My Evolution as a SHG Coordinator

Hi there. I am Jai Prakash Sunda, one of the coordinators of Pune SHG.I am going to share my learnings and my evolving as a coordinator.
Past : When we planned to meet first time in Pune, I was really enthusiastic and excited about it. I planned the agenda containing some exercise like Introduction, impromptu speech, prepared speech, question answer round and time for general discussion. I mailed it to everyone and also posted the same on this blog mentioning venue and timings. In the next meeting, my IT brain woke up and I just copied the last week’s agenda and sent it again and posted the same on this blog too. To cut a long story short, I was under the impression that I am doing my job really well as I used to mail the (same :-)) agenda every weekend well in time and used to coordinate the meetings. Then there came a time where I stopped publishing the agenda on the blog and then stopped emailing it as I thought everyone already knows about it! How could I forget that there are more PWS (people who stammer ) in Pune.
Present : With the lessons from my sabbatical, now I take time to search for activities on internet and choose the ones which I feel are interesting, make us think, help us break out of our inertia and are sometimes intellectually stimulating too! Now I also post the agenda on blog and email it too as there are more PWS in Pune! There are some, who know about our group and who haven’t joined). I try to sell our SHG meets now to people. I try to make the agenda look cool, and then try to match the expectations in our meetings too! This is our last week’s agenda:
Routine Activities for 30 minutes:
1. Meditation – 10 minutes
2. Slow reading – 10 minutes.
3. Abdominal/Deep Breathing Exercise – 10 minutes.
Special Activities:
4. One Word Story! –Time depends on the number of participant ( http://www.hodu.com/con-games.shtml )
5. Can you draw it? – Time depends on the number of participant (Every one please bring a pen and notepad) ( http://www.citehr.com/111420-activity-communication-skills-workshop.html )
6. Limerick – Time depends on the number of participant ( http://www.hodu.com/con-games.shtml )
Real life Activities:
7. Going out for stuttering Interviews – 45 minutes activity. 30 minutes debriefing.
After the meeting, we went out for a lunch together and had some really interesting and fun filled discussion.

All this preparation needs not more than one hour per week :-). So, go ahead and show your true colours and sell your SHG to people. Learn from your group members, give them a chance to coordinate. See how do they do it. Happy coordinating! and please keep sharing.

Pune SHG: 13 Jun 2010

This week the meet started at 10:30 AM. People were dragging their feet to show up for the meet, thanks to the cloudy weather in Pune. Amit and I (in that order) were the first to hit the venue. Amit and I started conversing about how things have been in our lives lately. Amit sought some info regarding consulting agencies helping fresh graduates to get jobs. Whoever reading this post, I urge you to provide any info whatsoever that could help Amit.

Later JP joined us and we started meditating. I went into a deep meditation and when I opened my eyes, saw Mahesh, Suraj and YR around me. We started with slow reading and vocal exercises. We did some breathing exercises with Jp showing the way. Start and stop method breathing was demonstrated by Jp, which others aped with limited success. Guess we ought to be Jp someday.

We played a story telling game. In this, a person is supposed to say just a word keeping in mind the story’s title. It is the creativity of the person that makes this round interesting.

Afterwards, we played another round in which the person is supposed to use a word in any sentence, next person is supposed to form a sentence whose last word rhymes with the previous sentence’s last word. This again made an interesting activity that compelled us to use our creative juices.

We also did a round of impromptu speaking. I started this round as was requested, followed by others. We also did a round of activity in which Suraj and Amit were shown a geometric figure. Later, they were asked to dictate the same to the audience so that they could draw the picture solely based upon their explanation. Some of us (Mahesh) got it right, rest were wished better luck next time.

We concluded at lunch time, and had lunch together.

What is TISA? Manohar explains..

Hi Folks, this is a crude form of Introduction to TISA, which i attempted. Sorry for being "in your face" with this video.

PS: not yet uploaded on youtube.

3rd TISA communication workshop

All the participants of third TISA Communiation workshop, please send an email to satksri@gmail.com, with subject: "3rd CommWS" and with (1) Expected time of arrival in Dehradun and (2) the cellphone number you will be carrying. This is to facilitate your onward travel to Vikasnagar. Treat Urgent.

TISA is organising a 10 day communication workshop at Herbertpur (near Dehradun) from 20th June to morning of 30th June 2010. The participants have to report to following address by 19th evening.

SMTA hostel, Bhimawala, Vikasnagar (40 km from Dehradun). Contact sachin on 19th June as you reach Dehradun.

