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 CLUB #28 INTERNATIONAL SPEECH AND TABLE TOPICS CONTESTS WERE SIMPLY FANTASTIC!

[CONTEST UPDATE: On March 15th , 2010, at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Barbara Cusack CC, CL gave a command performance of her Club #28 contest winning speech "The Echo" to take 1st place in the Area 32 International Speech Contest! Ken Walley, ACG, CL came in Second place at the Area 32 International Speech Contest. He also came in 2nd place in the Table Topics Contest. For more details on the Area 32 Contests please see the "Past Meetings 2006-Present" section.]

 In a dramatic break with past International Speech and Table Topic Contests, Orlando Toastmasters Club Vice President of Education John Hines decided on two separate events to be held in the first two weeks of March. The Table Topics Contest was held on March 4th, 2010 and the International Speech Contest was held on March 11th, 2010.

"We simply have so many speakers that are interested in competing for our contests that we do not want to have to worry about the time limits we have to deal with here at the library." said John. Past contest organizer, Ken Walley ACG, CL mentioned that "We definitely needed some help from other clubs in our district. Especially with judges. It seems like most of our club members this year wanted to give an International Speech, or be in the Table Topics contest... this was really great news!"

Both of the contests this year were simply fantastic! With an amazing 7 contestants for the Table Topics Contest, Contest Master Deborah Ryan, ACG, CL was able to present Club #28 members that ranged from some of our newest members to some who had been Toastmasters for decades. Deborah did a fantastic job guiding the contest. Her question to the contestants was "What is your biggest regret?"

Ken Blake, ACG, CL spoke about making a marriage work. John Hines spoke about living life without regrets, Wilner Luders spoke about wishing he could have known his Grandmother better, Monica Walley remembered a kitten she missed adopting, Jamie Waters, CC, wished he had joined Toastmasters earlier, Christopher Berns spoke about how joining the Navy was both a bad and a good thing and  Ken Walley, ACG, CL spoke about how he wished he had applied himself in college more. Ken took the first place trophy and Wilner came in second place. Area 32 Governor Luvenia Hart, ACS, CL was on hand as well as a number of Toastmaster dignitaries such as past Club #28 President Helen Joseph, DTM and the Let's Talk Toastmasters Club VP of Education Linda Ramey.

The next week featured the International Speech Contest which was again hosted by Deborah Ryan, ACG, CL. Every year at Club #28 the International Speech Contest becomes more and more competitive but this year Orlando Toastmasters Club #28 had five of the best contest speeches ever delivered in any competition. The five speeches given on this night all would have won most other International Speech contests, even at a higher level. Starting first was John Hines who's speech titled "Defiance Street" told of how his daughter's recovery from a severe illness would later inspire John to dare to challenge himself with a career opportunity. It was a powerful and moving speech. Speaking second was Deepti Dhiman, CC, CL who's speech titled "Culture Shock" gave both a humorous and a surprisingly thoughtful comparison between the cultures of her native India and her new home in America. Speaking third was Barbara Cusack, CC, CL who gave a speech titled "The Echo" which told of a young boy who learned a life lesson from an echo. Barbara told how that lesson can effect all of us. Ken Walley ACG, CL gave a speech titled "Our Future" in which he looked into a crystal ball and saw two very different futures. Speaking last, Ken Blake, ACG, CL gave a speech titled "It's Not About The Money" about an Olympic gold medal winner who brought his car to Ken to repair and ended up inspiring him with his story. Ken Walley ACG, CL again won first place and Barbara Cusack, CC, CL came in second place in this extremely strong field of speakers. This evening will be remembered as one of the brightest nights in Club #28's history. Another impressive list of dignitaries were on hand to view the festivities, even with having to brave horrible weather conditions to attend. District 84 Lt. Governor Scott Hoehn, DTM  helped hand out the awards to our winners. Other luminaries attending as well were Castaways Toastmasters Club President Nancy Humberson, CC, CL; Elon Horsham, CC, CL from the Court Muse Club and Carolyn Stapleton from the Baldwin Park Toastmasters Club. 

"We could not be more pleased with our contests!" said Deepti Dhiman, CC, CL the Orlando Toastmasters Club #28 president. Everyone did a great job! Ken, Barbara and Christopher Berns who came in 3rd place in the Table Topics contest will compete in the Area 32 Table Topics and International Speech Contests later on March 15th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Orlando.

