Ruwi Toastmasters Club: 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.