The Toastmasters Middle East Conference 2010 in Kuwait this week agreed to make Saudi Arabia a separate independent Toastmasters district effective from July 2010. The decision was taken due to the momentous growth of Toastmasters Clubs in the Kingdom as well as the size of the country. Several people have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make a Saudi Toastmasters district a reality. Two names in particular stand out – Abdulrazak Ali Al-Turki and Saif Ali Sheikh. The two are very popular among the Toastmasters fraternity in Saudi Arabia. Al-Turki, the father of the Toastmasters Club in the Kingdom, has been elected Lieutenant Governor Education and Training – man of action and source of inspiration and Sheikh was elected Lieutenant Governor Marketing – man of wisdom and source of knowledge. “Over the years, Abdulrazaq Al-Turki has raised the profile of Toastmasters in the Kingdom. He has always been supportive and helpful in expanding and showcasing Toastmasters' activities in schools, colleges, universities and also in corporate circles,” Syed Faizulla, current Division ‘F' Governor, told Saudi Gazette. “Also it is a great achievement for us and we are very glad to hear the news of the Kingdom being declared an independent Toastmasters District,” he said. Anil Madan, a former Division ‘F' governor, also praised Al-Turki's vision. Because of him Toastmasters' activities have started receiving media attention. “He (Al-Turki) is a man of strong belief and action,” Madan told Saudi Gazette. Shaila Koya, the first female district governor in the Kingdom, said the Kingdom being recognized as an independent district was a great accomplishment. “Saif Ali is a Toastmaster par excellence; he is the architect of District 79 reformation and a man with in-depth knowledge.” Sheikh, she said, is a mentor, friend and a guide to many, and has given impetus to the Toastmasters movement in the Eastern Province. As a result of his term as the Division F governor, the strength of clubs has gone up from 13 to 49 and from one division to four divisions, said Engineer Koya Anachirayil, a great supporter of Toastmasters clubs in the Eastern Province from the very beginning.
