Friendship Reunion November 2008, Tangerine Beach Hotel, Kalutara

AACEI/Arabian Gulf Section - 2009 Spring Recognition Ceremony (May 11, 2009)

L to R: Abdul Waris (President), Ibrahim Bubshait (Member, Steering Committee), Gamini Padmaperuma and Bakr Al-Hajri

Toastmaster Speech # 6 - Vocal Variety

Baa Baa Black Sheep

Dear Fellow Toastmasters and Distinguished Guests,

I visited my old school after a long time. The Principal welcomed me warmly.

Hello Gamini, how are you? I am seeing you after a long time.

I am fine Sir, I was away, just returned recently. How is the new building project going Sir?

It is going well, thanks to past pupils’ contributions. By the way, today is our assembly day. Can you address the students for a few minutes?

He didn't know I was a toastmaster but he knew that I used to participate in school speech contests and debates, etc. This is just like a table topic speech. Being a member of the Energy Toastmasters club, I took the challenge and said yes, of course.

Dear Principal, Teachers and Beloved Children,

Good Morning!

I am very happy and honored to be here today. This reminds me of my old school days where we too stood under the hot sun and listened to speeches from the principal, teachers and visitors like me. Therefore, I am not going to make my speech long. My humble advice to you is to make the best out of your school life. You may not realize that this is the best part of one's life. So study well and play well. That is, while doing your studies well also participate in extra curricular activities such as sports, debate teams, drama, photography, etc. This will make you a balanced person. When you go the society as adults this will help you settle well. So Dear children, study well and play well. That is my message to all of you. Wish you all a very happy future.

Going back to the school days, I remember one of the speech contests I participated. There too the topic was given on the spot. Another table topic speech, although I did not know that time to call it that way. The topic given to me was Prime Minister's address to the nation on country's 50th anniversary of independence.

I was nervous. I didn't know what to say initially. But later I collected myself and tried to deliver my speech.

Dear members of the parliament, distinguished members of the diplomatic corps honored guests and fellow citizens,

We are gathered here to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our country's independence from the colonial rulers. 50 years is not a long period for a history of a country. However, if we turn back and take stocks, on one hand, we could be happy that we have achieved a lot but on the other hand we might say that we have missed many great opportunities to develop our country. At this critical juncture of the history of our country, I call upon all the citizens to stand together as one nation to develop our beloved country regardless of religion or ethnicity that we belong to.

Long live our country!

Oh, what a relief! I want to stop imitating others. I want to get closer to what I am in the real life…. In the early days of my stay in Saudi Arabia, my whole family was here. My wife also used to work. So, we had to keep our daughter at a baby sitter. I used to pick her up after work, feed and put her to sleep as my wife was at work till late evening. I tried to sing nursery rhymes. This is how my singing went.


Humpty Dumpty
Sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty
Had a great fall;
All the king's horses
And all the kings men,
Couldn't put Humpty
Together again.

My daughter instead of falling asleep became fully awake. I knew that I have to try something else. I tried to practice Vocal Variety. I tried to change my voice and tried to sing another rhyme.

This is how it went (try to sing it with a female/soft voice):

Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir,
Three bags full;
One for my master,
And one for my dame,
and one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.

My daughter started smiling as if she knew what I was trying to do. She didn't go to sleep. I had to try some other methods to make her sleep.

Dear fellow toastmasters, this is how my attempts for vocal variety have worked in the past. It is up to you to evaluate how successful I have been. 

Back to the Toastmaster of the Day.