Saturday, 20 April 2013

THE STORY OF JAMAAN AL-GHAMDI


The first time he appeared was, as my supervisor, working with him revealed me that he was a person who had a professional way of going about things. He was a person who worked with the end in mind and who would care about the needs and wants of his subordinates. A person who never preferred to beat about the bush but was clear and crisp in whatever he wanted to say. 

I had just been back form my annual vacation. Manoj and Ranedive came up to me and asked, would the club never run? I came to know that the V P education Kamaruddin had left on exit and the President of the club was transferred to another Sabic location. Before taking any action I preferred to be thoughtful and watchful. It was a week later I received a mail from the then president TM Shabibi Al-Sudairi asking me to take the charge of the club as the Vice President Education and there came to join me Jamaan Al-Ghamdi as the President of the club.

We two were not that much experienced in Toastmasters. But we both had the intention of working for the club and being sincere and serious in whatever we would do. I would go to other clubs watch the proceeding and implement it in Kayan. I would mend it the way that suited Kayan the best. Jamaan was always open to whatever I had to say. Once taken a decision he whole heartedly would support me. There were times we did not have any speakers however we would give demo speeches, do table topics only but we would not allow any meeting to be cancelled. He would cater to the needs and support of the club and I would focus on the education and learning needs of the club. Breaking the inertia took some time but finally we gained momentum. “Slow and steady wins the race” goes the famous saying. Towards the end of the year SAUDI KAYAN TOASTMASTERS CLUB was a President’s Distinguished Club. Jamaan always was a humble and open person. Any mail form the Toastmasters International would be forwarded to me with a note FYA (For your action). He continued informing and I continued acting.

It was time to choose the new executive committee. I told him let us have a Saudi guy as the president and I will support him with the vice-president-education task. He was a person who could sense the soundness of the person. He was clear, he replied “I don’t want the club to die, you are the next President”. Being in the president’s office was a unique experience.

He was a generous person. While in the area council meeting we were discussing about the monetary aspect. The area governor DTM Sushil Agrawal expressed his concern regarding revenue generation. Jamaan humbly asked how much do you need? He without hesitation agreed to contribute 5000 Riyals to the Area. This is a quality seldom seen.      

I am here, I am here, I am here, I am here was the way he made his presence on the stage of Saudi Kayan Auditorium. It was 13.12.2011, the day the first every Toastmasters Day conducted by Saudi Kayan Toastmasters Club. Never before had I seen him the way he appeared as a speaker, he stole the show and brought fame to Toastmasters Day inside and outside Kayan.


Jamaan though having left Saudi Kayan his memories are still alive and very much Fresh. Next time see you with another story. The story of Hareesh Sumathy Bhargawan.

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