Toastmasters’ legacy of learning flourishes for 88 years

The organization’s communications model remains as relevant in 2012 as when it began in 1924

CITY, STATE, Oct. 22, 2012—“We learn in moments of enjoyment,” are the words of Dr. Ralph C. Smedley, who founded the first Toastmasters club at the YMCA in Santa Ana, Calif., 88 years ago today. Dr. Smedley, then-YMCA director, created the club in October 1924 for young men to practice their after-dinner speeches in a social environment. Today, nearly 300,000 men and women are improving their communication and leadership skills using the values and model that Dr. Smedley developed. In fact, there are more than 13,500 clubs in 116 countries throughout the world. Since the organization’s inception, more than four million people have found their voice and gained confidence through the proven Toastmasters program.

“Dr. Smedley laid the framework for the Toastmasters ‘learn-by-doing’ model,” says Daniel Rex, Executive Director of Toastmasters International. “The organization’s expansion in recent years is a tribute to the need for the timeless skills of effective communication and leadership. With 19 consecutive years of membership growth, our clubs continue to thrive globally.”

Longtime Toastmaster Don Ensch, 86, who as a young man heard Dr. Smedley give many speeches, says, “Toastmasters has withstood the test of time because its programs are vital to an individual’s personal growth. Better speaking skills are the most well-known results of Toastmasters membership, but anyone can benefit from becoming a more confident listener, thinker and leader. My Toastmasters experience has opened many doors that otherwise would not have been opened. It’s been a wonderful journey,” says Ensch, who has earned the organization’s Accredited Speaker designation and is a member of Sandpipers Toastmasters in Ventura, Calif.

In Toastmasters, members meet weekly to learn and practice public speaking and leadership techniques. There is no instructor; instead, members evaluate each other’s presentations.

Toastmasters clubs around the world will celebrate the anniversary with special meetings and events. Locally, (club name), which meets at (location) on (day (s)) at (time) will offer special presentations. The general public is invited to visit a meeting and learn more about the program’s benefits. To learn more about the Toastmasters club experience, view this video. You can join the ranks of famous Toastmasters who have benefited from the program, including Tom Monaghan, founder of Domino’s Pizza, Chris Matthews, host of Hardball with Chris Matthews, and Nancy Brinker, founder of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary.

View the Toastmasters timeline for a look at the organization’s history. Visit www.toastmasters.org to find a club near you.

About Toastmasters International

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. Founded in October 1924, the organization currently has more than 280,000 members in 13,500-plus clubs in 116 countries. Each week, Toastmasters helps more than a quarter million people of every ethnicity, education level and profession build their competence in communication so they can gain the confidence to lead others. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org. Follow Toastmasters International on Twitter @Toastmasters.

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Eid Mubarak !

The Division D Team Wishes the Toastmaster Community a Happy and Blessed

Eid al Adha.

 

 

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Let us Talk: A Superb Motivator with an Assuring Smile

Whenever the name of TM Rajesh Daga comes to mind one can literally visualize two components of his personal brand an assuring smile and a touch of motivation to walk the extra mile. He is known for his superb encouraging attitude that makes the mentee rejoice the present and become charged for a better tomorrow. TM Saleh al Khamyasi has a chat with TM Rajesh Daga for this week's episode of Let us Talk.

TM Rajesh Daga

Click here to visit Let us Talk

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Be There your life is Precious

Dear Fellow leaders & Toastmasters

Serving the community is one aspect to put our skills and competencies we learned for the human cause. It is out of such social Responsibility that SAB Toastmasters club, one of the dynamic and energetic clubs chaired by TM Sabiha Salar under Area Governor TM Dr. John valliatu  Area 4.

Your attendance along with your family members and friends is so crucial to expand the circle of awareness. 

Program:    A Cancer awareness talk

 

Presenter:  Dr.Zahid Al Mandhari is the Speaker, he is a Sr. Consultant Radiation Oncologist, the only   Omani to hold the post, He studied in SQU and has been with Royal Hospital since 2007.

Venue:  The Advance learning center of Saud Bahwan Automotive

Day & Date:  Wednesday, 17th of October 2012.

Time:  6.45 PM.

