98th session

Let us start today with the group photo. There are two startling features, aren't there?

Firstly, the numbers. 25 people attended today, including guests (3 people left early, so not in pic). Secondly, the balance - more ladies than men, so much so that men were sitting today!! Trust RTC to be unusual, right?

The session started on time, thanks to SAA TM Raja.

This time Past President Aji Bhaskar was available and in deference to him, President Panna related story of the discovery of the Golconda mines, the Acres of Diamonds - how a farmer who waited patiently was rewarded with a stone and the one who travelled hither and thither went empty-handed. Similarly in our life, opportunities are often near at hand while we search high and wide for the same, fruitlessly.

President also announced that from this session the club has introduced a new award - Best Supporting Role, to be given to SAA/ Timer/ Wordmaster/ Topicmaster/ Harkmaster/ Grammarian - whoever has shown more innovation in their role. This should charge up the atmosphere no end.

President invited the first-time guests onto the stage and presented them Guest Welcome Kits, viz Ms Veera Bhacka and Ms Merlin Lambert. Hope they repeat their visits.

TMOD Usha Vijay had chosen as her theme The Power of 10, where, with each role introduction she talked about one powerful value, eg, I, we, smile, success, knowledge etc, going from a one-letter word to a ten-letter word. A nice theme MTM and smoothly executed.

Timer role was played by MTM Kiran, a new member, and played faultlessly, supported by the GE.

Wordmaster TM Ramalingam had chosen two words this time as words-of-the-day - BUMFUZZLE and SOPHISTRY. Yes, you read them right the first time. The round robin became a round round robin robin with two words being used in sentences, with the usual confusion. This was a heavy challenge for us, TM, though we braved the tides with valour.

Jokemaster TM Viswanath in fact started presenting us puzzles with funny answers in lieu of conventional jokes, which was a nice variation and quite enjoyable.

There were two project speeches scheduled today. Evaluation criteria for the P-1 speech, which is an Ice Breaker, were described by TM Rajat.

The P-1 speech, titled "Face the Mirror - Me & Myself", was delivered by MTM Radha, a new member, but her comfort on stage was evident from the word go. She seems a seasoned speaker who will enjoy and benefit from the regimen of Toastmasters guided speech development.

Criteria for the P-6 speech, expected to show Vocal Variety, were expounded by TM G Kumar.

The P-6 speech, titled "What's in a name?", was delivered by MTM Kaviya, and talked about the various ways her name had been spelt throughout her life and what indignities that had put her through. A nice humorous speech, MTM, thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Table topics were conducted by another new member, TM Somakumar, who presented topics that were popular sayings and adages. All those called upon to speak did fair justice and the voting would have been tight indeed.

Talking of voting, the club had a kaizen moment by acquiring a couple of containers for collecting the voting slips, which used to be collected by hand till now. 

TM Rajat conducted the evaluation of the P-1 speech. While commending her poise and content, she was advised to practice time management.

TM Kumar evaluated the P-6 speech. While applauding her rendering of vocal variety through dialogues and humorous enactments, he advised the speaker to build more drama in the opening sequence.

Grammarian MTM Rita, though unhappy with the Ah-count, did not point out many grammatical issues although her papers were full of notes. Probably she went a little easy on us this time.

General Evaluator TM Chaitanya, in his usual meticulous manner, went through each role and gave some valuable suggestions. including the one that TMOD's introduction of role player should be in such a manner that the name comes at the end.

Business session was conducted by MTM Kaviya as stand-in for VP-E. TMOD for the next session was fixed tentatively as MTM Shobha and MTM Panna would be giving her P-10 speech.

MTM Panna and TM Aji Bhaskar jointly and individually gave concluding speeches and declared the session closed.

For the first time, rolling trophies were introduced and awarded to the winners (the trophies were again taken back at the end of the session). More feel-good factors, people.

The day's awards were:

• Best Supporting Role: TM Somakumar (Table Topic master)
• Best Table topic:         DTM Rajendra Verma
• Best Evaluator:           TM Rajat
• Best Speaker:              MTM Radha

See you all on the 99th session on 4th Nov 2017.

97th session

This session was special again, like every session is in RTC.

Firstly, there were no regular project speeches but we arranged two demo speeches with internal faculty for the benefit of new members and enthusiastic guests.

Secondly, for the first time RTC played host to two Omani gentlemen, increasing the diversity of the audience in a thoroughly welcome manner.

Thirdly, RTC timers graduated from using colour-flags to using the light-box for indicating time.

SAA TM Raja flagged off on time as usual. We had 4 guests, including Raghuram, our erstwhile club member.

President MTM Panna spoke about success, with a poem thrown in like earlier, from her current favourite guide-book Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul. She also presented the 2 first-time guests with Guest Welcome Kits.

