Rainbow

RAINBOW MAGAZINE - APRIL 2014 1

RAINBOW MAGAZINE - APRIL 20142

District 20 Governor’s

MessaGe

LGet’s MessaGe

taBLe oFcontents

District Pro’sMessaGe

District 20 Governor, Vicky Ferrer, DTM takes us on a short

and an exciting journey which ends in gratitude.

District 20 LGET, Subha Anupindi inspires us as she talks about the importance of mentoring at any level.

District 20 PRO, Kirubanandan talks about how the benefits of Toastmasters can be spread to 12 million people.

District excoM

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reGionaL 11 aDvisorRegion 11 Advisor, Elizabeth Nostedt talks about her experience when she visited District 20.

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Born to sHineDistrict 65 Governor’s MessaGe

action sPeaks LouDer

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PAGE 28

Born to shine star of District 20, Shurooq AlBanna shares her

experience in an interview with Saleh AlKhamyasi.

Read how District 65 Governor, Kate Olsen, DTM transcend the limitations of a traumatic brain injury.

District 20 Got taLent

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THE GRANDEST SPECTACLE

INSPIRING MOHAMMED

BREEZE OF DTAC

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A short summary of District 20’s performance

7 Extraordinary people from 7 Countries with 7 Extraordinary stories


Know who are the Division Governors of

District 20

PuttinG Fire in your Desire

FLyinG WitH WinGs oF Fire

tour oF toastMasters HeaDQuarters

Read about our present Toastmasters International

President, George Yen, DTM injecting us with a nourishing

viewpoint every month.

Rajesh Daga, DTM narrates a story of a 18 year old intelligent

girl who beats all odds to be what she aims for with

the fire in her desire.

Dr. Rajan, DTM gives us a view of the fertile minds and versatile imagination of the young talented contestants from 12 Gavel Clubs in Oman.

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WATC

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20

20REGION 11

DISTRICT BAHRAIN OMANJORDAN QATARKUWAIT U.A.ELEBANON

20

Division Governors

ceLeBratinG yen’s voice

DTM Vicky inspires us to bring about a positive change in our families while empowering our women for better future.

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internationaLWoMen’s Day


connectinG tHe Dots

Four to score

FroMLauGHter to success ever aFter

Know about the motivation and beliefs of our leaders who

moved us all in District 20 towards growth, success and

empowerment

Beginning with the end in mind, editor-in-chief briefs about how this magazine was designed to be thought provoking, enlightening, and certainly an enriching experience.

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a PuFF oF Poetry

GroWinG araBic

toastMasters coMMunity We build new

clubs and support all clubs

in achieving excellence

The Arabic Toastmasters Community is growing at an

exponential rate!

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DistrictMisssion


When I visited District 20 back on

November, I met wonderful groups of

Toastmasters in Lebanon and in Amman.

(Only sorry that I could not visit more of

the District) What I saw in the District was

teamwork, enthusiasm and dedication.

The team in Lebanon had put together

a Corporate Summit – the first one in Lebanon. What a fabulous job they did.

They created an interest in Toastmasters

for the companies that attended AND

even more important, the Toastmasters

who attended were re-energized. When

these Toastmasters were speaking to

guests, and other Toastmasters, they

showed their enthusiasm for the Brand!

And that is really what sells and convinces

others to come out to Toastmasters! Well

done to the Toastmasters in Lebanon!

It was so enjoyable to meet with the Area

Governors and Division Governors during

the day in an informal atmosphere. We

even got the chance to brainstorm new

ideas for building and supporting clubs.

I sincerely hope that some of the ideas

were acted upon! (What can you tell me

about it?)

The visit to Amman was also very

special! Again the team had put together

reGion 11 aDvisor MessaGe

a Corporate Summit, and even had

Royal Patronage. I was able to meet

and converse with Princess Magda, a

wonderful lady originally from Sweden.

She graced the presence of the Summit,

and even joked with the few of the

companies to add a special touch. Again

at this summit, the companies were

enthusiastic to the message they heard.

I felt especially privileged to share a

message with the group.

Thanks also to very special Toastmasters

there, I could do some sightseeing, and

mix it with some strategic planning with

the District team. They even arranged

that I could visit with a long-standing

Toastmaster who was not able to leave

her home! What a sharp lady! Even there

we were able to strategize for a new

Toastmasters club!


“District 20 is well on its way to reach President’s Distinguished Status! Keep up the good work!”

I would like to thank all the Toastmasters

in Lebanon and Jordan for their kind

hospitality. I would like to come back and

meet you all again, and hopefully see

more of your beautiful counties! (and

meet even more Toastmasters!)

Of course, my article would not be

complete without asking: How is your club

doing? What can you do to help your club

reach Distinguished status? What guests

could you take along to a Toastmasters

meeting? With just 4 months left to the

end of this term, what can you do for your

club or Area?

District 20 is well on its way to reach

President’s Distinguished Status! Keep up

the good work!

All the best,

Elizabeth Nostedt

Region 11 Advisor

(Region 11 covers the Districts from

Norway in the north, through the UK and

Europe, the middle east, West Africa and

South Africa).

region 11 advisorelizabeth nostedt

Mid-February report for District 20

“Leaders aren’t born they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that’s the price we’ll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.”

By Vince Lombardi


Welcome to our very own District 20

Magazine! It is my pleasure to stay

connected with all the leaders and

members of District 20. I am privileged

because we have an extraordinary

membership of dedicated and committed

Toastmasters! We all had joined this

wonderful movement for a reason -

to improve our communication and

leadership skills. After sometime we

realize that we gain something beyond

that. We meet friends who have the same

goals as we do and they become our

extended family!

We learn how to be mentors in an

unselfish way. We are able to arrange our schedules in a balanced way through

proper time management. We discover

that we are not alone in this quest for

knowledge. There are members from

other Districts who believe in the power

of Toastmasters- just like us! Our District

is unique as we are one big happy family

comprising of seven countries: Bahrain,

Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar,

and the UAE.

I was privileged to attend the

Toastmasters International convention in

Cincinnati, Ohio from August 21, to 24,

2013. I met passionate Toastmasters from

District Governor’s MessaGe

different parts of the world —from Africa,

to Mexico and from Alaska to China

among many other countries. I realized

that no matter where the Toastmasters

came from-we are all determined to

abide and spread the club mission of

Toastmasters. “We provide a supportive

and positive learning experience in which

members are empowered to develop

communication and leadership skills,

resulting in greater selfconfidence and

personal growth”. It is up to the leaders

and members to help and mentor new

Toastmasters in their quest for self-

development.

District 20 was a star in Cincinnati! Our

Toastmasters International President Elect

for the year 2013-2014 is none other than

Mohammed Murad, DTM, our dear Past

District Governor Uma Radhakrishnan

received the Presidential Citation Award,


“You may have a title, but are you going to produce positive results? Would you be able give benefits to the people you are leading? You should not be after the glory of the title, rather you should plan, take action and make sure that whatever you visualize is the

same vision that the members fully believe in.”

and of course TM Shurooq Al Banna won

the third prize in the World Championship

of Toastmasters! Not to forget that District

20 received the President’s Distinguished

Award—we ranked number 8 in the world!

On February 7, I was privileged to visit

Toastmasters International Headquarters

at Santa Margarita California. I have

met with all the staff including our CEO

Daniel Rex who gave me the tour to the

premises. I was awed when I walked into

the room dedicated to Dr Ralph Smedley

and saw all the memorabilia. I always

believe that whatever we receive we

ought to give back. We gain knowledge

and skills through Toastmasters and the

best we can do is share it with our loved

ones and friends. I believe that whoever

experiences the magic of Toastmasters

he or she will never look back and

instead would say” I wish I knew about

Toastmasters before.” I felt that way. I

thought to myself, “I wish I had joined

Toastmasters a long time back”.

I would like to thank the powerful team

members who created this extraordinary

magazine. I thank the Editor-in-Chief

TM Saleh Al Khamyasi, the designer of

the cover and contributor Social Media

Master TM Noor Mohammad, our dear

DTM Sunil Kottarathil, a role model who

excels in any task that he undertakes

and TM Natalia Desai whose write ups

always elicited accolades from our

fellow Toastmasters. Thank you to the

contributors. Without whom we could

not have completed our task. Enjoy,

learn, explore by reading our magazine

Rainbow and feel the magnificent impact a team can bring about!

enjoy, Learn & explore by vicky Ferrer Mustafa

DTM, MDC, CIPT


Dear Toastmasters, Greetings!

“January is the month of Mentoring. Do

you have a mentor?

Having a mentor can help you think

through an idea, suggest different

solutions and provide the experience you

might be missing.”

This was the post on TI Official Facebook page. Reading the post took me down the

memory lane.

I remember distinctly the first time I met TM Mark Brown, the World Champion

of Public Speaking for the year 1995,

in Dubai during GTAC 2003, wherein

he was the Keynote Speaker. During

my conversation with him I asked him

about mentoring. He simply replied

“Subha mentoring is extremely important.

Even today I get mentored. I had sent

my keynote address at this GTAC to

my mentor TM David Brooks, World

Champion of Public Speaking for the

year 1990,”. That is when I understood

the importance of a mentor irrespective

of whether you are a champion at

Division, District or International level,

you still need a mentor, who can provide

you with a perspective from a different

angle for your improvement. You develop

and hone in new skills and abilities. The

mentor is a guide and a resource for your

growth. Personally I myself had chosen

few mentors, who have been instrumental

in my developing into the leader that I am

today.

