Happenings in the world of City Speech Toastmasters Volume 3, Number 5 — May-June 2021 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meetings: Tuesdays @ 7:00pm. Virtual, Fremont Contact: info@CitySpeechToastmasters.org — 510-270-5517
2020 CLUB OFFICERS President Luz Flores, PM3 VP Education Tony Zhang, DL1 VP Membership Venkat Raman, DTM VP Public Relations Abhishek Chaturvedi, CC, CL, PM4 Secretary Michael Gwinner, PI4 Treasurer: Venkat Raman, DTM Sergeant at Arms Praveena Raman, EC4, SR1
APPOINTED CLUB OFFICERS VP Pathways Praveena Raman, EC4, SR1 Mentorship Chair Michael Gwinner, PI4 Newsletter Editor Praveena Raman, EC4, SR1
EDITOR'S NOTE As we were nearing the end of the 2020-2021 Toastmasters™ year, we had a lot of achievements that is important to cherish and celebrate. To make sure we did justice in capturing these special moments, it was decided to have a combined May-June issue.
We also noted that everyone was getting busier, balancing work, family, and Toastmasters. We want to focus our members' energy on projects that are important for them in their Toastmasters journey. As the intent of this newsletter is to be supportive of the educational needs of City Speech Toastmasters and not a drain on resources, we have decided to move to a once-in-two-month publishing schedule in the new year, starting with a July/Aug issue in August.
The current issue is focused on sharing a list of articles that were published or referenced under individual topics in the 2020-2021 newsletter issues. As we are entering a new TM year, some of our members might be getting ready to expand their leadership capabilities beyond our club. One of the areas to start thinking about is being an Area Director in the 2022-2023 year. To help our members in this effort, 2020-2021 Area Director, Jeff Young, has an article on his experience. Also featured in this newsletter is Darshana Suresh's article on Self-Mentoring. Darshana has published her Level 2 path speech. I hope this gives other members some ideas for contributing to City Speech News.
We also welcome Venkat Raman back to being a regular contributor to City Speech News. His article in this issue summarizes our hard work and accolades for 2020-2021.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following contributors (in no particular order) to City Speech News, 2020-2021: Luz Flores, Amit Kamble, Jeff Young, Janice Francisco, Abhishek Chaturvedi, Mary Perez, Darshana Suresh, and Venkat Raman.
Looking forward to working with all of you in 2021-2022.
I am very happy and proud of every member who has worked hard to achieve their personal goals, including reaching for the OATM and Triple Crown awards this year. Members have also helped in achieving our club goals.
We did it. We attained the President's Distinguished Club Award for 2021. Thank you everyone for finishing strong!
In July 2021 we begin the new Toastmaster year. I look forward to working with you in 2021-2022.
Luz Flores President
CLUB NEWS
Thank you 2020-2021 City Speech TM Officers!
(Missing are Mary Perez and Shue Xiong who served for part of the year).
Welcome, 2021-2022 City Speech TM Officers!
CONGRATULATIONS!
City Speech finishes 2020-2021 Strong! By Venkat Raman
As we end the Toastmasters year today, it is hard not to reflect on the successes we have enjoyed this past year.
Let me count the ways we have done something good:
We achieved President's Distinguished status.
We posted 15 level completions just in the span of two months: April & May! We won the 1st prize for that accomplishment. Throughout the year, we posted 26 level completions.
We endured the 2021 Club Newsletter Contest that our district organized and secured 1st place in the contest. This lasted six months starting November 2020 and ended in April.
In the year devastated by COVID-19 the world over, while many of the other clubs saw their membership numbers drop, we have seen phenomenal growth in our membership count. We went from the starting count of 23 to the final count of 32, a net addition of 9. This is the result of adding 21 members that offset our share of attrition.
In the first year that District Bucks have been put in place, we earned a whopping $480 through awards and incentives and were one of the top-earning clubs in the district.
and more ...
In the history of City Speech, it seems that the stars and planets aligned to enable us to score this level of success this year. But the real story is the members coming alive in making the club vibrant and being motivated to accomplish much.
And is a President's Distinguished Club, 2020-2021!
Members Celebrate with a Gelato Social!
