Each spring Toastmasters holds a series of speaking contests that permit club members to hone their public speaking skills. The competitors start at the club level and present a speech that meets the criteria of an ‘International Speech,’ which is to inspire or call to action.
Cyndi Port, Division C Governor with David Farrell and Barb West the two contestants representing Area 36 at the Division C Evaluation Contest in April.
The other contest that happens at the same time is the Evaluation Contest. Everything in Toastmasters is evaluated and that is what makes the program successful. Evaluations are done constructively and the speaker is given points that are well done, a point to grow on or improve and then another point well done.
After the club contest the contestants go on to the Area Contest. Area 36 covers Golden, Sparwood, Creston and Cranbrook clubs and most recently there was a contest held in Creston to see who would move forward to the Division C contest in April and then on to the District 21 Contest in May.
Cyndi Port, Division C Governor with Melanie Holloway and Richard Chlopecki the two contestants representing Area 36 at the Division C International Speech Contest in April.
Judges were able to select two winners per section to go on to the Division C contest and those winners are: David Farrell and Barb West for the Evaluation Contest. Melanie Holloway and Richard Chlopecki for the International Speech Contest.
The Division C contest will be held Saturday, April 12 at the College of the Rockies Lecture Theatre starting at 1 p.m. Come out and see if you can select the winner from clubs representing Kamloops, Vernon, and other interior clubs as well as the representatives from Area 36.
The winners of the Division Contest will go on to Kelowna in May for the District 21 contest where the winner of the International Speech Contest can win the opportunity to go on to the Regional contest and from there on to Kuala Lumpur to compete at the International Conference being held in Malaysia in August.
Lead image: Cyndi Port, Division C Governor with David Farrell, winner of the Area 36 Evaluation contest and Melanie Holloway, winner of the Area 36 International Speech Contest.
Submitted