INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Presidents MessagePresidents MessagePresidents MessagePresidents Message

2222

Executive CExecutive CExecutive CExecutive Committommittommittommitteeeeeeee 2222

DDDDiv Governoriv Governoriv Governoriv Governor’’’’ssss Message Message Message Message

3333

Mind Your LanguageMind Your LanguageMind Your LanguageMind Your Language

3333

Rangilo RajasthanRangilo RajasthanRangilo RajasthanRangilo Rajasthan

4444

MMMMy y y y EncounterEncounterEncounterEncounter with Self with Self with Self with Self

6666

Figure of SpeechFigure of SpeechFigure of SpeechFigure of Speech

6666

PPPPanache Unanache Unanache Unanache Unthrottledthrottledthrottledthrottled

7777

AnnouncementsAnnouncementsAnnouncementsAnnouncements

8888

TTTToastmasteroastmasteroastmasteroastmaster’’’’s Interviews Interviews Interviews Interview

9999

DCP ReportDCP ReportDCP ReportDCP Report

11111111

BBBBirthdays & Anniversaryirthdays & Anniversaryirthdays & Anniversaryirthdays & Anniversary

11111111

New MembersNew MembersNew MembersNew Members

11111111

CrosswordCrosswordCrosswordCrossword

12121212

MMMMeeting Venueeeting Venueeeting Venueeeting Venue

12121212

Editorial Where the Head is Held High…

Rabindranath Tagore, in one of his most famous

poetries, urged God to raise us to a place – “Where

the mind is without fear and the head is held high,

where Knowledge is free…”

With every new quarter passing by, as a pioneer Toastmaster Club in the city we are gradually following the poet’s dream in our own distinct way. And as we march ahead we witness myriad of events that keeps our head high.

The first and foremost is our newsletter SPARK winning the Runners Up Award in District 82 Best Newsletter Contest (Print Category). Communication is our motto, and this coveted recognition for our newsletter proves that we communicate well to the external world in the mode of these 12 exquisite colourful pages of Spark. Congratulations to club, and thanks a ton to everyone associated with the newsletter.

There were speech marathons, speech contests, chartering week celebration, and lots of other gala events in this quarter. Eventful! - Really it was. Kudos to TM Stacey, TM Jayita, and TM Naveen for being the newest Competent Communicators of our Club. Their efforts played vital role in KTM’s emergence as Presidents Distinguished Club by achieving 9 out of

10 goals,. but we know if Nadia Comaneci did it,

why can’t we make history by winning a perfect ten next year?

Leaders like TM Stacey, TM Naveen and TM Anuvrat added new feathers to our hat by winning Competent Leadership Awards. Our leaders not only lead us to such excellent feats; they extended their helping hands to the nearby areas, and helped clubs like City of Joy Toastmasters, ISM Energized Toastmasters Club get chartered with TMI.

But being honest, there’re areas that need improvement. At least two of them, as I see in the last three months, are the lack of new members coming in and lack of contribution for our newsletter. To make a point Socrates was forced to drink poison hemlock, and we have got such a handsome platform in Spark to make our views reach out to greater masses. We must use it to the utmost.

And with all this we came to the end of an EC term which no doubt played the role quite comprehensively. The new EC will take the baton, and now the onus lies on them to hold our club to even greater heights.

~ KTM Niladri Sekhar

Believe in the Power of Your Dreams

Toastmasters’ 2009-2010 International President Gary Schmidt’s Message

Gary Schmidt International President

Fellow Toastmasters, as we reach the final month in the Toastmasters program

year, I want you to know that I believe in you. I believe in the power of your dreams. Your goals are meaningful and are meant to help you achieve the greatness you deserve. If you reach with all your might and fall short, then you pick yourself up and start again. Never give in.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said, “Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” Never give in on your goals and dreams. Your lifelong journey to discover courage and confidence – in yourself and others – begins now!

“The mission of Kolkata Toastmasters Club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communi-

-cation and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth”

MISSION OF THE CLUB

Apr – Jun 2010

IGNITE YOUR PASSION, ENLIGHTEN YOUR FUTURE

Page

2

LINES TO LIVE BY

“I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure: which is: Try to please everybody.” ~ Herbert B. Swope

President’s Message

All good things come to an end! And so has the term

of this EC. Personally I feel the learning is tremendous. These past six months i realized that, no books, no journals, no manuals can teach you to be an able leader, you have to take up the challenge and perform the role. You have to learn, you cannot be taught. I was blessed with an ever enthusiastic team. We can boast of having the highest number of speeches in these six months. Kudos to TM Ruchira and her team. We organized the Turn Coat Debate which got an overwhelming response from the club. TM Navin and TM Gagan won the coveted Trophies. May 13th 2010, we celebrated or 2nd Chartering Anniversary. We were so lucky to have TM Chendil Kumar to grace the occasion. This meeting was put together with the efforts of TM Anuvrat Pabrai, TM Ruchira, TM Ashok, Tm Vishal and TM Shisham. TM Niladari was awarded the Special Toastmaster’s Award for the hard work put in by him for our Club Newsletter. It won the 2nd Place at the District Level at Ovations consecutively for 2 years. The evening started with a Toastmasters session and ended with fun, games and dinner. With the endless efforts put in by TM Ranjeet, TM Nishant Khemka and TM Vishal we were back to Calcutta Chamber of Commerce on 21st May 2010. There was a mixed feeling happy to be back HOME and sad for what had happened there. We observed a minute silence as a mark of respect before we commenced our meeting once again on Home ground.

