A
New Beginning
It was a bright and scintillating Sunday morning. After a brisk walk, I hurriedly completed my daily chores as I was invited to
attend a unique meeting. My brother gave me a reminder call,
“Di, I hope you are on your way!”
“Yes, in a few moments.”
“Don’t be late..”
“Don’t worry, I’ll reach before time.”
As I reached, I found somebody was already expecting
me. We exchanged greetings. Stepping into the room, I felt a wave of formal aura
moving throughout the room. My eyes couldn’t stop observing everything there.
People exchanging smiles and greetings. Some in formal attire moving across the
room and collecting some kind of information..
I received a
warm welcome by a young lady and was asked to make myself comfortable. ‘The
first timer’s awkwardness’ had somehow subsided. While I was digesting the awkwardness,
I was handed over an agenda.
TM, Table Topics, Evaluator, Ah- counter, WOD, IOD,…….
‘Totally confused!!!’
All these words meant something but for a first
timer it is a little difficult to digest. All I could understand is 11:04,
11:09, 11:19, 11:24,………
They are definitely timings! A thought flashed … “
One can see these digits only on the platforms of Mumbai. The arrival and departure
of trains!” A smile spread across my face and I tried to link with what was
about to start.
Hurriedly a few settled down and the meeting
commenced at sharp 11:00am….According to the agenda. I was blown away by the
way they valued every minute.
“Good Morning! And Welcome to the _____ Meeting of
______ Toastmasters Club, Pune….
I found the meeting was very well planned and
executed too. The technique in which everybody was introduced elevated my
energy. I found everybody in very high spirits. Every speaker had some or the
other message to give. A take away, a value which could be added to our lives.
The parallel area opposite the audience was treated
as a dummy stage. All speakers did react to it…as if it was a real stage. They
were fearless and I could feel their
confidence on stage.
Across my education and career, I had witnessed
speakers giving speeches and even motivating the public. The fact that these
speakers were evaluated doubled my curiosity. Honest evaluation with a few
recommendations to improve made me feel that this is a place where a person
could share and receive ideas----A place to learn!
An ideal to many, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam has quoted, ‘ We should consistently and
persistently acquire knowledge.’
I left the place with loads of knowledge, new ideas,
rich vocabulary, positive vibes, art of public speaking, mesmerized by the
presentation skills and a magnetic pull which led me await as well as come back
a week later to start
‘A
New Beginning’
Sapna Seth
Very well composed blog.My curiosity about Toast Master certainly heightened.
ReplyDeleteWell written.But do try getting feedbacks from non toastmasters for this subject.
ReplyDeleteVery well written blog, I must say. Felt positive after reading and going through your blog. Hoping that you continue to write such wonderful and knowledgeable blogs
ReplyDeleteNice start. All the Best. Get a comment from Sanket too.:)
ReplyDeleteGreat work. Very relatable as a toastmaster. And informative for those who are not part of toastmasters. Keep flowing.
ReplyDeleteWell scripted your first visit to the Toastmasters Club. The new beginning of your led you to this International Non Profitable Organisation, of which you are a member today.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you as not only you became a good communicator but also you have stepped up as a writer in this blog.
That is what Toastmasters is all about!
Dr. Shaikh Shakil Anjum, DTM.
Hey Sapna,
ReplyDeleteYou have written it really well. It also proves that you are a very good story writer. Good job! Keep it up!!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt is a good attempt Sapna and the blog has come out well.Your honest opinion about the experience creates goodwill about Toastmasters.
ReplyDeleteThe blog can be improved to next level if you can ask a couple of thought provoking questions to readers,as a technique used by many bloggers.This puts the reader in a thinking mode and improves the communication of message in the blog.
Keep writing blogs as they will elicit new ideas and feedbacks for further improvement.
All the Best!!!
Very nicely scripted.
ReplyDeleteKeep it up
Curious about toast makers
All the best sapna.keep it up👍
ReplyDelete