DAMMAM: More toastmasters clubs are being founded in the Eastern Province, encouraged by the ideals of this organization to enhance the communication, public speaking, and leadership skills of its members, mostly foreign nationals. The latest club to be chartered is the Gulf Alliance Toastmasters Club, which is composed of 30 high-profile members who are mostly Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree holders, teachers, professionals, and businessmen who have established their individual enterprises in the region. “The club is deeply anchored to the vision of propagating the tenets of being a good toastmaster and at the same time strategically defining the goals of our members so that they will be successful in their chosen career and path in life,” said Dr. Eduardo P. Malagapo, the club president, who is already ranked as competent toastmaster (CTM) and competent leader (CL). Other officers of the new club are Murry Fajardo Demdam, vice president (VP) for education and ranked as competent communicator (CC); Randell Relles, VP for membership; Leyo Cefre (CC), VP for public relations; Bibiano Bibs Garay, secretary; Andy Pricena, treasurer; and John Rex Demdam, sergeant-at-arms. The chartering of the Gulf Alliance Toastmasters Club was witnessed by the presidents and leading members of other clubs in the region, including Shaila Koya, Saif Al-Sheik, Abdul Gapoor, Ashar Farouq, Shamsuri Bin Mohammad, Mohammed Shoaib Yamin, Abraham Thomas, and Abdul Jabar. There are now 104 toastmasters clubs in Saudi Arabia, 56 of them based in the Eastern Province. “We are now preparing to offer programs of communication development and leadership projects to help members of society who want to embark on a new life in the art of speaking, listening and thinking,” said TM Demdam, the club VP for education.
