DISTRICT 98 PRESENTS
PALAVA TOASTMASTERS CLUB BOMBAY TOASTMASTERS CLUB
DIAMOND CITY TOASTMASTERS SURAT
SECUNDERABAD TOASTMASTERS
TOASTMASTERS CLUB OF PUNE SOUTH
TCS MAITREE TOASTMASTERS CLUB
ANDHERI ORATORS TOASTMASTERS
MULUND TOASTMASTERS CLUB GOREGAON SPEAKERS COMMUNITY TOASTMASTERS CLUB
INFOSYS TOASTMASTERS HYDERABAD PRAKITI
DISTRICT 98 GOES ONLINE FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
EDITORS NOTE
It feels like a never ending winter even though we've gradually transitioned into summer. How often have we taken simple things in life for granted? The first ray of sunshine kissing our face, a walk in the park, seeing our loved ones in person, going to office, meeting people, not worrying about food for survival and so much more. I for one feel like I had taken a lot for granted, even though I thought I knew what it meant to ration or live in the moment. Strange time to be living in. When we thought we would never see war, we are right in the middle of it. No gunshots, no bombs and yet wounds and scars, and innumerable lives lost! In this February - March issue of Communicate 98, we walk you through love, reflection and some new actions. We embrace the change of going online in these times of quarantine! On that note, I would like to introduce to all of you our new lead designer Nigel Gomes. Welcome to the team, Nigel! Lastly, let us not lose hope for as Emily Dickinson said, Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul And sings the tune without the words And never stops at all. #StayHome #StaySafe #SafeLives
Haleemunnisa Fatima
District Newsletter Editor
COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
FROM THE DPRM'S DESK
Dear fellow members, Good or bad but we are all going through unprecedented times! The last 3 weeks must have been different, difficult, interesting and at the same time unraveling for many! Well for me it has been a blessing in disguise. On one hand where I have been swamped with office work on the other I have learnt cooking! But among all of these, the most heartening thing is that we have all adopted to these changing times! I am so happy to see our clubs going online with their meetings and contests. While initially we were a bit sceptical about embracing the virtual mode today we find it a way of life. It is giving opportunities to members to visit clubs across the world and take up roles! Let's make the best of these time! And as I sign off I get remembered of this quote by Benjamin Disraeli - Change is inevitable, change is constant! Let's all embrace this change and change our lives for better! #StayHome #StaySafe
Ravi Sharma District Public Relations Manager
COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
DISTRICT OFFICERS 2019 - 2020
Venkata Ramana Dittakavi Mukta Nadkar Dipankar Das Aaron Colaco Revathi Mocherla Ravi Sharma Ravi Teja Marrapu Jasvindersingh Bhatti Avaanticka Narayan Harshad Khiera Amandeep Singh Harshita Lalchand Satish Reddy Eadala Divesh Tiwari Joy B Hans Mythili Sarathy Vinay Kumar Srivastava Akhil Pillai Himanshu Inamdar Khushboo Kanodia Deval Patel Aviral Patle Jyotendra Sharma Tapas Saha Saikumar Iyer Neha Warrier Shekhar Khobrekar Sanjan Shetty Ranjini Rao Ankit Pachauri Ravi Asher Sanjay R Vishnu Medikonda Sandesh Banger Sakshi Srivastava Suneel Potdar Satish Poondla Shweta Saraf Sushil Pawar Manideep Raja Shekhar Satyaram Sandeep Raj Madasu Sanjona Jonnavithula Adnan Ali Uday Kiran Sodima Annish Mohapatra Jayasree Karthik N S Saisudhan Sutrave
