting. Timer: Role Play: The ‘clock’ king (or queen) is the only role that is common to both Toastmasters meetings and contests alike. These timers ensure that all the speakers get their share of stage time and that no speaker ends up either overstaying his welcome on stage or finishing too quickly without making the opportunity count. Armed with the three lights – green amber and red - the timers help all speakers manage their stage time efficiently and consequently keep the meeting running on schedule. Qualities developed as a Timer: With practice, the timers are able to improve their presence of mind and awareness to prevent getting carried away by an impactful speech. It also helps the timers pace their own future speeches better with the improved sense of time lapse when a speaker is on stage.
Benefit outside TM: The awareness kindled while playing this role extends to all conversations that we have with others. Consciously eliminating fillers from our speech makes us easier to talk to and understand when we are in a large group. Grammarian: Role Play: The custodians of language. They can obsess over the use of the past continuous tense or the present participle in the right way. Grammarians introduce the members to a seldom -used word at the start of the meeting. Qualities developed as a Grammarian: As Nikhil elucidated, it is not necessary for anyone to have a basic minimum qualification to perform the role of a grammarian. Benefit outside TM: The lessons learnt in every TM meeting stay with us even when we go about doing our normal work and consistent observation of other good speakers brings about a marked improvement in our language.
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THE HISTORY OF NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS We have had New Year’s resolutions for over 200 years, and people in the early 19th century much like those today - used them as an excuse for misbehavior up to New Year's Eve. Modern lists of resolutions have an interesting antecedent in a 1671 diary. It would appear that New Year's resolutions have existed for quite a long time. A 1671 entry from the diaries of Anne Halkett, a writer and member of the Scottish gentry, contains a number of pledges, typically taken from biblical verses such as “I will not offend any more”. Halkett titled this page “Resolutions”, and wrote them on January 2nd, which would possibly indicate that the practice was in use at the time, even if people did not refer to it as a New Year’s resolution. It was common enough by the beginning of the 19th century that people would make (and fail to keep) such resolutions that the habit was satirized.
COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
The full phrase is found in the January 1st issue of a Boston newspaper from 1813, in a short article titled “The Friday Lecture”: And yet, I believe there are multitudes of people, accustomed to receive injunctions of New Year resolutions, who will sin all the month of December, with a serious determination of beginning the New Year with new resolutions and new behaviour, and with the full belief that they shall thus expiate and wipe away all their former faults.
It’s unclear when exactly we began to pledge to ourselves that in the coming year we would lose weight, get our finances in order, or leave behind any one of a number of unsavory habits.
An article from Walker’s Hibernian Magazine in 1802 states that “the following personages have begun the year with a string of resolutions, which they all solemnly pledged to keep”, before enumerating a series of obviously fictitious resolutions (“Statesmen have resolved to have no other object in view than the good of their country… the physicians have determined to follow nature in her operations, and to prescribe no more than is necessary, and to be very moderate in their fees.”)
By Ammon Shea Shortly after this the words new year began to appear before resolution. www.d98tm.in
(Source www.merriam-webster.com)
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RESOLUTION 2016
COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
As the clock struck twelve, the dozen friends gathered in my apartment welcomed the year 2016 with celebratory shouts and excited hugs. Once the frenzy had died down, a conversation started about what to expect in 2016 and inevitably, the discussion moved to what everyone’s resolutions for the year were.
realize that I didn’t keep any of them and I carry them over to the next year’s list. If I wrote a chapter for every time I carried the resolution forward, I would have my novel ready. But while human beings are gifted with the zest for improving themselves, they also procrastinate.
