C S F - 125

SPEAKERSDIGEST MAY 2014

R I S I N G F R O M T H E A S H

“You don’t have to be GREAT to START, but you’ve to START to be GREAT” - TM SARO

you are special, JUST THE WAY YOU ARE – TM ARNA

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WHAT’S INSIDE

EDITORIAL DESK

PRESIDENT’S DESK

LEADERSHIP VIEW

VINTAGE SARO’S CORNERVIVID VIVEKAWESOME ARNA

PHOENIX – RISING FROM ASH

PHOENIX – FUEL TO SUCCESS

WHAT WE LIKE TO SAY IS!!!

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EDITORIAL

DESK

The ART of successful communication’ is that from our heart.  Our heart beat proves to communicate this world that we are still alive!!

All of us have the potential of a great writer and for those who are searching for the right platform CHENNAI SPEAKERS FORUM is giving a tremendous opportunity to showcase.

We have given the theme as ‘Rising from the Ash’ as every person in his/ her life would have undergone a fervor moment which might have changed their life course. We have articles written based on TMs experience and how they bounced back during such occasions.

Exclusive section ‘VINTAGE’ is presented for budding toastmasters to get a glimpse on leadership and toastmastering from renowned leaders.

It was a real learning experience during this tenure as Editor, I appreciate all the toastmasters who has contributed wonderful write up. I specially thank my Co-Editor TM Vignesh for his meticulous job in collecting the articles, TM Anjana for proof reading the articles and VP-PR TM Kannan for his constant suggestions. As a toastmaster I feel like a phoenix bird and wish you all to get the same feeling while reading this newsletter.

- TM RAMKUMAR

TM RamkumarEditor in-Chief

TM VigneshCo-Editor

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PRESIDENT’S DESK

Today, after 25 speeches, 100+ TT's and 50+ evaluations I see myself as a much better communicator than I was when I joined. I might not be anywhere near a good speaker but I have succeeded in my goal of becoming a good communicator, someone who is able to convince people, someone who can convey the maximum information in least possible words in a way anyone can understand.

So today, the phoenix in me has come from a position where I was unable to convince even my closest to a position where I can convince even a total stranger.

Everyone faces failures. But only few get over it. And among those few, there are even few who get over failures on their own. Those few are the rarest of rare. Those few are the phoenixes.

Each and every Toastmaster is a Phoenix. Each Toastmaster will surely have a "failure to success" story. So do I. TM Pranav

President - CSF

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LEADERSHIP VIEW

TM ParthaGovernor – Division N

The first activity I did as a leader was to make friends with the team. That bond automatically brings with it trust and synergy, resulting in working together on common goals and lending a hand in challenging times. Once you are comfortable with the team and vice-versa, it becomes easier to find common high grounds and convey expectations.

Then, the team begins to march forward seamlessly, because every member of the team firmly believes that each action has been taken in the best of interests and begins to support it. Having said so, it is also equally important to value differences of opinion with due respect and diligence. This ensures a win-win situation for everyone on the team.

At the end of the day, even though you feel dusted, drained and exhausted, you are happy to work as a team and know that the success party is just round the corner.

 Toastmasters would mean different things for different people. Some would be focused on public speaking. Some like it for the table topics.  Some are keen on evaluations. But I am also fortunate to be provided a chance to serve as a leader.

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LEADERSHIP VIEW

That is Chennai Speakers Forum, a club which was formed from “Chennai Toastmasters”. This has brought the real heritage the best mix of leaders, the stalwarts of toastmasters and the young members. This makes the best suited environment for a self-paced learning. The CSF’s strength and its priceless contribution to Toastmasters movement is its “Mentoring”. CSF has selfless mentors who have mentored mentees across the district who ensures making of better communicators and better leaders in the toastmasters movement. CSF is also known for its “Innovation” and “Enthusiasm”. This is a club which ensures that it practices creativity without losing the content. This balanced attitude ensures that the fun and learning goes hand in hand. This factor ensures that the club is able to retain satisfied College Students and top IT Professionals as its members. The club had enthusiastically participated in the “Pirates of Gavel” programme and captured the Gavel several times. The club had also conducted joint meetings with other Divisions. The members of CSF had contributed in the Youth Leadership Programme The members of CSF are the pioneers in conducting the first ever community Speech Craft programmes.