In .these six months our Club has been

instrumental in sponsoring two new Club, one in Dhanbad, that is ISM (Indian School of Mines) Energised Toastmasters Club and the other City of Joy Toastmasters Club (CJTM) (Girish Park). We have been awarded from Toastmasters International the Founder’s Award for CJTM. All this has been possible due to the hard work, able leadership and guidance of our Area Governor TM Abdul.

Come 1st July 2010 and the New EC will take charge to steer the KTM Club. We are privileged to be the Home Club of the Division Governor TM Kunal. We are doubly privileged to be the Home Club of the Area Governor TM Siddhartha.

When I took up office I had a dream that we would be a Presidents Distinguished Club and with the help of the previous EC headed by TM Siddhartha as President together, we accomplished the goal. I have another dream…… that our Club will be the first, to have a DTM in Eastern India and the youngest one……

~ TM Stacey Fernandes

No books, no

journals, no

manuals can

teach you to be

an able leader,

you have to take

up the challenge

and perform the

role. You have to

learn, you cannot

be taught.

Executive Committee – July to December, 2010

Designation Name E-mail Id Contact No.

President Naveen Misra misranaveen@yahoo.com 93318 58338

VP Education Anuvrat Pabrai anuvrat.pabrai@gmail.com 98300 43772

VP Membership Vishal Churiwal vishal.churiwal@googlemail.com 98305 41188

VP Public Relations Jayita Dey joeydd13@yahoo.com 97488 37189

Treasurer Tanu Sadhwani sadhwani.t@gmail.com 98300 76979

Secretary Tutu Mukherjee tutumukherjee@hotmail.com 99030 39793

Sergeant-at-Arms Prashant Garg pgarg@gemforgings.com 98311 31196

Immediate Past President Stacey Fernandes fernandes.stacey@gmail.com 98317 55997

Apr – Jun 2010

IGNITE YOUR PASSION, ENLIGHTEN YOUR FUTURE

Page

3

LINES TO LIVE BY

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak,

but their echoes are truly endless.” ~ Mother Teresa

Division Governor Elect’s Message

In the year 2000, Jerry Bruckheimer produced a movie called Remember the Titans. The movie was

about two coaches who took a football team to great heights despite challenges that confronted

them on the way.

During this coming term from July to December 2010, the Kolkata Toastmasters Club will see two

Titans take the helm of affairs of the club as President and VP Education – Mr. Naveen Misra and Mr.

Anuvrat Pabrai.

With them at the helm, and with the assistance of an energized team, I’m sure each of the members

at KTM can brace themselves to witness magic.

Running a great club takes effort, commitment and a united team. I believe the new Executive

committee encapsulates each of these characteristics. If there ever was a team that could propel a

club to great heights, it is this one.

I’m eagerly looking forward to a great set of meetings in the coming months at KTM.

Not only that, but both Area Governor TM Siddhartha Churiwal and myself will be leaning on the

members of our home club for support as we strive to take the movement in Eastern India forward.

It’s going to be a fun-filled, action packed term. Be a part of it!

Don’t miss it!

TM Kunal Pabrai

Division N Governor

District 82 N

Toastmasters International

TM Kunal Pabrai,

Toastmaster for

over 6 years, has

been elected as the

Division Governor

for the newly

formed division N

-- the division for

Eastern India

Mind Your Language SLEEP OF THE TONGUE

‘Mind your Language’

is a sec--tion to

help us improve

our English –

one step at a time!

Sleep of the tongue or linguistic speech errors are made on an occasional basis by all speakers. They

occur more often when speakers are nervous, tired, anxious or drunk. Some chronic speakers are

more prone to these errors, whereas others commit them under stress. Speakers should be confident

and stress free while delivering speeches. Below are some typical speech errors which we should be

careful of.

Spoonerism: Switching of initial sounds of two separate words. Example- Target: I saw you light a fire.

Error: I saw you fight a liar.

Malapropism: Speaker’s wrong belief about the meaning of a word produces the intended word,

which is semantically inadequate. Example - Target: The flood damage was so bad they had to evacuate

the city. Error: The flood damage was so bad they had to evaporate the city.

Morpheme-exchanges: Linguistic units change places in sentence. Example - Target: She decides to hit

it. Error: She decide to hits it.

Blends: More than one item is being considered during speech production. Consequently, the two

intended items fuse together. Example - Target: person/people, Error: perple

Perseveration: An earlier segment replaces a later item. Example - Target: black boxes, Error: black

bloxes

Apr – Jun 2010

IGNITE YOUR PASSION, ENLIGHTEN YOUR FUTURE

Page

4

LINES TO LIVE BY

“The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” ~ T. Roosevelt

Rangilo Rajasthan!