According to a study, just 8% of the people actually keep their res“I have to lose weight this year! I olutions. While the internet will have already taken a gym memgive a plethora of ways to beat bership, and I will also start eatprocrastination, I think I know why ing healthy, from tomorrow”, most of us fail. We pay more a friend said while taking a attention to the ‘Urgent and huge bite of the extra cheesy Important’ category. It is the Snigdha Nigam pizza we had ordered. Having reason why most paper subCiti eXpressions Toastmasters Club been in his shoes for the past missions are done at the last couple of years, and having moment, as are the telephone used the same procrastinating habit to excuse my bill payments. We would not go out of our way to binging, I could clearly envision the fate of his gym work for something unless we feel a strong need for membership. Another friend started talking about it in our lives. watching TED talks more often and someone said, So this year, in the early hours of 2016, I decided to ‘What’s the use of of making resolutions when we wrap my resolution around something that we all know we won’t be keeping them?...’ Someone else desperately need – time. A movie junkie, I watch a started talking about S.M.A.R.T. goals, and the constring of my favorite movies on weekends. I thus versation shifted to more such corporate jargon, spend time on something that doesn’t add anything leaving me to reflect silently on my commitments new. 2016 will be the year of spending time judifor the year. ciously. As I write this article, my roommate claims Come December, I, like many others, take out time she has never watched one of my favorite classics. I to review the year gone by and the resolutions I had decide to educate her about the movie, smiling made at the start of the year. More often than not, I sheepishly at the irony.
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BLANKET DONATION DRIVE
COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
"Team work makes the dream work" - John C Maxwell It was during Christmas that the idea struck me. Why not start a Blanket Donation Activity? I just put out a word to the Toastmasters of Hyderabad and they agreed willingly. I formed a Whatsapp group of 80 Toastmasters and all of them immediately came forward to sponsor and support. The plan was : Each blanket cost Rs. 150/-, so all they had to do was to donate Rs. 150/-, or multiples of that. This was the first time that I had initiated such an activity. Planning: The response was immediate and electrifying. We collectively contributed roughly a Lakh of Rupees. Planning was the key here. We then ordered for 600 blankets and along with it food packets containing yellow tamarind rice, 1 biscuit packet and a packet of water. I had to form teams for this purpose. To execute this task, I had to ask each Toastmaster who had sponsored, if he was willing to volunteer on the 9th of January from 9:30pm onwards till the next day 3 am. I had put up a post of the same on social media (FB) as well. I received positive responses from many Toastmasters for volunteering. About 40 Toastmasters, along with their cars, came forward to participate in the drive on the 9th of January. 7 cars were confirmed. I then created 7 route maps covering most of the colonies and areas of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.7 cars, 7 teams and 7 routes were firmly chalked out. Execution Day: Prior to 9th January, emails were sent to all the volunteers, about our common meeting point on the 9th of January at 9:30 pm. We had to ensure that:
b) Clear instructions on how to distribute, had to be given c) Hard copies of route maps had to be provided d) Group pictures had to be taken e) Thank you notes had to be sent to volunteers and donors At about 10:45pm each team proceeded for the drive as per the instructions provided. It was a wonderful experience of Blanket Donation to the homeless during midnight. We, as volunteers felt a lot satisfied to be part of this heart-warming activity. Most of the poor on the roadside are unable to afford blankets and food. It is very painful to see them starving and freezing in winter. Once we gave them the blankets, we could see the smile on their faces and that made our Cup of Joy full to the brim. We felt that we did make some difference to their lives that day. It was challenging because we needed to identify the really needy people and it was not as easy as we thought. We realized how as a team we could make the difference to others. Some of the teams went beyond their brief and worked till 6 o’clock early next morning. Great commitment and excellent camaraderie was shown here. Amazing experience! Thanks to the toastmasters, volunteers and sponsors, the event was a huge success. Toastmasters of Hyderabad, you are the real Champions!
a) 600 blankets, food and water had to be distributed in 7 cars www.d98tm.in
TM Vikram Chandra Area Director, F2
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CAN I GET BACK?
COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
Take more chances and re-create your life The words that often haunt me are: Can I get back? This is not referring to getting back at someone. Rather, these four words are for us to introspect about those interests that we left behind and chose something else. Perhaps we had no time and felt we wanted to focus on just one thing. Perhaps, we didn’t have the right company. Perhaps, we were not sure … Few days back as I scrolling through my reading list of 2015, I felt a deep pain. It was the regret of not having been able to do justice to something I really enjoyed. Yes, I am referring to an interest that I developed right from my childhood. From the anticipation of waiting for the monthly issue of Tinkle to borrowing all possible Enid Blyton series from the nearest library... I devoured every book I could lay my hands on. On a hot summer afternoon, I’d pick up ‘The Magic Faraway Tree’ and imagine myself as one of those kids. It was a feeling that many of my friends and I wanted to relive. Those were perhaps some of the best days where reading so many different books opened up the window to better awareness, good topics for discussion and a whole new way of making friends.
every day. It all adds up; if you save Rs 500 a week for a year, you will have Rs 26000. Make a conscious effort to maintain your friendship. Often great relationships end simply because people are too focused on their new careers and friends.
Read an article that interests you every day.
Take a class in something you have always been interested in, like boxing or learning to play the guitar. Appreciate your personality more. There’s no point in hating yourself while letting critics have the last laugh. Embrace the unknown. Take more risks. Find value in what you have never tried before.
Nowadays we have our smart phones, tablets, kindles and laptops. With the click of a button, any book can be downloaded easily. Amidst all this, the big question that keeps haunting me is: Are we doing justice to making ourselves better readers? Are we doing justice to making ourselves better individuals? If you are in the same boat as I am and wondering if you ‘can get back’ to doing few things again, think no more; you are on the right track. As someone rightly said, there is never a wrong time to do the right thing. The right time is NOW. I chose reading as an interest I need to get back to. For you it could be something else.
Srinidhi Dasaka District Public Relations Manager
Here’s what you can try for a satisfying year ahead. Learn one new thing every day: the name of a capital city, a fun fact, something about someone you care about. Schedule “me time” into each day, even if it is only for 15 minutes. Do something you truly love during this time, like playing games or listening to music.
‘In the end we’ll only regret the chances we didn’t take, relationships we were afraid to have and the decisions we waited too long to make’ - Lewis Carol
Focus on saving a small amount of money www.d98tm.in
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THE LEARNING CURVE
COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
It was almost a year back that I was elected the President of TCS BE@T Gandhinagar Club. I took charge without a second’s hesitation as I truly believed in the platform of Toastmasters and the positive change it would bring in me and my fellow Toastmasters. I emphasize the words TAKING CHARGE, as leadership is all about those two words. With less than 8 active members and a lack of solid structure of the club meetings, it was indeed a challenge to revive the club. I was lucky to have had a wonderful executive committee of 6 enthusiastic toastmasters: Iti, Shreya, Manthan, Avani, Minaz and Shreya Ravipati who placed their trust in each other and worked in synch to make each meeting successful. TRUST is important, without trust even the best of the teams can crumble under pressure. With a few minor hiccups and loads and loads of hard work, by the end of our 6-month tenure, we were able to achieve a membership strength of 34, complete 4 educational awards, attain Select Distinguished status and thus we won the Phoenix award for the year 2014-15. The reason for our success, as I look back now, was our focus on each and every member. A member is the building block and the most important resource of any club. If you can take care of every individual member, through service leadership, I assure you that success will be at your doorstep. For me, a personal aim was to ensure that I leave the
Sahil Sharma Area Director B1 club in a better stage for the next executive committee. Finding the answer to the fundamental question, ”How can I leave the institution in a better way for my successor?” can instill clear vision in any leader’s mind and provide him the ultimate motivation. A message to the executive committee members of all Toastmasters Clubs who take charge from January: ASPIRE FOR CHALLENGES. Don’t pray for an easy 6-month tenure. Pray for a challenging one, for only in challenges lies your learning curve.
