First newsletter of the new committee, hope you enjoy this edition..

1. The Committee
President
Santhush Weerakoon CC
santhushweerakoon@hsbc.com.lk
VP Education
Janak Fernando, CC
janak@dialog.lk
VP Membership
Lal Karunaratne
LKarunaratne@mast.com
VP Public Relations
Nadeeka Amarasinghe
nadeekaamarasinghe@hsbc.com.lk
Secretary
Priya George, CC
cs@caa.lk
Treasurer
Anushka Perera CC
contactanushka@gmail.com
Sergeant at arms
Dimuthu Madushan
dimuthu.sad@gmail.com
Wattala Toastmasters Club
NEWSLETTER
Message from the Editor
It is indeed a great pleasure to be the Newsletter Editor for the First
Edition of Wattala Toastmasters Club first issue of the term 2013/14.
This new issue comprises with activities and memorable events which
we were actively involved and accomplished together as one team.
I would like to recollect the "4th Presidential and Executive committee
Installation” held on 24th August 2013 at Pegasus Reef Hotel which was
a huge success and a memorable evening to all of us, thanks to the
combined efforts of the team for their commitment in making the event a
success..
As a community club we have many challenges, but we have been able
to overcome them and the club is growing along with its members.
Hope all of you will enjoy reading the newsletter.
Nadeeka Amarasinghe
VP Public relations
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
- Meet the new committee - Birthday Corner
- Installation - New Members
- Club News and Events - Upcoming
Immediate Past President
Shadiya Zacharia CL, ACS
shadiyazacharia@ymail.com
Founder President
Alroy Mascrenghe ACB
Mark_ai@yahoo.com

2. MEET THE COMMITTEE…

3. Wattala Toastmasters Club conducts fourth Club Officer Installation
The Wattala Toastmasters Club conducted its fourth club officer installation ceremony on 24th August at the Pegasus
Reef Hotel. Several distinguished invitees from the Toastmasters fraternity were present to celebrate the occasion. This
included Past District Governor M Z Saleem, Past Divisional Governor K Vasanthan and Division "P" Governor Dirga
Subba who graced the occasion with their presence. The club officer installation was conducted by Area Governor
Sivatharshani Supagar.
The elected office bearers for the term 2013/14 are Santhush Weerakoon (President), Janak Fernando (Vice President
Education), Lal Karunaratne (Vice President Membership), Nadeeka Amarasinghe (Vice President Public Relations),
Priya George (Secretary), Anushka Perera (Treasurer), Dimuthu Madhushan (Sergeant at Arms) and Shadiya Zackaria
(Immediate Past President). The evening also included interactive events and welcoming new members to the club
along with introduction of a mentor program for their development.
The club was founded in 2009 by Toastmaster Alroy Mascrenghe winner of All Island Best speaker 2010 and assisted by
Toastmaster Sudhash Liyanage. Amongst many of the club achievements the 'Distinguished Club' status and the
Golden Gavel are noted. The club is entering its fourth year with much anticipation and a testament to provide a platform
for its members to develop their communication and leadership skills.

4. IN THE MEDIA
The installation was covered in the media on 2 papers and this was a good opportunity to
publicize the club in the community
- Daily Mirror 28 Aug 2013
- Ceylon Today/FT 02 September 2013

5. Link to the E-Paper
http://www.ceylontoday.lk/22-41699-news-detail-wattala-toastmasters-club-conducts-fourth-club-
officer-installation.html#prettyPhoto

6. 10 Tips for Public Speaking
Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and even beneficial, but too much nervousness can be
detrimental. Here are some proven tips on how to control your butterflies and give better presentations:
1. Know your material. Pick a topic you are interested in. Know more about it than you include in your speech. Use humor,
personal stories and conversational language – that way you won’t easily forget what to say.
2. Practice. Practice. Practice! Rehearse out loud with all equipment you plan on using. Revise as necessary. Work to
control filler words; Practice, pause and breathe. Practice with a timer and allow time for the unexpected.
3. Know the audience. Greet some of the audience members as they arrive. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than
to strangers.
4. Know the room. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.
5. Relax. Begin by addressing the audience. It buys you time and calms your nerves. Pause, smile and count to three
before saying anything. ("One one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand. Pause. Begin.) Transform nervous
energy into enthusiasm.
6. Visualize yourself giving your speech. Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear and confident. Visualize the
audience clapping – it will boost your confidence.
7. Realize that people want you to succeed. Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative and
entertaining. They’re rooting for you.
8. Don’t apologize for any nervousness or problem – the audience probably never noticed it.
9. Concentrate on the message – not the medium. Focus your attention away from your own anxieties and concentrate
on your message and your audience.
10. Gain experience. Mainly, your speech should represent you — as an authority and as a person. Experience builds
confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. A Toastmasters club can provide the experience you need in a safe and
friendly environment.
Source: TMI Site
Submitted by VPE Janak Fernando

7. Mastering your mind
“ The price of greatness is responsibility over each of your thoughts,” – Sir Winston Churchil.
On average a person runs about sixty thousand thoughts through his mind. Amazingly ninety-five percent of
those thoughts are repetitive. So, if these thoughts are negative, we become depressed, worried , angry, moody
etc. Some worry about broken relationships or financial problems. Some think about work related issues.
Some worry over trifling matters. Those who worry like this are blocking the enormous potential of their minds
to work magice and deliver into their lives all that they want emotionally , physically and even spiritually.
We need to be able to control our minds. Do we realize that we cannot control the weather, traffic or the
moods of people around us. But, certainly we control our attitude towards these. We all have and can
determine what we think about something at any given moment. No matter what happens to you in your life,
you alone can choose your response to it. The Chinese word for crisis has two characters, one spells danger
while the other spells opportunity. There are no mistakes in life only lessons. Let us see how we can be
masters over our mind.
Sit in a quiet room or garden. If possible go to the beach. Relax your body and start concentrating on an
object. Notice its colour, shape ..etc. At first, other thoughts will start entering your mind, distracting you from
your focus point. Don’t worry simply return your attention to the object of your focus. Do this exercise daily
for about five minutes. Gradually increase the time up to ten minutes. When you have changed yourself to
control other thoughts and is able to focus on what you want, start breathing deeply and train your mind on
positive thoughts. You will notice a change in your attitude towards everything around you. You will become
happy and energetic.
Source - The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
Submitted by Past President 2011/12 Sam Jeyaselvan

8. Club Meet up
A Club get together was held on the 17th
August at the Pan Restaurant Wattala.. the evening was filled with
fellowship and cheer

9. Revamping of the Wattala Toastmasters FB page
The Wattala Toastmasters Club page was revamped and is managed by our Young Member
Nipuna Koralage who has done a good job as the architect.
On an ongoing basis the meeting pictures are updated, shared amongst friends and events
created for meetings and contests.
The link to the FB page - https://www.facebook.com/wattalatc

10. New members joined from 01st
July to 30th
September
Iresha Dilrukshi
Fathima Sameera Shahid
Anusha Damayanthi
Chinthana Prasad
Muditha Wickramasinghe
Shahila Ratnayake
Upcoming
October
Club Meeting on 10th
and 24th
November
Club Meeting on 7th
and 21st
Club Get together
December
Club Meeting on 5th
and 19th
Club Xmas Party
Await Next News Bulletin
Club #0514977
Lions Club Hall
Hekitta Road, Wattala, Sri Lanka
Dimuthu Madushan 09 September
Nayomi Mendis 16 September
Alex Leons 08 August