Often work does make us a heartless robot and that is

when a break from the humdrum monotony can breathe in a fresh lease of life. It’d been a matter of discussion between me and my wife as to how does the princely state in the western fringe of our motherland present itself in flesh and blood. And we packed our bags and started to explore this part of our incredible India.

From our national capital we decided to embark on this “voyage”. What I must tell you first is that the vast expanse of this state needs to be understood first before you land there. The eastern side is the one closest to New Delhi and that is where you have the state capital Jaipur, the western side is bordering Pakistan and harbours the city of Jaisalmer and the beautiful shifting sand dunes. The southern part of the state has the cooler mountainous Aravalis housing Mt. Abu and up in the north is border with Punjab. To do the entire state in one visit would be similar to say that you understand Picasso in one look. The more you delve in to Rajasthan the more you excavate and hence the more you enjoy.

Let’s roll. There are different ways of getting to Jaipur from New Delhi – rail, road and air. Since the decision was to drink in the sights and sounds, we hired a car and an early start got us to Jaipur city at about 1p.m. This day we had about 4 hours of sunlight left and that meant that we would have limited options to visit. We decided to eat out and visit the local market as well as try and steal time out for the City Palace.

First the eating out, you’ve enough places though most cater to the vegetarian palate and serve quality food at affordable rates. My suggestion is to try out the Thali – which is a complete platter comprising of Rotis, Rice, a couple of vegetable dishes, a Dal preparation, Curd, Salad and Papad. Trust me a single Thali in a normal street side eatery (or Dhaba as they are locally called) can make even the most nonchalant glutton crave for a tread mill.

And after the meal, straightaway we stepped in …into TRUE ROYALTY. The City Palace is where the erstwhile Royals of Rajasthan resided. Currently, this Palace is under the government’s supervision and the current family members of the royal family have built themselves a separate apartment adjacent to the Palace. Starting with the polo gear to the war gear and from the common utensils to the HUGE urns in which the royalty used to take the holy Ganga Jal , for consumption, when they went abroad, you have allthis and much more maintained herein.

As. the evening drew to a close we went ahead for

the darshan to the Govinddevji Mandir which houses the idols of Lord Krishna and Radha. Spread over quite a decent expanse it has beautiful carvings on the pillars and walls. Serene ambience and the devotional songs being aired, transpose you to a meditational state and soothe your nerves from the daily humdrum of the rat race.

The next day was when we sought the much travelled route of Ajmer and Pushkar. The town of Pushkar houses the ONLY Brahma ji Temple in the whole world. It also has the holy “kund” or man-made lake next door – a holy dip in which is said to absolve all mortals of all sins and pave the path to heaven.

Starting from Jaipur at about 10 in the morning we first hit the Jantar – Mantar, the first observatory built in India which does intricate calculations based on the movement of the Sun and it’s rays hitting the various marking made on stone and metal and giving us the time of the day which on the most accurate of the sun dials matches the timing on your chronograph to almost five minutes.

Then left for Pushkar which is at 4 hours distance, over a wonderfully built highway. Done with Pushkar, it was another half-an hour drive to Ajmer. Like most Indian shrines, the place has it’s milieu of throbbing millions – both visitors and crooks/touts, but what leaves you really happy is the quality of the roses that you buy just outside the “dargah” to place in the reverence of the Khawaj Saheb.

The return journey from Ajmer began at about 6p.m. with the assurance from our driver that we should be back in the cosy confines of our hotel room at about 10p.m. Well… Man proposes, God disposes. At about 45mins distance from Jaipur, in the midst of the highway with nothing but the intense dark night enveloping the white Indigo vehicle and the family of three relaxing while a old Hindi number played…the car engine suddenly went dead. And then the rest of the story should better be unknown. Anyway, after an ordeal of few hours at the highway, we finally boarded the bus and somehow reached the hotel at around 1 in the morning and after a quick bite of whatever the coffee shop offered, we hit the bed to arise only after a good 8 hours the next day.

Often work does

make us a heartless

robot and that is

when a break from

the humdrum

monotony can

breathe in a fresh

lease of life.

Apr – Jun 2010

IGNITE YOUR PASSION, ENLIGHTEN YOUR FUTURE

Page

5

LINES TO LIVE BY

“If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulder of giants.” ~ Isaac Newton

Rangilo Rajasthan! …Continued

Well, we wanted a holiday off the beaten track and we were getting it now. The next day we had a plan of doing the Ajmer Fort and this was where my son – Naman – got a much awaited elephant ride. The entire journey up the ramparts of this beautiful structure can be done by climbing up stairs or on elephant back. The journey is close to about 1.5 kms from the base to the central courtyard of the Fort and the scenery is breathtaking. We were told that this is the journey that Akbar had taken to marry Jodha Bai. The carvings and the mirror works, the fountains and the natural air-conditioning method truly leave you in awe of the master craftsmen of those times. You are bound to be struck by the various ingenious methods that the people of those times employed for various jobs, be it cooking or protecting the fort itself.

