Andre receives his DTM from District Director Leonor Ragan
I had completed a Public Speaking Course in India at the suggestion of my dad and a recommendation from a good friend who enjoyed the speaking journey. However I lost touch after coming to Australia since most people get way with reading from a script. I was then requested to be a speaker at a wedding overseas in March 2008 and coincidentally, I saw this article in the local paper, “Postie gives a speech”. I rung Mark Richards who invited me to the demonstration meeting and soon I became a coveted ‘Canning Vale Charter Member’. Using the tips from the demonstration meeting and the first club meeting gave me the confidence and basic skills to speak at the wedding which I enjoyed. Canning Vale Toastmasters has been an amazing home club: the general atmosphere where everyone wants to excel as well wants other members to excel too. This is evident by the spirit of friendship and trust in the club. Members go the extra mile to prepare for their speeches and deliver them in a professional manner. I am extremely proud of our club and never miss an opportunity to invite visitors who are equally inspired and always keen to return for more including my mum whenever she is visiting from India.
Andre with his DTM medal and District Director Leonor Ragan at the D17 Convention
I was keen to enjoy my journey to Distinguished Toastmaster and truly make it meaningful in whatever role I undertook. The Communication and Leadership tracks of the Toastmasters Program have greatly helped me at work, in the community and in my personal life too. While I joined Toastmasters to build my skills as a speaker, I am amazed that it has also helped me become a critical thinker and a better listener while subtly giving me a good foundation of Leadership Skills. The road to Distinguished Toastmaster is certainly dotted with a healthy mix of achievable goals along with those targets that truly stretch you like being Area Director or delivering a presentation from the Success Communication Series. Achieving my DTM status reinforces the learning that I have received along the way and challenges me to live up to the ideals of being a professional speaker, thinker, listener and most of all a leader. I would like to sincerely thank my fellow Toastmasters at Canning Vale through the years and more recently leaders in District 17 who have encouraged me on the road to achieving DTM status. In particular I thank fellow charter members at Canning Vale including Mark & Robyn Richards, John Cecchi, Phil Lightbody and our current Area Director Michele Naidu.
Andre gives his acceptance speech at the DTM Breakfast
Andre with the DTM recipients for 2016/2017
Andre with all the DTMs at the District Convention
Outside Toastmasters, I am sincerely grateful to my beautiful wife Neicha who not gave me a kitchen pass to attend a few extra meetings and conventions, but has also supported me wholeheartedly with her attendance at milestone Toastmaster events and sharing her culinary skills which have added ‘that tasteful touch’ to many events.