A place where there is a richness of experience and innovation;

A place packed with talent and who go beyond club, area and division; TM TS Deepa

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LEADERSHIP VIEW CONTD.. In the term of 2013-2014, the support CSF had

provided to the Division N is remarkable. The CSF had supported the Division by taking up roles such as Officers Training Programme Chair, The Conference Chair of Ignite 2014 and several other roles in Enigma 2013 and Ignite 2014. The Conference Chair of Ignite 2014worked with a wonderful set of volunteers who had a clear vision and redefined the standards of a Division Conference. The members of CSF have been recognised in the Division Conference for being the Stars of Division – N, this defines their contribution to the Division N. The Excom team of CSF always work with an attitude of “Putting the Club First” this ensures that every time the benchmark raises and the new excom team accepts that challenge and they work harder.

  As Henry Ford says “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success”, CSF’s success is a journey and in this journey let everyone be a part of it and together

lets grow !!!.

- TM TS Deepa- Area N1 Governer

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VINTAGE – SARO’S CORNERBeing the lighthouse of many toastmaster clubs in Tamil Nadu, Can you please tell us your life moment which made you to join toastmasters?I have always wanted to improve my communication skills since my college days. However, I never found a perfect platform for that. When I completed my MBA in 2006, I couldn’t proudly claim myself to be an MBA, because of my poor communication skills. The lack of communication skills affected my career growth too. One of my friends referred me to a Toastmasters Club that was running in his college. I was sold on the first meeting itself. I immediately became a member of the club. I’ve been enjoying my Toastmasters journey since then.

Who is a successful toastmaster?A successful Toastmaster is someone who religiously follows the 3Rs1. Participate in meetings and take roles Regularly,2. Rehearse well before any performance3. Continuously Research for ways of doing it better (You can research by reading books, listening to speeches from champions, attending workshops, participating in contests, attending other club meetings etc.,) Of course, the real success can be measured if you are able to successfully apply the Toastmastering learning outside of Toastmasters in your personal and professional life.

DTM SARO

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How many clubs are you mentoring now and what aspect does CSF stands apart from all?

I’m not an “official” mentor for any of the clubs today, though members and club officers come to me for questions/doubts related to Toastmasters. If somebody reaches out to me for support, I never say NO. Having seen a number of clubs in our Tamil Nadu Toastmasters family, the things that set apart CSF are The creativity of club officers and members to continuously experiment and improve. This is something that I still continue to admire

Many consider leadership roles at toastmasters is a diversified track from being champions.  How do you see this?Yes! I too agree with this. When somebody comes to the club meetings regularly and delivers a few “best speeches”, we immediately push them into leadership roles. However leadership roles in Toastmasters require extraordinary passion to serve members (aka “Servant Leadership”). I have seen several good speakers/champions, being good leaders too. However, not ALL champions are great leaders. Members should pursue leadership roles, only if they have a genuine interest to improve their leadership skills by serving others.Your beam of light for budding toastmasters?I would like to quote Zig Ziglar “You don’t have to be GREAT to START, but you’ve to START to be GREAT”. When you follow the 3RS – Regularity, Research and Rehearsals, success in Toastmasters is guaranteed.

VINTAGE – SARO’S CORNER

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International Speaker"!? ha ha... I haven't crossed the international airport, Chennai. No discovery or invention. Just attempt to give a humorous speech. you find lot of humour ( before, during and after) your speech. 

 3. What is the difference that you see in

terms of contesting humorous and international speech contest.  Which one is more difficult

    The difference is one comes in September and the other comes during February.  I find difficulty only in terms of  preparation time. 

 4. Cite any fervour moment during your contest season

    During each contest season, Toastmasters from other clubs identify me, " Hey, you are the one who gave that Jolna bag speech, right? They still remember my scripts after two years. Those toastmaster's memory are my memorable moments. 

