DISTRICT 98
1
#my0123vision
DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TEAM 2020-21
JANUARY 2021
DISTRICT 98
COMMUNICATE 98
2
#my0123vision
In This Issue
JANUARY 2021
DISTRICT98 98 DISTRICT
04 District Director’s Address 13 Beyond the District 05 Editor’s Address 14 TLTP Experience
06 Cross District Connect
15 The Headlines Bulletin
08 Growth
17 Clubs’ Milestone
09 PR Section 11 Member Speaks
19 Meet the Team
COMMUNICATE 98
3
#my0123vision
District Director’s Address
JANUARY 2021
DISTRICT 98
J
RETROSPECTION
anuary should not only be the month to make new resolutions or goals but should also be the month of retrospection. You may ask why it’s essential. If you don’t look back and find areas of improvement, you may not reach where you plan to or start something from the best possible place. According to author Avijeet Das, “In retrospect, we can only be thankful for all the mistakes that we made and all the lessons we learned from them!” If you are a club leader, it’s essential in your upcoming ex-com meeting to review the initial club success plan and adjust to the current situation to achieve the Distinguished status by the end of June. If you are a member, it’s time to reassess what The highlight was the retrospection otherwise you have achieved from the Toastmasters I wouldn’t correct and be here, where I feel program. Let your VP Education and Mentor more satisfied than in 2016. know so they can contribute to your success. If you would like to do the same, have a Let me share an incident and the process conversation with people who know you well, I followed. Back in 2016, I didn’t know what and comfortable sharing with them. Keep the was happening with my career. I spent hours conversation around: talking to my spouse about my aspirations, 1. What went well? where I am, and what I have done. She 2. What could have been better? helped me ask the right questions that 3. What should I continue to do? allowed me to come out of my comfort zone 4. What should I stop doing? and take the risk with something I love. I resigned, looked for a better opportunity, Once you go through the grind, make a note started my passion for photography and and then act on it. Make it a habit to be done took it to the next level over the years. every January, and I am sure it will help you achieve your dreams. - Niteash Agarwaal, DTM District Director
COMMUNICATE 98
4
#my0123vision
Editor’s Address
J
JANUARY 2021
DISTRICT 98
MEMORIES
anuary has always been a busy month for us. With the new cycle starting, we have everyone settling, planning, TLTP happening, education sessions happening and what not. We have members starting to prepare for contests with the International Speech Contest and Table Topics Contest knocking at our door. Energy, enthusiasm and excitement is visible everywhere! This is the best time to check where you stand and where you need to go! This is the best time to create new memories and relive the old ones. This seventh edition is a journey where many cherished memories have been relived and much more. It symbolises that Toastmasters is one big family. But is that all?
No! We have TM Linda-Marie Miller the First Runner-Up in the 2020 World Championship of Public Speaking sharing her journey to the final stage. - Pinky Bahroos Chief Newsletter Editor
My feelings on the first day, when I met the D98 newsletter team, was like playing international cricket after being selected for IPL! I took a leap of faith from working as a VPPR for Toastmasters club of Pune Central to entering the D98 newsletter team as a graphic designer. I was worried about how I would cope with others but during the making of the first edition, I learnt a lot. Our team bonded not only as friends but now we are a family. That happened because of late night zoom calls with some funny stories and lots of work making our bond stronger. None of us have met each other offline yet, so I just wonder when that happens it would be memorable for us.
Know your Designer
Anup Wagh Newsletter Designer
COMMUNICATE 98
5
#my0123vision
Cross District Connect
JANUARY 2021
DISTRICT 98
I
Be your Speech and Change the World!
