8 August 2026 | Trivandrum Toastmasters
Every Toastmasters meeting has something to teach us—not just about speaking, but about listening, leadership, teamwork and ourselves.
Our 628th meeting of Trivandrum Toastmasters was centred around the inspiring theme:
“The Power of Why – Your Purpose Can Give You Wings.”
The theme, presented by DTM Sajeev, reminded us that when our purpose is strong, challenges can become opportunities and our goals can become more meaningful.
Two Roles, Two Perspectives
This meeting was particularly meaningful to me because I took up two roles—Sergeant-at-Arms and General Evaluator.
As Sergeant-at-Arms, my responsibility was to help the meeting begin smoothly and set the tone for the evening.
Later, as General Evaluator, I had an entirely different perspective. I had to step back from my own participation and observe the meeting as a whole—the speakers, role players, transitions, evaluation process and the overall experience of the members and guests.
Taking on these two roles reminded me that:
Leadership is not always about being in the spotlight. Sometimes, it is about taking responsibility, observing carefully, supporting others and helping the entire team move forward.
Learning from Fellow Toastmasters
The prepared speech for the evening was delivered by DTM A. T. Pillai, titled “Theatrical Event,” a Level 5 Elective from the Team Collaboration pathway. TM Sreekanth evaluated the speech and provided constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement.
The Education Session, “The Marathon Inside Your Mind,” was presented by TM Adarsh. Its message—“Master your mindset. Finish every race you start”—was a wonderful reminder about perseverance and the importance of staying committed to our goals.
The Table Topics session, led by TM Surjith, gave members and guests an opportunity to think on their feet, respond spontaneously and express their thoughts with confidence.
The Power of Evaluation
One of the things I value most about Toastmasters is its culture of constructive evaluation.
The TAG Team—TM Roshni (Timer), TM Jayapalan (Ah-Counter) and TM Rakesh (Grammarian)—provided their respective reports.
As General Evaluator, I had the opportunity to reflect on the meeting as a whole and share observations that could help make future meetings even better.
It made me think about how important feedback is—not just in Toastmasters, but in every area of personal and professional growth.
Celebrating Consistency
The meeting also gave us reasons to celebrate.
Toastmaster of the Month – July: DTM Sajeev
100% Attendance for all July meetings: DTM Sajeev and DTM A. T. Pillai
These recognitions reminded me that achievement isn’t always about one spectacular moment.
Sometimes, consistency itself is an achievement.
Showing up. Participating. Taking responsibility. Supporting others. Continuing to learn.
My Takeaway
When I look back at my Toastmasters journey, I realise that the learning extends far beyond public speaking.
Every role teaches something different.
Every speech teaches me something.
Every evaluation makes me look at communication from another perspective.
Every meeting gives me another opportunity to step out of my comfort zone.
And perhaps that is why the theme of Meeting 628 stayed with me.
“Why” gives meaning to “what” we do.
When we know why we are learning, why we are contributing and why we want to grow, the journey becomes much more purposeful.
For me, Toastmasters is becoming more than a place to improve my speaking skills.
It is becoming a space where I am learning to take responsibility, lead, listen, evaluate, collaborate and grow.
And perhaps, just as our theme reminded us:
When the “why” is strong enough, it can truly give us wings.
Toastmaster Journey
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