Sunthesis || Issue 1 || Jan 2021

WHERE LEADERS ARE MADE

SUNTHESIS

ANNUAL NEWSLETTER OF
WAKE UP CHENNAI

TOASTMASTERS CLUB

JAN 2021 | ISSUE 1

INSIDE.... SUNTHESIS

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS

EXCOM CORNER

INTERACTIVE COLUMN
Toastmaster & me
MODi & tMOD
Minimalism
Break up - It was not her. It was me.
Remember this When you take up Big things.
Interview with Nina John
The Wise Men
Toastmastering in the COVID year

TEST YOUR BRAIN
FIND ALL THE 25 WORDS!!!
QUIZ CORNER

WINNERS FROM OUR CLUB

PHOTO GALLERY

THE INCOMING EXCOM

WHAT IS SUNTHESIS??

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS

TM Aloysius Raj The strong support of the present and past
members who cherished their
Toastmasters experience has kept the
momentum of the club steady and
growing. The dedicated executive
committee members in each term who
went beyond their call of duty have given
the club a professional outlook. The charm
of the venue and the welcoming co-working
atmosphere gave every member to voice out
their thought and freely express themselves
to non-judgmental evaluations.

"An empty page dreams of a pen to script, 2020 has given us the opportunity to make
A finished script yearns for a reader / speaker, friends and get members beyond borders.
True to the core values of Toastmasters,
A Speaker yearns for an audience" as a club lets strive to keep the promise of
Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence.
Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters has been Let us up the ante and live up to our true
fulfilling the Public Speaking dreams and potential.
Leadership Ambitions of Toastmasters in I wish 2021 fulfills all our dreams and
Chennai, and specifically Velachery for the begins as a Happy New Year!
past two years. Two years might be With sincere wishes to one and All!
steppingstone for a Toastmasters' journey,
but 100 meetings is a milestone to
remember. This was made possible by the
proficient leadership of the founders, DTM
Alex Jacob, DTM Lloyd Israel Tatapudi,
and TM Preetha Gomez. Being penchant
Toastmasters themselves, they inducted and
groomed Toastmasters who held the
Toastmasters promise high. The club in its
journey has produced members who won
contests within the district and lead various
events for the district.

Being a morning club, Wake Up has earned
the gratuity of getting professionals and
members who are serious about their public
speaking needs. Those who wake up to their
ambitions in their life journey, and those
who want to be great leaders and orators,
have chosen this club.

Page 3 Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters Club

EXCOM CORNER!

Here is what outgoing ex-com have to say about their experience
with the role.

TM Karthikeyan- VPE

I firstly thank all the role-players who consistently took slots. We
need to move from the First come approach to a more structured
approach to filling role players to ensure more even distribution of
roles. In this term we had utilized 83% of the speaking slots in our
meetings. I enjoyed my time as VPE & believe that I did justice.

TM Soundarya VP-PR

When I was given the opportunity to become the VP-PR, I had truly
underestimated how much decision making and planning is
involved in it. VP-PR was simply more than just designing. I am glad I
took up the role.

TM Barani - VPM

Serving as Vice-President Membership in Toastmasters was a great
learning experience. I consider myself as an introvert and don’t
strike-up an easy conversation. But during this period it was easy to
talk about someone else goals, give them insights and motivation to
become a toastmaster.

TM Naveen - Treasurer

My role as a treasurer has been truly enriching with a lot of learnings
and acquainted with good practices.

Page 4 TM Vivin - Secretary

Being secretary to this wonderful WakeUp Toastmasters was a
revelation. Starting with the OTP till the submission of reports for
DCP points, everything was planned meticulously. I didn't realize so
much was going in the backend to run this club smoothly.

TM Jennifer - SAA

SAA Role induced me the Importance of starting and ending the
meeting on Time and also it gave me the self-discipline to attend the
meeting regularly. Also, I learned Planning and Co-ordination
through my ExCom meetings from fellow ExCom members.

Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters Club

TOASTMASTER & ME I had joined the Club in November 2019, and
at the same time, the club conducted the
by Evaluation and Humorous speech contest. I
TM Jennifer got a chance to play a timer role for that
meeting. Contests are the best way to
One year back, when I was browsing the learn, not only for the contestants but also
internet for ways to improve my for the audience like me. It was a great
communication skills, Quora suggested the learning experience. When I got a chance to
Toastmasters club. When I further searched take up the VPPR Role, I had no clue on how
for a club nearby, I ended up at Wake-up to perform this role. With motivation from
Chennai Toastmasters Club. I had no idea Alex and Aloysius, I had taken up that ExCom
how Toastmasters club functions and I had Role and learnt all the basics of PR.
attended initially as a guest. My first Personally, it helped me to learn the
impression was great, I did not feel like an methods of promotions. During the next
odd woman out in the group. Everyone was cycle I took up the role of SAA, and I am
friendly and supportive. about to start my role as the club’s secretary
for the upcoming cycle. I always feel
I always feel motivated and elated after every meeting.
motivated & elated
after every meeting. It has been a year since I joined the club,
every meeting has something new for me to
Right after the very first meeting, I decided to learn. I had a thought that Public speaking
join the club. The reason behind that was is not my cup of coffee. But this toast
the words from the past President, DTM. mastering experience completely changed
Alex Jacob. He did not convince me to join my view, and I am learning from each
the club after the first meeting, rather he member of our club. Though Toastmasters
suggested attending 3 to 4 meetings as a is a non-profit organisation, I am
guest and see how it works. The way he impressed by the commitment and effort
explained was so genuine and I was of each member. Another great thing which
impressed by this type of campaigning I liked about our Club is 'opportunity'. Every
style. meeting I got a chance to take up the role
Another important reason for me to join the and got a chance to explore as an ExCom
club was its meeting time. Being a morning officer. I participated in an Evaluation
person, waking up early and attending the contest as a Contestant. I listened to this
meeting gave a great start for the day. I statement in one of the toastmaster
delivered my Ice breaker with butterflies meetings. Toastmaster is like an ocean, if
flying in my stomach, I still remember how we dive with 1 cup, we come out with 1 cup
nerveous I felt of water. We can extract, based on how
much we expect, and this statement is
100% true. I am planning to dive into this
ocean with one big water tank!
I can proudly say that joining a club as a
toastmaster is the best decision I made.
Thank you for this opportunity and special
thanks to Alex Jacob, Karthikeyan, Aloysius,
Naveen, Lloyd, Priya, Uday and Barani.
My best wishes to Wake-up Chennai
toastmasters Club and I am very proud to be
part of this growing club. Way to Go!!!

