THE NEWSLETTER OF KEF TOASTMASTERS CLUB# 1571590 | AREA 15 | DIVISION D | DISTRICT 116 | QATAR

OUR CHAMPIONS

Area & Division Contest Winners VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 3 • MARCH 2021

ENGINEER Publisher Babu M.K Photo Editor Remi Raji

Editor Bindu Pillai Assistant Editor Neshi Kumar A

2020 - 2021 OFFICERS President Babu M.K Vice-President Education Hafeez Shaikh Vice-President Membership Sandeep Pandey Vice-President Public Relations Bindu Pillai Secretary Remi Raji Treasurer Vinod Pillai Sergeant-At-Arms Ravindra Khonde Co-Sergeant-At-Arms Vamsi Majety Immediate Past President Pradip Sadiye KEF TOASTMASTERS Meeting Venue: Plaza Inn Hotel, Al Meena Street, P.O Box 16095, Doha, Qatar Meeting Days: 2nd and 4th Mondays of every month CONTACT INFORMATION Babu M.K: +974 6622 6037 Bindu Pillai: +974 5582 7994 www.keftoastmasters.org [email protected] www.toastmasters.org ENGINEER is a newsletter published by KEF Toastmasters Club, Plaza Inn Hotel, Al Meena Street, P.O Box 16095, Doha, Qatar. This newsletter is intended for the internal circulation among the members of KEF Toastmasters Club and to promote the ideas and goals of Toastmasters International, a non-profit educational organization of clubs throughout the world dedicated to teaching skills in public speaking and leadership. The Publisher and/or Editor does not take the responsibility for the authenticity or opinion of the articles or authors published. Toastmasters International and its logos are trademarks registered in the USA, Canada and many other countries.

EDITOR'S CORNER Every Issue is a DREAM come TRUE. AN INSIGHT INTO PUBLIC RELATIONS OF KEF TOASTMASTERS

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fantabulous and exciting contest season has just come to an end. All are geared up for the Virtual District Annual Conference 2021 of District 116. As always, KEF Toastmasters shone well in the Area and Division Level. We have 4 champions at the Area level and 1 Champion at the Division level. I feel immensely proud and honored to announce that the second issue of the ENGINEER Newsletter for the term was in the Top 5 for the District Stellar Newsletter Award for the second Quarter. In addition, KEF Toastmasters was on the Most Liked Poster for January 2021. In addition, we were on the Top 5 for the Publisher Award in January 2021. In this edition, you will get to know more about our Champion speakers, a Rapid Fire session with our President Babu M.K, our Past President Bijith Biju Sadan, DTM with us on the Member Highlights and an article from the Publisher Award - August 2020 winner and our proud member S.K Naidu, DTM. Do enjoy reading and watching some special picks from the Area and Division contests, our club achievements both in terms of Educational and Public Relations. "We all need people who will give us feedback. That's how we improve" - A quote by Microsoft founder, Bill Gates. We are eager to hear constructive feedback from all of you. In the midst of the second wave of the pandemic season, we wish you abundance of happiness and health. A very happy Lunar New Year to our readers. Happy Reading!