By mid-afternoon we were free and ready to hit the bazaars of Jaipur. First, I suggest that you do stop by at LMB hotel/restaurant to savour the true Rajasthani delicacies or the Thali itself. The Maharaja Thali – which we did not order – I am told has a total of about 24 “katoris” or curry holder. I really did not muster the courage to order one or take the sinful plunge into that ocean of calorie. Once done, just walk across to the National Handloom

feel a distinct change in my gait as I walked. If any one of you would remember the video of the song Walk Like and Egyptian!

Next day we proceeded towards Navalgarh, a small hamlet known for its horse /camel safaris’. This town has the architecture wherein houses were constructed with a courtyard in the middle and a couple of floors running around the same. The buildings were painted in different earthen hues and often had a lot of mirror and marble work in them. However, small the building might be but it had a huge and elaborately crafted entrance door, made of mahogany, and an open terrace with arches crafted in into the landings of the stairways. These were the typical Marwari Haveli.

Close to this location is Mandawa, the place where cycle polo originated in India and also where you get the ponies of the Marwar line. The night halt at our kothee at Navalgarh got us ready for the final leg of our journey which would bring us to Neemrana and thereon to New Delhi. Starting off at about 9a.m. we reached the Neemrana Resort at about 1p.m.

It hits you !! The entire fort has been carved out of the

Corporation store. This is a state government owned outlet which sells everything Rajasthani – from food to apparel to house furnishings to gifts. At rates which you can be assured of and not bargain about. Remember to bring home the famous “blue pottery” and garments bearing the bandhni print or block printed apparels or home furnishings, which are unique to this state.

By the way Jaipur has a Jal Mahal – the palace surrounded by water- this is a “take off” the original being in Udaipur. This one is currently under renovation as it is being turned into a hotel, so we could not venture in but the sight was quite nice. This evening we made the trip to Chowki Dhani.

At a distance of about 25kms north-west from Jaipur is this AMAZING recreation of Rajasthan. It is a theme park and the theme being RANGILO RAJASTHAN. You have shops which sell Rajasthani goods and nick-nacks, photographers who click you in the traditional attire of the state and diligently deliver the snap within twenty minutes, rope trick artistes and mehndi applicants (henna artistes). You have conjurers and magicians and elephant and camel rides – this takes the cake as after two rides on the camel – OF COURSE to keep the smile on Naman’s face – I could

mountain and the entrance itself reminded me of the castles that I have seen in movies or print in the land of the Scots…… The resort houses many categories of room and suites and they are named after various mythological characters, like the one which we occupied was called NANDI BURJ – Nandi being the holy bull ridden by holy Lord Shiv. This was an amazing experience because of the cold and chilly nights, nippy mornings, and hot afternoons… because of the spectacular Odissi dance recital at the adjacent amphitheatre… because of the uniqueness of camel ride provided by the resort itself… and many more of such wonderful attractions you better explore in your lifetime.

Having been there for a day and a half, we now geared up for the drive back to Delhi and there on to proceed to the home of the Knight Riders after all we had just been the Rajasthan Royals and behaved like the Daredevils…………….

The flight back home was exciting as we were discussing which part of the royal state we would be doing in the next getaway that we could manage in the immediate future. Rangilo Rajasthan!

~ TM Naveen Misra

Apr – Jun 2010

IGNITE YOUR PASSION, ENLIGHTEN YOUR FUTURE

Page

6

LINES TO LIVE BY

“Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

Huna: My Encounter with Self

I have been studying Huna for around ten years now.

I was initiated into it in the year 2001. While browsing the internet one day I accidentally stumbled upon the lost secrets of Ancient Hawaii. I got very curious and excited since it is a world which I knew didn’t exist. There were these Romanian couple by the name of Bogdan and Adriana who had been to Hawaii to learn these lost teachings. I immediately called them up asking more information about Huna. They asked me how did I come to know about Huna? They never advertised it because the material wasn’t meant for everyone. I told them what I read on the internet and how I got their phone numbers as people related to the teachings. They told me they were soon going to initiate a batch of seven people and I excitedly asked them if I could be the eighth one. Luckily they agreed.

Huna is no longer a secret world and it might take one couple of years to grasp the understanding of the

teachings.. It’s a world beyond the realms which

science cant comprehend.

• "Who am I?"

• "What is my spiritual nature?"

• "What is the nature of the world in which we live?"

• "How were people in ancient times connected to nature?"

• "How can I connect with the elemental forces of nature and live in harmony with my environment?"

• "Why do things happen the way they do?"

If you have asked yourself even one of these questions over the past few years, then it may be time to consider the study of Huna.

~ TM Prashant Garg

I accidentally

stumbled upon the

lost secrets of

Ancient Hawaii .

