Page 23 - August 2017 Voices
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Beyond Concrete Walls –
1st Inter-Prison Speech Contest
by Karl Biederbeck
We would probably
On June 26, 2017, Smooth Talkers Toastmaster have more increased
club at Warner Creek Correctional Facility attendance if inmates
(WCCF) held a video conference competi- could afford membership dues. We also have
tion with two other Oregon clubs from Snake limited resources available due to lack of internet
River (Ontario, TM District 15) and Deer Ridge access but we work around these hurdles and
(Madras) Correctional Institutions. make it work.
For those who are not aware, many prisons Unfortunately, we are not able to participate
host Toastmaster clubs for inmates, which in speech competitions beyond the club level
volunteers from the community join and help unless the area contest is held at our facility. This
us run. As one of the inmates, I would like to tell has been the case with some members from the
you why this speech competition, the first of its Alturas, CA, and Klamath Falls Clubs taking out
kind, was such a big deal for us. time to travel to our facility twice a year—a time
Being inmates, we obviously do not get out consuming endeavor because Warner Creek is
much. Fortunately there are volunteers located in Lakeview, Oregon, which is
who are gracious enough to come to us, in the middle of nowhere. However,
making Toastmasters the real downside has been that
in prison possible. beyond these initial
I have never been a levels, we are not
Toastmaster before able to participate in
coming to prison, but Division or District
being incarcerated and contests.
having plenty of time, So when our
I decided to give it a volunteers, Miss
try. If inmates put their Rone and Miss
mind to it, they can make good use Hiatt, put forth the
of the time in prison, regardless of why possibility of doing an inter-facility
they are here. There is always room for self speech competition with Snake River and
improvement and challenge. In my experience, Deer Ridge, we were intrigued. They coordi-
Toastmasters is by far the most valuable tool nated with the staff and the other clubs to make
available to me here, in bringing about personal it happen, including a short trial run to test the
growth. equipment and connections beforehand.
Our club is an odd bunch, and the inmates On June 26, we held a real-time international
and volunteers give speeches on diverse sets of speech and table topics competition, likely the
topics that allow us to learn a lot from each other first of its kind nationwide. We were all surprised
as we interact just like any other club does on how well it went as we connected across Oregon,
the outside. Personally, Toastmasters has helped being able to see everyone involved. Each contest
immensely to grow my confidence, eloquence, featured two speakers from each facility that
and communication skills. That said, there are were linked by video conference cameras and TV
some difficulties to running a club in prison. The screens. Afterwards, the audience left the room
good news is we do not need to find a venue. so that chief judges and ballot counters in all
However, nearly everything else is a challenge. three locations could discuss the scores. In the
As inmates come and go, we struggle to end, each competition had winners from every
maintain adequate numbers of club members. facility. But most of all, the real win was a proof
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