It was just another Thursday, and I was getting ready to visit Preludesys Toastmasters Club 1 'Ignite' at Siruseri. Little did I know that it was a special day for Preludesys Toastmasters Club 2 'Raise' as the club was getting chartered. Yes, the organization now has two clubs chartered back-to-back during this term.
After the Club 1 meeting concluded, our division director invited us, the mentors of Club 1, to attend the celebration of Club 2’s chartering. The offer was too good to resist. We were grateful for the invitation, as it included a few insightful short speeches by the management and district leaders.
Unfortunately, I didn't have any paper with me, but I did have my pen. My palm served as my notepad :) Here’s the summary.
Preludesys Toastmasters Club 1 Ignite
Preludesys Toastmasters Club 2 Raise
Preludesys Management
Mr. Prasad
Mr. Prasad began by saying, "Toastmasters is not just about communication. It might sound counterintuitive, but it is a platform to build your confidence and become a better version of yourself. Take this opportunity to explore yourself and discover what you can achieve. Forget about your titles in the company and start afresh." He further said, "Being prepared for a meeting is a discipline that helps you, no matter how far you progress. I use bike riding time to prepare and rehearse for important meetings. While performing at your best is important, it is equally important to reflect on what could have been done better after each performance. This will help us do better the next time."
Mr. Ram
Mr. Ram mentioned that babies typically start with haptic communication and later move on to motor communication. Similarly, Club 2 Raise is in its early stages, trying to walk on its own and gradually developing its motor communication skills. He wished every member to reap the best benefits from this initiative as the club keeps growing.
DTM Gayathri (District 120 Director)
DTM Gayathri started off with an interesting anecdote of how the district was planning to start one club at Preludesys but ended up with two. Her meeting with the management was postponed due to the flood and the day it was scheduled was the day she had a business trip. Nevertheless, she chose to meet the management and that is how we ended up with two clubs for Division A. She said that a corporate Toastmasters club benefits both the members and the organization. However, the member benefits more and she thanked the organization for being generous to their employees in terms of fostering their personal growth. She said that chartering these two clubs was a euphoric moment for her.
I thanked TM Prathiba, the Division A Director, for inviting us to the Club 2 chartering ceremony. The most important value I've learned in Toastmasters over the past nine years is to use fewer words, speak less, and be precise but insightful. That is exactly what I observed the leaders do during this meeting.