HAVE YOU TAKEN THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED?
Bukoto
Toastmasters Uganda organized the first ever theme tailored meeting where all
speeches were tagged to the theme: The
Road Less Traveled. Bukoto Toastmasters is the second chartered
Toastmaster Club in Uganda providing a platform for those committed to
improving their public speaking, leadership and mentorship skills, among others
through a carefully crafted tailored pathway. This 28th meeting was hosted by
Lydia Kobusinge, the current Vice President Public Relations,Bukoto Toastmasters Club and an economist
with passion for advocating for the rights of marginalized persons. The meeting
sought to expound on the concept of taking the riskier route, daring to be non-conformist,
and the rewards thereafter.
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| Guests and Toastmasters during the Toastmasters meeting held on 15th August 2018 at Naguru Skyz Hotel |
Lydia explained that this theme was derived from the poem: The Road
Not Taken by Robert Frost. She drew our attention to the parting words
in the poem, “Two roads diverged in a
wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the
difference.”
The
meeting had four speeches that sought to expound on this theme. Rosalie Olunloyo
narrated her story of leaving the United Kingdom, her home to travel the world
and help others across the world. Her reflection twelve years later revealed on
an unprepared journey that has shaped her life immensely. Her speech titled “My Journey, As Me” signified that change
brings with it new and exciting experiences, if you will only let go of fear
and let life charter you on this new path. Rosalie is a Gallup Certified
Strengths Coach and one of the newest members of Bukoto Toastmasters.
Christine
Monne’s speech titled “A Peep into
Christine's Journal” gave us a sneak peek into her journal as a special girl
born after four boys and earning the name “Aya” in the 21st Century.
Christine is a hospitality and customer solutions expert; and the immediate past
Sergeant at Arms for Bukoto Toastmasters Club. She also described her enrollment
in boarding school at six years of age because her widowed mother had to solely care for 6 children. Her speech reminded us that change is sometimes foisted on
us by circumstances outside our control, but we must flow with the tide. What
did she learn from this experience? She learnt how to plan, budget, take care
of her personal property, pay attention to detail, cook the most fabulous delicacies. Take
a look at all your experiences, there is something to learn and that you can be
thankful for, if you just pay attention. Her chief advice was for everyone to
keep a journal, to enable themselves reflect on their experiences and choices
and become the best person they can be.
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| Jesse Ainebyoona gestures during his speech "The Road less Traveled" |
Jesse
Ainebyoona, a motivational and leadership trainer and Bukoto Toastmasters
current President followed with the speech “The
Road Less Traveled”. He beguiled us with his account of his journey through
his first business as a soap entrepreneur while studying mechanical
engineering, his craving to have a soft cushioning job after 3 years and the
perks that came with it. He succeeded in acquiring a job to fit in, only to
find it boring and having to spread his wings and quit his job in 2016. His
parting words were “Cultivate what is within you, your passion, what is within
you”. Do what makes your heart sing and dance. A powerful quote comes to mind: “Security
is mostly a superstition. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” —
Helen Keller.
Catherine
Opondo shared her story in "Choosing
to Be a Stay at Home Mum in the 21st Century". Catherine is an
Executive Director Concern for the Girl Child and passionate about empowering
the lives of young lives and women. She is also the immediate past Treasurer
for Bukoto Toastmasters. This decision stemmed from the shocking experience of
having her former nanny’s attempt to steal her child that jolted her to the
reality of needing to give up her job for the sake of her children's safety. Being a
stay at home mum is often associated with mothers with little education, having
many children,among others. However, the safety and well-being of one’s children is
paramount. It is a tall order, isn’t it in the 21st century-would
you do the same? It requires internal reflection, wouldn’t you say?
Finally, the highlight of the evening-a Question and Answer Session with Manuela Pacutho Mulondo!! A marketing professional and founder and CEO of The Cradle, Uganda's first 24-hour childcare center designed for the workplace and a 2017 Mandela Washington Fellow. She shared how a friend approached her to deliver a pre-note address before President Barack Obama’s speech to council leaders in South Africa in 2018.This was because her work with providing child care services and promoting gender equality in the workplace has earned her massive recognition.
You should have seen the awe on the participants' faces as she spoke about how she had managed to meet and deliver that pre-note address. Her key message was, the road less taken is one of the loneliest roads-no one in sight at the beginning, you meet a friend here and there as you move along. There are times when the people you have met on this risky road will return to the road more travelled, which is disappointing, but you must persevere. The road less travelled illuminates who one is, tough, a visionary, persistent and in the end triumphant.
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| Manuela Pacutho Mulondo(right) emphasizes a point during the Q& A session.Left is Beverly Nambozo Nsengiyunva,session moderator |
The session did re-echo a quote by Jimmy Carter -“Go out on a limb. That’s where
the fruit is.”
Catherine
Opondo emerged the better speaker and Manuela Pacutho Mulondo awarded an
honorary BTM lapel pin with the promise to join Toastmasters as soon as
possible.
Would
you like to join a Toastmasters Club? Are you eager to experience and watch yourself grow with the Pathways Toastmaster Experience? For inquiries, email bukototoastmastersclub@gmail.com and follow us on twitter @BukotoTM1
and Facebook- Bukoto Toastmasters Club for more details.
By Lydia Kobusinge
