Impressions by Sangamam 2014

SANGAMAM 2014

Table of Contents Editor’s Note……………………………………………………………………………………

Message from the Division Governor…………………………………………………………

Message from the Conference Chairs…………………………………………………………

LEADERS’ SPEAK DTM Deepak Menon, International Director………………………………………………….

DTM Nagaraja Rao, Region Advisor, Region 13……………………………………………….

DTM Kumaran Pethi, District Governor, District 82…………………………………………...

DTM Yusuf Jeevunjee, LGET, District 82……………………………………………………….

DTM TK Ramesh, LGET, District 82-A…………………………………………………………..

TM Gauri Seshadri, LGM, District 82-A………………………………………..………………..

DTM Sastharam Ravendran, LGM, District 82-B……………………………………………….

BATTLEGROUND Interview with TM Dwayne Smith, World Champion of Public Speaking 2002………………

Interview with the 2013 District Winners of the International Speech Contest...……………

YOUR VOICE It takes three to evolve—DTM Saro Velrajan.…………………………………………………

All about caring and sharing—TM Aravindan Kuttalam………………….……………………

The confluence of leaders—DTM Nina John…………………………………………………..

Making a leap for greatness—DTM Dr. Trinadha Rao…………………………………………

A toast in Paris—TM Asha Verghese…………………………………………………………...

What the YLP meant to me—TM Sunil Baffna…………………………………………………

A day spent—TM Akshaya Sriram……………………………………………………………...

Let the games begin—DTM Lalitha Giridhar…………………………………………………...

The receipt of applause—TM MN Pai…………………………………………………………

In word and deed—TM PD Parthasarathy…………………………………………………….

An ode to Toastmasters—TM Virat Mehta……………………………………………………

From an art to a life skill—TM Sivadas Balakrishnan…………………………………………

Hello China—TM Vivekananda PV…………………………………………………………….

Tear open your cocoon—TM Abhishek Mazumder………………………………………….

UNWIND What type of speaker are you…………………………………………………………………

Tête-{-tête with Toastmasters………………………………………………………………..

CLUB PROFILES TCS Maitree Alpha Toastmasters Club………………………………………………………. Brisa VIT Toastmasters Club…………………………………………………………………..

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Chennai Toastmasters Club…………………………………………………………………...

McDermott Toastmasters Club……………………………………………………………….

Fogo VIT Toastmasters Club…………………………………………………………………..

Trichy Toastmasters…………………………………………………………………………...

Amazon Chennai Toastmasters Club……………………………….…………………………

Clima VIT Toastmasters……………………………………………………………………….

Alpha Betans Syntel Toastmasters Club……………………………………………………...

Aristurtles Syntel Toastmasters Club…………………………………………………………

Agua VIT Toastmasters Club…………………………………………………………………..

Wipro Chennai Toastmasters…,………………………………………………………………

Flyjac Self Mastery Club……………………………………………………………………….

TCS Maitree Champions Toastmasters Club………………………………………………….

Shell Chennai Toastmasters Club……………………………………………………………..

KCG Toastmasters Club……………………………………………………………………….

Coimbatore Toastmasters Club……………………………………………………………….

TCS Insurance Toastmasters Club…………………………………………………………….

TCS Chennai Infinity Club……………………………………………………………………...

CAT EDC- I Toastmasters Club………………………………………………………………...

TCS Maitree Orators…………………………………………………………………………..

Terra VIT Toastmasters Club………………………………………………………………….

TCS Maitree Chennai Toastmasters Club……………………………………………………..

Involve to Evolve S angamam - what a beautiful word to name a conference! The word in itself radiates unity, positivity and intellectual proliferation - qualities that we, as Toastmasters, hold in high regard. When my team and I were brainstorming the name of the souvenir for Sangamam, we realised how this would be a momentous occasion for all, particularly as our division is on the cusp of change. Regardless of when we began our Toastmasters journey, our division, Division G, has been successful in casting an impression on us - of integrity, mutual respect, development and leadership. And that's how the name of our souvenir— ‘Impressions’ came to life. When most of us begin our Toastmasters journey, we are impatient for change. We expect to be transformed into confident speakers and individuals by just attending a few meetings and completing our projects on a spree. But the more Toastmasters you meet and the more time you spend in the circuit, you realize how it doesn't work out that way. To achieve your goals in Toastmasters, you need to invest lots of hard work, commitment and dedication in yourself, your club and in the mission of Toastmasters. That's when you get your return on investment. You realize that every time you come on stage to speak, or take up a role, or simply, just attend a meeting to extend support to your comrades, you evolve into not just a better speaker and a leader, but also into a better person. You learn with every opportunity and see yourself transform into a confident you, by facing your fears over and over and over again. That's the theme of our souvenir. We hope that Impressions rekindles the zest for Toastmasters in you and helps you reminisce your evolution and journey here.

and TM Abhishek Mazumder for doing such a brilliant job. Your ideas and enthusiasm were infectious and it was an absolute honour to work with each one of you. I must acknowledge TM Sandheep Vurukkara for designing the cover page of our souvenir. I must say, Sandheep, you are a designing genius! I would also like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our Division G Governor - DTM Suganthi Periasamy for her support and guidance towards the souvenir, and to our Conference Chairs, TM Rahul Shankar and TM Dennis Dayal for all the energy and enthusiasm they brought to the table. Lastly, a big shout out to all those Toastmasters who have sent their articles to us. By sharing your opinions and experiences, you've added so much value to the souvenir. We hope this milestone conference and souvenir have cast a good impression on you, and more importantly, we hope it helps you evolve into a better YOU. Warm regards,

I would like to laud my wonderful editorial team - TM Hemalatha Kamaraj, TM Vijayalakshmi Gunasekarapandian, TM Sivadas Balakrishnan

TM Noorain Mohammed Nadim Editor—Impressions

The Editorial Team

TM Abhishek Mazumder

TM Hemalatha Kamaraj

TM Sivadas Balakrishnan

TM Vijayalakshmi G.

United We Stand W e started out as one BIG family of 20 clubs in July 2013 and today we stand stronger as a BIGGER family of 29 clubs. In this fast paced life, these days it is difficult to meet members of a family of four in one place. I am thrilled by the fact that Sangamam has brought members of all clubs of Division G to one place, with many Toastmasters travelling all the way from Coimbatore, Trichy and Vellore to attend the conference in Chennai! Sangamam, in every style, is a true confluence of the clubs of Division G. We have members from all the clubs actively involved in one committee or the other and seamlessly coordinating with each other, irrespective of the geographical challenges. All of us deserve a pat on our back, let’s give one to ourselves! It has been a very eventful 10 months so far, with this conference being no exception. I have seen a great level of enthusiasm from the Division team and every Toastmaster who has contributed in some way or the other towards the successful conduct of this conference, which I am sure by now you would have experienced.

port from various clubs to run events only adds icing on the cake!). And finally, wisdom – The creativity of so many Toastmasters from creating whacky fliers, Android applications, to the planning of the programme for the division baffled me to understand how far we can go in our thought process when we really want to make something happen in a very successful manner.

The three most important aspects of true character – strength, wealth and wisdom is also what drives us forward as Toastmasters of Division G. In the ability to adapt, work diligently, manage time and overcome challenges, I see great strength. The successfully organized Club and Area Contests, and also the hard preparation of participants reflect their great strength as a Toastmaster.

So let this be my tribute to you, my dear Toastmasters who are strong, and wealthy in mind and action for taking the Toastmasters movement forward.

The timely payment of dues, the very thought of a Toastmaster to look beyond the constraint of money, seeking knowledge and responsibilities, showed me the power of wealth (of course, the timely payment of dues and sup-

DTM Suganthi Periasamy Division ‘G’ Governor—District 82

Welcome to Sangamam!

s much as we embrace the modern world, professionalism and technology, somehow, one thing never changes - it is the deep rooted tradition that hides itself in our actions. The best example I can give you is our conference! There is a reason why we named it Sangamam. Yes, it does mean a confluence, a meeting; but what does this have to do with our tradition? For thousands of years, orators, scholars, scientists, doctors, statesmen and citizens gathered together in this very same land. They competed, lectured, networked, researched and shared their ideas How different are we here, at our Sangamam? We are students, home-makers, government servants, corporate employees, and entrepreneurs. But there is one reason why we meet - Toastmasters! The tradition silently lives on. The spirit of our contests, the knowledge from the educational sessions and the ideas of networking, sharing our thoughts, helping fellow Toastmasters improve and of course enjoying the experience continues to bring us together.

I hope each and every one of our guests at Sangamam and our readers of Impressions enjoy the experience! May our tradition of Toastmasters live on, may this be my secret Toast to this land and its various traditions that somehow will always be upheld! Warm regards, TM Rahul Shankar Conference Chair

This Is It!

he most awaited, special and vibrant conference of District 82 is here— Division G’s ‘Sangamam 2014.’

This opportunity has been utilized to the fullest by our team. I am sure the intensity, flavour and spirit will be alive inside the Central Lecture Theatre of IIT Madras today. Thank you for being a part of Sangamam 2014. We are looking forward to watching you sit back and enjoy the impeccable speeches by a different league of orators from our Division. TM Dennis Dayal Co-conference Chair 8

LEADERS Leadersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; SPEAK Speak Words of Wisdom from the leaders of Toastmasters International

Which Bird Are You?

t’s getting warmer by the day and we all wonder how can we beat the heat! I did this recently by taking a walk across a bridge on a river. The cool breeze that wafted from the river was refreshing and energizing. It was then that I noticed a flock of birds sitting in a row on the railing of the bridge just above the river. They were chirping away and seemed very excited. Just above and in front of them was another flock hovering above as if performing for the birds that were sitting! I was enchanted by that sight and spent a few minutes observing the birds. I noticed an odd thing: quite a few of the birds sitting on the railing did just that; continued to sit on the railing watching the others fly and hover without making any effort to join the performers. It seemed to me as if I was witnessing a Toastmasters Club meeting in progress, indeed a ‘Sangamam’ of members! In our meetings as well, there are always a set of members enthusiastic about taking the centre stage. They are the first to volunteer for roles and the first to complete all their speech projects. They always seem in a hurry, keen to capture all they can from their Toastmasters membership. Then, there are others who are content to sit back; observe and listen to all that transpires but never willing to participate in the meeting actively.

you always hoped to be! It’s been said, ‘Performance is your reality. Forget everything else!’

