toasted tidings
DESCRIPTION
Qatar Toastmasters, April 2014TRANSCRIPT
THE
VISIONARY
LEADER
www.qatartoastmasters.org Vol 9 Issue 3 April 2014
QATAR TOASTMASTERS CLUB CLUB No.2910 QATAR TOASTMASTERS CLUB CLUB No.2910 QATAR TOASTMASTERS CLUB CLUB No.2910 AREA 18 DIVISION EAREA 18 DIVISION EAREA 18 DIVISION E
A sneak peak into our leader’s lifeA sneak peak into our leader’s life–– PAGE 12PAGE 12
TOASTED TIDINGS PAGE 5
YET AGAIN
QTM ON TOP
PAGE 20
QTM
CELEBRATES
10/10 DCP
Qatar Toastmasters Club
Office Bearers 2013-2014
President TM Williams Antony
VP Education TM Thomas Joseph
VP Membership TM Jayaraj K . R
VP Public Relations TM Samanthi Gamage
Secretary TM Biju Mathew
Treasurer TM Saad Ghosn
Sergeant at Arms TM Eranga Wijeyawardna
TM Jais Thomas
Publisher TM Williams Antony
Editor TM Samanthi Gamage
Proof Readers TM Sarita Jacob
TM Rukhsana Khan
QATAR TOASTMASTERS CLUB
DOHA, QATAR
EMAIL: [email protected]
WWW.QATARTOASTMASTERS.ORG
MEETINGS ON EVERY 1ST AND 3RD SUNDAYS
RADISSON BLU HOTEL
AT
7 PM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Mission of a club
We provide a supportive and positive
learning experience in which members are
empowered to develop communication and
leadership skills, resulting in greater self-
confidence and personal growth.
Page 2 Editorial
Page 3 President's Message
Page 4 We are the world
Page 5 QTM on top
Page 6 Champions of Qatar Toastmasters Club
Page 7 Glimpse of Area 18 Annual Conference
Page 8 News
Page 10 Rome was not built in a day
Page 12 The Visionary Leader- Cover Story
Page 15 What they say….
Page 22 This is how we roll…
Page 23 Get to know me
Page 28 It's Never Too Late- By TM Cipriano
Page 29 It's Now or Never- By TM Fathima, CC
Page 31 Hall of Fame
From the Editor’s Desk
Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to high sights, the raising of a person’s perfor-
mance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limita-
tions. —Peter Drucker
If you remember the days that you learnt to walk, gathered letter by letter to read a
word or even the effort you took in holding a fork and a spoon to eat from the dinner
plate…..
How many times did you fall?
How many times did you make mistakes and read a wrong word?
How many times did you drop the fork and spoon?
I remember some of these moments, except the times I walked and the results of such
occasions, how disappointed and discontented I was.
Every time when I failed and every time when I wanted assistance there was someone
behind me – my parents, my aunt and even my teachers.
They were my heroes and my true leaders!
Time passed by and I moved my steps from home to the society. Learning to walk
along the right path, with right skills and attitudes was my next objective. I learnt
many theories and did experience much ; thereby collecting a vast knowledge and
skills to be successful in life and career. However, I understood the importance of im-
proving the art of communication which makes the difference in the world.
Therefore, I started the journey of Toastmasters!
If I could spend time to improve my speaking, thinking, listening, and responding
skills at once, it was only at the Toastmasters with positive response to the roles
which I took up at meetings.
Toastmasters International - Where Leaders are Made, is a place where anyone can
learn to develop confidence and Real World Transferable Skills to succeed in the very
competitive world.
A leader in Toastmasters gathers information, then analyzes, interprets and under-
stands it before acting. A mentor recognizes an individual who has less experience and
cultivates that person’s potential and talents and helps him or her succeed.
These heroes are the helping hands and parents of the club who assist
and guide the other members to reach their destinations through
Toastmasters.
Samanthi Gamage Vice President Public Relations
Dear members of Qatar Toastmasters Club,
It is a great honor for me to lead one of the most vibrant clubs in Qatar. When I
took over as the President for the term 2013-14, I considered it as a privilege, but at
the same time I knew that it was a great challenge to be in a seat occupied by great
leaders who built the club.
Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is
defined by results not attributes. Qatar Toastmasters Club has been built by steady and strenuous
efforts of leaders with sheer dedication, determination and hunger for excellence.
The strength or caliber of an organization is determined by the leaders in its ranks and we are proud to
have great leaders like Past International Director, DTM George Thomas, current Lieutenant Governor
(E&T) District 20, TM Subha Sarma Anupindi, current Area 12 Governor TM Thayalan, DTM Shoaib
Kasim, DTM Mohan Varghese, DTM Raghavan, DTM Virendranath and many more.
The latest to join the bandwagon is current Area 18 Governor TM Juttas Paul. A visionary leader who
believes that everything is possible if one has the vision and courage to achieve it. This year he created
ripples among the Toastmasters fraternity in Qatar when he achieved his vision of chartering the first
Arabic Community club ‘Tamim Toastmasters’ in Qatar.
I believe that “it is not the position that makes the leader; it is the leader that makes the position”.
We are also proud to have champion speakers like TM Koka Prasad and TM Nevine Kamel as our
members.
This year we bettered our own record by becoming the first club in Qatar to achieve 10/10 DCP Points
and also Presidents Distinguished Club status on 16 March 2014.
During the Area 18 Conference on 04 April 2014 our club was adjudged as the Best Club in the Area.
We also won many other awards. We created another record when 4 of our lady members won all the 4
speech contests and will be representing the Area at the TAC-Q 2014. We are repeating this feat for the
3rd year in a row.
I often wonder as to what is the secret of the success of our club? The answer is quite simple - just like
the success of any organization is its workforce; similarly the success of our club is our “Members”.
I am very fortunate to have joined a club bubbling with passionate Toastmasters who inspire and
motivates other members to bring out their best. In such an environment I am sure that a member has
only one option ‘to go up the ladder’. I would like to sincerely thank all the members for contributing to
the success of this great club.
Remember— members might come and go, but Qatar Toastmasters Club is there to stay.
Regards,
Williams Antony
President
Qatar Toastmasters Club 2910
Area 18, Division E, District 20
President’s MessagePresident’s MessagePresident’s Message
Qatar Toastmasters Club is proud to have representatives of
14 countries as its members.
A true image of Unity in Diversity is presented by the members of this great club.
