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BY JOHN SNYDER
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
HAWORTH, N.J.—Nandita Dsouza is going places. The certified math and science teacher and flight attendant put her passion for public speaking to the test, winning a series of humorous speech contests at Toastmasters International.
She won at her club—Haworth-based Valley Toastmasters—and then her area and division, grabbing her most recent first-place trophy in Clifton on May 18.
With her 5-7 minute speech, “Humor in Uniform,” drawing on her 33 years of experience as a flight attendant, she advances to the district meet in Iselin.
Her goal is to refine her performance and win the World Championship of Public Speaking.
“In my job I’m a leader and I used to be a teacher. It’s in me that I like to address people, give speeches, take up challenges in life,” she told Northern Valley Press in her lilting Indian accent.
“This contest was a challenge for me. I have to keep climbing, whatever it takes. I have to meet my goal,” she added.
Dsouza, of New Milford, is president of Valley Toastmasters, which meets at the First Congregational Church, 276 Haworth Ave. on the first and third Monday of every month from 8 to 10 p.m.
Members come from all walks of life and work at their own pace. They range from beginners to very experienced.
After being guided through the basics members focus on public relations, humorous speaking, facilitating discussion, interpersonal communication, communicating on video, persuasive speaking, special occasion speeches, or other areas of interest.
Dsouza said her club—which is some 35 strong and celebrated its 30th anniversary this year—has been a tremendous support for her, and she’s thrilled to be able to help the members’ elected officers shine.
Dsouza has attained the international organization’s competent communicator and competent leader designations. She’s aiming to deliver two advanced speeches by June that will help her club land another ribbon for its banner.
Previously her club’s vice president of education, where she specialized in helping other members meet their goals, she spends her free time learning German, Arabic, and Hindi and getting to know people in far-flung cultures.
Asked why she joined the club, she told Northern Valley Press on Nov. 20, “I wanted to overcome my sense of nervousness. Not that I was an introvert, but with my Indian accent, I worried how well I would be understood.”
She said that within months of membership, she gave several speeches, both in meetings and in real life:
“I raised a toast to my niece’s wedding and that was a big hit. I got several compliments for it. Then I raised a toast to my uncle’s 90th birthday, and that was much appreciated,” she said.
Dsouza attributes promotions at work to her improving public speaking skills.
“I make lots of announcements, and I feel more comfortable speaking now,” she said.
Speech contests are a twice-yearly Toastmasters tradition. Each year, thousands of Toastmasters compete in Humorous, Evaluation, Tall Tales, Table Topics and International speech contests.
Even the act of organizing a contest is a chance for communication and leadership experience.
Maxine Kaufman, the club’s secretary for the year, said her late husband, Don, was one of four club founders in 1988. As a stutterer who became an accomplished public speaker, he credited Toastmasters with changing his life, she said.
“My goal is to carry on his legacy because he loved the club so much and inspired so many,” Kaufman told Northern Valley Press in praising Dsouza for her growth in the club.
The club’s next meeting will be Dec. 17. For more information, visit 3181.toastmastersclubs.org or call (201) 767-3063.
Photo courtesy Maxine Kaufman
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