 

VINTAGE – VIVID VIVEK1. According to you, what takes a toastmaster to become champion?        In fact , all toastmasters are champions. what make them to be a champion forever is the persistent effort to improve.  2. How you discovered yourself as a humorous  and international speaker?TM VIVEK

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5.  What are all the contests that you have participated and won in toastmasters   I joined in toastmasters during 2011. Since then I

have so far missed to participate only the 2013 Humorous speech contest . otherwise I have had participated in all contest and went up to division level. 

  2011      Second runner up -  Humorous speech contest- Area G 2012     First runner up - Humorous speech contest- Division N  2013       First runner up  International speech  contest- Area N1 2014 First runner up-  International speech  contest- Division N

6. Piece of advice to toastmaster on contest preparation.

   No piece of advice would work at the contest. Just deliver and have a piece of mind that you have delivered it. 

VINTAGE – VIVID VIVEK

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VINTAGE – AWESOME ARNA

VERY VERY SPECIAL Zip Zap ZooTogether up, together downTogether back front side Zip Zap ZooI am special, are you too? Mr. Contest Master & fellow toastmasters, There was a twinkle in the eyes of my 6 year old niece as she taught me how to play Zip Zap Zoo. The rules of the game were simple – I had to follow her actions and when she asked “I am special, are you too?” I had to answer it with “Me too Me too Me too!”All along I kept wondering – was I really special?I had neither a talent that made me stand apart from the rest nor a success story that made me the best. I have never overcome difficulties to call myself strong, nor is my life like an inspirational song.All my life I’ve been known as the granddaughter of the successful entrepreneur or the daughter of the great cook or the sister of the champion athlete. I never had any tagline  that defined me.

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VINTAGE – AWESOME ARNA  Friends, if you have you ever been known as your mother’s child,

child’s mother, brother’s sister, sister’s brother, friend’s friend, husband’s wife, wife’s husband, mentor’s mentee or mentee’s mentor then you and I are sailing in the wrong boat. The boat of mediocrity.

 And so, depressed & dejected with my overdose of ordinariness, I

stormed up to my mom and asked her “Why have you given birth to such an average child?”

Well my mother is not a toastmaster. So she took her 30 secs and came up with a prop and said - “Lets throw Tuffy away.”

That’s the thing with parents. You can never understand what they’re saying!

“First answer my question!”“I am. Lets throw Tuffy away.”That’s the other thing with parents. They never get to the point!“We cant throw Tuffy away!”“Why cant we throw Tuffyaway ?”“Because he’s my special teddy”“Why is he your special teddy ?” “Is he the best-looking teddy you’ve seen ?”“Not really. He’s torn & tattered in places, infact”“Does he have features that other teddies don’t have ?”“Um, no he’s just like a normal teddy.”“Then why is he your special teddy ?”“I don’t know all that. He’s just special because I believe he is.”“Exactly.” Exactly ?

 

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VINTAGE – AWESOME ARNAI didn’t understand how she said what she said & why she said it,

until I thought about it once again.Because that’s the other thing with parents. They may not get to the point, but they definitely know how to say it! (smile)

When I understood what she said, I unravelled the hidden secret. And what I understood I am here to make you understand.

 Ladies & gentlemen think about your everyday lives. You look at

your beautiful neighbour and go ooh I wish I had just a little extra beauty. Then at office you see the employee of the month and wish man just a little extra intelligence would definitely help. Then you visit your toastmaster meeting and witness the most amazing speech and tell yourself ah I wish I had just a little extra flamboyance. Then you look at the owner of that Mercedes Benz on the road and claim dude just a little extra success will make me go places. Then you wish you had just a little extra strength, or a little extra money or a little extra power, just a little extra of something that will make you special in atleast someway.

Ladies & gentlemen we are so busy wishing for just that little extra that we fail to realize that we are special just the way we are. That we are like Tuffy – maybe not with killer looks, maybe not the most successful, but we still are special.

 Friends, no longer do I undermine my strengths & overpower my

weaknesses. Because I tell myself that I am special…..and it feels GOOD! I have started smiling more often.. I feel good about being me…. My world seems like a beautiful place to live in.

 Do you want your world to be a beautiful place ?then the next time

you feel low, the next time you doubt yourself, the next time you feel depressed about being you – tell yourself & remind yourself that you are special JUST THE WAY YOU ARE! And you will see….magic!!

