Thirty-two Toastmasters from four clubs captivated the audience with their oratory talent at the Annual Speech Contest of Area 61, which was held at Emerald Banquet Hall, Classic Restaurant, Al Khobar recently. Contestants from the four Clubs under Area 61 viz. Nesma and Partners Toastmasters Club, Harmony Toastmasters Club, Alturki Toastmasters Club and Algosaibi Toastmasters Club participated in the contests. Sh. Abdulrazaq Ali Al Turki, DTM, managing director, Namma Cargo Services and Past Lt. Gov. – Marketing of District 79 was the Chief Guest. DTM Nazeer Qazaq Alqasem, chairman – District 79 Credential Committee and Past District 79 Governor delivered the Keynote Speech. The program was attended by a large number of members from the four clubs under Area 61. Besides, a good number of dignitaries from the Toastmasters fraternity attended the program. In International Speech Contest TM Francis Fajardo won the first place while TM Phani Kumar and TM Alagiri Selvaraj won the second and the third place respectively. In Table Topics Speech Contest TM Atiya Firdous won the first place while TM Nayaz Kaiser and TM Mohammed Nooman won the second and the third place respectively. In Humorous Speech Contest TM Redwan Hameed won the first place while TM Sanker Dev and TM Phani Kumar won the second and the third place respectively. In Evaluation Speech Contest TM Maheshwaran Balaraman won the first place while TM Atiya Firdous and TM Ziad Bou Alwan won the second and the third place respectively. This was the 1st Annual Speech Contest of Area 61, which came in to being on July 1, 2015 after hiving off from the then Area 60 having seven clubs at the end of July 2015. Not only all 32 contestants, eight from each club, mesmerized the audience with their brilliant speeches but also all the assignees marveled in their respective performances. It was a true reflection of spirited teamwork. Area 61 rightfully chose the Annual Speech Contest 2016 theme "One Spirit, One Team, One Win". Area 61 Director TM Mohammad Safiullah, who is well known in Toastmasters fraternity of the Eastern Province as well as in Bangladesh as the pioneer of Toastmasters in Bangladesh, welcomed the Toastmasters and guests at the event. He highlighted the major achievements of the four clubs in the Area during the year. He also highlighted the activities of the Area with special mention of the felicitation to TM Mohammed Qahtani, World Champion of Public Speaking 2015, jointly Organized by Area 61 and Area 60. Contest Chair TM Sankaran Unni, assisted by four Contest Masters: TM Johnson Samuel, TM Paul Varkey, TM Shakib Ahmed and TM Prasanth Pirarath and other assignees, smoothly steered the entire proceedings. Chief Judge DTM Jolly Kollamparambil with his learned panel of Judges, team of Tally Counters and Timers worked meticulously to select the first, second and third place winners of all the four categories of contest. TM Ziad Bou Alwan, Area 61 Finance Manager and president of Nesma and Partners Toastmasters Club offered vote of thanks. Area 61 Director TM Mohammad Safiullah during his concluding remarks expressed gratitude to all concerned for successful organization of the event and congratulated the winners as well as the participants.