So which bird are you? The one that sits back and does nothing or the one that unfurls its wings and soars high up to the sky to attain the goal its seeks!

My best wishes to Division G Governor DTM Suganthi Periasamy and her conference team for an outstanding ‘Sangamam’ that leaves indelible impressions on the minds of all the delegates!

Fellow Toastmasters, you can join the ‘confluence’ by becoming performers who grow with every Toastmasters meeting they attend. When you stand on the bridge that Toastmasters has built for you, let the cool breeze of its exciting programme energize and enthuse you to turn you into the performers

DTM Deepak Menon 2013-2015 International Director Toastmasters International

Confluence of Goodness

am so happy to learn about your division conference. Anything related to Division G is always ‘G’rand. I am sure this conference would be a Grand Sangamam of minds, ideas and best practices in the Toastmasters world. Apart from this being a confluence of various clubs of the Division, this would also be a grand congregation of various successful, seasoned and aspiring Toastmasters and I can visualize the energy that would be present in this Sangamam. I would compare this to the 'Triveni Sangamam' where three rivers meet - one of it is invisible as it flows beneath the ground. At this conference, I can see the coming together of great educational sessions and outstanding contests. Not just that - Division G conferences come with a third stream called passion; and that makes all the difference. In conferences like these, there is a gain for every Toastmaster whether they are contestants, or they are a part of the audience, or the organizing committee. In fact, one gets to enjoy the combined benefits of learning, fun and camaraderie. There would be a lingering effect for everyone.

G conference—Sangamam 2014. I convey my compliments to the Division Governor DTM Suganthi, the area governors, members of the organizing team, and all the delegates.

So this April, if there is one thing that would beat the Chennai heat, then it is the collective heat generated by all in this high power Division

“

DTM Nagaraja Rao, Region Advisor, Region 13 Toastmasters International

You earn your trophies in practice. You pick them up at competitions.

It’s Time to Blossom

here is a tree in Bangalore which blooms in early March. It regales us all with its bright yellow flowers. One other variety of the same tree springs up with sheer white flowers. You will not see even a speck of green. Its entire green foliage is covered with flowers. What’s even prettier is the shape that it takes—an absolute umbrellalike structure. As the wind blows, the flowers gently drop to the ground, creating an absolute brilliance of yellow and white around it. The tree quickly covers itself with its flowers once again. As summer sets in, the flowers disappear and we wistfully get back to work, waiting for one more year of its appearance and brilliance. The whole of the year, this tree quietly keeps to itself, unnoticed, sporting a bit of greenery but surely building on its reserve to present itself proudly to the world and wow us with its sheer presence. I could not help but compare this tree to Toastmasters. Throughout the year, all the Areas and Divisions work silently, building on their reserves. Come May and June, the Area and Division Governors bloom, bringing joy and pride to District 82. It is festival time, Toastmasters! It’s the Division G conference. The hard work done by you all throughout the year manifests itself into a festival of colours of yellow and white. With Divison G, being a rock star, I am sure will put up a superb conference. Success has many flowers; hard work has many blooms. The District tree is blooming, thanks to the amazing work of all the Divisions. I am sure to witness a great conference with many white and yellow flowers.

DTM Kumaran Pethi District Governor—District 82

Revisiting Our Goals

t is my pleasure to wish all of you the best for your Division G conference. Once again, you have the opportunity to bring together members of your whole division, as well as members and well-wishers from other Toastmasters clubs, to renew friendships and enjoy fellowship, and to benefit from the educational content and the speech contests which are an integral part of the conference. It is also time to reflect on our performance to date, to measure the performance of clubs and members as committed at the beginning of the year compared to our present position. We must renew our challenge to improve and strengthen our own clubs and grow the movement of Toastmasters in our divisions and district. Developing more clubs, inducting new members and striving for maximum membership retention is one of the basic goals of the Toastmasters movement. Please renew your focus during the remainder of this year, focus on our goals, identify our strengths and weaknesses, and achieve our promised targets by persuading members to complete their educational projects, and work towards the Distinguished Club Programmes as set out by our own objectives. Through this, we will be fulfilling the basic objective of Toastmasters—to maximize members’ experience. I am confident that under the inspired leadership of your team of office bearers, the conference will fulfill its theme of "Learning and leading together." It will draw in many members, develop the skills of existing members, and so, our movement will continue to thrive. Wish you all the very best, and assure you of my full support for all your endeavours. DTM Yusuf Jeevunjee Lt. Gov. Education & Training—District 82

Don’t Inhibit Learning

t is my pleasure and honour to be a part of “Sangamam” – the Division Conference of one of best performing Divisions in District 82. This is a division that is led by a leader who leads by example. That is why 30% of the clubs are already eligible for the President’s Distinguished Club Award. Toastmasters is a forum where everyone is bound by a common thread called “Learner.” We all learn here to become better communicators and leaders. As a child we are never distracted by anything when we want to learn. As we grow from being a child to an adult, comparison and evaluation becomes a part of our learning. This comparison and evaluation is the first and most important hurdle in our learning. Any guest who walks into a Toastmasters meeting for the first time is attracted to this great movement because of the immense learning opportunities. However, have you wondered what stops a guest from joining, or a Toastmaster from learning? Some thoughts that may inhibit our learning are: 

I seemed to know to speak better than the people present at the meeting.



The language of the group is not up to the mark.



There are better ways to present the same thought/topic.



Hall/acoustics are not good.



My fellow learners’ attitude is not pleasing.



My fellow learners seemed to be more confident than me.



I do not have time.

As long as we recognize the LEARNER in us and in our fellow Toastmasters, our learning never stops in Toastmasters. “Becoming better” or “Bettering oneself” becomes the underlying theme for our learning in Toastmasters. My best wishes once again for the grand success of the Division G conference— SANGAMAM! Also, congratulations and best wishes to all the contestants at the venue.

Any or all of the above reasons can be a distraction to our focus on what we want to learn, thus putting us off our expedition for learning.

DTM TK Ramesh Lt. Gov. Education & Training—District 82-A

Say “G” for Growth

hen I think of Division G, the first thing that pops into my mind is the exponential way this division has managed to grow and continues to grow. Thanks to the effort and dedication of the past Division G Governor, DTM Saro Velarajan (2011-2012), Division G was successfully split into three separate divisions at the start of 2012. DTM Kartik Srinivasan (2012-2013) then took this growth one step forward by doubling the size of the division by the time he finished his tenure as Division G Governor. And currently, DTM Suganthi Periasamy, as Division Governor, has already chartered nine new clubs this term. The growth shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. While the leaders have managed to do a fabulous job in leading their team, the primary credit belongs to each and every member of this division. Without their efforts of coming together and conducting demo meetings, education sessions, and mentoring clubs and members, this gigantic growth of the division would have been improbable.

sion G stand out at the very top of District 82. I wish Division G the very best for its 2014 Annual Meet.

It is the true “Sangamam” or coming-together of members and leaders, which has made Divi-

TM Gauri Seshadri Lieutenant Governor Marketing, District 82-A

Toastmasters, Beware!

Bring on the Festivities

ontest times are fun times. Every time of the year when the contest season arrives, on one side, it’s the excitement of meeting all the lovely Toastmasters again. And on the other side, it’s all about the planning and execution of action items. For me, a personal action item that I always put on snooze and end up hurrying on the date of the deadline is my article/message to the conference souvenir team. This time too, it was no exception. But when I sat down to actually ponder, something occurred to me Division G has always wanted to make it big, from ambitious offerings of breakfast and lunch in a conference, to speakers who really add value to the conference with their presentations. But most importantly, the standards of its contests is something that is truly amazing. This term, the publicity on Facebook has been exemplary, and the name ‘Sangamam’ itself gives me a lot of expectation, hope and joy.

just a sumptuous South Indian lunch, but also a traditional breakfast.

The Division and Area teams are some of our finest. They come not just with experience, but with a lot of energy. You cannot miss but think of how these leaders are able to manage their professional and personal lives.

This time, DTM Suganthi and her able team have worked tirelessly to try and maximize benefits and improve the standards of a Division Conference to that of a District Conference. I am sure this term, the conference is going to be worth every Paise spent by our members.

With such a combination of a young, creative and experiment-friendly conference team, and an experienced, energetic and ever-smiling Division/Area team, you might have guessed why they are one of my favourites.

Like I always say, I am sure there has been tremendous learning, a lot of goof ups and some hard feelings; but without all of them, there is no experience and there is no conference. It is time we improved our quality and made every conference the best. Division G and team have already taken the first step to attaining this goal of giving richer conference experiences. Kudos to the entire team! I am truly looking forward to Sangamam 2014.