District Director Program Quality Director Club Growth Director District Administration Manager District Finance Manager District Public Relations Manager Immediate Past District Director Division Director A Division Director B Division Director C Division Director D Division Director E Division Director F Division Director G Division Director H Division Director J Division Director M Division Director O Division Director P Area Director A1 Area Director A2 Area Director A3 Area Director A4 Area Director B1 Area Director B2 Area Director B3 Area Director B4 Area Director B5 Area Director B6 Area Director C1 Area Director C2 Area Director C3 Area Director C4 Area Director C5 Area Director D1 Area Director D2 Area Director D3 Area Director D4 Area Director D5 Area Director E1 Area Director E2 Area Director E3 Area Director E4 Area Director E5 Area Director F1 Area Director F2 Area Director F3 Area Director F4
Annem Yasaswini Sainadh Gupta Vineela Padmaja Balla Gautam Ayyalasomayajula Siddharth Vedulla Surekha Thandra Devika Padam Animesh Mahapatra Chaitanya V Eshant Gupta Manav Makhija Mrunal Hatwar Akashdeep Agarwal Vaishalee Sheth Mavani Deepa Rajendra Shetty Santosh Akella Ajay Kumar Syona Fernandes Clyde Tellis Utkarsh Ajay Shah Vasudha Lal Nabanita Das Suhas Ananthanarayanan Ramya Kesharwani Vikram Sikka Pramod P B Neil Doshi Sagar Pawar Dhaval Vyas Jayeshkumar Pindoriya Chandrashekar D P Vijay Kalke Pavan Teja Basva Smita Mishra Mayuri Assudani G. K. Aajay Shireesh Nadkar, DTM Mayank Naidu Ankit Dasgupta Shubhangi Pandey Mario Rozario Avinash Kumar Sharma Ramakanth Konatham Usha Udayshankar Bharat Shah Haleemunnisa Fatima Basudhara Choudhuri Ron Billimoria
Area Director F5 Area Director G1 Area Director G2 Area Director G3 Area Director G4 Area Director G5 Area Director H1 Area Director H2 Area Director H3 Area Director H4 Area Director H5 Area Director J1 Area Director J2 Area Director J3 Area Director M1 Area Director M2 Area Director M3 Area Director M4 Area Director M5 Area Director M6 Area Director O1 Area Director O2 Area Director O3 Area Director O4 Area Director O5 Area Director P1 Area Director P2 Area Director P3 Area Director P4 Area Director P5 District Parliamentarian District Credentials Chair District Logistics Manager District Training Manager District Chief Judge District 98 Pathways Chair DCP & Awards Chair District Marketing Manager Club Extension Chair - Community Club Extension Chair - Corporate Club Extension Chair - New Initiatives Club Coach Manager Club Coach Manager Club Coach Manager District Audit Committee Chair District Newsletter Editor District Communications Chair District Webmaster
COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH
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COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
COVER STORY
District 98 Goes Online Necessity is the mother of invention, and maintaining learning in Toastmasters was suddenly a challenge. Nevertheless, as Albus Dumdeldore said, 'Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.' For District 98, our source was turning to online meetings. A sudden surge in video online Toastmasters meetings can be owed to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It's strange how in the blink of an eye we were cancelling club meetings and Area contests. Yet at the same time, it is commendable that we transitioned to online meetings with so much ease and comfort. This is our story, told not in words but in pictures for you to celebrate District 98 Going Online. Celebrating the spirit of Toastmasters and continuing the motto of 'Where Leaders are Made'!