WE ARE THE WORLDWE ARE THE WORLDWE ARE THE WORLD
4
YET AGAIN QTM ON TOPYET AGAIN QTM ON TOPYET AGAIN QTM ON TOP
QATAR TOASTMASTERS MAKES A CLEAN SWEEP
AT THE AREA 18 ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2014
TM NEVINE KAMEL
INTERNATIONAL SPEECH CONTEST
TM SHAIKHA AL NASSR
HUMOROUS SPEECH CONTEST
BELINDA YARE, DTM
EVALUATION CONTEST
TM RUKHSANA KHAN
TABLE TOPICS CONTEST
5
WINNERS OF QATAR TOASTMASTERS CLUB CONTESTS—LAST 5 YEARS
Year Category First Second Third
2013 — 2014
International Nevine Kamel Belinda Yare Seymur Rasulov
Humorous Shaikha Al Nassr Nilesh Oturkar Belal M Khan
Evaluation Belinda Yare Nevine Kamel Jais Thomas
Table Topics Rukhsana Khan Nevine Kamel Samanthi Gamage
2012 — 2013
International Koka Prasad Clarivic Vistal Nevine Kamel
Humorous Aloris Dias Nevine Kamel Thomas Joseph
Evaluation Nevine Kamel Virendranath Thayalan
Table Topics Rayhanul Islam Thayalan Nevine Kamel
2011 —2012
International Nevine Kamel Mai Sharief Thomas Joseph
Humorous Thomas Joseph Mohamed Aklan Nevine Kamel
Evaluation Virendranath Rukhsana Khan Nevine Kamel
Table Topics Mohamed Aklan Edmund Chapman Nevine Kamel
2010—2011
International Thayalan Ashokan PV Vimalkar TK
Humorous Ashokan PV Belal Khan Allain Stiven
Evaluation Krishnamoorthy Edmund Chapman Ashokan PV
Table Topics Edmund Chapman Mohamed Aklan Juttas Paul
2009 —2010
International Koka Prasad Williams Antony PV Ashokan
Humorous Williams Antony Divakaran Rajesh Nair
Evaluation Krishnamoorthy Siva Raman Abdul Kareem
Table Topics Edmund Chapman Divakaran Sunny Mathew
CHAMPIONS OF QATAR TOASTMASTERS CLUBCHAMPIONS OF QATAR TOASTMASTERS CLUBCHAMPIONS OF QATAR TOASTMASTERS CLUB
Qatar Toastmasters Club is the only club in Division E that has been winning all the contests at the Area Level
consecutively for the past 3 years and this year there is yet again a “First”. For the very first time in the history of
Division E ladies will represent Qatar Toastmasters and Area 18 in all contests at the Division Level.
Qatar Toastmasters Club Area Contest Results
Speech Contest
Year International
First Place Humorous First Place
Evaluation First Place
Table Topics First Place
2013-2014 Nevine Kamel Shaikha Al Nassr Belinda Yare Rukhsana Khan
2012-2013 Koka Prasad Aloris Dias Nevine Kamel Thayalan
2011-2012 Nevine Kamel Thomas Joseph Virendranath Nevine Kamel
6
GLIMPSE OF AREA 18 ANNUAL GLIMPSE OF AREA 18 ANNUAL GLIMPSE OF AREA 18 ANNUAL
CONFERENCE 2014 CONFERENCE 2014 CONFERENCE 2014
7
NEWSNEWS
DTM George Thomas for 2nd Vice President
It is with great pride we announce that our founder member DTM George Thomas has been
nominated as a candidate for 2nd Vice President for Toastmasters International.
He is an active Toastmaster since 1996.
He served as District 79 Governor, led the District to President’s Distinguished District status
and registered the highest growth in membership and retention during the year.
He served as Region 11 International Director for the 2011-2013 term.
(http://www.george4vp.net/)
We wish him all the best!
Under the leadership of
DTM Saquib Raza Khan
as the Division Governor,
Division E became the
first club in the entire
District 20 to attain the
President’s Distinguished
Status on 14th March
2014.
Under the leadership of TM Juttas Paul Area 18 was the first area in the entire District 20 to
become the President’s Distinguished club.
Area 18: The First President’s Distinguished Area
Qatar Toastmasters Club created another record when it
achieved 10/10 DCP Points on 16th of March 2014. So far
we are only club in Division E with this amazing.
(Click below to see how we did it)
http://dashboards.toastmasters.org/ClubReport.aspx?id=00002910
Qatar Toastmasters: The First Club to achieve 10/10 DCP points in Division E
8
Qatar Toastmasters Club has a long history of achievements.
We are consistently achieving the President’s Distinguished status since past 10 years.
NEWSNEWS
QTM rocks at Oryx Awards!
Best Club President– TM Williams Antony Best V P Membership– TM Jayaraj Best Club– Qatar Toastmasters Club
Best Educational Achiever– TM Seymur Best Newsletter– TM Samanthi Gamage
Qatar Toastmasters Club wins 5 awards at the Area 18 Oryx Awards in the category of Best Club President, Best
V P Membership, Best Club, Best Newsletter and Best Educational Achiever Award for TM Seymur Rasulov.
9
Rome was not built in a day — A walk down the memory lane
It is said that “Rome was not built in a day” and the “Pyramids were not built by one per-
son”. The same goes with Qatar Toastmasters Club, the epitome of Toastmasters in Qa-
tar. A club built by many dedicated, determined and passionate Toastmasters. The Editorial
team of Toasted Tidings walked down memory lane, to remember the leaders who have
led the club to its achievements, since its inception in the year 1997.
Year Executive Committee Members
Mentor Past
President
President VP
Education
VP
Member-
ship
VP
Public
Relations
Secretary Treasurer Sergeant
At Arms
1997—
1998
No N/A Judith
Britten /
Frank
George
Thomas
Frank
Banaynal
Mubarak
Al Khulaifi
Dr. Ali El
Bahrawi
Balasubr-
amanian
Albert
Rosario
1998—
1999
No Frank
Banaynal
George
Thomas
Francis
Seles
Dr. Ali El
Bahrawi
Joanne
Dandres
Mariam
Sequiera
Ramesh
Subrama-
nian
Abel Ro-
sario
1999—
2000
Frank
Banaynal
George
Thomas
Dr. Ali El
Bahrawi
Mohan
Varghese
Moza Al
Malki
Eustace
Menezes
Josephine
Soriano
Manoj
Menon
Abdulla
Kutty Haji
2000—
2001
Frank
Banaynal
George
Thomas
Mohan
Varghese
Ommen K
John
Medhen
Tedla
Prakash
GK
Mohd.
Shoaib
Kasem
Timothy
Viegas
Anthony
Peter
D’Souza
2001—
2002
George
Thomas
Mohan
Varghese
Ommen K
John
Medhen
Tedla /
MM
Subha
Sarma
Anupindi
Mohd.
Shoaib
Kasem
Felix
Chacko
Thomas
Sankara
Nara-
yanan R
Deviah
NT
2002—
2003
Mohan
Varghese
Ommen K
John
Prakash
GK
Annamma
Mani
Mohd.
Shoaib
Kasem
Subha
Sarma
Anupindi
JS Paul Moham-
med
Nazeem
Karthikey
an P
2003—
2004
No Ommen K
John
Annamma
Mani /
Mohd.
Shoaib
Mohd.
Shoaib
Kasem /
Sudhir
Karthikey
an Palani
Rashed
Noman
Ashok G
Kamat
Haridasan
Nel-
lacherry
Ravi
Shetty
2004—
2005
No Mohd.
