UKIAH — Members of Tenacious Talkers, a Lake County Toastmasters Club, were recently runners-up in an area competition.
Toastmasters International is an organization that helps people become more comfortable speaking in front of an audience.
According to www.toastmasters.org, the club has nearly 220,000 members in 90 countries worldwide.
There are 11,300 clubs, including two that are active locally.
One is a corporate club at Sutter Lakeside Hospital.
The other, Tenacious Talkers, is open to members of the public.
The Area G-10 Spring Speech Contest pitted Lake County Toastmasters against clubs from Ukiah and Cloverdale.
Toastmasters Club No. 8731, the Tenacious Talkers, fielded competitors in two areas.
Thomas Kalk represented the club in the Table Topics competition and Laurie LaMonaco competed in International Speech.
LaMonaco first presented her speech at a local competition. Judges awarded numerical scores for each of the presenters with the highest score determining the winner. LaMonaco said she incorporated club members” suggestions when she organized her speech for the area competition.
First place in International Speech went to James Oglesvy of Cloverdale Club, No. 8886.
Four speakers competed in the Table Topics competition. A sergeant-at-arms escorted each competitor into the room when it was his or her turn so that competitors did not hear the question before it was put to them.
The benefit of Table Topics is to promote an ability to “think and speak on your feet” according to Toastmasters International (www.toastmasters.org). It advises its members to keep up with current events to help prepare for impromptu speaking.
Jane Doroff of the Cloverdale Club won in Table Topics at the area competition. Winners in each category will advance and compete at district level.
Tenacious Talkers meets at 6:15 p.m. every Thursday at Sutton Assoc. Investment Services, 290 North Main Street in Lakeport. The meeting begins with Table Topics and is followed by prepared speeches that receive an evaluation. Meetings usually end by 7:30 p.m.
Beginning Toastmasters work through 10 lessons in “Competent Communication” by preparing 10 speeches. A person who has completed this manual is a “Competent Communicator.” He or she can then select other manuals that address specific occasions and purposes.
Toastmasters also work through a “Competent Leadership” manual by taking on various roles. “Toastmaster” of the meeting acts as master of ceremonies, introducing each speaker and keeping the meeting on track. An “ah-counter” monitors word usage and a timekeeper keeps track of time. A “grammarian” introduces a word that club members try to incorporate into their speech or conversation. Table Topics master has prepared questions or challenges for club members” impromptu speeches.
Club members vote for their favorite Table Topics, prepared speech and evaluation. Award ribbons are presented at the end of each meeting for each of the categories.
The local chapter has a Web site at http://tenacioustalkers.freetoasthost.net/. It includes member profiles and a link to members” speeches that have been posted on YouTube.
Also available, the Web site of Toastmasters International, www.toastmasters.org.
Contact Cynthia Parkhill at cparkhill@clearlakeobserver.com.
