Toastmasters is a practising ground.

Our first meeting of Ramzan was on August 4th, 2011. It was a one hour meeting. Attendance was impressive. Around 20 people were present out which six were guests. Our Sergeant-at-rams, TM Neel observed the Toastmasters pledge. The Professional Toastmasters Club also observed a moment of silence in the memory of Late-TM Hassan Javed Khan. He died last year in Air Blue incident. He was the treasurer of the Karachi Toastmasters Club and Prime Minister of the Youth Parliament. May Allah bless his soul. For the firs time, the logo of Professional Toastmasters Club was printed on the agenda.



Toastmaster of the meeting and the Presiding officer of the meeting was Madam TM Dr. Avan. Table Topics session was performed by Madam TM Hera and General Evaluator of the meeting was TM Jumani. Table topics were evaluated by TM Sajjad.

The theme of the meeting was Ramzan and Madam TM Hera made five flash cards and they were placed on the table, upside down. Speakers were invited and asked to pick a card and then the assigned topic was explained to them. TM Jaan Ali was asked to speak on, ‘why generosity in Ramzan only.’ TM Fazal was asked to speak on, ‘overeating in Ramzan.’ Young TM Taimur was assigned the topic, ‘Rise in temper in Ramza.’ TM Emaan was to speak upon the topic, ‘Inequality highlighted in Ramzan.’ And TM Panjwani was given the last topic which says, ‘Getting late for Iftar.’



There were three speeches in the Prepared Speeches session. TM Panjwani presented his speech from the advance manual of Public Relation. He presented his Project one and his evaluator was TM Shahrukh. The name of the project was ‘The Goodwill Speech’ and the title of his speech was ‘Toastmasters.’



Madam TM Neel presented her Ice Breaker from the Competent Communicator manual. Her evaluator was TM Nadym. Her opening was very powerful. She said, ‘around 20 years ago, there was a lady expecting a child on 28th of October. But on 8th of October, there was a Piya-Jam-Hartal (Shutter-down Strike). That impatient child could not wait anymore and came ten days earlier. That child has been impatient ever since then.’ TM Nadym adored her approach and said that this kind of approach disarms the listeners.



TM Fahim presented his project one form the advance manual of Speaking to Inform. His evaluator was TM Avan amd someone rightly pointed out that past president was being evaluated by the current president. The Title of his speech was, ‘Writing to Succeed.’ He mentioned six principles of business writing which are:
a) Focus
b) Purpose
c) Meaning
d) Substance
e) Structure
f) Clarity

Our General Evaluator, TM Jumani quotes TM Jamil that Toastmasters is a Practising ground. He was right because here we have more opportunities to learn, grow and morph.



Guest comments were by Nayab, Emaan, Elena, Sarah, Mairah and Steve.



Winners and runner-ups were presented with the certificates. Winner of the Table Topics was Emaan and runner-up was TM Taimur. Winner of the prepared speeches was Madam TM Neel and runner-up was TM Fahim.