Shoaib
Kasem
Sudhir
Pandra
Karthikey
an Palani
Jose
Kurian
Ashok G
Kamat
Haridasan
Nel-
lacherry
Krishna
Nagara-
jan
PB Shaji
2005—
2006
No Sudhir
Pandra
Karthikey
an Palani
Haridasan
Nel-
lacherry
Ashok G
Kamat
Krishna
Nagara-
jan
Sandeep
Kumar
Lewis
Jesuda-
san
Subrama-
nian S
10
Rome was not built in a dayRome was not built in a day–– A walk A walk
down the memory lanedown the memory lane
Rome was not built in a day …….continued from page 8
Year Executive Committee Members
Mentor Past
President
President VP
Education
VP
Member-
ship
VP
Public
Relations
Secretary Treasurer Sergeant
At Arms
2006—
2007
No Karthikey
an Palani
Haridasan Nellacherry /
Jose
Kurian
Subha
Sarma
Anupindi
Lewis
Jesuda-
san
Kumara
Badugae /
Abdul Razak
Palakkal
Subrama-
nian S
Kabeer K
Thayalan
2007—
2008
No Jose
Kurian
Subha
Sarma
Anupindi
Lewis Jesudasan
Kailayapillai Thayalan
Rajesh
Nair
Kale Rao/
NP Sahoo
MA
Aexander
Srirthan /
Raghuna-
than
2008—
2009
No Subha
Sarma
Anupindi
Lewis Jesudasan
M.A.
Aexander
N Prasad
Sahoo
Edmund
Chapman
Raghavan
NV
Juzar
C.M.
Mohamed
Faizal
2009—
2010
No Lewis Jesudasan
M.A.
Alxander
Raghavan
NV
Williams
Antony
M Abdul
Kareem
Shrikant
Seludkar
Sunny
Mathew P
Baiju K Madhavan
2010—
2011
No M.A.
Alexander
Koka
Prasad
Kailayapillai Thayalan
Krishna
Moorthy
Williams
Antony
Rukhsana
Khan
TK
Vimalkar
Manzoor
Mohamed
2011–
2012
No Koka
Prasad
Kailayapillai Thayalan
Krishna
Moorthy
Manzoor
Mohamed
Juttas
Paul
Mary Jay-
aweera
Mohamed
Aklan
Thomas
Joseph
2012–
2013
No Kailayapillai Thayalan
Juttas
Paul
Williams
Antony
Rukhsana
Khan
Thomas
Joseph
Rehab
Sharief /
Samanthi
Gamage
KR
Jayaraj
Rayhanul
Islam /
Mahesh
Gowda
2013–
2014
Raghavan
N.V
Juttas
Paul
Williams
Antony
Thomas
Joseph
K R
Jayaraj
Samanthi
Gamage
Biju
Mathew
Saad
Ghosn
Eranga
W/ Jais
Thomas
11
Rome was not built in a dayRome was not built in a day–– A walk A walk
down the memory lanedown the memory lane
I joined Qatar Toastmasters Club in 2011 and within three months I was absorbed into the Ex-Com as the ser-
geant at arms. During this time I met an unusual man. He was the Vice President for Public Relations. He had an
uncanny aura to himself. He seemed not to be happy doing things the usual way thus he took it upon himself to
raise the standards in whatever he did.
Our senior members testify that it was him who revamped and
revitalized the Qatar Open Youth Public Speaking Champi-
onship conducted by the club since 1997 when he became the
Qatar Open Chair in 2011. Since then Qatar Open has been
growing stronger and bigger year by year.
This man or (shall I say superman) is called Juttas Paul. He is
truly a visionary leader. He is a leader who dares to dream
big, who inspires others to pursue excellence and someone for
whom “good enough is not good enough”.
Juttas Paul was born in Mutholapuram, a small village in
Ernakulam district of Kerala, India. He has a younger and an
elder sister and being the only boy was surely mama’s
favorite and the naughty one. He did his schooling in Kerala
and got a Bachelors in Mathematics and an MBA in Interna-
tional Business. His pursuit of excellence began at a young
age as he acquired various professional qualifications such as
PG Diploma in Computer Applications, Certified Enterprise
Architect, CGEIT, CISM, ITIL, MOFF and FCP.
He got married in 2007 and has three sons and a daughter. I
cannot help but mention that their names all begin with “J”.
Jerome, Johan, Joshua and Joana keep their little home alive
at all times.
It is said that if you want to get something done, give it to the
world’s busiest man. Father of four, Head of IT systems in Al
Jazeera, Area 18 Governor, countless involvements in other
professional and expatriate forums but you would never hear
him say “ I AM BUSY”.
There is a Japanese saying that “If someone can do it, I must
do it and if someone cannot do it, I must definitely do it”.
Well in his case he does the latter part a lot, which was
evident during Qatar Open 2012 which saw the highest amount of sponsorship raised for this event to date.
I personally was petrified when he disclosed the budget but I couldn’t see even a drop of sweat on his face.
It may come as a surprise to you that one fine day his boss told him that “you are doing excellent in your
professional work; however you need to improve your presentation skills moving forward”. He looked for
opportunities and eventually joined Toastmasters, though he jokes that initially he thought there would be a lot of
toasts. Well let’s raise a toast to his boss for giving us this great gift.
Speaking of his recent endeavor, the biggest Area conference in the history of Division E, I asked him why so
The Visionary Leader:
Cover Story By TM Thomas Joseph, CC
12
much effort for an area contest? To which he replied “It is not about the Area Conference; I wanted to achieve two
goals…
First, I want people to realize that in every position you hold, there are lots of opportunities for you to work,
perform and improve. We should not look at what people used to do and just continue doing so. We should look at
what your limits are and try to explore it to the fullest potential.
Second, I want to emphasize that our dream is our limit. Nothing else can stop us from doing things or getting
things done.
I hope this will encourage at least a few people to dream big in Toastmasters as well as in their personal &
professional lives, to achieve higher goals.”
I couldn’t agree more with him. Area 18 Conference was not a showoff, it was a showcase. A showcase of
ambition, talent, hard work and excellence.
It is said that if your dream does not scare you, it’s not big enough, but Juttas Paul doesn’t agree with this. He
says, “I never felt scared. It is my passion to take up things that are very challenging. Be it in professional life or
anywhere for that matter. I have taken up things even when I had no clear understanding about how it will work,
but an inner calling telling me that ‘yes you can’. When you push yourself out of the comfort zone and walk that
extra mile you achieve great things.”
Upon asking how he felt about his journey as the Area 18 Governor he said, “It was a good opportunity to interact
with all Toastmaster leaders in Area 18 and Division, which was a learning experience for me. It also provided an
opportunity to venture out to new fields such as colleges, universities, Arabic community, etc. and introduce
Toastmasters to them. Personally I earned many more friends too. It was a good experience letting more people
know about Toastmasters and when they realize the benefits, they embrace it.”