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COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
COVER STORY
District 98 Goes Online
MASTEK TOASTMASTERS CLUB
FINTREE TOASTMASTERS
MAHINDRA WORLI TOASTMASTERS CLUB
SECUNDERABAD TOASTMASTERS L&T VIZAG
ANURAG TOASTMASTERS
AGNEL TOASTMASTERS CLUB
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BKC FIREFLIES, MUMBAI
COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
COVER STORY
District 98 Goes Online MAHINDRA TOASTMASTERS CLUB
MUMBAI TOASTMASTERS CLUB
BIRLASOFT TOASTMASTERS, PUNE MULUND TOASTMASTERS CLUB
THANE TOASTMASTERS CLUB
TOASTMASTERS CLUB OF PUNE SOUTH
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SANTACRUZ SPEAKERS TOASTMASTER CLUB
RIL TOASTMASTERS CLUB
SINGHAD TOASTMASTERS CLUB
COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
COVER STORY
District 98 Goes Online GITAM UNIVERSITY PRECHARTER MEETING
TCS MAITREE ADIBATLA
VIGNANA JYOTHI INSTITUE OF MANAGEMENT
EAST ZONE D41 & WEST ZONE D98
HYDERABAD TOASTMASTERS
SECUNDERABAD TOASTMASTERS
DIAMOND CITY TOASTMASTERS CLUB EZEST TOASTMASTERS CLUB
DILSUKJNAGAR TOASTMASTERS HYDERABAD
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CAPEGEMINI MUMBAI TOASTMASTERS
COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
LEARNINGS
DHARMVEER GUPTA Mahindra Worli Toastmasters Club
From Finance to Public Relations Like all others, I too joined Toastmasters with a gleam in the eye to be an Orator. Being a member of Mumbai Toastmasters, I started waking up early on Sunday mornings to attend club meetings. I loved the positive vibes in the Toastmasters club, where everyone was encouraging the fellow toastmasters to try out different things while embarking on their journey of public speaking . Though I had been intrigued by Public Relations, terms like media impressions, web traffic, lead sourcing, views were alien to me at that point of time. Suddenly, I saw an opportunity, when I received an email from the club’s President encouraging members to apply for being a Buddy to a club officer of Mumbai Toastmasters club. I immediately reached out to Gaurav Vasani, who was the club's Vice President Public Relations (VP-PR) at that time.
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COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
LEARNINGS
Next few months turned out to be a transformative journey for all the members of VP-PR’s team. He used to encourage everyone to come up with ideas on doing things differently. He himself was a fountain of ideas and other members had to struggle at times to keep pace with him. Though I was not the most active member of the team due to work commitments, I still got enough opportunity to move out of my comfort zone and the efforts paid off subsequently. On becoming the President of Mahindra Worli Toastmasters club, I was able to work on the PR front because of my previous learnings. Now I can work with the VP-PR on various PR strategies to be adopted for the benefit of the club. Whenever I get stuck, I have always found an angel in the fellow Toastmasters and have been able to move forward. In fact, in the last Club Officers Training Program, I learned several aspects of PR which can be applied to increase visibility of the club which in turn aid in the growth of the club. During an interim period of absence of club Vice President - Public Relations, I was confident enough to delve into PR activities of the club, despite being from an altogether different background of Finance. In my opinion, if anyone wants to do something different and come out of the comfort zone – A Toastmasters club is the best place to do so. - Edited and Compiled by Sakshi
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COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
FEATURED
Love Story 2020 Cupid can hit you with his arrow at any time. Well for Sagnik Biswas and Aneesha Dutta it was at Toastmasters! Surprised are you? Don’t be! Read on to know all about their love story!
Bill Wilson once said, ‘To the world, you may be the one person, but to one person you may be the world.’ We don’t always believe in this because of the hand that we are dealt with in life, but one such couple in our community might just change your mind. Sagnik was the organizing chair of a Division event in Mysore in 2018. While looking for event speakers his friend recommended Aneesha who was visiting from District 41. It wasn’t a proper ‘meet-cute’ but nonetheless it was a special one and that’s how their story begins. Sagnik & Aneesha were living in different cities, at that time Aneesha was in Bangalore whereas he lived in Mangalore. If the distance isn’t supposed to work out, Sagnik knows how to troubleshoot a problem. He moved to Bangalore in June 2018 and started meeting Aneesha often. While exploring the city and eating biryani, our two love birds didn’t even realize they were on a beautiful path to discover each other. They started planning activities together, exchanging project ideas, helping with club ideas and mentoring each other.
