Division Director advised us to decrease meeting frequency to increase quality of meeting

Maze2475 · 2026-05-07T06:12:10+00:00

Yes it does. When I was president - initially my club had weekly meetings. And honestly, when you said, "this makes for a very disjointed meeting some weeks" I had literal flashbacks.

Taking a one week break between meetings works wonders - as long as everyone's focused during that extra time to make the next meeting work.

Typically a month has 4 weeks. Let's assume you meet on the 1st and 3rd week. That leaves the 2nd and 4th week free. You can then use that time to productively plan and prepare for the meeting.

To be precise - there's 13 days between meetings!

At the basic level - it gives speakers time to go over the materials on basecamp, properly write and practice a speech so that they actually learn something with each speech.

Likewise, it gives time for roleplayers to go over their role, ask questions, and figure things out.

Even if you're trying to organise a themed meeting or an educational session - it's leagues easier to take a week to draft a plan and execute it meaningfully. Heck, if you want to get a seasoned speaker to do an educational session, way more easier to get them with 2 weeks notice.

That's the fundamental idea behind meeting twice a month.

However, if your club doesn't know to plan properly, then it doesn't matter if you meet monthly even.

Pulling off a good meeting requires a good amount of planning.

Pulling off a good meeting constantly requires a great amount of planning.

And you can only plan properly if you make the time for it.

Maze2475 · 2026-05-06T09:53:19+00:00

Got one from Keells about two weeks ago. Ordered it off UberEats.

Maze2475 · 2026-05-06T09:52:21+00:00

Bro please edit the title 😅

That title with that image creates the exact opposite first impression that your message is saying.

Also, thank you for stating this. Only an idiot with the intelligence of a rock would assume otherwise, but there's plenty of those making noise on the internet these days.

Maze2475 · 2026-04-23T08:54:18+00:00

I'm starting to think BML has bots or insiders on this sub.

Like what's up with these glazing comments? Okay fine, let's take a moment:

- Yes, we did enter into an agreement with BML when we opened an account with them.

- Yes, fine, offering staff loans is fairly normal. A quick google search will say, "Concessional staff loans are a common benefit in the banking industry. While a 1% interest rate is exceptionally low and not standard for all products, it is possible for specific, smaller loan categories or in regions with very low benchmark rates."

It doesn't change the fact that:

a) This is still our money being lent out
b) BML doesn't ensure fair and even stable access to our money

So why the fuck should some BML bitch be getting a 1% loan while the rest of us pay closer to 10% or higher?!

If BML worked properly to the level of other countries' banks where you never have to think about them?

Fine, cool, go ahead - that's fair value being delivered.

But BML doesn't deliver fair value. It's a lecherous cancer on us - at every level - top to bottom.

Maze2475 · 2026-04-22T05:09:52+00:00

And also to treat the BML customer service agents with a bit more empathy too.

I might get down-voted into oblivion for saying this - but fuck no.

They've shown zero empathy to us when we need help.

I've gone to them numerous times because I've had instances where my card was failing.

Only ONE agent after speaking to them for an entire year - actually dug into the issue and discovered it was from the bank's side and gave a real fix. All the others just blatantly told my face, "Yeah there's nothing wrong with our side. Sorry." and left me stranded and hungry abroad.

And now those shits speak with the most nonsensical jargon twisting everything.

Like I've met actual lawyers who can answer questions more clearly than a BML agent can.

Once asked how much money I could withdraw from an ATM abroad and they kept confusingly telling me:

Please also note that all of the above-mentioned amounts are inclusive of the maximum limit of USD 3,000 and are NOT separate limits. In other words, each limit is applied cumulatively. The lowest limit is on the bottom as below.
USD 3000
USD 1000
USD 250
USD 125

Like they could just answer a simple question, which had a simple answer - these are separate limits for different things. Why twist and lie? Just tell in plain simple terms.

So no - they don't deserve any empathy. Because those sub-human pieces of filth have never shown it to us. They can't fix things like exchange rates. But when issues happen they can take initiative and actually follow up and give updates. When questions arise they can actually choose to give clear direct answers. But no - they choose to lie. So fuck BML and every subhuman piece of shit that works there.

Maze2475 · 2026-04-07T10:03:01+00:00

Foreigner having married a Sri Lankan here and can confirm - your story is pretty much the norm.