Man with the plan? No, not Juttas Paul as he claims that he did not come to Toastmasters with a plan. He took
Above: Sons of TM Juttas Paul from Left: Jerome, Johan and Joshua
The Visionary Leader:
Cover Story
13
things as they came. He says, “I have learned a lot from Toastmasters and hence I am obliged to give it back at
every opportunity available. Also my Toastmaster journey is just in the beginning stage, there is much more to
learn and progress.”
With so many things on his plate are you wondering how his wife and kids bear with him? Then you must do what
I did; pay a visit to his home.
I was playing with the four little J’s as I waited for our Area Governor at his residence last week to get this
interview. As soon as the doorbell rang three little J’s abandoned me and bolted toward the door to welcome their
Big J. Big J puts down his laptop bag on the chair, takes his 6 month old J in his arms and pats her back as he asks
all the three boys about their activities since morning. He listens carefully to each of them with a sincere smile. I
was thinking to myself if this man just came back from work or a vacation?
It was one of those moments in your life when you are reminded that “Life is beautiful”.
TM Juttas Paul steps down from the Governorship for Area 18 on 30 June 2014 but his legacy will live on for his
successors to carry forward.
Finally, do you want to know who inspired Juttas Paul the most? Let me put his answer this way, leaders are not
always made. Sometimes they are born...
Juttas Paul: The Visionary Leader
Above: TM Juttas Paul and his family
The Visionary Leader:
Cover Story
14
What they say….What they say….What they say….
Q1: When and why did you join Toastmasters?
I joined toastmasters in 1996 as charter member of the first club in Qatar – Doha Toastmasters. Initially there was no
particular reason for joining. I was impressed with the demo meeting and decided to join. It was for meeting friends
and to have some change from the routine activities. I always believed that learning never stops. Another intention of
joining toastmasters was to learn and improve myself.
Q2: How have you grown as a communicator and leader since you joined Toastmasters?
I could hardly speak in public when I joined toastmasters. My personal communication was also very weak. I have
improved by leaps and bounds after joining toastmasters. But I used to take leadership roles from my school days. In
the college I was elected as the Commerce Secretary. So I decided to pursue my passion – leadership. I grabbed all
the leadership opportunities that came my way and thus could become a leader at international level within a reason-
able time. Toastmasters is not just only about communication and leadership. It is about improving ourselves – per-
sonally, professionally and socially, and becoming a better human being.
Q3: What do you like best about Qatar Toastmasters club?
Qatar Toastmasters Club is a well-balanced club with the right mix of old and new members. I admire the leaders
produced by us who are upholding the core values of Toastmasters International, viz; Integrity, Service, Respect and
Excellence. It is really heartening to see our members dominating the toastmasters activities in Qatar and in our Dis-
trict.
Q4: What have you done in Toastmasters to gain leadership experience?
I have taken on all the leadership opportunities that came my way. Most of the time without knowing what is to be
done. You need to do your best in whatever you do in order stretch yourself and bring out the best in you. If you do
that in all the roles you take, you will excel.
Q5: What do you tell your friends and family about Toastmasters?
Toastmasters is the place where you learn by doing. It is the place where you are a student and a teacher, a leader and
a follower, a master and a servant, a mentor and mentee, a speaker and an evaluator. You can choose the pace at
which you want to progress. You can choose the goals you want to accomplish in communication and leadership –
The World Champion of Public Speaking or The International President.
George Thomas, DTM is the Immediate Past International Director and one of the
charter members of Qatar Toastmasters Club. He is the CFO for Intertec Qatar and
advisor to the Chairman.
15
What they say...What they say...What they say...
Q1: When and why did you join Toastmasters?
I joined Toastmasters in 2008 after attending a Speechcraft program conducted by Qatar Toastmasters Club. I joined
Toastmasters to primarily to improve my presentation skills which is essential to perform my duties in my job. But I’m
happy to tell you that I ended up learning much more than that.
Q2: How have you grown as a communicator and leader since you joined Toastmasters?
My friends & well-wishers say that there is a marked improvement in me as a communicator & leader since I joined
Toastmasters. Leadership roles in the Club, Area & Division levels, as the Mentor for members & Clubs, as Coach for sick
clubs & as Sponsor of new clubs are some of the leadership roles that I have enjoyed over the past 5+ years. Thanks to the
leadership lessons I learnt in Toastmasters, currently I occupy a responsible position of the Chairman of KEF, an organiza-
tion of 500+ Engineers of Indian origin who are working in Qatar. For all these leadership roles, good communication is a
must. Therefore, I believe that I have grown as a good communicator as well since I joined Toastmasters.
Q3: What do you like best about Qatar Toastmasters club?
With more than 14 nationalities as members, the multinational & multicultural atmosphere and the abundance of positive
energy flowing during the meetings make me feel that the 2.5 hours we spend every fortnight at Qatar Toastmasters’ meet-
ings are not enough. I have seen many members not going home immediately after the meetings. They stay back in the
hall, exchanging ideas & opinions with their fellow Toastmasters. That shows the love & enthusiasm of our members to-
wards our Club & our members. What I love most about Qatar Toastmasters is this fellowship among our members. I’m
sure this is the spirit of Toastmasters & the objectives with which the Founder Dr.Ralph Smedley started this great organi-
zation.
Q4: What have you done in Toastmasters to gain leadership experience?
I do not know what I have done to gain leadership experience. It would be better if I say everything fell in place. All my
Mentors especially, our current LGET-District 20 & the then Club President when I joined Qatar Toastmasters Club, TM
Subha Anupindi has played an important role in guiding me & sharing her knowledge whenever I needed. In my opinion,
there are plenty of leadership opportunities up for grabs in the Club, Area or Division levels. You must grab the opportuni-
ty when you spot it.
Q5: What do you tell your friends and family about Toastmasters?
As my wife says, even if I’m sick & bedridden the whole day, come 6 PM on a Toastmasters meeting day, I get up from
the bed , wear the coat & there I go. She is right. Even I do not know how that happens. I get some extra power to go for
Toastmasters meetings even if I‘m not well. I’m sure all my fellow Toastmasters must also be feeling the same. Whenever
I get an opportunity, I tell my friends & relatives to experience Toastmasters. This is because I want my friends & relatives
to experience the goodness of Toastmasters that I have experienced. I have proudly displayed the Distinguished Toastmas-
ters plaque in my office as well as “DTM” is printed on my business card. I’m proud to be a Toastmaster.
Raghavan Menon, DTM is the Immediate Past Assistant Division E Governor for
Marketing. He is the Operations Manager at Intercol Communication W.L.L Qatar and
current Club Mentor for 2013-2014.
16
What they say...What they say...What they say...
Q1: When and why did you join Toastmasters?
I joined Toastmasters in 1996 at Abu Dhabi Chapter. I heard about toastmasters from a friend of mine and was in-stantly intrigued into finding out more.
Q2: How have you grown as a communicator and leader since you joined Toastmasters?