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COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
FEATURED
They became each other’s backbone, a sounding board, a safe haven so it’s natural for them to keep this a secret and enjoy their time together. One of their fondest memories is back from when Aneesha kickstarted a 365-video challenge in 2019. She planned to make 365 videos and post it on her YouTube channel ‘AskAnnie’. They started working on it together where they brainstormed for creative ideas becoming each other’s idea bouncers. Sharing an intimate life, where someone knows you in and out, where they have seen each other in their best and their worst is indeed a beautiful thing. Sagnik and Aneesha have been through all. They inspire us into believing that things can work if you want them to and how serene it is to have someone along in our journey.They revealed their relationship to the world over Instagram during the fun night at the District Conference in 2019. ( it wasn’t a surprise though :P ) Our dear couple got married this year in Kolkata on 2nd February and is now living happily in Bangalore. Our entire team from Communicate 98 wishes them a very best for their new beginnings!‘ 'The best love is the kind that awakens the soul; it makes us reach for more, that plants the fire in our heart and brings peace to our minds. That’s what I hope to give you forever!’– Nicholas Sparks. Aneesha is past the Area Director, District 41 and Sagnik is the current Club Growth Director, District 92
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-Edited and compiled by Tanya
COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
YOUR GROWTH STORY
RUCHA KALKE Mumbai Toastmasters
Toastmasters : A platform to learn & grow I am Rucha Kalke. I have been a member of Mumbai Toastmasters since 2018. Since childhood, I have had a strong inclination towards public speaking. I participated in school annual days, and when I was in college, I participated in various activities where I got to showcase my public speaking skills like.
Currently, I am in my third year of Computer Engineering. It has been almost more than one year that I have been associated with Toastmasters. I have always taken the opportunity to take up various roles during the meeting. I have also taken various leadership roles in the club.I have realised that all this has added to my confidence. Now, whenever I am hosting any college events, I realise that words come fluently to my mind. I believe this is because I get a chance to improve my impromptu speaking skills in Toastmasters. Even when I’m giving presentations in front of my professors, I realise I am more confident and more fluent in whatever I say.
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COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
YOUR GROWTH STORY
This not only makes me happy and boosts my confidence but has also opened new opportunities for me in my college life. I have been given various occasions where my public speaking has been of great use. Also during Group discussions in my college, I realise I can out my thoughts in an appropriate structure before saying them. This has not only fetched my good marks but has also improved my logical and organising skills. During meetings I get to witness speeches from various fields as a result I am updated about various events and latest trends going on around in the society. This has surely helped me to keep my knowledge updated for group discussions! Leadership skill is another added bonus. Taking up various leadership roles in the club has improved my communication skills and time management. I have used this skill in my college as well. I hold various positions in the college club committee’s and being the class representative the communication skills surely help me a lot. I will forever be grateful and thankful as every Toastmasters meeting teaches me something new and it always make me more confident then I am before. -Edited and compiled by Fatima
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COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
LOVE
KUNAL JANI RG Speakers Toastmasters Club
Love - An Emotion The only real emotion in the world is Love, the rest are either rooted in it or get in the way of it. If only we could imagine what our lives would look like without love, we would finally be able to fathom how lucky we are to be able to love and to have felt loved. A Mother's unconditional love for her child is the purest of those. What if I tell you there is one more powerful, valuable and longest lasting form of love? I’m sure most of us have felt the warmth in hearing a plain “Thank you” for having done the smallest things for someone. The satisfaction we derive from the million dollar smile in return for offering a helping hand to an unknown is totally different. But blessed are those who have experienced what it feels like to be of help to a differently abled being. It is an experience/feeling drenched in love.