TMOD Saleem had picked as his theme "Health" and his presentation was an adaptation from his P-3 speech. In fact, the subject matter came across much better as a TMOD theme than it had as a project speech.

Timer TM Viswanath explained the criteria like a veteran. One could see that he was pretty bucked at the new addition of a light-box and was looking forward to putting the flags aside. Enjoy, TM.

Wordmaster TM Chaitanya introduced TEPID as the word of the day. It was a very friendly word to apply in any role and most of the role-players could insert it in their speeches. Good show chaps.

Jokemaster TM Venkat-the-veteran this time regaled us with a story of monkeys being bought and sold in a village that was found finally to be a representation of the stock market. The final parallel, when revealed, was really funny.

The first demo speech was a P-1, The Ice Breaker, and TM Rajat described the evaluation criteria for the same.

The P-1 demo speech was delivered by TM Nagesh titled "Rolling Stone", in which he described his life that had been full of changes. It was a good P-1 speech and, as the GE commented later, TM Nagesh had perfectly simulated the nervous characteristics of an authentic P-1 deliverer! Now what did that mean...

MTM Panna described the evaluation criteria of the upcoming P-2 speech, which wanted the speaker to Organise His Speech.

P-2 demo speech was delivered by MTM Kaviya, titled "Resolute Resolution", about the travails of making and keeping resolutions. As earlier, it was a straight and powerful speech and a very good demo of the project.

Table topics were taken up by TM Mathen, who had kept ready various topics based on health. TM Mathen's topics are never un-speakable and all members and guests who had a shot at it returned triumphant. Again, as GE mentioned later, some table topic speakers had overshot their brief. Mrs Radha had practically given a P-1 speech of 4 mins and TM Ramalingam had once again morphed into his Jokemaster role. Versatility, thy name is RTC!

TM Rajat and MTM Panna delivered the evaluation of TM Nagesh and MTM Kaviya's speeches respectively. Two accomplished speakers had given these demo speeches for the benefit of new members and guests, but it was interesting to hear the evaluators give them feedback as if they were speakers at P-1 and P-2 levels. Quite amusing, in fact!

MTM Usha was the Grammarian and gave feedback on the Ah-count and the usage of English, both of which turned out to be very mild rebukes to the group. Either RTC had touched new heights in linguistic proficiency, or MTM Usha's impending visit of her daughter had mellowed her down. Either way, we were happy.

TM Raja, having donned the robes of the GE, gave a glowing tribute to the smooth running of the session, in particular to the stellar performance of the SAA, viz TM Raja. He once again repeated that we should remember to address the speakers with the prefix TM and MTM.

TM Mathen conducted the Business Session for fixing up next week's major roles, viz project speeches and TMOD. Members seem to be developing leadership qualities inasmuch as they are becoming good negotiators. TM Mathen could wangle some "maybes" and "will tell you after 2 days". Come on TMs, let's not give him a hard time.

President MTM Panna praised the overall non-tepid session, announced the awards and adjourned for tea and snacks.

The day's awards were:

• Best Table topic:       Mr Ahmed
• Best Evaluator:         MTM Panna
• Best Speaker:            MTM Kaviya

See you all on the 28th Oct. Let's start thinking of the 100th session.

96th session

Just 4 sessions away from the grand century and our hall was full of guests. That's a good omen, right?

The session kicked off bang on time at 3.15 pm. Really, SAA TM Raja is becoming a past master at managing the whole show.

President MTM Panna could not help needling us a bit as she related a story about porcupines - how they huddled together for warmth in winter, how they were irritated by each others' pricking and moved away only to die in the cold, how they chose to ignore those small injuries for the greater good of the group and the pleasantness of a shared warmth and huddled together again. The group relationship is much more rewarding than individual discomforts, she said, and we agree.

TMOD TM Sabu had adopted as his theme "Stress Management", a subject so common that we take it for granted in our lives. But we need not do so, assured TM Sabu, and went on the explain how stress could be avoided and even if already in action, how it could be neutralised. A good theme TMOD and well conducted.

Timer role was taken up by MTM Roman and she waved the flags to perfection, reeling off all the criteria from memory.

Wordmaster MTM Rita had chosen the word ILLUMINATE for the day, in keeping with the seasonal festival of lights (so apt MTM). Everybody reeled off sentences using the same quite easily. Guest Mr Srinivasan suggested that we should include prases and idioms also in this practice, which is a great idea indeed.

Jokemaster TM Vaishali regaled us quite thoroughly with her softly uttered jokes that made her ounch lines quite the feather touch.

TM Venkat introduced the evaluation criteria for a P-6 speech scheduled today, which showcases Vocal Variety. The audience was all agog to be regaled with a mix of stand-up comedy and Italian opera.

