Toastmaster’s District 82 annual conference starts today

By Cheranka Mendis

The annual conference of Toastmaster’s District 82 ‘Ovation 2012’ will be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka this year starting today (Friday) with the presence of approximately 550 Toastmasters from the district.

District Governor – District 82 DTM Zameen M. Saleem (second from right) at the media briefing flanked by Toastmasters International President DTM Michael Notaro (second from left) and and Self – discipline Strategist Rory Vaden (right). TM Sudash Liyanage is also present – Pic by Daminda Harsha Pereraa

With over 200 participants from India and a daily growing rate of applications coming in, the conference had 525 members registered by Wednesday, Ovation 2012 Chairman TM Sudash Liyanage said. However the final number will reach 550, he expressed making this the biggest gathering for Ovation in the history of the event. The event is expected to be attended by a large number of local Toastmasters and corporate heads.

The inauguration of Ovation will be held at the Musaeus College auditorium this morning. Focusing on the theme of ‘building confidence…transform yourself,’ the district business meetings will be held before the actual conference begins on 26 May at Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel. Progress made by the district and what should be done to reach expected goals will be discussed at the meetings. Leaders to take forward the mantle of District 82 will also be elected at the event.

Tomorrow, educational sessions will be held at the hotel which will discuss time management among other topics. “We will hear inspirational speeches from the Toastmasters International President DTM Michael Notaro who will attend the event as Chief Guest while world renowned self discipline strategist and runner up at the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking (2007) Roru Vaden will deliver the key note address,” Liyanage said. “We are privileged to host Noatro as this is the first time an International President have visited our District.” Sanjay Pinto, Saro Velrajan and Sumithra Manmohan from India and Dr. Jayalath Edirisinghe from Sri Lanka will also address the educational sessions.

The district level ‘Table Topic Speech Contest’ will also be held tomorrow. Participants will have to speak for two minutes on the topic given at the entrance of the conference venue.

On Sunday, the district International Speech Contest will be held at the Cinnamon Lakeside. The winner of the contest will represent District 82 at the International Speech Contest in Orlando, USA this August. A fun night at the Lighthouse Galley will also be held the same day.

“At Toastmasters we look at enhancing communication and leadership skills among the members which they could use in the careers,” Toastmasters International President Michael Notaro said. “Communication however means both speaking and listening. You must absorb to give back. It is a two way street which when developed properly can be used to become a good candidate for leadership.” Stating that the organisation has a “transformational quality” about it, he shared that it is a confidence development and motivational body.

“We live in a world of pain. We live in a world that is broken, has diseases and is full of poverty. Some fight national disasters while some others fight each other. In such a world a greed need is there to enhance communication and leadership,” added Rory Vaden.

District Governor DTM Zameen Saleem commenting on Toastmasters Sri Lanka stated that the country has 75 clubs in total with the majority in Colombo. However clubs also cover the likes of Jaffna, Trincomalee, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala and Kandy. Another club will soon be launched in Galle as well. “In an emerging economy communication and leadership is a key factor for growth. In Sri Lanka the growth of the clubs are based on the need for communication and enhancing their knowledge and skills in English. When these two are improved qualities of a leader that remains hidden for long will come through.”