Figure of Speech Rhetoric Step by Step

~ by KTM Niladri Sekhar

Rhetoric is the art of using language to communicate effectively. It

involves three audience appeals: logos i.e. logic, pathos i.e. emotion and ethos i.e. credibility of the speaker. Originally developed by Aristotle around 300 BC, it has been effectively used in modern public speaking to make a speech or idea easily understandable, memorable and impactful. In this series, we explore different types of rhetoric. Rhetoric for this time is:

EUPHEMISM

A euphemism is a substitution of an expression that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the receiver with an agreeable or less offensive expression. Euphemism is often used in public relations and politics or to show politeness and avoid taboo words. Etymologically, euphemism comes from eupheme [eu = good/well, pheme = speech/speaking] which is just opposite to blaspheme which means evil speaking.

Examples:

� Idiot/imbecile/moron were once neutral terms for developmentally

delayed adult; later we used mentally retarded which was again considered offensive and changed to mentally challenged.

� Similar to above the following changes in usage is observed:

handicapped > disabled > physically challenged > differently abled

� Lavatory or toilet is seldom used in contemporary usage, and

bathroom, restroom etc are more popular terms. � Donkey instead of ass, or abattoir instead of slaughterhouse.

Apr – Jun 2010

IGNITE YOUR PASSION, ENLIGHTEN YOUR FUTURE

Page

7

LINES TO LIVE BY

"Look at everything as though you were seeing it for the first time or the last time.

Then your time on earth will be filled with glory." ~ Betty Smith

Panache Unthrottled… Charter Week Celebration of Kolkata Toastmasters Club

The Date: 14 May 2010, exactly two years since KTM was chartered on 13 May 2008

The Venue: Dalhousie Institute Club, Ballygunge.

The Event: KTM’s Second Chartering Week Celebration!!

And what a celebration it was!! We had two P10 speeches — TM Jayita Dey and TM Naveen Misra completing their CCs on this momentous occasion — a Table Topic Session conducted by ever-enthusiast TM Indranil and then an Evaluation session spearheaded by General Evaluator for the day, veteran Toastmaster Mr. Chendil Kumar. He also shared with us a lot of his valuable experience and views on public speaking. This was followed by the awards for educational achievements as well as for recognizing exceptional members.

TM Stacey Fernandes was awarded the ‘Toastmaster of the Year’ award with a citation for her outstanding performance in Reverberations 2009, and sincerity towards completion of CC and CL tracks and thereby leading the club from the front. TM Niladri was conferred the ‘Special Toastmaster Award’ for spearheading the design and content for our newsletters and website. The educational awards, apart from CC completion to the two speakers of the day, was also awarded to TM Stacey, TM Anuvrat and TM Ankit for completing the CC and to TM Stacey, TM Ruchira for completing their CL track within the year. Great work!!

Once the meeting ended, the celebration started — songs, game show, jokes and mimicry (TM Nishant Khemka invited Acctor Shatrughan Sinha on stage, literally). This part was managed excellently by our President Stacey and TM Shisham. And all this was topped up by a wonderfully sumptuous dinner (thanks to Mr. Pabrai and Vishal for arranging such a nice dinner and party location). All in all, a perfect evening for the memory album for years to come!!

Apr – Jun 2010

IGNITE YOUR PASSION, ENLIGHTEN YOUR FUTURE

Page

8

LINES TO LIVE BY

“Faith moves mountains, but you have to keep pushing while you are praying.” ~ Mason Cooley

Announcements!

A special workshop on ‘The Art of Humour in Public Speaking’ will be held on Monday 9th August 2010 at Kolkata Toastmasters Club from 6 pm to 8:30 pm. This will be conducted by ace Toastmaster Kunal Khanna of Mumbai. Be there!

Club level Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contest for Kolkata Toastmasters Club will be held on 20th August 2010 (Friday) at 7 pm at the usual club venue.

A workshop on Competent Leadership will be held on Friday, 27th August 2010. It will be conducted by veteran Toastmaster Anuvrat Pabrai at Kolkata Toastmasters Club.

Area N2 Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contest will be held at TCS Maitree Toastmasters Club, Bhubaneswar on 12th September 2010 (Sunday)

District 82 Semi Annual Conference Reverberations 2010 will be held in Mumbai from 26th to 28th November 2010. For more information please log on to www.reverberations2010.com

Restructuring of Toastmasters Clubs in the Area, Division and District

With effect from the start of the new Toastmaster year 2010-11, the district 82 will be divided in District 82 S (comprising of clubs in Sri Lanka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka) and 82 N (comprising of clubs in the rest of India). This year will be the transition year for the two districts which will albeit function under one umbrella. From 1st July 2011 onwards these two districts will be independent districts with two different District numbers. It’s a pleasure for Toastmasters in Eastern India, as we have been an independent district in this year, namely the Division N with three areas in it. Kolkata Toastmasters Club feels extra pride to be the Division Governor’s Home Club. Hearty Congratulations to our Division Governor TM Kunal Pabrai. The three areas of Division N will be as below: Area N-1 (comprises of Toastmasters Commune Burdwan, PwC Kolkata Toastmasters Club and ISM Energized Toastmasters Club at ISM Dhanbad) - will be helped and guided by incoming Area Governor Saborna Dey. Area N-2 (comprises of Kolkata Toastmasters Club, TCS Maitree Bhubaneswar Toastmasters Club, Infosys Bhubaneswar Toastmasters Club and the newly formed City of Joy Toastmasters Club) - will be helped and guided by incoming Area Governor Siddhartha Churiwal. Area N-3 (comprises TCS Maitree Kolkata Toastmasters Club, IBM Blue Voice Toastmasters Club and Salt Lake Toastmasters Club) - will be helped and guided by incoming Area Governor Pramod Fernandes