It was a great learning experience for me. The evaluations which I received from my evaluators, tips from my mentors have helped me to improve my communications skills- this has greatly helped me in my profession and in my day to day life. By taking various leadership roles in club excom to becoming Area Governor and PRO of Divi-sion E I have grown in stature. I am able to contribute to my profession and my community. The very fact that I was MDRT Chairperson for Qatar for 3 years and a member of Executive committee of Indian Business Professional Next group is the testimony of benefits I received by being a toastmaster.
Q3: What do you like best about Qatar Toastmasters club?
The way the meetings are conducted, the opportunities given to its members to speak and take up roles, composition of members of different countries above all the team work which is there. I liked that most.
Q4 : What have you done in Toastmasters to gain leadership experience?
The leadership positions I have taken at the club, the area and the division plus the opportunities I got at the club, area and Division events. Also my contribution to the club, area and Division activities has helped me to gain a great deal of leadership experience by which I have immensely benefited.
Q5: What do you tell your friends and family about Toastmasters?
I say only one thing: that it is a great place to learn the art of communication and leadership. Don't miss out on opportunity. I wish to state here that Toastmasters is a unique organization different from others in many ways. Be it communication, leadership or organizing events it gives a lot of scope to bring out our best in us and at the same time it brings recognition to one self- I have experienced this many a time in the last 17 years or so.
Virendranath, DTM is one of the veterans of Qatar Toastmasters Club. He works
for LIC and is also a member of Million Dollar Round Table.
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What they say...What they say...What they say...
Q1: When and why did you join Toastmasters? I joined Qatar Toastmasters in June 2010, after completing their Speechcraft program. The main reason I joined was to break through barriers that were blocking my personal and professional effectiveness and growth. Those barriers were my lack of self-confidence and fear of speaking up in front of a group. I had been searching my whole adult life for a solution, and luckily I found Toastmasters! Q2: How have you grown as a communicator and leader since you joined Toastmasters? I cannot count the number of ways I have grown since joining Toastmasters. In terms of communication and leadership I am clearer in my writing, speaking, listening and thinking. I feel a huge difference and everyone who knows me has noticed the difference. I have gained the confidence and skills needed to complete all the speech and leadership projects in the competent communication and competent leadership manuals. Every speech and meeting role has been a challenge for me but a valuable learning opportunity at the same time. I have done things I once thought impossible for me, such as mentoring speech contest win-ners, performing as a master of ceremonies, and being a panelist outside of Toastmasters. Q3: What do you like best about Qatar Toastmasters club? I love Qatar Toastmasters’ team spirit and commitment to quality. You can feel the warmth and positive energy at every meeting. Our members come from all corners of the globe but we are a family of friends. Q4: What have you done in Toastmasters to gain leadership experience? I have served as club secretary and VP membership. I chaired the organizing committee for Qatar Toast-masters 15th anniversary gala. Most recently I was chair of the sponsorship committee for the Qatar Open Youth Public Speaking Championship 2012, an annual speech contest open to all students in Qatar be-tween 13-18 years. I have learned that Toastmasters is a place where leadership opportunities are endless. And you don’t need a title. Q5: What do you tell your friends and family about Toastmasters? Whenever I tell people about Toastmasters they tell me I speak with passion. I tell them how it has changed my life. I tell them how it can make a difference in theirs. I tell them to visit a club to see what I mean.
TM Rukhsana Khan, CC, CL is a well known lawyer in Qatar. She works at the
law office of Gebran Majdalany. Many new members look up to her for her contribu-
tions and achievements in the club. She is the past secretary and immediate past VP
Membership of Qatar Toastmasters Club.
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Inside each of us there is an inner voice that keeps on nagging till it finds its way out. That is exactly what
happened with me three years ago when I heard about Toastmasters International. I felt that finally the nag-
ging voice inside me will settle down because it will be heard. I always felt that I had something to share
with others. I could not settle down to serving the world only as a wife and mother, I felt there was more to
contribute with.
Toastmasters was the window that opened to me amidst four cement walls to allow fresh air into come in
my life. A cozy and trustworthy fraternity of people who joined forces across the globe to develop each
other’s communication and leadership skills, what else can anyone aspire for?
Since I joined Qatar Toastmasters club, opportunities for development came one after the other. It helped
me develop my public speaking skills as well communication and leadership skills. I was involved in many
special events organized by the club that aimed as well to serve the Qatari community. This has stretched
my skills and added a new word to my professional dictionary that is “community service”.
Toastmasters is not a place for the passive and pessimistic. It is a vibrant community that encourages its
members to develop and excel each in his/her own way. It is an equal opportunity organization that com-
prises millions of people around the world that come from different nationalities, religions and beliefs, and
while we all value the importance of diversity, we never focus on those differences but embrace the poten-
tial value they might add for the sake of a better communicating community.
I always tell my friends that I found “Nevine” the day I found Toastmasters. Every meeting I attend, and every contest I compete in, adds a piece to the unsolved puzzle in my life. The puzzle that each of us has to
solve in their quest for their unique identity. It is rather ironic that up till three years ago, I had very few memories to share with my sons, but now the album is full of energetic images, trophies, inspirational speeches to the extent that I do not know where to start from.
Nevine Kamel , CC,CL is an experienced HR Consultant with 15 years
experience in talent management & development.
What they say...What they say...What they say...
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What they say...What they say...What they say...
Q1: When and why did you join Toastmasters? I officially joined Toastmasters on 1 October 2012. After attending a couple of meetings as a guest, I found Toastmasters to be fun, educational and useful to my life. So, I decided to join in order to become a well-rounded individual and make the most of my time in Qatar. Moreover, joining this global organization was an extremely easy process. It was really worth every penny I paid and more, compared to the benefits and development I achieved. Q2: How have you grown as a communicator and leader since you joined Toastmasters? I had no formal public speaking experience before joining Toastmasters. I could improve my speaking style within a short period after joining Toastmasters. Toastmasters gave me an outlet to bring out my hidden skills, and practice what I’ve learned after joining Toastmasters. Speaking about a number of dif-ferent topics has opened my mind to new and exciting ideas, and thinking critically about these ideas has shaped my personal views and opinions. My growth did not happen automatically. Mentoring, both received and given, contributed to the develop-ment of my communication and leadership skills. Initially I used to think I was doing great, but the feed-back received was different at times. The variety of regular feedback I got, made it a lot easier for me to improve. There are no limits to learning in Toastmasters and there are no boundaries for growth. I have still a long way to go before I become an effective leader and an impactful communicator. But it is a fun journey be-cause everyone works together and tries to learn together at the same time. Of all the organizations I’ve joined, Toastmasters has had the greatest positive impact on my life. I believe the benefits of membership extend far beyond simple public speaking skills. It opened up a whole new world of leadership opportunities before me. All in all, Toastmasters has made me a better person. I sin-cerely hope to grow even more as a speaker and leader, as well as a better human being, through Toastmas-ters. Q3: What do you like best about Qatar Toastmasters club? It is the diversity of the Club’s members who come from varied cultural backgrounds. The opportunity to meet and interact with an immensely wide variety of people of different nationalities is fantastic. Moreo-ver, the club has a high volume of members, both fresh and senior toastmasters. This environment enables me to gain different, rich and inspiring experiences. The club tries its best to make people welcomed and puts a strong emphasis on being supportive to the peo-ple around. I love being surrounded with so many talented people who believe in me, who are interested in seeing me continue to develop as a leader and communicator, who are successful leaders and great
Sarita Jacob, CC, CL works as Group HR Manager at MAS Holding, Qatar. She
completed her Competent Communicator at an outstanding speed and is already
pursuing her advance level speeches.
