Abdullah Mohammad Al-Zamil receiving the appreciation award. (AN photo)

DAMMAM, 3 June 2005 — Learning knows no barriers, be it age, qualification or profession. It is relatively easy to count the number of seeds inside an apple, but it is almost impossible to count the number of apples that have grown because of one seed. This was the very basic premise on which the new Zamil Toastmasters club was born here in Dammam last week.

A select gathering of current Toastmasters, aspiring Toastmasters and guests were present at the launching of the latest Toastmasters club.

“Although I have made over 70 presentations worldwide and have seen the reactions of the audience, I still believe that speaking is both an art as well as a science. One must always strive for better results so that the science can be made into a better art and the art more scientific,” commented Abdullah Mohammad Al-Zamil, president of ZIIC, the moving force behind the new club.

This incidentally, is the third corporate Toastmasters club in the Eastern Province. And if this is any indicator of things to come, more corporate Toastmaster clubs are expected to crop up in the near future.

It is really never too late to learn the art of public speaking, albeit it may be a trifle more difficult as age catches on. But the spirit behind such clubs is one which makes one more daring, more confident and a lot more relaxed and at ease with oneself.

The Table Topics of the day are a real challenge for the speakers as the reaction time is rather limited.

As a matter of fact, one’s mind needs to be ticking rapidly and words need to flow in a sustained and regular flow.

Sami Abdullah Abu Suraih was one of the Table Topics speakers. “Sure I was a little nervous as there was a big crowd watching me...as if they were waiting to jump on me as soon as I made a mistake,” joked Abdullah. “But I am glad that I am a part of such a club as I need to overcome my shyness and increase my confidence,” said Abdullah.

“The idea is very simple. We wish to make the individual more alert and responsive to his environment,” commented Anil Madan, a veteran Toastmaster who was also the grammarian for the evening.

“Every individual has his own level of ego and each seeks one’s own way of fulfilling it. However, the fear of the response precludes one from really letting his emotions flow. There is a tendency to withhold.

The audience has evolved in its ways of responding to the speaker. However, the situation which is really nerve wracking is when one glances at the clock and then tries to make sure that the clock has not stopped,” commented Syed Younis, the general evaluator.

“In Toastmasters, the two hours of continuous exercise aims at doing away with the apprehensions, the fears of speaking to a group of people. Apart from the extemporaneous approach, there is also the opportunity for speakers to deliver their prepared speeches. During the whole session, there is complete evaluation from the point of view of grammar, time taken, self-confidence, thoughts and finally, the style of presentation,” commented Saif Ali Sheikh, the governor of Division F-79.

Satish Kinny anchored the proceedings.