Contests : another way to improve

Successful professional speakers repeatedly tell us that stage time is key to improved speaking skills.  Every time you participate in a Table Topics session, give a speech at a regular meeting, fill the role as an evaluator or as a Toastmaster, you are giving yourself stage time. Another speaking opportunity exists in the speaking contests.  This fall, two contest opportunities are available to all Toastmasters.  The Humorous Speech and the Evaluation contests. Details about our contest opportunities are listed below.

Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contests

Club Contest

The EastSide Madison Toastmasters will hold both the Humorous Speech and Evaluation contests on September 17, 2012.

Participation. 
All members are requested to attend so we have enough participants and judges.  Your participation, whether as a contestant or as a judge will create a successful event. 

Eligibility requirement
All members of EastSide Madison Toastmasters are eligible to compete in either or both of the contests.


Guests are welcome to observe the contests.  

Sign up.
Using the on-line sign up by navigating to our site : http://1366.toastmastersclubs.org , and logging in by clicking on Member Login.  Click on Meeting Agendas. View the September 17 Agenda.  At this point you can sign up as a contestant or a support person. If all the roles appear to be filled, post a meeting note telling us what role you'd like to fill.  The more contestants and judges, the better!

An alternative option to the on-line sign up is to send an e-mail to Victoria Frank advising your intentions.

Winners will be EastSide Madison Toastmasters' representatives at the Area Contest

Area contest
A member of District 35's area C-4, our area contest will be held on the same day as the area C-2 contests.
When: Thursday, Oct. 4th

            5:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m. -  Contestants' and Judges' Briefings

            6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.  -  Contests/ Awards

Where: Strand Associates, Inc.

             910 W. Wingra Dr., Madison, WI 53715   (Google Map of Location: http://goo.gl/maps/aXtQM )

Winners will be Area C-4's representatives at the District Contest

District Fall Conference: Holiday Inn Riverwalk - Neenah

WhenFri, November 2, 8am – Sat, November 3, 10pmWhereHoliday Inn Riverwalk Hotel, Neenah 123 East Wisconsin Avenue, Neenah, WI (map)DescriptionDistrict 35 Fall Conference: Holiday Inn Riverwalk - NeenahJoin us in Neenah, WINovember 2-3, 2012Enjoy the Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contests, take in the educational opportunities and reunite with your Toastmaster friends at the beautiful Holiday Inn Neenah Riverwalk Hotel.

Get the word out

Toastmasters has a lot to offer for those struggling for a change. Opportunities abound for people to practice activities that contribute to improved options for career advancement. Here's a short list (but there's more to be gained by joining):

• Leading a meeting
• Providing feedback in a sensitive professional manner
• Improving speaking skills
• Using appropriate humor in a professional environment
• Improving your time management skills
• Coordinating events

Coming soon (September 17) to the EastSide Madison Toastmasters are the Evaluator contest and the Humorous speech contests.

I encourage all the EastSide Madison members to begin putting your skills to practice by participating in roles that will help you improve your evaluation and speaking skills.  Ready yourselves to participate in the contests.

New members are always welcome! Come and visit one of our meetings and see for yourself the benefits you gain by joining our club.

We are a member of Toastmasters International - a not-for profit organization "Where Leaders are Made".

Give me your Feedback

I continually seek out ways to self improve.  One aspect I frequently focus on is how I am perceived.  Do people understand what I am saying? Is what I am trying to communicate the same thing as what is heard?
At Toastmasters we practice our feedback skills by filling the role as evaluator.  The ultimate role for feedback during the standard Toastmasters meeting is the General Evaluator. Who could ask for more? Evaluate my evaluation! How am I doing?

The June edition of the Toastmaster Magazine contains several articles that helps me as I provide feedback to other individuals. Contained are hints about eye contact, use of notes, organization of thoughts, and much more. Check it out! Specifically in this issue is the reminder that practice helps. I've read and heard many times that a successful strategy for self improvement involves practice. Stage time. Try it. Improve it. Try it again. By filling the roles of speech evaluator and general evaluator we get the stage time that each of us require to improve.

I frequently fill the role as the meeting's Toastmaster because I know I need to become better organized. I try to look back after each meeting to assess whether I forgot to share something or caused confusion by presenting some aspect of the meeting out of order.  I really appreciate the feedback that I receive in the form of notes from fellow Toastmasters and from the General Evaluator.

Thank you, fellow Toastmasters for your feedback on how I'm doing. Keep it coming.
Karen Staebell