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LIVIN’ LA VIDA LOCA
COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
The Theme of the day is an integral part of Toastmasters meetings, which enables all participants to connect with a particular idea and express themselves in various roles --- Toastmaster of the day, Table topics master, speakers and guests.
of the meeting needs to be energetic, by selecting a rousing theme of the day and narrating a captivating story.
Recently at our Toastmasters club meeting we had the theme “Livin' La Vida Loca”. Incidentally, it is one of the famous songs of Ricky Martin, a Puerto Rican singer. It was one of the first Latin Pop hit songs which was released on March 23, 1999. The title and lyrics are in Spanglish, a combination of English with a sprinkling of Spanish. The title literally means living a crazy life.
The Crazy Life!
Why not try Livin' La Vida Loca?
Just speak from the heart with passion and the world will listen!
The splendiferous quote of William Purkey was the inspiration for the theme: 1. Dance like nobody is watching. 2. Love like you have never been hurt. 3. Sing like there is nobody listening. 4. Work like you don't need the money. 5. Live like it is heaven on earth. In Toastmasters meetings a vital element is trying out new ideas whether as a speaker or a role player. A crazy idea may just be the revitalizing spark to get everyone to shine as speakers or role players. The Toastmaster of the day as the host or hostess
Sadananda Konchady Toastmasters Club of Pune North East
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COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
FROM ANCHORING TO SINGING On Saturday, January 9, 2016 as the presiding officer of the Bombay Toastmasters Club, I gave a short speech to open the meeting. It encompassed my journey as a Toastmaster, which began sometime in September 2013 when I walked in as a guest. I have so far given 8 prepared speeches since then and participated in other activities as well in the club. It isn’t all about Public Speaking but also about learning leadership skills. I also made new friends and am enjoying the ride. One of the best learning opportunities I had was when I was the co-convener of Oration2015, which was held in May last year. Toastmasters from all over the country had come to attend the conference and I got to learn a lot about what goes into the making of a 3-day event. Marketing, planning, organizing activities in the background, getting speakers, slotting them; there were so many behind -the-scenes activity that I was overwhelmed. A wealth of experience gained even though I was on vacation during the actual event. This year in early January I got a chance to combine the experiences of Toastmasters with that of a ‘Pancham Paagals’ event. ‘Pancham Paagals’ is a group of friends who eat, drink and breathe the music of Panchamda otherwise known as Rahul Dev Burman. This was the second event we had. The first was in June 2015 to coincide with Burman’s
Manish Kamdar Bombay Toastmasters Club birthday. I was the Master of Ceremonies along with a co anchor. We had to ensure that the songs we played, entertained the audience. This time though there was a change as I sang on stage for the very first time. The song was ‘Vaada Karo nahin chodoge tum mera saath’ from the film ‘Aa Gale Lag Jaa.’ So the takeaway is: Thanks to toastmasters I could think on my feet as a Master of Ceremonies. I could piece things together and comment off the cuff and give quick repartees. Singing on stage was a whole new world. It was entirely different from singing in the bathroom. But I could do that too. No egg on the face no nerves and definitely no cold feet. Thanks again Toastmasters. I enjoyed evolving as an MoC and had great fun singing. Toastmasters takes you beyond your boundaries.
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, professionals built the Titanic. -Unknown www.d98tm.in
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AND THE WINNER IS…..
COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
‘You cannot write a winning speech. You can write a good speech, you can deliver a good speech and it may win. Clearly, I am talking about two parts to focus on.’ For a good speech To write a good speech, you need to find a good message. One that is easily understandable and can be conveyed in one simple sentence. Introduce it in the beginning, and with a surprise! To pull out a good message, you first need to observe and find common difficulties which people of this world face, on daily basis. Acknowledge the problem, find the root of it. Make such reasoning a part of your speech. Discover or invent a cure. Remember the times you have tried it on yourself, see if it is worth mentioning. Remember the times you have failed, use that too - remember how it felt, convey it. See if others have tried it and have succeeded. Find success stories (your own or from around) to back your message. Include stories where health, wealth, relationships, and life and its quality are available at high stakes. This helps create extreme emotions and helps your audience relate to you... You can pour in minute yet interesting details to take it to the extremes. Finally end your speech solving the problem with the cure in hand. Make it look effortless with the charm of a magician. Reinforce your message in the end. Offer a happy and thought provoking ending to leave the audience awestruck. For a good delivery Believe in your speech and the message. Practice until you are perfect. If you've written a 6 minute speech, you should be able to narrate it in as quickly as 3 minutes and as slowly as in 9 minutes with full expressions and without a jerk or a lost pause. Find the best way of speaking - the right pauses pace and pitch - for every word, sentence and paragraph... Find the best body language - which is energetic yet effortless.
Ambransh Bhandari Chandigarh Toastmasters Club (2nd runner up, ISC, Oration Mumbai 2015 and Winner, HSC, Resonance, Jaipur, 2015) There's always an image created in your head when you write a speech - that's your personal perfect imagery of "how to say it" based on your experiences and knowledge. This can widen at any time but, it takes a great deal of practice to be able to thoroughly present it. Practice till your emotional consciousness remembers its entire journey through the speech. Practice till your thinking, moving and breathing patterns coincide and start complimenting each other to perform with perfection. That is the stage where the speaker reaches a mind and body equilibrium with his speech; where the speaker becomes the speech. That is the stage where every emotion exhibited by you will be perceived and felt by your audience at par. Where your confidence will lead them into believing what you believe. It is through emotions that we convey. The fight for every speaker is first to stand true with his own emotional self through the speech. His only weapon is practice.
‘It doesn't matter whether the speech wins or not. What matters is that the speech and the speaker's honesty shine through.’
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HOMO SAPIENS CAN BE HUMOROUS
COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
If a person asks you, ‘can you give a humorous speech?’ You are likely to say, ‘Oh, that's not my cup of tea. I am not that humorous’
If you belong to a race of Homo sapiens, chances are... out of a sample of 100 - 33 people can say funny things, the other 33 can say things funny, and the remainder can say funny things funny. So once again if you belong to a race of Homo sapiens then yes, you can create humour. Nobody in this world is a born a comedian, you learn how to create laughter. It's an art. When I got to know about the humorous speech contest, I didn’t imagine winning it at the club level, forget winning the District. My first task was to choose a topic. Knowing your audience is the first important thing while writing any humorous speech. Superstitions was a thing, every Indian could relate to very well, so I decided to go ahead with it and jotted down every superstition I could think of. Then I started making jokes around them and finally my speech took some shape. I presented it to the toastmasters and noticed that a few jokes brought instant laughter and some parts I needed to change or bring in fresh ideas. You can source humorous material from your own embarrassing moments, generic easy going personal life, language slip-ups. Play with the words, Use one liners to create punches and always have a theme. While writing the script, form a story through the transitions and plug your jokes in between them, and sustain the humour throughout. In delivery, don't laugh at your own jokes and always take a small pause before the punch line. This gives the audience some time to digest... and now deliver! So timing is very important. Rules for using humour: avoid sexist, racist and religious groups from your punches. Don't make fun of crisis and know your stories well. Rehearse well. I have practiced my speech close to 70 times before delivering it. Remember to move on when no laughter is generated. And enjoy yourself. Act enthusiastic so that the audience murmurs...’yes this guy is talent-
Mandeep Saini He was a member of FMS Toastmasters Club when he won the Championship at the District Level Humorous Contest Resonance 2014 ed...’ Try to add a dramatic climax to the punch lines, use lot of hand and leg gestures while delivering them. At times even if your joke is not strong, you can still pull it off with your body language and facial expressions. Use props if possible. Also ask the audience a question or two, to make it more engaging and interactive. Use a lot of voice modulation in your speech. Don't create too many expectations in the mind of the audience. Just be natural, it all should come spontaneously. Remember to be enthusiastic and energetic and enjoy yourself.