You as an accomplished speaker or

leader, who has been with Toastmasters

for a long time, and have developed your

skills to a good extent can still have a

mentor. Consequently, you can also take

up the role of a MENTOR for new budding

Toastmasters in guiding them, so that

their experience in your club is beneficial and more enjoyable. Mentoring can help

the mentee feel more confident and self-supported. Mentees can also develop a

clearer sense of what they want in their

careers and their personal lives as well

as what they want to accomplish through

Lieutenant Governor eDucation & traininG MessaGe


I understood the importance of a mentor irrespective of whether you are a champion at Division, District or International level, you

still need a mentor, who can provide you with a perspective from a different angle for your improvement.

Subha AnupindiLGET, District 20

Toastmasters. They will develop greater

self-awareness and see the world, and

themselves, as other successful persons

do!

My appeal to you senior Toastmasters,

who have completed their DTMs or have

already held key leadership positions in

our fraternity, is to take up mentoring of

budding Toastmasters eager to follow

in your footsteps. You may ask me,

what you need to be a good mentor.

For starters, you need the interest and

desire in developing others. You should

be able to spare or devote some of

your time for your mentee. You should

motivate and inspire the mentee and

with perseverance push the mentee to

try out the avenues where he is afraid to

venture but has the potential. You should

be a good listener. Provide accurate and

objective suggestions that adds value

which summarizes what you’ve heard,

but also interpret things for the mentee

to understand how he can improve, be it

speech or behavior. This in turn brings in

more confidence in the mentee. Ask the right questions, which would trigger the

mentee’s thinking.

You may ask me “What is in it for

me?”. Firstly immense satisfactions

seeing your mentee grow in all respects.

Second it develops your own personality,

behavior, self confidence as in this process of mentoring you too would learn

a lot, which would be beneficial for you.To summarize, find a good mentor for yourselves and also take on a mentee

and help guide others with knowledge

that you’ve found useful through your

Toastmasters experience.

Here I end this note wishing you all

happy mentoring.


How many of your contacts, whether it

be your friends, colleagues, neighbors,

relations or your family members know

about Toastmasters? I’m guessing a few.

How many out of them have actually

attended a Toastmasters’ meeting?

The benefits we derive from Toastmasters are immense. We apply the skills we

gain from Toastmasters on a daily basis.

Whether it be an impromptu conversation

with your superiors, or a corporate

presentation or let it be a simple talk

between you and your partner. Our

effective communication and leadership

skills come to our aid.

The fastest and the best way to grow

effectively is by sharing. Sharing helps

us find the loopholes in our knowledge. Sharing not only helps others but also

gives us internal satisfaction.

So, why don’t we share what we derive

from Toastmasters?

District 20 comprises of 7 countries;

Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman,

Qatar and U.A.E. These countries have

a cumulative population of 12 million

and growing. We have a tremendous

opportunity to share and grow.

The more you demonstrate how you have

benefited from Toastmasters, the more

convincing it would be for others to see

for themselves, the transformation you

have gone through. Toastmasters is all

about learning by doing. Let’s do what we

can do today, today. Let’s give more to

benefit more. Let’s make the journey of Toastmasters to be a great experience.

The social media tools like Facebook,

Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn

and Google+ has given us the

tremendous power to reach those whom

we cannot physically meet. However,

using these tools, we can positively

influence their lives, and in turn enriching our lives.

No matter what others say you are

capable of, you are only limited by what

you think. If you can visualize it, you can

be it.

Share and grow!

Take charge!

V.Kirubanandan, ACS,ALBDistrict 20 PRO, 2013-2014,

Toastmasters International

District ProMessaGe


District excoM

Kiruba VPRO

Rania Abul-RubSecretary

Tarek LiddawiTreasurer

Victoria M. FerrerDistrict Governor

Alex GineteIPDG

Subha AnupindiLGET

No matter what role you take,

just enjoy the journey being

a Toastmaster, spread the

word and pass the knowledge

and experience around. It

is a unique and rewarding

experience

Talent wins games

but teamwork wins

championship. Let’s make

use of the diversity of our

district to build on our

successes.

Let us all join hands and

together and we shall aim for

District 20’s success - to build

new clubs and support all clubs

in achieving excellence while

empowering every toastmaster

during our pursuit.

Besides various district officer positions held, he has served

as District Treasurer, Area

Governor, Division Governor

and Lt. Governor Marketing.

His marching order: “LET’s DO

TODAY’s WORK TODAY!”

Lets look at success as a team

with determination, dedication

& a burning desire to succeed.

Lets be a trained team to see

that individual goals are met;

Club, Area, Division & District

goals are met.

Yasser SuleimanLGM

By collaborative work

starting from our members

up to the clubs then Areas

and the Divisions, by

working together on all

levels utilizing all tools out

there we can spread the

word and easily double and

triple our membership.

As our district spreads

over seven countries, this

geographical expansion

presents possibilities and

a mixed opportunities to

grow, our strategy

would be focused on

intentional growth.


action sPeaks LouDer tHan WorDs

District 20 EDucational awarDs


action sPeaks LouDer tHan WorDs


District 65 Governor’s MessaGeMy name is Kate Olsen and I am

the current District 65 Governor. My

membership in Toastmasters has given

me so much. We all have a story and I

was asked to share mine.

I was literally at the top of my game and

suddenly my world crashed all around me.

My life was wonderful; I had a successful

career as a Psychiatric Registered Nurse.

July 2, 1999, my life drastically changed.

I was brutally assaulted by one of my

patients at work.

My injuries were many, but the worst was

a Traumatic Brain Injury. These are just

words and don’t actually describe the

problems or difficulties that you have with your everyday life.

Imagine that you woke up this morning

and you weren’t able to function like

you did yesterday. You don’t remember

details of what happened yesterday or

last week. Reading the newspaper and

then realizing that you didn’t comprehend

a word.

Imagine struggling to find your words and then you are unable to speak them. The

frustration of not being able to state what

is in your mind. People find it intolerable

to listen as you stumble to complete a

simple sentence. You feel isolated from

the world, unable to communicate.

I was able to find the right healer and by 2001, I started to speak. However, I was

unable to form a complete sentence. The

thoughts in my mind were not the words

that came out of my mouth. I had to learn

to read again.

I continued to improve (even though many

Doctors said I would never recover). In

2003, I learned about Toastmasters, so

I went to a meeting. The members were

very kind. They encouraged me to return.

I did and when I spoke for Table Topics,

my speech problems were revealed.

I was surprised that I was supported

and encouraged to return. I joined

Toastmasters September 3, 2003.


Kate Olsen, DTMGovernor, District 65

Imagine struggling to find your words and then you are unable to speak them. The frustration of not being able to state what is in your mind. By completing each step of the Toastmasters Educational program, I have regained my ability to speak and improved my cognition.

Due to my short term memory problems,

I was unable to give a speech without

notes. My speech improved as time

went on. My Doctors were amazed that I

learned to speak complete sentences. It

was great to be supported and my ability

to communicate was improving. I was

so excited when I was appointed Area

Governor. My first DTM was earned using notes with my speeches.

From the beginning, I was determined that

I was not going to be defined by my brain injury. I volunteered to help with District

Conferences, Contests, and Committees.

Every year, my improvement was like

hitting another milestone.

By completing each step of the

Toastmasters Educational program, I have

regained my ability to speak and improved

my cognition. I have earned four DTM’s and

can give speeches without notes. I never

dreamed that I would recover from the

nightmare of 7/2/99.

My life has changed in many ways. I am still

able to help others improve their lives but

now in a different way. I can truly say that

Toastmasters gave me back my voice and

my life!


The Arabic name Shurooq means sunrise.

It signifies optimism, hope and bright- ness. It reveals energy, activeness and

passion to excel and unleash ones true

potential.

MTM Shurooq AlBanna, a member of

Lagoon Toastmasters in Dubai Divi-

sion J is a graduate of Genetics and

Forensic Science from the University

of London and carries a Masters in

Strategic Marketing from the University of

Wollongong in Dubai.

Currently, she handles the marketing for

the Noor Dubai Foundation, a charity

focused on the prevention of blindness

globally. In her free time, Shurooq is an

avid supporter of charitable work in the

UAE and is one of the 8 individuals who

were appreciated by the ruler of Dubai in

2009 for their work in this noble cause.

She also manages the annual successful

charity ART exhibition and auction

where all proceeds go to the prevention

of blindness and its treatment in poor

countries.

She speaks Arabic, English and French

fluently and GCSE level Spanish. She is crazy about books to an extent that she

takes care of her book collection better

than her jewelry.

This passionate and rib tickling humorist

came to Toastmasters’ limelight when she

became the 1st place winner of DTAC

2012 in Bahrain in the humorous contest

and went home rejoicing her triumph.

Her passion to speak and inspire did

not fade away. In her impressive and

captivating speech “Uno Momento” at

DTAC 2013 she portrayed biographical

sketches of ordinary moments in her

life and her conviction and enthusiasm

injected pulse and turned them to an

extraordinary moral values. The DTAC

2013, first place winning speech was a turning point in her life. It was her

ticket to join the wagon of the elites as a

contestant in the World Championship of

Public Speaking 2013 that took place in

Cincinnati, Ohio last August.

The magic of her exuberant performance

Born to sHine

Interview by saleh abdullah alkhamyasi

shurooq: the Pearl of District 20


shook her audience and made them

reflect in search of their own moments. She shared with them, that she is daddy’s

girl, fun to be around, rebellious at time,

humane at heart and above all a women

with a true mission.

Shurooq represented District 20 in the

Toastmasters Annual Convention 2013

and came out victoriously. She was

awarded the accolade of being the 2nd

Runner up in the World Championship

of Public Speaking 2013 through her

mesmerizing and insightful speech

“Finding the Pearl”.