n August of 2018, a colleague of mine asked me if I wanted to accompany him to a nearby Toastmasters meeting during our lunch hour. What did I reply? I agreed because I was looking forward to having a friendly conversation on the walkover. That meeting was my first experience of Toastmasters and I enjoyed being there. I was called forward during the Table Topics section of the meeting. As soon as I heard my name called, my heart started to race and I started to sweat. I am sure that it was my reptilian brain stepping forward to prevent me from Before I knew it, I found myself in the onmaking a fool of myself but I believe that if I line District Level Contest competing against step into uncomfortable moments and “do it amazing speakers that everybody knew. I anyway”, the payoffs can be huge. was just a nobody from a small corporate club that didn’t even have a very large presence Shortly after that, I joined our corporate in the Area, Division or District. When they club and was elected as the VP of Education. I announced my name as the first-place winner, enjoyed the meetings and I began to work on I was shocked and ecstatic! It was at this point the Dynamic Leadership Path. In December that I started to ask myself how I could possibly of 2019, I attended a Toastmaster Leadership have made it this far in the competition when Institute to get training about how to be an I was such a new Toastmaster that had never effective V.P. of Membership. While there, I been in a speech contest before. I do not know attended a break-out workshop facilitated by if I am right, but I will share with you right now Kevin Johnson, a recent finalist at the World what I think the secret is to winning speech Championship of Public Speaking. I decided contests. Are you ready? Okay, here it is. at that very moment that I wanted to enter Speak about something that actually means the next International Speech Contest. I did something to you. A message for the world not know what was involved or how far I could that you would want the world to know if go. I just knew that I wanted to step in and you knew you would be dead soon. I find that challenge myself to create a message for the when I dwell on the fact that life isn’t that long world and deliver it to the best of my ability. and in 100 short years, none of us will be here,
COMMUNICATE 98
6
#my0123vision
Cross District Connect
it reminds me that I need to use my voice now, share my thoughts, messages and dreams for the world. You might even say that it’s my life’s purpose. I also believe it’s my life’s purpose to encourage you to do the same. What is your life’s purpose? What messages for the world are unique to the stories that you have lived in your life? I believe that you are here on this planet to deliver these messages. I believe that you are in Toastmasters to improve your ability to deliver these messages to the world. I know it, that’s why I am a Toastmaster.
I have for the world in the best possible way that I can.” I had practised the speech at four different clubs and the members had given me very honest feedback. Deliver…Feedback… Rewrite…Deliver…Feedback…Rewrite. There were amazing speeches at the Semifinal Level and I enjoyed hearing them. I was so happy that I was able to deliver my message to so many people in the virtual world and would have been very content if my journey had ended there…but it did not. I believe that I won because the world needed to hear the message of my final’s speech. I wrote the speech in its final form one week before the competition. When you are passionate about your message, the speech will write itself. Then you just need to get feedback and keep rewriting it until it feels ready to you. Since I was passionate about the message of my speech, I didn’t need to worry about anything but letting the speech come through me…. powerfully and authentically.
Eventually, I found myself at the Semifinals and it was a whole new world. I was used to the connection and camaraderie that I had experienced as I competed through the District Level. Semifinals felt completely different. As many people have been trying to get to the finals for many years, they were very competitive. Many of them had been to the semifinals and even the finals many times in the past. A number of them were professional public speakers getting big money for speaking at corporate events. I felt Find your purpose…unearth your like I was in way over my head. Then it hit me - messages…connect with your passion…” BE” “I am here for one reason, to deliver a message your speech…and CHANGE THE WORLD!!!!!! - Linda-Marie Miller, District 117
First Runner-Up in 2020 World Championship of Public Speaking.
COMMUNICATE 98
7
JANUARY 2021
DISTRICT 98
#my0123vision
TH...
GROW
JANUARY 2021
DISTRICT 98
One good conversation can shift the direction of change forever. ~ Linda Lam. Here comes the conversation with our Club Growth Directors!
Sapna Ohri, DTM
Amandeep Singh, DTM
Joy B Hanas, DTM
CLUB GROWTH DIRECTORS C98: What is the vision of CGD office 2020-21? SAJ - The vision is to have 100 plus clubs in each cluster so that when we split into three districts next year, we will start each district with six or more divisions with a strong membership base of 2500 plus members.
C98: What has worked for us this year? SAJ - Digital marketing and PR has really worked for us. We have been able to do a lot of member engagement activities this year.
C98: Which new cities are we targeting this year to open new clubs? C98: Where are we today? SAJ - We are targeting Vizag, Vijayawada, SAJ - We started the year with the club base of Raipur, Aurangabad, Kurnool, Latur, Kolhapur, 237 clubs and have 22 more clubs that haven’t Solapur, Jalgaon and Baramati. We want to renewed so far due to the pandemic. All these maximize the impact of online meetings. clubs have been assigned club coaches and we are trying our best to make sure we save C98: How to open clubs in these uncertain them. times? SAJ - People have lost jobs, family and hope. If C98: How many clubs have we chartered so we connect with our communities, corporates far? and colleges with a human approach and SAJ - We have chartered 19 clubs and as of genuine concern, we will be able to do today our district stands strong at 235 clubs wonders. with just two clubs short of the base of 237. C98: Any message for the members? C98: What is the plan for the next six months? SAJ - The best comes out of all of us in times SAJ - We have 48 more leads on which we are of trouble, so just be there. This too shall pass. working and we intend to finish as a Smedley Distinguished District.