I still remember the days when we tried to pull off an Area Level Conference in Chennai when all we had were three clubs. We had an august crowd of 62, in which we were only 25 members; the rest of them were guests brought in by the members. The entire conference lasted only until lunch. But now, when we talk about conferences, we start thinking of contests, educational sessions, amazing people, and now because of DTM Suganthi, we will think of not

DTM Sastharam Ravendran Lieutenant Governor Marketing , District 82-B

LEADERS SPEAK BATTLEGROUND Battleground Your Voice Words of Wisdom from the leaders ofwinning Toastmasters Winners Toastmasters share their and beyond ways International

“I Did It And So Can You”

hen we think of milestone speeches in the history of International Speech Contests, the one name that is sure to come to your mind is that of TM Dwayne Smith. His speech— ‘Music in the key of life,’ won him the title of World Champion of Public Speaking in 2002—a rare feat, seeing how he had contested in this category for the first time. The team of Impressions got chatting with him on his foray into Toastmasters, his passion for public speaking and the secret behind his victory. Excerpts: Tell us about your childhood. We would like to know the story behind you. I was a quiet and shy kid who grew up in a poor family of 11 children. I was 6 years old when I realized that I was black. That sounds crazy I know, but when I was a kid we did not have a colour TV, only black and white. Since all the people on TV were white, I thought my family and I were white and if we were on TV we would look like those people. One day I saw a white man with his little boy walking down the street and I knew that I was not white, but black. My whole perspective on life changed because I knew that black people were treated poorly and I was one of them. Like many kids, I saw a better world and was determined to do what I could to make it so. Thanks to God, my dream has come true in many ways. How did you make your foray into the world of Toastmasters? Were you always inclined towards public speaking? I was never interested in public speaking. I worked as a Systems Administrator for a telecommunications company. I was transferred to a different job in another location where I didn’t know anyone. Since I was quiet and shy and

slow to make new friends, I knew that I would be eating lunch alone for a little while.

and try it out to see if it worked for me. I had intended to ask a world champion for help, but never did. I practiced my speech before many, many Toastmasters clubs to share my message. A typical day went this way - I spoke at a club that met at 7:00 AM and was 50 miles away. Then I spoke at noon at another club near my job. I spoke at the last club at 7:00PM 40 miles away from my home.

One day I was riding up the escalator and I saw a poster about a group called Toastmasters. It spoke of all the benefits of this group – dealing with nervousness, speaking better and having fun. The thing that was of most interest to me were the words, “Bring your lunch!” I figured that I could meet new friends and have something to do for lunch every Thursday at noon.

When I practiced at home, I would play one of the speeches from a previous World Championship, then give my speech, play another speech, then give my speech, putting myself on the same stage with other finalists and asking, “Is my presentation good enough to be here?” The answer was always—“Yes”.

You've had the honour of being the World Champion of Public Speaking in 2002. Was it the first time you had made it to the Finals? Yes. This was the first time I had made it as a speaker. I had attended two conventions and was amazed at the quality of the speeches. The first time, I was convinced that I would never be that good. The second convention I attended was several years later and I was convinced that I was already that good. Maybe I was not good enough to win, but certainly good enough to be on stage with finalists from around the world.

According to you, what are the qualities of a good speaker? How can one win the hearts of the audience while on stage? A good speaker has a firm grasp and understanding of the fundamentals of public speaking. He is a student, eager to learn from books, from others and from classes. He consistently applies what he has learned. No matter how far he goes or what he achieves, he is a student and now a teacher as well.

The first time I competed in a contest I won the district final in the Tall Tales Contest. The next year, I competed in the Humorous Speech Contest – and won the district. The next step was the International Speech Contest and I knew I would do well. The first two times I competed I lost at the club level. It took 7 times and 12 years to get to the World Championship.

A good speaker is one who is focused on the message and not himself. He has created a speech that is for a particular audience and has worked hard to present it in such a way that it connects to the hearts and minds of those in the audience. A good speaker knows that the audience is not what is most important, but the message that was created with the audience in mind is what is most important.

How did you prepare for the D-day? Did you give emphasis on the content of your speech, or did you work harder on the delivery aspect of it (vocal variety, body language, hand gestures, etc.)?

Do you still feel nervous before delivering a speech? How do you calm your nerves before you get on stage?

Yes to all of the above. I wrote and modified the speech numerous times. I practiced it over and over again, so much so that I knew it backwards and forwards. Since it was stored in my mind, I could practice the speech while sitting at a boring meeting. I could change a line or two in my mind and put it on paper later. If I heard something at church or work that I could use to add to the speech, I would write it down

I still get nervous. I get frightened if I am not nervous because I have found that the extra energy for the nervousness helps me get over that unease at the beginning of the speech. I try to use that energy to my advantage to change a good opening into a great opening.

inspire or prepare them for what changes are about to come. Toastmasters, like everything else, should enhance your life, not engulf your life.

Many a times, it is common for Toastmasters to find it hard to strike a balance between their personal and professional lives, and their role in Toastmasters. How can one do this without over-exerting themselves?

You've achieved the dream of every Toastmaster - won the title of 'World Champion of Public Speaking'. What next?

You have to understand that Toastmasters is not to be compartmentalized into one area of your life. It should be a part of everything that happens in your life. The organization skills you learn in TM can be called upon to teach your kids to organize their homework or their room. When you have to share bad news, it is always good to know how to present that news to certain audiences. You may want to touch or

Helping others to achieve their goals and dreams. I did it and so can you. I would love to help someone else do better and be better at anything I have done. Through my coaching and speaking to audiences around the world, I am making this dream come true.

Your favourite role during a club meeting and why?

QUICK BYTES: Favourite public speaker

Prepared Speech or Table Topics?

Jokemaster. It is not typical club role but our club has a Jokemaster to get the meeting started on a high note and to relax everyone.

Prepared speech because that is what I enjoy the most.

Three words to describe how Toastmasters has changed your life

The trickiest Table Topic you had ever encountered

Up, up and awayâ&#x20AC;Ś Like a balloon that climbs higher and higher, then gets away from everything that was holding you back.

The speaker I want to be. That person who is unlike anyone else. I also like Les Brown.

Last year at a district conference I was going to impress the audience by listening to the Table Topic Contest and writing a speech from the responses when I spoke the next day. Unfortunately the Topic was so long and confusing that few contestants understood it or had a response that would help me prepare for my presentation.

Your secret to a good speech There is no secret. It is the same work, sweat and tears that athletes, entertainers and professionals use to become the best they can be.

What Makes Winners Tick

dmit it: You’ve always wondered what makes an ordinary speaker a champion speaker. You’ve wished to understand the inner workings of their mind, to unravel how and how much they rehearse and prepare prior to their contest, and most importantly, to ascertain how they walk around with that reservoir of calmness during such times of immense pressure. The team of Impressions got talking to the top three winners of the International Speech Contest at Ovations 2013—the annual conference of District 82, to unravel this mystery. Here’s what each of them had to say.

TM Dananjaya Hettiarachchi—Winner On contests in Toastmasters: Contests are all about putting yourself out there. Toastmasters encourages you to explore your limits and fears in a supportive environment. What better way to test those limits than in a contest? It’s about how daring you are to explore those fears. Contesting develops a different type of confidence that permeates into your personal and professional life. Each contest teaches you so many finer points that you may miss otherwise. When competing, you re-learn speaking. On practicing for the Finals of Ovations I went through the basics. 80% of my speech is just basics. I make sure I rehearse the foundational aspects of the speech that is expected by the judges and the audience. What are the basics? its the content covered by the basic Toastmasters manual. Before the finals, I had watched a movie. This allowed me to space out and not keep thinking too much about the speech. I made sure I didn't over practice. I rehearsed just enough to be nervous. I always decide to add something special to the speech at the last moment. I do this the night before the contest. I thought about the new thing I wanted to do and went to sleep.

with the outside world, stop taking last minute advice from the people around me, and avoid phone calls. Also, I maintain a journal in which I write about my emotions and fears before a contest. I re-read what I have written in the past years and see that a lot of the doubt and fears I had before the contest were not real at all. Tips and tricks Make a script that’s easy to remember, easy to grasp and is something that a 10-year-old could understand. Be happy about tough competition. Generally, I am at my best when I know I have a chance to lose a contest. Any advice that you would like to share with bud-

On overcoming the pressure of a contest Keeping myself isolated 15 hours before a contest helps me immensely. I avoid all contact

DTM Deepak Justin—First Runner Up On contests in Toastmasters: Contests help raise one’s standards because it is only in contests that you compete with the best. Advice for budding contestants Communication is essential for growing in life. It forms the basic building block for success in corporate life. Also, it develop the leadership skills in us. Toastmasters is a journey; it is an experience. That’s why I’m doing a double DTM. Just step out, adopt and excel in life!

TM Sridhar R.—Second Runner Up On contests in Toastmasters: Contests play a significant role. You get to see great quality as you incorporate the objectives of all your projects. On practicing for contests A lot of preparation is involved. It’s a an effort of 3-4 months, where I keep on working on my script based on my comfort. I already have 24 versions and hopefully will have 8-10 more versions soon. On overcoming the pressure of a contest I play contests like a game of cricket. I play for winning, but that doesn’t mean that I get disappointed when I lose. I try to learn from my mistakes and make sure that I don’t repeat the same ones again. This is my sixth year of active participation in the District level and I have tried to address all the mistakes I had made in my previous attempts. I learn from the contestants.

during normal club meetings. In contests, the learning is stretched to its maximum. Advice for budding contestants As budding Toastmasters, you should keep on giving speeches. I, myself, have given 38 speeches in various contests but I didn’t win all. So, never quit when you lose. It’s like you don’t quit cricket when you lose a match. Never lose hope. You learn from your mistakes and come back stronger.

On the importance of participation In contests, you get to play with champions. The standard is very high. We get serious with our speaking skills, which normally doesn’t happen

LEADERS SPEAK Your Voice Words of Wisdom from the leadersand of beyond Toastmasters International Toastmasters

It Takes Three to Evolve

t was the year 2007. I was in the USA then. Those were the days when I was finding it difficult to speak in English. When someone would ask me a simple question such as “Hey Saro! How was your weekend?” I would be frozen as if I was struck by lightning. I would smile… say, “Good,” and immediately walk away from that person. I was afraid where that person would ask me additional questions. Today, if someone asks me “How was your weekend?” I can talk for hours. That transformation was made possible through my continuous investment of time and energy on self-development, through Toastmasters. In my quest to evolve as a better communicator, I was supported by three sets of key people:

my speaking assignments. Every time I did a speech, I did a lot of preparation – so that one day, I could talk like my CEO.