Page 5 Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters Club

MODi & tMOD Google showed me some nearest
Toastmaster clubs in and around Velachery
TM Sandanamullai and I mailed to a few of them. Toastmaster
Bharani contacted me and shared the
I was passionate, meeting link for #72. I had no idea about the
filled with longing, meeting structure or the roles or
abbreviations of those role names. Honestly
I searched speaking, I was just there, sitting blank
far and wide. and going awe by listening to Toastmaster
But the day Vivin and others.
that the Truthful One
Here I am,
found me, looking forward to
I was at home. every Wednesday,
waking up early to join
- Lalla Ded the meeting.
I joined as a guest in Meeting #72. I got to
know about Toastmasters a year ago, In between, I noticed people addressing
through one of my friends. Later I learnt someone as 'Modi', 'Modi'. It didn't strike to
there is a gavel club for children. The typical me that it was T M O D. Rather, my sleepy
parent in me, wanted my daughter Malar to mind went on to think, like, maybe its a norm
acquire this skill. Google pointed the nearest here to call, the in-charge of the meeting by
one from Nanganallur. As a typical daughter, the name of our prime minister. I was
Malar neither opened the WhatsApp group shocked by this thought and tried to focus.
updates nor showed any interest to attend Silly me! The next shock was when TTM
those meetings. Whenever I share the Jennifer called my name. Somehow I
pictures that were posted in the gavel talked for a minute or so, sharing the
Whastapp group, she will give me a look-up concern about WhatsApp forwards. To my
and down and continue to bury her head in surprise, I was chosen as the best TT
greek mythology. speaker at the end of the meeting. I was so
All of a sudden the lockdown came. People proud to share this 'achievement' with my
around me were busy in making the most of daughter. Oh...please ...No...I can't put down
the lockdown. My FB and Insta feed were full in words the look she gave me. However, this
of Duolingo updates, harvesting Tomatoes #72 motivated me to join the Wake-Up
and ladies fingers from the kitchen garden Chennai Toastmaster's club. Since, then,
and endless videos of making Dalgona here I am, looking forward every Wednesday,
coffee. As like everyone, I was also waking up early to join the meeting. Now, am
suffering from this 'Lockdown learning' geared up to take up the role of Treasurer for
syndrome and badly needed a change next term. If someone would have told me
from Mastering python. I told my daughter, this before joining #72, I would have given
that I got bored with motivating her to join the same look as my daughter gave to me.
the Gavel's club. Instead, I myself was going
to Join one. I can't write down in words the Now, kindly read the lines by Lalla Ded, as
look she gave me. But, you know it is not it is always best to start our dialogue with
new to me! Life!! a quote and end it with a punch.

Page 6 Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters Club

MINIMALISM more and more stuff and start accumulating
them. Honestly speaking, just take a look
by at all the things you have at your home,
TM Ranjith and ask yourself this question, "Do I really
need it?" If you find it difficult to check out
Once upon a time, it was only during Diwali all the things, let me make it simple. Go to
and Pongal festival, we used to buy new your closet, wardrobe or whatever you call it
clothes. The only occasion other than these where you keep your clothes and see if you
two for which we buy new clothes is really need all those clothes, are you still
obviously, Our Birthday! To all those who using it? Most Probably, the answer will be
read this post now, just close your eyes for NO. The more we buy, the less we use old
a minute and recall how many clothes you clothes.
bought in 2019. You know the reason why I
didn't go in 2020. If something
Now, tell me, what was the count? Did you doesn't add value, we
buy just between 3 and 5 clothes in 2019? If should be willing to let
yes, You're awesome! Sadly, I don't think that go.
that could be the number for almost all of us.
We are into a mindset that there is no time or If something doesn't add value, we should be
occasion really matters to buy new clothes. willing to let that go. Many of us lack this
Take me as an example, in 2019, as far as I quality including me. We have our own
know, I bought at least 7 to 8 merchandise attachments with our belongings.
and I bet that's not the right count. It should Irrespective of its purpose, we don't like
be more than that. Now the question is, do to throw them out. But, actually, the
we really in need of that many clothes? I opposite is what will bring us more
guess not. happiness. Once you declutter your closet
Over the generations, slowly but steadily, by eliminating the unwanted or unused
we have been told that we need these things, you will find yourself with just a
things. We have been told by society. minimum set of clothes which you will use
Especially, the advertisements! They make often. It will in fact make you feel more
us believe that we need these things. When it relaxed and content. You need not spend
was only the "Aadi offer" which we all know, more time searching for your closet every
now it has day in the morning. Your closet will have a
become 365 days of discounts. neat, organized look.
We are also under another delusion called
Buy 2 Get 3!! Fashion. We started looking for new things
Buy 3 Get 4!! not when what we have become unusable
Flat 60% off!! but as soon as it loses the trend, the social
Big Billion Day!! value or it is no longer fashionable. We
Grand Indian Festival!!! look at the rich, we wish to live like them. We
We get trapped when we hear or see those think they have everything. So, the more
attractive advertisements. It gets us into an money we get, the more we try to live like
illusion! We have 24x7 online stores. We find them. We convince ourselves that we can live
products that are cheap and at the same happily when we live like them.
time, appears to be adding value, so we buy

