Aiming High

P4, Remember it is only Because of the Storm… the Sunshine.

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

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TM SABAH AL ISMAIELY 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

Website: http://www.omantel.om/OmantelToastmasters/CM.htm 2 | P a g e

President word

By: ACB, ALB TM, Sabah al Ismaily

Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” Quoted from famous industrialist Henry ford.

Omantel Toastmasters is a young and aspiring group of Omantel staff members, who are committed to self-development and improvement of communication and leadership skills.

We sincerely believe in coming together by encouraging greater participation of Toastmasters whether within the company or by sponsoring new clubs and arranging brilliant sessions to expand our networking and horizon internally and externally.

We sincerely believe in working together as one team to overcome any obstacles we might face toward the road of glory and prosperity to reach our ultimate successful goals at work place or personal life.

Everyone has their own personal reasons for joining Toastmasters. Whatever your goals in life may be, your success depends on your ability to communicate.

Individuals who can express their ideas - so that they are heard, understood and acted upon - possess one of the primary qualities of leadership. Toastmasters program offers many benefits that help people in all walks of life to progress a head.

Through Toastmasters you will become a better speaker, you can develop the skill and confidence to express yourself in any situation. You will learn how to structure your answers, how to formulate and convey ideas with maximum impact.

Through Toastmasters you will become a better Leader; you will learn the basics of leadership and then move through a series of more progressive and challenging projects, including team building, resolve conflicts, inspire your team and all leadership soft skills.

ACB, ALB Sabah AL Ismaily Omantel Toastmasters President

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TM Suhaila Al‐Kindi

Moment of Truth

Omantel Toastmaster Club’s most important goals are member service and personal satisfaction. In order to keep Members active and recruit new members, clubs must provide courteous, attentive, and capable service to every member and guest.

The Moment of Truth workshop was conducted on the 21/02/2014 by TM Suhaila Al Kindi .This is an episode where a person comes in contact with any aspect of the Toastmasters experience and forms an impression of a club’s quality and service. Clubs must remain cognizant of these crucial, Decisive times and ensure that every experience with Toastmasters is a positive one.

There are six critical moments of truth in which clubs have an opportunity to create positive Impressions. The six critical Toastmasters moments of truth are:

 First impressions  Membership orientation  Fellowship, variety, and communication  Program planning and meeting organization  Membership strength  Achievement recognition The Audience were divided into six equal groups. A moment of truth was assigned to each group. And they were asked to determine how many standards the club meets and discuss how the club handles each of the quality standards belonging to the assigned moment of truth and how can it be improved. At the end of the workshop all recommendations and suggestions were discussed and taken in to consideration for improving the quality of the club.

“Moments of Truth” evaluation is a healthy discussion and should be conducted at least once per year to ensure the club is taking advantage of every opportunity to make a good impression when an individual comes in contact with any aspect of Toastmasters. Remember the old maxim; you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

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By: TM, Zainab al-Majali

Remember it is Only Because of the Storm, the Sunshine

How many of us are faced with tragedies in our life and within our families!!!! Have we ever stopped and thought how we react to these tragedies and what we do to rise above them!!!

Everyone faces some crisis or tragedy in their lives. But what really affects us the most are those tragedies that occur within our families and too with the people closest to us.

Today I would like to share with all of you some personal tragedies that struck my family one after the other and how we were able to rise above them.

In my life I have faced a lot of tragedies; the worst among them was when my father passed away. All of us were deeply shocked at his sudden death and were deep in mourning. It was during this time that I noticed how hard it was for my mother to bear this loss and how she just stopped talking; it was like the life had gone from her. It was only my eldest brother who was able to talk to her and she started to live again. He was the closest of all children to her. Just when my mother was beginning to adjust to my father's death, this eldest brother of mine passed away. For us siblings this was unbearable but imagine the immense pain that my mother must have felt at that time.

That is not all my friends, my sister lost two of her sons at the young age of 17 & 18 years in a car accident on the same day. This put her in shock for a long time. It affected her so much that she stopped going out, stopped all interactions with others, and locked herself in her grief. It was not easy for her family at all. For some time I was looking after my niece. However, I thank God that my brother in law was very understanding and very close to my sister. He was able to draw her out. She is now healing from her grief and what is helping her is her new baby boy a gift truly from the Almighty. This baby doesn't replace her two sons whom she lost but it helps her fill some of the emptiness their deaths left in her life. She has now started to live again.