COMMUNICATE 98
8
#my0123vision
PR Section
I
JANUARY 2021
DISTRICT 98
PyaaR of Toastmasters
joined Toastmasters in September 2019 and took the first leadership role during Jan-Jun 2020 as Associate VP-PR. Though I was in a non-credit role, I made sure that I learned and grabbed every opportunity that came my way. Just after starting the term, I was given the responsibility of organizing a PR campaign for Toastmasters at the TCS Synergy park premise. With the help of fellow club members, we conducted this campaign for three weeks at two different buildings each week. We followed a different theme each week to attract fellow associates and make them aware about Toastmasters and its benefits. Organizing this campaign at such a big-scale helped me understand how a campaign needs to be executed and how to identify the target audience. This campaign also helped my club win the Diamond Club Award. During this term, I would say that I also enhanced my poster designing skills. I even got a chance to design posters for area/division events. At Orafest’19, I was awarded Golden Feather Award for my valuable contributions. This award boosted my spirits to continue in Toastmasters. On July 8th 9.24pm, a WhatsApp notification read “you have been added to District PR and Design Team”. A small team of four (Vellachi, Karan, Smeet and I) and Public Relations Manager – Aishwarya.
Hence, my journey as District 98 PR member began. This time, the difference was that the guidelines changed, and my contribution was being made for a larger platform. In all this Aishwarya has been a constant support and guide. I have always tried to extend my support whenever possible. From helping fellow clubs in my area by designing sample meeting poster templates and special achievements to sharing my knowledge on brand guidelines with members of newly chartered clubs. Being a part of the PR team of District 98 initiative, Beyond Toastmasters, has helped me network with eminent personalities in and beyond Toastmasters. Besides, it has helped me nurture my personality and explore more in my organization at leadership levels as well as drive my professional growth.
COMMUNICATE 98
9
#my0123vision
PR Section
JANUARY 2021
DISTRICT 98 I feel that as a member all of us are 1. Colours responsible for keeping uniformity in the way 2. Fonts we do PR. At the end of the day, the world is 3. Pictures/Shapes largely going to remember the brand through its visual elements. My active contributions in PR have inculcated Often, I hear members saying that brand the capacity in me to think in all dimensions. guidelines take away the creativity of a I learned how to do video editing, manage designer but according to me a human being Facebook lives and groups. Today, if you ask performs the best when one has access to me which is my favourite role in Toastmasters, limited resources. I follow this mantra to make my answer is going to be public relations a beautiful and compliant poster: thus, making it my PyaaR of Toastmasters. Alphamary Kuriachan
District 98 PR & Design Member
Best Practices for Online Meeting
COMMUNICATE 98
10
#my0123vision
Member Speaks
JANUARY 2021
DISTRICT 98
POEMS Toastmasters Journey, celebrates happiness abound. “Horizon is around, dreams abound, Early morning sun warmth, energize aloud. Cool breeze lifts the spirits around, Giggle and laughter, calmness around. Toastmaster, the epitome of joy & hope, Conquer the fear, leading the way. Flowing like a river, making a mark everywhere, Toastmaster journey, celebrates happiness abound, Toastmaster journey, celebrates happiness abound.”
