Let’s Talk Toastmasters (LTTM) is an advanced club that meets the first Sunday (2:00 to 4:00 PM) of each month at the Custer Road Methodist Church in Plano. The regular meeting agenda includes a featured guest speaker, educational speaker, humorous speaker, editorial speaker, and rebuttal speaker. Tantalizing table topics, an “As I See It” feature, and excellent, effective evaluations are also part of the LTTM experience.
LTTM’s 7th Annual December Holiday Meeting presented a rare challenge to club members and guests – the 4th Annual Impromptu Speech Contest. Thirteen brave contestants “Moved Forward Together”, and spoke for 4 to 6 minutes on a topic drawn at random. With just 60 seconds to organize their thoughts, each contestant used proven Toastmaster techniques to craft a speech “on the spot”. Imagine quadruple-length Table Topics, and you’ll have an idea of what the experience was like.
Our contestants and topics (in speaking order) were:
- Millicent Godfrey: “How to Make a Good First Impression”
- Lisa Hill: “The Ultimate Vacation Destination”
- Chip Brueckman: “The Easiest Way to a Man's Heart”
- Rita Taylor: “Welcome to My Dream House”
- Srinath Vemviapaulli: “The Three Items I'd Put in a Time Capsule”
- Monnica Lamb: “I Learned This The Hard Way”
- Robert Dillender: “My Favorite Quote, Saying, or Expression”
- LaTonya Celestine: “My Happiest Day”
- Helen Liu: “Why Women Were Created”
- Lisette Cumberland: “I Would Create a Sequel to This Movie”
- Tom Ancell: “The Greatest Wonder of the World”
- Les Guse: “Welcome to My Totally Unique Retail Store”
- Tim Kruse: “The Best Way to Redirect Frustration”
Four hard-working judges, Mary Mukhtarian (Chief Judge), Steve Blackwell, Tracie Henderson, and Christine Meeker used the International Speech Contest Judge’s Ballot to rank the contestants. Joyce Ancell and Frances Guse kept time.
LTTM awarded first, second, and third place trophies. Chip Brueckman placed third, Monnica Lamb came in second, and Helen Liu took home the first place trophy as the best Impromptu Speaker for the 2011 Contest.
Congratulations and kudos to the Keen Thirteen contestants. They are “saving the date” for LTTM’s 5th Annual Impromptu Speech Contest on Sunday, December 2, 2012.
Steve Hansen, DTM
Contest Master