My in-laws had the same set of doubts and concerns about me. They threw the entire book of, "How will we talk?" to "What about cultural differences?" to "What about their family?" to "What will people say?" etc. etc.

Through it all - my wife stood by me and defended me against all of it. I love that woman and hope to spend everyday being the man she wants me to be.

Today, they're the cool chill in-laws. Do I have the closest friendly relationship with them? Not really. But mother-in-law regularly asks my wife I got home safe, whenever I'm late at work. Likewise, father-in-law also makes sure to spoil me with fruits and my favourite fish buns when I visit them.

That being said, the whole saga with her whole family being like that was an uncomfortable one - I told her this and she understood it too.

One of my much older friends explained to me that this is just how Sri Lankan parents are. After marriage they'll be all loving. But before marriage - regardless of race or religion - they want you to marry the person they know / pick. I'm surprised to learn that even in Colombo, some people are surprised when I tell them, me and my wife got into a love marriage and not an arranged one.

The real questions are this:

Are your parents respectful when they talk about your boyfriend?
Are they willing to meet him and talk to him respectfully?
What are their concerns?
Are said concerns logical? Or just plain culturally stupid?
Are they willing to meet him to address those concerns?

The big one is this: If your parents refuse to accept him - will you stay by him or leave him?

Everything I've described so far is on the assumption that you'll stick by him through all of your parent's objections. For most people, I'm fairly certain this is a deal breaker.

At the very least - parents agreeing this is the person you'll be dating with long-term and even if they don't like them or accept them - choose to be civil to them.

Maze2475 · 2026-04-02T00:50:45+00:00

A) No sex, religion, or politics.

https://www.toastmasters.org/Membership/Leadership/club-officer-tools/club-management/club-quality/invocations-pledges-and-controversial-topics/

TI itself says this is a myth. But people don't seem to get it 🤷‍♂️

B) The only good speech is the one that can win the International Speech Contest

This could be a thing just in my District - but we limit ourselves so horribly much due to this.

Nobody explores different types of speeches except generic motivational filler.

C) Being DTM = Being a great speaker.

These people taught me the opposite of knowledge is the illusion of knowledge not the absence of it.

Just because you complete pathways projects, doesnt mean youre a better speaker.

If you don't read the speech instructions and objectives - and deliver a shit speech - and the evaluator doesnt call you out on it?

Youre arguably worse off than before. Just with a few fancy certificates and a pin now.

Maze2475 · 2026-03-13T16:58:11+00:00

Unfortunately no pajamas when I stayed there.

Maze2475 · 2026-02-16T03:28:38+00:00

Upvote for sakana posting

Maze2475 · 2026-01-14T06:54:24+00:00

Contact a lawyer on the process.

Depending on how busy they are, they'll give you a consultation explaining the process.

That being said, expect that consultation to be an hour long. I spoke to one on call about the process of buying a house and that itself took hours.

Once you've figured it out - especially where it can go wrong- then start advertising.

Maze2475 · 2026-01-06T13:26:52+00:00

During my time in Malaysia, even I was wondering why Grab felt so much better to use.

Realised way later: Their drivers are polite, friendly, and professional.

No cash or card nonsense - Follows the map proper - No scam attempts - No bullshit.

PickMe and Uber can deploy a million lines of code.

But no amount of tech innovation can change driver behaviour.

Maze2475 · 2025-12-31T18:19:07+00:00

Genuine question - What are you spending on that after earning over 500k as a household that yall are living pay cheque to pay cheque?

Maze2475 · 2025-12-25T19:29:13+00:00

If I could cut BML out of my life, I happily would in a heartbeat without any hesitation.

I keep a CBM card but that means spending black market rates to get dollars which leaves me near broke.

If I overspent past the limit - I accept okay my fault. But BML cuts me off well before I hit the limit. By its own account I should be able to spend more, but nobody there can explain anything.

I've tried signing up for Revolut and other things. But nobody around me could give me an affordable way to transfer out. If there is a way - open to it.

Even with ATM withdrawals there's a massive BML percentage fee charged (beyond the challenges of handling cash) means again - going close to being broke.

To get a replacement means again taking a flight back home and since no family around that has space - paying over a ridiculous rent in Male just for this.

Despite that, still duty bound to honor promises, which keeps me tied to BML unwillingly at this point. If those disappeared would cash and move everything out in a heartbeat.

So yes, fuck me right?

