100 IS NOT JUST A NUMBER, ITS A JOURNEY – PORT TOWN ADVANCED TOASTMASTERS CLUB @100
100 IS NOT JUST A NUMBER, ITS A JOURNEY – PORT TOWN ADVANCED TOASTMASTERS CLUB @100 by TM MAHIMA BHAT ( District 121 PR Team)
(Inputs from DTM Malini Hebbar, DTM Dr. C K Ballal, TM Lyra Pinto)
100 is not just a number, it’s a journey…
The Celebration Gala was a testimony to the productivity and creativity of TMs in COVID times.
Port Town Advanced Toastmasters chartered in the year 2014, celebrated its 100th milestone meeting on Friday, 27th November, 2020, on the zoom platform. Even though it was a virtual meeting, the members made sure to put on a line of spectacular events to keep the audience glued to their seats!
The 100th meeting was ‘advanced’ in every way with members epitomizing creativity. If President TM Lyra Pinto added exuberance to the gala celebration, the event Coordinator, DTM Malini Hebbar unraveled before the audience the multiple associations with the number 100 even as she doubled up as MC along with TM Trisha Lara, who mesmerized the audience with her spontaneity. DTM Bharathi Shevgoor, VPEd TM Amita Shetty and TM Wayne captured the spirit of each past president and the significance of every milestone in an astounding video. The honour of raising the toast to the club par excellence was given to TM Claudette Noronha. The Past Presidents who were graciously introduced by DTM Veera Katpitia, TM Geeta Pereira and TM Sharmila Sagar threw light on different aspects of PTAT:
DTM Dr CK Ballal – PTAT – A Trailblazer
DTM Molly Chaudhury – PTAT – A Place of Laughter
DTM Brian Fernandes – PTAT – A Meeting Point of Intellectuals
DTM Bharathi Shevgoor – PTAT – A Creative Hub
DTM Vidya Shenoy – PTAT – A Melting Pot of Diversities
DTM Preetham Kamath – PTAT – A Platform to Articulate
IPP DTM Preetham Kamath, Treasurer DTM Shivani Baliga, Secretary TM Radhika Adappa, VPM TM Anvesh Shetty and TM Beau Conroy kept the audience engaged with games connected to the theme of 100.
The brilliance of the ‘gala’ was enhanced by the presence and message of the District officers – District Director DTM Nirmala Lilly, PQD DTM Vanitha Rangarajan, CGD DTM Savitha Salian, District PR Manager TM Neil Gonsalves, DVD DTM Molly Chaudhuri, AD TM Jyothika Shetty, AD TM Beena Shetty, Contest Coordinator DTM Arjun Sundar Raj, and many other eminent guests.
The programme was vibrant with the dance performance of TM Anu Sharma and a Celebration Song which featured a large number of members including veteran DTM Maria D’costa and newbies TM Rita and TM Zaibunissa.
The Celebration Gala was a testimony to the productivity and creativity of TMs in COVID times.
When asked how she feels after six months of leading a distinguished club like PTAT, the President TM Lyra Pinto says, “When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. And that was my experience donning the mantle of the President in the last 5 months. From a SAA to a President was not an easy task, heading such a prestigious advanced club. With the right attitude and focus, the meetings were changed from monthly to bi-monthly. Concentrating on membership drive, brought in many new, young faces. With constant encouragement and the enthusiasm of our members, PTAT, a Distinguished Club, is soon to be President’s Distinguished. Though remembered as a Covid President in the history of PTAT, I had the glory of celebrating the 100th meeting. Active Sisters and zoom links have got us connected with clubs from different regions and across the borders.” She positively says that this is not the end and her journey has just begun.
Port Town Advanced Toastmasters was one of the first four clubs in the district to start an advanced toastmasters club; the others being one each in Bangalore, Delhi, and Sri Lanka (Colombo). The club was chartered in 2014. It is among the more successful clubs in Mangalore. The club has the pride of having more than 50% of the members as Distinguished Toastmasters, with one Triple DTM and two Double DTMs. The club has provided the district with numerous mentors, coaches, and many District leaders like Club Growth Director and District Administration Manager. The club is presently in its seventh year as a Toastmasters club.
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