Issue 3

Issue 3
 Courtesy M Z Saleem, DTM

Inside this issue

Ed Said
Voice of: District Governor
Great Learning
Lessons From The Corporate
What You Don’t Find in Manuals
Your Voice
Treasured Moments

Disclaimer: Although great care has been taken in bringing out this issue, we apologise for any inadvertent errors
or omissions. The newsletter contains individuals’ views’. District 82, the District Governor or the Editor
may not subscribe to the same. You may report errors, missing details and suggestions to voiceofd82@gmail.com.
 82
Official Newsletter of
Toastmasters International District 82
Ed Said!
The road of life twists and turns
and no two directions are ever the same.
Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination
-Dan Williams Jr.
A stride taken way back in 1991 gathered momentum and became a
full blown movement in India and Sri Lanka. Today we are at the
juncture of being split into two, this is the force that we know as
Toastmasters. What we are today is a result of a long journey, a journey
that has helped us serve, share and swell. To make this wonderful
journey memorable is to leave our footprints on the sands of time.
Six months gone, six more to go..., In the second half of December
2010, at a session I was co-presenting on Goal Setting, the participants unanimously agreed that it
is easy to set goals, but the challenge is to achieve them. The Goals set for the District is an indicator
of our strengths and the ability to stretch when required. The time has come friends for us to get
into the groove. We have braved hurdles time and again to help the District and members rise to
the occasion. Reach out to your District Leaders if you have challenges, together we can make things
happen. Yes, if each one of us starts believing - I can, we can surely make it happen.
If we believe in our abilities and the leadership, we can all proudly visualise July 01, 2011 welcoming
us as the champions once again!
As we reinforce our beliefs and work to achieve greatness together... Let us keep reminding
ourselves “good, better, best,
never let it rest till the good is the better,
and the better is the best”
Regards,
Brillian S. K., ACB, ALB

The Mission of the District

The mission of the district is to enhance the performance and extend the network of clubs, thereby offering
greater numbers of people the opportunity to benefit from the Toastmasters educational program by:
Focusing on the critical success factors as specified by the district educational and membership
goals.
Insuring that each club effectively fulfils its responsibilities to its members.
Providing effective training and leadership development opportunities for club and district officers.

Best web site and newsletter contest

The District 82 best web site and newsletter contest is here.
The best of the best winners will be announced at Ovation 2011
- Mysore
More details soon....

For Private Circulation 1 District 82 Publication

 82
Official Newsletter of
Toastmasters International District 82
Voice of : District Governor
Dear friends,
I recently came across an anonymous quote which goes like this:

"If we look at a house that's being built - half-finished - we do not condemn

its unfinished condition. We do not call it inferior to another house, nor do
we get panicky over its appearance. All we do is realize its need for additional
work. We need to think like this toward ourselves. Whatever our present
condition, let's just realize the need for more construction. And get on with
it!"

How beautifully it reflects the spirit of toastmasters! Every person who

joins the movement is accepted as he is. The very fact that every effort is applauded is an indication
of that spirit!

This attitude is also the crux of our evaluations: Non judgmental and unbiased. The evaluator does
not look at the speaker as an inferior product but rather as an unfinished product. There is no
expectation of what one should be; even though he may be given an indication of what he could
be!

In toastmasters, we do not have absolute standards. We cannot compare one CC with another nor
can we compare 2 DTMs. Their speaking standards may be entirely different. But that does not matter.
What matters is that each of them took pains to read the project guidelines, understand them, construct
a speech based on that and present the same at the club. The personal improvement will be different
for different people. Where they are now compared to where they were when they started is what
matters. If the speaker can feel the difference then he has been successful. Of course one can achieve
any number of CCs or DTMs to reach the level he/she wants to.

What applies to Communication applies to Leadership also. With this understanding, let us begin the
work of completing the unfinished Symphony of our life!

All of us have clear goals - for ourselves as well as for our district. Some of us are very close and some
are far away from the target. It is time to pull up our socks and get going. It is already February and
we will be soon in June. I urge all of you to hasten up your projects, get those CCs and ACs, achieve
those valuable points for your clubs and make your clubs, areas and divisions presidents distinguished.

When all of us achieve our goals, the entire Toastmasters world will hear the strains of this wonderful
Symphony from District 82!

It is then we would have truly implemented the theme of the year - of achieving greatness together!

I wish you all the best.

