How Has Toastmasters Helped You Connect With Others?

Another great area contest took place on my 2021 District 13 Area Contest tour.

The Area 13 International Speech and Table Topics contest was held virtually last night. I attended the contest last year when it was held at the Cranberry Township Municipal Building.

Tom Nylec of Westinghouse won the International Speech contest with his speech “Travel to the NOW”. In it he talked about meditation and how focusing on the present helped him get through the pandemic. Linde Riley of Cranberry High Noon Toastmasters won the Table Topics portion of the contest.

I really loved the Table Topics question. How has Toastmasters helped you connect with others? For contestants Linde Geissler Riley and Adie Kurtanich I thought this was too close to call because they both answered this question well. Cranberry High Noon Toastmasters was well represented tonight.

Linde dreaded speaking in front of groups. When she moved back to Pittsburgh, she took the opportunity to join Toastmasters. It has helped her to become a better communicator. This year , Linde serves as Vice President Education of Cranberry High Noon Toastmasters. For Adie, her teaching experience was helped by her involvement in Toastmasters. It has also helped in her work in the legal field. Both contestants have seen their confidence grow as a result of their involvement in Toastmsters. Adie is a dual member of Cranberry High Noon and Cranberry Area Toastmasters. Currently, she serves as President of Cranberry Area Toastmasters.

Both Tom Nylec and Linde Riley will advance to the divisional round in March. The Division B International Speech and Table Topics contest will be held on March 21.

Our District trio was in attendance as well as our Division Directors. All gave their praise for the contest, which was well-run, and they plugged their upcoming speech contests in March. I will be attending all four division contests.

The Area contest tour for me continues Saturday with Area 22 and then Wednesday and Thursday evening with dual contests (Area 2/33 and Area 11/14).

My answer to this question will be on Facebook and Instagram.