In brief

Harvard Toastmasters chapter to welcome guest speaker

The Crimson Toastmasters Club, a local chapter of Toastmasters International, the public speaking and leadership organization, will welcome T Chendil Kumar to its Oct. 24 meeting. A corporate trainer and guest faculty member at the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore, India, Kumar is the sponsor of 10 Toastmasters Clubs in India. His speech, titled “Stand Up, Speak Up and Shut Up,” will explore the art of using humor in communication.

On Monday (Oct. 15), the Harvard Toastmasters Chapter celebrated its one-year anniversary. Julie Wilson of the Center for Workplace Development and Allison Shapira of the Center for Public Leadership founded the club, which is composed of faculty and staff from across the University. Members meet weekly at the Center for Workplace Development at 124 Mt. Auburn St. and work through a series of structured materials to develop public speaking and leadership skills. For more information, visit http://crimson.freetoasthost.us/.

Safra Foundation seeks graduate fellowship applicants

The Edmond J. Safra Foundation Center for Ethics is now accepting applications from graduate students for its 2008-09 fellowship in ethics. Eligible students are either writing dissertations or engaged in major research on topics in practical ethics, especially ethical issues in architecture, business, education, government, law, medicine, public health, and public policy.

Students should be enrolled in a doctoral program of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences or in one of Harvard’s professional Schools, and should have completed all course requirements and general examinations by September prior to the fellowship year. In professions such as law or medicine, where a doctoral dissertation is not required for an academic career, advanced students taking leaves of absence, recent graduates, and Harvard affiliates engaged in postgraduate training are also eligible.

The application deadline is Nov. 15. Visit http://www.ethics.harvard.edu/ for more information.

Christmas Revels usher in holiday season

Tickets for this season’s Christmas Revels will go on sale Saturday (Oct. 20) at noon. Now in its 37th year, the unique dance and music ensemble will hold 18 total performances at Sanders Theatre on the following dates: Dec. 14-16, 20-23, and 27-30. To order tickets, visit http://www.revels.org.