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COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
LOVE
If only I could express how honoured I feel to be a part of "Joyfest - Ek Muskaan Aur". This venture undertaken by our college students has been an integral part of me. For this day-long event, we welcome differently abled children and children from the slum areas to visit our campus and fill their day with joy. We dance with them, we sing with them, we draw with them, we play with them! The day is all about them. It’s all about bringing smiles to their faces, and spreading love in the best way that we can. Whilst many such days, I developed a special bond with a mentally challenged girl who visits us every year. Although we meet only once a year, she remembers me every time she is there. She hugs me as she recalls her time with us. If only words could express how it feels when she smiles at me. The best I can do is to say it’s pure, unconditional and beautiful. Love dissolves hate. Love melts cruelty. Compassion calms resentment. Cooperation evokes love. It is not enough to have lived, if it doesn’t involve compassion to one another. To help another soul is to heal oneself and while I say this, I know exactly what this means as I felt it real and close when I laugh with their laughter and smile in their joy. There is nothing greater than the gift of joy. It is true. We can’t heal the world today, but can begin with a voice of compassion, a heart of love and an act of kindness. Saint Valentine rightly said, "The love that flows through your heart purifies not only your own spirit, but the love you share with others." -Edited and compiled by Vaibhav
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COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
C98 QUARANTINE DIARIES
NEHA WARRIER Dual member - DB Mumbai Toastmasters Club & Andheri Orators Toastmasters Club World today is facing and tackling COVID-19, it has a huge impact on our professional, personal, education, business etc. you think of it and there is nothing it has not touched yet. I am no exception, it started with my daughter’s daycare being shut and later even school announced closure. Being a working mother, there were no second thoughts, but to opt for work from home. I have worked from home before, however it was for a day or two. It used to be stressful given the unsaid expectations of managing household chores, look after a child and also work commitments. It goes without saying, one would end up taking out the stress on the loved ones. This time, work from home was announced for a few weeks, rather no one knew the definite timeline! One promise that I had made to myself was to stay calm and face the situation with a smile, and ensure stress runs away, far away! Here are few things that I did to have a less stressful lockdown time :
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COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
C98 QUARANTINE DIARIES
• Created engaging games for little one, we did colouring competition, danced together, gave her dictation and also some screen time. This ensured I get some peaceful time to finish office work and also spend some quality time with her, which I would not get if I was in office • We had decided to give house help a break, and I did the household chores in the morning before starting my office work. This aided as an exercise for the day, keeping fit is essential, isn't it? • Explored online meeting options to conduct toastmasters club meetings, club contests and mock contests, and embraced thechange myself and encouraged others as well • Lastly, something that gave me immense peace was arranging for food and snacks for the security of our society. Given that all services were shut, I raised a concern with the society managing committee, on their daily food supply. I proposed all members take turns and provide them with food and snacks and the entire society happily accepted. The smile and surprise the security had on their face when they received food, cannot be expressed in words This is my way of keeping sane during difficult times and staying determined to achieve what I have thought of.
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COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
C98 QUARANTINE DIARIES
SAI MANVITHA THUNGATHOORTHY TCS Maitree Adibatla Toastmasters Club
If Issac Newton discovered “Calculus” in his quarantine and William Shakespeare wrote “King Lear” during his quarantine, why can’t I do something productive? How I am using my quarantine period: Figuring out what to eat in a day. Eagerly waiting to grab my junk from Domino's and MacD after my Quarantine period. My anxiety issues are holding me up working from home, watching Netflix, and an unsettling reversal of my teenage years, because now I started yelling at my parents for going out. But I am hopeful, things will change. And all we can do is be hopeful and continue to live positively!