Nagaraja Rao, DTM

For Private Circulation 2 District 82 Publication


Great Learning!
When Toastmasters Came to my Rescue
Neha and Sriram from TCS Maitree, Hyderabad had
the opportunity to experiment their communication and
leadership skills during the townhall to celebrate TCS-
Ericsson relationship completing 10 years! They share
their views on how toastmasters helped them all
through the session. Edited content reproduced below.
It was moment to cherish, a moment that would last
a lifetime! Thanks to toastmasters learning, we were
in a position to manage the show successfully. Time
was the key and it was important to "Get to the
point" right from the word go! It was a setting that
every toastmaster would dream of an auditorium
with a seating capacity of 1500! We "Researched"
about every speaker and found out interesting means
to introduce them. It was not just about
communication, but leadership skills put to use, as
well most of it backstage. We were informed about
a change in the agenda at the last moment! To add
to the woe's the names were difficult to pronounce
and most of them had long titles! The true test of our
skills was our trump card the Table Topics. Thanks
to the ever changing requirements, our prepared
speech went for a toss and we had to "Think on our
feet" all the while. Thanks to Toastmasters TT sessions,
it helped us in overcoming the hurdles!
Naren took the listener's role came up with interesting
questions from the client's presentations! This ensured
that the audience was engaged right through the
session. And it was not a surprise that every question
had many takers from the 500 member strong crowd!
Thanks to Toastmasters we were in a position to sail
through tough times and the icing on the cake was
appreciation from the client.
The use of <name> <tittle> <tittle> <name>
ensured that every presenter got due credit and
acknowledgement. The non-toastmasters enjoyed the
"innovative" style of introducing a presenter. We also
used the "contestant interview" used during contests
and asked every presenter a light question after their
technical presentation! Every question brought smile
on their faces and lightened the mood in the
auditorium! This event made us realise that we really
owe it all to Toastmasters!
Thanks to the event we can now say that
'Toastmasters" is a way of living.
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Official Newsletter of
Toastmasters International District 82
Evaluation technique wherein which we practice
the CRC approach recently worked wonders for
Juzer from Bombay Toastmasters. He shares his
experiences of using the "Sandwich technique" of
evaluations in handling a tough client. Edited
content reproduced below.
I had an elderly poor lady client who seemed to
be aggrieved with me no end. Nothing that I did
was good enough. Her belligerence had begun
taking a serious physical, mental and emotional
toll on me. To make matters still worse, she
complained to the Honourable Chief Justice of
the Bombay High Court, and also filed scathing
disciplinary proceedings against me. I was called
upon to file my detailed reply and also appear
in person to explain my position. During the
intense personal hearing, I chose to adopt the
sandwich approach - Commend, Recommend
and Commend (CRC).
I sincerely thanked her for her genuine concerns.
No sooner had I sincerely thanked her, than the
bench hearing the grievance began sympathizing
with me. I placed my honest version before the
bench by offering her all respect. This clinched
the day. The bench began debating and
convincing her on my behalf to look at the issues
from my perspective. I had nothing to do
thereafter. I had won the human hearts of the
bench members to the immense satisfaction of all
parties. The aggrieved lady went silent and the
issues for the moment are resolved.
I profusely thank Toastmasters for this training;
else, events could have turned monstrously ugly.
I am eternally happy, blessed; grateful and
obliged to Toastmasters.
Do you have an interesting story to share?
We would be happy to publish it! Let the
world know how Toastmasters have given
you the winning edge!
Send in your story with a photograph to
voiceofd82@gmail.com
Let the world know! Toastmasters can
make a difference in their lives as well!
3 District 82 Publication
 82
Official Newsletter of
Toastmasters International District 82
Lessons From The Corporate
Developing Your Leadership Presence!
What about when you are pushed in front of the microphone or given very little prep time for
something like an introduction of a guest speaker?
Here's the quick answer, you walk to the born with and is a matter of looks, charm,
microphone and you smile. You take a moment personality, and appeal. Charisma adds to
to size up the audience and then you say what presence, but you do not need to have movie-star
you have to say briefly and to the point. Most looks to be a person of presence. An example of
importantly, as they advise running backs that this was Mother Theresa.
score touchdowns, act like you have been there Picture this petite woman in
before. The great ones hand the ball back to the her white sari trimmed in
referee; the wannabe's whoop and holler. blue. Old and wrinkled,
At the microphone, Mother Theresa was never
remain calm. Why? mistaken for royalty. Yet
Because you are in because of her lifetime of
control! Your stomach work in creating a religious
may be churning and order to care for the "poorest
your palms may be of the poor" in India, she had
sweaty, but you must a radiant presence around
realize the microphone her. Her conviction about her work was so strong
is in your hands. This that she could approach heads of state for funds
is a little secret that I to run her mission. She also had a wonderful
share with people I coach: people have to listen sense of humor which added to her personal
to you. Whether you croon or wax eloquent, the warmth.
audience is at your mercy. No matter your looks or body type, you can have
You are the master of your destiny, or at least for presence if you work on your ability to connect
the next five minutes. When you keep that with others, from behind a microphone or
thought in mind, you will realize that yes, you can otherwise. And don't worry if you flub a word,
do this. You can speak in front of an audience and or mispronounce a name. Correct yourself, smile,
you will be okay. and keep moving. The audience is yours. So
Such behavior is how you cultivate your leverage your presence, and be the confident
leadership presence, I define leadership presence speaker you have always wanted to be.
as earned authority. You may have a title, but you
need to earn the respect and trust of your John Baldoni is a leadership consultant, coach, and
coworkers. Presence is rooted in fundamental speaker. His work centers on how leaders can use
competence, and for anyone who aspires to lead, their authority, communications and presence to
presence is essential. Developing this is a long build trust and drive results. He is the author of
process that goes far beyond speaking in public. six books on leadership, including Lead By
Example, 50 Ways Great Leaders Inspire Results.
Some people confuse presence with charisma, but
In 2007 John was named one of the world’s top
the two are not the same. The former is
30 leadership gurus by Leadership Gurus
developed over time; the latter is what you are
Toastmasters International Vision
Toastmasters International empowers people to achieve their full potential and realize their dreams.
Through our member clubs, people through out the world can improve their communication and
leadership skills, giving them the courage to change.
For Private Circulation 4 District 82 Publication