Bindu Pillai Vice President - Pubic Relations KEF TOASTMASTERS

Club# 1571590 | Area 15 Division D | District 116 | Qatar

TABLE OF CONTENTS EDITOR'S DESK Editor's Corner

02

Messages

04

Cover Story - Our Champions

06

Member Highlights

19

An Exclusive with our President

20

with Bijith Biju Sadan, DTM

with Babu M.K

ARTICLES & FEATURES A Toastmasters Club

by S.Kumar Naidu, DTM

16

ACHIEVEMENTS & EVENTS

My Journey in Toastmasters

17

Purpose, Passion, Pleasure

18

by Sandeep Pandey

by Neshi Kumar Arimbil

Awards & Recognition

22

Events Gallery

32

STANCE

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT race now realizes that we need to continuously learn and develop practical skills in order to be successful in the constantly evolving world. I strongly believe that the relevance of Toastmasters platform has been increasing day-by-day, as we need more and more leaders in the world to face various challenges continuously thrown to them by this fast changing world. We find people search for confidence externally without realizing that they already possess all these qualities internally. In a way, human beings are like cinders, as many Dear Fellow Toastmasters, qualities remain subsided in them. The mentors and fellow Toastmasters remove the “Any kind of crisis can be good. It wakes you ash that covers the cinders and subsequently, up” - Ryan Reynolds the new Toastmasters brighten up not only Yes, the human race is being challenged as their own lives but also the lives around them. never before by the Covid-19 and it is time to I am proud to mention here that our club’s wake up, be optimistic and act at a faster pace! Throughout the history, crises of various forms enthusiastic ExCom members have been putting in the best efforts in order to achieve have challenged the human race. How we the organizational goals and also their own interpret, react and bounce back from the individual goals. In the process, they become crises of today are what will define how we excellent communicators and leaders. In spite survive the crises of tomorrow. In an increasingly interconnected world, crises throw of various personal and professional challenges, the members know the value of up profound questions for us all – as Toastmasters platform and hence, they individuals, communities, organizations, renewed their memberships and are prepared societies, nations, and indeed, as the human to help more people to be a part of this race. organization. With the efforts of the We have seen worldwide that whenever enthusiastic members, our club became the there are crises and challenges, many leaders President’s Distinguished Club with 10 DCP emerge in order to boldly face and help the points. KEF has also achieved many awards human race to overcome them. such as Glittering membership award, PR “A crisis often brings out the best in you and awards such as Poster Master Award for Dec you discover qualities that you never knew '20, Second for the Stellar Newsletter Award existed within” - Rajeev Siddhartha and Top 5 Most Liked Poster in Jan '21. We face many uncertainties such as All the best wishes for happy and recession, job loss, worries, fears, depression, prosperous new year-2021! etc. on one side and on the other side of the coin, we find emergence of new leaders, new Babu M K opportunities, utilization of positive and innovative ideas and resources, etc. The human President

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STANCE

MESSAGE FROM CGD The choice of joining and the decision of engaging with the program elevated me in my personnel and professional life. In 2016-17, I served as Area 42 Director which opened my inner eyes to what Toastmasters Program can do to its members. I was instrumental in forming a club to make my Area - President Distinguished; one of the goals every Area Director wishes to achieve. I was only 2 years in Toastmasters and the AD position was a great challenge for me. With lots of challenges and struggle, a club called Global Toastmasters was formed which was a great leadership lesson for me. The club formation was an eye-opener in my professional life. My CHOICES & DECISIONS OF LIFE thought process completely changed - If I could form a Toastmasters club putting in so Life is a journey of transformation. The much effort and time which has no financial transformation would be exponential when benefit; Why cannot I form a company that associated with the right people and not only gives me financial freedom but a organizations. The choice and decisions we great resource to help people by providing make are vital elements of our transformation. them with job opportunities that can I choose to associate with a great organization transform lives. called Toastmasters International and my decision on being committed to the program That was a turning point in my professional has transformed my life. career, I started thinking of starting a company that transformed me into an My association with toastmasters started in entrepreneur. Today I enjoy every moment of September 2014, I did not join Toastmasters to Toastmasters journey. I would remain in become a better communicator or leader, nor I Toastmasters as far as I can speak. I believe had a definite purpose or objective. I joined getting associated with Toastmasters looking at the meeting ambience of a 5-star International was one of the best choices and hotel. Well dresses people with a pleasant way decision that I have made in my life. of interaction and the delicious refreshment What about you? with Coffee during a break. Having all these things at a minimum cost was very attractive. I Choices and Decisions are vital elements of signed up immediately. transformation. We are where we are because of the choices we made and we are what we My choice of joining Toastmasters was a are because of the decisions we took. – turning point in my career. Thereafter the Rajesh VC people I met in Toastmasters made a lasting impression on me. Understanding the great Rajesh VC, DTM potential. I decided to engage with Club Growth Director 2020-21 Toastmasters like a full-time employee. District 116, Qatar ENGINEER | MARCH 2021

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COVER STORY

OUR CHAMPIONS What does it take to be a Champion? DESIRE, DEDICATION, DETERMINATION, CONCENTRATION AND THE WILL TO WIN !

