Aiming High

P5, Toastmasters International Convention 2013

P4, My

Omantel Toastmasters Club No. 1940491, Area‐6, Division D, District‐20 http://www.toastmasters.org

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TM SABAH AL ISMAILY CHIEF EDITOR

TM ALI AL ABRI ART DIRECTOR

TM FAHAD AL JADIDI GENERAL REVIEW

TM FATIMA AL HASHMI PUPLIC RELATION

CONTACTS

Tel: +968 99277783

E‐mail: ali.abri@omantel.om

Add: Omantel HQ

PO. B: 789, PC: 112

MCT, Oman

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VP Education Word

TM Sabah Al Isamaily

In this competitive age of infinite choices, it’s vital to focus on what we really want and have new ways to go about achieving it. Discover the secrets of YOUR Inner Leader dramatically improve your results and improve your focus and personal power!

So what makes the difference that makes the difference? Evidence shows that those who can influence, think outside the box, speak with confidence, lead with wisdom, create and deliver a vision for themselves and others, are today’s winners.

Participate in toastmasters sessions in regular manner, will defiantly improve your leadership skills, for example, resolve conflict, provide positive feedback, improve listening skills, create job description, team building, critical thinking, time management, motivation, mentoring facilitation, organizing and delegation, planning and implementation.

Participate in toastmasters sessions in regular manner will defiantly improve your communications skills by completing the 40 projects in the communication track (the 40 project divided in to 4 level, each level consist of 10 projects) from basic skills of public speaking to advance skills. You will improve in the following areas:  Give better sales presentations  Hone management skills  Work better with fellow employees  Effectively develop and present ideas  Offer constructive feedback  Accept criticism more objectively  Gain confident  Increase & improve networking By completing both the leadership track and communications track Omantel TMs will hone all the skills required for a successful leader and eventually become Distinguished Toastmasters.

Change is a door that can only be opened from the inside. Change your mind, keep the change and give yourself A HEAD START from Today!

TM. Sabah AL Ismaily VP. Member Ship

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My Toastmasters Journey

TM Praveen

If a tree falls and no one hears it, does it still make a sound ? It's a common conundrum, but one that has plagued me for a while. You see, as a Technical Manager at Shaksy Engineering Services, I could tell you that in all technicality the tree does not make a sound (as sound is human interpretation of energy), but rather it creates a pressure wave. However, my connection to the adage runs much deeper than an understanding of physical phenomena. In my own mind I've always been the tree, filled with potential and ideas, but unable to make a sound.

It was these epiphanies that lead me to realize that communication is essential to a person's life, and consequently drove me to join the Omantel Toastmasters, I will admit it wasn't an easy decision to make, and certainly subjecting oneself to the possible ridicule of others wasn't of great priority to me. I am however, happy go say that through the continued support of the members and presidents (both TM Khalfan and TM Sabah) of the toastmaster group ‐ people who I know consider family ‐ I was able to make great strides in my goals of personal leadership and public speaking.

The Omantel Toastmaster has given me so much. It has helped me become more creative with my life ‐ both in and outside my profession ‐ helped me become more proactive, and express my thoughts and ideas in a way more articulate and concise than I had thought possible. I was given the confidence to confront and attempt my goals.

I'd like to end on this thought, that may be we are all saplings in a forest; and if so, then our goal, in my opinion, should be to make the most of our ability to create a sound on our journey up, that as trees, should we fall quietly, our absence will still be felt.

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TM Khalfan AlRawahi

Toastmasters International Convention 2013 CINCINNATI, OH, August 20, 2013 —Toastmasters International hold its 82nd Annual International Convention in Cincinnati USA from August 21-24, with key programming to include an address by Hollywood vocal coach Roger Love and the World Championship of Public Speaking. The annual public speaking convention took place at the Duke Energy Convention Center. Approximately 1,500 members from 50 countries worldwide attended, generating over $1 million in economic impact for the region.

Downtown host hotels include the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza and the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati. Offers and members got the opportunity to meet, share experiences, and enhance their personal development, “Cincinnati’s wonderful convention facilities and close proximity to so many members made it an easy choice as the host 2013 convention.