Friends,  serving is the philosophy of toastmaster. Encouraging and motivating is the human touch of toastmasters program.  Team spirit is what makes societies connected and flourishing.  It is being informed and aware that counts. Being aware will make you care. In turn you can share. You can extend a helping hand for the needy.

 We congratulate SAB Toastmasters Club for this initiative and hope in the days to come others will come with other creative initiatives to serve society.

Be there and Show that you care. Your presence will make a great difference.  Let us all “Touch to Transform”. Let us be Role Models

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Leaping from Speaker to Trainer

Promising is something but fulfilling the promise is an assurance that the ultimate goal is empowering the members to sharpen their saw. AG Education and Training DTM Gurbinder Sing Punn has delivered his second training scheduled to enhance the skills of our toastmasters this year.

In a noble gesture from Saud Bahwan Group , the Advanced Learning Center embraced a workshop on  “Speaker to Trainer”. The workshop took place on  Thursday the 11^th of Octobe rand  was facilitated by ACG Ramakrishnan Vajayan  known as  Ramki among his toastmasters circle. Ramki is  a professional trainer himself for more than a decade currently working at the  SBG Advanced Learning Center. He revealed that this initiative comes as a motivational touch to inspire members to take ownership of their development and make the leap from speaker to trainer. This will positively impact the talents set in our division and increase the number of trainers in the division.

Twenty three participants attended the workshop from different the clubs in the respective areas.  DG Yasser Sulaiman Inaugurated the session and thanked the commendable efforts of Area governors, Division team, clubs highlighting that DTM Punn has a lot in store to inject pulse and assure members that their development is one of the legacy the division wants to leave behind. The Division Governor invested the presence of TM Mohammed Ishfaq as one of the participants and introduced him as an added member to the division Team.

Commenting on benefits of this workshop President of MB toastmasters CC Nahil Hilal one of the participants the program was useful and effective. It was the trainer expertise that has paved the way for an interactive and very informative session.

TM said Almanthari of PDO toastmasters stated that I enjoyed this workshop. It was enlightening and shed light on the quality of the speaker and what ought to be considered in the journey to become trainer.

The VP education of NTI advanced TM Ramesh commented that the workshop was excellent, crisp and hot. Though short in time, it is high in content. It is surely a good beginning for those who are aspiring to be trainers.

The Secretary of SBG toastmasters reflected that it is the first time for him to be in such workshop and it is certainly an enjoyable program. 

The workshop was interactive in nature. The facilitator was highly successful in bring the difference between a speaker and a trainer. He exhibited the difference between the two using several tools such as icebreaker, dividing the participants into groups, ensuring focused discussion and knowledge sharing and using Role play as a technique. Besides he tapped on other tools case study, games and score of others.

About the types of audience, Ramki highlighted that audience differ in their behaviors. There are those who are talkative, silent, crab as well as know it all and each of these types ought to be handled differently.

At the end of the workshop DG Yasser Sulaiman thanked the participants and highlighted the need for putting the division theme “Touch to Transform” in action. He asked the participants to invite friends to their clubs and introduce them to toastmasters and let them embark on a positive turning point in their lives. The workshop was concluded after he distributed the certificates for the participants.

The Division Governor & AG E&T expressed  their gratitude for SBG Advanced Learning Center lead by Shayam Shankar, the Area Governor for area 65 TM  Robin Anand  and all the center staff particularly  TM Ramki and TM Sujith for empowering the division to make this workshop a  tangible reality.

The Story in Pictures

 

 

 

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Let Us Talk: Doing It The Aristotle Way

In this weeks session, TM Saleh al Khamyasi intorduces us to TM DR. Seif Alabri, a man who talks less and inspires more, a formula we rarely see. He is a voracious reader and an utterly passionate about Toastmasters. He believes that Joining Toastmaster was one of the best investments he has ever done for himself development.

TM DR. Seif Alabri

 

Click here to visit Let us Talk

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Be There Show You Care

Dear Fellow leaders & Toastmasters

Serving the community is one aspect to put our skills and competencies we learned for the human cause. It is out of such social Responsibility that SAB Toastmasters club, one of the dynamic and energetic clubs chaired by TM Sabiha Salar under Area Governor TM Dr. John valliatu  Area 4.

Your attendance along with your family members and friends is so crucial to expand the circle of awareness. 