Bouncing Technique

Bouncing is a technique for people who stammer. It helps those who change words, avoid words, circumlocute, use starters or go in hard blocks. It needs consistent long practice and it finally removes the word fears and gives you a good control to change your blocks into gentle bouncing and pull outs.

Acceptance - Part 2

More on acceptance.

On Acceptance and TISA..

Acceptance is a core value of TISA. This video discusses our understanding of the issue.

What is TISA- a brief intro on youtube.

The text:

Hello, I am sachin. A person who stammers. I have often been asked about TISA. The Indian stammering association . What is TISA?
TISA is a self help association of people who stammer, in India.

TISA has three core values. We encourage people to practice acceptance. Acceptance of the fact that we stammer- rather than denying it, running away from it, hiding from it, being afraid of it, or being ashamed of it. People are not same. We have our differences, our diversity. Stammering is our diversity, so let us accept it and be comfortable about it. Let us accept ourselves and others who stammer- as we are. Totally. With no reservations.

But acceptance does not mean sitting back– It does not mean that we have to accept poor communication and do nothing about it. No. Accept stammering but dont accept poor communication. This is our second core belief. Overall communication can be and must be improved. Yes, stammerers do become good communicators. But it takes long hard work in a group situation- and for that, we have self help groups.

Third principle is based on universal value of serving others. There are enough case studies which prove that when I try to help others, my own problems fall in to their proper perspective and I get the power to rise above them. In helping others, we are actually helping our own self. No less, no more. So, TISA is a platform for stammerers, reaching out and serving other stammerers through listening, sharing what has worked for them, counseling each other and by offering other help.

To summarize again- our three core values are:
Accept ourselves and others who stammer.
Work on communication – instead of chasing fluency and wasting your money and time.
Serve others selflessly- and discover your inner potential.

Our current strategy is to make sure that Indian PWS have a place on web to share objective information and their experiences. TISA maintains a Blog and a website for this purpose. Our motto is: better attitudes through knowledge.

Our second and core strategy is to promote self help groups across the country- whether physical or those based on phone and web.

Our third initiative is to conduct free workshops, to share the latest ideas about communication and stammering self help. We are trying to bring out many informational brochures and books in Indian languages, for those who are not comfortable with Internet and English.

Finally People often ask me: is there a cure? Yes- you can be free of stuttering mindset and be reasonably fluent. But that one percent of “biology” we are born with, cant be cured. And that is okay. You dont want to become a perfect robot- a perfect machine- do you?

Keep talking and smiling till we meet again. Good day!

Sign the petition for a better tomorrow..

Peter Reitzes of Stutter talk is sending a petition to ASHA to ensure that SLPs honor its ethics and dont lead the stutterers up the garden path.. This is important. We all (-I haven't met an exception so far-) have suffered at the hands of some or other SLPs who would either over charge us for therapy (just because we are desperate for cure) - or who would promise us impossible ("cure in 12 days"etc.). I have practiced as a medical doctor for over ten years- and I can say with confidence that while other clinical branches (medicine, surgery, ENT, ophthalmology) have some kind of professional and state control over the conduct of its practitioners- field of stammering therapy is like "wild west". Anyone can do anything and get away. But the primary responsibility lies with us- the PWS. We need to be more proactive and informed. Here is a chance for you to play your role. Check this link for more info and what you could do:
http://stuttertalk.com/2010/06/09/petition-ASHA.aspx

Agenda for next Pune SHG meet on 13th July 2010

Hi all,

Please be there @ our regular meeting venue this Sunday from 10.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. The Agenda for this Weeks’ Meet is:

Routine Activities for 30 minutes:
1. Meditation – 10 minutes
2. Slow reading – 10 minutes.
3. Abdominal/Deep Breathing Exercise – 10 minutes.
Special Activities:
4. One Word Story! –Time depends on the number of participant
5. Can you draw it? – Time depends on the number of participant (Every one please bring a pen and notepad)
6. Limerick – Time depends on the number of participant
Real life Activities:
7. Going out for stuttering Interviews – 45 minutes activity. 30 minutes debriefing.


