Ruwi Toastmasters Club: 54th session

When we are used to wedding receptions, a meal at home seems unsatisfactory. A seated crowd of 25 was becoming the norm, when we were suddenly faced with only 18 attendees. Not a small figure by Club standards, but well, we need to raise the bar or not? So members, even if you do not have a role, please please do come. Even the Table Topics are no longer 'unspeakable' terrors; the topicmasters are ensuring that the topics are soft and inviting. So roll up, roll up...

Our SAA TM Ramalingam gave his usual dollop of charge with a joke on marriage (it is a workshop... the men work while the women shop), and got us on to an uproarious start.

Our President Aji Baskar was this time doubling as a TMOD, so he could pin his story on the theme itself: LOVE. The story was that of a young couple in love separated when the boy goes off to war. The girl is meanwhile injured and disfigured and decides to break off the relationship. The boy would have none of it and finally returns and marries the girl while the audience wipes tears surreptitiously.

TM Aji as TMOD introduced each role player describing what love means to him or her and describing any early romances that had predictably hilarious endings. We traveled the whole range from puppy love to love for parents. Thank you TM Aji for for sloshing around the sentimental milk in our mental coconuts!

Timekeeper TM Alma, first time on a role, was on a roll, and reeled off the rule-book relentlessly. Good job, TM Alma, and may you go from strength to strength.

Wordmaster TM Venkat, in keeping with the theme, had chosen the word ENDEARMENT. The round robin was nostalgic and heartfelt, with people sharing the closeness of relationships amongst friends and family.

Jokemaster Karthik, armed with his script on a phone, related a couple of funny incidents. Jokes apart, his enjoyment of the small stories was infectious and the audience also smiled with him.

This was a rare day when three brand new toastmasters were about to cut their teeth on their P-1 speeches. TM Ramalingam read out the requirements of the P-1 project and we were off to hearing three life stories of varied backgrounds and trajectories. As TM Kaviya, TM Dileep and TM Viswanath shared their joys and sorrows, they built their lives in front of our eyes block by block, sometimes rising fast, sometimes tumbling down, sometimes waiting patiently for their luck to change. It was a privilege, all three TMs, to listen to your journeys and thanks for making us a part of them.

Table Topics were conducted by TM Kamil and he indeed offered a series of excellent topics in keeping with the theme - from Valentilne's day to true love to sons vs daughters. Speakers had to search their hearts for answers and the genuineness of their speeches were reflected in the animation in their faces.

TMs Ramalingam, Raja and Nagesh evaluated their speeches, taking care to encourage the budding speakers to the utmost, while giving small suggestions that are easy to implement.

Harkmaster TM Pramod had an enjoyable time as the audience hit sixers on most of his questions. Any other quizmaster would have been unhappy at such a hit-rate, but TM Pramod applauded all on their alertness and withdrew.

Grammarian TM Mathen gave a very meticulous feedback, his pleasant manner belying the width and depth of his coverage. An excellent feedback, TM Mathen.

General Evaluator TM Rajat covered all the role-players as usual, appreciating in particular the SAA, the time-keeper, the evaluators and the grammarian. The TMOD was, of course, giving a demo session for the role and needed neither censure nor accolade.

TMOD Aji Baskar handed the baton back to President Aji Baskar, who announced the winners and declared the session adjourned.