P-6 speech was delivered by TM Nagesh titled "Fix 2R". Based on the theme of teaching children to respect their teachers, the speech incorporated some lively dialogue between teachers, students and fathers that paid homage to the speech objectives. A good theme indeed, TM Nagesh.

Table topics were conducted by TM Raja, who had selected topics of common interest on which everyone could speak from their own experience. There was lively participation, including two guests who put their inhibitions aside and waded in.

Evaluation for the P-6 speech was delivered by TM Venkat and he encouraged the speaker on his project effort while pointing out a few areas of improvement.

Grammarian TM Ramalingam fulfilled his default role of Jokemaster more earnestly than that of Grammarian, having very few suggestions for impovement in English. Kudos to the club for such stellar improvement (I am using earlier word of the day, see?)

General Evaluator TM Viswanath appreciated the direction signboards that had been put outside the building and hall to aid guests. He gave an important suggestion to role players to wait on stage at a standstill till the next role-player came up and shook hands, in order to exhibit a classy changeover routine. Point noted GE.

There was a special session by TM G Kumar on the upcoming DTAC (District Event) in May 2018 for which registrations had already started. This time DTAC is in Oman and is a golden opportunity for Oman residents to attend such an event at the minimum cost. So why don'y you guys register and also avail the early bird rates before 20th Oct? RO 58 only, a steal for the 2-day event people. Login, pay up and enjoy!

Business session was conducted by MTM Kaviya but volunteers for the next session were few, given that it was Diwali season. In any case, there is going to be a session.

MTM Panna concluded the session by thanking all the guests (seven of them) for having accepted our invitations in such large numbers and handed them Guest Welcome Kits (first time for the club). She then declared the awards and called for tea and snacks.

The day's awards were:

• Best Table topic:       Mr Sethuraman
• Best Evaluator:        TM Venkat (default)
• Best Speaker:           TM Nagesh (default)

See you all on 21.10.17 and Happy Diwali to all of you!

95th session

Whenever there are guests in the audience, it perks up our spirits. Today we had 5 guests who graced the occasion (not counting Ms Kiran who is about to become a Toastmaster). Good show!

The session started on time and SAA Raja went through the routine with seasoned perfection.

Our President MTM Panna started the session - no, not with a story (sorry Aji) but with a poem from Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul that described how we keep our faces painted in order to hide our true feelings and are always looking for the freedom to be ourselves. A nice variation MTM, thank you.

TMOD Rajat Ray had adopted as his theme "Knock Knock", as per the annotation on the agenda, which turned out to be Opportunity in reality. He took the audience through the path of Option-Opportunity-Efforts-Success as the roles rolled along. By the end of the session, those four words were branded into the audience memories and the role players had shared what big opportunities they had grabbed and what they had missed out on. A high-funda session, TMOD!

Timer MTM Rita, back after a break, took up the flags with gusto and explained the timing rules with a slickness polished by practice.

Wordmaster MTM Vaishali introduced the word JUBILANT to the group and the members and guests tossed the round robin along the rows jubilantly, making short work of the challenge.

Jokemaster MTM Roman shared a few really funny ones with us that elicited spontaneous laughter.

There was a P3 and a P4 speech scheduled today. Speech criteria for P3 speech, which asks the speaker to Get to the Point, were explained by TM Chaitanya in his usual professorial style.

MTM Usha delivered her P3 speech "Waste not Want not" that protested against the malady of food wastage, not only highlighting the wholesale wastage carried out at parties and receptions but also exhorting us as householders to control our cooking and to do imaginative re-engineering with the leftovers. A good speech MTM.

Speech criteria for the P4 speech, which teaches the speaker How to Say It,  were delivered by MTM Kaviya, herself a good user of English.

TM Raja delivered his P4 speech "Freedom at Last", based on his experience of obtaining driving licence in Oman, with humorous descriptions peppering the stories. In conclusion we were nonplussed to learn that his freedom was not just to drive, but to drive away (from boss and wife)! A final twist TM - nice.

Table topics round was conducted by TM Ramalingam, whose topics were really varied - from a quote that was part of TMOD's speech, to a knock-knock joke, to a seventeen-word sentence. But as usual, his husband-wife humour kept the mood jolly.

Both the evaluators gave their feedback to the respective speakers, applauding their achievements and pointing out areas of improvement.

Grammarian TM Viswanath was delighted that there were precious few errors to point out (so were we) but in order to justify his role, described nine-ten points.

General Evaluator TM Venkat was very serious this time and started with a couple of suggestions for improvement (which are duly noted) before his generous nature took over and he praised all role-players unstintingly. You left us with a good feeling GE.

President MTM Panna announced the awards for the day and then adjourned the session for snacks and tea.

The day's awards were:

• Best Table speaker:   Ms Radha
• Best evaluator:          MTM Kaviya
• Best speaker:             TM Raja

See you all on the 14th of October 2017, same time same place.