At times like this we feel why God has taken away all our happiness and burdened us with all this grief; but we need to realize that what is destined will happen and all these are tests which we are put through in order for us to become stronger.

My friends always remember that every cloud has a silver lining and that after every storm there will be sunshine. Consider all your troubles in life like the storm which will last for only a few days but will lead to many days filled with sunshine and happiness.

Remember it is only because of the storm, the sunshine is appreciated more. Similarly only after sadness we can truly appreciate the happiness we get in life.

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By: TM. Namira Iqbal

My Toastmasters Journey

On April 01st’ 2013 my journey of Toastmasters began at Omantel Toastmasters Club with a bang by giving my first ever speech ‘A Snapshot of my Life’. My very first experience of public speaking after graduation which was more than ten years back. To my astonishment and delight I won the best speaker of the day and this gave me that much needed boost to overcome my fear of the stage.

I kept taking roles during the weekly sessions which were then held every Monday from 2-4pm. This gave me the confidence to go further on the path of achieving the Toastmasters educational awards of Competent Leadership and Competent Communication.

Soon the time for my second project speech was near and this left me in cold sweat.

Not knowing what to speak about; I dug for a story in my life that I could relate to the audience and still fulfil the project objectives.

I was successful in delivering my second project as well and to my greatest pleasure won the best speaker of the day again.

The sessions by then had shifted to every Tuesday. Soon it was May and it was time for elections of the Club Officers and there lay the biggest challenge for a new bee like me; to stand for an officer’s post or to wait for the next election.

With doubt and fear in my heart I nominated myself for the position of Vice President Education; however was unable to get the post. Not losing heart I tried for the Vice President Membership post and lost by a couple of votes.

Persistently I tried again and stood for the Secretary’s post and voila emerged the clear winner for this post.

I became the Secretary of Omantel Toastmasters Club for the term July-December 2013.

In this capacity I was required to keep all official documents and data for the club well maintained. Also I was required to record and distribute the minutes of the executive committee meetings by the Club Officers.

Handling this position taught me the skills of effective record keeping and a good understanding of the laws that govern non-profit organizations.

In June, I was approached by the then Area Governor for Area 6 of which Omantel Toastmasters Club is a part; to be the Division ‘D’ Resource Officer as he would be becoming the Division ‘D’ Governor from July onwards.

Hence; I became the Division ‘D’ Resource Officer for the term July 2013-June 2014.

Here again I was able to hone my skills in effective database management of data covering the membership, contact details and educational awards of Toastmasters from 20 different clubs.

In November I completed the ten projects under the Competent Leadership manual and was made mentor for SQU Toastmasters Club which was sponsored by the Omantel Toastmasters Club. Here I have conducted various educational sessions 6 | P a g e

for the development of the club and towards achieving my Advanced Leadership Bronze award.

By the end of the year I managed to finish four more project speeches from the Competent Communication manual.

It was now time for the Club Officers elections for the next term. Here I again stood for the position of Vice President Education and got elected for the term of January-June 2014.

In this capacity I am on the learning curve and getting a lot of experience scheduling and allocating roles to the club members.

I am also mastering the knack of effectively motivating the new and existing, the beginner and advanced members to achieve their educational awards as soon as possible in the most beneficial and efficient manner.

During the period of July 2013 to June 2014 the DTAC 2014 Executive and Organizational Committees were formed in order to successfully host the District 20 Toastmasters Annual Conference 2014 at Al Bustan Ritz Carlton Hotel from May 15th-17th’ 2014.

I was asked and unanimously voted to take the post of Secretary of DTAC 2014 which is part of the DTAC 2014 Executive Committee. In this capacity I have been recording and answering all correspondences with local and foreign delegates who will be attending the event in May as well as recording and circulating the weekly minutes of the meeting to the entire committee.

This has exposed me to experiences in event, travel and finance management which has further helped me develop my communication and leadership skills.

Finally coming a complete circle; on April 01st’ 2014 I completed my tenth project speech thus gaining my Competent Communication award and also the Advanced Leadership Bronze award.

