Mangaluru: Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) Savitha Salian took over as President of Port Town Advanced Toastmasters Club (PTAT), Mangalore, on Sunday, July 3, 2022, at a grand ceremony at the Ocean Pearl Hotel.
DTM Savitha Salian and her team of office bearers comprising VP – Education: TM Sangeetha Fernandes, VP – Membership: TM Anu Sharma, VP – Public Relations: TM Trisha Lara D’Souza, Secretary: TM Frances Pinto, Treasurer: DTM Molly Chaudhuri, and Sergeant-at-arms: DTM Geeta Pereira were installed in their respective offices by TM Sahana Bhandary, Area Director (AD) of Area F2, District 121, who was introduced to the audience by DTM Dr C K Ballal.
The theme for the evening was Royalty and the Installation was reminiscent of the ascendance of the Queen and Ministers of the Cabinet with fanfare.
The Chief Guest, Dr Dilip G. Naik, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, MAHE (Mangalore Campus) regaled the audience with his oratorical skill, wit and humour, coupled with a meaningful message on the true essence of leadership – an art learnt and cultivated through training, practice, listening and absorption.
In their opening remarks, MCs TM Sangeetha posing as Rani Seetha Devi of Kapurthala, and TM Bhaskar as Court Jester introduced the theme of the day and the significance of the Installation as the symbolic change of guard of the reigning queen and her entourage passing the baton to the newly ascending queen and her ministers.
DTM Vidya Shenoy rendered a melodious, soulful prayer and brought to the audience the essence of Lord Krishna’s devotee Meera. DTM Shivani and TM Radhika welcomed dignitaries and the audience with the verve of Kashi Bai and Jija Bai. TM Trisha as Princess Jodha highlighted the personal and public impact of the Chief Guest Dr Dilip G Naik.
DTM Malini Hebbar matched the spirit of Rani Padmavathi in converting the Secretary’s report into an enactment, ensuring maximum participation of awardees. The spirit of District Conference Crescendo returned to the stage with the rendering of the dance to the song Maria Pitashe.
Outgoing President DTM Maria Phyllis D’Costa, as the regal Vasundhara Raje spoke humorously on her journey as President with its accompanying difficulties, at the youthful age of seventy-four.
Speaking in Kannada, in keeping with her role as Kittur Chennamma, DTM Bharathi Shevgoor, introduced the incoming President DTM Savitha Salian as Rani Abbakka, bringing out various facets of her personality.
DTM Savitha Salian, a former District Club Growth Director, Division Director and Area Director, in her acceptance speech, introduced her team, and said, “I look forward to taking the club to newer heights in its quest to develop great communicators and leaders.”
TM Lyra Pinto aka Razia Sultan for the evening, introduced TM Shalini Prabhu, Division F Director (DVD). The DVD, then inducted four new members – TM Peter Antony Pinto, Smitha Hegde, Seema Sanghvi and Shivangi Sharma after VPM Anu Sharma, introduced them. VPM Anu Sharma enacted the role of Queen Mastani to perfection, presenting a mini dance performance.
The Felicitation Program ably compered by DTM Preetham Kamath and DTM Vidya Shenoy, saw TM Daryl Rodricks, DVD – Div. L, TM Dr Meera Rao, AD, Presidents and Office Bearers of other TM Clubs and Sister Organizations congratulate the outgoing team on their efforts and achievements and felicitate the incoming team.
DTM Molly Chaudhury and DTM Geeta Pereira, taking on the roles of Gayathri Devi and Jhansi ki Rani, also took up the responsibility of being the jury and declared TM Malini Mukund and DTM C K Ballal as Royal Queen and Royal King of the evening.
Secretary TM Frances Pinto who infused the grandeur of Mysuru Wodeyar Queen into her words rendered the Vote of Thanks in her unique, inimitable style.
The solemnity of the occasion was coupled with the delight of an aural, visual, olfactory, and gustatory feast.