The District PRO team approached

this born to shine star and invited her

to share her experience with her fellow

toastmasters across the seven countries

that makes the beautiful rainbow of

district 20. She wholeheartedly welcomed

the initiative and took it as a golden

opportunity to extend her gratitude

and thanks for her fellow toastmasters’

undeterred support and sincere wishes.

Spot light, a segment of our district

innovative website takes pride to

celebrate the triumph of the daughter of

lagoon, the pearl of District 20, born to

shine Shurooq. Our conversation with her

proceeded in the following lines:

When I gave finding the pearl, my key message to the world was to believe that

there is goodness in everyone and the

audience identified with the Arab woman giving that speech especially with the

common misconceptions some had

of me.

I wish there was a way that I can

personally thank every single toastmaster

in District 20 from Oman Bahrain UAE

Qatar Lebanon Jordan and Kuwait for

their well wishes and undeterred support

“Ecclectic is one adjective that describes me.”


Being a toastmaster is a life-long

relationship which one can take at their

own pace.

Never compare yourself to others, just

focus on yourself and become

Where you a public speaker before

joining Toastmasters kindly elaborate?

Yes. As a child I had an opportunity to

be a presenter on a children’s TV show

called Zuhoor AlGhad. I was 10 years old

back then and until this day I remember

the first words I ut- tered on TV: It is Shurooq Albana, I am happy to meet

you and wish that a i will be up to your

expectations. Besides, I used to MC in

medical conferences since 2007 as part

of my job.

When did you join Toastmasters and

why?

I was destined to delve in the door steps

of this reassuring heaven three years ago.

Resorting to Toastmaster was a remedy

to come to terms with my impromptu

speaking and develop the skills that will

make me face any unexpected scenario

no matter where, who was there and how

difficult the case in hand is. I seriously wanted to stop those nervous shakes,

butterflies on stage. There were also

some embarrassing occasions where

I froze and forgot my words in a public

event in front of VIPs and I decided I

needed to do something about this.

My feet lead me to the gate of Lagoon

Toastmasters through the persuasiveness

of my friend and sister Wafa and ever

since my toastmasters family got wider

and wider a matter which filled my heart with joy and ripple of laughter.

You emerged as a champion in the

humorous contest in DTAC Bahrain

2011-2012, tell us about your experience

as a humorist?

Mark Twain described humor as human

kind best blessings. It is an attitude with

which one tackles his or her challenges

and comes out contended and victorious.

After all, laughter is a true medicine. In

my case my friends pinpointed at the

need for me to try humorous speeches

and take my talent in this area to greater

heights. They loved my sarcastic take on

things. Sure enough I walked the talk and

represented my division in DTAC 2012

Bahrain.

It was a confidence-boosting experience. I loved it. I believe I made all the women in

District 20 proud when I beat the men in

their own humorous game.

As you have highlighted above, Mark

Twain said Humor is mankind’s greatest

blessing why is it so? And how do you

align your humor to suit an audience

from different cultures?

Humor has a mesmerizing impact in

uplifting defeated spirits and inspiring

people to face the issue in hand in

sarcastic yet realistic manner.

The Middle East is one culture and all

the different nationalities and religions

residing here have adopted a coherent

living where they share similar values,

morals and thinking. This is why it was

easy for me to find a middle ground and please the audience with my humor.

Tell us how do you pick the ideas of

your speeches? And how do you go

about preparing and rehearsing your

speeches?

I randomly choose my topics, I have no

distinct way of doing so. Occasionally I go

through my diary to find inspiration and incidences of substance. My speeches

come out different simply because I

try to tackle the topics from a different

perspective, an Emarati female one.

Once the draft is ready then practicing is

the gate to perfection and at this stage

I really raise the bar and never become


soft on myself focusing that my emotions

come out raw every single time I deliver

a speech. I set a goal of showcasing

myself in the best level possible. As I

dislike competing with others, I insist

on challenging myself, and competing

with my yesterday’s self and put the

best effort. As Zig Ziglar, a renowned

motivational speaker said “Winning is not

everything, but the effort to win is”.

They say when the student is ready the

teacher will emerge in your case the role

of a mentor and a coach made a great

difference do you agree with that? And

how?

I believe that everything is written. The

right people will come into your life to

guide you, help you, influence you and you will never be the same afterwards.

Many successful speakers make it to

the top without a mentor. Some need

a mentor others don’t, it is a personal

choice.

Perhaps one can argue that the ability to

make extraordinary out of the ordinary

is one of your strength particularly that

most of your speeches are sprinkled

with your own stories or rather

biographical what makes you take this

direction?

It is an excellent observation TM

Saleh. What you pointed out is simply

my personal style. It worked for me in

addition to other factors but may not

work for anybody else. What many lack

is their own personal style and I believe

speakers should invest their time and

effort in bringing out their unique qualities

and abilities instead of copying others.

This gives me the ability to speak from

the heart and provide the leverage of

speaking with authority on the subject

and connect with my audience who find themselves comparing & contrasting to

take home the desired outcomes.

Uno Momento was a very condensed

speech full of emotions, enthusiasm

and undeterred conviction what was

the moral message behind it? And

what techniques did you use to make

the audience glued to your speech and

ultimately win the championship at

DTAC-2013 ?

In a nutshell, I was simply myself. I went

on that stage and spoke as Shurooq. I

spoke from my heart. I narrated incidents

from my personal diary and injected pulse

in them to drive my message through.

While I was delivering my speech, I knew

I did well when I noticed all eyes and ears

were focused on me and the audience

was hungry for more. Practice, conviction

and enthusiasm about your message and

how to package it for your audience will

always do wonders trust me.

Wow Shurooq is heading to the World

Championship of Public Speaking

August 2013 Cincinnati, Ohio, USA as a

representative of District 20 how did that

feel? Tell us about your apprehensions,

fearful moments and what has ultimately

motivated you to walk the Talk?

I was very happy about winning but fearful

as I was carrying a huge responsibility.

Alhamdilla Allah blessed my final journey with two individuals: Wafa and Bader who

held my hand through the frightful final days. And on that final stage behind the curtains, I made a special prayer to Allah

that I make everyone in District 20 proud

and I do not go back empty handed.

Alhamdulilah my prayer was answered

and the subsequent joy was beyond

description. The tears of joy in my father’s

eyes and the shakiness in my mother’s

voice were a testimony of pride.

Tell us about your experience as a

contestant in the World Championship

of Public Speaking? And how does it

feel to be a role model for speakers from

the Arab World and District 20 at large?

An inspirational message from Shurooq AlBanna:Never compare yourself to others, just focus on yourself and become the best version of YOU. This is my life motto, I strive to become better than I was yesterday.


And what made “Finding the Pearl “ a

winning speech from your perspective?

and how did your family members and

friends responded to such a marvelous

news?

The fact that I have been bestowed upon

with this honor made my happiness

beyond description. When I gave find the pearl, my key message to the world

was to believe that there is goodness

in everyone and the audience identified with the Arab woman giving that

speech especially with the common

misconceptions some had of me.

Afterwards, I knew I hit a home run

when toastmasters from different ethnic

backgrounds stepped up to me and

shared their personal stories identifying

with my theme. This made me even more

proud of my choice.

District 20 is certainly proud of its

pearl what support did you get from

your fellow toastmasters at club, Area,

Division, and District at large? And what

do you want to tell them?

I wish there was a way that I can

personally thank every single

toastmaster in District 20 from Oman

Bahrain UAE Qatar Lebanon Jordan

and Kuwait for their well wishes and

undeterred support and shake hands

with them. They all made me feel that I

am part of an extended family that cares

about me. Let me take this opportunity to

reiterate my appreciation thanks a million

fellow toastmasters being part of district

20 has a rewarding taste with you around.

As a tangible testimony of the positive

impact of Toastmasters what do you

want to tell others about this nourishing

and nurturing organization? And

how did it impact your personal and

professional life so far?

Being a toastmaster is a life long

relationship which one can take at

their own pace. I always encourage

other members to make sure they have

benefited from each project before they move on to the next one. Why the rush?

Yes it is learning by doing but as Dr.

Ralph C. Smedley said “We learn best in

moments of enjoyment.”

Did your Mega-winning in the USA

introduce any changes in your life?

On a personal level, I have become more

hopeful about achieving goals that I once

deemed impossible. If you put your mind

to it and remain focused and dedicated,

you will end up even surprising yourself.

This winning also taught me a little about

the priorities in my life.

An extended family that cares about me.

Let me take this opportunity to reiterate

my appreciation and thanks a million

to fellow toastmasters for being part of

district 20.


insPirinG MoHaMMeDYou cannot inspire, unless you’re

inspired yourself. He is calm, ever-

smiling, humble, and charismatic. He

has worn the hat of a police officer, is an Entrepreneur, a Toastmaster,

speaker, trainer and coach. But most

importantly - He is abundantly passionate

— not about Toastmastering itself, but

about the different ways in which this

wonderful organization can be utilized

to help people unleash their personal

creativity. He has articulated a vision,

a course of action with single minded

focus to arrive at where he has. Meet

Mohammed Murad, the first ever Muslim Arab from Middle East to become the

International President of Toastmasters.

As International President-elect, he is a

working ambassador for the organization.

He works with the Board to develop,

support and modify the policies and

procedures that guide the organization in

fulfilling its mission. Each of us in District 20 is inspired by him.

It’s true what they say- You cannot

inspire, unless you’re inspired yourself. By

his own admittance, he would like to give

back and serve Toastmasters that has

given him so much.

