Ruwi Toastmasters Club: 88th session

This session stood out because of two exemplary events.

One, VP-E stepped up with a speech because no speeches could be served up today through normal planning. A good example for senior members and office bearers who should be leading with such readiness.

Two, the new Ex-com members were "installed" or declared as having taken over their new duties.

What happened otherwise?

Well, SAA Venkat kicked off the session just one minute late, and with no jokes at all, much to our chagrin.

President Panna told the story of a sculptor who insisted on perfection in his own work. We should all be like that and strive for perfection by continuously improving ourselves.

TMOD Nagesh had taken up "Journey" as his theme. As he explained, a journey involves experiences and learning, unlike a simple trip. He had visited Mansarobar and Kailash along with his family and he took us all on the trip with him, interspersed with life lessons that came to him as they toiled through the demanding trek and inhospitable surroundings. In a beautiful example he explained how they were forced to reduce their baggage - from 30 kg to 20 kg to 10 kg to 3 kg as they changed their means of transportation, ending with human legs alone. "Ultimately", he said "It was just the oxygen and us. Nothing else mattered." Could we shed our unnecessary baggage consciously in our life? We would benefit for sure. Thank you TMOD for a wonderful journey.

Timekeeper TM Sabu, explained all timing criteria efficiently.

MTM Vaishali introduced the word EMBELLISH to the group. The round robin went well as the meaning of the word was clear and it could be applied in a variety of situations.

Jokemaster TM Kumar told two jokes. The first about life lesson about a man lost at sea. The second was a wife lesson about selling paintings. Those who were absent today can contact TM Kumar for full details.

There was a P-5 speech to be delivered today and TM Rajat described the criteria for this project: The Body Speaks.

P-5 speech "Spicy cucumber" was delivered by TM Mathen. His theme of Temptation, supported by a long personal experience of ingesting too much spicy cucumber on a train, was one to which all of us could relate. He made us literally drool as he acted out the boy preparing the spicy cucumber and we shook our heads in warning as he ordered a second round, with disastrous consequences, of course.

Table Topics was this time replaced by a Round Robin, an innovation by MTM Kaviya where a story initiated by MTM Panna had to be continued by the different speakers, each taking off from where the previous speaker left off the narrative. Time was just one minute but the speakers' imaginations were stretched to the limit in order to keep the ball rolling. An interesting change, MTM Kaviya. Congratulations.

P-5 evaluation was given by TM Rajat, appreciating the effort made by TM Mathen to make his body speak. What was particularly laudable was how a simple idea and a single experience was converted into a full-fledged project speech - a lesson for all of us who struggle to write project speeches.

Harkmaster TM Kamil asked some difficult questions, but the audience was up to it and kept hitting sixers.

Grammarian TM Chaitanya came up with some valid grammatical corrections, which we will try to remember and implement.

General Evaluator TM Saleem gave his feedback on the session. He suggested that we increase the decibel levels of our clapping in order to encourage the role players. He gave a few other small suggestions for improvement and praised the general conduct of the meeting.

The new set of Club Officers were "installed" by Area Director Babu Srinivasan. This involved first un-installing the earlier officers, then pinning the badges onto the new officers. Their respective roles were also read out, which they promised to execute to the best of their ability.

President - MTM Panna Rashmi Ray
VP-Education - TM Mathen KM
VP-Membership - TM Chaitanya Khimji
VP-Public relations - TM Rajat Ray
Secretary - TM Sri Nagesh
Treasurer - TM Ramalingam
Sargeant-at-arms - TM Raja Subramanian

VP-E conducted the Business session, booking 3 speeches for the next session, following the long-term calendar circulated by him earlier. Good job, VP-E.

The session was declared closed by President Panna after she shared her dream of the club excelling in all spheres in the coming year, for which we shall have to all work hard.