Toast Master International Saudi Arabia chapter has won applause for successfully conducting its national annual conference recently at Majestic auditorium of the Baterjee Medical College, Jeddah.
The most celebrated speaker of the two-day event was Toastmasters 1994 World Champion of Public Speaking Morgan McArthur. Mohammed Murad, George Thomas, Akanke Abdul Khaliq were the other speakers. A number of Saudis, expatriates, executives, professionals took an active part in the event’s various activities.
Khalid Matlagaitu, present governor of Toast Masters International Saudi Arabian chapter who is credited with the remarkable growth of toastmasters in the region and Kingdom’s attaining position of No.1 district in the world, described the event as a huge success.
The team of organizers, led by Conference Chairman Abdullah Filimban and Vice Chair Maria Teresa Villanueva and team of committees’ chairmen came in for a lot of praise for their thorough planning and exceptional efforts.
More than 500 delegates attended the conference. Prominent among them were Sobhi Baterjee and Najeeb Al-Zamil, Baterjee promised not only financial support for Toast Masters but also offered the use of conference facilities of Batterji hospitals by Toast Masters in the Kingdom and abroad much to the delight of the multicultural and multinational audience. He also announced opening of toastmasters clubs in all hospitals of the group. Zamil, gave away prizes to the winners and felicitated the organizers.
McArthur electrified the audience with two keynote addresses in which he spoke of the need for people to move out of their comfort zones and try new horizons. His eloquent speech kept the audience spellbound. He advised the budding toastmasters to be themselves instead of imitating others.
Other speakers Mohammed Murad spoke on “Leadership as a Life Opportunity”, while Akanke Abdul Khaliq spoke on “Standout above the Rest”.
There were 72 contestants from 9 divisions competing in 8 Arabic/English contests from all over the Kingdom. Abdullah Abandi, Wael Al Bassam, Nida Al Aswad, Sarah Kaleem Ahmed were declared winners in the International speech, humorous speech, in Table topics and Evaluation contests. Abdullah Abandi will represent the Kingdom at the International Convention in Orlando, Florida.
District 79 council members also elected the office bearers and division governors for the session 2012-2013 during the National conference.
Communication and leadership educational program and workshops were conducted by experts on the event’s sidelines. The program included a gala dinner attended by multicultural delegates.