Page 7 Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters Club

But, that's not the truth. We try to fill the void attached we are to our clothes. Minimalism is
inside us without realizing that this hunger applicable everywhere. Right from the
will never get fulfilled. Humans are wired to clothes we wear, the electronic gadgets we
become dissatisfied. You work your fingers use, the space we live. We are living our
to the bone and end up buying an iPhone lives with space we have rather than
believing that it will give you happiness. It creating the space that fits our lives. If we
will, indeed. But, not for so long, within try adopting minimalism, we may find
another week, a new model will be happiness and feel satisfied. Because we
introduced into the market and you will feel end up owning only what we need not
outdated. We believe we look for new stuff what we desire.
as we need it, but the truth is, it is just for
the dopamine experience.

Minimalism doesn't mean "Don't buy Minimalism is not perfect,
anything". It actually emphasis on "Buy only Minimalism is not easy,
what is necessary". We don't have the
control in making more, because anything But Minimalism is simple!
can happen tomorrow, but, we have the
control in spending less, having less. Think The following are something you should try
about it! In the USA, some also experimented implementing in your lives if you would like
this minimalism concept through "Project to practice minimalism,
333". It means, Using only 33 things for the
next 3 months. And these 33 things should Choose quality over quantity!
include your clothes, accessories and shoes. Minimalism doesn't mean we have to
Many people tried this project 333 and they compromise in quality. Instead of buying 4
were successful. Surprisingly, no one clothes cost 500 each, but only one for 2000
noticed them wearing the same set of which will definitely be better both in look
clothes over a period of 3 months. In my and feel than those 4.
personal opinion, some of our friends may
tend to notice us wearing the same clothes Curb your appetite for more things.
repeatedly, but, a good friend won't Lastly, ask this question before buying
complain ;) This project 333 made them anything, "Does it add value?"
understand more about the advantages of
minimalism and also realize how they have
been storing stuff for a long time
unnecessarily that had no value.

Minimalism
doesn't mean "Don't buy
anything". It actually
emphasis on "Buy only
what is necessary"

Minimalism isn't all about clothes alone. I
just used that as a tool to help you
understand. Because we all know how

Page 8 Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters Club

BREAK UP - IT WAS NOT That’s true. I am not the first one to fall in
HER. IT WAS ME. love with her, for this exact reason. We were
together even during her tough times.
by But this pandemic changed everything
TM Chockalingam completely. I can’t blame her. If I had stayed
with her she would have definitely taken
Nov 9, 2011 - our first meeting. I never care of me with great love. It was not her.
thought that I would fall in love with her It was me. I left Chennai. I left the love of my
so much. I have met her many times when I life "Chennai" and went back to my native. I
was young. This time it was different, we met didn’t feel guilt for the first few months.
with mutual interests. I just then completed Later it hit me hard. What have I done? I
my engineering degree. I had my own set of actually thought that everything will be over
dreams. She had seen more people like me in 21 days and I will go back to Chennai
before. But she loved me more. I can say that again. Will I ever again get a chance to visit
from how she treated me. She gave me the Chennai? If I visit Chennai, will I be treated
confidence that I never knew that I the same or do I have to start from the
possessed before. She brought out the kid in beginning?
me which I lost when I joined my college. She Everyone in my hometown accepted me as a
introduced me to a lot of friends who Chennai guy. My friends troll me that I have
changed my journey. She made me realize changed a lot and forgot about my
that money can’t bring happiness. I felt sad hometown. It’s not completely true. I have
when I had fifty-thousand rupees in my started loving Chennai a lot. People are
account and on the other hand, I felt like the more practical in Chennai. Everyone has
happiest person on earth when I had only 50 some work to do. People didn’t have time
rupees in my pocket. to judge others which obviously increased
When I met her for the first time, I didn’t my love towards this place.
know the whole character of her. In fact, I
was a little skeptical. Because some of my How do you
friends who have already seen her warned spell “love”? You don’t
me. They told many evil things about her spell it. You feel it.
character. They advised me to be very
careful. But the reality is different. She is After 8 months I am back to Chennai. I
beautiful. She is caring. She is educated. thought the relationship was going to be
She is like a mirror. Whenever I feel low, I hard. I would have to start from the
feel depressed. She will make me go out beginning. But it is different. She still has the
for a walk. She shows different people from same affection towards me. It won’t change.
different ethnicities, different economic I might change in future but she won’t
layers and different stages of life. No change. There are talks all over my office
explanations are needed. that this is going to be the new normal. We
Once a street food vendor talked about my can be in our hometowns and work from our
lover to me. That conversation was from his home permanently. This will boost the rural
heart. He told me if you can’t live with my economy. This will help stop pollution and
lover happily then I won’t be able to live population from concentrating on one place
happily with anyone else. in a country. Yeah, I agree. But love is
something that you can’t explain in papers
and you can’t force it on someone. It is
love. How do you spell “love”? You don’t
spell it. You feel it. It is similar for Chennai as
well. It was not you. It was me.

