DAMMAM — THE Saudi Arabian Annual Conference (SATAC) 2016 ended on a grand note with the declaration of Toastmaster Nashid Abdul Khaaliqas the winner of International Speech Contest. He will be the Saudi Arabian District 79 representative at the World Championship of Public Speaking to be held in Washington DC in August. A heartwarming speech delivered with passion incorporating all aspects of good communicator TM Nashid won the coveted position after competing at various levels and rounds. SATAC 2016, the three-day extravaganza ended with the celebration of excellence on April 23, with fitting pomp and circumstance. Around 1,400 delegates from all over Saudi Arabia and GCC states attend the event. It was the biggest Toastmasters event and the credit of its success goes to the various organizing committees' micro and macro level of planning headed by TM Mazen Sadat, the conference chairman, and the Committee Heads, DTM Samer Younus, DTM Sadagopan Natarajan and TM Rami Jawad. Peppered with a variety of workshops, keynote speeches, contests and showcases and of course the all important elections of District Officers the event went as planned. Surrounded by the prefect ambience provided by the sea view offering Sheraton Hotel the stage was set for the mega events all three days. The contests occupied the center stage. Here is where the final winners of the year 2016 were selected and therefore the passions ran high. The judges had a grueling time picking the winners, as all the contestants who had made it to the finals were the best of the best. In English language the winners of the prestigious International Speech Contest, were first place went to TM Nashid Abdul Khaaliq, second place to TM Adam Chanda and third place t to TM Sherwin Auman. In Evaluation Speech Contest, where analytical and critical thinking skills are put to test, was won by TM Rubab Fatima, followed by TM Joey Baissa in second position and Nathniel Thomas G. Banatao, in third place. In Table Topic Speech Contest, where exciting impromptu thinking skills were on show, the winners were TM Nimra Naqvi, TM Zainab Mulji and TM Joey Baissa in the first, second and third positions respectively. TM Abdullah Abandi, TM Redwan Amin Hameed and TM Minuri Wijasekara were placed first, second and third in the rib-tickling Humorous Speech Contest. Youth was showcased where young leaders displayed their speaking skills leaving the adults amazed. The first place winner was YL Parthasarathy, the second place winner YL Denuwan Rumaya Wickremasinghe and at the third place was Hettiarachchi Aditya Devamani. The Arabic language contests in all four categories too were equally competitive and well fought. The International Speech Contest was won by TM Metab Almutairi followed by TM Ramy Abdel Wahab in second place and TM Mohammed Gheyath Abdullatif Tarkji in third place. The Evaluation Speech Contest winners were TM Abdullah Binafif, Mahmood Aldubais and TM Abdulaziz Al-Shuwaikan in first, second and third place respectively. TM Amr Yahia, Altayeb Alshanqiti and TM Ali Abdullah Al Abdulkarim won the first three positions respectively in Table Topic Speech Contest. Humorous Speech winners were TM Ahmad Alquraish, TM Mohammed Gheyath Abdullatif Tarkj and TM Abdul Majeed Azouz in that order. Posters and pamphlets, canvassing and campaigning by the aspiring candidates and their supporters to various District Council 2016-17 positions caught the eye of all the participants in the election fever. The conference witnessed election of the new leaders of District 79 Council for the term July 2016 to June 2017, adhering to all the parliamentary procedures, which are so vital to the system. The presence of DTM Teresa Dukes, International Director, Region 11, who kept a strict vigil, lent an International flavor to the proceedings. TM Soliman Al Madi was elected as the District 79 Director taking over the baton from DTM Abdullah Al Sharif. Appointment of other important positions of executive committee and division directors were also conducted through voting in an atmosphere of professionalism and camaraderie. The delegates on all three days enjoyed the warm hospitality, delicious food, educative workshops, inspiring speeches, and ample networking opportunities with people converging here from all walks of life, different professions and all over Saudi Arabia.