I have also had the privilege and honor of competing in the Evaluation and Table Topic Category contests at Club level and was placed third in Table topics whereas, in Evaluation I bagged the first position; thus allowing me to progress to the Area level (competition between five clubs) for Evaluation category where I was placed second allowing me to compete at the Division level (competition between 20 clubs) where I was placed third; a major feat for a less than a year old Toastmaster member.

Thus far my journey spanning just a year has been packed with action and experience. My goal is that this journey leads me to the most coveted educational award in Toastmasters; that of Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) and I hope this journey continues the same way with action and experiences adding adventure to it at every step.

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By: TM. Saleh Al Khamyasi

Thriving through Toastmasters Interviewed

Sabah Al Ismaily is currently the president of Omantel Toastmasters, assistance area Governor Marketing area 6 and Sponsorship Chair DTAC 2014. In this interview she is walking down her memory lane to recall her early start with toastmasters and how her return to this nurturing platform was meant to be a point of no return. She shared how she thrived through this fantastic education program. Besides, she expressed the changes that took place afterwards made her focus on helping others realize their dream. The interview proceeded as highlighted in the following lines:

Tell about TM Sabah in brief?

I am simple, humble and passionate about what I do…

As toastmasters I reached the level of ACB, ALB and I am still carrying on my path to excellence. I graduated from Sultan Qaboos University in Bachelor of engineering in the field of communications. I have two Master degrees, one in Project management from George Washington University, USA. The other Masters in Business administration from University of Hull, United Kingdom. I am currently working at Omantel for 17 years as Senior Project Manager.

When and why did you join Toastmasters?

I joined toastmasters in 2000 at Muscat College for 6 months only to take a long break. However, I was destined to rejoin in 2009 as a member of NTI Toastmasters club for 2 years.

In 2011, I joined Omantel Toastmasters as a chartering member and until date I am a member of Omantel TM. It was at this club that I left my comfort zone. Ever since I filled the following roles:  Vice president Public relations (1st July 2011 till 30th Jun 2012?)  Vice President Education (1st July 2012 till 30th Dec 2012?)  Vice President Membership (1st January 2013 till 30th June 2013?)  Vice president Education (1st July 2013 till 30th Dec 2013)  President of Omantel Toastmasters (1st January 2014 till 30th June 2014)

And I am still serving my tenure as a president of Omantel Toastmasters

Why did you join Toastmasters?

Just for the normal reason of overcoming stage fright to find that Toastmaster as an educational intervention is a very strong Tool to enhance leadership and public speaking skills. Toastmasters experience is like a huge and deep ocean full of hidden treasures underneath in which you will not be able to get them, unless you are equipped very well with the right tools. These tools relate to self‐improvement such as attitude, share and exchange knowledge, expand your networking, meet different people from different cultures, improve your social life, team work, etc.

Toastmasters program puts you in the right place for overall skills improvement; it drives you through its Roadmap with a quality master.

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What do you mean by quality master?

I mean guidance through its baselines in different projects starting from new TM entry until becoming a distinguished Toastmaster. It will drive you through this journey step by step passing through different types of difficulties and challenges with full joy and happiness.

How you do like the journey and what impact does it have on you?

I loved Toastmaster experience and I always keep saying that to my friends and colleagues, because from toastmaster’s experience you learn a lot. My writing, reading and speaking skills improved significantly. Toastmasters made me belong to a family or rather a small community; the cycle keeps expanding from club, area, division and district at large.

You are never alone; there will always be inspirational teams behind you whether from your own club or from other clubs who are always ready to support you and uplift your spirit so that you are able to continue through the experience with no single hesitation.

Toastmasters experience had a major positive impact on my social life first before the professional and career life. My attitude towards people and society changed a lot in a better way. My communication skills improved tremendously, my networking increased as I have many good friends in which we can exchange knowledge, good ideas and experience. Even the people around me keep telling me is this the same Sabah we used to know?? One can see a a noticeable change on you! And I just give them a cute smile acknowledging Toastmasters for such precious and life changing gifts. I am certainly proud to be a toastmaster.

How did you affect other people’s lives through Toastmasters?

After I tasted the flavor of toastmasters and started to harvest the marvelous benefits of its experience, I never stopped encouraging people. Everywhere I go, the first thing I will tell them “did you hear about Toastmasters” then I will start explaining to them what Toastmasters is all about and what benefits will bring to their lives. Many people were so happy to know about this great non‐profitable organization and they promised to be part of the family.