- Patty Berg

HAFEEZ SHAIKH 2rd Place Winner Area 15 International Speech Contests

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PRADIP SADIYE

VAMSI MAJETY

1st Place Winner Area 15 International Speech Contest 2nd Place Winner Area 15 Evaluation Speech Contest

3rd Place Winner Division D Evaluation Speech Contest 1st Place Winner Area 15 Evaluation Speech Contest 3rd Place Winner Area 15 International Speech Contest

MARCH 2021 | ENGINEER

SANDEEP PANDEY 1st Place Winner Area 15 Humorous Speech Contest 2nd Place Winner Area 15 TableTopics Speech Contest

COVER STORY

COVER STORY - OUR CHAMPIONS Bindu Pillai, Vice President - Public Relations

"THE TRUE TEST OF A CHAMPION IS NOT WHETHER HE CAN TRIUMPH,

BUT WHETHER HE CAN OVERCOME OBSTACLES."

- GARTH STEIN Attending a contest can be fun, entertaining, overwhelming and stressful as well. While all who participated cannot be winners all the time, there are many tips and tricks shared by our mentors and experienced Toastmasters that can help our members to be Champion speakers in various contests. Following the Toastmasters tradition, KEF also holds grant celebrations during the entire festival season of Toastmasters contests with full enthusiasm and fun! This year, KEF’s champions were Pradip Sadiye, Hafeez Shaik, Sandeep Pandey and Vamsi Majety. They successfully participated in Area 15 and Division D contests. TM Vamsi Majety, who joined last year, was the 2nd runner up in the Division D Evaluation contest. The champions realize that we get to push ourselves to become better in speaking and speech writing because we know that we will be competing with some really good speakers. The message from our champions to the members is to “push yourself, because, no one else is going to do it for you”.

“Winning doesn’t always mean being first. Winning means you’re doing better than you’ve ever done before.” - Bonnie Blair Most of the members of KEF attended various contests of even other areas and divisions as speakers, role players, judges, etc., especially because they were able to attend the virtual contests from the comforts of their homes and that was a major advantage in this year. When they look back after the contests, all of them realize that all are winners, as they could take a major leap and move closer towards their own goals. They reached out for the extraordinary. Not Winning - The WANT to WIN matters the most. Our champions were ready to break their comfort zones and put in their best efforts throughout the contests. They were not contesting for the trophy, but for shifting their journey to a faster track as continuous learners. They have successfully achieved their goals, as they became far more confident and far better speakers than they were before the contests. KEF members are proud of them. Now that the club, area and division contests are over, KEF is eagerly looking forward to the District 116 Toastmasters Annual Conference, Virtuvocal-2021! We are sure and confidently look forward to having a world champion of public speaking from KEF within the upcoming years. ENGINEER | MARCH 2021

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COVER STORY

GLIMPSES FROM THE CONTESTS Pradip Sadiye Division D Evaluation Contests

Sandeep Pandey Division D Humorous Contests

Vamsi Majety Division D Evaluation Contests

Sandeep Pandey Division D Table Topicss Contests

Pradip Sadiye Division D International Speech Contests

Hafeez Shaikh Division D International Speech Contests

Pradip Sadiye Area 15 Table Topics Contests

Hafeez Shaikh Area 15 Table Topics Contests

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COVER STORY

GLIMPSES FROM THE CONTESTS Pradip Sadiye Area 15 Evaluation Contests

Sandeep Pandey Area 15 Evaluation Contests

Vamsi Majety Area 15 Evaluation Contests

Sandeep Pandey Area 15 Humorous Contests

Pradip Sadiye Area 15 Humorous Contests

Hafeez Shaikh Area 15 International Speech Contests

Pradip Sadiye Area 15 International Speech Contests

Hafeez Shaikh Area 15 International Speech Contests

ENGINEER | MARCH 2021

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COVER STORY

OUR CHAMPIONS

Name Vamsi Majety About yourself and your areas of interest I work in the IT sector and have profound interest in travel, nature walks and keen desire to be a better speaker. Your Work Profile: I am a Program Manager with focus on Energy & Utilities domain. I have worked extensively in UK, Australia and Middle East. How long have you been in Toastmasters and why did you join this organization? I joined Toastmasters in April 2019. I had halted my public speaking journey 10 years ago. So, I joined Toastmasters to reignite my passion to be a better public speaker. What are the challenges you faced as a contestant? It was challenging to take out time to prepare and practice due to other priorities. However, due to the Time Management skills gained from Toastmasters, I was able to manage and practise.

