A JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION

Celebrating a Decade of Excellence!

A mighty river starts from a tiny fountain with tributaries adding to the journey, falls bringing beauty and rapids adding to the excitement. Similarly, an Awakening journey commenced a decade ago with plenty of promise and potential but little to show in terms of experience and accomplishments. But after travelling many a mile, this Awakening fountain has given and added many a milestone, to become a mighty river that has benefited everyone who has come across it.

It was time to mark the milestone with the celebration of a decade of excellence in this Awakening journey of transformation and no effort was spared in making sure that justice was done to the occasion that was the 10th Installation ceremony of Awakening Toastmasters. The Grand ballroom of Hotel Ramada was at its grandest on the exciting Sunday morning of the 16th of July. 2023. The writer as the host for the day had the best position to witness the grandeur.

The delegates ranging from dignitaries and guests from across the district to all those virtually joining from across the globe were warmly welcomed by the president of Awakening Toastmasters for the year 2019/20: TM Muhammed Sa’eed. Following this, it was time to retrospect on the Awakening experience from the past year with the Team Leader of the “Awakening Formula”; the President of Awakening Toastmasters for the year 2022/23 TM Najeeb Saheel sharing his insights.

Next the District Director of D82, DTM Mahinda Karunakara, who was warmly welcomed on stage by the President of Awakening Toastmasters for the year 2020/21 TM Shadrin Safwan, added his thoughts into what makes Awakening a True Awakening. Recognition and rewarding are an integral part of building a successful team and it was time for the President of Awakening Toastmasters for the year 2021/22 and the immediate past Area Director of Area C1 TM Abdul Qadir to reward and recognize the efforts put in, during an year filled with achievements and highlights.

Next, the stage was set to go back in time and retrospect on a decade of excellence that has brought the Awakening journey to the zenith of success. Who better to do the honors and taken everyone down memory lane than the Charter president who had a vision and was on a mission and whose tenure set the stage for Awakening with innovation, passion and performance, DTM Muhammed Sheikh Ahmed. This segment was the highlight of the morning with clips from the very first meeting and snaps from other meetings over the years, touching a heart string of each and every Toastmaster present. The culmination of the session was the recognition of the individuals who had been invited as special invitees, who had given their time and effort in guiding the Awakeners in founding the club and navigating through the Toastmasters journey in the infancy of the club.

Next it was time to showcase the varied talents of Awakening with the segment Awakening Got Talent (AGT) Season 10. The team along with TM Usman Firdausi provided rib-tickling humor while displaying the talent, doing things differently. Following the AGT it was time for the Chief Guest for the day Past President of Toastmasters International DTM Arunasalam Balraj to address the audience. He was warmly welcomed on stage with humor by the President of Awakening Toastmasters for the year 2015/16 TM Fairooz Marikar. DTM Balraj did justice to the occasion, highlighting his personal experiences and interactions with the Awakeners along with the lessons that can be taken by all present.

Finally, it was time for one set of hands to hand over the responsibilities to another enthusiastic set of hands to steer Awakening through the journey of transformation towards another decade of excellence. The 10th Installation of office bearers of Awakening Toastmasters was conducted by the Division Director of Division-C, President of Awakening Toastmasters for the year 2017/18 DTM Fawaz Jainudeen. Following the installation, it was the turn of the Awakening President for the year 2023/24, TM Bilaal Saheed to outline his vision and set the agenda for the Toastmasters year.

To bring the proceedings to a conclusion, the Vote-of-thanks was delivered by the President of Awakening Toastmasters for the year 2018/19 DTM Zameel Amjed. A significant aspect during the installation was that all nine Awakening Presidents who are well and truly part of the club, were actively involved running the day’s proceedings from the commencement to conclusion, while the memory wall showcased the highlights of each year to inspire all those present.

The new leadership team led by TM Bilaal Saheed are more than capable and undoubtedly dedicated to continuing this journey of transformation and ensure that the celebrations of the decade of excellence continues into decades more.

ISHFAQ UVAIM, DTM

Host, Installation ceremony 2023/24′ Awakening Toastmasters- 2016-17