Embarking on the Toastmastering Journey: A Tale of Cognizant MEPZ Chapter

Have you ever come across Toastmasters International? For nearly 50% of Toastmasters worldwide, this question marks the beginning of their Toastmastering journey, and my story is no different.

Initiation In July 2009, my director casually inquired about Toastmasters International and suggested exploring their website, http://www.toastmasters.org/. Intrigued by the keywords like public speaking, leadership, team building, learning, and mentoring, I decided to be part of the Toastmastering initiative in Cognizant.

Formation of the Team Following initial discussions, we formed a team, circulated mailers to generate interest among project team members, and received nominations from eager associates. The startup phase was followed by a demo meeting that introduced us to the essence of Toastmastering.

Demo Meeting Experience This marked an entirely new experience for us. One of our team managers commenced discussions with Toastmasters in the Chennai community, attracting valuable support from seasoned individuals. Veteran Toastmasters from Chennai guided us in forming the team and finalizing the tentative group of members. Subsequently, a demo meeting was conducted by a few Toastmasters from Chennai. Among them was a gentleman standing almost 7 feet tall, presenting a project on Vocal Variety through a captivating mono-act featuring himself and his uncle. Another participant walked in with a table, orchestrating a table topics session.

Chartering Process Navigating through the unfamiliar waters, we progressed with the chartering process under the guidance of TM JP Pattanaik from CSC Toastmasters. TMI's extensive structure across countries and divisions, with Chennai falling under Division G, was explained. We were part of Area G4, overseen by TM JP Pattanaik.

Club Formation With momentum building, we formed an Executive Committee and initiated regular meetings. The club, named Cognizant MEPZ Chapter Toastmasters, held its first formal meeting on September 3, 2009. The chartering requirements were fulfilled on December 3, 2009, and the club officially chartered on January 15, 2010.

Post-Chartering Cognizant MEPZ Chapter Toastmasters continued to meet every Thursday between 1-2.30 PM, achieving a commendable attendance rate of over 60%. The club celebrated its success with a chartering ceremony attended by distinguished guests from Cognizant and the Chennai Toastmasters community.

Conclusion The journey of Cognizant MEPZ Chapter Toastmasters reflects the enthusiasm and dedication of its members in embracing the Toastmastering experience, overcoming challenges, and fostering a thriving community of public speakers and leaders.


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