Page 19 - 2016.01.19Voices!

• Revise, revise, revise! As I am preparing to finish my speech. My bad! The official time
for a contest, I typically go through 15 to was 7:29, within 2 seconds of being disqualified.
20 versions that are different enough to I got a good education, but no trophy, which
save on my computer. in the long run was better than the other way
around.
• One of the toughest things I have to do is
to throw out a really good laugh line that For my only Regional-level, International
just doesn’t fit anymore with the newly Speech Contest, I drew the speaker #1 position.
revised speech. Never fall in love with There was a huge, huge room full of people.
any one part of your speech. The sound engineer used my speech as an op-
portunity to learn how to run the sound system.
• Get feedback from people you know, and The amplifier “died” at least three times during
at least a few people you don’t know. The my speech. Distraction much? The lesson here
people who know you best have already is that sometimes “things” happen and you need
adjusted themselves to your “quirks,” and to slog on through and make the best of it.
will probably not even be aware of them
anymore. You need some “fresh ears.” Q: What do you love so much about being a
contestant?
Q: What has kept you in Toastmasters for 26
years? A: Samuel Johnson, the 18th century English
writer said, “When a man knows he is to be
To be honest, it’s the people in Toastmasters hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind
who have kept me in Toastmasters all this wonderfully.” Knowing that your “do or die”
time. The people are interesting, and listen- contest speaking opportunity is the end of next
ing to speeches is a great way to get to know week has the same amazing effect! You focus on
them. Evaluations are wonderful. An evalu- your speech like never before.
ator is essentially someone standing up there
who is interested in helping you improve. Leanna Lindquist joined Toastmasters in 2009. She had
How often do you get that? great mentors from the beginning who encouraged her to
take on leadership roles. She has held most of the club officer
Q: What was it like to compete in a regional roles multiple times. She is serving as VP Membership, VP
contest? Public Relations and VP Education in three different clubs.
Her first District role was Education Coordinator. She has
A: It was educational. In the Region I served as an Area Governor, Division Governor, District
Humorous Speech Contest (R.I.P) I learned Club Coach Coordinator, District Public Relations Officer,
that a really big audience laughs longer than Conference Chair, Lt. Governor Marketing and is currently
a just “big” audience. There had been so the Program Quality Director. Her home club is Marylhurst
much prolonged laughter for my speech that Toastmasters. A club of which she is most proud. She also
upon seeing the red light, I started rushing belongs to Feedbackers, Daylighters and New Beginnings.
(probably with a tinge of panic in my voice) She has been awarded Division Governor of the Year and

March 11: Last Day to Hold Club Contests

Now is the time for clubs to schedule their International Speech and Evaluation Contests. All current members
in good standing, belonging to clubs in good standing, are eligible to compete. Members must have completed
6 speeches from the Competent Communicator Manual to compete in the International Speech Contest. The rule
is waived for clubs chartering since July 1, 2016. District officers are not eligible to compete in District sponsored
contests.

First place winners advance from the Club to the Area Contests. Winners from the Area Contests advance to
their respective Division Contests. The first place winner from each Division Contest will advance to the District
7 Speech Contest. It will be held May 7, 2016 at the Spring Conference, Leading the World, at Lane Community
College in Eugene.

All the information you need to be a speech contest organizer, participant or contestant all the is here. If you
are the organizer or a judge I urge you to review these tutorials.

Volume 2 Issue 6 - JANUARY 2016 19