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What they say...What they say...What they say...
CONT... communicators themselves. Q4: What have you done in Toastmasters to gain leadership experience? I tried to expand my leadership experience by continuously pushing myself out of my comfort zone, falling down, getting back up, falling down again and getting back up again. I challenged and stretched myself without stressing too far. And I couldn’t do it alone. A variety of regular feedback helped me greatly. However, an honest evaluation is not easy to hear. Initially, I did not like criticism at all. But the stings of those simple truths turned out to be beneficial for my growth. Listening to the words of wisdom from ex-perienced leaders and accepting corrections, without taking them personally, helped me a lot. I strongly believe in the words “Give and it will be given back to you.” I accepted the mentoring opportu-nities wholeheartedly. By helping others to do better, I could reinforce my learning and put my leadership skills to practice. Q5: What do you tell your friends and family about Toastmasters? In today’s world, public speaking and leadership are core skills needed for dealing with people. We are required to use these skills many times every single day. Toastmasters provides me invaluable experience in both these areas in a structured manner. The feeling of improvement and accomplishment that comes with each finished project in Toastmasters cannot be matched. You’ll grow fastest if you want to, not just if someone else wants you to. So, if you have the willingness to try Toastmasters, it is a proven fact that you will learn a lot from it. I have personally witnessed many peo-ple grow tremendously through Toastmasters, even though they came without any prior experience. Toastmasters is an amazingly inexpensive coaching place for personal development. The most important ingredients in this are your energy, enthusiasm and desire for learning. So, if you want to keep growing yourself and better yourself, step outside your comfort zone and make Toastmasters a habit.
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QTM CELEBRATES 10/10 DCPQTM CELEBRATES 10/10 DCPQTM CELEBRATES 10/10 DCP
http://dashboards.toastmasters.org/ClubReport.aspx?id=00002910
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GET TO KNOW ME GET TO KNOW ME GET TO KNOW ME
Most of you know me by my name, Eranga, I come from Sri Lanka; currently work-
ing as Salesman with Almana and Partners. My wife is an extravagant character who
plays a vital part in my life and we are blessed with two kids. No hidden secrets in
life. Every person whom I associate with knows in and out about me.
Toastmasters, I consider as the best thing that has ever happened to me next to my
family. I only wanted to improve my public speaking skills but it definitely has
changed my life. It’s completely responsible for the happy life I live today. The im-
pact is so much that it has given me inexplicable confidence both in life and character.
Wow, if it's toastmasters in Doha it definitely has to be Qatar Toastmasters. The value it brings to its members is
amazing. I have never seen such a community of people so eager to help one another and always wanting to see
their flag flying high. My special gratitude to our senior members who are mentors; for the painstaking efforts they
have taken for individuals like me in helping them achieve great heights.
- Eranga. W
I’m Dawood VST, a graduate Civil Engineer from Anna University, India in the
year 2010. I’m presently working for Galfar Al Misnad since Aug’12 as Civil Exe-
cution Engineer for buildings. I’m a proactive person, self motivated, professional-
ly competent individual, nonstop leaner and these are the qualities that I bring to
my work. I am overall equipped with nearly four years of experience in Indian and
Middle Eastern construction industries especially in Buildings.
There are many reasons for one to join Toastmasters Club. According to me, the
primary reason for joining toastmaster is to speak effectively and efficiently in a
group to express our thoughts explicitly.
I joined Qatar TM Club because of its cultural diversity and great learning environment. It’s a platform where
people overcome the fear of public speaking. QTM is the best TM club that I’ve ever seen so far.
-Dawood VST
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GET TO KNOW ME GET TO KNOW ME GET TO KNOW ME
My name is Kanchana Alupotha and I am from Sri Lanka. I worked as a Quantity Sur-
veyor back in Sri Lanka after graduating from University of Moratuwa. In year 2009,
after my marriage, I came to Qatar and joined hands with the Qatar Construction In-
dustry. Subsequently, in 2011, with the arrival of our little angel, I resigned from my
job and became a full time mother. This year however, I wish to hopefully re-start my
career again.
I decided to join Toastmasters’ club, as I desired to improve my skills and confidence
in presentation and leadership.
What I like about Qatar Toastmasters Club is that it’s a very organized club with loads
of help and encouragement offered by fellow Toastmasters. I am glad I joined here and
look forward to a valuable time ahead.
-Kanchana
Before I got to know the Toastmasters I used to think that I was a good speaker. The question is how you define a good speaker. A speaker might have confidence or audible and clear voice, or stage control. However, a good speaker is the one who can bring all these key skills onto a stage aligned with a story that not only will grab the audience's attention, but also will give them a message to take home, leave them with a question and a positive impression. I think that is a good speak-er. And when tackling projects through icebreaker to P10, I learned that I can be a good speaker by only reflecting the feedback I receive from my peers and by prac-ticing more and more until I know my story.
I work at Qatar Foundation as an Electronic Resource Management Specialist. That is heck of a long title. I love playing with new gadgets, writing blog posts on personal and professional development, and I love reading articles and books to help me understand life and understand myself.
Qatar Toastmasters is a unique place where many great people get together twice a month and help each other craft communication skills. I am lucky to be one of them. I have visited at least 5 different clubs, and I with full confi-dence can say that QTM is the most diverse and dynamic club. I am privileged to be a member of this club, and I look forward to achieving more during my membership.
-Seymur
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GET TO KNOW ME GET TO KNOW ME GET TO KNOW ME
I am Saji Ben, completing my 10 eventful years in Qatar. I work for Hamad Medical Corporation as Head of IT support and I have enjoyed a successful career to date as an IT Service Management Professional. I am from India and living in Doha with my wife and 2 children. Sometime back, I realized that leadership and effective commutation skills are the strong pillars of the professional career. My search for a professional coach ended when I attended my first meeting at Qatar Toastmasters Club. What I like most about being in Qatar Toastmasters Club is the discipline and the gracious atmosphere among the members. Now I am proud to say that I am a member of Qatar Toastmasters Club.
-Saji
I come from Marburg, 100 km north of Frankfurt. I have one identical twin brother and one sister back in Germany. My parents also live back in Germany. I am working since April 2012 for Qatar Petroleum in the Research & Technology de-partment. Before coming to Qatar I worked for 6.5 years in Perth, Australia.