Program:    A Cancer awareness talkPresenter:  Dr.Zahid Al Mandhari is the Speaker, he is a Sr. Consultant Radiation Oncologist, the only   Omani to hold the post, He studied in SQU and has been with Royal Hospital since 2007.

Venue:  The Advance learning center of Saud Bahwan Automotive

Day & Date:  Wednesday, 17th of October 2012.

Time:  6.45 PM.

Friends, serving is the philosophy of toastmaster. Encouraging and motivating is the human touch of toastmasters program.  Team spirit is what makes societies connected and flourishing.  It is being informed and aware that counts. Being aware will make you care. In turn you can share. You can extend a helping hand for the needy.

 We congratulate SAB Toastmasters Club for this initiative and hope in the days to come others will come with other creative initiatives to serve society.

Be there and Show that you care. Your presence will make a great difference.  Let us all “Touch to Transform”. Let us be Role Models

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Heartfelt Condolences....

On behalf of the Division D team and the entire Toastmaster community, we give our heartfelt condolences to TM Said Al Zidjali from New Tracks Toastmasters, on the passing of his cousin. We pray to the Almighty to rest her soul in his Heavenly Kingdom, and give strength and patience to   Said and his Family.

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Friends it's Time to Say Goodbye.

Rohit Verma is a familiar face around the Toastmasters community in Division D. As a professional, he is a Mechanical Engineer and has worked for over 6 years in the Field of Automotive Marketing & Branding.  He joined SBA in Oman, in the March of 2011. 

During his tenure Rohit was taking care of Sales and Marketing function for the commercial vehicles division of IECC at Suhail Bahwan Automotive Group, and was responsible for both Domestic and Exports Markets. 

 

In an email message he has send to the Division PRO he wrote “Toastmasters has probably been one of the best experience for me in Oman and as my Destiny has decided to take me away from Oman, i thought it's only fair to say good bye to my  Division D Toastmasters family and District at large. Saying good bye is not easy but i am hoping that i will be remembered in the community.”

 

It is worth mentioning that Rohit was mentored by DTM Gurbinder Singh Punn. He initiated his toastmasters journey began in July 2011. Being so passionate about toastmaster he completed his CL and CC manuals and participated and won at the Club Level Contest in his first year itself. In the TM year 2012-2013 he was elected as VP-PR of SBAG Toastmasters. Within 3 months he completely transformed the Club Public Relations, by his creativity and innovation.

 

Reflecting on his toastmaster experience CC/CL Rohit said “Toastmasters and specially the Mentoring by DTM Gurbinder really helped me develop not only a much stronger communication and Interpersonal skills but also helped me become a better professional and gave me confidence to develop and foster healthy relationships both within my professional circles and outside of it. 

Knowing that one of the fringe benefits toastmasters bring to our door steps he is banking that all of his fellow toastmasters will still be in touch with him either through:

·        Personal Email: rohit.central@gmail.com

·        Linkedin. 

TM Rohit Verma, we certainly have an immense pleasure and delight to have you in the toastmaster’s community as an inspiring speaker and a friend as well as a star who made a big difference. It is with Role models like you big differences are introduced. As an ambassador of the toastmasters brand we hope your toastmaster’s journey will progress from good to great and you will persevere to touch more lives and transforms many individuals’ paths to be the change they want to see.  Let us all recite this poem before our friend leaves:

A friend is like a flower,
a rose to be exact,
Or maybe like a brand new gate
that never comes unlatched.
A friend is like an owl,
both beautiful and wise.
Or perhaps a friend is like a ghost,
whose spirit never dies.
A friend is like a heart that goes
strong until the end.
Where would we be in this world
if we didn't have a friend. - By Adrianne S

We sincerely applaud your massive achievements TM Rohit and wish you a progressive life and a grand professional success.

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Let Us Talk: Meet the Enlightened Mozart of Letters

DTM , Dr. Rajan Philips is quiet, cheerful and fun to be around. The word “No” is not in his dictionary. His inculcated serving nature makes him like a candle that disseminates light all over the place. TM Saleh al Khamyasi did manage to coax an interesting interview out of him and it makes for a enlightening read. Our weekly feature takes us into the world of Toastmasters as experienced by DTM , Dr. Rajan Philips.

DTM Dr. Rajan Philips

 Click here to visit Let us Talk.