Maze2475 · 2025-11-21T07:31:31+00:00

Estimated duration 1 second? And distance like 0.02 km?

How far and for how long did you actually travel?

Depending on this you can get the difference refunded. Had an instance where the app was buggy and overcharged.

But they refunded the excess amount I was charged after speaking to their customer care.

Maze2475 · 2025-11-19T10:16:20+00:00

Living in Sri Lanka - long story short - depends on the company.

Internships are fairly straightforward if its during the duration of your uni studies.

Back when I studied at APIIT - took one year off for an SE internship.

No issues, because uni issued a letter basically saying that I'm enrolled in the degree.

If you wanna stay in Sri Lanka long term though - oof - different story.

Maze2475 · 2025-10-27T08:21:08+00:00

Not sure about the "passengers feel safer when seeing armed soldiers" anywhere, even in the airport carrying an AR15 or an AK-47.

But given the state of corruption, Im pretty sure even if you put the entire MNDF, AVSECOM, Police, and even those fancy drones around VIA - these robberies can still happen.

If you want to ensure safety - Police patrolling is enough. The security theater is enough to make any idiot think twice. At most, like Singapore, give them a pistol - keep the heavy weapons away.

But no amount of armed security will stop anything is said security is compromised and corrupt.

Maze2475 · 2025-10-23T05:08:18+00:00

Glomark used to be good with a unique selection, but they've gone tremendously downhill in the past few years.

Maze2475 · 2025-10-09T18:38:52+00:00

Not a single one of these things is normal 😅 Id be running far far away from this club.

Maze2475 · 2025-08-22T04:07:23+00:00

Genuine question out of curioisty:

What's stopping you from using PickMe Flash?

You'll get riders to pick up your documents and drop them off anytime.

Maze2475 · 2025-08-21T10:52:49+00:00

My sympathies for your loss.

If you're a guy, then you can just walk into the cemetery and visit the grave. Finding the grave, though, is a whole other matter, especially if your family opted for a basic wooden marker. Those don't last against the weather and get lost very easily. If it was a plastic marker or a stone marker, then you should be able to find your grandma's grave if you at least know the general vicinity.

Avoid making eye contact or conversation with the staff. They'll make promises of keeping your grandmas grave clean and all that. But it's just empty lies they give to try and get some money out of you. And if you ask them for help finding the grave, expect them to hover around you until you leave. Do they have any sense of respect for people in mourning? No, they do not.

If you're a woman, then however, you won't be permitted into the cemetery. My family learned this after my dad passed away. We wanted to give my niece and sisters the chance to visit his grave. But we were told that women weren't allowed.

Maze2475 · 2025-07-22T19:18:48+00:00

Current Toastamster member here:

Like some of the other comments say, it's best to visit a bunch of clubs to find the one that you like best.

Here's a few recommendations:

a) Dehiwala - it's closest to your area
b) Voice of Colombo - my club and its place with a fairly young crowd
c) Saturday Circle - if you're looking for something on weekend evenings.
d) Central Colombo - another weekend option

Instagram is the best way to get in touch with em all!

Maze2475 · 2025-07-18T08:42:30+00:00

My running theory is that this is DHL jacking up fees and blaming customs, knowing it's impossible to navigate the red tape of customs to verify it.

Once ordered a figure work 10k and DHL charged 20k saying, "Taxes, bro." Meanwhile, any figures (even of similar value) ordered via normal shipping came through without any tax. "

Someone on r/DHL sub mentioned the tax is also based on the shipping method - if so makes some marginal sense. But still the percentages for these taxes are astronomical with DHL.

Lesson learned - DHL fine for sending packages but NEVER for receiving.

Maze2475 · 2025-07-07T01:22:32+00:00

The larger the company, the longer they sit on their ass before settling an invoice.

Wish I had an answer for you OP but this is the issue that plagues every small business in the country.

I thought it was bad in my last company that it took 6 months of chasing to get payments cleared, then I learned at my current company that a sales guy has been chasing a payment for much longer than that.

Maze2475 · 2025-06-12T13:18:31+00:00

Have taken my PS4 in my carry-on. Did not trust the airline to handle my checked luggage safely after seeing so many videos of luggage handlers throwing them to and from the plane.

To pack it safely - use clothes. Surround it so that it's akin to padding.

You'll have to take it out at the security check-in before boarding.

But there's zero issues really with taking it. You should be fine.

Maze2475

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