Hollywood and music industry vocal coach Roger Love to give keynote address at Opening Ceremonies. The 2013 Toastmasters International Convention brought of the biggest names in vocal talent and speaking to Cincinnati USA. Roger Love, an international voice authority and coach of celebrities in Hollywood and the music industry, including John Mayer , Jennifer Lawrence, and Joaquin Phoenix gave the keynote address at the Wednesday, August 21st Opening Ceremonies. Many other notable guest appearances made throughout the convention, including Susan Cain, author of the best-seller Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking, who honored at the Convention’s annual Golden Gavel Awards Ceremony on Friday, August 23rd.

World Championship of Public Speaking to include Cincinnati resident. The 2013 convention came to a close with the World Championship of Public Speaking competition on Saturday, August 24th, which will feature the top 9 finalists from a pool of 88 semifinalists.

Cincinnati resident and Toastmasters member Chris Nachtrab among those competing for a chance in Saturday's championship.. This international convention and public speaking competition is a unique and exciting event that highlights the competitive spirit and world stage found in Cincinnati USA,” said Dan Lincoln, President and CEO of the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau. It’s not every day that you see so many talented individuals from around the world gather in one place.

Congratulations to Presiyan Vasilev, 2013 World Champion of Public Speaking. The title of 2013 World Champion of Public Speaking was awarded to Presiyan Vasilev (pictured center) of Chicago, Illinois, District 30, for his speech "Changed by a Tire." Second- and third-place winners were, respectively, Kingi Biddle (pictured right) of Rotorua, New Zealand, District 72, for his speech "The Sitting Place" and Shurooq Al-Banna (pictured left) of Dubai, UAE, District 20, for her speech "Finding the Pearl."

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Omantel Toastmasters Club Sponsoring SQU

By: TM. Shaikha Al Hajri

By: TM Shaikha Al‐Hajri

Toastmasters Club

Year 2013 has witnessed a huge effort from Omantel Toastmasters (OT TM) Club to sponsor and support the chartering of a Toastmasters Club in Sultan Qaboos University (SQU).

The support process started by an official communication with SQU management.

The initiative was welcomed and a demo session was conducted in SQU premises in October, 2013. The demo session was followed by another session in which some of the interested SQU’s students and employees took part and participated in handling some of the session’s roles. The session went very well and the participants from SQU started to get a flavor of the advantages and benefits of having a Toastmasters club in such organization that supplies the market annually with workforces that would definitely requires the communication and leadership skills that Toastmasters clubs develop and enhance in their members.

SQU’s students and employees started registering their names as potential club members and with a great effort from Omantel TM Club, a new TM club with the name SQU TM Club was successfully and officially registered and certified as a Chartered Club in a very special day; 18th November 2013 (Oman National Day).

Today, SQU TM Club members are taking major roles in the weekly sessions and many members has completed their Ice Breaker Projects. Omantel TM Club is planning to continue offering their support for a complete one year during which more educational sessions are planned and close support and mentoring OT TM sponsoring and mentoring team has provided a pro‐active support to the new chartered club by conducting many educational sessions and providing guidelines for the new members on how to handle their roles and responsibilities effectively. Will continue to be provided.

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By: TM Saleh al-Khamyasi

Energetic Hala: An Aspiring Toastmaster

Interviewed by: Saleh Abdullah Al-Khamyasi

Hala is young, energetic and passionate Toastmaster. She had a humble beginning just like most of her fellow toastmasters around the world but the leap and progress she has made is phenomenal.

From a member, to a sergeant at Arms and now at the helm of her club as president of Omantel Toastmasters Club CC/CL Hala Albalushi is an attestation of what toastmasters can bring about in an individual’s life.

As a mother of two lovely kids Al-Qaisar 8 years old and Mays 5 years old, she firmly believes in the importance of work- life balance.TM Hala works as Business support manager in the Human Resources Division at Omantel. She takes pride to be the founder and creative director of Hala Trading which has been operating for the last 8 years.

Let us Talk met this energetic and passionate and took a chance of her presence at OTAC 2013. We approached her for an interview so that she can share her toastmaster’s experience. She smiled and welcomed our invitation wholeheartedly. Our conversation with this achiever delved into many directions and proceeded as follows: I was really intrigued by the supportive and positive learning environment. It was a place where no one laughs at you and all are keen to support you. I liked the idea and joined on same day to initiate a journey towards excellence. In toastmasters it seems that you are consistently doing something new which means embracing the spirit of continuous learning and growing.

