International experience

 New Direction South Asia Conference was a wonderful experience for me which I could present a key note style speech in front of an international audience.

I was very confident that I could communicate clearly and competently before the expertise. My room for the presentation was full. Thanks to the toast masters I started with an attention grabbing opening..... what is the last day that you have used AI...? And went on keeping the crowd engaged till the end. Finally I could give a take-home message as to....start small.... using AI !!

Everyone was happy and excited about my presentation....I was so proud that I could make my small country proud. In addition I was a panelist of the confidence and it was successful with loads of novel experiences. 

Joint Meetings

 How do you feel about having the same meal, outside the home in a restaurant with some friends?

The taste may be same but the feeling you get is quite different in a novel atmosphere.

The joint toastmasters meetings have given me such a feeling.

The meeting agenda is may be similar on the other hand conducting it with a different crowd.

During my short period at the toastmasters I was fortunate attend two memorable meetings.

One was with DOWEL toastmasters which we had to imagine as aliens. The other was the recent meeting we joined with World Travelers toastmasters. 

In both the events I learnt new activities, new ways of presenting, experienced visions of toastmasters which made a change to my life! Empowering me and making me confidence! 

Would you like to share your experience!!!

      

 

 

Meet my mentor

 

ExCo Team

 Becoming a Club Officer in Kandy Toastmasters was a memorable occasion in my life. I have always taken up responsibilities during my professional life. Toastmasters Club was a novel experience in addition taking up a officer post was a huge responsibility.

The Vice President  Membership: working closely with the other officers in order to keep the club strength with the numbers. Kandy Toastmasters is a quality club with regular meetings with educational sessions. The ExCo Team has to attend to the duties and responsibilities up to date. Further more being a club officer means the climbing up the ladder of Toastmasters.

I am truly fortunate to work with the wonderful president and the team gaining interesting experiences through out.

Do you have your own memories and experiences to share?

Mentoring in Toastmasters

 Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen and push in the right direction!- John Gosby

A mentor is someone who sees more talents and ability within you than you see in yourself and helps bring it out of you. During my professional life I had mentors who guided and directed me in the journey of teacher training.

 The same role I experinced with different aspects and meanings in Kandy Toastmasters... At the end of every speech I received and  learnt many valuable, practical ideas from the evaluators which made me develop myself to speak in public.  In addition I felt a welcoming hand....!!! I realized the exact definition, the value and the holistic nature of a mentor after I met 'my own' mentor in Kandy Toastmasters. It is a life long relationship: endless guiding with empowering in all aspects. My mentor never hesitates to impart knowledge which she had gained through numerous experiences and commitments. She always makes it a point to guide me to be a leader to find the strength within me.

I'm fortunate to be a mentee of this kindhearted, supportive and skilled mentor.  I feel safe and comfortable under her wings!!

Do you remember your own mentor? Would you like to share some memorable experiences?

 

 

Ice Breaker Speech

 'Miss Madhuri, It's high time to do your Ice Breaker Speech' a friendly reminder from my president. By that time I was fortunate to listen to two Ice Breaker Speeches interesting and informative! 

What am I going to tell them...I'm fifty four year old...how can I tell all these information, stepping stones of my life at the meeting? I couldn't speak normally for about two minutes: would I be able to speak for five minutes? All those questions I asked from me!!

For the first time in life I learnt to prioritize, select and organize the facts in an interesting way. How I spent my childhood, the turning points of my life, the lessons learnt and many more. Believe  I could speak for more that five minutes! Everyone was impressed. That was the confidence the 'Kandy Toastmasters' had given to me. 😊

I realized the way to organize a speech and to personalize the topic to make it more interesting.

My first evaluator was DTM Munawwara who told me to improve my voice variations and I'm so grateful for the positive feedback which she gave to come out of my fear of public speaking.

Would you like to go down your memory lane and share some lovely experiences...?

My first experience at Kandy Toastmasters

 A warm welcome to Public Speaking!

Public speaking has always been something I admire from afar but never fully embraced until I attended my Toastmasters meeting in 2023. Walking in, I wasn't sure what to expect. Would I have to speak right away? Would I make a fool of myself? These questions ran through my mind, but as soon as stepped in, I was met with something completely unexpected, a friendly, homely atmosphere. From the moment I arrived I felt ease. The members greeted me with warm smiles, engaging conversations and genuine interest of my presence!

I had come to the exact place that my heart was searching! 😊

I highly recommend Toastmasters where a group of friend;y souls cheering you, encouraging you and empowering you to build up your own confidence!

Do you have such experiences to share...?