Educational Summary of Club

� 118 Meetings

� 212 Project Speeches

� Speech Marathon

� Workshop* on:

� Impromptu Speaking

* workshops held in the last quarter only

Apr – Jun 2010

IGNITE YOUR PASSION, ENLIGHTEN YOUR FUTURE

Page

9

LINES TO LIVE BY

“Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” ~ Peter F. Drucker

Toastmaster talks to Toastmaster

In this series we communicate within the realms of Toastmasters. A

Toastmaster talks to another. And in this way we try to know more

about the Person we talk to. And the discussion shifts from passion

to profession, from public to personal aspects of fellow

toastmasters.

This time we have got TM Naveen Misra - a voracious speaker and a

dynamic leader. An orator of his class is famous in not just our own

club, but lauded by all the toastmasters in our region. He speaks

without any bar to TM Niladri Sekhar.

Niladri: Toastmasters in our area know how dynamic you are as a

leader. And now finally you are leading the Kolkata Toastmasters

Club right from the front. But is'nt it a bit late for a leader like you

to take the baton?

Naveen: There is a saying in Hindi, Der Aaye Durust Aaaye……..

Even if you arrived late you did come in finally!! Banter aside, I

remember that along with Debabrata I was the first VP Education of

this commune and that, I feel, is a huge leadership position too. Our

club has so many stalwarts that I have had to wait my turn to hit the

hot seat. It makes me feel so proud to belong to such a hallowed

group. Viva KTM

Niladri: There are some Toastmasters who are immensely

passionate. Whereas, a lot of people find it hard to cope with their

profession and passion at the same time. Your advice to them?

Naveen: I would ask them a question, do they like only one kind of

food everyday? If the answer is yes, then they need to know the

tastes of life and hence should have a plate full of different morsels.

If the answer is no, then they know that they want variety and

should go out and grab the same. Therefore for both the groups life

can get a different and vibrant hue if they communicate and hence

– TOASTMASTERS.

Niladri: We are already hearing much about your "REACH OUT TO"

motto. Would you please brief us about what it actually is, and how

you are going to accomplish this mission?

Naveen: To communicate is to have a dialogue or else we might as

well have had a monologue and be ignorant of what others opine. If

we believe in a two way process, we reach out as it is. It is from this

very simple thought that I have felt the tremendous urge to

“REACH OUT”.

In any organization the root cause of decadence is a feeling of

status quo. Until there is movement there is no life. If there is

movement you would be going in some direction and that direction

for me is to go out to others who want to communicate, hence the

desire to “REACH OUT”.

Niladri: You have always been vocal about how difficult it is to make

the mentees turn up for mentoring, and you have urged a million

times to make full use of mentoring. Don't you think, mentoring

can never be universally effective?

Naveen: First, congratulations to Kunal, Abdul, Siddhartha and

Stacey for being trend setters, the bench mark, as you have

already pointed out, is already so high that I have a fear in my

belly already. From this fear also arises a spark that these very

able hands are now around to mentor and guide the new

Executive Committee so that we can roar ahead and breach a

new horizon.

There are a number of plans, like REACHING OUT, getting guest

speakers from various walks of life to share their experiences,

drawing up a plan to ensure more people reach the CC and CL

targets etc.. and we would try and put in place other ideas too

which shall be shared with the club members over the next few

weeks.

Niladri: What is more important to you, accomplishment of

simple commitments or endeavour to achieve something great

no matter if you fail?

Naveen: The two aspects are interrelated. You require to lift

your foot no matter whether you desire to be Neil Armstrong or

Usain Bolt. I believe in playing the team game and am sure that

an idea well phrased and shared and well accepted by the

executing body, will ensure success. I say this because if the

executioner understands what is desired of him/her or if we

have been able to explain what is desired of him/her, he/she will

surely try and give off his/her best. This in turn will bear fruit, it

might not taste success at the very first go but the seeds of

success would have been sown.

Niladri: Nobody is perfect. KTM is a really good club, still it must

be having some shortcomings. What are they, how do you plan

to overcome them?

Naveen: Agree. Nor am I. I want to learn and learn from a lot of

people and for that we need to see a lot of people in the

meetings. I am sure that you have got the hint. Attendance

surely is a concern and the EC is drawing up plans for improving

the same.