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VINTAGE – AWESOME ARNA  You don’t believe in the magic ? Then let me prove it to you… Lets

try it right here, right now. Look at the person sitting beside you and tell him; tell him like you mean it; tell him – “I am special, and so are you!” Go ahead… “I am special & so are you!!”

Because you see, there is no age limit to feeling special.. You don’t need a reason to feel special! You don’t need that little extra determination or focus or hope or beauty or success or money or power (crescendo) to feel special . All you need is to B-E-L-I-E-V-E. Believe – that you. are. (action)

 Ladies & Gentlemen, the rules of this game are very simple –Zip Zap ZooI am special, so are you.

Note: This is an exclusive article of TM Arna from her award winning speech at District 82 – Ovation 2013

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PHOENIX – RISING FROM THE ASH

TM Rohit

From the ashes it arosedefying all thosewho thought it was the endit, unable to again ascend

Pheonix- the mythical birdProud and golden featheredTeaches us all a truthabout life, death and youth

One may be battered and charredTired, sunk and forever marredThe shell may be on the pyrebut a heart filled with fireCan rise again from the embersReady again to face dangers

From acorn to oak to acornLife, death and to be rebornThats the life for you and meMade of heart, mind and bodyThere is never an absolute endJust a descend and then an ascend

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PHOENIX – FUEL TO SUCCESS

TM AthiraWe’re all by now so used to the saying, “Failure is the

stepping stone to success”. Does that mean that the next step after a failure would be success? Not necessarily! Failure becomes the stepping stone only when that failure creates in us the unstoppable urge to succeed.

Sometimes, there are such moments when we feel dejected and after which no one believes in us and our abilities. This can pretty much let us down and make us feel less confident about ourselves. But, if we don’t succumb to such weak feelings, then we can find in ourselves that spark which tells us that no one can stop us from achieving what we want. Therein, we will feel an inner confidence so strong that nothing else would matter to us. We will understand our real strengths and will have such an indomitable belief in ourselves that we don’t see ourselves as anything but a winner.

The reason for all success stories is that inner strength which comes from within us when we really set our mind on to something. Most of the times it is not our inability, but rather the lack of passion in what we’re doing which leads us to failure. Sometimes, we have to keep going even if there aren’t any results, for it is persistence which paves way for success. And to keep going we need the fuel of passion burning within us. Emerging a winner isn’t a herculean task if we are passionate about our tasks.Someone rightly said:

“A person can succeed at almost anything for which they have unlimited passion”. - TM Athira

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I witnessed brilliant speeches, fine evaluations and excellent presence of mind in impromptu session from the toast masters. Attending toastmasters meeting regularly, made me comfortable in public speaking. I started loving it slowly as tones of encouragement flowed on my path even If I put up a very ordinary show. One fine day the high confidence on me helped me to get best table topics award. Many toastmasters cheered me and this guest who attended that meeting praised me and asked me about toastmasters. Today the same so called Guest has reached incredible position in CSF within very short span of time. Last but not least he took up the responsibility and he is leading CSF as young and energetic president. I personally like to call TM Pranav as Mr Phoenix of CSF.

WHAT WE LIKE TOSAY IS!!!

TM Rajesh

It was 2012, when my uncle TM Ramesh first introduced me to Chennai Speakers Forum.

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First of all, my hearty congratulations to CSF for always being at its pinnacle in terms of energy and momentum. Energetic ambience is always evident as the club is filled with many vibrant toastmasters. 125 success meeting is no joke and CSF nailed it perfectly. Every toastmaster is privileged to give their speech in CSF and I am delighted to say I got one such an opportunity. Getting up in early Sunday morning is most tedious for many out there but the learning one can get from the meeting gives immense energy to overcome any such challenges. I once again convey my wishes to CSF. Way to Go!!!

TM Kruthika

WHAT WE LIKE TOSAY IS!!!

