Compiled by Beverley Jansz

Toastmasters established in Ethugalpura

In October 1924, a group of men assembled by Dr. Ralph C. Smedley who met in the basement of the YMCA in Santa Ana, California, USA forming a club "to afford practice and training in the art of public speaking and in presiding over meetings, and to promote sociability and good fellowship among its members."

The group took the name "Toastmaster".

It was the birth of Toastmaster International.

Toastmaster International enters the new era as the undisputed world leader in pubic speaking training, with

 over 10,500 clubs and more than 200,000 members in approximately 90 countries.

The first ever toastmasters club in Sri Lanka was established in 1983. Most of the clubs are based in Colombo & there are only 3 clubs established in outstation. Two toastmasters clubs are established in Kandy and youngest of this family was established in Kurunegala.

Foundation to establish Wayamba Toastmasters was laid by Institute of Engineers (Sri Lanka) IESL Wayamba Center and Chartered President of Wayamba Toastmasters Eng. Gamini Senanayake, Chairman of Industrial Development board. Other officers are, Eng, M. Y. Zainudeen, Deputy Chief Secretary, North Western Provincial (NWP) Council as the Vice President-Education Eng. Upali Jayakody, Deputy General Manager, Sri Lanka Telecom Vice President (Membership), Eng. Mrs. Chitra Nissanka, Engineer, Sri Lanka Telecom Vice President (Public Relations), Mrs. Vigini Wanasinghe, Teacher, Secretary, Ms. Ruwani Rajapaksa, Lawyer Treasurer and M. B. Weerasekera, Assistant Chief Secretary, NWP as the sergeant-at-arms.

Twenty nine members have been registered as chartered members of Wayamba Toastmasters among them are company directors, managers in leading companies, civil servants, engineers, lawyers, teachers and many executives. Induction of the charter members and Installation of club officers were held at Seasons Hotel, Kurunegala.

All preliminary arrangements have been made to hold the charter ceremony and the Chief Guest of this remarkable occasion will be Eng. D. L. Taldena, President, IESL and Guest of Honour will be Chandra Jayasekera, President of Bar Association, Kurunegala.

In addition, many guests will grace this occasion. The driving force behind forming this club are Eng, M.Z. Saleem, Governor - Area 19, Sudash Liyanage, Governor - Area two and Mrs. Niranjali Weerasekera, ex-Secretary of BCIS Toastmasters. The vision of the Wayamba Toastmasters is to become a distinguished club in the session 2007-2008.

Accountants with a Voice CIMA Toastmasters

Accountants are traditionally known more for their numerical abilities and less for their communications skills. This however, is gradually becoming a "thing of the past" with the advent of the CIMA Toastmasters club, grooming a new breed of "Communicative Accountants".

The club was established in 2002 to promote effective communication skills, which encompass speaking, listening and thinking. Since its launch the club has functioned successfully, gathering momentum and contributing immensely towards the self-development of the members.

Presently, the club boasts of approximately 40 registered toastmasters, despite its membership being restricted to CIMA members and Passed Finalists.

Having formally received its charter in the year 2005 the club has already won many awards from the Toastmasters International (TMI) for its membership drives and development of members. These achievements culminated with the recognition of the club as a President's Distinguished Club by TMI within just one year of charter.

The club also produced a champion speaker at the District contest held in Delhi, India in May 2007. TM Ramesh Schaffter (CC) became the winner of the Humorous Speech contest. All these are ample evidence of the potential of the enthusiastic membership of the club.

At CIMA Toastmasters, members are given the opportunity to develop themselves in a friendly atmosphere where everybody contributes to the development of self and others.

The positive atmosphere, coupled with the constructive feedback and expert evaluations by veteran Toastmasters, result in an exponential learning curve. The club meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at the CIMA secretariat. All CIMA members are invited to visit the club meetings for a first hand experience of the plethora of learning opportunities in communication skills.

In terms of the Toastmasters calendar, CIMA Toastmasters club held the installation of its new office bearers for the year 2007/08 recently at a colourful ceremony at the CIMA Secretariat. The new committee, under the stewardship of TM Bede Jayalath (CC, CL) is eagerly working toward bringing President's distinguished club status once again to the club, for the year.

The New Committee for year 2007/08

President - TM Bede Jayalath (CC,CL)
Vice President (Education) - TM Manjula Mathews (CC)
Vice President (Membership) - TM Chandima Liyanage (CC)
Vice President (Public Relations) - TM Lasantha Wijeweera
Secretary - TM Probhodini Senevirathna
Treasurer - TM Zarah Juriansz
Sergeant-at-Arms - TM Murugesh Palani
Immediate Past President - TM Padmini Samarasinghe (ATMB, CL)
Romayne Diasz - Public Relations and Media Convenor.

New Office-bearers :

Lions Club of Chilaw 2007/2008

Lions Club of Salapura, Chilaw held their installation ceremony for the new Lionistic year 2007/2008 at the Chilaw Rest House recently. The following members were elected as new office bearers.

President - Lion Roy Fernando
Secretary - Lion S. Sivanathan
Treasurer - Lion S. M. Dharmadasa
1st Vice President - Lion D. S. Weerasooriya
2nd Vice President - Lion Dr. Aloy Gunarathne
3rd Vice President - Lion D. M. Dharmasena
Lion Tamer - Lion Dharmasiri Jayasekera
Tail Twister - Lion Dr. Titus Fernando
Board of Directors - Lion Ayub Khan, Lion Hilary Prasanna Fernando, Lion Sweeny Perera, Lion Janitha Marasinghe, Lion Pantalion Perera, Lion Herath, Lion Thayaparan, Lion Faleel.

As the first project of the year the club organised a major medical camp, with the distribution of spectacles and school kits to the people of Nagamaduwa, Wanathawilluwa, Karativu and Eluwankulam villages in the Puttalam area. The District Governor of district 306B1 Lion S. Raghavan MJF was the chief guest.