toastmaster-magazine-2016

A.S.M. Illiyas
Past President (PY 2009-2010)
It is nice that I have an opportunity to write something to this SERENDIB BREEZE and appreciate
the officials for the kind gesture.
The Toastmasters is one of the best skill building programs. But for some people it looks silly,
simple and boring. Dear friends, only when you join you will know the value and enjoy the real
benefit of it. Most of my friends use to give me a funny look and sarcastic comments when I was
inviting them to ‘come to learn public speaking’ or ‘let’s learn to communicate better. A lot of
distraction were faced. However, later they all joined and flourished as best performers and even
contested at Division level, in some cases their children joined and became Gaveliers and prospered.
Our people have a lot of talents, but deprived of a proper forum to explore their capabilities.
Then we created SERENDIB as an appropriate platform. Today no one can complain, here is the
opportunity, join and explore your talents and become the champions. Most of us have benefited
from this concept. We have many examples in our club to refer. I am unable to list them all here.
Please join and you will realize and learn. If it was not beneficial, we wouldn’t have prolonged this
club for so long with the limited resources.
Let me be very frank, with my job, responsibilities at home and other involvements I used to feel
a burden, when it comes to preparing speeches, participating in contests and organizing events.
It was hectic that I was finding it difficult to manage. Once in a while I use to feel like getting out
of this. But today I am missing all that very badly. Those weekly gatherings, which bring a lot of
pleasure, sense of achievement, enjoying the success of our community members, the happiness
when my friends walk out of that auditorium as champions. Believe me you will not get this
opportunity again anywhere in the world. Therefore, let’s involve and enjoy.
Dear Members we should do a lot of canvassing and bring all our friends, relatives, families to this
club. As this is a family club, we need to grow. Our skills have to be developed and the club has to
prosper. Never feel enough with what you have done, and don’t think this is not your responsibility.
All these negative feelings may benefit you for a while, but in the long run you are missing out a
lot. Let us have a never give up attitude, because as of now I think this is the only organization that
could bring our people together and become the best community.
I whole heartedly appreciate our new team for the best work they are doing so far, lot of
achievements have been realized during these few tenures. Congratulations to Toastmaster Ferasath
Cassim and his superior team. Also thanks to our outgoing team led by Toastmaster Zubair who is
one the experienced Toastmaster and a very challenging personality of our community. Thanks to
his team of creative members for all the effort they had put to make our club as one of best during
their tenure.
Toastmaster Ferasath Cassim. I know him personally very well for a long time. He is very silent,
but a man of action. He and his team will definitely be successful and our Serendib Club image will
fly much more higher.
LET’S STRIVE TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
14 SERENDIB BREEZE