Speech Craft: The New Stage

Professionals Toastmasters Club organised a Speech Craft programme at Deaf & Blind School & College - IDA RIEU Welfare, which consists of four sessions. We are thankful to Madam Rukhsana, English Teacher at the school for blind, and Madam Uzma, the Vice Principal of IDA RIEU, for their co-operation and major assistance.

The title of the programme was ‘The New Stage.’ Eight students participated in the programme out of which seven were visually impaired.

Details:

Title: The New Stage

Venue: IDA RIEU Welfare, School for Blind.

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Coordinator:

Muhammad Shahrukh Shahnawaz

Participants:

a) Aliya Fatima

b) Safira Dolad

c) Shoaib Akhtar

d) Nisma Aalm

e) M.S. Ghori

f) Syed Ali Faizi Naqvi

g) Humna Yameen

h) Muhammad Farooq

Assisted by:

a) Neel Kanwal Shahnawaz

b) Hira Mannan

c) Ibad Haider

d) Dr. Avan Aga Bejan

e) Maneckji Apoo

f) Farid Siddiqui

a) Session 1

The first session was held on 8^th Oct, 2011. The programme was introduced to the participants and the assistants. After allowing the participants to interview each other for about 1 minute and 30 seconds, they were then asked to introduce each other. The coordinator then discussed the importance of the good public speaking skills. Topicmaster introduced the Table Topics session to the participants. Shahrukh and Hira were invited to speak on the assigned topics as a demonstration for the participants. Then Shoaib Akhtar, one of our participants, was asked to speak for the first time. Educational presentation was conducted on ‘Selecting a Speech Topic.’ After the discussion of assignments for the next session and Evaluation, the session was adjourned.

b) Session 2

The next session was supposed to be on 15^th Oct but the school was celebrating the ‘White Cane Safety Day.’ Therefore, it was postponed to 17^th Oct, 2011. After welcoming all the participants, Table Topics were conducted by the Topicmaster and four participants were asked to speak on the given topics. Participants for Table Topics were Humna, Aliya, Farooq and Faizi. ‘Ice-Breakers’ were presented by seven participants. Participants for the ‘Ice-Breakers’ were Aliya, Safira, Farooq, Shoaib, Nisma, Ghori and Faizi. Educational presentation was conducted on ‘Introducing a Speaker.’ After the discussion of assignments for the next session and Evaluation, the session was adjourned.

c) Session 3

The third session of Speech Craft: The New Stage was held on 22^nd Oct, 2011. We started off by welcoming the participants, assistants and advisors. Topicmaster conducted the Table Topics and invited four participants. The participants for the Table Topics were Shoaib, Safira, Nisma and Saad. ‘Be in Earnest’ speeches were presented by all the eight participants. The participants of the ‘Be in Earnest’ speeches were Shoaib, Farooq, Aliya, Safira, Nisma, Faizi, Saad and Humna. Participants who evaluated the speakers were Safira, Farooq and Ghori. Our visually impaired participants used Braille and Nuance TALKS&ZOOMS, which is a software application for mobile handsets used by the visually impaired to listen the screen text, for evaluating the speakers. Educational presentation on ‘Speech Organisation’ was presented. After the discussion of assignments for the next session and Evaluation, the session was adjourned.

d) Session 4

The last session was organised on 29^th Oct, 2011. Participants were introduced with the guest speaker and the President of the Professionals Toastmasters Club by the coordinator while welcoming everyone. Topicmaster conducted the Table Topics and invited three speakers. The participants for the Table Topics were Humna, Aliya and Farooq. ‘Organise Your Speech’ speeches were delivered by six participants. Three participants evaluated the speakers. Participants for the evaluation were Nisma, Humna, Shoaib and Aliya. Our visually impaired participants used Braille and Nuance TALKS&ZOOM to evaluate the speeches. Ibad was the guest speaker and spoke about the benefits and facing the fear of the public speaking. Dr. Avan, our President, was invited to present the participants with the certificates. After the Evaluation and invitation to join the Toastmasters, the session was adjourned.

Just five more minutes

Our meeting was on October 27^th, 2011 at Beach Luxury. The theme of our meeting was Justice. Meeting was called in order by our Sergeant-at-Arms, Madam TM Neel. Madam TM Dr. Avan was the Presiding officer. Toastmaster was TM Shahrukh and Topicmaster was Madam TM Dr. Avan.

With respect to the theme of the meeting, Toasmaster tried to explain the concept of Justice. He shared sayings like “justice delayed is justice denied” and “Justice hurried is justice buried.” He also mentioned about the 15 years of court battle of (late) Elouise Cobell for her people.

