A Magical District 101 Holiday Party
The District 101 Holiday Party was a truly magical event held at the ICC Milpitas. I had been to the venue before, but as I approached it this time, I couldn’t help but wonder how such a large gathering of Toastmasters would be accommodated. However, I...
On Fear
Public speaking is an art that can be both empowering and intimidating. For some, the thought of standing before an audience induces feelings of dread and anxiety, rooted in mental traumas and fears. Understanding these mental challenges and addressing them head-on...
On Gratitude in Evaluations
“We should be thanking you.” Incorporating gratitude into speech evaluations helps you provide impactful workplace feedback and maximize your success. When a novice Toastmaster closes a speech by thanking the audience, their speech evaluator will often say that...
Member Spotlight: Jayaprakash Sundararaj
Jayaprakash Sundararaj has been a long-standing member of the Los Gatos Toastmasters Club for about 8 years taking up various roles as a part of this journey. He is currently the Area Director of Area 05, Division D, District 101. We discussed his motivations to...
The Year I Almost Quit Toastmasters
I joined Bayview Toastmasters in 2018 after two business groups I was a member of closed down. I wanted to fill the void and rebuild my professional network after losing key connections. Bayview fit the bill with its diverse list of members, many of whom were fellow...
Toastmasters Fiesta! My experience at the 2024 Toastmasters International Convention
August 2024 – my very first experience attending a Toastmasters International Convention. I was like a wide-eyed toddler wandering through a toy shop for the first time. Whew, I was overwhelmed. If you thought Toastmasters meetings were quick and action-packed, wait...
From Doubt to Determination: Lessons from My Journey as Division Director
It was the Fall of 2022. I got a call from Abhijeet Joshi, then District 101 Program Quality Director. While serving as an Area Director, he asked me to apply for a Division Director position for the next Toastmasters year. Me?! I never had any thoughts, let alone...
Unleashing Potential: A Recap of the Toastmasters Leadership Institute
In the heart of innovation, nestled within the vibrant Bay Area of California, a two-day event unfolded, promising to ignite the flames of leadership and communication. The Toastmasters Leadership Institute (TLI), organized by District 101 Toastmasters, took place on...
My TEDx Experience
Exhilaration! My joy knew no bounds when I found out that I was selected for a TEDx talk. Along with it came an immediate apprehension as there was not a lot of time to prepare. I was asked to deliver a speech about my idea–I had so many ways to convey my idea, and so...
Social Tailwinds
On Oct. 28th, around 6 pm, something happened that made me question—How do I express gratitude in my daily life? Furthermore, what am I grateful for? While driving to a temple with my wife, we listened to the radio. The show’s theme was “social...
What a Difference a VPE Can Make!
“Be a Toastmaster? In this club? … OMG, no!” You have to understand. I’ve been in Toastmasters for seven years. I’ve served as Toastmaster of the Day hundreds of times. These words are not ones that generally come out of my mouth. It was the fall of 2021. I’d been a...
Why Do I Stay?
I was chatting with a few prospective new Toastmasters members, and one of them asked me a very introspective question—“Why do you stay?” I’ve been a member of Toastmasters for eight years. I stay because Toastmasters has embedded in my psyche that searching for...
GRRR… From Gather to Reflect to Resolve—Roar into the New Year as a Courageous & Confident Public Speaker
As we approach the end of another year, it’s a crucial time for us as public speakers, particularly as Toastmasters, to gather our thoughts about the past year, reflect deeply, and set resolutions for the year ahead. This process goes beyond tallying successes...
How do you thrive in the holiday season?
“Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.” Yes, it is that time of the year. We hear this song, or a variation of it everywhere. Does it induce some stress in your daily routine? A lot of tasks to...
On Originality
Trying to understand originality
How I Made it to International Speech Contest Semifinals Three Times
Read about Lindy’s transformational journey in the World Championship of Public Speaking.