Communicate 98 December 2020 edition

DISTRICT 98

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COMMUNICATE 98 | DECEMBER 2020

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DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TEAM 2020-21 DISTRICT 98

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IN THIS ISSUE DISTRICT 98

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DISTRICT DIRECTOR’S ADDRESS

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QUIZ - ANSWERS

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PR MANAGER’S ADDRESS

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QUIZ - WINNERS

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EDITOR’S ADDRESS

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NON CREDIT WITH CREDIT

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EXPLORE AND EXPERIMENT

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THE HEADLINES BULLETIN

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CROSS DISTRICT CONNECT

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CLUBS’ MILESTONE

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MEMBER SPEAKS

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MEET THE TEAM

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CONTEST EXPEDITION

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DISTRICT DIRECTOR’S ADDRESS DISTRICT 98

HAPPY NEW YEAR

T

he moment we have all been eagerly waiting for, finally, 2020 is behind us.

What an opportune year it was.

We pushed ourselves and discovered the potential we doubted. I couldn’t have asked for a better team of club leaders serving their members. The club leaders have shown strength, perseverance and innovation during these times. They did everything possible to help the members and keep them engaged. This wouldn’t have been possible if members didn’t play their part too. While we missed meeting each other physically, we did grab available opportunities and went on a world tour of Toastmaster Clubs, which otherwise looked like a distant dream.

We built new relationships and network, learned about varied cultures, adopted/ shared best practices from/with other clubs, formed clubs with no boundaries and so on. For many, it was their first International Convention.

some time for Toastmasters. Approach the new year with enthusiasm, and that good thing will happen when we are there for each other, like we did in 2020.

If you are serving as a club leader, it’s also time to review the Club Success Plan, attend the Club Officers Training and pursue the goals set for your club. Please ensure the club achieves at least Distinguished Club status and continue to bring in new members and guests.

This is what makes Toastmasters a fantastic I certainly feel privileged to serve you as place to be at with abundant opportunities. your District Director during this program The only thing it asks for is participation year and learn leadership and teamwork and effort from your side. As you sit to write skills by having you by my side. down your resolutions for 2021, please add Stay Safe! personal development to the list and make - Niteash Agarwaal, DTM District Director

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PR MANAGER’S ADDRESS DISTRICT 98

UN-DECADENT NEW DECADE

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hat a pickle - a phrase that would perfectly describe my and I am sure most of us’ 2020! It was like a typical Bollywood movie - it had drama, emotions, laughter, adventure and tragedy - but perhaps an RGV production than a Rajshri production. The year was monotonous in various ways and yet somehow caused some serious turbulence.

If I talk about my share of it, I think I lost more weight chasing deadlines than to workouts. Two of my teammates, including my manager, were down with COVID and my mother was also unwell for almost a month, leaving a lot of responsibilities at home and work on my shoulders. To top it, all these things happened after my term as PRM started!

A lot happened in 2020 or rather laid the foundation for several things that will have a more concrete outcome in 2021. I am already optimistic about this new year. If I talk about Toastmasters, it marks the completion of half year, but that also means that we still have six months left. This means that we still have time to finish off the things we promised ourselves at the start of the term 2020-21.

It means we can push ourselves to finish off a Pathways path. It also leaves room for attending a few more international meetings and online district conference before things move to offline again.

But before I keep on ranting about it, I think it will be safe to say that it did give us a lot of time for ourselves and to try out new things.

For the initial part of the lockdown, even I was Tarla Dalal in making. I tried out different shapes and figures in Origami. I started my own personal blog. I have already completed This new year also marks the start of a new three Pathways levels by delivering speeches decade and therefore, the start of a new era in different clubs of different cities, from the altogether for all of us. May ’21 be exactly the way you want it to be, taking you closer comfort of my home. to your goals and giving you some positive energy.

Stay Safe!

- Aishwarya Vijay Public Relations Manager #my0123vision

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EDITOR’S ADDRESS DISTRICT 98

HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL?

