Contest season is underway

The Spring contest season is underway in District 53. Toastmasters in ProSpeakers competed last night in Tall Tales and International Speech contests.

I believe that ProSpeakers is leading the way because most Toastmaster clubs are in the planning phases of club contests. Club contests must be complete by March 21 in District 53.

I am honored to server as Area B2 Governor for 2007/2008. One of my responsibilities is to organize the Area Contests. To fulfill this obligation, I am busy planning Area B2 Contest which will be held on April 1, 2008 at CIGNA in Bloomfield, Connecticut.

When I joined Toastmasters, I did not realize the magnitude and import of contests. I saw a club contest held every once in awhile (I did not realize that we held contests every six months), and then I did not hear about contests until the next club contest came up.

As Area B2 Governor, I have insight into the tremendous planning and leadership opportunities that contests provide. From February through May and from August through November each year Toastmasters from all over the District are planning and holding contests.

As a club member you only see 5% of the contest effects. But the other 95% of leadership opportunity is waiting for anyone who is looking for leadership training. Step up and join us. Volunteer for a club chair position to get credit in your Competent Leader manual. Then become a club officer next year, or Area Governor. (Oh yeah, on a side note, you will experience the pleasure of participating in a well run contest and the 2008 World Champion of Public Speaking may just come from your club).

How to accelerate your speaking growth

Do you want to grow exponentially as a speaker? Would you like to get a year's worth of growth in one evening?

Suppose that you are a Toastmaster. You speak once a month and receive an evaluation from your fellow club members. After 12 months, you have received 12 evaluations.

Now, if you are impatient like me would you like to receive this feedback in one night? Do you see the benefit of growing at this pace instead of one evaluation per month? If you do, then you need to find, join, or start an Advanced Toastmasters Club.

I attended ProSpeakers club last night. We are an Advanced Toastmasters club meeting in Springfield, Western Massachusetts on the third Thursday of every month. Last night, each of our four speakers got in depth feedback from 13 evaluators. WOW!!

My advice for speakers who want a safe place to test material and grow exponentially, get to your nearest Advanced Toastmasters club.