Stylish Cranberry Area Contest

It was a great night in Cranberry Township. The Area 13 International Speech and Evaluation contest took place at the Cranberry Municipal Building.

Our contest chair, Stephanie Scott, and chief judge, Elizabeth Carter, organized a great contest that included great food and drink. I braved the snow and cold to support great friends in the contest.

I got there at 6:15 and by 6:30 everyone had arrived. Sarah and her husband Ron, a North Hills Toastmaster, walked in. I wowed her with my red leather jacket. She was nervous about the upcoming evaluation contest but I assured her that she would do great. We then got our refreshments and socialized.

I met some more familiar faces like our current District Director Denise Etter and past International Director Russell Drake. This contest had a lot of past district leaders attending. Stephanie briefed the contestants and Elizabeth did the same with the judges. We then started the contest around 7:15.

Mike Pechalk went first and gave an excellent speech. He went far in last year’s contest and won it all a few years ago at the Fall Contest. He represented ProMasters. Maragatham Maharajan went second and also gave a great speech. After a short but sweet International Speech contest it was break time. Time for the Evaluation contests to prepare. Sarah would go second between the two Michaels (Pechalk and Nelson).

Susan from the Westinghouse chapter was the contest Sergeant at Arms and escorted the other contestants outside. Jill Perry was the model speaker. She was from the Beaver chapter, same club as Katina Hunter (one of the district’s best speakers and a regular finalist year after year). Jill’s speech was about vaping. Jill just achieved her Distinguished Toastmaster award last year along with Katina.

While the contestants were working on their evaluations, contest chair Stephanie Scott interviewed the model speaker. After five minutes, it was time to call the contestants back in the room.

Mike Pechalk gave his evaluation first and he was very spot on. I expected that out of him, as he is a well-polished speaker. Next up was Sarah Souri. She was nervous but she fought those butterflies 🦋 and gave excellent feedback of Jill’s speech. Michael Nelson was the last contestant and his review was good and flavorful. He thought there should be a strawberry scented flavor those who love vaping.

With the contest now over, Stephanie interviewed all contestants while Liz and her team went over the ballots to pick the contest winners. Here’s some pictures of the contestants.

It’s now time to announce the winners. In the speech contest, in second place 🥈 was Maragatham Maharajan. In first place 🥇, drumroll please, was Mike Pechalk. Maragatham will take part in the speech contest on March 21 as Mike will be out of town.

In the evaluation contest, in third place 🥉 was Michael Nelson from the Cranberry Area chapter. Taking second place 🥈 was Mike Pechalk from ProMasters. In first place 🥇—drumroll please— was Sarah Souri from the Cranberry High Noon chapter.

The contest was over and what a contest it was. We got some great pictures of the members and a nice one of the cute couple. Here they are.

Time to close off the blog. What a great contest this was. I just love this club and how they make me feel at home when I visit. I am the star 💫 of District 13 and it shows. I look forward to watching my Cranberry High Noon fam compete on March 21 as well as Walter J and Katina. I’ve got that DTM swag and it shows.

As the weekend is here, let me give you some advice as you go out and about. Live your best life. Be your best you. ROCK out because you are worth it.

Put together a great outfit and show it off even if no one notices. Don’t forget to smile and make it infectious. When you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance 💃.

Make this weekend lovely. We’re only three weeks away from Spring.

Bye everyone. ❤️ you 💋 🤗.