G

reetings fellow and future toastmasters.

No way! Are six months already over? Is my journey of being a part of the ‘Communicate 98’ team – half travelled or yet half left to explore – that is the question! It only depends on how I look at it. I believe that I have six more months to add to my knowledge bank, learning and experience. Has anything changed? Yes! I can confidently say that I have a better clarity towards my responsibility as the Chief Newsletter Editor. Thank you, my enthusiastic, energetic and effervescent team. You rock!

and leadership skills. We have a fairly new Toastmaster sharing his experience, a toastmaster sharing how a seed of an idea can flourish into a beautiful flower, tips on what kind of different events we can host to bring in variety to our meetings, results of This sixth edition symbolises that the quiz and much more.

Toastmasters is synonymous to growth.

It gives you plenty of opportunities to let Happy New Year! your creative juices flow, to think out of the box and work upon your communication - Pinky Bahroos Chief Newsletter Editor Know your Editor

Namrata Shah Newsletter Editor #my0123vision

I am enjoying being part of the ‘Communicate 98’ team. I got in touch with toastmasters across the borders to get their submission on topics ranging from paths selected, the experience of participating in the contest to mentoring. This helped me to build connections globally and thereby foster friendship. I learned a lot about the culture and festive celebrations at other clubs. One of the most pleasing aspects of being an editor is to express experience, emotions and excitement in words that transfer feeling to the reader. I have understood the importance and power of words in communication. Being part of the District Newsletter team, you communicate the views and experiences of district members to toastmasters across the clubs and we love doing that. I will always cherish the memories of being part of this team.

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EXPLORE AND EXPERIMENT DISTRICT 98

EXPLORING BEYOND THE STANDARD Ginni Rometty, IBM’s past CEO, has quoted, “Growth and comfort do not coexist”.

O

ver time, many newly chartered clubs or existing clubs stop growing.

The clubs stop growing because they slip into the comfort zone. The comfort zone is of following the standard meeting format. A standard Toastmasters meeting format has three segments: prepared speeches, impromptu speeches and formal evaluations. This meeting format does provide structure and adds to the necessary discipline. However, at the same time the clubs where meetings slip into the routine standard meeting, week after week, month after month and year after year succumb to lethargy and turn stale. Routine adds to the comfort of the members and their growth stops.

Knowledge), Level 4 (Building Skills) and Level 5 (Demonstrating Expertise) in the Pathways. Example of projects include: High Performance Leadership (HPL), Question and Answer session, moderating Panel Discussion, organizing Speech Contests.

I was fortunate to have been part of the organizing committee of three such events for corporate as well as community clubs.

Sharing more information about these The remedy to avoid the clubs from events below: becoming stale is stepping outside the comfort zone of standard meeting format Classic Debate: and exploring beyond. The clubs can explore beyond the standards by hosting a Clubs can conduct debate sessions to range of events related to public speaking improve the critical thinking and persuasive and leadership. These events include skills of its members. debates, contests (Tall Tales, Story Telling, Story Writing), Speech-a-Thon etc. These During debate, members take turns events, which are explored beyond standard debating both sides of an argument.

Toastmasters meeting, also allow the They will learn that whichever side of the members to complete Level 3 (Increasing topic they argue, the point is not as much

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EXPLORE AND EXPERIMENT DISTRICT 98 about which side they take, but how they can support their arguments logically.

Debate styles are developed through the mastery of the tone and volume of the speaker’s voice, and the rate of his or her speech. Members can develop their speaking style by practising debate formally in the club.

representations of gigantic proportions for comedic effect. Tall Tale tests the imagination, storytelling, persuasion skills of members. A well-crafted Tall Tale boosts the overall energy levels within the room. The competitive spirit within a club can be built by conducting club level Tall Tale Contest.