...That awkward moment when you're actually telling the truth, but you laugh during it and everybody thinks you are lying...
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MENTEES MAKETH ME
COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
‘The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.’
- Steven Spielberg
Good mentor – mentee relationships can be richly rewarding, for both. I had the privilege of being a mentor to a new member last year. Being a perfectionist, I did not want to take this responsibility, as I thought I would impose my rules and ideologies on my mentee to make things perfect. However, contrary to my thoughts, being a mentor was a blessing in disguise to me.
learnt from them that we should always highlight our mentee’s achievements – even if it is the successful completion of a speech, or help in building confidence. We must celebrate success and strengthen bonds. As a mentor, I encourage toastmasters to explore their thoughts and ideas openly with me. It helps us unravel our thinking and gain insights about a situation as we share our concerns. Today, my mentoring relationship is no longer limited to Toastmasters. Instead, it is about everything under the sun - from dreams to wisdom, from attitude to gratitude and from fun to feasts.
As a mentor I was often tempted to jump in and offer advice, even before it was asked. Well I knew the situation and it was easy for me to spell out the pitfalls. But I held myself back. Better to be a sounding board rather than a loudspeaker. This helped them discuss situations with me, which in turn helped me make them think through the situation by asking questions. This turned out to be more empowering for them and they were grateful for it. My first mentee was TM Aakanksha. The firsts are always special, aren’t they? Even though she is no longer a member of the club, the bond of trust and friendship is intact. Then came TM Avani and TM Sonal. Both soft-spoken and introverted, in stark contrast to my personality, but they taught me how to be calm and keep my cool through all my interactions with them. TM Rohan and TM Rucha have been hailed as the fitness freaks of the club. Though I was their mentor in Toastmasters, they were mine for fitness and discipline. TM Harshad is a classic example of bloom where you are planted. I gained various management and financial learnings from him.
Anupriya Sinha Area Director C-3
We rise by lifting others
TM Saurabh and TM Deepthi have been champion speakers in various clubs of Pune. Their achievements have made me proud as a mentor. I have www.d98tm.in
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NETWORKING AND TOASTMASTERS
COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
Networking was a buzzword spoken by every-
and exchanged many ideas. All this helped me
one understood by some but seldom was any-
ramp up quickly and I became a past master at
one able to explain how to practice it.
conversations.
My first tryst with Networking lasted for 10
After 3 months, I realized that my Face book
minutes. It was very easy to break the ice....but
friends’ list had ballooned from 900 to 1100. I
after
question
knew all the people I had added. I have had
arose...what next? I realized that flitting from
meaningful conversations with them. Now
person to person was not my cup of tea. I won-
whenever I meet them I can strike up a conversa-
dered how to take the relationship to the next
tion easily. I can safely say that I have transcend-
level? After asking the initial questions of where
ed the phase of ‘what next?’ So for anyone who
people worked and exclaiming how the weather
wants to improve Networking skills, I will strong-
had
ly recommend joining Toastmasters. It works.
the
3rd
changed
minute
so
the
big
much…what
could
I
ask?...maybe talk about the market or perhaps mutter something about politics… I found it tough to build a conversation. And nobody seemed to have any idea. Neither newspaper supplement nor any magazine gave me an answer.
But…life changed after I joined Toastmasters!
I attended the first meeting and met 30 or so like - minded people who were all keen to improve themselves and were trying to figure out ways and means of connecting better. In Toastmasters meetings, besides giving speeches, mem-
Manish S. Rahatekar
bers take up various roles. Performing the roles
Area Director F3
makes it imperative to connect with the team and contribute. I learned the importance of a mentor too.