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What did you love the most about participating in a contest? It gives an opportunity to share your stories and the practice before the contest automatically puts the contestant on a fast track, which helps as a greater learning opportunity. How do you evaluate yourself being a champion? I got a better understanding of my strengths and areas of improvement. I will use this experience to work on my improvement areas and use it during my future speeches. Who inspired you in your life and why? Swami Vivekananda. His message is to believe in yourself and never bow down no matter how big the obstacle is. What is your favorite palindrome? WOW What is the title of the last book you have read and what was the most interesting in it? Rich Dad, Poor Dad. This book gives a perspective of how to look at things differently and how every thing falls in a right place when the desire to achieve a goal is paramount. According to your fellow toastmasters, what is your best quality? I am a good story teller, confident and eloquent in my speech delivery. What is the message you want to give to your fellow toastmasters post being a champion at Club/Area / Division level? PARTICIPATE in contests. The process of preparing for the contests gives a lot of learning, which will help in improving the public speaking skills. How do you recall the lines of your speech in proper order? I practice to internalize the speech and mind map the sequence of introduction, body (key messages) and conclusion.

COVER STORY

Name Pradip Sadiye About yourself and your areas of interest I have come from a remote area in India where I haven’t seen the electricity in the initial days and my passion is to act in the drama by which I can bring forth the issues faced by hte society in front of the people. Your Work Profile By birth, I am a fisherman. By profession, a life saver and an immediate supporter to the mankind. How long have you been in Toastmasters and why did you join this organization? I started my Toastmasters journey in September 2015 to improve my communication skills and since then I have been taking various leadership role. What are the challenges you faced as a contestant? The biggest challenge I face was the English language as I am not a English native speaker. What did you love the most about participating in a contest? To participate in contest is just like acting on the stage.

Who inspired you in your life and why? It’s my spouse who inspired me that at the first time when we met each other she gave me a book “Homage to the saint” from which I learned how to render our service to the society. According to your fellow toastmasters, what is your best quality? My dedication and service towards toastmasters. What is the message you want to give to your fellow toastmasters post being a champion at Club/Area / Division level? The only advise to my fellow toastmasters is to just perform your duty at the best of your ability to compete with self and not others. How do you recall the lines of your speech in proper order? The blueprint of what I have to convey is imprinted in my mind and the same reflects in my words. What are the major changes you find in your own two versions, i.e., your version before joining Toastmasters and your current version? Before joining toastmasters I was known to my friends only but today I have received an unique identity across the country. To what extent Toastmasters helped in setting and achieving goals? Toastmasters helped a lot to communicate with confidence and ensured my communication is as well result oriented. Does Toastmasters help someone to be a better negotiator? Definitely. Event management is the best example to negotiate with all the agencies outside of Toastmasters for venue booking and marketing. What do you do to spontaneously recall the quotes and authors during your speeches? Reading books and in general will enhance to improve brain power and to remember the facts. How can one improve his self confidence? All you have to do is to just volunteer and participate in each activity of toastmasters. This will help improve self-confidence. ENGINEER | MARCH 2021

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COVER STORY

Name Hafeez Shaikh About yourself and your areas of interest Passion, dedication, energy, creativity is what defines me. Reading books, listening music and playing cricket makes me happy. Your Work Profile I’ve been working as Project Manager in Semigovernment organization for past 7 years. How long have you been in Toastmasters and why did you join this organization? I’ve been toastmasters for 5 years, I joined Toastmaster to enhance my presentation and leadership skills. What are the challenges you faced as a contestant? Managing time to practice. What did you love the most about participating in a contest? Overwhelming support and encouragement from fellow members. Who inspired you in your life and why? My mother, and I had learnt many lessons from her. What is your favorite palindrome? MOM

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What is the title of the last book/name of magazine you have read and what was the most interesting in it? Toastmasters December Magazine, Morning warm up 5 minutes tips. According to your fellow toastmasters, what is your best quality? Calm, Poised, Simple, humble and polite. What is the message you want to give to your fellow toastmasters post being a champion at Club/Area/ Division level? Participating in an Annual Contest enhances self-confidence and gives unique experience. What are the major changes you find in your own two versions, i.e., your version before joining Toastmasters and your current version? I’ve developed a lot post joining Toastmasters; it helped me in personal and professional growth. More significantly, it boosted by self-confidence. Where do you find yourself after 5 years? Competing and winning at District level To what extent Toastmasters helped in setting and achieving goals? It has given me platform to develop and achieve my personal and professional goals systematically. How does Pathways help you? Pathways helped me to a greater extent in assessing myself and helped me understand the project objectives. I love the online pre and post assessment to assess where I stand. How can one improve his self confidence? By participating in the club meetings and other Area/Division/District level happenings. How did you become more effective in handling props? By observing proficient speakers and by rehearsing myself. What do you do to spontaneously recall the quotes and authors during your speeches? I connect with my ideas to correlate and recall the quotes. How evaluation helped you in improving your speeches? Evaluations helped me to become a better speaker in every speech.