Deepak Nagrath Quest-Qualcomm’s Enlightened Speakers of Tomorrow, H3
“Toastmasters - First Online Meeting “ “Zoom Car not around, but let me share what I found. Zoom Online Meeting Link and just in an eyeblink, I am online ready to share what I feel! Am I audible? Am I visible? I speak. Echo, the response I hear, audible and visible. Thumbs Up, emoticons and faces eager to hear what I feel. Ah! I think, ummm I believe online meeting is ... I pause. Lost for words but Ah Counter is busy penning down. Wishes never come true, yet wishing for a network meltdown. Maybe an excuse, I am reconnecting or reconstructing my thoughts. Heart beating at normal pace, mind cursing at the lost opportunity. The video switched off, mic muted and back to the listening mode. All is Well, all is Well, I will be back the next time. Gathering courage next meeting came in an eyeblink I am back online to share what I feel, Am I audible? Am I visible? I speak. Toastmasters - First Online Meeting “ Akshay Singh GSC Toastmasters Club, B3
COMMUNICATE 98
11
#my0123vision
Member Speaks
JANUARY 2021
DISTRICT 98 First Meeting! I remember my first meeting as if it were yesterday, ‘twas a Friday evening, in the last week of May. On came a prepared speaker and then came ‘nother one, Up until now, I was having a lot of fun. Then came Table Topics, and I hid in the back, For finding people like me, however, the TTM had a knack. I walked to the stage, all nervous and shy, ‘tis just Table Topics, she said. “C’mon, give it a try.” I stood there with a million thoughts, but not a single word said, As I went back that night, my decision was made. I joined Toastmasters and haven’t looked back since, It was definitely a decision I consider one of my wins. I used to be a speaker who didn’t know how to start, Today I’m someone who can speak from his heart. How time flies, I can’t believe it’s been more than 5 years today, A beautiful journey that began on a Friday evening, in May! Suhas Ananthanarayanan Toastmasters Club of BMC Software, O4 & Pune Advanced Toastmasters Club, P4
DID YOU KNOW? Each year, thousands of Toastmasters, representing over 100 countries, battle for the title of World Champion of Public Speaking. The World Championship of Public Speaking starts in Toastmasters clubs across the globe, known as the International Speech Contest. From there, participants advance to Area, Division, District, and region-level competitions. Two winners from each region-level competition move on to the semifinals. At the semifinals, an expert panel of experienced Toastmasters determine the eight finalists. This competition lasts for months
COMMUNICATE 98
12
#my0123vision
Beyond The District
JANUARY 2021
DISTRICT 98 Lake Forest Toastmasters Club, Chicago/Illinois/USA I had been a member of LFTC in 2019 while in Chicago, so it was nostalgic reconnecting with the members. Waking up early at 4:30 in the morning was difficult but exciting. Members in Chicago were so thrilled and sincerely appreciative to know that I made that commitment to join them during the pre-dawn hours. The meeting virtually revolved around me and my experience and the situation in India in the context of the pandemic. It was as if I was conducting an educational session!! KP Jani Amdavad Toastmasters and Heritage City Toastmaster, A1 Riyadh Toastmasters Club, Saudi Arabia The toastmasters were so welcoming. The speaker’s information given before they were invited on screen was awesomely helpful in various aspects. To literally attend such informative session, one has to travel, pay for webinars or at least two-day events, but the speaker was crisp and crystal clear with his words. Omkara Cheetrala Spoorthy Toastmasters, E1 Diversity Toastmasters Club Tokyo, Japan All the members of the club were quite welcoming. The guests were encouraged to take part in the exciting small talks session. My favourite part of the meeting was the Table Topics round, which had an interesting selection of topics. It was quite a delight to listen to speakers from across the globe! Yamini Venkatesh Iyengar TCS Maitree Toastmasters Club, Pune, C1 Salt Lake Toastmasters Club, Kolkata Was amazed to witness the way meeting was executed and heard for the first time about the wow finder role. Detailed agenda was shared, and seamless coherence was visible among role players. All the sessions well encapsulated within the stipulated time. Loved the enthusiasm of the members, that helped me to get a diverse learning experience. Ramkesh Meena Toastmasters Club of Baroda, A2
COMMUNICATE 98
13
#my0123vision
TLTP Experience
JANUARY 2021
DISTRICT 98 This was my third training for the VPM role. I would like to give a special shoutout to Sneha and Vinod for fantastically covering the part of the VPM role. Mentioning the details of awards was also done meticulously and all the queries were happily answered and resolved. Sneha and Vinod have also demonstrated various tools to be used by the VPM and his/ her team. The participants were encouraged to share the best practices from their respective clubs and the quiz was conducted to refresh the knowledge in the end. Overall, the session was super-awesome. Abhiraj Singh Gaur Mumbai Toastmasters, S2 A wonderful learning experience and very useful for a newbie SAA like me. Got to know about my responsibilities clearly and got proper guidance on how to fulfil those. Along with the trainer, I got to learn a lot from fellow trainees, who were much more experienced than I was. As per the line, the leader knows the way, goes the way and shows the way. I know the way now after the training and so I tick off the first part. The next part will be done during my term. Overall, an amazing experience and I must say, that those three hours of training were completely fruitful. Sanat Deshpande Toastmasters Club of Pune - North East, O4 Illuminating, informative yet fun-filled and interactive. I can now say I know my role, what my brand TI is; know that how and why integrity, excellence, service and respect are the core values of my brand. TLTP taught me what PR is what is expected and what can I do in this new role. Before I deliver anything brand-compliant, I myself need to be brand compliant, and there lies the clue to PR. I like the concept of PR 100 times more and take that much more pride in being a Toastmaster. Now I refer to Toastmasters International as my brand. Amit Desai Toastmasters club of Baroda, A2
COMMUNICATE 98
14
#my0123vision
The Headlines Bulletin
JANUARY 2021
DISTRICT 98 New Clubs in District 98
TI-NEWS Continuing the New Club Incentive offered from November’20 to January’21, Toastmasters International will waive off charter fee (USD 125) and the new member fees (USD 20) for new clubs chartered by 30th June’21. For clubs to avail of this incentive, they need to pay the membership dues of each charter member and pay the prorated amount for the next renewal cycle.