The Speech Contest Kit for Tall Tale Contest is available on the Toastmasters International Advantage of mastering delivery website. Having this meeting on 1st April through debate is that the members speak (April Fool’s Day) or the first week of April will confidently, logically and persuasively about add to the excitement. any topic. As a part of a corporate club, every year, during Diwali week celebrations in our Speech-a-Thon: corporate, we used to invite senior leadership team (Directors and above in our corporates) Speech-a-Thon or Speech Marathon are for a debate on a controversial topic. Debate focused meetings towards prepared speech topics ranged from “Should work from home and speech evaluations where many of the be allowed?” to “Should variable pay be regular parts of a Toastmasters meeting a part of CTC?” to “Were Britishers better are passed over to allow as many speeches leaders?”. Club and members can consult and evaluations as possible. Speech-a-Thon Toastmasters Debate Handbook: A guide to meeting is to be conducted when many Competitive Speaking (item 104) available members have a goal to finish speeches on Toastmasters International website for and the members have difficulty finding a more details speech slot. The benefit of speech-a-thon for the audience is that they get to see multiple Tremendous Tall Tales: speeches in rapid succession. This meeting can be scheduled as a regular meeting or By definition, Tall tale is a story with as a top-up meeting in addition to a regular unbelievable elements, related as if it meeting. were true and factual. Some tall tales are exaggerations of actual events. A club Events beyond the standard meeting may conduct a theme meeting dedicated don’t just spruce up the meetings but to Tall Tales. All parts of this meeting (i.e., also add to the educational value of speech introductions, speech themes, the meeting and help the club and its speech evaluations, impromptu speeches) members meet their educational goals. would carry outlandish claims and issue - Sameer Naik, DTM Pune Advanced Toastmasters Club, P4 #my0123vision

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CROSS DISTRICT CONNECT DISTRICT 98

BIRTHED IN 15 MINUTES “Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.”

-Confucius

D

o the numbers 218, 79.7 million and 1.7 million tell you anything? As I write this article on a Christmas Day, these numbers relate to the 218 countries and territories that have been affected by the coronavirus COVID-19, with over 79.9 million people infected and over 1.7 million people have lost their lives. All this within a year that among the first in District 20 (Bahrain and Kuwait) to have conducted the virtual the pandemic started.

Toastmasters meeting on 7th March 2020.

By the end of February ‘20, most of the countries had been affected by the Birth of United Toastmasters pandemic causing havoc in everyone’s daily life, business and governments. I was the VP- Soon after, a good friend of mine TM Soy Education of my club – St. Paul Toastmasters Paul approached me to see the possibility in Bahrain, an island in the Middle East of using this platform to have meetings during this time. For an official purpose, I had spanning various countries. In just 15 travelled to Saudi Arabia in February ‘20 and minutes of brief discussion and there just two days before my return to Bahrain, birthed forth United Toastmasters, an the borders closed and flights stopped due initiative for conducting a virtual meeting to the spread of the coronavirus. What would for Toastmasters across various countries. you do if you were in an unknown country, We had our first meeting on 19th April ‘20 comprising Toastmasters from four countries un-prepared for such a circumstance?

– Bahrain, Kuwait, India and Bangladesh.

Coming from a technical background The role players for the meeting were from and having used several video conference these four countries. We witnessed an platforms for business purpose, I managed exciting and spectacular meeting with over to convince our members to try arranging 170 participants. Mr Saveen Hegde, finalist an online Toastmasters meeting. We were of World Championship of Public Speaking 2017 was the Keynote Speaker.

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CROSS DISTRICT CONNECT DISTRICT 98 The baby was born and continued to grow. We recently held our sixth meeting on 28th November with role players from 10 countries and 11 Districts. We currently have 27 core team members from these 10 countries namely Bahrain, Bangladesh, India, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. We had a variety of programs in our last six meetings ranging from Panel Discussion with Immediate Past Region Advisors, an hourlong Table Topics session, speeches by eight District Champions and much more. We were honoured to have TM James L. Jeffley (Twice WCPS finalist), TM Dr Ushy Mohan Das (TEDx Speaker, Leadership Coach and author), DTM Alifiya Lakdawala (District 20 PQD) and TM. Linda-Marie Miller (WCPS 2020 first runner up) as Keynote Speakers.