My mentors - Sugandh and Harsh suggested that I attend meetings in different clubs and take up roles there as well. It was contest time and I took up the timer’s role at several places. Every contest has two timers and at least 10 volunteers who manage the contest. Since I was new, I had
‘What makes networking work is that it sets up win-win situations in which all parties involved get to take something home. Networking is a sharing process. Until you understand that, you won't have much of a network.'
seasoned toastmasters to help me. I was
-- Earl G. Graves, Sr.
amazed at the inputs they shared. I learnt a lot www.d98tm.in
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COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
WHY TOASTMASTERS Every interview is a new experience. When I was studying for Engineering, the first interview was also the same. Breathtaking. The reason why I was selected was that one question which I answered, ‘I am different from others as I am improving my leadership and public speaking skills via Toastmasters.’ I was not completely truthful but when I got selected, I made up my mind there and then, to apply for the membership in HTM. Who would have known that toastmasters would be a life altering experience? My friend, Kiran, impressed my HOD once by telling him that he knew the manager of a company called Turbo machinery who would give us core training in instrumentation. My HOD was impressed with the contacts he had. The other day in one of the toastmasters meeting I met the owner of that same Turbo machinery company. He shared his contact with me and said to call him whenever needed.
I didn’t join Toastmasters expecting benefits. Neither to gain contacts nor to win contests. When I got placed because of Toastmasters I understood that if it is just the name which could fetch me a job then its learning would give me a worthy experience. I have won friends from all over and have understood the true meaning of socializing. When I got nationwide recognition with just two months of being in Toastmasters I knew there was a lot more to come. I was the youngest member in my club when I joined. When the next Toastmasters year came I was the youngest member in my Area and in this year now, I am the youngest Area Director in my Area, Division and District. I feel happy about this fact not because I am youngest but because I am learning faster than any other. Thank you Toastmasters.
The wonder of being a toastmaster never seems to end and the one experience I am going to narrate is particularly valuable. SAARANG is the cultural fest of IIT Madras. I used to attend it but only as a spectator. This time I made up my mind to be a participant at the National Level elocution competition. I replicated a story, which Bharati (HTM member) used in her speech and I won the competition. My friends prepared for a month and a half for the same competition and they were nowhere close. But that wasn’t it. After becoming a national level elocution winner I understood what learning from Toastmasters was and I understood ‘why’ Toastmasters. Certainly not replicating speeches but giving your own experiences in your speeches.
Navneet Peri Area Director E1
Toastmasters Trivia October 22, 1924 is the official Anniversary of Toastmasters International
Ralph Smedley’s middle name is Chestnut
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A SPECIAL MOMENT
COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
Toastmaster Sue Fong from Singapore visited the Nagpur Toastmasters Club on the on the 9th of January 2016. TM Sue Fong was given a warm welcome by all the club members and President TM Prafullata welcomed her with a token of love from the club. TM Sue delivered a speech under Successful Club Series. The title of her speech was ‘Keeping the Toastmasters Commitment’. TM Sue’s presence not only added enthusiasm to the club atmosphere it also proved
that Toastmaster is a global concept. Once a Toastmaster always a Toastmaster. There are no geographical boundaries, cultural differences or language barriers. She entered as a guest and left as a friend. #RaiseAToast to the spirit of friendship, fellowship and learning. #RaiseAToast to TM Sue Fong. The President of the Nagpur Toastmasters Club Prafullata Rode felicitating Tm Sue Fong and the members of Nagpur TM Club.