Mentors – My first mentor in Toastmasters was Warren Railey, a 73 year old Toastmaster. Warren had been with Toastmasters for nearly 40 years. He would have regular meetings twice a month with all of his mentees and coach us on the nuances of communication. He would give us a variety of speaking assignments such as performing the roles of radio jockey, news reader and an announcer in airport etc., to develop our communication skills. This was the time of maximum learning for me in Toastmasters. Later, DTM Lalitha Giridhar served as my mentor to guide me in my leadership journey in Toastmasters.

Toastmasters Buddy – A Toastmasters Buddy is important because there are certain things you cannot freely discuss with your mentor; you may require someone who is similar to you to bounce off ideas. A Toastmasters Buddy can also be good company to attend various events, educational workshops and contests, thereby accelerating your pace of learning. My friend Sudhagar Chinnaswamy was my Toastmasters Buddy with whom I mastered my communication skills during the first 3 years. Today, Rajesh Natarajan is my Toastmasters Buddy.

Role Model – Communication skills are like a “tool” to achieve something bigger in life. When you achieve the desired communication skills, what would you like to do? Whom do you want to be like? I joined Toastmasters because I wanted to talk like my company’s then Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kevin Denuccio. Every time he goes on stage, he sets the stage on fire. He was my role model when I began my communication journey in Toastmasters. A role model will help you set the bar high. I didn’t do manual projects just for the sake of completing

With the help of my mentors, role model and Toastmasters buddies, I’ve evolved. Dear Toastmaster… what are you waiting for? If you haven’t already identified these 3 people in your Toastmasters journey, start to look for them now. They are your GPS, oxygen cylinder and torch light when you are deepsea diving into the ocean of public speaking. DTM Saro Velrajan Past Division ‘G’ Governor—District 82

All About Caring and Sharing

students too.

n 2007, while on deputation to US, I came across Toastmasters. I was cynical about it. I felt that it would be too formal and I would not fit into it. One weekend, I decided to attend a meeting and check it out. I walked into the meeting of Redmond 2828 Toastmasters club. I realized that I was wrong.

Every meeting leaves me with something to carry back home – something inspirational, something to chew upon, or something to laugh on. One common aspect of every meeting is that it involves learning and fun. Toastmasters gives us a platform to share and grow. More than that, it gives us a platform to care as a communicator, share as a teacher, and grow as a student. It not only helps you perfect your speech, but also provides you with a great place for learning and practicing valuable lessons for your life and career.

It was a very friendly atmosphere and I felt very much at home. I joined immediately, and that was one of the best decisions I made in my life. Over the years, Toastmasters has taught me many lessons. Let me share a couple of my learning here. I learned that all of us are good communicators. There was a Vietnamese lady in my first club. She had just joined the club and had given her first icebreaker speech. It was close to disaster – no grammar, poor organization, and hard to follow.

TM Aravindan Kuttalam TCS Maitree Chennai Toastmasters Club

In a following meeting, she was given a table topic - “Your unforgettable journey.” She stood in front of the audience and started telling a story. It was the story of her escape from wartorn Vietnam to the United States – how she got separated from her parents and had to ride in a small boat weathering the rough seas, and got rescued by the US Navy. She spoke for 5 minutes instead of the stipulated 2 minutes, but no one cared. By the end of her story, the entire audience rose to their feet. She needed no words, grammar or structure to move the audience because she spoke about something that she cared about. Toastmasters gives us a platform to talk about what we care. I learned that all of us are teachers as well as students. We all have different backgrounds, different experiences and different lessons that we learned so far, and so every one of us can always teach others a lesson or two. So all of us are teachers, and as a corollary, all of us are

The Confluence of Leaders

angamam- confluence, or the coming together of many streams into a larger body is an ideal name for a division conference, where clubs and areas come together. And where confluence is, there, too is influence, because we cannot have one stream untouched by the other. We, as individuals, join different clubs, either because they are close by, have convenient timings or location, or because the organization we work in has one for its employees. And when we join a club, we influence the character of the club, just as we are influenced by it, in so many ways. So the club itself is a confluence of different entities, and each club gradually forms its own character and culture, distinct from that of other clubs. I always encourage Toastmasters to visit as many different clubs as possible, because just visiting provides such a rich source of alternative practices and processes.

their activities. Is a Division Conference a place for competition or for collaboration? In Toastmasters, we believe in “a mutually supportive relationship.” So a Division Conference can be an arena for either co-operation or for competition. Appointing a different set of leaders to take each event forward is a way of ensuring that more people get the opportunity to lead in a ‘safe’ environment.

The best clubs are those that provide scope for all members to participate in whichever way the individual is comfortable, and does so in a way that allows full scope for initiative and proactiveness, without depriving other members. The best leaders are those that grow beyond the club and the mentors, striking their own path, and motivating others to grow.

Division G has a honorary tradition of breaking all education awards records, and I am glad to see there is a pipeline of leaders ready to take on the mantle, going from club to club as mentors and sponsors, conducting Speechcrafts and YLPs, spreading the movement far and wide. Just as you have been influenced by your past leaders, I hope Division G will continue to influence others- I am sure this confluence or Sangamam will be a memorable one.

The Toastmasters tagline reads- ‘Where leaders are made,’ and we expect all leaders to be in the same cookie-cutter mould, not realising that there are as many different kinds of leaders as there are followers. Remember no one path is right for all. Your growth as a leader is as much a function of the circumstances and environment you find yourself in, as it is of your individual personality. There are some who crave titles and never get them, some who do their work without expecting rewards and titles; some who adorn the titles they take up. Competition, co-operation and collaboration are but different ways of looking at others and

DTM Nina John Immediate Past District Governor

Making a Leap for Greatness

hat we are and what we have been has no bearing on what we can be. We can be what we chose to be.

This year in TTF, all three divisions chose to conduct their individual conference for the benefit of all our toastmaster members to witness three division conferences in a row. Division G is always special in TTF as this is the first division in Chennai, and all the other divisions have emerged out of this division. I am sure this conference will provide an ample opportunity to reestablish and emphasize the learning network for all our Toastmaster members across the three divisions – G, M and N. Consistency is the hallmark of greatness; anyone can perform an occasional act of greatness. Truly great are those who can consistently perform acts of greatness. Division G has the habit of showcasing the hallmark of greatness while conducting mega events of half-year and annual conferences.

golden gavel community clubs, i.e., Madras Toastmasters club.

Recently, DTM Suganthi had conducted SPLASH and it had illustrated the hallmark of greatness of her leadership. Not only conferences, she also proved the hallmark of greatness while adding more number of clubs to the division this year. A small difference can be the defining criteria between a good player and a great player District 82 has showcased several times its ability as the Number One District in the world of Toastmasters. For District 82, Division G has contributed a lion share of achievements and illustrated how to lead the leader in the Toastmaster’s movement.

Sangamam is being conducted in IIT, Madras which is one of my favorite venues. In the same institute, I had obtained my Ph.D in Engineering and Management.



TCS is one of the key organizations in division G which has had more number of corporate clubs. I started my IT career in TCS and I got a seed of Toastmasters in the same company while I was involved in one of the workshops of TM Chendil Kumar.

On behalf of Division M, I am wishing most and more success and a great conference to Sangamam 2014.

DTM Dr. Trinadha Rao Division ‘M’ Governor—District 82

On a personal front, I am eagerly looking forward to this conference for three reasons: 



I started my Toastmasters journey with Division G, and established one of the first

A Toast in Paris

t was a chilly Pairisian evening. As I wearily packed my bags and decided to call it a day, I began to reflect on what I missed most being away from India. It then occurred to me that what I really missed while in Paris was participating in Toastmasters meetings. A quick Google search showed me that there was a club meeting –Europeans, happening that evening from 7:30 PM. I was intrigued by two things about the meeting venue – The club was a bi-lingual club (French / English) and the meeting was to be held at a bar! Both of these were going to be firsts for me. The bar was located near the mesmirising Palais du Louvre (Remember Da Vinci Code?) and I was asked to order my dinner before going to the first floor for the meeting. Against the backdrop of the Louvre and some rib-tickling Spanish music from the bar, I had an opportunity to meet and have dinner with people from all walks of life.

was simply unmatchable. The meeting began exactly at 8:30 PM, just as the dinner plates were cleared away. The Toastmaster of the Day spoke in English and I assumed that half the meeting would be in English and the other half in French. I was mistaken, when the General Evaluator began to speak in French. From then on, it was a session of brain gymnastics for me as each speaker, spoke in either French or English. The only rule that the club has, is that if you begin to speak in a language, you must continue with the same language. For instance, you can give a speech in English, but your evaluator can provide an evaluation in French. I was really impressed that the meeting had two Grammarians – one for English and the other for French. For the next one and a half hours, I was enthralled by terrific speeches, table topics and evaluations. Little did I realize that it was nearly 10:30 PM when the meeting was adjourned. I had one of the most delightful experiences and I was able to make friends in a country far away from home, thanks to Toastmasters.

