Page 8 - 2015.11.Voices

NORTHERN DIVISION CLEAN

(Northern Division members Kathleen Sykora and Yoshiko (Yokko) Okamura
captured both first place trophies in the Table Topics and the Humorous Speech
contests. Kathleen wowed the judges and audience with her entertaining response
to the table topics question: Everyone knows you are a celebrated TV personality
with millions of viewers. How did you become successful and why are you so
admired? . Yokko, dressed in her flight uniform, had everyone rolling in the aisles
with her speech, Not So Friendly Skies, about the in-flight challenges of coping with
passengers. Following the contests, Patrick Locke, DTM interviewed both Kathleen
and Yokko. – Editor)

Interview with Kathleen Sykora

Q: What were your feelings as you won each level of the contest, club, area, division,
district? Share with your fellow members how you felt and what helped you win?

Kathleen: The first time I won at the club level, I was so excited because I hadn’t won a competition before. I
felt really comfortable beforehand, just wanting to enjoy the experience and have fun. At each level, I realized
that I had to work a little harder to enjoy the experience and have fun, because I was feeling the pressure of
wanting to represent my club and keep going. But, each time I took first place, it was a thrilling experience. The
questions were all so interesting, different, and kept me on my toes!

Q: How did your fellow Toastmasters support you, and why was that important to your success?

Kathleen: I couldn’t have succeeded like I did had it not been for my home club members.
Their support was absolutely key. They were committed in taking meeting time to allow me to
get up in front of them and do mock questions, one after the other. We held special meetings
before the contests to prepare me for that particular level. It was an amazing experience to
have that kind of faith and belief in my abilities to nail this competition.

Q: How do you see everyone gaining from this experience of a contest?

Kathleen: Everyone who participates in whatever capacity they can, support at the home
club level, attending the contests gains something. Attending each contest and the Fall
Conference was a real eye opener for me. I hadn’t attended anything other than our club
meetings, and I came away with the feeling that I am part of something much bigger than our
club, that there are so many opportunities out there for each one of us to take advantage of to
improve ourselves, not only as speakers, but as individuals making a difference in this world.
This experience has deepened my commitment to my club and beyond, and to myself to set
personal speaking and leadership goals. It has been an amazing experience! And, I want to
share this experience with my home club members so that they can one day have the chance
to be their District’s Table Topics Champion.

Kathleen Sykora is a charter member of UL’s (Underwriters Laboratories) Testmasters Club in Camas, WA having
participated in the club for the past five years. She has a background in theater and music, having received her
Master of Arts degree in Acting from DePaul University, Chicago, IL. A native Southern Californian, Kathleen has
made the Pacific Northwest her home for the past 10 years.

Kathleen shares that taking first place at the 2015 District Fall Conference Table Topics contest has been a
thrilling experience! And, that Toastmasters has been instrumental in honing her speech writing and speaking
skills. Her next goal is to become the 2016 International Champion Public Speaking. So keep a watch out for
that curly, gray-haired gal next spring! Congratulations on winning the Table Topics Contest!

8 Volume 2 Issue 5 - NOVEMBER 2015