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What it takes to….?

To the readers, if you are thinking “what it takes to start such an initiative?”, let me share with you a few pointers.

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Vision of United Toastmasters

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to continue using the virtual platform and add new countries in every meeting. create unique, exciting and enjoyable meetings. give opportunities for role players on a global platform eventually benefitting the clubs in these countries. opportunities for leadership roles for the core team members.

collaborate and network with likeminded people across borders.

Just like a startup entrepreneur, the first and most important factor is the concept.

Ask yourself, “What is unique or what does it take to have a Toastmasters club stand out from the rest?”

A solid vision with short-term and longterm goals.

WOW factor in your meetings.

An easy-to-use communication tool – this is important especially when you have people from different countries.

A strong team that provides ideas, suggestions and continuous feedback.

Last but not the least, the double Ps and double Ls – Prepare and Practice and be ready to Listen and Learn.

I hope that the above will help guide you to grow your seeds of thought to trees that produce fruitful results. We look forward to a brighter 2021 and hope to see you in our future meetings.

- Renosh Kurian Thomas President – St. Paul Toastmasters, District 20, Bahrain Core team – United Toastmasters

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MEMBER SPEAKS DISTRICT 98

THE RIVER

A

river originates in the mountains and glaciers up high, flows through rough rocks and cliffs, becomes a waterfall with tremendous vigour, slows down and deposits on the riverbed all the sediments and minerals which it collected throughout the path, making it fertile. The river over here, is me.

I joined Toastmasters club of Baroda through the recommendations from my father, who is aptly named Himadri (the highest part of the Himalayas, where rivers originate). I was a bit slow to learn though.

I faced some rough rocks in my journey, which was my lack of knowledge about Toastmasters. Luckily, I had my fellow toastmasters with me to help me overcome those obstacles. I started participating with Dynamic Leadership as my path of choice.

I started taking roles and participating in meetings of different clubs in different states, and once, even in a different country!

I was a speech evaluator in a meeting in AAT Sri Lanka. This was a great experience where I learned a lot. I was also awarded the ‘Best Debutant’ at the Area level! I then rushed through the Level 2 of my path and completed it in three days, speaking in three different clubs consecutively! I also became a Contest chair for five times within 50 days in different I was a grammarian for my first role in the clubs and at different contest levels. That club and it was fun, which got me hooked. was the waterfall of my journey, vigorous.

I took many roles, completed my level 1 of Dynamic Leadership and took the role of Now comes the part where I give back the Contest Chair in the club level Evaluation minerals (knowledge) to you. My message Contest. I was awarded the Toastmaster to new toastmasters is to take up every of the Month award at the club level. I was opportunity you get, ask for help whenever ecstatic and overjoyed and this pushed me it is needed and never stop learning from your fellow toastmasters! to do more and more.

- Aryaman Sinha Toastmasters Club of Baroda, A2

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CONTEST EXPEDITION DISTRICT 98 Apart from the other four seasons, most of the toastmasters wait for the contest season. Participating for the first time in Division O, Speech Evaluation Contest and winning the second position has been a lovely journey. Despite the pandemic, D98 has fought all odds and conducted a successful contest. As a contestant of a virtual contest, managing the virtual stage and maintaining eye contact is something that I learnt and how that can enhance the speech. I realised that winning and losing is part and parcel of life, what’s not acceptable is quitting. Looking forward to the next contest season.

- Muskan Kandoi, Toastmasters Club Of Pune North East, O4 I was the contest chair for the Humorous Speech Contest for Division C and started my role by sharing a joke. It was a great experience of fun and learning for me. I have to state that any role player can perform to his or her fullest due to the continuous support of other members who work tirelessly behind the scenes.