This role made me realize that to be as sergeant at arms or president you are someone important for the club and its members and you have to live up to their expectations.

The opportunity has given me an opportunity to listen, plan, work in team set targets and achieve them. The feeling of “Waw” we made it is certainly rewarding.

Our efforts are for the benefits of our members, club, our beloved Company Omantel and the toastmasters’ community at large.

Without challenges we never feel that happiness of any achievements.

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Our efforts did not go in vein our club was announced as one of the winning club in the “Beat the Drum Award AT DTAC 2013 Dubai.

Through the soft skills that our leadership manual advocates, a toastmaster emerges as a more confident and competent person.

This theme “Touch to Transform” is really inspiring and it makes you look beyond your own self. It is as if someone whispering in your ear saying hey you look around there are people who need your attention.

It’s never late so go ahead and be part of this amazing platform, now not tomorrow! Believe it or not your life at large will go from good to great.

A big round of applause for the division PR team you guys are doing great show for our division God bless you all.

When and why did you join toastmasters?

I was destined to join this nourishing incubator called Toastmasters on 1 st of April 2012. She stared and elaborated yes it is real not a mere April fool. I have honored the invitation of our VP education then and reluctantly dragged my feet as a guest in Omantel Toastmasters club. I was really intrigued by the supportive and positive learning environment.

It was a place where no one laughs at you and all are keen to support you.

I liked the idea and joined on same day to initiate a journey towards excellence. I must admit that prior to that I had always avoided public speaking particularly in front of stranger.

What are some milestones you have achieved in toastmasters?

I expanded my network, learnt a lot from senior Toastmasters, build my communication skills. I started as a sergeant at Arms and here I am today I am the president of the club. This year I was a contest chair for our area’s humorous contest. In toastmasters it seems that you are consistently doing something new which means embracing the spirit of continuous learning and growing. I have also finished my competent communicator & Competent Leader Manuals and now focusing on advanced manuals.

What roles did you serve earlier? And what are the lessons learnt from that role? From a mere member I was elected to be part of my club executive committee for sergeant at arms , I started with this role but I added a lot of value along with the other officers and helped them whenever I have an idea to add something to the progress of our club.

This role made me realize that to be as sergeant at arms or president you

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are someone important for the club and its members and you have to live up to their expectations.

Besides the need to keep club items and requirements from venue and snack always ready whether I am on duty or on leave things have to be taken care of to ensure smooth session.

Tell us about your role as the president of your club?

Yes Thank god I pushed myself out of the comfort zone and gave it a chance to stretch because it is worth it indeed. I am grateful for all my colleagues, mentors for believing, supporting and motivating me. The role has given me an opportunity to listen, plan, work in team set targets and achieve them.

The feeling of “Waw” we made it is certainly rewarding. It has made me belong to a wide circle of friends whom I do respect and appreciate. It goes without saying our efforts are for the benefits of our members, club, our beloved Company Omantel and the toastmasters’ community at large.

What are some of the creative ideas you introduced along with your team?

Umm, yeah I take creativity as a mission always therefore; along with the team we have taken the following initiatives: Ø Intensive in house marketing campaign get more members in our club we promise each other that we never attend a session without a partner. Ø Conducting orientation sessions about Toastmasters at Omantel Head office and invited employees from all the departments. Ø Invite someone a guest from outside our club to address our members and inspire them. Ø Invite one vice president from our company to attend and motivate our members.

These are few examples to show that we are taking our task seriously to see our club progress and flourish as the days pass by.

What are some challenges you are encountering?

Without challenges we never feel that happiness of any achievements, last minute.com cancellation from speaker of the session so we decided always to be informed before 48 hours and we added more speakers for every session as a backup to ensure enough role players are available for every session, we are getting more members to enroll in our club. You could say we are busy spreading positive word of 10 | P a g e

mouth about toastmasters as an education program. We have already publicized in local media about the program. Our efforts did not go in vein our club was announced as one of the winning club in the “Beat the Drum Award AT DTAC 2013 Dubai.

