Copyright thehindu
What goes into giving a winning speech? A powerful introduction, voice modulation and body language. For 12 years, the Coromandel Toastmasters Club has been helping improve the public speaking and leadership skills of its members, a majority of them from areas in and around Tambaram. Started on September 6, 2013 with a small team, today the Club has more than 30 members who meet every Saturday at 5 p.m. at Valluvar Gurukulam School in Tambaram - a venue that has stayed with them all these years due to its proximity to the railway station and bus terminus. Madhavan Namboodri, the charter president, says Coromandel Toastmasters Club was the first community club in the area as other clubs were in the city. The motley group includes professionals from various fields and students. Through regular meetings, members practice public speaking, receive constructive feedback, and take on leadership roles that build confidence, clarity, and presence — both personally and professionally. On October 4, the ‘Toastmaster of the Day’ Prithivi spoke about Sivakasi also known as “Kutty Japan” and a table topic session was conducted by Shaju. Sathya Agila, vice president – Public Relations with Coromandel Toastmasters Club, says the group has evolved in many ways. “For instance, we conduct “Round Robin Master”, an activity where the guest speaker as well as the member get to take part, which is not so common in other clubs,” says Sathya. Likewise, the Club started the practice of reading the minutes of the meeting before the start of a new session, which was inspired after attending meet-ups of other groups. The Club is gearing up to host its next milestone meet-up: 625. “Every 25th meeting is celebrated and we welcome those who are looking to overcome their stage fright, become a more persuasive speaker, or enhance their leadership abilities to attend our sessions. To become a member there’s a membership fee but for those wanting to attend as a guests we don’t charge any fee,” says Sathya. She adds that this is the only community club in this part of the city. For details, call Prithivi at 95976 71796