The single common thread that bound us was undoubtedly the Toastmasters movement. Being a bilingual club, the members and guests were fluent in French and English. I was able to enjoy a hearty meal with delightful conversations. I learnt that the club had members who were Toastmasters for about 24 years ! Yet, the simplicity, poise and warmth with which they greeted guests and made us all feel welcome

TM Asha Verghese Area G2 Governor—Division G, District 82

What the YLP Meant to Me

ver since I was a part of my first Youth Leadership Program (YLP), I had it in my mind that I wanted to coordinate a YLP that had a social cause. The day I received an email that a coordinator was required for the YLP at T. Nagar Government Girls High School, I knew that this was the opportunity that I was looking for – the social connect was definitely there. It was also true because of Toastmaster Padma, member of the Chennai Toastmasters Club, who was the Head Mistress of this school. Having known her work closely, I was aware of her noble aspirations. The first phase involved – planning. And I must tell you, planning this YLP required more mind work than I had planned for. Some timely inputs from the senior Toastmasters helped me to put it all together. I must mention here the selfless support that many senior members provided for this YLP. Thank you for being ‘Distinguished’ in your deeds as a Toastmaster.

through this YLP.” She accepted, still full of apprehensions though. But all her worries were put to rest on Day-1, when the students suggested a name for their club – Fearless Girls Toastmasters Club. Need I say more about the aptitude of these participants? They were ready to be fearless, ready to learn.

Let me share an interesting incident here. Just before the final plan was ready, I had a conversation with TM Padma and this is what came out of that discussion – “Sunil, I am very apprehensive about the aptitude of my students to learn things that you want to share with them. My humble request is that you have this YLP next year and I will train my students in this one year to actively participate the following year.” That was a bouncer, yorker, strike, body jab – whatever that you call it in sports, it was a tough one to handle. But I think I understood her concern and thinking aloud, I said “Ma’am, do you think everyone needs to be given a spark to begin their journey of selfdevelopment? If you think these students would get that spark out of this programme, we are ready to support. My suggestion to you is that you let the students be as they are now, but let us try and provide them that spark

The YLP days passed in a jiffy, especially the mornings. I learnt many things during this YLP and I hope the participants got that spark we aimed for. I am happy that I gave my best and in return the participants gave me their best. No, no, I am not getting complacent, for I know as well as you do that I need to work on . . . bettering my best! TM Sunil Baffna Chennai Toastmasters Club

A Day Spent...

day I spent in the forest, The trees sang and whispered to me. A night I spent in the forest,

The trees were oppressive and ominous, it seemed. A day I spent near the ocean, The water winked and smiled at me. A night I spent near the ocean, The water seethed and raged it seemed. A day I spent at home, The walls were warm, they welcomed me. A night I spent at home, The rooms were empty and lifeless it seemed. Day and night, darkness and light, So different yet so far apart; The two sides of man's hearts.

TM Akshaya Sriram TCS Maitree Alpha Toastmasters

Let the Games Begin!

Tamil Nadu Toastmasters.

ivision G has been led by illustrious Toastmasters from Tamil Nadu... and I have had the pleasure of knowing and learning from each of them.

DTM Suganthi and her Team have risen the bars so high that it is difficult for other Divisions to catch up. Today, the team is growing with many more speakers, leaders, and contestants in the making. The energy is infectious. I am so happy to bea part of this vibrant group that stands on the top of the list of all Divisions in District 82.

Division G - my home Division that has backed me up as a speaker, as a leader, and as a contestant... the Division that has made the run-ofthe-mill average employee into a professional HR Head. Being a part of an elite and noncompromising Division has helped me fine tune my speaking and leadership abilities immensely - so much that it helped me reach the pinnacle and be the first District winner (top three) from

Wishing Division G many more accolades in the years to come. DTM Lalitha Giridhar Chennai Toastmasters Club

The Receipt of Applause

nywhere in the world every organisation has an annual feature where the people who are involved in that organisation come together and see how they have been doing, and share with care whatever they wish with their colleague or friend which will help him to notch further a couple of miles on his own.

nitely be a success. The kind of records DTM Suganthi has created has to be emulated by other members of our District, which will put Toastmasters on a bigger canvas in India in particular, and the world in general. As a member from Mangalore who will go away from District 82 to be part of District 92, I will always take pride in saying that I was there with Division G when Sangamam happened in Chennai.

As Dale Carnegie says, “Applause is a receipt not a bill,” we as Toastmasters should develop the simple skill of applauding a fellow member when he does a good job. We must endeavour to keep issuing these receipts to fellow members as an appreciation for all the good work they are doing .

Now I change my hat to be the conference chair and to invite you all to the paradise ......to be a part of ‘Ovations’, the last of the conferences, at the end of which we will go apart. Let's make Ovations a Sangamam of Toastmasters from the future separate districts.

It gives me immense pleasure that the event— ’Sangamam’ will reach every member of the Division and more which will attract non members to join us in this journey of learning. I am sure the annual festival of the Division will defi-

TM MN Pai Past Division ‘B’ Governor—District 82

In Word and Deed

vice versa, it becomes easier to convey expectations and find common ground for aspirations. Then the team begins to march forward seamlessly, because every member of the team firmly believes that each action has been taken in the best interest and fully supports it.

am glad to be a part of Division G through this souvenir. Division G has been the parent division in Tamil Nadu, both in word and deed.

Toastmasters would mean different things to different people. Some would be focused on public speaking. Some like it for the table topics. Some will be keen on evaluations. But I am fortunate to be given a chance to serve as a leader.

Having said so, it is also equally important to value difference of opinion with due respect and diligence. This ensures a win-win situation for everyone on the team.

The first thing I learnt as a leader was to make friends with your team. That bond will automatically bring with it trust and synergy, resulting in a team working together on common goals and lending each other a hand during challenging times.

At the end of the day, even though you feel dusted, drained and exhausted, you are happy to work as a team because you know the success party is just around the corner. TM PD Parthasarathy Division ‘N’ Governor—District 82

Once you are comfortable with the team and

An Ode to Toastmasters

e all know where the paths of leadership and communication are laid,

once was shy. A role or responsibility you get to take up, an officer you can become.

It is right here in toastmasters where leaders are made.

S incerity and conviction you learn here and also grow in wisdom.

T he truth about the world is that they don't know what to say,

T each yourself to find the goodness and improvements in one and all;

O r how to do it best, they can't figure out a way.

E valuation makes you rise with each step, no matter big or small.

A simple thought into a speech; that's all you need to do;

R each out to your innermost feelings, help your heart to shout!

S ay it before the people you like, no matter many or few.

S peak effectively, lead responsibly, let the leader in you come out.

T houghts, if don't come at an instant, table topics you should try;

TM Virat Mehta TCS Maitree Chennai Toastmasters Club

M ost outgoing they call him now, the one who

From an Art to a Life Skill

he core foundations of rhetoric – “logos, pathos and ethos” stated by Aristotle remain unparalleled even in this modern age: Logos - arguments based on logic, facts and evidence; Pathos arguments that appeal to emotions; and, Ethosarguments based on the speakers credibility and character.

Their ability to persuade remains and will always remain the single most effective weapon of change. Core foundations of all great emperors across time periods remain the same. However, the evolution of public speaking skills among the masses in this modern age is amusing. The Greeks considered oratorical skills as a liberal art for the elite and it continued to be so for ages until the industrial age and technological advancements over the last century raised the need for the common man to practice this art. In this modern age it’s more of an life skill than a liberal art. Yet, why do people hide under their blankets when asked to speak in public? I could hear your souls blurt out loud about all the negative forces on the earth that conspires to stop you from delivering a magical tale, clinching a deal, or raising funds. Well, you are not to be blamed.

Ancient Greek philosophers – Cicero, Aristotle and Socrates sharpened their rhetorical and oratorical skills to move audiences to action with their rousing speeches. Accounts abound of how Demosthenes, a famed Greek statesman, orator and practitioner of law, yet one with a speech impediment, practiced enunciating entire speeches with a mouthful of stones against the roar of the mighty ocean to perfect delivery. The uneducated masses of yore believed that the gift of rhetoric was God-given and that a man with the ability to rouse the spirit of the masses was spreading the wise words of God himself.

The human race, right from time immemorial, preferred to stay in packs, brains were hard wired to listen than to speak out, to follow than to lead.

Times changed, men became more rational and evolved from spears and arrows to guns and bombs. With keen strategy and invigorating words, Winston Churchill urged every Englishman to stand up and defend his country.

However, thanks to the industrial age and the advent of mass media, the mutation of these hard wired principles began and people found ways to their banish these fears. We began understanding the nuances of public speaking in day to day life, the very foundations that emperors used in their speech to make armies march were used to mesmerize a kid with a scintillating story, clinch a deal or raise funds for a charity. The irony being irrespective of the age we live in, the foundations of rhetoric Logos, Pathos and Ethos remains the same.

“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” – Winston Churchill The ideologies of Martin Luther shook the very foundations of our principles and belief for better, the words of Winston Churchill in the troubled times of the World War offered solace, the chants of “Yes we can, yes we can,” from Barack Obama re-energized the world with a new ray of hope and belief. The common thread between all these great men, or indeed any great person who made a difference, is the manner in which they persuaded people to change with magic that rolled of their tongue.

TM Sivadas Balakrishnan Chennai Toastmasters Club

Hello China!

hen I first got to know that I was to travel to China on a work assignment I was a bit anxious. I turned to my trusted friends for advice and here are a few pieces of advice I got: You should carry a cooker and learn to cook, You should learn mandarin, You will find it difficult to survive. Well I must say that my friends were right for most part. Life in china was very different from life in India. I learnt a lot from this trip: Authentic Chinese Food in India is as far from the “Authentic “ as it can get, Cities like Hangzhou and China are very similar to any other developed country in the world, Religion is alien to most young Chinese, One can’t own land in China, and the list goes on.

beginning of the meet I had met every member who attended that day. Thanks to the frame work provided by Toastmasters there were no surprises and soon I was asked if I would like to participate in the Table Topics round. I was a bit apprehensive at the beginning but soon I realised the kids from ZUCC were no novices at Toastmastering. I was amazed by the maturity exhibited by the students when they came up to evaluate each other’s speeches. This was indeed a memorable experience for me. Soon it was time for me to say bye to Hangzhou and say hello to Shanghai. Having had such a wonderful time at the ZUCC club I was not to miss out on an opportunity to visit a club in Shanghai. This time the club was a Corporate club and I must say the experience was exhilarating. The visit was made memorable by the fact that I was chosen the best Table Topics (TT)Speaker for the day.