- Aditya Saxena, Toastmasters Club of Pune, P1 Participating in the humorous speech contest was a wonderful experience. It is challenging though to create humour on the virtual platform in a scenario when all the members were asked to switch off their videos. I felt like I was speaking to Zombies and could hear them laughing at my jokes. I missed getting feedback from members in the form of their body language, facial expressions and reactions but no doubt that I did enjoy participating in the contest. Hoping that all have high-speed internet connection and soon the zoom platform is capable of handling all videos being kept on.

- Krunal Brahmbhatt Vadodara Toastmasters Club, A2 #my0123vision

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QUIZ - ANSWERS DISTRICT 98 1. Who holds the record of being one of the 6. What is the name of the brand specialist fastest DTMs in the world and was featured from TI, who took a session on branding – in our July edition?

The Brand Way? (September edition) Answer: Amjad Ali, DTM

Answer: Ilana Herzberg, Brand Specialist from TI

2. Who wrote an article on team effort titled: Rainbow of Magicians? (July edition) 7. Who designates toastmaster clubs as education+entertainment+enjoyment?

Answer: Vinay Kumar Shrivastava, DTM (October edition) 3. Ever wondered why are we called Answer: Mumbai Toastmasters Ex-Com “Toastmasters” ? (August edition) 8. Name the new initiative taken by D98 to Answer: “Toastmasters” means a person help clubs grow. (October edition) who gives a toast at any occasion, thus, Ralph.C.Smedley named the organization Answer: CIC- Club Incubation Centre Toasmasters.

9. Who created a customized virtual 4. Who shared his never-ending story? background for every club meeting, using (August edition) Canva? (November edition) Answer: Pankaj Pradhan

Answer: Shobhit Datta

5. Who said that while content is the king, it is equally true that your persona, style, delivery and voice are extremely important to the success of your speeches? (September edition)

10. Who believes that joining a club has taught them the importance of preparation, planning, practice, organisation and creativity while delivering a speech?

(November edition)

Answer: Vivek Atray, ex IAS officer

Answer: Sanya Jain, Gavelier

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QUIZ - WINNERS DISTRICT 98

Nidhi Singh Toastmasters Club of Pune South East, D5

Manideep Hyderabad Toastmasters / Telugu Toastmasters, E2

Jyoti Bhat RG Orators Toastmasters Club, J2

Shruti Shivhare TCS Maitree Toastmasters Club Indore, A4

HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS #my0123vision

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NON CREDIT WITH CREDIT DISTRICT 98 Growing clubs and reaching out to guests for new members seems to be a simple task or more simplified in this virtual meeting era, but the reality is the opposite. Convincing members and collaborating on initiatives to boost membership fell short many times. At least I learned which techniques lead to what outcomes.

Learnings like these drive me to indulge in exploring different ways and ideas to perform the role.

- Akshay Singh, GSC Toastmasters Club, B3 Role - Club Growth Manager.

I get to read some fantastic inspirational stories first hand and then publish it for the world to see. This role helped me build my network, enabled me to understand my leadership qualities, and added a productive activity in my weekly to-do list enriching the lives of a lot of readers!

- Ramanand Bhatt, Mumbai Toastmasters, S2 Role - Blog Editorial Manager for the ‘Toastmasters of Mumbai’ blog As an award chair, I received a gracious opportunity to serve Toastmasters of Mumbai. There has been a lot of innovative learnings. Designing AHA awards and Gladiator Award for Division BSM has been a beautiful experience. Keeping in mind the growth of every club, every member, and acknowledging their efforts with recognition has given me some pleasant moments. I am very grateful to the president of all the clubs for their support.

- Raj Bharat, TCS Maitree Toastmasters Club, S4 Role - Award Chair In order to lead, a leader should know how to reach the desired goal. My club executive committee roles of VP Education and President prepared me to understand how to maintain club meeting quality and achieve DCP goals. A challenging role where you need to salvage the clubs which are not doing well, especially corporate clubs, made me think, collaborate and come up with different strategies which helped. I learnt that win or lose, you learn a lot especially by not giving up.