Conferencing for Eloquence
Bonding with the District Leader PQD Chandrashekar
#RaiseAToast to bonding for Eloquence
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COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
KNOW YOUR LEADERS DISTRICT 98 CORE
BRILLIAN SK
CHANDRASHEKAR DP
ARVIND NAIR
FARIDA DSILVA DIAS
DISTRICT DIRECTOR
PROG QUALITY DIRECTOR
CLUB GROWTH DIRECTOR
DISTRICT ADMIN MNGR
NISHANT MEHTA
SRINIDHI DASAKA
CHINMAYA DAVE
SOMNATH B
DISTRICT FINANCE MNGR
DISTRICT P.R. MANAGER
DISTRICT CHIEF JUDGE
DISTRICT WEBMASTER
BEENA MANDREKAR
MOHAN KARAMBELKAR
PANKAJ KOTHARI
VENKATA RAMANA DITTAKAVI
DISTRICT NEWSLETTER EDITOR
DISTINGUSHED CLUB PROG MNGR
DISTRICT PARLIAMENTARIAN
CHIEF AMBASSADOR, REVITALIZED EP
CHETAN THAKKAR
ANAND KUMAR
ANKIT JAIN
HITENDRA BHADANG
DISTRICT LOGISTIC MNGR
MANAGER CLUB EXT AND GROWTH
ASST CLUB GROWTH DIRECTOR
CREDENTIALS CHAIR
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COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
KNOW YOUR LEADERS DISTRICT 98 CORE
NIKHIL SALVI DIVISION B DIRECTOR
NITESH AGARWAAL DIVISION C DIRECTOR
RAVI TEJA MARUPPU DIVISION E DIRECTOR
ARUNA THAPA DIVISION F DIRECTOR
PRITAM AREKAR
NAMRATA SRIVATSAVA
PRAMOD MOHANDAS
REEBA GEORGE
AREA DIRECTOR A1
AREA DIRECTOR A2
AREA DIRECTOR A3
AREA DIRECTOR A4
VIPUL JAIN
SAHIL SHARMA
EKNATH HOLE
CHETAN THAKKAR
AREA DIRECTOR B2
AREA DIRECTOR B3
AREA DIRECTOR B4
MOHIT CHABRA DIVISION A DIRECTOR
AREA DIRECTOR B1
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LEO PAULOSE DIVISION D DIRECTOR
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COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
KNOW YOUR LEADERS DISTRICT 98 CORE
NAGAPPAN P
RAHUL KALE
ANUPRIYA SINHA
ARUN NAWGE
AREA DIRECTOR C1
AREA DIRECTOR C2
AREA DIRECTOR C3
AREA DIRECTOR C4
AKBAR KHAN
SHAILESH NATU
SANJAY UPADHYAY
TUSHAR SONJE
AREA DIRECTOR D1
AREA DIRECTOR D2
AREA DIRECTOR D3
AREA DIRECTOR D4
NAVNEET PERI
MANASA INAMPUDI
RAJASEKHAR M
PAVAN S
LAKSHMI KIRAN M
AREA DIRECTOR E1
AREA DIRECTOR E2
AREA DIRECTOR E3
AREA DIRECTOR E4
AREA DIRECTOR E5
SOWMYA C
VIKRAM C
MANISH R
DARSHAN KHANNA
PRATHIMA M
AREA DIRECTOR F1
AREA DIRECTOR F2
AREA DIRECTOR F3
AREA DIRECTOR F4
AREA DIRECTOR F5
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TEAM NEWSLETTER EDITOR , District 98
BEENA MANDREKAR WEBMASTER , District 98
SOMNATH BHATTACHARJEE
NEWSLETTER LEAD
SANJEEV PATRA Representing HYDERABAD NEWSLETTER LEAD
AISHWARYA CHANDRASEKARAN Representing PUNE NEWSLETTER LEAD
PAVAN PUNJABI Representing MUMBAI TECH TEAM
SHALINI GANDHAM
NEWSLETTER LEAD
COLIN SAVIO COELHO Representing GOA
TECH TEAM
RAJIV PINGALE
TECH TEAM
MIHIR MANDSORWALE
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COMMUNICATE 98 | JANUARY 2016
Disclaimer: Although great care has been taken in putting together this issue, we apologize for any inadvertent errors or omissions. The newsletter contains individual views of contributors. District 98, the District Director or the Editor may not subscribe to the same. You may report errors and suggestions to newsletter@d98tm.in
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