I joined Qatar Toastmasters because I wanted to improve my public speaking skills.
I like the professionalism with which the meetings are conducted.
-Stefan
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GET TO KNOW ME GET TO KNOW ME GET TO KNOW ME
My name is Azeez Mohammed and I come from the southern part of India. I have been in Qatar for the last 3 years,
working at Tanween as a Senior Finance Consultant. Academically I am a quali-
fied Engineer and hold master’s in Finance. On a personal front, my family con-
sists of me, my wife and my 2 year old daughter.
I was looking forward for a platform wherein I could meet people, hone my skills
and in the process become an active social player. Toastmasters would be an ideal
platform to achieve my goals with the interesting format for skill development,
involving projects scoped around the objectives of breaking the ice, voice modula-
tion and research on one particular topic.
I look forward for a long term and constructive association with Toastmasters.
-Azeez
I am Denisa Palii. I was born in Romania. I am in Qatar for 1.5 years. I am the only child in the family until the age of 17 when a brother, which now is 8, popped out, and I became the elder sister. Story ended?! Not yet! 2years ago story con-tinued and I became the middle child as I found out I also have an 36 year old sister. So far I believe life is a story full with surprises. I joined toastmasters because what better way to enhance your communication and lead-ership skills? What safer environment to develop ourselves?! I love Qatar Toastmasters because of the warmth and the positivity in the air and the fact that is proves it’s possible to keep a fun and friendly environment within a formal meeting.
-Denisa
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GET TO KNOW ME GET TO KNOW ME GET TO KNOW ME
As a new member to Qatar Toastmasters, it falls upon me to give you a brief
resume of who I am, what I do and what brings me to live and work in the
State of Qatar.
Born in 1962, my name is Ian Charles Gault and I am originally from the
great city of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
As a citizen of Northern Ireland, which, depending on your political view-
point, is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
yet part of the island of Ireland, both British and Irish Governments lay claim
to jurisdiction over my country and in so doing, both say I am a citizen of
their respective countries – therefore I am both British and Irish and carry
passports for both.
I am a qualified architect and ran my own practice for over 20 years based in
Belfast before I made a career move in 2006 and entered the Loss Adjusting
and Risk Management profession.
In 2009, I was ‘headhunted’ by my present company, Axis International Middle East, a firm of Chartered
Loss Adjusters, Risk Managers, Surveyors and Marine Consultants, and moved from Northern Ireland to the
Gulf nearly five years ago, originally living in Bahrain before moving to Qatar nearly three years ago to estab-
lish an office presence here for Axis Adjusters Qatar (part of the Axis International Middle East group of
companies).
I am presently General Manager (Qatar Operations) and also Technical Director (Construction) with respon-
sibility for major construction risks and claims for all our offices around the Gulf (Jeddah, Riyadh and Al
Khobar in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Dubai, Sharjah, and of course here in Qatar).
On a personal level, I have been married and divorced twice, and am the proud father of five children ranging
in age from 29 to 11 years old and comprising three boys and two girls. My eldest son and his wife are about
to make me a granddad (although I feel way too young to be a granddad!!!)
I was introduced to Toastmasters by Samanthi Gamage, who shared her enthusiasm for the organization,
which, I must confess to having been ignorant of until then (I now know something of the organization’s his-
tory and am amazed I haven’t come across it before).
Being naturally gregarious and socially active, I found myself drawn to Toastmasters by its desire to enable
each of its members to be positively active and involved from Day 1, giving each member , including myself,
an equal opportunity for personal development at his own pace and level and offering encouragement and the
platform for him or her to develop social skills, rhetorical capability and fully exploit his or her leadership
potential.
I am of the opinion that the interaction of cultures, races and nationalities here in Qatar, and in particular in
the local Toastmasters clubs, brings an added quality to Toastmasters membership that may be lacking in a
more monotheistic culture such as the one I come from and it is this interaction that has a fascinating and
powerful attraction for me.
I look forward to being an active member of the club insofar as my work commitments allow (I travel quite extensively and my position within my company and the work it undertakes puts me in a position where I am on 24 hour call 7 days a week).
27
It’s Never Too LateIt’s Never Too LateIt’s Never Too Late
By TM Cipriano ColladoBy TM Cipriano ColladoBy TM Cipriano Collado
Were you once a shy and timid person? Have you ever experienced standing in
front of people and being too nervous to speak? If you have, don’t lose hope. We
can overcome it because like you I also experienced the same … but like some of us
here learned from the just concluded Leadership Workshop, we should never stop learning and I be-
lieve that while we are leading, in my case as a father and a workmate, we’re also learning….
continuously. So I believe that It’s Never Too Late for us folks.
My name is Cipriano Collado, Jr. Some people misspelled my first name as “CYPRINO” and pronounced
my last name as “COLADO”. So I have to correct it. My first name spells – C I P R I A N O and my last
should be pronounced “COL YADO”. I was named after my late father - Cipriano Sr. who’s a retired
World War Two veteran. Actually he was a war hero and responsible for the mass slaughter of Japanese
soldiers during the war. My mother, named Resureccion, was a plain housewife. I am a naturalized Filipi-
no citizen and spent all my primary, secondary and tertiary education in the Philippines . I was one of
the four firstborn children of my father and I was the 3rd one among the firstborns. Actually, my parents
were both in widowhood when they met and both have children from previous relationships. My father
has six children while my mother has five. During my childhood, I was so shy, introvert and timid. This
behavior which really saddened me, was carried through my adolescence and until my adulthood. In edu-
cation, although I was the beneficiary of my father’s educational benefit earned for serving in the military,
I still struggled while in college because I had to work as a security guard to support my unemployed
mother as my father was not able to give her financial support when they were separated due to some dif-
ferences and misunderstandings. In college I took up BS Psychology in an attempt to understand the be-
haviors of the people around me and also myself to know what I really want to do in my life. Actually I
have a talent in the field of art specifically, drawing or sketching but I did not hone that skill which I re-
gretted later in my life. I was in the last year in college when I was assigned to work in a busy office envi-
ronment. For that reason, I was not able to complete the remaining practicum hours and a subject required
to complete my college course since I devoted most of my time to work.
While in the Philippines, I had a girlfriend who was my former officemate. Our relationship bore fruit – a
boy. But due to some personal reasons and some differences, we parted ways and our child was left in her
care. I went on with my life until an opportunity to work here in Qatar knocked on my door. And because
I was not earning enough in the Philippines, I grabbed the opportunity. While here in Qatar , I exchanged
love letters with another friend which eventually led to marriage. We were blessed with three children.