By sunil D kottarathil, DtM


The stage was set, the cameras were

ready and the registration desk queued

up to let in a monumental number of

participants, members and guests. For

the first time ever Kuwait witnessed a Debate Showcase Event organized and

produced by the collaborative efforts of

the Divisions I and O of Toastmasters

International. The Divisions are headed

by governors Bobbie Hoxit and John

Joseph, who are exemplary leaders and

work tirelessly, leading and providing

support at all times. The brains behind

it all, the man of the hour was Area

Governor Satish Kumar. His leadership

was par excellence and his quiet brilliance

revealed itself in the outcome of this

successful event.

The hours preceding the show had eager

and animated organizers working around

the clock to ensure the event was the talk

of the town. Not a stone was left unturned

and for the first time ever Kuwait National Television (KTV2) covered the event. It

was with a feeling of pride and euphoria

that Division Governor Bobbie Hoxit and

Area Governor Satish were interviewed

before the opening ceremony. There was

magnificent encouragement to participate in the Debate Showcase as it gave

members an outstanding opportunity to

develop three basic abilities – Listening,

thinking and speaking. To give a unique

twist to the show, the event had three

compelling debates with six teams, one

from each of the six areas of Div. I and

O. The participants work in the fields of Management, Engineering, Teaching,

Medicine, and Finance and set the stage

on fire with their lively arguments.

At the Registration desk Natalia Desai,

Joanne John and Sreekant Nair, greeted

guests with warm and energetic smiles.

As the canon sounds in the distance,

so did we hear the hearty BOOM of

Rodel Cuaton, Sergeant at Arms who

gave us the ground rules and then

handed the podium to the Debate Event

Chair – Satish Kumar. The warm and

thunderous applause that followed

his entry died down enough for him to

explain and introduce the reasons why

a debate contest is the next best thing

in Toastmasters and will soon become a

major part of our life. He also introduced

the Chief Judge for the evening a pioneer

of the toastmasters movement in Kuwait

and a friend like no other, Don Prades

who presided over the event as Chief

Judge for all three segments.

Toastmasters International states “The

debate setting encourages participants

to make quick responses, present

coherent arguments and make a clear

presentation of their views. Nowhere

else can a Toastmaster find a more

tHe GranDest sPectacLe By natalia Desai


“Debate provides an

outstanding opportunity

to develop three basic

abilities – Listening,

thinking and speaking.”

ideal method for learning competitive

speaking in a direct opposition

situation”. The Debate in this regard

was a contention in which two sides

used to reason discourse to argue about

a particular subject. The immediate

goal of each team was to convince a

panel of judges and the audience that

its arguments on the subject are better

than those of the opposition. The debate

for each segment was divided into three

parts which began with a constructive

speech where Speakers were asked to

give a five minute speech supporting their side of the resolution. A brilliant cross

examination came next where Speakers

asked skillful questions aimed at

discrediting the validity, adequacy or logic

of specific aspects of the opposing side. Finally they summed it up with a chance

to refute the other side’s argument, to

rebut their own argument and finished with a concise summary of their case.

The first debate started in fine fashion and had the audience gripped in excited

silence. The Debate Chair – Area

Governor Praveen Madhavan, one of

the best humorous speakers quickly

swiveled the contest into an exciting

array of fun and entertainment. The topic

was “Social Networking Web Sites

are counterproductive“. The audience

reacted to the arguments and vehement

appeals made by the affirmative team –


Musaddik Peshimam, Leslie Saldanha

and Binoy Sebastian. And to counter

what they had to say were the warriors

of the negative side – Dana Winner,

Sandy Stein and Milt Dana. After a

heated, heartening and holistic argument

the winners were the negative team.

And Sandy Stein was declared the best

debater for this segment.

The refreshment stands were

meticulously organized by toastmaster

Srihari Srinivasan who brought in a

variety of quick bites and finger food that went a long way in helping the contest

run smoothly. Naseema Khan played a

key role in ensuring each person had

a plateful of treats. The well - spaced

intervals gave members and guests

opportunities to socialize, encourage

and support each other. The atmosphere

was filled with a flurry of positivity and many a smile stayed fixed through the event. The senior toastmasters such as

Division Governors Bobbie Hoxit and

John Joseph, Pradeep Vincent, and Anil

Lobo were all seen encouraging and

mingling with people at the refreshment

stands. Another key role player who

brought in his technical expertise and

profound designing skills and primed the

agenda, banners, updated social media

channels and ensured that the props were

a delightful scene to behold was

Noor Mohammad.

Acting Sergeant at Arms, Area Governor

Vinod Raman at his charismatic best

tackled the swarm of guests and kept all

in order. With him Ronald Arias guarded

the door so there would be no loud

disturbances or distractions on entry and

exit during the event. And Rodel who was

also the official photographer captured moments that bring to light the many

humorous scenes that replay in our minds

till today.

The second debate proved to give

everyone, food for thought as Area

Governor Raymond Hernandez took the

stage. He gave us simple and funny rules

to hush members who talk during the

debate with a fervent shaking of head

and hand. The topic for this debate was

“People should be vegetarian to have

a better and healthier lifestyle.” The

affirmative side being Aminah Hassan, Deylon Coutinho and Prince George

who put forward their appeals in perfect

coordination. From amazing facts to

opposing views came the negative team

Avinash Awhad, Ganeshan and Rajesh

George who refuted the arguments put

forward by their counterparts and walked

away with trophies in hand. Avinash

Awhad was titled Best Debater for

this segment.


The buzzing of the crowd soon made

way to the third segment of the Debate

Showcase. After a healthy round of

networking and making merry at the

refreshment stand, contestants, members

and guests all trooped their way into the

big arena where the stage was set for yet

another thrilling debate – “One parent

should stay at home to take care of

their children”. The excitement was

palpable in the room as the Debate Chair

Supriya Rojindar Deorukhkar took the

stage and welcomed the participants of

this round. Team Captain – Wafaa Salman

of the affirmative side and her team mates Farah Al Elwani and Deepak Bindal gave

the audience and the opposing team a

run for their money as they made bold

statements of contention. The opposition

plowed through with its team led by

Suresh Balakrishnan and team mates

EP Prasad and Murali Manohar. The

affirmative team walked away with the glory and Deepak Bindal was crowned

Best Debater in this segment.

Debate Event Chair Satish Kumar

thanked all the Participants, Judges,

Sponsors and role players for their active

involvement in making the event a grand

and memorable one. The Chief Judge

Don Prades announced the winners

and the trophies were presented jointly

by the Division Governors Bobbie Hoxit

and John Joseph. Everyone went home

a victor as they absorbed the positive

vibes and made new friends. With great

success comes inordinate responsibility

for all toastmasters present at the event.

They have set the bar for future leaders

who sharpen their skills today to take the

stage in the very near future. To sum it up

the Debate Showcase was no mean feat

to be achieved with a small amount of

time. Three months of hard work were all

it took to bring all the clubs and members

together to share this camaraderie and

excitement on the BIG stage. This event

can be summed up in three words – Fun.

Fantastic and theatrically FABULOUS.


BreeZe oF Dtac

At the jewel of Arabia, The Sultanate of

Oman the ground floor for orchestrating a breathtaking DTAC procession is in

full Swing. The Event will be hosted

from the 15th to 17th of May 2014 at Al

Bustan Palace Hotel, a Ritz-Carlton hotel

in Muscat, Oman featuring magnificent mountain, sea and garden views. With

impeccable service, deluxe amenities

and 250 lavish guest rooms, resort’s

accommodations and within a close

proximity of so many site seeing places

in the magnificently beautiful Capital Muscat.

President of Toastmasters International

George Yen, DTM, wished his best for

the event with a statement in an earlier

communiqué addressed to DG DTM

Victoria Ferrer Mustafa.

He stated that “A district conference is

a great occasion for members to come

together to celebrate achievements

and successes, as well as to connect

with other Toastmasters. It is also an

opportunity to share experiences and

best practices. As Toastmasters’ founder

Dr. Ralph Smedley famously said, “We

learn in moments of enjoyment.” Your

district conference offers something for

both first-timers and veteran attendees.

As we open our hearts and minds and

learn from each other, we experience the

power of community. Some of our most

useful ideas may be the result of a simple

conversation with someone during this

event.”

Division D Governor and DTAC 2014

Chair, TM Mahmood Ismail Safar

revealed that the DTAC theme this year

will be “Excelling Together” and among

the guests who will be adding a special

flavor the district is inviting the 2nd Place Winner in the World Champion of Public

Speaking 2013, Mr. Kingi Biddle. Besides,

final negotiation is being carried to make it


Written by

Saleh Abdullah AlKhamyasi

possible for “Judy Carter” to be a jewel on

the crown of DTAC 2014.

He elaborated that DTAC 2014 as a

mega event, is a moment of cultural

appreciation where we will cherish and

rejoice our fraternity as a toastmaster’s

family and roll our sleeves to strategically

plan for way forward. DTAC this year

will be delivered with a touch of Omani

hospitality. Our visitors will go home

with a memorable tales to narrate to

their families and love ones about their

mouthwatering experience at DTAC 2014.

He added we are so eager to see our

toastmasters’ brothers and sisters from

the seven countries as well as outside the

district among us in Muscat so that we

can all weave another story of success.

DTAC Marketing Committee Chair, TM

Bader AlLawati who has been busy with

his team in designing a DTAC special

website stated that the website will be

available for registration on Thursday 20th

of February 2014.