As updates come in we will put them on the website in this space.

 We would like to thank all of those who helped to make the Club #28 Contests such a triumph:

CONTEST MASTER TABLE TOPICS: DEBORAH RYAN

CONTEST MASTER INTERNATIONAL SPEECH: DEBORAH RYAN

CONTEST SGT. AT ARMS: BARBARA CUSACK

CHIEF JUDGE: HELEN JOSEPH (Table Topics)

CHIEF JUDGE: SCOTT HOEHM (International Speech)

TIMER: LUVENIA HART  (Table Topics)

TIMER: MONICA WALLEY (International Speech)

TIMER: ED DIMAYUGA (International Speech)

VOTE COUNTER: DEEPTI DHIMAN (Table Topics)

VOTE COUNTER: STEVE WOOD (Both Contests)

VOTE COUNTER: CHRISTOPHER BERNS (International Speech)

RAFFLE MASTER: KEN WALLEY (Both Contests)

TABLE TOPICS CONTESTANT: KEN BLAKE

TABLE TOPICS CONTESTANT: JOHN HINES

TABLE TOPICS CONTESTANT: KEN WALLEY

TABLE TOPICS CONTESTANT: MONICA WALLEY

TABLE TOPICS CONTESTANT: WILNER LUDERS

TABLE TOPICS CONTESTANT: JAMIE WATERS

TABLE TOPICS CONTESTANT: CHRISTOPHER BERNS

INTERNATIONAL SPEECH CONTESTANT: KEN BLAKE

INTERNATIONAL SPEECH CONTESTANT: BARBARA CUSACK

INTERNATIONAL SPEECH CONTESTANT: DEEPTI DHIMAN

INTERNATIONAL SPEECH CONTESTANT: JOHN HINES

INTERNATIONAL SPEECH CONTESTANT: KEN WALLEY

THE FOUR JUDGES FROM OTHER CLUBS

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!

 

CLUB #28 EYES INCREDIBLE 9TH PRESIDENT'S DISTINGUISHED AWARD!! THE GREAT 28 GOES FOR #9! 

By Vice President of  Education and Kenneth H. Walley,

Club #28 has done something truly extraordinarily difficult for a Toastmaster Club to accomplish. We won six straight President's Distinguished Awards from 1999 to 2006! We were able to achieve our 7 TH and 8th President's Distinguished Award in 2009 and 2010!  The award is rare even among large Toastmaster Clubs because it requires that all of the club's members take a part in earning it.  It is the highest award that Toastmasters International can bestow upon an individual club, For a club our size to have accomplished this feat for seven out of  9 years has been nothing less than remarkable. But we believe that we should not rest on our laurels! We have a wonderful opportunity to go for "The Sublime #9!" our 9th in 2010/2011, the 9th in the last 11 years...which would be truly remarkable. We will keep track here updating every week.  

We will need at least 20 members in our club on June 30th 2010...I challenge this club to have at least 35 by then! We Have: 28 Members on July 8th 2010.

GOAL #1: TWO CC'S: (Competent Toastmaster / Completing Basic Manual): 1.)  2.)  

GOAL #2: TWO MORE CC's!" 1.)  2.)

GOAL #3: ONE AC (Advanced Toastmaster) Bronze, Silver or Gold)! 1.)   

GOAL #4: ONE MORE ACB, ACS or ACG: 1.)

GOAL #5: ONE CL (Competent Leader Award) or DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster Award) !: 1.)

GOAL #6: ONE MORE CL, AL OR DTM: 1.)

GOAL #7: FOUR NEW MEMBERS! 1.) Alan Brents (7/10) 2.) Kevin Bauer (7/10) 3.)Diane Hart 4.)

GOAL #8: FOUR MORE NEW MEMBERS! 1.)  2.)  3.)  4.)

GOAL #9: AT LEAST FOUR OFFICER TRAINED  (Attending TI Officer Training for both TM term sessions) July 2010:  Pres.; VPE; VPPR, VPM; Secretary; Treasurer; SAA.

January 2010: Pres.; VPE; VPPR; VPM; Secretary; Treasurer; SAA.