Please be there to have some good time on a pleasant Sunday Morning

Venue:
Senior citizen’s hall (also known as Desai Hall)
Opposite Reliance web world,
Dhole Patil Road,
Pune

Contacts:
Manohar Mikkili: 9881255051 mikkilimanohar@gmail.com
Jai Prakash Sunda: 9665980558 jaiprakashsunda@gmail.com

Pune SHG meet: 6th June,10

This week we had our weekly meeting at Dhole Patil Road, Pune. Now a days we set the agenda for the meeting and share with all some 2-3 days back of meeting. This helps us utilizing our time more effectively and productively. So according to our agenda we started with the meditation for 10 mins. After this we did the slow reading exercise. In this exercise we use the prolongation technique and try to speak 4-5 words per breathe. Then we did breathing exercise. This exercise is meant to regulate our breathing pattern. We have to inhale and exhale air slowly and have to observer our breathing pattern. Then it was the time to play some game. The game was Two Truth and One Lie. In this game everybody, in their turn, have to speak 3 statements consisting of 2 true statements and 1 false statement. And other members of the group have to observer the person and have to identify the false statement. It was the fun game. We all become detective at one point of time. Then we started with next exercise that is impromptu speech. All of us have been given two paper chits to write 2 topics, it could be any personality name or could be any non living thing. Then we collected all chits. Then everybody on their turn has to pull out one chit and speaks on the topic for 5 mins, using some speech techniques. We all speak well. We share our idea on those topics. In between this exercise we got the surprise call from Anuj. Anuj is a member of Delhi SHG. We connected Jai’s mobile to speakers and we all hear his concern about the stammering at work place. Anuj is working in Tourism industry and have to speak on calls vey often. He was very calm at the call. After hearing his concern some of us tried to put some suggestion like; note down the points to discuss before starting any call, be calm and patient, continue to put your points even u stutter in between. At last some of us wanted to go for public speaking but out meeting time already reached to its end.

These SHG are very much helpful. Each of us has many questions about the stammering and how to tackle the day to day activities, be it on work place or in personal life. People share their views and ways of handling these events, which is very much helpful.

Delhi Meeting

Dear Friends,

We are having a TISA self-help group meeting this Sunday at my place.

The theme of this meeting will be presentations and mock interviews. Please prepare a presentation on a topic of your choice (not more than 15 slides and 7 minutes). After the topic there will be a Q/A round of 3-5 minutes.

Additionally there will be mock interviews. Everybody will get a chance of being interviewee and interviewer at least once.

Time: 13th June, 11:00 AM onwards

Venue: Please call me on 98183 50799 for my address.

Regards

Nitin
(n.tomer@gmail.com)

What happens in my SHG?

What happens when stammerers meet? Like others they too talk, share jokes, have fun. This is what happens in our TISA SHG at Herbertpur. Everyone gets their fair share of attention and glory. Young people love that. Even the "not so young" enjoy sharing a funny tale. Actually telling a story- a joke- is an important social skill for PWS: knowing how and when to deliver the punch line. And keeping relaxed above all. What is the point in breaking out in cold sweat as you tell the most funny story?
Yes, this art can be mastered with practice. That is what "self help" is all about. That is what TISA is about.

Be in a correct frame of mind, suceess will unfold before you.

Buddies,
It gives me enormous joy that i could motivate my fellow brothers with my speech. Now here i list below some of the tragic moments of my life due to stammering.
In my childhood there was times when i could not give my attendence. What would happen is that whenever my roll number drew closer my heart beat used to get faster, causing a block , thus resulting in stammering. I used to bunk the viva classes during exam fearing that i would get a block.In my college days too i spend the classes not hearing to professors lecture but wasting time thinking that whether i shall be able to get a job. All these are my personal experiences.

Returning to the main topic, i cannot give u a trick (or streotype) to rid of the stammering. In this era of globalization we are living in such a economy that everything becomes a commodity and is made ready to sell as a product. In sanskrit there is a saying "KARYA TURANAM NA SUKHAM NA NIDRA" "(ie in order to do a work u must the leave the luxury of sleep and happiness"). Today we see many people across the globe who were PWS at some part of their life but presently living normally without any problem. We see their karya but do not witness the amount of hard work they put in in order to get rid of this problem. And this is the hardest part of the work because its really easy to identify an enemy outside but here you are encountering with an enemy with is you and your self. We have no self esteem. We constantly loiter around seaching for success (As if success is a key and you have lost it and now it is with someone else and you just have to find it) . So what i mean to say that there is a panacea about cure. And there are N number of people outside who are waiting just to avail this oppurtunity.So we get constantly befooled. We think all sorts of nonsense questions. like " Can i ever find a girl-friend"? " Will someone ever marry me" ? I am being a little frank so dont mind. Brothers do we ever think does anyone likes a person who has no no self esteem for himself. Because remember onething Suppose in a examination if a student is very good at studies could not give his examination and now he plead his teacher just to give a good mark . Now is the teacher entiled to give him good marks? The answer is sweeping "NO". If his teacher even give him good marks then the teacher has every chance of lossing his job and he shall be asked to give a reply in the next general body teachers meeting. So he will not give you any marks. Just consider the case reversely a teacher threatens a students to fail him under any peculiar condition subject to the teachers vested interest. Now a student does not get demoralised and promises to show him the end result. Now no one expects to perform him in a decent way. So there is a lesser stress on him . Now suddenly he comes up with a mark sheet and shows his taecher that he has topped his school Just imagine that case. Such is the case with the girl with whom you are wanting to marry . Noone around that girl wants her to be around you. Becoz we wanted to search for success and did not want to achieve it. Now what i meant say was that "Success cannot be gained it has to achieved". And all us know the laws of Charles Darwin that " SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST". Now i gave the analogy of teacher with girl such that it become easier for you to grasp the moral of the story. I know there are many of you who think like this. So gave this analogy.