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Like most of the parents in India, my parents badly wanted me to become an engineer. They made me to realize their dreams. But I don’t want to be a trial. I just wanted to pursue my interest and my dream. Unfortunately youngsters in India are devoid of decision making. My parents forced me to take science group for my 11th grade in alpha plus school in Trichy. Not even a month I could sustain my parent’s dream and I fought back strongly and joined commerce group. My parents refer me as an ash with the decision I made. I never regret for that decision I made and in fact I am very happy with what I am now. I completed my B.COM in Loyala and doing my M.B.A in INDIAN MARITIME UNIVERSITY. Currently my parents are very happy with my proceedings and the phoenix bird in me gave me wings to fly in the right moment.

TM Shimer

Life is a race…run…run…and run…but do run in your own track…

- TM Shimer

WHAT WE LIKE TOSAY IS!!!

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TM Kannan

WHAT I GOT!!!

I am a curious kid who was interested in anything and everything. My parents put me in a good school, and I was above average in everything and was happy about it. A famous quote says, “If you have not failed yet, you have not tried anything new”. In order to do that, every New Year was special for me because I took a resolution every time to try something new and following it utmost a week. We will never have the same interest and enthusiasm that we possess when we take up a job, at the time it ends. I had the most common habit of quitting everything if I failed. The very first time I took a resolution, it was to learn dancing. I went to dance class, saw a few people practicing it effortlessly. I thought, yeah, am going to join Michael Jackson’s troop and rock the world. The dance master asked me to put a simple step. I tried and at the very first attempt I found I was doing something other than dancing. I tried a lot of times and at last thought, this is not my cup of tea. It hurt a lot and I felt it was much easier to quit. The next year I took a resolution to sing. Now this case was different. You don’t need to strain your body, just singing. I again imagined I will be onstage with Hariharan or Shreya Goshal. The first day, I went to a singing class, the master said say SAA… I tried quite a few days. Before I joined, I heard that it singing becomes easier after a few days. But after few days, I felt quitting was much easier. Why to struggle hard, so I dint go there from the next week.

There is always a moment in everybody’s life where they fail, after which they rise and shine. But there was no such moment in my life. Everything was easy and I hardly moved an eyelid for what I wanted.

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This year I took a resolution to learn a new game. The game I chose was football. Maradona and Pele flashed before my eyes. The first day, I started, with a lot of energy I dressed up, wore my brand new shoes, took the football that was purchased the before day and I stood like a warrior with a sword in hand who is ready for the war. I reached the ground very early. Only very few people were in the ground and I had a friend who was also just like me. We knew nothing about football. We started warming up. I already spoke with a few people who practice football regularly and got a few tips and still believed these tips will make me get placed in the Indian team. While I was warming up, I saw a small boy of about half the size of me, both in height and width came near me. He looked quizzed at the ball and me. He asked, “Anna, can we play?”.Though I dint know the ABCD of that game, I thought, what this little boy going to do, let us give that a shot. I said, “Wait let me complete my warm up.” With a great pride, of course. Once I am done, he told me, I will be the goalkeeper. With all the might I hit the ball and looked high above. The ball rose just two inches above the ground and it reached him rolling slowly. He blocked it casually. I tried many times and succeeded not once. Then, he asked me to be the goalkeeper. My mind voice told “You are much huge; even you can’t hit it, what this little fellow will do?”

WHAT I GOT!!!

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I just saw his leg hitting the ball and the next second it was behind me. He scored in the successive attempts effortlessly. All my attempts were in vain. One ball came directly towards me and hit me .The training ended with a bang. The first lesson was to get a guard. Dejected, I again felt, it will be much easier to quit. Obviously, I dint go the next few days.

All my ego, pride and superiority complex were shattered that day and still I failed to realize that I am going to get something from this. It was an opportunity in disguise. After few days of thinking, my friend asked me to come again. With a half heart, I decided to give it another chance. We went and found the tiny guy and asked him to teach us. He started teaching the game. Though I have been practicing it for very few days, I am happy that I could at least stick with my resolution for few months now. That feeling of satisfaction, that feeling of accomplishment, means a lot. It gives a lot of learning and happiness that can’t be achieved anywhere else. I may or may not continue but I wish to continue this for the whole year and the lifetime.

The beginning is always today. We may or may not rise from my failures, but it is worth trying. Let us find something that we don’t know and know it now.

WHAT I GOT!!!

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CS

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125District 82 Division N