COVER STORY

Name Sandeep Pandey About yourself and your areas of interest Hailing from Nepal. My education background is English literature & Economics. My interests: visiting new places, watching football and working passionately in recruitment business. Your Work Profile -General Manager with Amity Trading & Contracting -Business Development Director with Varsha Manpower Pvt. Ltd. -Owner of Dignity Tours & Travel -Sales Executive at Mainawati Steel Industry How long have you been in Toastmasters and why did you join this organization? joined Toastmasters on 24th September 2018 to enhance communication & leadership skills What did you love the most about participating in a contest? I love the exciting fact that many positive people come to listen to me when I speak in public! How do you evaluate yourself being a champion? I believe that I have something in me, which

needs to be sharpened by better exposures. I felt that representing my club and area was a great responsibility bestowed on me. Who inspired you in your life? My friend, Bijay Lama. Though he doesn’t have good academics & family background, his aim is always high & he does hard work to reach his target. He is really a brave person and I like this leadership quality in him. What is your favourite slogan? Slow and Steady win the Race. What is the message you want to give to your fellow toastmasters post being a champion at Club/Area/ Division level? As a champion, I would like to thank each and everyone who supported and listened to me carefully. All of us need to attend meetings regularly, take up roles in each meeting. The more you practice, you get to carve a better version of you. What do you do to spontaneously recall the quotes and authors during your speeches? Practice, Practice & remember. How did you become more effective in handling props? i. The prop must be relevant to the message. Ii. The prop used is visible to the Audience. iii. Use the right number of props. How did your mentors helped you in your journey? Mentors played a very crucial role. My mentor was ready to help me anytime despite his busy schedule. I believe that all of us have similar experience. Does Toastmasters help us to manage our time more efficiently? Of course, Time management is a crucial skill in Toastmasters that one can learn and sharpen. What are the major changes you find in your own two versions, before and after joining Toastmasters? I never used to prepare well before even important meetings. Now, I think many times about the way my message is to be conveyed even before meeting someone in a coffee shop, which gives me more confidence while articulating my ideas. ENGINEER | MARCH 2021

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ARTICLE

A TOASTMASTERS CLUB S.Kumar Naidu, DTM

A great leader once said: ...The basic philosophy and drive of an organization have far more to do with its relative achievements than do with technological or economic resources. I do believe all these things weigh heavily in success. But they are, I think, transcended by how strongly the people in the organization believe in its basic precepts and how faithfully they carry them out. The most important single factor for an individual, a group of dedicated people or an organization to succeed is its commitment it also means to achieve a certain purpose, a line of conduct or to deliver a cause. It also means practising what you preach consistently. The adherence to these beliefs will possibly be the best description of commitment "persistence with a purpose".

There is an age-old saying that goes, Stand for something or you'll fall for anything. We as professionals are constantly vying to be effective communicators and it appears that we are well on our way, but to become effective leaders we have possess a strong sense of personal integrity and self confidence the willingness to share the credit for success. Demonstrating this commitment to others is the glue that holds us together. Friends, the truth is, demonstrating commitment is hard work but it can be achieved through determination and persistence. But then what is Leadership & Communication? It is simply the act of transferring information from one to another which can lead to a process of social influence, but this tract needs others to transmit this message from sender to recipient. Hence my friends it is important to learn this trait, and where else can you get this but in a Toastmasters club. A Toastmasters club has time and again exhibited this commitment that has given me the courage to speak with conviction.

"Our Greatest Glory is not in never falling but in raising every time we fall"

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ARTICLE

MY JOURNEY IN TOASTMASTERS Sandeep Pandey, Vice President-Membership

In late 2018, one of my friends, hailing from India, invited me to the Oryx Rotana Hotel. Though I expected a big party with delicious food and dance, I was surprised to see a group of enthusiastic people greeting me, though I could not recognize even a single person! The meeting formally started by hitting on the table with a gavel, which was a different experience for me.

