Hello, District 98 Toastmasters, 

Some of you may have heard me speak at the recent Power Up sessions, where I spoke about my fear of traveling, and yet I embark on a journey every other month. A few weeks back, as part of the District Leadership Mid-Year Training, (very similar to the training that club officers go through every 6 months), we had to visit Bangkok. So, I arrived in Thailand a few days early and headed straight to Chiang Mai (a city in the north of Thailand). It isn’t a very popular destination for Indian tourists and when on solo trips like these, I do not go with a planned itinerary.

Food, of course, was a challenge for a vegetarian, but that turned out to be the least of my concerns on that trip. On the second day of the trip, I was almost 50 km away from my hotel on a rented motorbike when my phone decided to malfunction. I do not speak the local language, and cannot read the sign boards and I was halfway through to the destination I wanted to be (the highest point of Thailand – Doi Inthanon). Instead of turning around, I memorized the directions to reach the top. But I had another obstacle on my way; around 20kms away from the point, I was out of petrol and I contemplated the option of returning back to base when a kind local guide helped me with a self-service station a few meters away. And so the journey to the top continued and with less than 2% phone battery I could manage just a few snaps.

Plan -> Manifest -> Execute -> Believe

How I traveled back to the base 100 km away and survived the next 3 days without a phone – navigating cities, hotel changes, flights, etc is possibly the right material for my next ISC speech (unfortunately cannot compete this year). The point is I had to adopt the unknown route to my destination, adapt to the challenges thrown across to me, and at the end achieve my goal of viewing Thailand from its highest mountain.

When I got elected as the District Director in May last year, I had a vision – #BeyondTheDashboard where not everything we do directly contributes as a DCP point because for us members are not just numbers on the dashboard. Very soon at the start of the term we realised, that with more than 70% of members being less than 18-month-old Toastmasters we had to do a lot more to get the energy levels up and going for everyone. Keeping this in mind District 98 launched several initiatives to build an entire ecosystem be it Podcasts, Blogs, #Dynamo D98er to encourage contribution in various aspects of public speaking and topped it with a touch of rewards and recognition.

Just like members’ desire to complete levels/ paths; clubs wish to be Distinguished and above, District 98 this year is aspiring to reach the Smedley Distinguished District recognition [the highest recognition a District can achieve in any program year]. With all these initiatives, we are also trying to become one the best performing districts in the world and all this will not be possible without your support. Today, we are ranked 6^th in the world in terms of membership payments.

During the course we have modified the initiatives; upgraded a few and discontinued some adapting to the changing needs of the members. In December, we launched the New Year New Me initiative with an urge to each member to continue their upskilling journey and added the Dynamo Club recognition. We also announced the pre-launch of Eloquence 2024 helping you plan the calendar. When we were planning these initiatives, we manifested some goals for ourselves, executed our efforts in that direction, believed in our prayers and voila – we met our goals.

Plan -> Manifest -> Execute -> Believe

When we closed on 31^st January, we had a record 668 members who signed up for the New Year New Me Program, 13 clubs having achieved the Dynamo Club award and 203 members had signed up to attend Eloquence 2024. You, District 98 Member, yes you, made this possible. Thank You.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2zpLS4v0GX/?igsh=Y29nNXM4bWw0c2o=

In the last few months, you all have been more than supportive by showing up in huge numbers at District events be it Area Conference, Division Conference or Power Up and all District initiatives in general. In the last few days, some of you reached out stating that you would like to sign up for the New Year New Me initiative and attend Eloquence but manage the finances better and we hear you and are cognizant of the commitments. We want you to be part of our success and celebrations. In this month of love and affection, we are happy to extend the last date for New Year New Me, Dynamo Club, and Eloquence Early Bird registrations to 15 February. Will you be our Valentine?

In February, we’ll also be launching Prarambh; a Corporate Leadership Conclave, and a club influencer campaign. Watch out for our emails and social handles for more details.