Now consider a second case- We all want a quick result . We pray to god to help us but do not unserstand that god in not there to harm us. That is to say we people are never really helping us so how will god help us ?? Is better to pursue the path of hard work than to serach for sucees because "Luck is a lift and suceess is like a steep slope" Luck can work once but it will not work the next time but hard work surely works for all cases. What i meant to say was that you might face a lot of trouble while thinking positively but persue that path with perseverence and you are bound to achieve suceess. You might be knowing the difference because time and space. Time is called matter arranged sequentially and space is matter arranged spacially. So we cant use the time again in the future unlike the space if we have losed it. So you can imagine yourself standing in sea shore and time is the grains of sand sleeping through the tiny pores of your fingers. So do not waste time thinking in a negetive way concentrating about all sorts of nonsense rubbish questions posted by me earlier. Instead try hard to practise in a a cordial environment open up urself , try to interact with some more people. That will really help you a lot i bet. Regarding my previous posts i told you that there is something called false conciousness. In today's world we live in a world where people suffer from a disease called Bipolar disorder, which is that either we euphoric and eccentric or we are too demoralised. Most of you might have heard about the condition where a patient washes his/her hands in every minute fearing something dirty is there in his hands, but there is nothing like that. It is called a "MANIA". Politicians in INDIA are crazy about power in LOKSABHA/RAJHASABHA. It is called "MEGALOMANIA". Similarly we PWS suffer from a disease called "Stammer cure mania". I told you that its told you that it is you who thought negetively day after day and has increased the problem manifoled thus giving it today's shape. And after creating the problem we have fabricated it and gave it the name "Stammering" and have created rosy fairy tales about stammering. All are nonsense . We all know about the famous poet "KALIDAS" . He was cutting the branches of the tree where he was sitting because he did not know that he would fall. Similarly we have created tons of negitive debris in mind because we didnot know someday it will give rise to what people popularly called stammering . How can you cure a problem when a problem itself is not there?. So guys cheer up. Be bold and sucees is yours. Remember " Be master of your own destiny and captain of your soul"

And lastly if you have any questions regarding any specific conditions feel free to ask me at my phone number. But please call in saturday or sunday after 8pm. Hope it was not too boring. Good buy for today.
Amartya.

To PWS

To all my fellow brothers and sisters who stammers

Before starting to say anything, i shall like to give a brief introduction about myself.My name in Amartya Sinha. Presently i am in kolkata. I used to stammer severely at some part of my life. I know personally how it feels to be a stammerer.Now i am Software developer. Not only that i give public speeches with no block i.e with 100% FLUENCY. Some may not believe it. But its true. I do not think there is anything called stammering in this world. There is a myth about stammering that it is incurable. People say that if u get a block or repeat some letters in a speech you stammer. But its not true. Everyone in this world stammers, under stress. Its that person who are fluent speaker dont really care much whether they stammer or not. But person like us are too conscious about it. This is something called false consciousness. See a person gets out of his home everyday to go to his office . There is every probability there u may encounter with an accident . But no one thinks like this that "Shall i be able to come home today?", "Will i encounter with an accident today?". See if he thinks like this there will a greater risk that he/she may encounter an accident. Now people may ask me how it happens. Since i am a techie i shall give this explanation. At every given time ie t=0, suppose there are 2 cases 1) To be able to cross a road without an accident 2) Not to be able to cross a road and meeting with an accident.

Now suppose we are thinking about the stammering . Now i wish to say that we are concentrating about our stammering problem, ie at that instant we alienated to a equal degree from the worldly affairs. ( CROSSING THE ROAD) . So at that instant case 2 becomes true and we met with a accident.

Coming back to stammering, the problem starts very early at childhood. But since we think too much about it, the problems worsens. To add to this person who claim themselves fluent perhaps think that PWS are funny people. So they humiliate us . I think all this together make the problem more complex. All of my friends in kolkata and outside if u feel u can contact at email amartya_wb_85@yahoo.co.in

Phone number +91 9432533053.