I enjoyed a couple of speeches which were mostly personal stories. I raised my hand to try a table topic and stood in front of a crowd for the first time. I was asked to speak about my name. I hardly spent one & a half minutes. My body was trembling. But my happiness knew no limits when I was selected as the Best Table Topic Speaker, which motivated me to join the KEF Toastmasters Club. As I was clueless about preparing a speech, my mentor, Mr Pradip Sadiye, helped me prepare my

ice-breaking speech. When the script was ready, it was like winning the whole world. However, I was nervous on the meeting day. When the TMOD invited me to the stage, I was terrified. My Evaluator and General Evaluator highlighted my strengths and gave suggestions for improvement, which encouraged me to schedule my second speech. 14th February 2020, became a milestone in my Toastmasters' journey. It was the day of the Area contest. When a winner of the club contest requested me to deliver a humorous speech, I was forced to accept it as a challenge. Since I was unprepared, I recalled some funny memories to add a few punch lines. Though the contest was on Valentine's day, I delivered a speech about love & tragedy. When announced as the champion of the Humorous speech contest, it boosted my confidence level high! I heartily accepted the role of Vice President-Membership for the term 2019-2020.During the Covid-19 pandemic, I was in my home country to spend time with my family and hence, I could not be an effective VPM. However, I was active in the online club meetings and took part in the

Division and District contests. Though the members and I tried hard, it was not easy to have sufficient guests in the virtual meetings. The Ex-com members supported me a lot. We could retain 20+ members and added six new members before the end of September 2020. Since I began attending Toastmasters meetings, I found a better version of myself. I never imagined myself narrating stories in front of people. The benefits of Toastmasters meetings are many - meeting talented members from different cultures, fun-filled environment, which help the attendees to keep their energy levels high. Hence, anyone who completed a year will never quit this proven learning platform. I request each of you to kindly join your nearest Toastmasters club to improve your communication skills and become a better leader. ENGINEER | MARCH 2021

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ARTICLE

PURPOSE, PASSION, PLEASURE Neshi Kumar Arimbil, Area 15 Director

weaknesses, and enjoyed the responsibilities. As a result, slowly but steadily I learned the dynamics in it, and I could project myself as someone who can be dependable. Many Toastmasters approach me for clarifications and I would answer them with patience, implementing my principle from my college days “HELPING OTHERS LEARN IS THE BEST WAY OF LEARNING”.

enhancement or guide a person to improve their skills. I realize that Toastmasters is a platform where you can practice and improve your personal and professional skills Image from everydayhealth.com and, in our act, help others too. I consider Toastmasters as an When you feel low on a day, opportunity to serve society, a people advise you to go out for service we can give back to our a long walk or read a book, to society. bring your spirits up. When you I took up various roles and go for a walk, your body gets self-challenging leadership exercise, and you may meet positions at the Club, Area, some people who give you an Division, District and is upbeat vibe. When you read a currently serving as the Area 15 book, your attention is Director, Division D and diverted, and you feel better. Assistant Division Director – Now I would say when you Club Growth, Division E. feel low on a day, attend a Wherever you may be, Toastmasters meeting, wherein whatever field you may be in, you whatever work you may do if 1. Introduce yourself to a you do it with PASSION and by group of audience understanding the PURPOSE of 2. Meet a group of positive and it, I am sure you will derive like-minded people. PLEASURE from what you do. 3. Can listen to some good Do look out for the PURPOSE speeches, new ideas why you are in Toastmasters. 4. Understand and practice Do all the roles and Impromptu speaking. responsibilities assigned with 5. View and understand how PASSION. feedback is given. Derive the PLEASURE from I am sure the time you spend When people ask you your actions. in a Toastmasters meeting questions; whether you know Here, you are with a group of would rejuvenate your mind, it or not, you challenge like-minded people, those who body and soul. yourself to answer them. know the purpose, those who I joined Toastmasters to These unknown questions do things with passion, and inspire my children and to guide you towards research those who are deriving the meet new people from various and it opens a whole lot of pleasure out of it. This streams of life. Slowly as I opportunities. We seldom get experience will be much more proceeded in Toastmasters, I an opportunity to support rewarding than reading a book started to understand my someone for their career or going for a long walk.

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MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS - SPOTLIGHT A MEMBER

GET TO KNOW YOU... Bijith Biju Sadan, DTM, Past President

"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team."