Member Spotlight District 57 Newsletter Editor (2019-2021): Congratulations Toastmaster Venkat Raman on a very successful term as D57 Newsletter Editor. Veteran City Speech member and officer, Venkat Raman founded City Speech News in 2018 and was invited to be the District Newsletter Editor in 2019. Venkat not only established the D57 Newsletter but also started the newsletter contest that made it possible for clubs to gain visibility through their newsletter. Your impactful contributions have made a world of difference to D57 Toastmasters! City Speech is very proud of you!
Path Completion Kudos to Luz Flores for completing her path, Presentation Mastery, and also finishing Level 1 of her new path, Dynamic Leadership.
Path Level Completions: A huge shoutout to the following members for having completed their Path levels in May/June. Darshana, Amit, and Srinivas's level 2 completions helped us achieve our DCP Goals 2 & 3 which resulted in City Speech getting the President's Distinguished Club award!
Amit Kamble - Levels1 & 2, Presentation Mastery
Darshana Suresh - Level 2, Leadership Development
Jeff Cheang - Level 1, Presentation Mastery
Pooja Shah - Level 1, Leadership Development
Qun Tang - Level 4, Presentation Mastery
Srinivas Koneru - Level 1 & 2, Visionary Communication
Venkat Raman - Level 5, Motivational Strategies
We accepted the path level completion challenge from the D57 Pathway chair and had 15 level completions between March 31 and May 31. Way to Go!
These chocolates are on the way for placing first with 15 path level completions! So Gear up for another Social this Summer!
TIP: If you would like to spotlight any City Speech TM member, please send a few lines containing the member's name and what they are commended for to City Speech News Editor at news@cityspeechtoastmasters.orgby August 10, 2021.
Welcome to City Speech TM Family (May 2021) By Amit Kamble
Recently all City Speech TM members were sent a link to a form with the following 4 questions to enable us to get to know our family members better: What's your favorite cuisine and a restaurant you want to recommend? What is your favorite pastime during the stay-at-home situation? What was your favorite pastime before the pandemic started? What holiday destination do you want to visit when the travel restrictions are removed?
Please find below the answers that our recent family members provided. Thank you for for sharing your interests with us.
Devidas Kassar: I love Indian food and my favorite cuisine is Indian food. I would like to recommend "Chat Bhavan" in Fremont to enjoy Indian food. During the pandemic, I spent most of the time staying home and working on backyard projects. Before the pandemic, I enjoyed traveling. Once the travel restrictions are lifted, I would like to visit Hawaii.
Jeff Wang: My favorite cuisine is Japanese food, and I would like to recommend "Listen to Opera" restaurant. During the pandemic, I am having a very active social life socializing with my friends. Once the travel restrictions are lifted, I would like to go on a trip to Europe.
We will welcome our June and July New Members in the July/Aug 2021 issue.
Division and Area News
Area change from I33 to I35 in Toastmasters year 2021-2022
The area realignment decision was announced on May 1 at the D57 conference. Each Area in division I will now have 5 clubs. Currently, City Speech Toastmasters is in Area I-33. Our club has been realigned to Area I35 starting on July 1, 2021.
Area Director: Thank you to 2020-2021 I-33 Area Director Jeff Young. for your hard work and guidance. You are a wonderful leader and mentor. We at City Speech TM enjoyed your visits and also the valuable articles you had contributed to City Speech News. We look forward to seeing you often at City Speech and hope you keep writing those wonderful articles!
What does it take to be an Area Director? Fellow Toastmasters, as you complete your path and advance in your journey through the Toastmasters program, there will come a time when you will be ready to take your leadership skills to the next level, outside our club. Below is an article by Jeff Young who muses on what motivated him to be an Area Director and what you can expect in this role.
Aspiration Not Required, But Remember to Breathe: On Being An Area Director I never wanted to be a leader. Not in a million years, not for a million bucks. The responsibility of being in charge of things is a fear of mine greater than public speaking. Why did I do it, then? ... Keep reading here.
D57 Schedule of events: July 23: D57 Officer Installation and Awards. Please register and attend this meeting to celebrate Venkat and Luz getting their OATM and Triple Crown respectively.
Pathways
Confidence is unique because it cannot be taught but is gained in every path.