Being part of Omantel Toastmasters from the beginning, I witnessed how novice toastmasters are growing in a positive and rewarding way from the Ice‐break project all the way to project ten to emerge as a competent communicator and competent leader and I saw a major positive changes and improvements in their level of self‐confidence, public speaking, and leadership growth. I am so proud of them all.

I really feel proud of bringing this brilliant experience to Omantel work Environment. I got full support from Omantel Management‐ Dr. Amer al Rawas, CEO and Dr. Ghalib Al Hosni, VP HR and with no reluctance they told me to go ahead, fly and spread Toastmasters wings across the company and let everybody benefit and be the change they want to introduce in their lives.

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Toastmasters club is a place where everyone needs to spare time for it. There is no specific age, anyone can join Toastmasters club; from young age to elderly persons from student to PhD holders. It is a learning environment. Toastmasters are the right place where each individual can invest on him/herself.

I have the full confidence that any individual who will take this experience sincerely and complete the full program; he or she will acquire all the required leadership skills which will eventually lead him/her to the right path towards the hidden treasures deep inside the ocean of one’s mind and attain glory and prosperity.

A word to conclude with!?

Toastmasters, is a gift for those who believes in the beauty of their dreams. You reap the benefits only if you hang on and persevere in the quest of realizing your dreams. Sail in the ocean of toastmasters and enjoy the ride. Stick a little longer and reap the marvelous life changing rewards.

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By: TM. Eman Al Sawafi

Opinion of Some of Old Member

Toastmasters is a great club for all ages to join. Toastmasters is a great place to make friends and meet new people. Organizations in general are great places to meet people, but I would say that the Toastmasters atmosphere facilitates it even more. I have met many people through Toastmasters, including many people I might not have otherwise had the chance to meet

Toastmasters is a great club for all ages to join. One of the aspects of Toastmasters that surprised me most was just how fun the meetings are.

Even without all the skill and relationship benefits, I would go to meetings for entertainment Vice President Membership (VPM) I am as VPM responsible for maintaining a strong base of club membership by satisfying the needs of the club members.

VPM Responsibilities The VPM is responsible for the ongoing membership building programs within the club. To support these initiatives it is important the VPM follows up and keeps track of guests, new members and members who have stopped attending.

The VPM can explain the educational program to all prospective members, get their commitment to join and collect membership applications.

It is important for the VPM to be on hand to greet guests at meetings.

The VPM should be relationship building within the club and ensuring members are happy with the club and their progress within it.

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TM. Namirah Iqbal

Omantel Toastmasters Club Contest

Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization based in the United States. Their mission is to empower individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders.

Omantel Toastmasters was established in June 2011 under the patronage of Omantel CEO-Dr. Amer Awadh Al Rawas. The club’s mission is to provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth.

Along with the continuous support of HR VP - Dr. Ghalib Saif Al Hosni; Omantel Toastmasters has been successful in achieving great milestones and contributing to the Toastmasters community in the Sultanate of Oman by way of sponsoring the SQU Toastmasters and Smart & Young Gavel Club.

On January 10th’ 2014; Omantel Toastmasters held their first ever Club contest. It was held at the Omantel HO premises in Mawaleh on the first floor in the main hall from 9am to 5pm. The contest was divided into four categories – Evaluation contest, Humorous speech contest, Table Topics contest and International speech contest.

This event was organized by Omantel Toastmasters President Sabah Al Ismaily along with her dedicated team of Toastmasters who went the extra mile in order to have a successful event and keeping in line with Omantel’s tradition of magnanimous hospitality; invitation was extended to members of other Toastmaster Clubs in Oman as well.

An entire team of Sergeant at Arms, Ballot counters and Timers constituting of Omantel Toastmaster members were formed in order for the entire event to run smoothly from beginning to end.

During first half of the event; Evaluation and Humorous speech contests were held.

For this the Master of Ceremony Sheikha Al Hajri began the event by extending a warm welcome to all and stating rules of the contests.