-Phil Jackson

KEF Toastmasters take pride in highlighting one of its charter members and our Past President Bijith Biju Sadan, DTM in this issue. Let's see what he has in store for you.

About Yourself: Bijith Biju Sadan, Born & brought up in Calicut but currently settling in Thripunithura Kochi. Did graduation in Mysore ( BE – Mech) further pursued MBA – Mktg , and CS ( Exe). Worked in Muscat , Doha & UAE. Your Work Profile: Working with Wacker Neuson Middle East as Sr. BDM responsible for Saudi , Oman and Qatar operations Areas of Interest: Prof : Emerging industries and markets , Stock Market , Economics and Business. Personal : Human Relations , Networking , Cooking , Music What in your life keeps you motivated? Self set Goals (Both Personal & Professional) - Long term & Short term ones. Why did you join Toastmasters? Joined to improve my capacity in public speaking.

Challenges you face? To focus in Toastmasters actively. Currently have multi responsibilities which needs different time allocations. How Toastmasters helped you? Improved public speaking capacity, confidence and the way to structure the speech / all talks / discussions and feedback in general . Practiced leadership learnings and realized different aspect of leading a larger team. If you could change one thing in Toastmasters at the club level, what would it be and why? Clubs should always uphold and support the individual member goals. The friendly and mutually helping environment should help an individual to realize, set & achieve his / her goals that would be helpful for his personal or career life.

Picture - Bijith Biju Sadan, DTM being awarded the Best Toastmaster of the Year at TAC-Q 2012. ENGINEER | MARCH 2021 19

INTERVIEW

AN EXCLUSIVE WITH PRESIDENT Bindu Pillai, Vice President - Public Relations

We decided to put our vibrant President and our proud member – Babu M.K on the spot with some Rapid Fire Questions. This or That Round

Generic Round

Texting or talking? – Talking, after joining Toastmasters Sweet or spicy? – Mostly spicy Tea or coffee? – Green Tea Paper or Plastic? - Neither, as I prefer Digital. Polka dots or stripes? - Stripes Asia or Middle East? - Middle East for the time being. Starbucks or a local Tea stall? – Local Tea stall Book or e-book? - e-Books Lifestyle - Minimalist or Spendthrift? - Minimalist Watching movie on Netflix or at Cinema theatre? – Neither Virtue or sin? - Virtue Dawn or dusk? – Dawn Classical or Rap? – Classical Climb a mountain or jump from a plane? - Climb a mountain Active in Social Media - FB or Instagram? - Less Active Early Bird or Night Owl? – Early Bird Variety or Routine? – Routine Quality of Life or Quality of heart? - Quality of heart Introvert or Extrovert? Extrovert post joining Toastmasters. Being organized or Attention to details? - Organized with attention to details.

What does a person need, to be happy? To be happy, the person must decide to be happy, as happiness is internal and not in external things or situations. What’s the best age, according to you? Age is only a number. How I handle myself at every age makes all the difference. If you could push a button and make everyone in the world 7% happier but it would also place a worldwide ban on all beauty products, would you push it? Yes. If you could be any flavor of ice cream what ice cream flavor would you be and why? Vanilla. Since it is the most favourite flavor of maximum people, many may like me also. Which is more preferable — being nice or being fair? Being fair You tend to see the glass half _______ (Full or Empty)? Half full

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What is one thing that annoys you the most? When people behave very unreasonably against my very reasonable expectations. What is the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten? Since I eat very limited things, this question itself is the strangest thing that I ate! Describe your self in 3 words Positive, peaceable & humble What is the most interesting thing you have in your purse/wallet? - Vacuum If you were stranded on a tropical island, what 2 things would you want with you? Mobile phone and Wi-Fi What compliment does people give you the most? Organized and Committed Prefer to be the center of attraction or chose to be left alone? Left alone What’s the first career you dreamed of having as a kid? Wanted to be in Civil Services

INTERVIEW If you had access to a time machine where and when would you go? I would move to India in the year 2121. If you were a super-hero, what would your powers be? -At any given time, I should be able to quickly and accurately prove all the crimes, wrong doings, cheating cases, etc. in the world that happened or can happen in the future, as my power would fetch world peace. Name a food that brings back childhood memory Idli What is the first thing you notice about some one when you meet them for the first time? Appearance What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning? -Great to know that I am alive and healthy to move towards my goals!