The breeze of DTAC is gently blowing

towards you with a mesmerizing

assurance that DTAC 2014 in Muscat will

be just like the country which is hosting

it, optimistically marvelous, assuring and

nurturing. Let us club hands to make it the

breathtaking experience you have been

longing for. Honor us with your presence

and active participation because it is by

you and for you weaved with love and

affection.

Welcome to DTAC 2014 Muscat, Oman

(15th -17th of May 2014). Rest assured

that you will be among your family

members.

More information about DTAC 2014 at

https://dtac2014.org


D20Got taLent

KuwaitJorDanBaHrain

Tm Amal Al Safar, of Bahraini Leaders Toastmasters Club. She is the first

Bahraini Woman who visited Antartica in 2013. An inspiration to women .

She says - ‘ My passion towards life made me exposed to its nature and

willing to expand my mental horizons for better. Therefore, I had to be

involved in several global programs around the world to enhance my

self-development and mutual understanding with other cultures

TM Alma Lou Annab from Rainbow Toastmasters Club in Amman, Jordan showcases her talent in Quilt Making.

She believes people often want to purchase quilts, but she says hers

are not for sale. The average person may appreciate the beauty of a piece, but don’t understand the time, effort and cost that go into making a quilt. Sometimes it takes years, along with

the cost of the materials, many of which are not found locally.

TM Praveen Madhavan may be the funny man from Timbre Talkers, Kuwait but that’s not all. One of his talents includes his love for music. In 1998, he was the “Lead singer” of a music band in Kuwait called

“City Limits. TM Praveen has been the only brown guy drummer in an

all white 100 strong choir in Canada who followed his beats as he played

according to an electronically programmed metronome !! His

favourite saying is “Don’t die with the music still inside you !! ”

BrinGinG You tHE GEMs FroM across District 20


QataroManlEBanon

TM Alaa Arabi who hails from Lebanon loves to run, draw, write

and travel. An inspiration to all he has a world of knowledge to impart to

everyone.

His Favorite quote: “There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that

never were, and ask why not?” - Area 79 Governor, Division N

TM Uma Syamala Nair the nightingale of Oman is trained in Indian Classical Singing. She is the VP – Membership

of Exel Oman Toastmasters Club.

She stages performance and wins many accolades for her beautiful voice. She also loved reading and

listening to music .

Narasimhan Ravi puts his heart and soul in every activity and he lives by

the words “No Pain No Gain”

According to Narasimhan Ravi, his active participation in Gavel club

meetings churns the best from him. His quest to succeed in life has just

begun. He enjoys “Challenging his Limits!”

TM Shameema Ahmed , VP PR of Inner Universe Toastmasters Club - UAE. Her varied interests include travelling, photography, camping expeditions, along with singing, cooking. Her skill in photography is evident when the picture “ Smiles of Innocence” won an award in a contest. She believes , convincing people to be photographed is the key in getting unusual and good portrait photographs.

uaE


aMaL aL-saFFar, kinGDoM oF

BaHrain

Climate, change, sustainability,

environment, pollution, these are all

concepts that have been significantly considered by authorities around the

world to be maintained and looked after.

However, for some communities, it’s still a

matter of words of mouth and something

to be simply ignored.

As an undergraduate, it’s part of my

daily life to question, search and come

up with convincing arguments to have

a well-structured report and get highly

graded. In fact, this way of analyzing

things around me helped me wonder the

universe and observe not only in order

to pass my courses, but to pass through

life challenges as well. This somehow

introduced me to the green world verses

economy. In other words, I realized the

impact of global economy on damaging

the Mother Earth.

To me, it’s more than important and

I highly understand its aspects as

continuous environmental tragedies

get my notice and urge me to think for

change. Nevertheless, there is always a

stumble of stone ahead of me which I can

summarize in one word, “people.”

Unfortunately, not too many people pay

attention to this and believe that it is

happening as investment, competition

and profit highly affect businesses’ behaviors I kept on thinking and looking

for supportive examples to change

people’s mentality and add a new

threat to their table of actions. While I

was reading some online sustainability

articles, a great expression by Dr.

Guy McPherson, professor of natural

resources and ecology got my attention,

“If you really think the environment is

less important than economy, try holding

your breath while counting your money.” I

couldn’t find a better illustrative example than this to enlighten people and alert

them that our planet is a priority.

My passion towards life made me

exposed to its nature and willing to

expand my mental horizons for better.

Therefore, I had to be involved in several

global programs around the world to

enhance my self-development and mutual

understanding with other cultures. One

of these programs is my environmental

studies course in the UK (2011) as a

short period scholar. I can’t deny that

this actually added a value to my global

awareness towards the green initiatives

worldwide. Another international activity

was an exchange program on women’s

leadership to the U.S. (2012) which I am

just moved by. Both experiences have

positively influenced my personality and led me to witness a place that I never

imagined my foot would set on one day.

It was during early 2013 when I had

the privilege to witness the world’s

last wilderness, Antarctica on 2014

International Antarctic Expedition. I had

to go through obstacles of course but I

insisted on being up to that challenge

in order to inspire people back home,

especially that I became the first Bahraini woman joining this event ever.

After facing so many ups and downs,

my eyes where honored to meet the


“If you really think the environment is less important than economy, try holding your breath while counting your money”

sacred white continent with all of its

natural atmospheres. It was pure,

peaceful and quite. Icebergs, islands and

specious were free under no pressure or

restrictions. Simply, amazing!

I remember when we landed at Neko

Harbor, one of my favorite spots on the

Antarctic Peninsula; I was walking around

with my camera lens rolling to capture

the captivating views and innocent

penguins surrounding me. Accidentally,

my foot hit one of the penguin’s territories

or humble circle of stones as it can be

described. I couldn’t believe my eyes

when I saw him running towards me

noticing the damage as he was blaming

me for a crime. Surprisingly, he kept on

collecting stones with his tiny mouth and

placing them on the damaged place to

restructure it as it was. I slowly observed

all of that while realizing deep inside how

smart and peaceful these creatures are

and they don’t deserve any harm as we

intentionally do to them everyday. That

was like a wakeup call that made me think

and insist that we must leave this place

on earth alone.

After this, I have one single request for

whoever is reading this peace of writing;

just keep yourself in the place of that

penguin, “will you accept someone ruining

your home”?

Let us all put hand in hand for better

shaping our world so it always becomes a

better place. There is only one Earth that

until now is able to gather us all and I don’t

think any human being doesn’t want that.

Keep your mind and soul awake and be

sure that as long as you are remembering

the world, it will always remember you!

As Written by Amal Al-Saffar (Kingdom of

Bahrain) :Green Earth Scholar 11 – The

University of Northampton, UK | SUSI

Women’s Leadership Scholar 12 – Kansas

University, USA

By Amal Al-Saffar


aLMa Lou annaB, JorDan

I’ve been an American Expat in Jordan

for 50 years! Even so, my roots are truly

American!

At the beginning of my senior year of

studying Fine Arts at Arizona State

University, Tempe, I began a long

journey when I married my Palestinian

husband, and later moved to Jordan in

1964. After many years of raising four

children, the nest began to empty. New

activities filled my time, mainly raising and training horses. One never ceases

to learn, and this taught me how to

communicate in many subtle ways.

For many years I was an active

member of the American Women of

Amman, in addition to other activities

that kept me busy. Many times my

American friends invited me to attend

a Toastmasters meeting, and not until

I attended a debate did I go again

and again, and decided it was a great

opportunity to meet new people and

broaden my horizons. Why? I like to

talk. And if I could get my messages

across better, Toastmasters was for

me. . And besides--I met new people,

broadened my horizons, and learned

communication and leadership skills

along the way.

In 2012 I was elected to the post of

Secretary, and the following year I was

elected President of Rainbow Club

for 2013-2014. . Though it is an honor

to be President it is also a challenge

to fulfill the commitments to the club membership all the way up to the top by

achieving the goals of the DCP.

My creative interests began when I

was in high school, with drawing and

painting and sewing. I pursued my

interests to achieve a Bachelor of

Fine Arts degree at ASU. Since Fine

Arts encompasses many areas of

creativity, jewelry making, ceramics,

interior design, fashion design, etc, my

opportunities were unlimited.

As a teenager, I always enjoyed making

my own clothes and this craft has

always been a favorite, practical and

satisfying.. But in time, I discovered

quilting. It was at first a practical way to add decorative articles to my home.

Then it became another mode of

expression when i started doing more

artistic quilts from my own designs.

A few years ago, some friends of mine

got together to share our common

interest, and we call ourselves the Black

Iris Quilters Guild. We average about 8

ladies of different nationalities. Each of

us has a favorite technique, from paper

piecing, landscape, art, appliqué and

embroidery.

We meet regularly to share our work

and every year we make group quilts

for charity. We have made four group

quilts to raise funds for various charities


raising close to $2500. This year we are

working on individual challenges, “About

Jordan” that will showcase the talents

and originality of each member.

People often want to purchase quilts,

but mine are not for sale. The average

person may appreciate the beauty of a

piece, but do not understand the time,

effort and cost that go into making a

quilt.

Sometimes it takes years, along with the

cost of the materials, many of which are

not found locally. The rule of thumb is--

”If you have to ask how much, you can’t

afford it.” And in a word, makes them

price-less.

Personally, I love to make Lone Star

Quilts, with a large one piece star

that is complimented by other blocks.

Art quilts is also an area where I can

be most original. Some of these are

abstract interpretations of an idea,

“Even the simplest item can become priceless when it is loved and cared for through the generations of a family.”

others are translated from photos into a

graphic layout. When I make ‘traditional’

patterns, the originality comes from the

components of color and fabric and

embellishments like embroidery.

