Moscow Spring Conference vol.3

What have you learned as a public speaker?

I’ve learned that from time to time it’s good to have break(joking and laughing*). Seriously, I’ve spent so much energy, emotions and other resources in a very short period of time since the first Contest in Atyrau, then the Central Asian Contest in Astana and, finally, to the Moscow Conference. So, I’ve had a timeout til the recent days.

Due to all this experience I’ve boosted my skills to speak in public. Hands down! Importantly, I ceased worrying about my blunders, incorrect pronunciation, etc. and that I can afford myself to partly forget my message while performing.

These torturing things are gone, faded away themselves naturally. You know, it is all about psyche.

Furthermore, I have unconsciously realized that I love and want to improvise during speeches and that the prime reason I didn’t comprehended though when I came first to the Toastmastes Club has been exactly this one. By the way, I talked about it at the end of my keynote address expressing the idea that the next destination of our growth can be an improvisation on the personal and community levels.

I believe that ability to make connection to an audience as it is, without a prepared text and dozens of overwhelming rehearsals is the top of professionalism. In fact, this is what's called performing art.

Has your vision of the Toastmasters platform been changed after that trip?

Exactly! Afterwards it has been expanded. While making a little research for my speech I got to know that the first Moscow Free Speakers Toastmasters Club was opened 28 years ago. Isn’t it impressive? Since then the community has largely grown producing such clubs like WorldSurfers, Zlatoust Masters, Toastbusters, ¡Viva!, Autour du Mot, Redefluss Moscau, Optima Forma. These are English, Russian, French, Spanish and German clubs.

So, you see, there are no limits to go beyond only one project, it takes time but whatever... This is what makes the community priceless.

What do people need to have for accomplishing such result?

First, it's easier to do things with the partners and companions who have the same interests, hobbies, values and positive ambitions to move up. Then, like in a good business there must me enough self-discipline, self-control and created awareness between all the community parties. And...a secret ingredient, or few ones.

That would be great! How do you see further cooperation between Toastmasters community in Kazakhstan and Moscow Area Toastmasters Club?

This is a very simple vision, on the one hand. The only thing we need being the ‘particles’ of the world society with basic foundation of communication is to build a connecting friendly bridge between Toastmasters in Kazakhstan and Toastmasters in Russia. There are also clubs in Kazan, Saint Petesburg as I know.

I’m pretty sure referring to the recently opened new Clubs in Central Kazakhstan that sooner or later enthusiasts will be more likely to set the bilingual Kazakh and Russian Clubs. So, why don’t we take an opportunity to get some consulting support from the experienced Moscow Toastmasters fellows?

I also think it’s necessary to avoid a competing atmosphere between our communities by organizing only public speaking Contests, for instance.

What a secret ingredient?

Oh, I have no clue! Maybe, it’s a devotion to the Toastmasters idea... We have to ask our Moscow colleagues about it next time when we collaborate (smiling*). We’re going to do this, right?

Instead, if we want to achieve reliable, long-term global International relations it’s better to project, let’s say, a team building, or the first Central Asian Conference for sharing ideas, knowledge and after all to improvise! The city of Almaty would be an amazing spotlight for it.

On the other hand, it requires to get involved sponsorship for making this possible in sooner perspective. Administrating meetings, conferences, buying proper equipment, booking accommodation and so on needs financial support. That’s an issue and, hopefully, it’s an achievable ‘quest’.

Another question is what do we really want of this cooperation?

Some may think that there is no need for that. Others wouldn’t be mind but they just want to have a concrete vision as a plan. If the issue is in it, then we only need to work on elaborating this plan today making vision clear and transparent for every parties.

Basically, clubs mix into Areas and then in Districts to have a right to participate in the International Contest in the U.S. For example, if you or me would like to perform in such competition, to meet new people getting on the global network we simply can’t do that. Metaphorically, we’re too small for that (smiling*).

It takes time, so today little by little we can take first baby steps to our cooperation just like fellows from different clubs in Europe, India, and other countries made that united then in Areas, Districts.

While thinking about the cooperation it would be useful to motivate clubs in Kazakhstan for becoming distinguished, as an official rules demand it to the further global growth.