Page 9 Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters Club

REMEMBER THIS I once stopped ignoring that consciousness
WHEN YOU TAKE UP and decided to move out of my comfort
zone. This greed to become big is too risky.
BIG THINGS. It might cost emotionally, financially,
health or relationships. You might want to
by grow up the ladder in your career, or grow
TM Barani your revenues in business, or become an
entrepreneur. I decided to become an
entrepreneur after 7 years of my career.
When you start something new you will
definitely have all the enthusiasm in the
world and I did have. When challenges come
one after another and the journey of daily life
becomes daunting things become really bad.
You will forget to spend time for the family,
friends, relatives. And more importantly, you
stop spending time for yourself.

Big things in life cost you. You might wonder I had multiple sleepless nights for the
why I say this. Some might stand against me mistakes and inability to forgive myself and
and say I do not need to lose anything to people close to me in my life. Only when
grow. Sorry, my dear friend, you haven't then everything went to zero and there is nothing
moved out of your comfort zone. I'm not to lose any more except my knowledge and
saying you are not successful or you haven't of course life I realised how worse I have
achieved anything. All you have done is made my life. I had to laugh at myself to take
already within your reach. You are being it lighter.
contented with what you have in your life. Should you let this happen to you? Definitely
That's one way of living. There is nothing not. Life is always meant to do great things
wrong about it. Ask for yourself, when every and live life big. There is going to be an
situation turns against you will you still be immense emotional toll on you, but
contented with what you have? We live in a remember to take control of your actions.
globalised world where we are constantly Do what is right, respect your own self,
pushed into a race for growth. Some are spend time for your family, friends and
conscious about it, and some ignore that relatives. Listen to others and your own
consciousness. voice. Besides not every person needs to
become clinically depressed to become
Life is always noticeable. Just being stressful and not in a
meant to do great good mood for longer durations of time can
things and live life big. cause bad things. Whenever you do big
things have a vision, that makes you happy,
approachable to people and remembers to
be emotionally
strong.
I have been a toastmaster for 2 years now
and the habit of toastmastering did help
at times to better my emotional state, by
taking me out of my regular work,
socialize and reassuring my vision to
myself each time I meet different people.

Page 10 Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters Club

INTERVIEW WITH What has been the most difficult point in
NINA JOHN your journey?
There was a whole lot of us who started
Chennai Toastmasters club, and continued
to tell others about it and so built up the
movement that first became District 82 and
now District 120. There were challenges
along the way, some clubs growing and
flourishing, others falling by the wayside. As
the movement grew and became more
structured, there were leadership challenges
and personality clashes, too. As the number
of leadership positions grew, the ‘fight’ for
positions also grew, and sometimes it
became a little too personal. The saddest
part of my taking the next step on the
Toastmaster ladder, as part of the TRIO, was
to find close friends undermining me. But
equally, it was the unstinted and warm
support of so many Toastmasters that
helped me.