Some things in life are constant. Family

and friends. Quilting and Toastmasters.

By Alma Lou Annab


Praveen MaDHavan, kuWaitTM Praveen Madhavan may be the funny

man from Timbre Talkers, Kuwait but

that’s not all. One of his talents includes

his love for music. He was the “Lead

singer” of a music band in Kuwait called

“City Limits”, which he formed in 1998.

They played to a frenzied audience of

about 3000 people at Doha Entertainment

city during India Day.

TM Praveen comes from a family of

passionate musicians, singers and

dancers, He loves to play the drums and

believes that “Music like love transcends

all boundaries”. Ironically, he coaches on

Corporate Enterprise Communication.

TM Praveen has been the only brown

guy drummer in an all white 100 strong

choir in Canada who followed his

beats as he played according to an

electronically programmed metronome!

Not only is Praveen a drummer, lead

singer, corporate trainer, but also he is a

natural leader, who transformed a dying

7 member club to 30 member strong

President’s Distinguished club, as he laid

the foundation for one of the best clubs

in Kuwait, Timbre Talkers. He currently

serves as Area 19 Governor.

A man of many skills and talents, TM

Praveen is a very humble and a simple

man.

Praveen SayS

“There is a greater joy in giving than in receiving”


uMa syaMaLa nair, oManTM Uma Syamala Nair hails from

the God’s own country, Kerala is the

nightingale of Oman. She is trained in

Indian classical singing, Karnatic Vocals

and won many prizes throughout school

and college and continues to do so.

TM Uma is a Software Engineer with

a background of Masters in Computer

Applications, not only works as a

Project Leader at IMTAC LLC, but also

manages to read, listen to music, attend

toastmasters meetings and do stage

performances for college alumni functions

and other community organizations

in Muscat, Oman. A truly empowered

woman.

TM Uma is also an avid writer. She blogs

at http://umasyamala.blogspot.com. Her

articles are published not only online but

also in other souvenirs and magazines.

She is presently the Vice President

Membership at Exel Oman Toastmasters

Club, Muscat, Oman. She is a member of

Toastmasters since November 2012.

uMa believeS

If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him.

John F. Kennedy


narasiMHan ravi, Qatar

A dream doesn’t become reality

through magic; it takes sweat,

determination and hard work.

- Colin Powell

Narasimhan Ravi, a 11th grade student

of Birla Public School (BPS) has won the

title of the International Speech Champion

three times consecutively at Qatar Inter-

Gavels contest. He represented Qatar

(Division E) in 2013 and emerged as

District-20 (Gulf Region) Champion at

Gavels International Contest showcased

at Inter-Continental Hotel at Festival

City, Dubai, where jam packed audience

were inspired by his winning speech

“Challenge Your Limits”.

Winning the Gulf Region Champion title

is the most coveted and highest honor

for a student of his age. The journey to

his victory started with the club contest,

moving on to inter-gavels division contest

with 10 other gavel clubs in Qatar, and

further on to lock horns with the best of

the best from the gulf region including

Lebanon and Jordon @ Dubai to clinch

this prestigious title.

This young man is a chump-turned-champ

with sheer hard work. His busy life starts

at 4:00am with a 200km travel from his

home at Dukhan to school in Doha, as

well as his table tennis training and further

with a plethora of activities until 11:00

PM. Narasimhan juggles his education

and co-curricular activities so well like a

professional. He has maintained nearly

100% school attendance for the past five years. According to his dad, “Narsimha

was a timid and chump kid. But constant

motivation from his mother and myself

added to his own determination to achieve,

has turned him into a multi–talented

person with an eye to succeed.” With

his ‘Hand-eye Coordination’ developed

through table tennis complementing him,

Narasimhan has 65 trophies and 38

medals from all sorts of sports like tennis,

badminton, football, chess, running,

swimming, basketball and so on..

Starting from adorning the mantle of the

under-10 Qatar table Tennis Champion;

the year 2012 table tennis champion

of Qatar School Olympics organized

by Aspire Sports Academy; three years

consecutive representative of Qatar at

CBSE Cluster National Table Tennis

Tournaments in India; and silver medalist

in Qatar School Olympics 2013 are some

of the titles to Narashimhan’s credit.

Narasimhan is a regular medal collector

in Table Tennis Tournaments organized

by Al-Khor Community (Oil & gas), Qatar

Petroleum-Dukhan Community and Indian

Cultural Center.

He started his table tennis training at

Al-Rayyan club, at the age of 7 and

is still continuing his training with a

Russian coach. He also takes training

for Badminton with a Qatar Badminton

Academy Coach. Narasimhan Ravi who

is the current President of Dukhan Gavels


Club has served his office as Sergeant @ Arms, Vice-President Public-Relations,

Vice-President Education. Religiously like

his school attendance, he never missed a

single gavels (53 gavel meetings) club

meeting, since its inception.

Last year he has participated in a skip

rope challenge organized by Dukhan

Fitness Center, Qatar Petroleum. He won

the contest with 38,500 skips on a single

day and with a total of 145,000 skips in

20 days! He was motivated by his dad to

realize his true potential. Narasimhan Ravi

took this achievement as a message for

his winning speech, which was given the

Midas touch by Past ADGET, DTM Sameer

Hassan Moosa - his special mentor for

contest speeches. DTM Sameer could be

termed a chef of perfect winning recipes

in public speaking and according to him,

“This young boy Narsi, is the ideal material

to mould-out a winner. Because I have

witnessed his commitment in practicing

all his winning speeches line-by-line over

a hundred times to attain perfection. His

patience, obedience and observation skills

will see him go a long way to succeed in

all walks of life. I am proud to have such a

mentee.”

Dukhan Gavels Club Counselor and the

current ADGET TM Nasimudeen Hameed

is a constant motivator of Narasimhan

Ravi. He says that he had envisaged

Narasimhan’s victory much earlier, since

he has the potential to succeed and

bring more laurels to Dukhan Gavel.

Nasim says “more wonders are yet to

come!” Narasimhan Ravi’s whole family

is toastmasters! All four family members

(Parents and his sister) are Competent

Communicators and CC Family in

Qatar. He is the first gavel member to have completed 10 speech projects and

got “Competent Gavelior” Award from

Toastmasters International.

Narasimhan is an excellent role model

to teens and his journey of success is

directly proportional to his commitment to

excellence, regardless of the field he has chosen.

A routine question his parents get is

“How does your boy find time for all these activities?” Their answer maintains that,

“He wisely utilizes the time that he could

have wasted on facebook, chatting and

videogames on his studies and sports.

His ever smiling face with his humble and

obedient nature to accept good advices

from elders has rendered him success.”

When the same question was put up to

Narsimhan, he said “I put my heart and

soul in every activity that I do and I try

to live by the so true words “No Pain No

Gain”. According to Narasimhan Ravi, his

active participation in Gavel club meetings

has churned out the best in him. His quest

to succeed in life has just begun and he

enjoys “Challenging his Limits & Keeping

Good Bonds” All the best for his future

endeavors!


sHaMeeMa aHMeD, u.a.eToastmaster Shameema hails from

the north eastern part of India, from

a state called Assam. She joined the

toastmasters’ movement in 2011, being

inspired after attending one of the district

conventions.

Since then, it has been a dedicated

journey with the Toastmasters movement,

where she has grown into the role of

VP, Public Relations of Inner Universe

Toastmasters Club, one of the oldest and

prominent clubs of Division H in District

20. Apart from the fast evolving speaking

and leadership skills, TM Shameema is a

bouquet of varied interest and activities,

which complements each other.

Her portfolio of interests includes

travelling, photography, camping

expeditions, along with singing, cooking

etc. She has been an avid traveler and

photographer, who love photographing

exciting portraits of people. According

to her, convincing people to be

photographed is the key in getting

unusual and good portrait photographs.

Similarly, she believes, outdoor camping

expeditions come with great opportunities

for photography, and also provide a

candid atmosphere to communicate and

understand fellow campers.

Singing and cooking had been her forte since young age. She has specialized in Indian Music and had been an avid performer in her younger times.

On the other hand, she is an experimental cook, who feels traditional dishes should be left in their purity, without tempering them, but we can certainly cook up something creating usual, yet exciting by an intelligent mix and match of ingredients. Dressing up the food is of paramount interest for her.

Toastmaster Shameema has evolved as a person, combining her interests, hobbies and new acquired skills in Toastmasters, which makes her a great home maker, with a difference.

live full


Division Governors District 20

5971

WATC

79

74

20

20REGION 11

DISTRICT BAHRAIN OMANJORDAN QATARKUWAIT U.A.ELEBANON

20

S.NO DIVISION COUNTRY DIVISION GOVERNOR’S NAME

1 A Bahrain Elpidio Quitevis, DTM

2 B Dubai Sami Al Herbawi, CC, CL

3 C Bahrain Ashok Kumar, DTM

4 D Oman Mahmood Ismail Safar, ACS, CL

5 E Qatar Saquib Raza Khan, DTM

6 F Dubai Christine Anne Coombe, DTM

7 G Kuwait Jassim Aboalhasan, ACB, CL

8 H Abu Dhabi Bharat H Mehta, DTM

9 I Kuwait Bobbie Hoxit, DTM

10 J Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Dubai Sujit Sukumaran, DTM

11 K Bahrain N.S. Premalatha, DTM

12 L Oman Srikumar Pai, DTM

13 M Kuwait Nahla Al Rushaid, DTM

14 N Jordan & Lebanon Alia Haddad, ACS, CL

15 O Kuwait John Joseph, ACG, ALB


internationaLWoMen’s Day

Each year International Women’s Day

(IWD) is celebrated on March 8. The first International Women’s Day was held

in 1911. Thousands of events occur to

mark the economic, political and social

achievements of women. Organizations,

governments, charities, educational

institutions, women’s groups, corporations

and the media celebrate the day. This

year’s theme is “INSPIRING CHANGE” as

declared by the United Nations.