Path Spotlight By Praveena Raman, VP Pathways
Given below is the list of paths with the number of members on a given path at this time:
City Speech members can find out who is on any given path through the private membership database on the City Speech website. By reviewing this information, you can reach out to other members on your path to have a path buddy. Having path buddies is valuable as buddies can motivate each other, learn from one another and celebrate success and support during disappointments.
Below are articles on some of these paths that have been published in Toastmaster magazine.
The Path to Presentation Mastery: Educational projects help you become an accomplished speaker. (Blanck, J. Toastmasters. March 2019)
The Path to Leadership Development: Improve your leadership skills and strategies through this Pathways experience. Improve your leadership skills and strategies through this Pathways experience. (Berg, S. Toastmasters. Sep 2019)
The Path to Innovative Planning: These Pathways projects help you plan events and lead teams to success. (Blanck, J. Toastmasters. April 2019)
The Path to Motivational Strategies: Learn more about yourself and how to listen, lead, leverage your skills, and show empathy. (Berg, S. Toastmasters. July 2019)
The Path to Strategic Relationships: What members are learning about leadership in this popular Pathways path. (Berg, S. Toastmasters. Jun 2019)
Vocabulary Builder:
Words are poetry Words are music Words are pictures Words are concentrated crystallized history But fundamentally, words are grunts. ---Ralph C. Smedley. Toastmaster. 1950 March:p1-2
Words for Ever: by Amit Kamble
WOD - May-June 2021
Fabulous: (adj) Continuing to exist or endure over a prolonged period
Obscure: (adj) Not discovered or known about, uncertain
Conundrum: (noun) A confusing and difficult problem or question
Transformative: (adj) Causing a radical and typically positive change in outlook, character, form, or condition
How important it is to choose the right word? I think all my Toastmaster friends will look back and try to remember that incident where you made a great impact or missed to make that impression by choosing or missing that right word? Here is an insight on how to choose the right word. Enjoy reading!!!! Make Smart Choices With Your Words (Toastmasters International, March 2021)
Articles - Food for Thought:
In order to become a reflective, autonomous and self-mentoring individual, one has to continuously learn from people, experiences and new ideas. Dr. Prem Jagyasi.
Feature: Self Mentoring. By Darshana Suresh
So many of us at the end of the Day ponder on this question – Who am I? What is the purpose of this life? Am I seeing myself change each day? Am I living the best of my life? Am I contributing to the world around me?...
The word Mentor evolved to mean trusted advisor, friend, teacher, and wise person. History offers many examples of helpful mentoring relationships: Socrates and Plato, Haydn and Beethoven, Freud and Jung, Moses and Joshua, Krishna and Arjuna, Confucius and Lao Tzu, and the list continues. However, when one is not able to find a mentor or a guide,...the question we need to ask ourselves is: Who knows us better than ourselves? That belief is the step towards self-mentoring.
Read further to discover the three points that Darshana makes as to how we can self mentor.
Old is Gold By Praveena Raman
Below is a collection of articles that were featured in City Speech News, September 2020-April 2021:
Foundation for Speech and Evaluation: An Old Roman Speaks (The Toastmaster. December 1939; v5(11):p13)
Write for EXACTNESS (Toastmaster Magazine. February 1955; v21(2):p5) [https://cityspeechtm.blogspot.com/2021/01/write-for-exactness-vocabulary-builder.html]
TIP:Toastmasters International has archived magazinesfrom 1930 onwards available to the public. There is a plethora of information to use as we improve our communication and leadership skills.
DID YOU KNOW?
Any City Speech TM member can attend the monthly officers' meeting. We encourage each and every one of you to attend these at least once this year and get to know the behind-the-scenes working of your club. Interested? Please contact Luz Flores, President for meeting logistic details.
Call For Articles
We seek articles from members touching upon various issues and tips that would benefit our fellow Toastmasters. These timeless messages will find a home on our website for durable use. You can be proud of making a difference in many lives.
Please email your article ideas to Editor at news@cityspeechtoastmasters.org. After defining the scope, you will be able to write and submit them.
I look forward to your ideas to strengthen our website and newsletter with relevant content.
If you are submitting for inclusion in the next issue of City Speech News, final articles should be sent to me (news@cityspeechtoastmasters.org) by August 10, 2021.
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