Hari Kotrotsios | Helping organisations tell their stories
  • About
  • Portfolio
  • Projects
  • Blog

Three ways to make instant friends

8/8/2011

11 Comments

 
“Do you like to sing?”
“No,” I replied.
“Oh…well, there’s a great community choir in Coolum, if you’re interested. It’s a good way to make new friends.”
“Thanks, I’ll think about it.”
I was sitting next to Marlene and her daughter at a concert in Noosa one evening, soon after I arrived on the Sunshine Coast. 
Although I didn’t know anyone up here, I treated myself to various outings, so I didn’t just stay home all the time. It was Marlene who invited me to come along to the choir.
Two weeks later I tentatively walked into the local hall where a large group of people were laughing, chatting, hugging and kissing. Then they warmed up with some shoulder massages and jaw exercises… (gulp)
Despite my early trepidations about singing in public, I've had lots of fun singing world music and performing at community events. I’ve been a member for two-and-a-half years now, but it feels like I’ve been there forever.
And while I enjoy the anonymity of being in a choir, I still prefer to speak in public.
The first task on my list when I relocated here in early 2009 was to visit the local Toastmasters clubs, as I’d been a member in Sydney.
During those first few weeks I rotated between the Noosa, Coolum and Maroochydore clubs and invited myself to an advanced club which met monthly around the Sunshine Coast.
My circle of Toastmasters friends grew exponentially through regular club meetings, training days and conferences. 
My second step into community affairs was prompted by an ad in the local paper, calling for volunteers to join the 2009 Coolum Kite Festival committee. In the lead up to this major event, I noticed I also made lots of friends along the way.
Between Toastmasters, the choir, kite festival activities and several networking events, I quickly developed a hectic social life, which made it easy to integrate into the Sunshine Coast community.

Picture
Photo: Ian Williams/Bendigo Bank.
A sense of community
My first job as a newspaper journalist was in the small town of Goulburn, about 200km south west of Sydney, on the road to Canberra.
I took up hockey, joined the local community radio station, State Emergency Services and Rural Bushfire Brigade.
Although I grew up in Sydney, I enjoyed being part of a "country" community - my volunteer activities benefited from my journalism skills, while my job benefited from my community interactions.
I missed that sense of community when I started travelling overseas, frequently changing homes and jobs over the past 20+ years; but I was notably distracted by memorable adventures and babysitting duties.

How to make instant friends
1.  Join Toastmasters
During my five-month extended holiday in New Zealand in 2008, I regularly visited a club in Auckland, where I continued giving speeches and actively participated in club meetings. Clubs on the Sunshine Coast were – and still are - equally friendly.
2.  Join a community choir
I picked up another 50 friends through the Cool Harmonies choir. Our weekly vocal sessions continue to feature much raucous laughter, luscious melodies, community performances and regular coffee chats. Oh, and I enjoy singing (almost as much as public speaking).
3.  Volunteer
“You sound like you know what you’re talking about,” said Betty, turning to face me. “I nominate Hari for president.”
“I second that,” said Pam, stepping down from her presidential chair. “You can now take over the remainder of the meeting.”
I'd been sitting quietly at the Sunshine Coast Literary Association’s AGM, but somehow got elected president after I made a suggestion during the general business session… and did I mention that I also ended up with some good friends!
In the short time I've been living on the Coast, I feel like I belong to a community again.

What does community mean to you?

Picture
Coolum Community Celebration Day, 7 August 2011. Photo: Ian Williams/Bendigo Bank.
11 Comments
don h
9/8/2011 12:53:36 am

So now we know the history of the happy dynamo!

huggss don h

Reply
Robyn
9/8/2011 01:32:50 am

excellent!!!!

Reply
Robyn Nolan
9/8/2011 01:34:12 am

Excellent!! Should be on the motivational speakers tour!

Reply
Hari Kotrotsios
9/8/2011 03:39:40 am

Robyn, if I hadn't been elected president of SCLA our paths would not have have crossed!

Reply
Hari Kotrotsios
9/8/2011 03:42:31 am

Don, I'm glad Marlene invited me to come along to the choir - it's such a wonderful group of people! And we do make a lot of groovy harmonies together.

Reply
Yvonne Corstorphin
9/8/2011 04:06:40 am

Wonderful blog to read for new people moving to the area Hari.

And we are very glad you made your move to the Coast as Coolum is all the richer for having you in our community...........

......pocket rocket microphone swinger that you are!!!!

Reply
Hari Kotrotsios
9/8/2011 04:25:13 am

Yvonne, the choir has helped me come out of my shell more....! And it has certainly added an extra dimension to my public speaking skills.

Reply
Pam link
9/8/2011 07:25:57 am

Your energy is infectous. The S/C literary assn has moved on with enthusiasm thanks to you intergrating with the community. As someone said 'Friends are strangers you havent met yet.'

Reply
Hari Kotrotsios
9/8/2011 08:19:54 am

Thanks to you as immediate past president Pam... glad you're no longer a stranger!

Reply
Jenny Duckworth
10/5/2012 12:49:33 am

Can definitely agree that Toastmasters is a great way to make friends in a new place!
When we moved up here from Sydney, so we could be close to our kids and grandkids, we visited most of the Toastmasters clubs before we settled at USC Speakers & Mercury's.
Toastmasters are a really friendly group - guess it's because we all like talking so much!

Reply
Hari Kotrotsios
10/5/2012 08:25:23 am

That's true about Toastmasters, Jenny - we are a friendly mob and a great way to meet new friends in a new place. It's an ever expanding circle!

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    ​Guest blog
    3 Unmissable Storytelling Tips to Captivate Your Readers

    PicturePortuguese Camino 2019

    Picture
    Yukon, Canada 2018
    Picture
    Tibet 2007
    Picture
    Athens 2004 Olympics

    Travel blogs
    New Zealand 2008
    Tibet 2007
    New Zealand 2006
    Melbourne 2006
    United Kingdom 2004
    Athens Olympics 2004
    Peru 2003
    Beijing to Athens 1994
    Nepal 1991 
    ​

    Categories

    All
    Bushwalking
    Community
    Culture Shock
    Food
    Greece
    Health
    Identity
    Japan
    Language
    Life Direction
    New Zealand
    Olympics
    Peru
    Technology
    The Babysitter Chronicles
    Tibet
    Trains Planes & Automobiles


    Archives

    December 2019
    November 2019
    February 2018
    January 2018
    July 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011

​© 2023 HARI KOTROTSIOS
​I acknowledge the traditional Custodians of the land on which I work and live, the Gubbi Gubbi / Kabi Kabi and Joondoburri people, and recognise their continuing connection to land, the waters and sky. I pay my respect to them and their cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.
  • About
  • Portfolio
  • Projects
  • Blog