Page 39 - Voices 2024-10

CONVENTION AUGUST 2024
Anaheim California USA
Why Second is First
Leela Seeber
The 100th Toastmaster Convention was held. The
convention was at the birthplace of Toastmasters,
Anaheim California, where the founder Ralph
Smedley started the first club in 1924. It
included educational workshops, networking,
organizational business sessions and a 1920’s
themed party.
The crown jewel of every Toastmaster convention
is the World Championship of Public Speaking®.
I have never been to a Toastmaster convention
in person, but each August I look forward to
watching the top speakers in the world when their
speeches are released on You Tube. This year I
was surprised to recognize the name of the World
Champion of Public Speaking - Luisa Motalvo.
Luisa Motalvo was already on a short list of
speakers that I admire most. Luisa had earned
that position in 2019 when she won second place
in the World Championship of Public Speaking®
Contest. That speech was a master class on the use place winners!
of props. It was different and innovative and there
was so much I learned by watching.
Over the years I find that my taste gravitates more
to the second place winner instead of the first
place. The first place speeches generally play it
safe and have a very wide range of appeal. Vanilla.
The second place speeches tend to be where the
“wow” factor is. Things I’ve never seen before.
Things I would love to apply in my own speeches.
2016 Aaron Beverly had the longest speech title
ever
2018 “Sherrie” Su started her speech with her back
turned to her audience.
2020 Linda-Marie Miller juxtaposed what she was
saying with signs she held.
2021 Nitay-Yair Levi expertly used the camera in
many ways including to show a close up of himself
being punched in the face
Each year via YouTube the Toastmaster champion
speeches arrive and I enjoy each speech like a
candy from a decadent box of chocolates. The first
place ones of course are the most popular and
have all the attention, but I seek out those second
places. I savor them the most. Most people dream
of being the world champion - but imagine the
honor of joining the ranks of the illustrious second
My congratulations to Luisa Motalvo on being
2024 first place winner and 2019 second place
winner. I find it ironic that her speech in 2019 was
about stopping to help a stranger alongside the
road and her 2024 winning speech was about 37
strangers helping her alongside a road.
I look forward to the speeches that the next 100
years of Toastmasters brings.
Fall 2024 39