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Our Newsletter: The Voice for Your Club

As we are well aware producing a newsletter is one of the primary club duties for a vice president public relations, and serving as editor counts as credit for the 10th project of the Competent Leadership manual. It is worth mentioning  that a club newsletter serves the following key purposes: 

·         Document and publicize current events.

·         Inform with educational material.

·         Provide visitors with take-home information.

·         Connecting new members with the club.

·         Encouraging communication among members.

·         Recognizing members’ accomplishments through published stories.

·         Inspiring all members to participate further in the Toastmasters program.

·         To help the club to achieve its mission and vision.

It is out of such enriching and encouraging objectives that the encouraging initiative of our District PRO DTM Dr. Nasef Anwar Dhafari that  the District is promoting  Divisions, Areas, Chapters news & activities by providing a great opportunity for you to promote your IMAGE & BRAND by featuring your newsletter- which will be available for the entire Toastmasters Community in the District- with the link

 

 

http://d20.toastmastersclubs.org/

 

Please make use of this golden opportunity to celebrate your achievements and share it with all the toastmasters in the District. Kindly send their electronic newsletter copy district PRO email: Nasef@adcci.gov.ae.

Leaders this is a golden opportunity to motivate your members and appreciate their efforts. As Mark Twain “Really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great. Therefore, let us see newsletters from Division D supersede in the District website I am sure we can put our special finger print cannot we !?.

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The Mesmerizing Impact of winning

In a congratulatory message via an email message our District LG Education & Training, DTM Vicky Mustafa revealed that two more clubs have received the "Club DRP Achiever Award"! They are:

•          Emirates Group Finance Toastmasters Club No 1184433 Area 50, Division

•          Saud Bahwan Toastmasters No 1021147, Area 65, Division D! The ace of the division. This club has set the standards high and positioned itself as a role model in our Division. Hearty congratulation SBGTM team we are really proud of you way to go. 

 

 

DTM Vicky’s message elaborated that there are five more clubs have attained the Distinguished Club Status they are:

•          India Club Toastmasters Club No 1836;

•          Desert Pioneers No 649467, Area 36, Division I;

•          BURJ Toastmasters No 687361 Area 7, Division B;

•          Dreams Toastmasters Club No 1125063, Area Division B and

•          ISC Toastmasters 1334189 Area 55, Division H.

 Being overwhelmed with these achievements our LG education and training expressed her joy with such a marvelous achievement and said

“CONGRATULATIONS!!! I am so proud to be part of such a dynamic and proactive group”.

Commenting on this joyous occasion our Division Governor Yasser Abdulla Sulaiman said that we congratulate the team at SBG TM.  Such passion is not surprising from these champions who are in a constant search of excellence. E This club deserves  the accolade because the team has always set the bench mark high and with their target driven attitude they make it a point to reach the finish line with a broad smile. Congratulation team we are really proud of you.”

Our Division PRO contacted the President of SBG TM Rajendran Ponnuswamy and congratulated him and his team for such a marvelous achievement.

Expressing his joy the  President of SBG Toastmasters stated that “with all the support and encouragement we get from the District, Division, Area and members it is the power of team that makes a difference. We have highly motivated and target driven members and they do not Seattle for less than excellence. We will surely strive harder in the days to come. At this point he took a deep breath and said after all sky is the limit”

Hearty congratulation  for SBG toastmasters, Area 65 under Area Governor Robin Anand and Division D at large. It is always uplifting to see the division D being position as a champion making hub. We hope that the contestant for the international speech contest next year who will represent the District will be from Division D- Oman..

 

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Invite a Friend

The newly elected Toastmasters International President DTM John Lua in the September issue of the Toastmaster Magazine selected the TMI theme of year to be “Invite a Friend”. He makes an appeal to all the toastmasters across the world to invite a friend in other word to extend a helping hand to “Touch to transform”. Fellow toastmasters coincidently our theme is the same. DTM John concludes his view point with this inspiring sentence “If we each invite a friend to join Toastmasters, our organization’s membership will soon double. But best of all, your friend will thank you for the new skills he or she will gain, and your club will benefit from the vitality new members bring.

Let’s ignite our passion for Toastmasters, where leaders are made.

I ask you to join me in bringing at least one of your friends to your Toastmasters club meeting” below is the whole article for the benefits of the readers

 

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