Toastmasters throughout the world, including your international officers and directors, congratulate you and wish you the best on the occasion of your 150th meeting.

While most people join Toastmasters to simply increase their confidence and skill in public speaking, if they apply themselves to the program, they discover something of far greater value. They discover their unique talents and capabilities. This is what I call "finding your voice". Having experienced self-discovery, we are challenged to help others find their own voices. This is the joy of serving our world. These twin experiences, I believe, are the high water mark of the Toastmasters adventure. That is why I have chosen as my theme, "Find Your Voice. Serve Your World."

In finding your voice, you discover your potential and the joy of achievement. In serving your world, you help others discover their potential. When you look carefully at the mission of the club, you find that it is geared to helping people discover their own voices. In fact, our organization’s founder, Ralph Smedley, said, "The first result of speech training is self-discovery."

Likewise, the mission of the Toastmasters districts to enhance the performance and extend the network of clubs results in serving our world. Again, listen to the words of Ralph Smedley: "Our business…is to serve our members in the best and most efficient ways. In such service we shall find our greatest satisfaction and the best excuse for our existence."

Our organization depends on members such as you to carry out the vitally important work that offers the opportunity for more and more people to experience the benefits of the Toastmasters program. Thank you for all you do, and congratulations on this important occasion.

May you continue to help others find their voices. Then, you will certainly be serving your world.

Warm regards,

Dilip R. Abayasekara, DTM

International President 2005-2006