If there is anything we do to upgrade the ecosystem, improve the community, or enhance your experience, please do write back to me. I’ll be happy to read about your journey with Toastmasters and District 98.

#BeyondTheDashboard

Hardik Shah

District Director | District 98 | Toastmasters International

I don’t call them New Year resolutions, I prefer the term casual promises to myself that I am under no legal obligation to fulfill.

Dear District 98 Toastmasters, 

Wishing you a very Happy New Year !!!

There are moments when you want the time to stay still because life is good and you want nothing more. 2023 started on a high note but by the time it reached midway, it was a year that I have come to dislike, there are many days in which I wish I could erase and change the trajectory. But that’s what life is – you move on. As I look back at 2023, with this capture from 2022, hoping 2024 will have a different story to tell.

I am hopeful and optimistic that 2024 will present me with opportunities to scale ahead on all fronts be it personal, professional, or Toastmasters. All I know is that I’m going to be back with more adventures and stories to tell.

It’s been a few days to this year and some of us simply carried forward the incomplete resolution from last year which we have high intent but limited discipline to accomplish. And I am no different, so here is how I have decided to approach this year differently:

• Instead of resolution, make a round-the-year bucket list and work towards it. Do not wait for 1^st day of the month or Monday to kickstart – it starts the day it gets added to the bucket list
• Put it out on social media to make myself accountable. Sometimes we are more accountable to the people around us rather than ourselves. Don’t we take ourselves for granted?

I hope this will take me a step closer to my fitness journey this year. Optimistic. And happy to be held accountable by all of you. Find your accountability partner this year.

I recently came across a very interesting reel by Anupam Kher – the relationship between December and January, like old memories and new promises, both have depth and indicate time and both have their flaws – both have the same number of days but yet both have a unique identity and style. One marks the end of a year, while the other marks a new start – just like day after night. One has memories of the past while other has hope for the future. Both are connected as two ends of a thread – poles apart yet joined.

What December leaves behind is accepted by January; the promises we make to ourselves in January are supposed to be fulfilled by the time December sets in. January to December takes a whole 11 months while December to January is a matter of a blink of the eye. All months of the year are bound between January and December and are all about dreams, hopes, and aspirations while the separation of December and January is a worldwide celebration.

If 2023 was about obstacles, can we take 2024 as an opportunity?

As a District, we have had our set of challenges but the team has learned to come together stronger. I have had a chance to speak to many of you in the past few months be it at TLTP, area/ division conference or part of my #D98Tour, and have nothing but gratitude for the love and affection all clubs and members have towards the District Officers. I am optimistic that as we enter to the last six months of the program year, we’ll achieve the vision that we have set for ourselves for this year and so will all of you. If there is anything I can do to bring you closer to your goals, I am happy to do so.

Here is something from my personal archives:

Waking up to 2023 some of us made some promises to ourselves,

Many of us did not make any,

And several of us just carried forward the 2022 promises.

Some of us succeeded in reaching a new milestone,

Many of us failed and stood up again,

And several of us are still lost on the way.

Some of us went through depression,

Many of us found a new reason to live,

And for several of us it was just another year.

Some of us ventured into new territories,

Many of us are exploring new career options,

And several of us are still surviving on our monthly paycheck.

Some of our old friends were lost,

Many new folks became our friends,

And several of us are still stuck with those old buddies.

Some of us broke up,

Many of us got hitched for life,

And several of us are just happy with the new crush in the neighborhood.

Some of us know what we want this 2024,

Many of us have an idea of what we definitely don’t want,

And several of us are still figuring out the purpose of our lives.

Happy New Year 2024

DirectDilSe

Hardik

So, ABC, what is the one pending desire from 2023 that you’ll give it your all in 2024 and ensure it is accomplished?

#BeyondTheDashboard

Hardik Shah

District Director | District 98 | Toastmasters International