- Avinash Singh, Mulund Toastmasters Club, M1 Role - Club Retention Manager (Division BSM) #my0123vision

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THE HEADLINES BULLETIN DISTRICT 98

Beyond Toastmasters

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To help us learn something new, District 98 crossed the barriers and built the bridges to host the best of the speakers.

Thus happened the birth of the initiative Beyond Toastmasters.

Registrations

140

Attendees

Beyond Toastmasters

400

Views (Data for two events combined)

87

The Power of One

Registrations

Every language has a power - the power to communicate, and with the aim to experience that, came the District 98 initiative - The Power of One.

39

Attendees

The Power of One

207

Views

Distinguished Toastmasters Patient, persistent and passionate are the adjectives that best describe the below achievers.

Congratulations Distinguished Toastmasters and all the best for the new beginnings.

Mrunal Teniram Hatwar

Dahej Orators Toastmasters Club, J1

Nishant Mehta

Stellar Toastmasters Club, S3

Vijay Sai Santosh Akella

Agnel Toastmasters Club, M4

Anand Mourya Vajjala

TCS Maitree Synergy Park Toastmasters Club, H2

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THE HEADLINES BULLETIN DISTRICT 98

TLTP Dates “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” – John F. Kennedy. It is time to bring into practise the above quote. Here we announce the TLTP dates!

Date 09 - 10 January ‘21 16 - 17 January ’21

Divisions EFGHN ABCDJMOPSW

WOW !!

Division N, District 98, Toastmasters International made history by conducting a Toastmasters meeting onboard the Mazi Metro in Nagpur on 20th December ‘20 while adhering to COVID safety protocols. The ride was a round trip starting from Sita Buldi to Lokmanya Nagar and back.

Goa Toastmasters Club in collaboration with Lisbon Toastmasters Club organised the first ever get together online meeting under the theme “Building Bridges”. The collaboration was a fresh change for members and a chance to reconnect to a special bond that Goa shares with Portuguese culture.

Obituary We regret to inform you that Hemang Mandrekar, DTM, past Area Director 2016 - 17 and a Chief Marine Engineer, left for heavenly abode on 17th December ‘20. Deepest condolences to friends and family.

- District 98

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CLUBS’ MILESTONE DISTRICT 98

Meeting no. 75 RG Doyens Toastmasters Club, J3

Meeting no. 75 RG Orators Toastmasters Club, J2

Club Anniversaries Years

Club Name

Date

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TSYS Pune Toastmasters Club, O4

Dec 2

7

Toastmasters of Capgemini Hyderabad, G2

Dec 18

6

Waltair Toastmasters Club, F4

Dec 5

5

Barclays Pune Toastmasters Club, D1

Dec 2

4

Mindtree Pune Toastmasters Club, P3

Dec 1

3

Pega Toastmasters Club, F1

Dec 1

2

Schlumberger Toastmasters Club of Pune, O3

Dec 6

2

Avantika Toastmasters Club, A4

Dec 18

2

RG Orators Toastmasters Club, J2

Dec 21

2

RG Doyens, J3

Dec 21

1

Statestreet Hyd Toastmasters Club, F3

Dec 3

1

CorpOrate Toastmasters Club, A1

Dec 12

1

Cisco Pune Toastmasters Club, P5

Dec 29

HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS #my0123vision

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MEET THE TEAM DISTRICT 98

PINKY BAHROOS CHIEF NEWSLETTER EDITOR

AISHWARYA VIJAY PR MANAGER

DESIGNERS

ANUP WAGH

SATHVIK VEMUNURI

ABILASH M G

EDITORS

PRAJWAL CHOUDHARY

JUHI DHRUVA

MUSKAAN ASHER

NAMRATA SHAH

Follow us for more updates of District 98: #my0123vision

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DISTRICT 98

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