Toastmasters, is where leaders are made relate this to your experience as president of your club?

Yes abilities may differ but in toastmasters you learn by doing and inculcating certain positive habits that make a person have a competitive advantage. Through the soft skills that our leadership manual advocates, a toastmaster emerges as a more confident and competent person.

Likewise in my case the opportunities I got as speaker, role player and leader particularly in my role as president gave me opportunities to develop untapped potential and stretch to excel. In addition, participating in organizing events and planning for contests at club, area and division made me learn new skills. I have always made it a point to involve the officers in any new idea so that we achieve further success through listening to each other.

Thanks god that our club officers are committed and everyone is doing his/her role and more to support the team and serve our members.

Our Theme this year “Touch to Transform” how did you reflect this in your club?

This theme “Touch to Transform” is really inspiring and it makes you look beyond your own self. It is as if someone whispering in your ear saying hey you look around there are people who need your attention.

Having such understanding at heart we made a lot of marketing to attract a lot of people to realize that there is something called toastmasters and will introduce positive changes in your lives. We encouraged our members to stretch and take ownership in their own development and advance in their manuals.

We have recommended toastmasters members of our club to take parts in many events that the company has embraced to boost their morale and help them excel. Besides our club members in coordination with the area and division carried a demo session at Sultan Qaboos University to encourage the student segment to benefit from toastmasters. We also intend to sponsor one club in Salalah in the days to come.

Our club officers and I are proud to have positive members and each one have creative and new ideas. They always make it a point to share them with the rest of us. I must admit some of these stories are really inspiring.

Besides, I insist, in our weekly session to share with our members and guests through my address other club initiatives and news to let them aware and inspire them to realize how we all could change and be like other clubs and even better!

Omantel Toastmasters club in coordination with the division team has hosted the world Champion of Public Speaking DTM Lance Miller who shared his rich experience in an evening that touched almost one hundred and twenty participants.

Tell us about your reading habit & what are you reading at the moment?

I love reading and I don’t have specific rituals or set a particular time. In my case I let my passion for reading take me forward. I read daily about 11 | P a g e

the impact of passion. Currently I am reading a book called “Flow psychology “yeah don’t be surprise!!

What other approach do you follow in developing yourself?

I insist on being creative in doing anything either in my work, business even with my kids. I listen to other people and learn from their approaches but I always make it a point to raise the bar. Listening and asking have been a great formula.

What is your advice to the budding toastmasters?

It’s never late so go ahead and be part of this amazing platform, now not tomorrow! Believe it or not your life at large will go from good to great.

You should realize that life shrinks and expands in proportion to ones’ confidence.

A last word you want to conclude with?

I want to express my special thanks to you TM Saleh (Smart-AmazingLive-Elegant-Helpful) you have always been there for us at Omantel toastmasters whenever needed. Also a big round of applause for the division PR team you guys are doing great show for our division God bless you all. Thanks a lot for all the Toastmasters community in Division D- Oman.

As area governor, I serve as the direct liaison between the district and the clubs in my area which are 4 Clubs (PDO, PDO2, Sohar and Abbjad the first Arabic TMs club in Oman). One way that you serve clubs is through the area club visits conducted at least twice a year. These visits are crucial to understanding how clubs are fulfilling member needs, and how the district is successful in supporting and meeting the needs of each club.

Insofar as practicable, the area governors shall have served as members of a district council. The area governor is eligible for reelection or reappointment for one succeeding term only.

Responsibilities: Report regularly to the division governor and district leaders on area progress.

Serve as Area Council chair.

Achieve Distinguished Area status.

Make at least two club visits per club per year: Contact club presidents monthly about: Visiting Clubs this is Fun was for me and Networking Quality clubs are those that meet their members’ needs. As an area governor, you play a critical role in maintaining club quality through club visits and keeping in touch always with them by all communication.

This position develop my leadership and teach me more how to be committed in any position we talk responsibility for it.

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Word of thanks Dear Toastmasters, May we always be like marching ants carrying one grain of sugar at a time – falling again and again but never giving up until we reach the top?

Thank you for your invaluable support, friendship, transparency and patience, and for being such a great and wonderful team.

‘Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success”, Henry Ford

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