What advice / feedback did It was in the early month of you get from Toastmasters 2018, we had Mr. Babu as our that was the most Guest. My first opinion, a soft rewarding? spoken, thinking, and strong I am able to confidently personality. He was introduced communicate to a group of people, which was not at all to the club by Raghavan Menon, DTM. He joined our club in April possible to me earlier! 2018. He was silent initially and What is that one skill you advocate in Toastmasters? within a month, he constantly One can be a confident took up roles at every meeting. communicator in any given TM Babu took the Sergeant at situation, as he / she can Arms of the club during the inspire others, can apply his / period 2018-19. TM Babu was her knowledge / wisdom, and get things done by others in a one Toastmaster whom I could depend and looked upon to, for better manner for the conducting quality meetings. He common good of all stakeholders. caught the attention of every Two things that you have member with his little wits and changed in yourself post innocent humor about himself, joining Toastmasters. whenever he spoke. In the Became more confident and subsequent year, he became the willingness to help others. Vice President Education and What have you done in Toastmasters that you are this term he is our club most proud of? President. Proud to be a part of an TM Babu has a clear opinion ExCom consisting of talented on every matter, and he and enthusiastic members and expresses it with great Toastmasters Round the club is sailing through enthusiasm. I recollect several another successful year in discussions with him related to A person who inspired you in spite of the pandemic. our club performance. I saw his Toastmasters. What’s one of the biggest My ex-colleague, mentor, challenges you have faced to transformation from a softIPDD, Raghavan Menon, DTM date in Toastmasters? spoken Toastmaster to a strong who invited me to a A few of the club members are leader. Today he stands tall Toastmasters meeting for the unable to spare time for self- among us as a champion first time. development, because of speaker, great organizer, a What made you join other commitment and leader to look upon. I am sure in Toastmasters? priorities. the coming years he will guide I wanted to improve my What is that one thing you our club to great glory and help confidence to speak in public, would like to change in several members in our club to as I was not at all confident Toastmasters. about it. The increase in the number of practice and improve their What will you NEVER DO in clubs should be based on the personal and professional skills. Toastmasters? increase in the demand for I will not discourage or clubs. The focus to be on Neshi Kumar Arimbil Area 15 Director dishearten anybody. rejuvenating inactive clubs.

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AWARDS & RECOGNITION

CLUB STATUS 2020-21 Babu M.K, President, 2020 - 21

CLUB STATUS AS OF 14-MAR-2021

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AWARDS & RECOGNITION

AWARDS 2020-21 Hafeez Shaikh, Vice President - Education, 2020-21

KEF Toastmasters has won the Dazzling Membership Award, Smedley Award and Golden Quarter Award for 2020.

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AWARDS & RECOGNITION

KEF Toastmasters has achieved 100% in the Pathways Adoption Campaign as of 31-Aug-2020.

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AWARDS & RECOGNITION

PR AWARDS Bindu Pillai, Vice President - Public Relations

KEF Toastmasters has bagged the Poster Master Award - Dec 2020

Award Winning Poster for Dec '20

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AWARDS & RECOGNITION

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AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Our ENGINEER newsletter bagged the second position for the Stellar Newsletter Award - Q2

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PUBLIC RELATIONS

MEETING FLIERS

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NEW & REINSTATED MEMBERS

PUBLIC RELATIONS

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL INITIATIVES Bindu Pillai, Vice President - Public Relations

Supported the District 116 initiative for membership renewals by creating posters and publishing on social media. Here are a few of the messages from our members and our Past President TM Abdul Wahid Ismail.

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PUBLIC RELATIONS

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GALLERY

GLIMPSES - BANNER PARADE AT TAC-D Bindu Pillai, VP-Public Relations

Banner Parade for Division D was conducted by Bindu Pillai, VP-Public Relations of KEF Toastmasters and Abdul Wahid Ismail, Past President of KEF Toastmasters and current member of AITMAQ Toastmasters club sponsored by KEF Toastmasters.

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GALLERY

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GALLERY

GLIMPSES - EVENTS A glimpse from the successful Area 15 Annual Conference 2021 held on 12th of February, 2021.

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GALLERY

A glimpse from the successful TAC-D 2021 held on 05th of March, 2021.

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ENGINEER

MARCH 2021

Club Mission: 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.

KEF TOASTMASTERS

CLUB# 1571590 | AREA 15 | DIVISION D | DISTRICT 116 | QATAR

KEFToastmasters

keftoastmasters.org