Our History
Bangalore Toastmasters Club was born out of the efforts of four Toastmasters, Robinson D'Souza, Claudius Pereira, Siraj ur Rehman and Peter Anil Rego. From humble beginnings in 1997, with a handful of members, the club has grown, benefiting hundreds of men and women. The club now boasts of a healthy membership, energizing meetings and several speech contest winners.
Our Presidents
Robinson D'Souza, ATMS
Founder President. Chaired first meeting on March 8, 1996. President till June 1998.
Peter Anil Rego, CTM
July 1998 to June 1999. Released first issue of club newsletter on September 4, 1998.
Siraj ur Rehman, CTM
July to December 1999. Was Secretary of first District Formation Committee, the start-point for District 82.
John Bosco Abraham, ACB,CL
January to December 2000. Went on to become first District 82 Governor. Now Regional Advisor (Marketing), Region 13.
George Timothy, CTM
January to June 2001. Club achieved Select Distinguished Club status for the first time.
C.S.Menon, CTM
July to December 2001.
Debabrata Dutta, ATMS, CL
January to June 2002. Club achieved Presidents Distinguished Club status for the first time.
Justin Philips, ATMB
July to December 2002.
Somashekar T.H., CTM, CL
January to December 2003. Club achieved Presidents Distinguished Club status for the second time.
Sumitra Manamohan, ACS, CL
January to June 2004. First woman President of the club. Club achieved Presidents Distinguished Club status for the third time.
Nithin B., CTM, CL
July to December 2004.
Jaishree Iyengar, CTM
January to June 2005. Club website launched on May 6, 2005. Club achieved Presidents Distinguished Club status for the fourth time.
Umakanth V., CTM
July to December 2005.
George Timothy, CTM
January to June 2006. Club achieved Presidents Distinguished Club status for the fifth time.
N.Ravishankar, ATMB
July to December 2006.
Arun John Mathias, ACB, CL
January to June 2007. Club achieved Presidents Distinguished Club status for the sixth time.
Aaron Watson, ACB, CL
July to December 2007. Went on to be first District 82 International Speech Contest winner and participated in World Championship of Public Speaking 2009.
Theresa Chinnappa, CC
January to June 2008. Club achieved Presidents Distinguished Club status for the seventh time.
Rajdeep Manwani, ACS, ALB
July to December 2008. Multiple District level speech and evaluation contest winner.
Somesh Agarwal, CC, CL
January to June 2009. Club achieved Presidents Distinguished Club status for the eighth time.
Robert Dass, CC, CL
July to December 2009.
Become a 'possibilitarian'. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see the possibilities- Always see them, for they are always there.