Qatar division of toastmasters set to expand with 2 new arabic clubs

Toastmasters Club (TMs), which endeavours to enhance communication and leadership skills of members, is set for expansion with two more clubs in Arabic language, to be set up over the next two months in the Qatar Division ‘E’ of the global nonprofit educational organisation. Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Arabic TM Club Co-ordinator and President of Filcom International TM Club Hamad Al Nesf said, “Any person living in Qatar or outside who is interested in developing his or her public speaking and leadership skills in Arabic language can join the two TM clubs we are planning to launch over the next two months.” Qatar currently has around 900 members comprising Qataris and expatriates in the 33 TMs clubs which includes one in Arabic – the Qtel Arabic TMs Club. Qatar TM Clubs are part of an Area. Each Area comprises on an average four clubs. There are eight Areas which make up Qatar which is Division ‘E’ and this in turn is part of District 20 comprising Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Lebanon and Jordan. Various districts in turn are linked to the global umbrella body that is Toastmasters International (TI) founded by Ralph C. Smedley. He held the first meeting in 1924 in a basement in a YMCA in Santa Ana, California, which subsequently grew to become TI as it is now recognised. During the early 1900s the word ‘toastmaster’ referred to a person who proposed the toasts and introduced the speakers at a banquet. Smedley named his group ‘The Toastmasters Club’ because he thought it suggested a pleasant, social atmosphere appealing to young men. Over 88 years the organisation, which hones members’ speaking and leadership skills through learn-by-doing workshops and projects, has expanded to 280,000 members worldwide. These members improve their speaking and leadership skills by attending one of the 13,500 clubs in 116 countries that make up the organization’s global network.