About a week into my trip, just when I was wondering if I had taken the advice of my friends too lightly, I was invited to attend a Toastmasters meet at TCS Hangzhou. I must say that this was the turning point of my trip. My interactions with the locals this far was limited to just those that I had when I was fortunate enough to have an interpreter next to me. This changed drastically at the meet. Here, I was able to strike up a conversation with every one in the room. What a relief… Soon one thing led on to another and the one of the members of the club offered to take me to the ZUCC club in Hangzhou.

I was impressed by the creative approach the TT master adopted to introduce the topic and ensure that the participants who came up and felt comfortable speaking in front of the audience. Thanks to Toastmasters I was able to find a way to mingle with like minded people and find new friends in a land far away from home.

Once we reached the club I was amazed at how quickly I felt at home. The club here took its meet and greet very seriously and before the

TM Vivekananda PV TCS Maitree AlphaToastmasters Club

Tear Open Your Cocoon

ost of us today hate to get out of our comfort zone. Almost everyone lives inside, what I call, a “cocoon”.

A few months back, one fine morning when everything was going wrong in my life, somebody whispered to me that why don’t you attend a special club meeting. Reluctantly, carrying the self-pride of having command over the language, I went to the meeting. That was the moment which changed my entire perception about life. Brilliant speakers giving masterful speeches! I realised my speaking skills weren’t even 5% of those speakers. Welcome to the Toastmasters Club.

It is gloomy and dusty from inside. We assume that we can’t get out from this cocoon and will be forever trapped. We keep on telling lies to ourselves, which over time feels like the truth. We can tear open the cocoon if we wanted to but the lies have created such a powerful negative spiral in us that it won’t give us that inner strength to do so. Mustering the courage to push out and see the light of the world takes a lot of effort.

Till date I’m trying to reach up to the standard of these veteran public speakers. I’m trying to learn the art of public speaking. Since then, opportunities are coming so fast. From editing a newsletter to taking part in a division level conference, debates and many more, I’ve been relishing them all.

So, what is this so called “cocoon”? It’s your very own personality. Most people live trapped inside their personalities for their entire lives, never realising the fact that they can emerge out of it. They are victims of their own invented selves. They live in their own false make believe world. They wake up each morning to a world that is gray and dusty. There is almost no ray of hope. Pushing the inner wall of the cocoon seems too hard. Why bother? And how can we be sure that better things lie on the other side?

The effort each one of these speakers put before their speeches is unthinkable. These people have accomplished so much in life but still they have so much thirst to learn. I hear their speeches with awe, be it the charismatic TM Prasanna Venkatanarayanan, inspiring TM Harish Katariya, awesome DTM Aditya Maheswaran, graceful TM Noorain Mohammed Nadim, energetic TM Kush Tripathi, or the ever smiling TM Sivadas.

But there are people who learn to push through. They learn to think all over again. People who take up thinking again and learn to fly high. They learn to enjoy taking full possession of their own freedom. In effect, they reinvent themselves. And in the process, they become owners of the human spirit.

There is so much to learn in this world. We need to keep on evolving to become a better human being every day. Realising and then accepting your weakness is the key. Then, muster up the courage and be dedicated to change yourself for the good. I’m trying my best…are you?

Just to take an example, I too was trapped in a cocoon. Well, I haven’t torn it open yet but at least I’m trying to because I know the beauty of life lies on the other side. So, I would tell myself that I’m awesome at giving presentations and speeches. I would think I could not ever go wrong with my fluent English.

TM Abhishek Mazumder Chennai Toastmasters Club

Unwind

What Type of Speaker Are You?

o two speakers are alike! We are unique as people and as speakers. Some of us are humourous, others inspiring, while the rest are either dramatic or poignant, and so on and so forth.

Which one of these can you picture yourself doing?

So what kind of a public speaker are you? Where does your strength or weakness lie? Try out this fun quiz that will give you a vague idea of the kind of speaker you are!

Making a technical presentation

Being a motivational speaker

Acting in a theatrical production

A job as a stand up comedian

Facilitating group discussions and workshops

What forms the crux of your speech script?

What do people tell you at the end of your speech?

Facts and figures

I learned a lot

An inspiring message

I am inspired

A vivid and descriptive story

I was in awe

Humour

I couldn’t stop laughing

Engaging audience with questions or games

I loved how interactive the speech was

What would you say is your strength as a speaker?

Smart

Philosophical

Expressive

Funny

Communicative

Information

Persuasion

Dramatics

Entertainment

Interaction

Your friends think you are:

Now it’s time to find out how you’ve fared.

of your audience.

Depending on which option youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve chosen for a majority of questions, you can be classified as:

ACB Manual Suggestions: Persuasive speaking Be wary of: Sticking to serious topics.

1) The Scholar: Your speeches are always well researched. You provide a plethora of facts and statics as you present your speech. People are almost always astounded by the wealth of information you share with your audience. You are an objective speaker relying on concrete data rather than a perception or a notion to communicate an idea. Hence, you come across as a credible speaker.

3) The Bard: You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t deliver speeches, you mono act. Your speeches are rich in vocal variety, body language and role playing. Your vivid descriptions and dramatic enactments make you a pleasure to watch on stage. The audience are either crying at a tragic tale you have just narrated or sitting at the edge of their seats anticipating the end as you weave a story filled with suspense. Either way they are enthralled by your performance!

ACB Manual Suggestion: Technical presentation, speaking to inform Be wary of: Too many facts can bore the audience. Keep it optimum. You may not find it easy to speak on an emotional topic.

ACB Manual Suggestion: Storytelling, Interpretive Reading Be wary of: If you fail to connect to your audience, they will not find you entertaining.

2) The Messiah: You are a motivational speaker. You strive to make believers out of cynics. You speak to urge, to motive and to stimulate the audience into action. You have a message to convey and you speak to inspire the audience to act on that message. Your greatest strength is in your ability to manipulate the perception

4) The Jester: Your speeches are humorous and entertaining! People in the audience are

part of your speech as you are. Your speech evolves as and when you deliver it on stage depending on how your audience respond to it. You would make a great career facilitating discussions and serving as anchors.

either hurling in laughter at your witty jokes or sneering at your sarcastic remarks. It is never difficult for you to engage your audience. Humour doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come easily to everyone and if done right, it can be your greatest strength. People love to watch you get on stage since you usually leave them smiling, laughing and feeling good.

Be wary of: You need to be quick witted since there is a fair chance that your audience might respond in a manner that you may not have anticipated.

ACB Manual Suggestions: Humorously speaking, The Entertaining Speaker

ACB Manual Suggestion: Interpersonal communication, communicating on video

Be wary of: Some humorous speakers tend to evade confronting more serious issues in their speeches. Refrain from making that mistake.

No matter what your speaking type, remember to always be confident, and give your best! Once you find out your signature style of speaking, you will be able to develop it further and use it to your advantage. Remember, it is always fun to explore other styles too. Sometimes, you could be a mix of multiple speaking personality types. This means that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re adept at a variety of speaking genres, always offering your audience an array of topics to feast upon. Polish it so to make yourself a well-rounded speaker.

5) The Vee-jay: Your speeches are interactive with questions thrown to the audience, engaging them instantly and making them as much a

Tête–à–tête with Toastmasters

he team of Impressions got talking with a few Toastmasters to understand their calming mantras, and how they react on getting stumped by a Table Topic. Excerpts:

DTM Jayan Narayanan Coromandel Toastmasters Club

Your Nickname—My grandfather named me "Dhananjayan" but my dad kicked the 'Dhanan’ (wealth) off and retained just ‘Jayan’. My favourite nick name is the one that my mom uses - Jayadas, and I was called Ninja by my college mates after the famous movie 'Ninja, the turtles'. How do you calm your nerves/relax before you deliver a speech? I am always nervous and the first thing that I tell myself is that it's okay to fail. The audience are humans like me and they are nice. Today I am going to give it my best, please the audience and just have fun. One hilarious moment in your Toastmaster journey that will always make you laugh— Many! But one of my favourite moments is one incident that happened in a community club. I was asked to use the lectern and to my surprise it was as tall as me. Thanks to my height, I was hidden behind the lectern and was a bit embarrassed. That's when I saw a pantry boy passing by holding an empty Pepsi crate. He was kind enough to lend it to me for a short while and that's how I rose from behind the lectern to start my speech. It turned to be a good humorous icebreaker for the audience. Now that explains why I am a Pepsi fan!

pened a million times. My secret recipe is to further confuse the audience by talking something that's tangentially so different from the topic to such an extent that the TT master and audience would forget what the actual topic was. The best was during the 400th meeting of CTM while I was put in a fix by DTM Nina for a very challenging TT session. I still can’t believe I scraped through that ordeal! Your mantra to unwind—Driving. I love to drive and that too long distance. I can drive endlessly with just music and nature for company. Other times, I am glued to the TV or out on a stroll in the sprawling park in my community.

Your reaction when you get a table topic on which you have no idea—This has hap-

DTM Aditya Maheswaran Chennai Toastmasters Club Your Nickname—Kukki How do you calm your nerves/relax before you deliver a speech? A deep breath. One hilarious moment in your Toastmaster journey that will always make you laugh— When I was introduced as a "lukewarm person" by a school student. Your reaction when you get a table topic on which you have no idea—I think of how I can use delivery to nullify the content deficit. Your mantra to unwind—Read history, play table tennis and have a drink with friends.

