YLP (Youth Leadership Program) is an actuality of the desire to do
something for the school children. The Toastmasters run the show but parent also
equally participate and contribute to the best of their ability. Logistics,
location, finance and mentors are four important aspects to be taken care of to
conduct a successful Youth Leadership Program.
Among the parents during the YLP of Dr. George was a person in the
name of Peri. Though not much acquainted with him I saw him fairly engaged
during the meetings. The YLP ended well and during the introduction the
audience was made to know about his caring and helping nature.
Couple of years later he was made an honorary member of Elite
Toastmasters club. Quality is the main concern of any Toastmasters activity, be
it delivering a speech or taking up a task. Maintaining quality is a tough task
for any club. It was during his presidency that he introduced the concept of
QC. QC did not mean quality control but it meant quality circle. There were 6
QC and each QC was headed by a senior member of the club. This was the second
phase which earned laurels for Elite.
Never judge a book by its cover and never judge a person by his
stature. Peri a man of average height had started unfolding his true mettle.
Being the Director (Marketing & Strategic Planning) at Farabi
Petrochemicals he was constantly on the move he had very little time at his
disposal. With whatever little time he had he utilized it to bring people
together either by club meeting or by family get-together.
During one such family get-together amidst a karaoke session, he
walked up to me and requested me to sing a song. I told him “I have never done
it”. He replied “so do it now” and gave me lyrics of few Bollywood songs.
Opportunities often surprise us. If you grab it you make it. I climbed the
stage and sung to the best of my ability.
While parting he commented “You sing well, a bit of practice could
make it better?” I call these remark “Passing Remark”. I took it seriously and
in the next family meet I was once again on the stage. “Chand se parda
keejiye”. The song was well received by the audience. Now I am able to
understand music and singing better.
Once during his Area Governor Address he put forward the
importance of communication with an appropriate example. He said “We put 07
years primary education, 03 years in secondary education, 2 years in higher
secondary education, 04 years in graduation and lastly 2 years in post
graduation”. Is this enough?
One may be sound at technical knowledge but the interview ordeal
requires one to put these 18 years of amassed knowledge in a concise, pleasing
and easy to understand way and that to in around 15 to 18 minutes. 18 years to
be compressed in 18 minutes. If you click you are in, you don’t you go out. DTM
Rose Joseph George says Communication Skill is Survival Skill.
We promised each other to meet one on one which never happened but
the summation of all our meets gives me a feel of being benefited, being on the
positive side.
