A ‘President’s Distinguished Club’ Moratuwa Toastmasters celebrates one year

Chartered in June 2011, Moratuwa Toastmasters installed its new officers on 26 August at the KKK Auditorium, Gorakana, Panadura.  In its very first year, Moratuwa Toastmasters Club achieved the status of ‘President’s Distinguished Club’ which is the highest achievement a Toastmasters Club can achieve.

The grand Installation Ceremony was conducted by Area Governor TM Gorden Aponso, while the Chief Guest was TM Wasanthan Kanagaratnam and the Guest of Honour Past District Governor DTM M. Z. Saleem.
Toastmaster Samantha Weerakoon, the newly installed President is the Manager – Shipping at Finlays Colombo PLC and is a very committed Toastmaster.  He took over from the outgoing President TM Priyanka Mendis who is also the founder of the Club.  The team installed at the second Installation ceremony are as follows; President TM Samantha Weerakoon; Vice President Education TM Natalie Raymond; Vice President Membership        TM Dhanusha Fernando; Vice President Public Relations TM Malsiri Peiris; Secretary                                      TM Senani Silva and Treasurer TM Vishvajith Peiris.
Moratuwa Toastmasters is directly affiliated to Toastmasters International (TMI) which is a world leader in communication and leadership development. TMI membership is 280,000 strong. These members improve their speaking and leadership skills by attending one of the 13,500 clubs in 116 countries that make up the global network of meeting locations. Membership in Toastmasters is one of the greatest investments you can make in yourself. At $36 every six months, it is also one of the most cost-effective skill-building tools available anywhere.
A Toastmasters meeting is a learn-by-doing workshop in which participants hone their speaking and leadership skills in a no-pressure atmosphere. There is no instructor in a Toastmasters meeting. Instead, members evaluate one another’s presentations. This feedback process is a key part of the program’s success. Meeting participants also give impromptu talks on assigned topics, conduct meetings and develop skills related to timekeeping, grammar and parliamentary procedure. Members learn communication skills by working in the Competent Communication manual <http://www.toastmasters.org/Members/MemberExperience/EducationalProgram/CommunicationTrack.aspx> , a series of 10 self-paced speaking assignments designed to instil a basic foundation in public speaking.
Moratuwa Toastmasters is a dynamic club which boasts of a membership of 26 members most of who are between the ages 19 and 30.  They meet every first and third Saturday at 5.15p.m. and those who wish to join may contact the Club via the Facebook page ‘Moratuwa Toastmasters’ or VP Membership TM Dhanusha 0777285696 or email dhanushafernando@yahoo.com.