DTM Rajeev Nambiar Chennai Speakers Forum Your Nickname—Tiger How do you calm your nerves/relax before you deliver a speech? In my mind, I picture myself giving a speech in front of the present audience before actually taking the stage. One hilarious moment in your Toastmaster journey that will always make you laugh— It was the humorous speech contest in 2010 at the club level. I cracked a joke and the entire audience, minus one humble soul, refused to laugh. Your reaction when you get a table topic on which you have no idea—I usually convince the audience with whatever I speak. Else, I do my best as a Toastmaster, i.e., confuse them. Your mantra to unwind—Physical exercise and of course, Facebook.

TM Preeti Ganesh TCS Maitree Alpha Toastmasters Club

TM Mythili Ramanan Trichy Toastmasters Club

Your Nickname—Preeti

Your Nickname—Mythily

How do you calm your nerves/relax before you deliver a speech?

I close my eyes, take a deep breath and tell myself I can do my best.

I take a deep breath and count from 1 to 10.

One hilarious moment in your Toastmaster journey that will always make you laugh— My very first Table Topic as a guest was to speak about "My first crush." I went down my memory lane and it always gives me a smile.

One hilarious moment in your Toastmaster journey that will always make you laugh— We got chartered only four months back. However, one fun filled moment that always stays with me is when our TMOD chose a cinematic theme for one of our meetings.

Your reaction when you get a table topic on which you have no idea—I try to take out words from the topic, relate it and speak till the the green card is up.

Your reaction when you get a table topic on which you have no idea—I think and talk whatever I can with the topic.

Your mantra to unwind—A walk in the beach and listening to music.

Your mantra to unwind—Music helps me relax.

TM Sundarraman V. TCS Maitree Infinity Toastmasters Club Your Nickname—Jedi How do you calm your nerves/relax before you deliver a speech? I only see my speech and not the audience because they have the liberty to take it or not. One hilarious moment in your Toastmaster journey that will always make you laugh— I was a humorous speech contestant with a serious love story as the content for my speech. Your reaction when you get a table topic on which you have no idea—I think of which girl I should talk to until I can think of an idea. Your mantra to unwind—My friends are my strength so it's always a good time when I catch up with them.

TM Badri Narayanan TCS Maitree Orators Your Nickname—Badz How do you calm your nerves/relax before you deliver a speech? I give someone a hug. One hilarious moment in your Toastmaster journey that will always make you laugh— The most famous one and something that still makes me laugh is when a beautiful Toastmaster called me "Uncle". Your reaction when you get a table topic on which you have no idea—The best reaction is to speak. Your mantra to unwind—Listening to music, long drives, and early morning running.

TM Anjana Venkataraman Chennai Speakers Forum Your Nickname—Anju How do you calm your nerves/relax before you deliver a speech? I redirect the nervous energy into enthusiasm. One hilarious moment in your Toastmaster journey that will always make you laugh— There are so many hilarious moments that it is impossible to choose one! Your reaction when you get a table topic on which you have no idea—A big bright smile. Your mantra to unwind—I talk to my Toastmaster friends or listen to music.

TM Venu Neelakandan Chennai Toastmasters Club Your Nickname—Venu How do you calm your nerves/relax before you deliver a speech? I take a deep breath and imagine the audience to be fools. One hilarious moment in your Toastmaster journey that will always make you laugh— My first Table Topics speech. Your reaction when you get a table topic on which you have no idea—I bring a smile on my face to look like Mr. Bean. Your mantra to unwind—I enjoy every minute of the day.

TM Hari Ramalingam Shell Chennai Toastmasters Club

TM Sundaresan Sekar Coimbatore Toastmasters Club

TM Prathyusha KV McDermott Toastmasters Club

Your Nickname—Hari

Your Nickname—Papai

Your Nickname—Sundar

How do you calm your nerves/relax before you deliver a speech?

I practice hard and talk to myself before I deliver my prepared speeches.

I rehearse my speech as much as possible and I deliver it in front of friends before I go on stage. Practice eliminates all nervousness.

I imagine the applause and cheer that I would receive once I’m done.

One hilarious moment in your Toastmaster journey that will always make you laugh— My first ice breaker speech. I was very nervous and when I think about it now, I find it funny. Your reaction when you get a table topic on which you have no idea—I just stand idle. Your mantra to unwind—I read books and sleep well.

One hilarious moment in your Toastmaster journey that will always make you laugh— Humorous and table topic speeches always give me a smile. Your reaction when you get a table topic on which you have no idea—I divert the table topic to a different topic. Your mantra to unwind—I meditate

One hilarious moment in your Toastmaster journey that will always make you laugh— Once the timer was so involved in a speech that he didn’t realize it until half a dozen members were looking at him. Your reaction when you get a table topic on which you have no idea—I talk of a personal experience. Your mantra to unwind—Stand-up comedy.

Club Profiles

TCS Maitree Alpha Toastmasters Club

ou know why people love Biriyani so much? When you take a mouthful, you are assaulted by an explosion of flavours and spices that work together in perfect synergy to transport you to culinary heaven. Alpha’s meetings are no different.

Walk into one of the meetings and prepare to be confronted by a riot of fun, drama, energy and a lot of entertainment. We’ll make you laugh till your tummies hurt, cry at the end of a moving speech, inspire you into action and motivate you to learn and grow. Most important of all, here at Alpha, we learn what it means to be part of a club. From the spirited spices to the seasoned salt and everything in between, each component is essential to a wholesome meal. Our club is no different. Each one of our member is versatile, no doubt. But we believe that our combined creativity is what makes us unique. Together, we are the Alphas and we pack a mean punch! Our motto is “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Brisa VIT Toastmasters Club

“

BRISA” stands for the most intangible element of nature—the wind. And just as the name suggests the members of BRISA are mercurial, innovative and energetic. The sessions in Brisa have evolved from a routine Toastmasters meeting to something sizzling with energy. The greatest achievement of Brisa is that we always have a packed house of guests and members. Every session has its own unique theme and flavour with creative table topic sessions. If Brisa had to be described in a nutshell, it would be - "Sail with the wind and climb the ladder of continuous achievement.”

Chennai Toastmasters Club

hennai Toastmasters Club (CTM) is one of the first clubs of Chennai to spearhead the public speaking and leadership movement in the region. Founded in 2004, the club has survived the test of time, growing on to become one of the largest community clubs of the region. If you're looking for an action-packed, powerhouse evening on a Sunday, then you must walk into the Ruby Hall at Presidency Club, Egmore, between 4 PM - 6 PM. Rest assured, you will be dazzled by the excitement and positivity that brims within the club. The ebullience, enthusiasm and energy of CTMers is known far and wide, attributing to the club, the endearment of the 'Lighthouse Club of Chennai'. One of the most unique traits of CTM is its 'unity in diversity'. All the members, young and old, belong to different regions, educational qualifications and backgrounds, yet come together to support one another in this quest for learning. This is reflected in the slogan of CTM - 'Let's grow togetherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. CTM aims to keep growing, and helping people evolve into better communicators and leaders.

McDermott Toastmasters Club

ust a year old, McDermott Toastmasters Club was chartered in January 2013. A year after our humble beginnings fellow employees and members around us have begun to realize the immense leadership and public speaking potential they possess. The best part of our meetings is the evaluation section. Many budding speakers donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to get embarrassed in front of strangers. But when it is your colleague who evaluates and gives suggestions for improvement, it is well-received. We strive to equip our members with strong technical presentation and oratorical skills simultaneously as this rare combination betters our quality of work and life!

Fogo VIT Toastmasters Club

ogo is a Portuguese word meaning fire and this club stands absolutely true to its name. The enthusiasm and zeal of the members is always high. We are no older than a year, yet the name it has earned for its friendly and warm environment in the Area G3 speaks for itself. The club has groomed some amazing speakers and leaders in such a short span of time. The winner of Division G’s Evaluation contest TM Ira Shukla belongs to our club. We are a part of the Toastmasters VIT student chapter at VIT (Vellore Institute of Technology) and were recently awarded the Best Student Chapter award. We were also the proud hosts of the Area level speech contest. Club Fogo has always believed that “To be outstanding, is to do what others have already done in a different way." Trichy Toastmasters

shaky start. Should we, shouldn't we? Can a motley group of business men / women, working executives and students do it? Would it work? One common ingredient in all of us made the club tick - passion. Each one of us had a flair for the language. Every session saw exponential improvement. As the competition grew intense, so did the camaraderie between our members. With this spirit for learning and growth, we attended the ‘Officers Training Programmes’ and brought accolades to our club when our club's TM Owenita D'Cruz was declared a winner at the Area Level International Speech and Table Topics Contest. Our club, Trichy Toastmasters, has now become a hot spot in the town and as the crescendo picks up, we realise that - there are miles and miles to go forth.

Amazon Chennai Toastmasters Club

he Amazon Chennai Toastmasters Club (ACTC) is a corporate club from Amazon.com. Despite its modest membership, ACTC has always packed a punch in the Area, Division and District level contests, what with some of the finest and colourful speakers known in the Toastmasters fraternity. The club’s crowning glory was when the toast of ACTC, Alexander Babu, represented the club in the District level Humorous Speech Contest. ACTC also boasts of Harini Srinivasan who now belongs to a prestigious group of DTMs from Division G. If there was a slogan that ACTC would plan on having, it would be “Get up, get on stage, and speak your heart out!”

Clima VIT Toastmasters

lima VIT Toastmasters, as a club, that has always stuck together like the seven colours of the rainbow. Clima means ‘Sky’ and it has left no stone unturned in living up to the meaning of its name. The members of Clima believe that the sky is the limit and reach one step beyond with each meeting. The 100th successful Toastmasters session held on the 23rd of April and it witnessed seven of our members receiving awards with the release of Ascend, our newsletter.