COMMUNICATE 98
15
#my0123vision
The Headlines Bulletin
JANUARY 2021
DISTRICT 98
Beyond Toastmasters 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.
The Power of One 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.
192
Registrations
56
Attendees
Beyond Toastmasters
280
Views
62
Registrations
14
Attendees
The Power of One
131
Views
Hall of Fame (2020-21)
Team District 98 applauded Award: Talk Up Toastmasters at the Region 13 reflection night for chartering the Award highest number of new clubs and having the Here’s what club needs to do: To add 5 new, dual or reinstated members highest number of chartered between 1st Feb and 31st March 2021. members as on 5th Feb 2021 based on TI District And Win: Performance Report. • TI Recognition ( Ribbon for club + 10% discount on all orders placed within TI store ) • Club Ribbon Pack • Promotional Pen to VP Membership
COMMUNICATE 98
16
#my0123vision
Clubs’ Milestone
th 125th Meeting on 27 Dec 2020
JANUARY 2021
DISTRICT 98 rd 125th Meeting on 23 Jan 2021
Toastmasters Club of Baroda, A2 th 450th Meeting on 09 Jan 2021
Rise Toastmasters Club, D3
Toastmasters Club of Pune South East, D5
HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS
th 50th Meeting on 10 Jan 2021
th 175th Meeting on 24 Jan 2021
Andheri Orators Toastmasters Club, S5
Vadodara Toastmasters Club, A2
Club Anniversaries Years
Club Name
Date
14
Vision Toastmasters (community Club)
20 Jan
14
Raisoni Institute’s Emerald
22 Jan
14
Raisoni Institute’s Diamond
22 Jan
13
Indian School of Business
1 Jan
COMMUNICATE 98
17
#my0123vision
Clubs’ Milestone
JANUARY 2021
DISTRICT 98 Years
Club Name
Date
11
Broadridge
12 Jan
8
Agnel
1 Jan
7
Nagpur
10 Jan
6
Toastmasters Club of Pune North West
1 Jan
5
Deccan
1 Jan
4
Cummins Pune
1 Jan
4
SYF Hyderabad
1 Jan
4
Pimpri
1 Jan
4
Mahindra Worli
1 Jan
4
e-Zest
13 Jan
3
HUL - R&D
1 Jan
3
WIPRO Rendezvous Toastmasters Club of Pune
1 Jan
3
Chatterati
1 Jan
2
Bhopal
3 Jan
2
Kharghar
4 Jan
1
CRISIL Pune
6 Jan
1
Baramati
6 Jan
1
CIPLA
8 Jan
1
Goregaon Speakers Community Toastmasters Club
17 Jan
1
Innovators Toastmasters Club.
17 Jan
1
Toastmasters of Mediaocean
19 Jan
1
Majesco Mahape
20 Jan
1
Acuris Mumbai
21 Jan
1
Santacruz Speakers
21 Jan
1
StoryDellers
23 Jan
1
Transunion Mumbai
24 Jan
HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS COMMUNICATE 98
18
#my0123vision
Meet the Team
JANUARY 2021
DISTRICT 98
AISHWARYA VIJAY PR MANAGER
PINKY BAHROOS CHIEF NEWSLETTER EDITOR
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:
COMMUNICATE 98
19
DISTRICT 98
20