General Evaluator of the evening was TM Panjwani. His team included TM Ibad as the timer, TM Neel as the Vote Counter, TM Tauseef as the Grammarian and TM Tahir as the Ah-Counter. TM Jaan was the Word-Master and word of the day was “Imposed on.” Madam TM Neel was the Table Topics Evaluator and TM Ibad was the Speech Evaluator.

In Table Topics session, every participant was asked to pickup a colour pencil. He/She was then assigned a country. The participant was supposed to draw that country’s flag in one minute and then tell us something about its language, culture and people. This was to test our general knowledge.

TM Jaan was assigned USA. He told us that all the lawful food of USA is good and WWE’s headquarter is also there. TM Haris was assigned Bangladesh. He successfully drew its flag. TM Ibad was assigned Germany. He drew its flag upside down. He told us that English was driven from Greman language. He said, “Ik ben IBAD en je bent? (I am Ibad and you are?)”. Iran was assigned to TM Tauseef. He couldn’t completely draw its flag. He compared its culture with that of Saudi Arabia. TM Hammad was asked to draw the flag of China. He drew it and shared loads of information related to Sino-Pak friendship, China’s technology and Chinese food. TM Farid was asked to speak on Bangladesh. He drew the flag and shared with us the similarities between Bangladesh and Pakistan. He also mentioned that Bangladesh is the member of SAARC. TM Tahir was asked to speak on Australia. He couldn’t draw its flag completely but mention about the two legendry cricketer brothers, Steve Waugh and Mark Waugh. He also said that an Australian will wake up in the morning, go to work, earn a living, and come back to his home and family by the end of the day, just like us.

In Prepared Speeches session, there was a prepared speech by TM Adnan. He presented project nine from the Competent Communicator manual. The title if his speech was, “Just five more minutes.” His evaluator was TM Ibad. He shared a story of Arslan and Asiya. Asiya asked her mother to let her play for only five more minutes. He explained to us that those five minutes were not for Asiya to play but they were for her mother to see her play. This is the time for her which will not return. He said in the conclusion, “we must not count every moment but should make every moment count.”

Winner of the prepared speeches was TM Adnan. Winner of the Table Topics was TM Farid and TM Hamad was the runner-up.

Happy Birthday Toastmasters

Our meeting on October 20^th, 2011, was very special. The theme of our meeting was, “Happy Birthday Toastmasters.” The venue for our meeting was Beach Luxury and it started on 6:30 p.m.

Sergeant-at-Arms, Madam TM Neel observed the oath. The presiding officer of the meeting was TM Shahrukh. Toastmaster was TM Ibad. Topicmaster was Madam TM Neel. And General Evaluator was TM Fahim.

Induction ceremony of TM Tauseef was observed by our Immediate Past President, TM Fahim and a Chocolate Fudge cake was presented in order to celebrate 87^th birthday of Toastmasters.

We had two guests with us at this auspicious occasion, Sobia and Shumaila.

The team of General Evaluator included TM Adnan as the Timer, TM Neel as the Vote-Counter, TM Jaan Ali as the Grammarian and TM Tauseef as the Ah-Counter. TM Maneckji was the Word-Master but since he was a

bsent, our guest Sobia became the Word-Master. “Graceful” was proposed as the word of the day by TM Maneckji. Table Topics Evaluator was TM Haris.

In Table Topics session, six speakers participated. First speaker was TM Adnan and he was asked to share his first experience of Toastmasters. He said it is an ocean where we can improve, improve and improve!

Second topic was assigned to TM Haris and he was asked to tell us if he thinks that a birthday means that a one more year is less from ones life.

TM Tauseef was our third speaker and he was asked to tell with us that what comes to his mind on the mention of the word Birthday, Chocolate cake or a candle light dinner? His answer was that he will prefer to spend his special day with his parents.

TM Jaan Ali told us about how Toastmasters helped him?

TM Hammad was our fifth speaker and he was asked to tell us that how he celebrated his last birthday?

Or last speaker was our guest, Sobia and she shared with us the best way to spend your birthday.

Instead of Prepared Speeches session, Educational programme was conducted by TM Shahrukh. The programme was “the Moments of Truth” from the Successful Club series. Its aim was to discuss the standards necessary to create positive impressions about club service and provide a club evaluation exercise. Presentation was evaluated by TM Ibad.

Winner of the Table Topics session was TM Haris and our guest Sobia was the runner-up.

Hammad designed an honorary logo for the Toastmasters in the spirit of Toastmasters turning 87 this year.

Professionals Toastmasters club also organised a picnic at Hawk’s bay beach on October 23^rd, 2011. We were joined by TM Fahim, TM Bakshi, TM Khalid, TM Hanif, TM Irshad, TM Neel, TM Jaan, TM Shahrukh, Hera Menan, Hammad, Gibran Ashraf and their families.