Aristurtles Syntel Toastmasters Club

risturtles Syntel Toastmasters Club turns 32 this Friday! Our club name itself possesses a pinch of humor and constantly reminds us of our vision - transforming turtles to eloquent Aristotles. We celebrated our 25th meeting on 20th Feb 2014 with the Club-level International Speech and Table Topics Contest. Aristurtles takes pride in the fact that our toastmasters, TM Ajith Udayabhanu and TM Swetha Khatri, are the International Speech Contest participants at the Area level, and the club produced a 2nd runner up Table Topics Contest winner, TM Viswanathan Mani, at the Area level.

Alpha Betans Syntel Toastmasters Club

lpha Betans Syntel Toastmasters club was started by TM Antony Jerald (our current President) on 18th March, 2013. We are currently 21 members strong. We go by the motto "Come, communicate and conquer." Right in the year of inception, we gained the "Selected Distinguished Club" status. We are immensely proud of the fact that we lead the Toastmasters Clubs of Chennai in the Google race. In this age of SEO and Google Adwords, when a guest or prospective Toastmaster looks for clubs in Chennai, our name is right on top!

Agua VIT Toastmasters Club

gua, means water in Portuguese. Part of a five club student chapter, Agua-VIT Toastmasters is named after one of the five elements of the earth. It is the home club of the Area Governor of Area G3 none other than TM Aswin Chandrasekharan, and we take great pride in this. Though this club hasn't completed a year yet, we make up for it with raw energy and immense enthusiasm to become one of the most sought after clubs in ToastmastersVIT. Like the word Agua, the club members and sessions are refreshing, cool and like rivers, have unique twists and unexpected turns! The best part about the club is its members who are dedicated, hardworking, innovative and have a positive approach towards everything. Our most amazing quality is that we push ourselves to the very limit, to create an environment which nurtures the idea that excellence is not a miracle; it’s an everyday occurrence.

Wipro Chennai Toastmasters

ate Mondays? No, we love Mondays! We, Wipro Chennai Toastmasters, meet every Monday at 6.15 PM. Yes, to our limited knowledge we are the only corporate club who meet after office hours and yet, manage to attract a good number of guests. Heard of a club who made a huge entry in Splash 2013 despite being a 14 week club? Yes, that’s proudly us. Contests? Demo meet? YLP? Walk the Talk? Special meetings? We were there and we will continue to be there. Met a shiny disco bald and an automobile freak and wondered which planet they are from? They are our very club’s VP-Education, Dennis Dayal, and President, Viswanathan Natrajan .The duo makes sure that not a single Toastmasters event feels their absence. Be it a crowded auditorium or a single digit attendance, the energy level of WCTMers is always sky high and that makes our noise heard throughout the Toastmasters community. 51

Flyjac Self Mastery Club

very person will have capabilities hidden within themselves. They do not get an opportunity to expose or develop these hidden talents. We have chosen our club name to be ‘Flyjac Self Mastery Club’ as this is a club that aids the self-development of our members in all spheres of life by providing our members a stimulating environment and community to grow. Our club is a corporate club with energetic team members and an encouraging and agile Ex-Com. If we had a slogan, it would be “Lokha samastha sukhino bhavanthu” meaning bringing peace and happiness in all we do. TCS Maitree Champions Toastmasters Club

CS Maitree Champions Toastmasters Club is centered at the Chennai-One Building, Thoraipakkam. As a corporate club, the Champions meet every Thursday at the office premises. Champions Club has a unique iterative and responsive learning process for its members. It has been a pioneer in Area G5 of Division G and is also the home club of the Area Governor – Murali Manohar Somasundaram. The club has carved a significant niche for itself in Divison G in terms of membership programmes for the past two years. The remarkable feats of the club include receiving the Smedley Award and the Talk Up Toastmasters Award for two consecutive years. The club has achieved the prestigious President’s Distinguished Club Award for the Year 2012-2013 and is striving for a second strike this time around. With notoriously good members, we have also successfully snatched the Pirates Of the Gavel this New Year. The Champions march on and will continue to do so with great aspirations and goals.

Shell Chennai Toastmasters Club

ith an intention to improve one’s public speaking and communication skills, a few folks in Shell Chennai (SCTC) floated the idea of bringing “Toastmasters” to the organization. To feel the pulse, the importance and need was demonstrated to colleagues in Shell through a learning tour. Many liked the concept and volunteered to become a part of this gathering. However, they were curious on how sessions are held. Ford Toastmasters club assisted us with demos and in chartering our club. The concept started spreading through word of mouth and finally, we managed to get the Magic 20! That's how SCTC was born on 20th June 2012. The founding members, along with the support of all the club members, have fostered the growth of SCTC into one of the most popular clubs in Division G. Our sessions are held every Thursday between 3-4 PM. From the time the club was chartered, it has been providing time-tested commuKCG Toastmasters Club

CG Toastmasters Club started its first meeting with 27 members on November 24, 2010. Right from the beginning, our club showed steady progress and is one of the most successful, active clubs in Area G4. While Toastmasters International is familiar with corporate offices, our club is eccentric because it is a club actively functioning in an engineering college. Our club currently has 20 members with an average of 4 – 6 members added every year. Our club’s home ground, KCG College, played host to ‘SPLASH 2013’ - the Division ‘G’ Conference and the ‘International Humorous Speech Contest’ on 20th October 2013. KCG Toastmasters Club works in tandem with TCS Toastmasters Clubs to enhance our speech techniques. Our club functions with a motto—“We could if we would.” With improvisation and innovation in every meeting, there is no doubt that KCG Toastmasters club will one day become one of the best Clubs in Division G.

Coimbatore Toastmasters Club

t all started with an informal discussion with a few members who work in Robert Bosch headed by TM Sivakumar Palaniappan (Founder of our club—we call him the Ralph Smedley of Coimbatore Toastmasters Club). It was officially chartered on 15th November 2011. We see ourselves as more than club mates. We feel that, we all belong to one family and this has helped us celebrate every special occasion, be it anybody's birthday or a festive season. We can boast that we have people from all possible walks of life. The club’s slogan is and will always be—the ‘Town's New Social Kitchen’. TCS Insurance Toastmasters Club

ubilius Syrus had said, “f you wish to reach the highest, begin at the lowest." TCS Insurance Toastmasters (TITMAS) began its journey as a baby club on 19th January 2012 with only 22 members. The 2 year old toddler is now a President’s Distinguished Club progressing swiftly to assert its stand and attain the Golden Gavel Plus award. The club is instrumental in transforming novice speakers to competent communicators, and languid managers to competent leaders. The club so far has acquired 20 CCs, 20 CL , 4 ACB , 5 ALB and 1 LDREXC. We are the recipients of the Talk-up Toastmasters Award , Smedley Award and the prestigious Golden Gavel right in the first year of its inception. The club was declared the second best club in district 82 at Ovations 2013. TCS Chennai Infinity Club

ur club at Velachery was chartered in July 2013. It started off with a demo meeting with vibrant Toastmasters from different clubs across Chennai. Ever since its inception with a mere 20 members, it has grown immensely in the last year. The club currently stands at the No. 1 position with the highest number of new membership for 'Talk Up Toastmasters' for the year 2014 in District 82. We have also had our members representing our club at the Division contest for the last two seasons. With milestones to conquer we grow together with our fellow clubs to stand out as “Infinites”. 54

CAT EDC- I Toastmasters Club

AT EDC- I Toastmasters Club was chartered in September 2008. Since then it has played an instrumental role in developing effective communicators at Caterpillar. In the year 2008 – 2009, CAT EDC-I Toastmasters Club received the ‘Select Distinguished Club’ status and this milestone was achieved a mere 11 months after the inception of the club. Recently, TM Kartick Mohandas brought glory to our club by winning the Area-level International Speech contest. Our active club officers collaborate with other Corporate Toastmasters Clubs like Bank of America and Foster Wheels to provide speakers with a change of atmosphere and audience, thus helping our members fine-tune their public speaking skills. This year, we aim to achieve the ‘Presidential Select Distinguished Club’ status as many of our members aim to complete their ACB and CC projects.

TCS Maitree Orators

he TCS Maitree Orators Toastmasters Club had its humble beginnings at TCS-Karapakkam in 2008. We take pride in the fact that it is the home club of the Area Governor of Area G4. Our hardwork and commitment to the Toastmasters Public Speaking and Leadership journey has earned us the Golden Gavel, Smedley, Talk-Up Toastmasters and 3 Advanced Communication Bronze Awards. People from all over the TCS-Karapakkam office gather at our Thursday meetings for a refreshing hour of vibrant speeches!

Terra VIT Toastmasters Club

ith a strength of just 20 members, Terra VIT Toastmasters was chartered on 2nd January, 2011. Today, three years later, we have become 2nd among the 212 clubs in the whole of District 82. We have achieved the Smedley’s Award for membership building activities for Toastmasters International for 2012-2013. We have multiplied to three and then five clubs - Fogo VIT Toastmasters and Agua VIT Toastmasters being the latest addition to our area. We were awarded the “Golden Gavel” for the year 2012-13. We have been declared as a “President’s Distinguished Club” by Toastmasters International for the third time in a row and we continue to grow as constant as the earth beneath us!

TCS Maitree Chennai Toastmasters Club

CS Maitree Chennai Toastmasters Club isn’t just another corporate club. It is one big joint family with many great names of the Toastmasters fraternity attached to it. But when you come to our meeting, you will notice that we are a bunch of humble and modest people who have the hunger to better our best and to make the most of the opportunities that Toastmasters brings our way. The meetings, that take place on Wednesday, are the perfect energy boosters for the week. Our members are our veins and arteries that spread the spirit of toastmasters all across our company and the other clubs of Toastmasters International. This is to our special members— “There is no US without U.”

Editorial Head TM Noorain Mohammed Nadim Editorial Team TM Abhishek Mazumder TM Hemalatha Kamaraj TM Sivadas Balakrishnan TM Vijayalakshmi Gunasekarapandian