For the Evaluation Contest; there were three contestants (Abdullah Al Lawati, Nabila Al Lawati and Namirah Bhamla) who were to evaluate the test speaker (Adnan Bamasear) within 2-3 minutes. The contestants were then judged on their evaluation skills based on set criteria by a panel of judges consisting of advanced and highly experienced toastmasters from all over Muscat.

Next to be held was the Humorous speech contest in which there were five contestants (Syed Hasnain Ali, Sheer Al Balushi, Hamed Al Hajri, Iman Al Sawafi, Suhaila Al Kindi), each of whom were required to deliver an entertaining and humorous prepared speech to the audience within 5-7 minutes. The contestants were then judged based on set criteria by a panel of judges consisting of advanced and highly experienced toastmasters from clubs all over Muscat.

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The judges then tallied the results for each of the contests and submitted the same to the Chief Judge Khalfan Al Rawahi who in turn handed the results to the respective Contest Chairs for announcing the first three place winners in each of the contest category.

Contest Chair Rajesh Daga (President of NTI Toastmaster Club), announced the evaluation contest winners as thus: First Place Winner: Namirah Bhamla Second Place Winner: Nabila Al Lawati Third Place Winner: Abdullah Al Lawati Contest Chair Nabila Al Lawati, announced the humorous speech contest winners as thus: First Place Winner: Sheer Al Balushi Second Place Winner: Suhaila Al Kindi Third Place Winner: Syed Hasnain Ali The Master of Ceremony Sheikha Al Hajri then announced the list of all role players and panel of judges who were then honored with appreciation and participation certificates.

After prayers and lunch break; the second half of the event began with the Master of Ceremony Khalfan Al Rawahi extending a warm welcome to all and stating rules of the contests.

Table Topics contest was held with five contestants (Namirah Bhamla, Bader Al Lawati, Syed Hasnain Ali, Fahad Al Jadidi and Sheer Al Balushi) each of whom had to speak from 1-2 minutes on a single topic prepared by the Contest Chair Khoula Al Naabi. The topic was ‘Those who laugh live longer than those who don’t laugh’ and was informed to the contestants only when they were on stage.

The contestants were then judged on their impromptu speaking skills based on set criteria by yet another panel of judges consisting of advanced and highly experienced toastmasters from all over Muscat.

Next to be held was the International speech contest in which there were five contestants (Nabila Al Lawati, Sheikha Al Hajri, Bader Al Lawati, Hamed Al Hajri and Suhaila Al Kindi), each of whom were required to deliver a prepared speech of International standards to the audience within 5-7 minutes. The contestants were then judged based on set criteria by a panel of judges consisting of advanced and highly experienced toastmasters from clubs all over Muscat.

The judges then tallied the results for each of the contests and submitted the same to the Chief Judge Salam Mohammed Salar (VP Education NTI Advanced Toastmasters Club) who in turn handed the results to the respective Contest Chairs for announcing the first three place winners in each of the contest category.

Contest Chair Khoula Al Naabi, announced the table topic contest winners as thus: First Place Winner: Bader Al Lawati Second Place Winner: Sheer Al Balushi Third Place Winner: Namirah Bhamla 13 | P a g e

Contest Chair Mohammed Al Zadjaly, announced the International speech contest winners as thus: First Place Winner: Sheikha Al Hajri Second Place Winner: Bader Al Lawati Third Place Winner: Suhaila Al Kindi The Master of Ceremony Khalfan Al Rawahi then announced the list of all role players and panel of judges who were then honored with appreciation and participation certificates.

The entire event was fabulously organized down to the smallest detail and went absolutely smoothly.

The excitement of the day was brought to an end by a photograph session.

We wish all first place winners the best of luck for their next level of competition where they will be pitted with the other Toastmasters Clubs winners.

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Word of thanks

Miss. President, TM. Sabah Al-Ismaily

Dear Toastmasters As we go through 2014, people are making big changes and doing exciting things. It is amazing to see many of you pursue and achieve real success. It is not by luck, it is not by chance, it starts and ends with hard work, determination, motivation, persistence, commitment and passion.

When I expected good, you gave me better. When I expected better, you gave me best. When I expected best, you have me extraordinary. Thanks for being an exemplary team. Even failure won’t be disappointing when it has to be shared with hard working team members like you. Thanks for giving it your best shot.

Thanks for everything, wonderful team

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