Sri Lankaka Club Symposium - Bahrain Toastmaster Magazine SLCS Toastmasters Bahrain - Epitome 01 | Page 7

SRI LANKA CLUB SYMPOSIUM TOASTMASTERS Issue October-November 2013 DOWN THE MEMORY LANE A BRIEF HISTORY OF TOASTMASTERS - HOW IT ALL BEGAN. AHMED RIZVI,DTM The next thing Dr Smedley knew was that he had a Toastmasters Club of professional men that operated generally in the style of our clubs practice today. Each time Dr Smedley was transferred to various YMCA, he started new clubs and usually the clubs disbanded after he left. It went on like this until October 1924, when "SANTA ANA SMEDLEY CLUB NUMBER: 1" held its first meeting and that club is still thriving and today, that Organization flourishes under the Toastmasters and we are carrying on the legacy of Dr Ralph C. Smedley. Dr Ralph C Smedly A speech without a specific purpose is like a journey without a destination. Dr Ralph C Smedly Small Man with a BIG Heart o Late Mr. Chandra Liyanarachchi We are carring on the legacy of Dr. Ralph C. Smedley “Since April 1998, SLCS have developed more than 100 Toastmasters” Since Toastmasters Clubs did not mix the weaker sex, some wives and sweethearts of Toastmasters formed a parallel organization termed "Toastmistress" in 1930 and after many attempts and agitation, by 1937 they made an appeal to the Toastmasters that they also need recognition. Since Toastmasters were pledged to help others, the International Toastmistress Organization was incorporated in 1939 and the women became Toastmasters since then. WHAT IS TOASTMASTERS AND WHAT THEY DO Toastmasters is a program that helps every men and women of all walks of life develop their personality through: Competent Communication Competent Leadership Improvement to your speaking voice Enhancement of natural body gestures, Some senior members of SLCS those days. Only two DTM Rizvi & ACS Mohd Salie are still continuing as active members. And by helping individuals develop these, almost 280,000 members have benefited throughout the Globe by growing 13,500 clubs in almost 116 countries. Dr Ralph Smedley's "basement brainstorm" continues to thrive. Mr Chandra Liyanarachchi, a veteran member of Sri Lanka Club was a member of Manama Toastmasters Club and during his Vice President period of parent club in club in 1998, he brought up the idea of introducing this wonderful education program to Sri Lanka Club so that our community can improve their communication and leadership skills. With the help of two other senior Toastmasters, namely DTM Clement Fernando and TM Sarath Goonetileke, the birth of Sri Lanka Club Symposium Toastmasters club occurred in April 1998. SLCS Toastmasters Club was the third Toastmasters Club in Bahrain and now we have almost sixty clubs on this Island. Since April 1998, SLCS have developed more than 100 Toastmasters and has the proud reputation of producing excellent leaders to serve our community. SLCS have conducted many Youth Leadership Programs and is now maintaining one of the best Gavel Clubs on the Island, counseled by DTM Ahmed Rizvi. Effective evaluation Now   And the clubs in our Area are; Sri Lanka Club Symposium The YMCA in Santa Ana California     SRI LANKA CLUB SYMPOSIUM TOASTMASTERS http://slcs.toastmastersclubs.org o In the fall of 1904, Dr Ralph C Smedley became the Director of YMCA at Bloomington, Illinois and organized a club of older high school students for training in public speaking, something that was not offered in the public schools of those days. George S. Sutton, General Secretary of the Bloomington YMCA suggested the name "Toastmasters Club" because the meeting stimulated a formal banquet. Two years later Dr Smedley moved to Freeport and as General Secretary of YMCA there, he organized another club and the participants ran with the idea. http://slcs.toastmastersclubs.org   We have 25 members We have produced excellent leaders for our community We have Area Governors from our Club We have had Division Governor from our Club We have 58 registered Toastmasters Clubs in Bahrain. We have 12 registered Gavel Clubs in Bahrain. From one area in 1994 – we have grown to 15 areas There are three Divisions JOURNEY OCT-NOV 2013 07