Did you know that Toastmasters

membership was opened to women in

August 1973? In spite of women’s late

entry to Toastmasters, 52.7% of the

Toastmasters are women based on a

study made in November 2013, among 93

countries.

Women play a very important role in

Toastmasters-whether they are active in

Toastmasters or they are supportive wives

to our leaders and members. Whenever

I meet a wife of TM - XYZ leader, I

would always ask-“Why don’t you join

Toastmasters”? She would always reply “It

is enough that I give him my full support.”

ByMaria victoria Ferrer

Mustafa, DtM


I learned to communicate with my

husband who was a Jordanian in

a positive way, avoiding senseless

arguments that could end up in fights. I was able to bridge the generation

gap between me and my children

by understanding their way of

communicating and learning how to put

across my message in a non-aggressive

way. I would not say I am a perfect

person – rather I have become a better

one. We , in Toastmasters become good

communicators, more effective leaders

and positive contributors to society. We

owe it to Toastmasters to give back and

spread our mission to other women

whom we know will benefit fully from the programs.

To our women fellow leaders and

Toastmasters, let us inspire a positive

change to our family, our extended family

in Toastmasters which is turn creates a

society that would provide a better place

to live in for our children and the future

generation. Let us celebrate International

Women’s Day to commemorate the

countless women who fought for equality

of rights and for the women, who asserted

themselves so that they can become

members of Toastmasters in August,

1973. Let us dedicate this day to our

mothers, wives, sisters and daughters

who are always there to support us in our

endeavors.

To the women Toastmasters in District

20 - March 8 is our special day. Happy

International Women’s Day!

Let us inspire a positive change to our family, our extended family

in Toastmasters which is turn creates a society that would provide a

better place to live in for our children and the future generation.

“

“


George Yen, DTM John

Toastmasters International

President (2013 - 2014)


ceLeBratinG yen’s voice oF WisDoMBy natalia & saleh

Our Present Toastmasters International

President (2013 - 2014) George Yen, DTM

injects us with a nourishing viewpoint every

month. The Toastmasters Magazine is not

fully read unless the fragrance of his wisdom

is celebrated as a gift of life. George Yen

hails from Taipei, Taiwan. He is not your

run-of-the-mill leader; but strives to be

different from the rest – His energetic smile

and unique style is creating waves across

the Toastmaster fraternity. As a working

ambassador of this organization, he holds

the torch that is going to inspire a gazillion

people. In this fast paced sphere – the world

that promises us to refine our leadership skills, speak effectively and use our many

talents. He expresses like a true leader, the

progress along with so many toastmasters

who are set to change the world in sure

footed ways.

George Yen currently serves as the Chief

Executive Officer of five international joint ventures with Japanese, Canadian

and American corporations in the fields of machinery and industrial products.

He speaks four languages and holds a

master’s degree in international relations

from the Wharton School at the University of

Pennsylvania. His foray into Toastmasters

started twenty four years ago and he

remains a dedicated member of two clubs.

He recalls “Twenty-four years ago, after 20

years of achieving and losing the American

dream in New York City, I returned to Taipei,

Taiwan, where I grew up. Upon my return,

I walked into Prestige Toastmasters club.

And in that one moment in time, the world

of Toastmasters opened up before me.

Like meeting a soul mate for the first time, I wondered, where have you been all my life?”

The District 20 Rainbow Team was given an

uninhibited view and insight into the pearls

of wisdom he gladly shared with us. And in

turn share we must because when a leader

speaks, we listen. And on this note we put

pen to paper and write so it’s etched in our

minds. The words of a leader are here:

The more you give, the more you get. Each

time you give a speech, take on a meeting

role or serve as an Officer. Seize that moment in time to be more than you thought

you could be and shine.

If leadership is about influencing others to achieve a common goal, then the first task is to build a team, or as the 2012 Golden Gavel

recipient John C. Maxwell said, “From me to

we.”

Communication is the basic ingredient for

establishing essential trust, which in turn

empowers the team to be successful.

For a leader to gain the collaboration of the

team members, he or she needs to have an

open heart and mind. We need to overcome

the all too human attachment of being right.

This would mean putting aside our ego and

being willing to be wrong.

Toastmasters, is a great practice field for leadership. Since you aren’t giving

Toastmasters members a job or a paycheck,

they follow you only because they choose

to. As you exercise this purest form of

leadership, look around to see if you are

empowering or disempowering your team.

I have long believed that Toastmasters have

the unique insight to use public speaking

in a supportive environment as a means

of achieving personal empowerment.

Self-confidence is the byproduct of an empowered person and an essential quality

in a leader. Once acquired, this sense of

empowerment and all its benefits show up in every aspect of our lives—in our professional

career as well as our personal relationships.

Speech is the means by which we reach

the infinite universe of lifelong learning and self-discovery. On one level, there is the

external realm of knowledge and skill, such

as the techniques of self-expression through

speech. Then there is the inner realm of

hidden talents that is buried within us, waiting

to be discovered and developed.

If anything, despite the revolution in

communication technologies, Smedley’s

vision remains more relevant today than

when he developed that powerful insight

almost a century ago. As our world shrinks

rapidly and becomes increasingly complex,

the need for more effective communication

and leadership is now more important than

ever before.

A thunderous silence meets us after this

enriching, empowering and enlightening talk.

All toastmasters need to be bringers of the

light. For our light doesn’t only illuminate our

own path but paves the way for so many

others to come. President George Yen sets

this beacon of light as an example to the

many toastmasters who make their way into

the world of self-discovery and improvement.


Oman GAVEL CLUBS CONTESTS 2014

held on Friday, 24th January 2014 at the

New Multi-Purpose Hall of Indian School

Muscat (ISM) the Gaveliers representing

12 different registered Gavel Clubs now

actively functioning in the Sultanate put up a

splendid show.

The contests were held in 4 categories,

International speech, Humorous speech,

Table topics and Evaluation.

FLyinG WitH WinGs oF FireBy Dr. rajan Philips, DtM

The morning session witnessed two sets

of Semi-final contests at two venues in the school. From each of these top three

winners moved into the final round which was held in the afternoon. The contests

were organized with meticulous precision

and efficiency by a team of experienced Toastmasters, teacher volunteers and

Gavelier role players led by the dynamic

DTM Srikumar Pai, Division governor of

Division L.

The judges, Toastmasters and guests were

unanimous in applauding the exemplary

performance of the Gaveliers at these

contests. The day remains the talk of town

and everyone still remembers the fertile

minds and versatile imagination of the

young talented contestants.Their images

are still vivid in our minds and words are

still being passed around describing their

stunning performance because that day

they really did fly with wings of fire.

Dr. rajan SayS

We should not keep the lid on a secret act of unfair treatment,

victimisation and discrimination. We cannot close our eyes to

something dishonest, immoral or illegal or when a life is endangered.

We must shift our focus from ‘what’s wrong’ to ‘what’s right’ and enjoy

the radiant sunshine while it lasts. Let us always remember that

positive thinking is a great way to begin the journey that will lead us on

to positive action and a way of life that’s brimming with true success

and peace of mind.

There is no pillow as soft as a clear conscience.

- French proverb


tour oF toastMasters HQ.


A person shows what he is by what he does

with what he has no one; No one can stop

him if he has fire in his desire.

A few years ago, when I came across this

line, it set me thinking. It’s such a powerful

statement. There are numerous examples

of successful people who started with

nothing, facing insurmountable adversities,

difficult challenges. Yet, they cared only about their passion, heard only their inner

call, ignoring all negatives as an angry and

annoyed wife ignores her husband.

I invite you to come with me to a small town

called Akola in central India near Nagpur,

the year 2004. A young and intelligent girl

of 18 wanted to break the family tradition.

She wanted to be an engineer. She was

ready to face any challenge, any hurdle,

any hardship, to be what she wanted. She

had the fire in her desire to become an engineer. She had spent all her life outside

India in with all comforts and luxuries, away

from the struggles and uncertainties.

Getting used to a new life, that too in

a remote college campus with no air

conditioners, joint toilets, and tasteless

mess food was certainly not easy.

She got admission in a top engineering

college of Central India on merit. Suddenly,

there was a complete change in her

environment. From clean attached western

toilets to common toilets shares by 10

girls. From her independent air-conditioned

room to a small room with just a fan and a

small window, sharing with 3 other girls and

cold tasteless mess food. She cheerfully

accepted because her deep passion to be

an engineer. In summers, the temperature

will reach 44 degrees C, when walking from

hostel to classroom, will be like taking a

shower.

In the second year, on a Sunday afternoon,

this girl along with two of her best friends

boarded a bus to go the town to see a

movie. In a childlike enthusiasm, she

rushed ahead of her friends to grab the

only window vacant seat in last row. As the

bus hurtled and scuttled towards the town

at a break neck speed, on a dusty and

narrow road, she was enjoying the view of

lush green country as sweet fragrance of

the soil after the first rain filled her nostrils. She casually kept her arm on the window

railing as the girls excitedly talked about the

movies they were going to see.

Suddenly, there was a loud crushing

noise of metals hitting against each

other. Moments later, a piercing, painful

scream filled the bus. One alert passenger screamed the driver to stop the bus.