A keynote speaker, author of You have been a mentor for decades now!
"Navigating corporate seas" and the Do you think your mentoring style has
current Mentor Pool Chair of D120 changed over time?
Yes, this is definitely the case. I realised that
She is one of the first people to all the mentoring I had been doing was
introduce toastmasters to Chennai and simply by doing, and now realise that there is
Tamil Nadu which now has over 170 a new generation of Toastmasters that need
clubs. She has mentored and trained mentorship by showing and educating. Just
hundreds of Toastmasters and non- being part of the early Toastmasters
Toastmasters. movement was enough for others to
emulate. I never imagined that simply being
Read on to hear from her own words. the District Governor/Director, on stage,
Which is the most memorable day you leading the district, was the trigger for so
have had as a Toastmaster? many women. Similarly, I find that the new
This is a difficult one because there are so members come in without any idea of what
many. The happiness when a previously mentoring involves, so we need to lay this
shy, stammering guest blossoms into a out more clearly.
speaker and leader, the unexpected
Facebook memory shared by someone
who thanks you for mentoring them ten
years earlier, a champion who
acknowledges you in public for giving them
the foundation for their journey, even the
quiet satisfaction when you know a job is
well-done, whether you get accolades or
not-all of these add up in your personal
diary.

Page 11 Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters Club

Do you consider anyone as your mentor? What were the challenges and
I have not had a formal mentor in opportunities you faced as a pioneer and
Toastmasters, but there were many that I as a woman? Do you think any changes are
learnt a lot from. I also learnt that some needed here?
mentors can inspire you, some can sabotage The challenges women face is a universal
you, too. So I advise members to take the issue. To take an analogy from real life, there
best from all those they meet and carry on. are very few men, beginning with watchmen
and parking attendants, who can resist
What do you want your readers to learn showering a woman driver with a million
from your book - Navigating corporate instructions. So there were challenges, of
seas? people not willing to listen or follow
This is a book based on my corporate directions.
experiences as a facilitator and later coach,
along with the experiences at different levels What is mentorship and what is it not?
of the voluntary group at Toastmasters. To answer this question, I would like to use
There are tips for newcomers to understand the examples of the first two bosses I had.
the unwritten rules of organisations, how to The first was a terror, who had set up an ad
be effective at meetings, how to conduct agency, and that all the employees were his
meetings once you are in the team leaders’ personal slaves, to be ordered around,
chair, how to communicate over the phone, bullied and yelled at. The second had years
e-mails or in person, how women are treated of agency experience, specifically dealing
in organisations and general leadership with newbies, and how to run an
lessons from current events such as the organisation. He was very patient, explaining
Kerala or Chennai floods. In short, it’s useful all the ins and outs of client relationships,
whether you are a corporate honcho or a how to deal with vendors, and how to be a
housewife and part of the Residents’ complete professional. In short, the
Housing Association where you live. difference between a mentor and a
tormentor is vast.

Page 12 Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters Club

THE WISE MEN

by TM Yasin

A legend once said, ‘As a man thinketh, so is he’
To dread or wonder the apparatus that generates infinitesimal thoughts?
The oversized brain among all the primates, leading to all the wisdom?

Aye! Aye! Sharpen your eyes, Cleanse your senses!

1,93,000 BC

Homo Sapiens – meaning the wise men! Oh, the good word!
have arrived at the farthest lands of prosperity,

The unfathomable era of intelligence beginning with the wheel,
Sailing through the rough winds of the mighty sea.

Yes, the wise men arrived! Apparatus worked wonders.
Figured out the light which burnt everything except few.

Looked upon the sky, they wanted to fly. And Why?
To survive they said, yes to survive! At the cost of what?

The entire planet: losing all of the species replaced with just the ones,
Who wanted to “survive”, but forgot the Black Rhino & the Mammoth;

the Dodo bird & the Tasmanian Tiger; the Orangutan & the Turtles.
"Burn the forests! Burn!" they chanted for 'GREEN BUSINESSES'.

