Friends, Infoscions, Toastmasters ..
This is my Presidential speech delivered on 23 Jan, 2001 at the Installation Ceremony of new officers attended by Chief Guest – Ms Hema Ravichandar, Head HR, Infosys. In the beginning of the last century, to be precise in the year 1903, a young man graduated from Wesleyan University, Illinois with big dreams. As the director of Education at YMCA, he soon realized the need for training in communication skills amongst the young people. So, he started a group called the Toastmasters Club because the activities resembled a banquet with Toast and after-dinner speakers. I hope many of us present here know about whom I’m talking about. Yes, Ladies & Gentlemen, Mr Ralphs Smedley whose brain child is what we are inheriting today. Yet it was not an easy task for this man, working as he was part time for Toastmasters. Wherever he went he started in his capacity a Toastmasters club and helped people understand the benefits of improving their communication skills. Unfortunately, when he left, t...