Apr – Jun 2010

IGNITE YOUR PASSION, ENLIGHTEN YOUR FUTURE

Page

10

LINES TO LIVE BY

"Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait. The grip of your hand, the irresistible

surge of will and energy to execute your ideas." ~ Henry Ford

Toastmaster Talks to Toastmaster…

Niladri: What's your vision? By the end of December 2010, what feats do you dream this club would achieve? Naveen: I am just about assuming office. The goals are beginning to appear on the horizon and the twilight zone is still to clear. I am sure that one thing which is uppermost in the mind of the EC is to take this club and the movement to greater heights and to keep the flag flying stronger than before. I have to keep the hard work of my predecessors in mind when I walk over the footprints that they have left behind and try and leave a little touch of my own. I am sure the team is sure that together WE WILL, WE CAN and WE MUST excel. Niladri: Many times people argue over how paced our journey to CC and CL should be. How much time do you think optimum for one to complete CC / CL? Naveen: As you would know that this is a journey of self-excellence. There are no overseers to ensure compliance of goals and targets. You set it, you reach it. We applaud. However, if you ask me a person who wants to improve, that I feel should be the target for being a Toastmaster in the first place, should look at doing one speech every six- eight weeks. As regards CL if he/she has the fire he/she can work on it even faster. I would also suggest that all toastmasters should REACH OUT to other clubs and go over to work on their CC and CL tracks there. Niladri: Toastmasters helps people develop their communication skills. You were no doubt an ace speaker before you joined this club. What exactly the benefits you have reaped out of it over the last two years? Naveen: I am not sure if I am worthy of such an adjective but I am sure that I have redefined my skills of public communication. I have also worked on my persuasive skills. This has also helped me become a better professional on my work front. Some where my scabbard was rusting, toastmasters has got the gilt edge back. Niladri: Which has more potential to grow, a corporate club or a community one, like ours? Naveen: At the cost of being shot…… … Community Club. Niladri: What are your hobbies other than Speaking a lot? :) Naveen: Thanks for saying “….. a lot.” Yes I love speaking and speaking out, hence REACHING OUT. I read both fiction and non-fiction, whenever I can. I like working out in the late evening hours. I used do the dog show circuit but currently am out of it. I am also quite a fan of National Geographic and Discovery channels.

Niladri: Shoppers Stop! The name gives me an impression that shoppers stop by it, and never stop buying things inside it. So busy they must be to get the right product for their needs. And while managing them, and those innumerable varieties of products they look for, you must be very busy as well. And then there's a second wife of yours - Toastmasters, which would take all your time. Now, does your better half feel better after you are elected as Club President? :)

Naveen: First, keep telling everyone to STOP by at our stores and keep us on our toes by trying to fulfill their expectations. I surely convey my regards and thanks to everyone who has been shopping with us and assure them that we would try and deliver nothing but the best at all times. Now about the love aspect, yes it is very difficult to keep two people, who you love, equally satisfied. However, if you were to make both of them understand that, three is no more a crowd and also indulge in “good evaluation” techniques, as learnt in toastmasters, then they would surely understand the situation and chances are one would mentor the other too. REACHING OUT at it’s sublime best. Seriously speaking, Rashmi has been a great support. She understands all my absurd timings and I presume that she also is a mentor in her own right. It is with support that a house is built, it is with love that you build a home. In either case the woman of the house is THE defining factor. I thank her.

Niladri: In our Chartering Meet 2010, we saw you don a Chef's hat. Can you really cook yourself, or you are better with what's already cooked and served to you?

Naveen: Risk it at your own peril or ask Rashmi ☺ Niladri: Personally you remind me of a chocolate bar. It gives immense energy if I have one, even if few inches long. And a person of your stature with a pitch of your voice, when stands tall in front of the podium, one can't but get mesmerized listening to you. Tremendous energy level! There must be a secret? Boost, we know, is the secret of Sachin's energy, what's yours? :)

Naveen: TOASTMASTERS……………..da jawab nahi !!!

Give peace a chance and God bless all of you,

Naveen Misra

Apr – Jun 2010

IGNITE YOUR PASSION, ENLIGHTEN YOUR FUTURE

Page

11

LINES TO LIVE BY

“Delegating work works, provided the one delegating works, too.” ~ Robert Half

Congratulations Kolkata Toastmasters Club!

TMI Awards

Kolkata Toastmasters Club received the President’s Distinguished Club Award from

Toastmasters International (TMI) for 2009-10, its second year!

It also received Founders Ribbon from TMI for helping start up City of Joy Toastmasters Club

District Award

Kolkata Toastmasters Club won the Runner Up in the District 82 Best Newsletter Contest (Print Category)

given out at Ovations 2010, Annual Conference of District 82. But way to go!!! Let’s add some more SPARK to the district.