GOAL #10: SUBMITTED ON TIME SEMI-ANNUAL PER CAPS AND CLUB OFFICER LISTS:

Semi Annual (Per Caps) due by 9/30/2010 and 3/30/2011: Per Cap #1:)  Per Cap #2:)

Officer List due by 12/31/10 and 06/30/11:

 Club #28 is also in easy reach of a 9th  President's Distinguish award. We are going to keep going ACHIEVE THE SUBLIME #9!  WE ROCK! 

A MESSAGE FROM CLUB PRESIDENT Deepti Dhiman, CC, CL:

I never believed that I could stand in front of a group of people to give a memorable speech. Toastmasters gave me an opportunity to enhance my communication and leadership skills. Like signing and dancing,  public speaking is also a skill. To horn any skill, what is needed is "practice, practice..." It is well said "Practice makes a man perfect"; therefore, the more you practice any skill the better that you become at it. Toastmasters International provides you with a platform to practice public speaking. Every speech given in Toastmasters is followed by a constructive evaluation that helps a speaker to improve.

I joined Toastmaster International two years ago; and I have seen my confidence grow from a caterpillar to a butterfly! I have never attended any meeting at my club where I have not learnt anything. Now, here I am serving as the President of Club #28. I really feel honored and privileged to be able to serve the Club. As a President I am responsible to lead the Club and promote excellence. In cooperation with the other officers, I have established long-term and short-term goals for the Club. Some of the things that I would like to do for my club are noted below:

  • Achieve the President's Distinguished Club Award. Our club has won six consecutive President's Distinguished Club Awards from 1999 to 2006. In 2009, we won our 7th President's Distinguished Award. Achieving a top club goal such as this is not an easy accomplishment as it take the effort of the entire club to achieve the award. My goal is to continue working towards that goal for this year.

  • Ensure the Club has an ongoing membership-building program. members are the pillars of a club.

  • Add creativity to our meetings such as reverse and theme meetings. Changes will give challenges to our toastmasters.

I am confident in achieving my goals as I have a great team of officers to help me. With that, I would like to thank all my club members who have given me this opportunity to serve as the President of Club #28. I wish happy New Year to all.

Good Luck!

Orlando Toastmasters Club #28 President,

Deepti Dhiman, CC, CL

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

SPEAKER TIPS:

 5 Super Duper Basic Speaking Tips:

1. Rehearse. Practice until you have confidence. Practice in front of a mirror. Tape yourself while practicing until it sounds just the way you want it to sound. 2. Visualize. "See" the audience in your mind and how you would like them to react to different parts of your speech. 3. Give a performance, your audience will react to your emotions, actions and feelings as much as they will to the words. Speak from the heart. 4. No notes. Use sincerity and Conviction instead. 5. Use a conversational tone. Speak to your audience as if you were speaking to a single, close friend.   

5 Non-Verbal ways to hold your Audience: 1. Vary the "tone" of your body language: A relaxed speech relaxes your audience and might put them to sleep. A rigid speech might have them thinking you are scolding them! You are not their mom! 2.You are what you wear! Dress for the part. A well dressed speaker demands respect. 3. Work the room! Speak to different "zones" and get out from behind the lectern. 4. Create the environment you want. Get to the location before your audience and have props, projectors and effects set up and ready to go. Create some "magic"! 5. Eye contact, eye contact, eye contact!  

Speech Writing Tips (From Paul Meunier, DTM): 1. Pick a Topic that interests you. 2. Pick a Topic that does NOT interest you! Almost any topic becomes interesting with a little research. 3.  Let your Ideas Flow. 4. Focus on Your Theme. Use outlining or mind-mapping to begin to get your ideas down. 5. Less is More. The shorter the speech, the better! 6. The Power of a Personal Story. 7. Practice your Speech. Rehearse OUT LOUD in front of a mirror, to a tape recorder, and with your mentor. 8. Memorize Your Beginning and Ending!

The Power of Speech, A Six Point Checklist:

1. Strong Start. 2. Pause for Effect and Drama. 3. Eye Contact. 5. Enthusiasm and Energy. 5. Conversational Style. 6. Humor 

Trite Phrases Guaranteed to Lose Your Audience:

1. "Without Further ado..." 2. "Last but not least..." 3. None other than..." 4.At this point in time..." 4. "Let me turn over the lectern ..." 5. As you probably already know..." 6. I don't want to bore you, but..." 6. "Now as I was saying..." 7. "Thank you so much for having me..." 8. "This speaker needs no introduction..." 9. "Let's give a BIG HAND to..." 10. "I'm Sorry 'bout that.."