The Committee

President

Santhush Weerakoon CC

santhushweerakoon@hsbc.com.lk

VP Education

Janak Fernando, CC

janak@dialog.lk

VP Membership

Lal Karunaratne

LKarunaratne@mast.com

VP Public Relations

Nadeeka Amarasinghe

nadeekaamarasinghe@hsbc.com.lk

Secretary

Priya George, CC

cs@caa.lk

Treasurer

Anushka Perera CC

contactanushka@gmail.com

Sergeant at arms

Dimuthu Madushan

dimuthu.sad@gmail.com

Wattala Toastmasters Club

NEWSLETTER

Message from the Editor

It is indeed a great pleasure to be the Newsletter Editor for the First

Edition of Wattala Toastmasters Club first issue of the term 2013/14.

This new issue comprises with activities and memorable events which

we were actively involved and accomplished together as one team.

I would like to recollect the "4th Presidential and Executive committee

Installation” held on 24th August 2013 at Pegasus Reef Hotel which was

a huge success and a memorable evening to all of us, thanks to the

combined efforts of the team for their commitment in making the event a

success..

As a community club we have many challenges, but we have been able

to overcome them and the club is growing along with its members.

Hope all of you will enjoy reading the newsletter.

Nadeeka Amarasinghe

VP Public relations

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

- Meet the new committee - Birthday Corner

- Installation - New Members

- Club News and Events - Upcoming

Immediate Past President

Shadiya Zacharia CL, ACS

shadiyazacharia@ymail.com

Founder President

Alroy Mascrenghe ACB

Mark_ai@yahoo.com

MEET THE COMMITTEE…

Wattala Toastmasters Club conducts fourth Club Officer Installation

The Wattala Toastmasters Club conducted its fourth club officer installation ceremony on 24th August at the Pegasus

Reef Hotel. Several distinguished invitees from the Toastmasters fraternity were present to celebrate the occasion. This

included Past District Governor M Z Saleem, Past Divisional Governor K Vasanthan and Division "P" Governor Dirga

Subba who graced the occasion with their presence. The club officer installation was conducted by Area Governor

Sivatharshani Supagar.

The elected office bearers for the term 2013/14 are Santhush Weerakoon (President), Janak Fernando (Vice President

Education), Lal Karunaratne (Vice President Membership), Nadeeka Amarasinghe (Vice President Public Relations),

Priya George (Secretary), Anushka Perera (Treasurer), Dimuthu Madhushan (Sergeant at Arms) and Shadiya Zackaria

(Immediate Past President). The evening also included interactive events and welcoming new members to the club

along with introduction of a mentor program for their development.

The club was founded in 2009 by Toastmaster Alroy Mascrenghe winner of All Island Best speaker 2010 and assisted by

Toastmaster Sudhash Liyanage. Amongst many of the club achievements the 'Distinguished Club' status and the

Golden Gavel are noted. The club is entering its fourth year with much anticipation and a testament to provide a platform

for its members to develop their communication and leadership skills.

IN THE MEDIA

The installation was covered in the media on 2 papers and this was a good opportunity to

publicize the club in the community

- Daily Mirror 28 Aug 2013

- Ceylon Today/FT 02 September 2013

Link to the E-Paper

http://www.ceylontoday.lk/22-41699-news-detail-wattala-toastmasters-club-conducts-fourth-club-

officer-installation.html#prettyPhoto

10 Tips for Public Speaking

Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and even beneficial, but too much nervousness can be detrimental. Here are some proven tips on how to control your butterflies and give better presentations:

1. Know your material. Pick a topic you are interested in. Know more about it than you include in your speech. Use humor,

personal stories and conversational language – that way you won’t easily forget what to say.

2. Practice. Practice. Practice! Rehearse out loud with all equipment you plan on using. Revise as necessary. Work to

control filler words; Practice, pause and breathe. Practice with a timer and allow time for the unexpected.

3. Know the audience. Greet some of the audience members as they arrive. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than

to strangers.

4. Know the room. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.

5. Relax. Begin by addressing the audience. It buys you time and calms your nerves. Pause, smile and count to three

before saying anything. ("One one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand. Pause. Begin.) Transform nervous energy into enthusiasm.

6. Visualize yourself giving your speech. Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear and confident. Visualize the

audience clapping – it will boost your confidence.

7. Realize that people want you to succeed. Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative and

entertaining. They’re rooting for you.

8. Don’t apologize for any nervousness or problem – the audience probably never noticed it.

9. Concentrate on the message – not the medium. Focus your attention away from your own anxieties and concentrate

on your message and your audience.

10. Gain experience. Mainly, your speech should represent you — as an authority and as a person. Experience builds

confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. A Toastmasters club can provide the experience you need in a safe and friendly environment.

Source: TMI Site

Submitted by VPE Janak Fernando

Mastering your mind

“ The price of greatness is responsibility over each of your thoughts,” – Sir Winston Churchil.

On average a person runs about sixty thousand thoughts through his mind. Amazingly ninety-five percent of

those thoughts are repetitive. So, if these thoughts are negative, we become depressed, worried , angry, moody

etc. Some worry about broken relationships or financial problems. Some think about work related issues.

Some worry over trifling matters. Those who worry like this are blocking the enormous potential of their minds

to work magice and deliver into their lives all that they want emotionally , physically and even spiritually.

We need to be able to control our minds. Do we realize that we cannot control the weather, traffic or the

moods of people around us. But, certainly we control our attitude towards these. We all have and can

determine what we think about something at any given moment. No matter what happens to you in your life,

you alone can choose your response to it. The Chinese word for crisis has two characters, one spells danger

while the other spells opportunity. There are no mistakes in life only lessons. Let us see how we can be

masters over our mind.

Sit in a quiet room or garden. If possible go to the beach. Relax your body and start concentrating on an

object. Notice its colour, shape ..etc. At first, other thoughts will start entering your mind, distracting you from

your focus point. Don’t worry simply return your attention to the object of your focus. Do this exercise daily

for about five minutes. Gradually increase the time up to ten minutes. When you have changed yourself to

control other thoughts and is able to focus on what you want, start breathing deeply and train your mind on

positive thoughts. You will notice a change in your attitude towards everything around you. You will become

happy and energetic.

Source - The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

Submitted by Past President 2011/12 Sam Jeyaselvan

Club Meet up

A Club get together was held on the 17th August at the Pan Restaurant Wattala.. the evening was filled with

fellowship and cheer

Revamping of the Wattala Toastmasters FB page

The Wattala Toastmasters Club page was revamped and is managed by our Young Member

Nipuna Koralage who has done a good job as the architect.

On an ongoing basis the meeting pictures are updated, shared amongst friends and events

created for meetings and contests.

The link to the FB page - https://www.facebook.com/wattalatc

New members joined from 01st July to 30th September

Iresha Dilrukshi

Fathima Sameera Shahid

Anusha Damayanthi

Chinthana Prasad

Muditha Wickramasinghe

Shahila Ratnayake

Upcoming

October

Club Meeting on 10th and 24th

November

Club Meeting on 7th and 21st

Club Get together

December

Club Meeting on 5th and 19th

Club Xmas Party

Await Next News Bulletin

Club #0514977 Lions Club Hall

Hekitta Road, Wattala, Sri Lanka

Dimuthu Madushan 09 September

Nayomi Mendis 16 September

Alex Leons 08 August