Birthdays (Apr – Jun 2010) KTM’s Achievement - Distinguished Club Plan

Ruchira Parshad ~ July 4 Goals Target Current Status

Jayita Dey ~ July 13

TWO Competent Communicators 2 2 Achieved

Mayank Saraogi ~ Aug 3

TWO additional Competent Communicators 2 2 Achieved

Pramod Kedia ~ Aug 5

ONE Advanced Communicator (Bronze, Silver or Gold) 1 1 Achieved

Nishika Sharaff ~ Aug 11 ONE additional Advanced Communicator (Bronze, Silver or Gold) 1 0 Not met

Vinay Bamalwa ~ Aug 14

ONE Competent Leader, Advance Leader (Bronze or Silver) or DTM 1 1 Achieved

Amit Singh ~ Aug 15

ONE additional Competent Leader, Advance Leader or DTM 1 1 Achieved

Vishal Churiwal ~ Aug 18

FOUR new members added since 30th June 2009 4 4 Achieved

Siddhartha Churiwal ~ Aug 18

FOUR additional new members added since 30th June 2009 4 14 Achieved

Ranjeet Agarwal ~ Aug 27

FOUR Club Executive Officers trained in both Officer Training Programs 4+4 7+4 Achieved

Anniversary (Apr – Jun 2010)

ONE Membership dues renewal & ONE New officer list—Submission 1+1 1+1 Achieved

Stacey Fernandes ~ July 23

Goals Achieved in 2009 -10 (1st July 2009 - 30th June 2010) 9 Goals

Welcome New Members!Welcome New Members!Welcome New Members!Welcome New Members!

Sanjana Gupta: BBA (Hons.) from Shri Shikshayatan College Kolkata, Sanjana joined toastmasters to improve her communication and public speaking skills. She avidly waits for every Friday to attend the Toastmasters meeting which she believes, is a very good platform to socialize other than the obvious learning part. Her favourite pastime is watching action movies of Hollywood.

Contacts:sleepover_93@yahoo.co.in, 9903003305

Vinay Bamalwa: A graduate from St Xaviers College Kolkata, Vinay went on to pursue his gemologist diploma in the US so that he could contribute to his family business of gem and jewellery. A calm and quiet tech-freak by nature, he also has the zeal to be a role model in business. His future plans include opening an NGO and writing a book on the learnings in life. He joined toastmasters to hone his public speaking skills.

Contacts: v.vkb16@gmail.com, 9831165377

Apr – Jun 2010

IGNITE YOUR PASSION, ENLIGHTEN YOUR FUTURE

Page

12

We hope you’re enjoying the Toastmasters experience!!!

For Private Circulation only. Edited by Niladri S. Jyoti. Published by Stacey Fernandes, President - Kolkata Toastmasters Club.

Email: kolkata.toastmasters@gmail.com - Website: www.kolkatatoastmasters.org

Kolkata Toastmasters ClubKolkata Toastmasters ClubKolkata Toastmasters ClubKolkata Toastmasters Club is the first community Toastmasters club of Kolkata. More than two years old, it has traversed a wonderful path of molding ordinary mortals into good public speakers and leaders. Kolkata Toastmasters is on its way to produce dozens of competent communicators and leaders! But more than all this, members of KTM share a unique bond of friendship, making KTM a club of fellowship, rather than just a public speaking forum! For more details please visit our club/website. Club website:Club website:Club website:Club website: www.kolkatatoastmasters.org District website:District website:District website:District website: www.t82.org International website:International website:International website:International website: www.toastmasters.org To meet us or experience how a Toastmasters Club runs, please visit us as guests. We meet every FridayFridayFridayFriday, at 7 pm7 pm7 pm7 pm, at Calcutta Chamber of Commerce, 18H Park Street,Calcutta Chamber of Commerce, 18H Park Street,Calcutta Chamber of Commerce, 18H Park Street,Calcutta Chamber of Commerce, 18H Park Street, Kolkata – 700017 (between Music World and Peter Cat)

Crossword Puzzle Solve this crossword and send your entries by October 15, 2010. And the entry having most correct solution will win a cooool prize! Email the solution to niladri123@gmail.com, or submit hard copy.

CLUES DOWN

2. Death notice (8) 3. Composition (7) 4. Short for “through” (4) 5. Moving Slowly (8) 6. Direction (5) 7. Absence of sound (7) 8. Suspends belief (8) 15. Group of close-set trees (7) 17. Australian wild dog (5) 18. Rooms below roofs (6) 19. Clothes-horse (5) 22. Large extinct reptile (8) 23. The waylay travelers (8) 24. Hair-splitting (8) 26. Day’s end (7) 28. Metallic element (7) 32. Large animal (4) 33. Thick, smoky fog (4)

ACROSS 1. Satisfied (7), 6. Reporter (7), 9. Greeting (5), 10. Large jug (7), 11. Transfer (shrub) (7), 12. Should (5), 13. Cooking gas (6), 14. Utilise (7), 15. Not fat (4), 16. Range (7), 18. Bloodless (7), 20. Insanity (6), 21. Stiffening agent (6), 25. Ball of minced meat (7), 27. Courier (7), 29. People born in a pair (5), 30. Subdivision of a state (6), 31. Not based on ethical standards (6), 32. Musical metal (5), 34. Go out and party (7), 35. Act as a peacekeeper (7), 36. Of sound (5), 37. Boozer (7), 38. Scowl (7)