What You Don’t Find in Manuals
Creating a Speech on Short Notice
Consider the 3 P's: Purpose, Practice and Polish
Your purpose for each speech is different. Are you
proposing a course of action, entertaining, informing or
inspiring your audience? Make sure you can state your
purpose in one sentence. If you have only a few minutes
to prepare, concentrate only on achieving your purpose.
Write a sentence that describes your purpose. Then
organize your thoughts on that topic on your computer
- or on the back of a napkin, if that's the only thing
available to you. As you write, restrict your information
to what directly relates to your purpose.
Try to use a story or personal experience to illustrate
each point you want to mention. "One well-
illustrated point is stronger and more memorable
than multiple points that are explained but not
illustrated," says Jankousky.
Practice ideas, not words. A memorized speech is
dangerous: Lose your place and you are in trouble. You
want to be spontaneous enough to be able to insert
comments about something from earlier in the meeting,
such as "This is consistent with the point Bill just made."
Having examples planned for each point will make it
easier for you to remember what to say next.
Create an attention-grabbing opening and a
concluding statement that summarizes your main point
and call to action. Try to memorize these. o Be sure
to practice your speech out loud, in addition to revising
your written notes as much as time allows. If you miss
a point, keep going. Then go back to the section you
had trouble with and work on it until it's smooth. If you
have only a few hours to prepare a short speech, this is
as much as you'll accomplish. Practice your speech a few
times in the car on the way to the meeting, and
remember: When you give the speech, state each point
clearly and sit down. Don't ramble! And never apologize
for your lack of preparation or nervousness - chances
are good no one will notice.
Polish. Contest speeches or important presentations to
large audiences merit the highest level of respect to the
audience and therefore, the most preparation. You
polish your speech by working on finer points such as
gestures, inflection and pacing. Angela Jankouski points
out: "Focus on one aspect of delivery at a time.
First, work on vocal variety.
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Official Newsletter of
Toastmasters International District 82
Next, practice gestures that enhance your
meaning. Then, experiment with pacing." If
possible, rehearse your speech in front of different
audiences, prior to the one that really counts.
Each audience is different, and you'll learn something
from each." So, if you have only a few minutes to
prepare a speech, focus hard on your purpose, your
single most important point, and the opening
statement. Also practice a strong ending to help your
audience for a favorable final impression of you. If you
have several hours to prepare, develop a focused speech
that really illustrates and supports your main point.
Practice conveying your ideas without memorizing the
speech word for word.
If you have adequate
time before a major
presentation, make
sure to polish it with
gestures, vocal variety
and pacing until it
shines!
Remember Winston Churchill's advice: "If you have
an important point to make, don't try to be subtle
or clever. Use the pile driver. Hit the point once.
Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third
time - a tremendous whack. "
-Angela Libby Jankousky from Southern
California Toastmasters
Do you want to be the
“World Champion of Public Speaking”?
If you have answered yes, you need to ensure
that you have completed Project 6 before
your club contest.
Attend Area, Dvision and District conferences
to hear the best speakers as they vie for the
crown!
Contact your club VP Education for more
details...
5 District 82 Publication
 82
Official Newsletter of
Toastmasters International District 82
Your Voice!
Dear Toastmasters:

voice of 82 is happy to share the feedback from far and wide. Reproduced
below are some snippets. We thank you for your support and look forward
to improving each time.
Hi Brilll
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Editor the Voic n, One thing
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short a eme. T b le
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brillian o u he
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llo Br il li an, a ho m e run! You y Brillia
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s,
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. M, Div.L,G
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informati 8 Club Coac
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D is tr ic t
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John Murp
Dear Brillian,

Nice piece of work..... very useful

Brillian,et al., content.. keep it up...