ROHIT DATLA TCS Maitree Adibatla Toastmasters Club
According to research, it takes 21 days to form a new habit. Let's spend some time during this lockdown to develop a hobby. Hobbies help in increasing confidence, creativity, reduce negative stress, socialization and personality development. As all the Toastmasters are homebound, this is the right time to mend the bond. Spend quality time with your loved ones by cooking, having meals together, bingewatching movies, exercising, etc. Last but not the least, attend online Toastmaster meetings which are conducted globally and get to know about members around the world. Let's share and gain knowledge! #StayHomeStaySafe #QuarantineAndChill #SocialDistancing
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COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
CREATIVE CORNER
Trivia Q1. Neuromancer is the debut science fiction novel of William Gibson published in 1984. It follows a computer hacker who is hired for one last job which brings him up against a powerful artificial intelligence. Gibson coined a term to describe the virtual reality data space in which the character finds himself. Today, that word is used to refer to the universe of the internet. What word? Q2. On Nov. 17, 1855, this English Missionary became the first European to see the Mosi-oa-Tunya in the jungles of Africa. This was a massive waterfall on the Zambezi river whose African name meant 'the smoke that thunders'. He went on to name it after the reigning queen of that time. Who was this explorer missionary & how better do we know this waterfall? Q3. It was only in 1955 that Rajpath was selected as the venue for the Republic Day parade. The chief guest at the first ever Republic day parade held at Rajpath was the co-founder of a famous company in India. Name the person & identify the company? Q4. The first passenger train in India ran from Bori Bunder Railway station to Thane in 1853. The Thane station still exists. What happened to the Bori Bunder station? Q5. In the Mahabharata, the Sun God gifted Yudhisthir a vessel that had a never ending supply of food. The name of the vessel is also the name of a modern day NGO known for its midday meal programme. Identify the name?
Trivia created by: Arnab Ghosal Secunderabad Toastmasters Area G3
Send in your solved trivia to editor@district98.org Last day to send your answers is 15th April 11:59 PM. Winner will be declared in the same week! #FastestFingerFirst
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COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
UNVIEL
FARAZ MOHAMMED TCS Maitree Toastmasters Area B2, Mumbai
Monster I see a monster sitting on my chair With pointed teeth, smelly feet and a nose too big. Who tells me my dreams stink, And that the stage's no place to be. Holds me back when I want to rise, Eating my courage when going hungry. Killing my confidence, He lets out a monstrous laugh. He's just a smelly Pinocchio And the big nose too is due to his lies .So I rise up, go on stage "Avada Kedavra" (I destroy as I speak)
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COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
IN & AROUND
1st Meeting -Santacruz Speakers Toastmasters
12th Anniversary - Bombay Toastmasters Club
100th Meeting - SIMSR Toastmasters Club, Mumbai
200th Meeting - Agnel Toastmasters Club, Mumbai
Joint Area D5 ADP Pune TMC & Toastmasters Club of Pune - South East
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COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
IN & AROUND Joint Area (Area H4 & H5) Tall Tales Contest, Nagpur
Joint Meeting - Chatterrati & Goregaon Speakers Community & Mahindra Toastmasters, Mumbai
Joint Meeting Capgemini Mumbai Toastmasters & UBS Mumbai Toastmasters
Joint Meeting Jamnagar Toastmasters Club & Rotary Rotaract Club of Jamnagar
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COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
IN & AROUND
8th Anniversary Virtusa Hyderabad Toastmasters Club
Toastmasters Promotion at Rotary meeting - Kharghar Toastmasters Club
RG Speakers 3rd Anniversary
Outdoor meeting Vadodara Toastmasters Club
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COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
IN & AROUND
DIV J - TLTP Outdoor Joint meeting Sinhgad Toastmasters & Pune Marathi Toastmasters
Joint Tall Tales Contest Bombay, Chatterati, Dadar, Ghodbunder, Morgan Stanley Tech Talkers, Mumbai, SoBo Toastmasters Club
Joint Meeting JPMC Malad, GSC, Eminent, Nitie, Mumbai Toastmasters
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COMMUNICATE 98 | FEBRUARY - MARCH 2020
COMMUNICATE 98 TEAM
District PR Manager Ravi Sharma
District Editor
Haleemunnisa Fatima
Lead Designer Nigel Gomes
CONTENT CURATORS
Sakshi S.
Tanya Arora
Vaibhav Zarkar
COMMUNITY MANAGERS
Abhijit Roy
Nanda Gopal
FOLLOW DISTRICT 98 FOR UPDATES
DISTRICT 98 BLOG
Communicate 98 February - March 2020 Issue Designed by: Nigel Gomes
A DISTRICT 98 PRODUCTION