The Amazon cried, The Australian Bushes cried, The Great barrier reef cried, The Ganges
cried, but the eyes looked far beyond the skies for,

Another home - ending the Anthropocene!! The wise men are now ready.
Ready to conquer the deepest of the spaces out there - All to survive!!

2020 AD

Page 13 Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters Club

TOASTMASTERING IN When the opportunity to be part of Excom in
THE COVID YEAR the July – December term came up I was not
sure. The responsibility was big and took
some time to decide. Two questions I had to
answer myself to make the decision were

1. Do I want to do it – I was sure of the
learnings in Excom. So this was an easy
question. Now the 2nd question was really
important for me.

by 2. Do I have the time now – personal
TM Karthikeyan learning from the past - we may have the
best intentions to serve the club in an excom
2020 began with hopes like any new year. role and have the learnings from the
Having restarted my journey with WakeUp responsibility. But if the ability to dedicate
Chennai Toastmasters in 2019, I had one time is a constraint, then it is an injustice to
long-pending goal to complete – completing ourselves and the club.
CC projects. Completing my CC in early Conscious of this I evaluated my work
march brought a sense of great relief for plans for the year, personal situation and
me as my CC journey started many years the time flexibility working from home
back. This was my 1st accomplishment in provides, I decided to plunge in.
2020. This milestone helped to reiterate to
me a sense of regained confidence in my These 2 questions were important to
next steps in Toastmasters. reiterate to myself that will be able to do
By the end of Jan 2020, on the work front, justice to the role. And looking back I can
COVID was already a topic I was dealing with confidently say that I have done justice.
my team in China. They had to start working Thanks to Mohamed Yasin & Bhairavi Badri
from home after the Chinese new year who helped to share responsibilities in the
holidays Jan/Feb. I was trying to keep up Education sub-committee.
their morale stating all will be well soon. Having managed the club’s education
Little did I expect that this was going to be portfolio for the term, I want to share the
a worldwide phenomenon for the entire below learnings as actions needed by all of
year. Am sure none of us would have us as members to achieve sustainable
anticipated this. When the lockdown was growth.
announced end of march, Toastmaster goals
went to the bottom of my priority list. Keeping the focus – to constantly
remind ourselves why we are in
In Toastmasters Toastmasters is important. The problem
there is an abundance with Toastmasters is there is an abundance
of inspiration. of inspiration. You get to meet many great
personalities who have achieved so much in
After almost 2 months when I accepted and so many different areas and for a beginner its
adjusted to the world of new normal and quite possible to be overwhelmed and
Zoom meetings, I began to prioritize my to become confused on the direction to go.
do list in Toastmasters. Being clear with the question – “Why I joined
Toastmasters?” and constantly checking if
your actions are aligned to the goals will help
to keep ourselves on track. Step 1 to achieve
this is to attend meetings every week.

Page 14 Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters Club

Leveraging mentors – One of the Getting outside the comfort zone –
actions excom decided in the education area D120 has created a group for Education
was to revisit the mentors' list. Being a where requests for role slots are shared. As
relatively new club, we had to go outside our VPE, I have used this forum at times when we
club for mentors. The help we got from needed role players for our meetings. Have
Senior Toastmasters in our district was also sought speaking slots when our
phenomenal and they readily agreed to take members needed additional practice
our members under their wings. The sessions when preparing for contests. All of
question all of us as members need to ask us understand that growth happens outside
ourselves - Am I working with my mentor to of the comfort zone i.e home club. So let’s
improve myself? When we all grow, we are make it a point to visit other clubs to deliver
contributing to our club quality and growth. speeches / roles at least once in 2 months.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my term as VPE of our club. Looking forward to the journey
ahead with all of you in WakeUp.

FIND ALL THE 25 WORDS!!!