Two are still studying here in Philippine School Doha while the other one is already in the Philippines
pursuing her college education. Right now I have a strong conviction that my children should not grow
shy like me and must develop strong personality and become leaders in their own right and I will person-
ally train them to attain this goal and as I learned from our Leadership Seminar, we must continue learn-
ing as long as we are leading and I strongly believe that IT IS NEVER TOO LATE……
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It’s Now or NeverIt’s Now or NeverIt’s Now or Never
By TM Fathima Shajitha,CCBy TM Fathima Shajitha,CCBy TM Fathima Shajitha,CC
A young man was walking on the wet seashore. He saw some fishermen at sea cast-
ing their nets and catching fish for the day. Curiosity made him approach them and
take a closer look. He noticed that one of them was carefully removing the smaller
fish from his net and putting them into his basket. However, to the young man’s ab-
solute surprise the fisherman was throwing the bigger fish back into the sea. He was puzzled and asked
him “Hey, what you are doing?”
“Catching fish for dinner.” The fisherman casually replied.
“Then why are you throwing away all those big fish?” the young man inquired.
“I am not that rich you know; I only have a tiny frying pan, he answered.
Do you think the fisherman was foolish to do what he did?
Yes indeed. Instead of cutting the larger fish to fit his frying pan, the fisherman threw away his precious
catch back into the ocean.
We are not unlike this fisherman my friends. How many times have we cast away our bigger dreams and
opportunities, fearing they were not just right for us? Doubting this to be the right time for change and
growth?
I was in a similar situation, immediately after my Post Graduate studies. I decided to work temporarily at
a coaching centre to gain some teaching experience. It was a mixed college. On the very first day when I
entered the class, I scanned the unfamiliar faces of the students. Instantly, I felt nervous and confused. A
chill ran down my spine, my palms felt moist with sweat when I absorbed not only the large number but
also their size, in terms of physical appearance! There were around 90 students and some of them didn’t
even look like students, they seemed older than me!
Usually, it’s the students who were scared of the teacher, but in my case it was the teacher who was
scared of the students. I went absolutely blank, forgetting everything that I had prepared the previous
night. I wanted the floor to cave under me and swallow me up! That however is not how things happen in
real life and so I summed up my courage and decided to face my fate. The following day offered no com-
fort. Without losing hope I tried my luck but with no success. I was convinced that teaching was not the
right profession for me. I cursed myself; I felt anger rising inside me compelling me to blame my parents
for not bringing me up as a confident individual. Finally I declared myself a failure and decided to give up
on my dream of becoming a teacher. When the bell rang, I hurried to the principal’s office and informed
him about my resignation.
He looked at me and said “Fathima, if you leave this job now, it won’t affect us very much. However it
may affect your whole life, your self-confidence will be lost forever, and then you won’t be able to come
back to this profession at all. My advice for you is to continue here for a few more months. I can help
you.” Hanging on to hope and the principal’s words by a bare thread, I decided to give it one more try. He
assisted me in taking up classes, gave me moral support, motivated me and tried to boost my confidence.
Gradually I could manage taking classes on my own. I even managed to inject some fear into those very
students who had looked intimidating when I first began.
29
Cont…..
It was when I joined a regular college after six months that I started to enjoy teaching. In addition to aca-
demic work, I was assigned the role of staff secretary of the college. On one occasion, representing the
whole staff, I had to deliver a speech before the entire college. I prepared my speech the day before but
did not practice it as we do at Toastmasters. Though I was somewhat nervous, I embarked on my speech
confidently. Unfortunately I noticed from the corner of my eye that Principal was looking at me and lis-
tening to my speech. In an instant, I lost self-control; my voice started to quiver, I forgot my sentences
and seemed dazed. To date I do not have a clue as to how I concluded my speech. That day I took a deci-
sion. Avoid any roles that demands speaking in front of an audience. I remained as a teacher, never ven-
turing into public speaking. I kept my deepest desire of becoming a confident individual locked away in
my heart never trusting myself to make an attempt.
When I came to Qatar, I made a resolution. “I will use this opportunity by doing whatever I can do to be-
come a confident speaker”. I stepped into this prestigious club where I joined with a hope making my
dream a reality. But when I started my journey at Toastmasters, there was an obstacle that I could not
ignore. The Table Topics session. First I thought I wouldn’t be able to continue my journey. I thought that
this was going to be yet another dead-end. Then a little voice inside me recalled the wise words of the
principal; “If you do not use this opportunity you will remain as you are forever”. Following the footsteps
of some toastmasters I took up different roles, with the sole hope of not being called as a table topic
speaker. The strong desire for change along with the encouraging words from my mentor TM Thayalan
and fellow Toastmasters, and the strong support from my family helped me to hold on to my dream of be-
coming a confident person.
Today I am not the best of speakers, but I am a better speaker, not the best of leaders, but a better leader,
definitely a different person, a changed individual. Today I have the courage to stand in front of you, to
speak before you, to share my experience with this audience. I am not comparing myself to any toastmas-
ter. But I compare myself with what I was yesterday, I compare myself to the speaker I was all those years
ago. Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates once said, “Don’t compare yourself with anyone
in this world; if you do so, you are insulting yourself”. Today I feel that I am a different person, even
though I have a long way to go. It gives me the courage to believe in myself, it gives me self-confidence,
the power to pursue my dreams.
Dear friends, be not like the fisherman. Don’t throw away your dreams no matter how big or unattainable
they may seem at the beginning. Believe in your own abilities, and chase after your dreams. If you want to
feel a difference in your life this is the right time for change. It is now or never.
30
George Thomas, DTM
Immediate Past International Director 2011-2013
District 79 Governor- 2009-2010
Division E Governor- 2005-2006
Area 18 Governor- 2003-2004
TM Subha Anupindi
LGET District 20 - 2013-2014
LGM District 20 - 2012-2013
Division E Governor- 2010-2011
District PRO 2009-2010
Raghavan N.V, DTM
Asst. Div E Governor for Marketing 2012-2013
Area 18 Governor 2010-2011
Shoiab Kasem, DTM
Area 18 Governor 2004-2005
Virendranath, DTM
Division E PRO 2009-2010
Thayalan K
Area 12 Governor 2013-2014
Thomas Joseph
Division E PRO 2013-2014
Koka Prasad
District 79 International Speech Champion
2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2009-2010
Mohan Varghese, DTM
District 79 Secretary 2007-2008
Juttas Paul
Area 18 Governor 2013-2014 31
VISION
“Toastmasters International empowers people to achieve their full potential and realize their dreams.
Through our member clubs, people throughout the world can improve their communication and leader-
ship skills, and find the courage to change.”
MISSION
“Toastmasters International is the leading movement devoted to making effective oral communication a
worldwide reality.
Through its member clubs, Toastmasters International helps men and women learn the arts of
speaking, listening and thinking - vital skills that promote self actualization, enhance leadership
potential, foster human understanding and contribute to the betterment of mankind.
It is basic to this mission that Toastmasters International continually expand its worldwide network of
clubs thereby offering ever-greater numbers of people the opportunity to benefit from its programs.”
REFERENCES
Toastmasters International Website : http://www.toastmasters.org
DISCLAIMER
This magazine is published for internal circulation among the members of Qatar Toastmasters Club, to
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