Excellent issue. Enjoyed reading through it. BR

Good presentation and lots of useful content Arjuna
Josraj Arakkal, Mulund Toastmasters

voice of 82 invites articles, funny anecdotes, learning resources, pictures (with due credit/ prior
permission form the author mandatory)

This is your chance to be heard Loud and Clear in and around District 82. If you are passionate
about writing or would like to test waters... voice of 82 gives you the opportunity.

Send in your articles / photographs to voiceofd82@gmail.com

Collectively let voice of 82 be a voice to reckon with, as we work to achieve greatness together

Are you a member of the Linkedin District 82 groups?

We have 600+ members and counting...
What about you?
Join today and enjoy learnings from Toastmasters across India and SriLanka
Network, meet like-minded people - maybe book a speaking slot :)
For more details you may logon to www.Linkedin.com and register.

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 82
Official Newsletter of
Toastmasters International District 82
Treasured Moments

Conference - Division G Celebrations at Division H

Division K - Conference

Conference - Divison A

ExCom members of the first club in Goa

For Private Circulation 7 District 82 Publication
 82
Official Newsletter of
Toastmasters International District 82
Treasured Moments
Division D - Conference

Division M - Conference

Winners take it all

Division J Conference
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 • The first ever four day conference focusing on 'The confluence of
two future districts' • Best speakers from 14 Divisions compete for top
honours in the International Speech Contest and Impromptu Speech
Contest • Training session by Craig Valentine, World Champion of
Public Speaking, 1999 • Networking with over 700 delegates

Category 4 days 3 days Last Date

Registration
4500 4000
only
May 12 - May 15 April 15, 2011
Registration &
7300 5700
accomodation
Note:
• Registration fee includes all applicable taxes.
• Registration includes snacks (morning and evening) and lunch on all days.
• Dinner is included on all days except on Sunday 15th May 2011.
• Accommodation booked through the conference committee will take care of the breakfast and lodging on all days.
• Registration includes a conference kit, souvenir and the recordings of the conference proceedings in a CD
• Registration includes a fun nite which involves an evening of entertainment, cocktails, dinner and a DJ session.
• Transportation to and from Mysore and Bangalore would be provided for outstation delegates only and only for
large groups.
• Transportation would by Non-A/C deluxe coaches. A/C coaches would be provided on a chargeable basis.
• Specific transportation schedules from Airport and Bangalore Railway station/Bus stand would be intimated by First
week of April 2011.

How to register:
1. Download and fill up the registration form completely
2. Email it to registration@ovation2011.in
3. Send the Registration form along with the payment.

Payment mode:
Payment can be made in one of the following modes:
1. Cash – handed over in person to the Registration Committee members
2. Cheque or DD drawn in favour of “THE TOAST MASTER TRUST” payable at Karur Vysya Bank, Rajajinagar,
Bangalore – 560 010 You can courier the DD to the following address: 1147/ E, V Block, 18 B Main, Rajajinagar,
Bangalore - 10.
3. NEFT can be done as per the following details:

Bank Name Karur Vysya Bank Branch

Address Rajaji Nagar, Bangalore
Account Name The Toast Master Trust
Account Type Current Account
Account Number 1308 115 00000 8954
ISFC Code KVBL0001308

Conference Chairperson: Kumaran M. Pethi - corecommittee@ovation2011.in

Co-Conference Chairperson: Ramesh T. K. - corecommittee@ovation2011.in
Conference Secretary: Jose K - corecommittee@ovation2011.in
Registration Committee: Lathaa Ramanathan - registration@ovation2011.in
Accomodation Committee: Ramgopal P - accommodation@ovation2011.in
Transportation Committee: Santosh Paul - transportation@ovation2011.in
Sponsorship Committee: M N Pai - mizarpai@gmail.com;
Education Committee: S V Hari Kumar - education@ovation2011.in
Souvenir Committee: Jaicy Joseph - jaicyjoseph@gmail.com
Marketing Committee: Geetha Prasanna - geetha.prasanna@in.ibm.com
voice of 82, is the official newsletter of
Toastmasters International, District 82.
District 82 comprises clubs in
India and Sri Lanka.

Published by District Governor

Nagaraja Rao, DTM

Editor
Brillian S. K, ACB, ALB

reach us at voiceofd82@gmail.com