PREPARED BY SRIPRIYADHARSHINI

Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters Club
Grammarian Timer Counter Evaluator Red Green Yellow pace expression vocal variety tense project pathway
distinguished qualify sergeant table storytelling international mentor president charter treasurer enroll

Page 15

QUIZ CORNER QUIZ CORNER

Theme – Books & Quotes

Page 16 Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters Club

QUIZ CORNER QUIZ CORNER

Page 17 Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters Club

QUIZ CORNER QUIZ CORNER

Page 18 Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters Club

WINNERS FROM OUR CLUB

TM Soundarya TM Ranjith

1st Runner-up Division 1st Runner-up Division
level Evaluation Contest level Humourous Contest

TM Mohamed Yasin TM Aloysius
2nd Runner-up Area level 2nd Runner-up Area level
Humourous Contest Evaluation Contest

Pathway level finishers
TM Satish Menon || Levels 2,3,4 || Effective coaching

TM Baranikumar || Levels 4,5 || Dynamic Leadership

TM Mohamed Yasin || Levels 2, 3 || Presentation Mastery

TM Naveen Thangavelu || Levels 1,2 || Motivational Strategies

TM Aloysius Raj || Level 4 || Persuasive Influence

TM Soundarya || Level 2 || Effective Coaching

TM Bhairavi Badri || Level 1 || Visionary Communication

TM Ranjith Sankar || Level 2 || Innovative Planning

TM Vivin Joy || Level 1 || Innovative Planning

TM Chockalingam Subbaiah || Level 2 || Innovative Planning

Page 19 Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters Club

PPHhOoTtOo GGAaLllLeErRyY

Joint Meeting with
Trichy

Toastmasters

Joint Meeting with
Chennai

Champions club

Ethnic theme Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters Club
meeting

Page 20

The incoming EXCOM! TM Karthikeyan

TM Aloysius

Immediate Past President (IPP) President
The immediate past presidents role is As President, I want to focus on 2
about being that unconditional things to be successful in our
supporting member & act as a guide journey to excellence
for the new executive committee.
This role gives you the opportunity to 1. Consistency in following right
observe results of the succession plan practices
& lend a hand when needed.
2. Focus on value for members to
TM Soundarya achieve sustainable growth

TM Yasin

VP - Education VP - Public Relations
I am excited to take up this role of VP- It'll be vital to maintain and build on
E. I am looking forward to connecting last term's momentum. I, as the
with all the members and supporting incoming VPPR, am looking forward to
them with their journey.!! at the same, improving the quality of PR. My main
I am expecting to learn so much goal would be to attract guests and
leadership, coordination and crisis create nice traction across Social
management skills!! media and Website.

Page 21 Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters Club

The incoming EXCOM!

TM Vivin Joy TM Sandanamullai R

VP - Membership Treasurer
As i take up this VP of Membership, I I am glad to take-up the role as
hope that I will be able to do justice to Treasurer. I see this as an opportunity
the standards that had been kept by to contribute to club management
previous excom and I can help this activities. I am excited to collaborate
club grow organically. with other ex-com members & work
together as a team. Hope this
TM Jennifer X experience will nourish my leadership
skills.

TM Satya Kiran K

Secretary Seargent at Arms
As a secretary, I look forward to I'm excited to become an excom
taking care of all the correspondence member for the first time in my
and records of our Club. I expect to toastmasters journey. I would like to
improve my leadership, Listening take this opportunity as a chance to
Skills, and Communication skills support and improve our club along
through this role. with improving myself. I would like to
thank each and every member of our
club for making this possible.

Page 22 Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters Club

Sunthesis

The meaning

σῠ́νθεσῐς • (súnthesis) f (genitive σῠνθέσεως); Origin: Greek

a putting together, composition, combination, juxtaposition,
synthesis
(mathematics) addition
agreement, treaty
collection

The Newsletter Team

SOUNDARYA YASIN

TM Satya Kiran K

SRIPRIYADHARSHINI SANDANAMULLAI

Page 23 Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters Club

Wake Up Chennai Toastmasters Club

Follow US!!

@WAKEUPCHENNAI @WAKEUPWEDENSDAY

Address: A-Space, 37, Brindavan St, Brindavan,
Srinivasa Nagar, Velachery, Chennai,
Tamil Nadu 600042