Media Release
Mangaluru, Jul 5: The new team of office-bearers of Port Town Advanced Toastmasters Club for the year 2017-2018 led by president Bharathi Shevgoor was installed at a glittering function held on Saturday July 1 at Banquet Hall of Hotel The Ocean Pearl in the city.
In tune with the chosen theme of the evening – 'Music', Dr Sourjya Banerjee, a musician, who is a physician by training and serves as an oncologist in the department of radiotherapy and oncology, KMC, Mangaluru, was invited as the chief guest of the occasion. Dr Banerjee is trained at the Trinity College of Music and The Royal Schools of Music, London.
In his address to the gathering, the compassionate physician urged people to welcome literature, art and music into their lives, because it humanizes the individual. Sharing his experiences of dealing with patients suffering from terminal illnesses, Dr Banerjee quoted Tagore to say that any ray of sunshine that enters our lives has to be welcomed since it is only positivity that supports us in our daily struggles. The virtuoso violin player added that it was his music that motivated him and gave him cheer and at times needed solace. "Music is the voice of the universe and the human soul responds to it without barriers of race and religion. It is uplifting and helps us communicate better to our brethren," he opined. Dr Banerjee also enthralled the audience with a piece of music on the violin.
The handing over of responsibilities from the outgoing to the incoming team was conducted with creative flair by Malini Hebbar, former District Administration Manager of the Toastmasters District 92.
Toastmasters area director Molly Chaudhuri administered the oath of office to the new team of office-bearers for 2017-18, led by the president Bharathi Shevgoor. The team includes Savita Salian (vice-president – education), Sharmila Sagar (vice-president – membership), Malini Hebbar (vice-president – public relations), Preetham Kamath (secretary), Dr Chandra Kumar Ballal (treasurer), Veera Katpitia (sergeant-at-arms) and Brian Fernandes (immediate past president).
Dr Chandra Kumar Ballal rendered the invocation. Veera Katpitia welcomed the gathering and Outgoing Secretary Vidya Shenoy presented the annual report. Urmila Shetty introduced the chief guest. District Admin Anita Cordiero and Division Director Sagnik Biswas officiated during the function.
Outgoing president Brian Fernandes thanked his team mates and club members for their cooperation during his tenure.
In her acceptance speech Bharathi Shevgoor spoke about the intellectual development that happens in the Toastmasters movement, especially in Port Town Advanced Toastmasters since it is a club with veteran toastmasters, and sought the support of all for achieving the club goals during her tenure.
Maria D’Costa inducted new members Sophie Zacharias, Krishna Prasad Adappa and Roshan Satya Sai, who were introduced by Suresh Mathias. Samina Nayak entertained the gathering with a fun quiz on music that was participative in nature and enjoyed by all.
Area directors Tanuja Maben, Divyashree Gatti, Presidents and representatives of various other Toastmasters clubs of the region, Shwetha D’Souza (Winners Toastmasters), Kamaldas (Infosys Toastmasters), Praveen Shetty (ProAct Toastmasters), Shariq (Mangalore Toastmasters) and Amitha Shetty (Milagres Toastmasters) felicitated the new office-bearers.
M N Pai, Educomm director of Toastmasters district 92 urged the Toastmasters of the region to help set up new clubs. Vishnudas Kamath Shevgoor, senior artist of the city presented an acrylic abstract painting to the chief guest as memento on behalf of the club members. Preetham Kamath proposed the vote of thanks. Savita Salian and Shivani Baliga were the comperes for the programme.
Port Town Advanced Toastmasters meets every month.