Another bus coming from the opposite

side, passed dangerously close, hitting the

outstretched elbow of the girl with great

force. Her elbow was badly crushed in to

several pieces. She was writhing in pain, as

blood started oozing from the wound.

PuttinG Fire in your Desire By rajesh Daga, DtM


In excruciating and unbearable pain, right

from the bus, she asked her friend to make

an international call to her mom. As her

friends tried to cover her elbow with their

scarf, she took the phone from her friend.

Trying to sound calm and normal, she

spoke softly, Mom, I have met with a small

accident, don’t worry, my friends are taking

care. I will be all right.

It’s one of the most wonderful things about

nature, that Mothers have aperient sixth

sense when it’s about her children. She

knew it’s serious and took the next flight. In next 6 months, there were 3 major

operations of small but complicated joint

and long, painful physio-exercise. At

one point of time, it appeared her hand

movement would be restricted to only 10%.

Which meant she will not be able to lift more

than 500 gms, or brush her teeth or even

comb her hair or even eat normally.

Any other person, in this situation would

have quit the course and returned home

to a comfortable and protected family

environment. But not this girl. She had the

fire still burning brightly in her to become an engineer. And she did not give up. Friends,

this girl is my elder daughter Kavita,…..

thanks to doctors in Oman and India, she

has now recovered fully. The elbow is

completely normal although it has the scars

as reminder of that horrific moment. Not only she completed her engineering, she

got married to a handsome boy Ayush. And

then, she took the challenge once again to

successfully complete her MBA from Asian

Institute of Management, Manila.

I have relieved the incident and the pain

many times over. What made her continue

against all odds? It was only because of the

fire in her desire to become an engineer. I realized that I have discovered the secret

formula of achieving our goals. Your goals.

Unshakeable faith and belief in yourself,

fierce determination and courage to continue despite setbacks.

Helen Keller, said, “We can do anything we

want, if we put fire in our desire. What is your next goal?”

If A equals success, then the formula is A

equals X plus Y and Z, with X being work,

Y play, and Z keeping your mouth shut.

~Albert Einstein

Ragesh Daga, DTM


Nasra Al AdawiMember of New Tracks Toastmasters, Poetess and Writer

a PuFF oF Poetry


connectinGtHe Dots


One too many times, rumors had floated about an off-beat Toastmasters Club conducting insane meetings that supposedlyexpand it’s members lung capacity.

This time the District LGET TM Subha Anupindy decided to investigate. She had just reached the venue where the Humoroids Club meeting was in progress. It was quiet & all seemed well. Thinking she was misinformed, she began to leave when out of NOWHERE…..

Bwwaagrgahahheeaaghahaghh!!!!

The loud roar completely shook her hitherto steady walk!! What in blazes was that!! Were people dying,

FroM LauGHter to success ever aFterBy rency Patcheco

... There is a lot of talk about some crazy themes in Humoroids TM club ..

President Derick.. How do you comment

First of all.. I don’t pick the TMEs.. They just

pick themselves!! Then they say we have a Hair-raising theme... And then

this happens...

Confucious Say: If the creator did make a

mistake, he would cover it with HAIR!!.. The Rock

gives Respect!!!


...Hey C’mon Man!! I can give them all a haircut in no time.. PLUS.. I can

show them the other side of life.. muuuahaha

... A FREEE Haircut.. That sounds good..Let’s dance!! & since I am Salim Sayyid, I quote, “A dance is a dance

when the Lungi also dances, so bring on the Lungi Dance..

Over to You”

See what I mean..No one even listens to me.. Sometimes its a

disadvantage having an extremely good looking President.. members

don’t take seriously

...Next another TME..MTM Rency.. she

wanted to dedicate a meeting to her village.. And we have Cows &

Crows... She turned me.. THE President.. into a

Crow..!!!

Don’t listent him.. Haann..How are you? Fine?...This

meeting I am the farmer aka Aamir Khan of Lagaan..The difference being I can play

cricket a lot better than him..

Aaawwwww.. DG Bharat is such a good sport.. that Crabby Crow just hates my Scarecrow

outfit!! I know it!! I think this barnyard is perfect..

I am confused.. am I a Cow or a Bull.. Heck.. who cares.. as long I can moo myself outta

here!!

OHHH MYY Gaww-wdd.. What on earth

is going on here.. Over-hairy-ness to Barnyard!! I CANT

WATCH!!

I CAN watch but someone stuck a mask on my face...

TM Derick is the culprit.. when I send my 201st email,

he will cry!!


tWiLiGHt Zone

…. And so it was that the District LGET unexpectedly experienced the “Twilight Zone” effect in one meeting….

Is this why Division H is always sooo spunky at any given time… she wondered?! Her work here was done….. She walked into the sunrise, towards Bright Horizons…. Wait a sec, isn’t that in Kuwait!! … aaahh well, another Toastmaster Club, another twilight zone!!

Wallahiiii and the Lazim too!!With some wedges or onionrings, from McDonalds orBurger king, I believe I can soar, a girl slapped me in the grocery stoooorrree……..

The humoroids advanced toastmaster club saga,the other side of the public speaking

Na na na na .. You can’t catch me... I’m not crying

baby!! I’m flying!! When no one is watching I do the Vroom Vroom Vroom

Do you SEE what I SEE

AAII Seee it.. Bhaatt AAIII Don’t BAALLLV-

VEE It!!

Wallahiiii and the Lazim too!!

BUTTTOOO... All’s well that ends well..We firmly believe

in giving the BEST SPEAKER to the

BEST Speaker.. One definitely deserves the

other!!

Gotta behave myself in front of the Area

Governor!!

TM Derick is a fine Toastmaster FANTASSTTIKK

CORRRECCKKKTT!!

I believe I can fly, placed an order with the Pizza guy...

With some wedges or onion rings, from McDonalds or

Burger King, I believe I can soar, a girl slapped me in the

grocery stooorrree...


GroWinG araBictoastMasters coMMunity


“YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU WILL FIND WHEN YOU REACH OUT”. THE OUTCOME WAS AWE-INSPIRING.

Visualizing success is an act with a positive attitude. It is an initial step in believing in your capabilities. Such an attitude is applicable to both individuals and teams. When the task of delivering the Rainbow was entrusted to us the first thing we asked ourselves was - Can we do it? Surprisingly, all of us responded with a resounding YES we can!! By the Yes attitude we visualized our success. We decided that none of us is as smart as all of us. Next we let the law of attraction work its charms, by helping us bring out our district’s scintillating rainbow in all its hue and dazzling shine. As Presiyan Vasilev 2013 World Public Speaking Champion says, “You never know who you will find when you reach out”. The outcome was awe-inspiring.

This issue speaks volumes about the many hidden treasures of District 20. Like all newsletters that are meant to be stylish, luxuriant, and rich with color and texture, this one is a kaleidoscope of jewels. It also does its name more embellishment than justice. Here in our third edition of the Rainbow, we showcase hidden talent and impart pearls of wisdom from Toastmasters across District 20 and a few beyond the borders. There’s something in here for all of us. From the epitome of grace District 20 Governor DTM Vicky Ferrer’s potent message, Invigorating Interviews, Animated Articles, Recognition and Rewards, Memories of DTAC to Mastering Toastmasters in Arabic, Introducing District Officers and Division Governors and celebrating International President, DTM George Yen’s words of

Four to score

wisdom. We bring you a District, brimming with stupendous talent, brilliant speakers and those destined to change the world. The world of opportunity thrives in this district, as toastmasters, we take the bull by the horns and paint a colorful rainbow in the sky.

Beginning with the end in mind, our issue was designed to be a thought provoking, enlightening, and certainly an enriching experience. It was written with a mirroring perspective so that we can enjoy the beauty of our Rainbow. It is forged to illustrate that District 20 Got Talent and will showcase it right here and right now. Our Rainbow is a feast to expand your horizons and connect the various colors of our District 20 Rainbow in order to appreciate our unique diversity.

We are indebted to the unlimited support we have received from our magnanimous leader District Governor DTM Vicky Ferrer, whose unyielding support saw this through to the very end. Besides, we would like to thank our District PRO TM Kiruba Vaithilingam for his inspiring touch and consistent encouragement. I would like to mention my fantastic team who worked to let the magazine see the light of day. Thanks a million TM Noor Mohammed, TM Sunil Kottarathil and TM Natalia Desai. Together we look forward to winning your hearts through this issue of the Rainbow. Until then the four promise to quadruple the score.

TM Noor Mohammad

TM Natalia Desai

Sunil D Kottarathil, DTM

Saleh Abdullah Alkhamyasi, Editor


For more information about the event visit http://dtac2014.org

P.O. Box: 4539, Tla Al Ali, Amman, Jordan, +962 799 824 845, [email protected]

DISTRICT 20 INCLUDES BAHRAIN, JORDAN, KUWAIT, LEBANON, OMAN, QATAR AND U.A.E

District 20 toastMasters annuaL conFerence, Dtac 2014aL Bustan PaLace HoteL, oMan

15 May 2014 - 17 May 2014

At the jewel of Arabia, The Sultanate of Oman the ground floor for orchestrating a breathtaking DTAC procession is in full swing. The event will be

hosted from the 15th to 17th of May 2014 at Al Bustan Palace Hotel, a Ritz-Carlton hotel in Muscat, Oman featuring magnificent mountains, sea and

garden views. With impeccable service, deluxe amenities and 250 lavish guest rooms, resort’s accommodations and within a close proximity of so

many site seeing places in the magnificently beautiful Capital Muscat. DTAC 2014 will be the most memorable event of District 20.

Rainbow

Documents

Transcript of Rainbow