Lessons Learned

I haven’t had the chance to update my blog in quite some time, but no, I did not win my club’s International Speech Contest.  There was only one other contestant and he did a great job with his speech.  It was titled “The Rainbow Connection” and he somehow tied Barack Obama, Kermit the Frog and [...]

During my (now) 10 years in Toastmasters, I actually never competed in any of my club’s International Speech Contest.  Actually I was only eligible to compete in 5 of them as I did not reach the minimum six speeches until after the 2000 contests, plus I was a District 30 officer for 3 additional years. [...]

When I scaled back my involvement in Toastmasters in the Summer of 2007, I did not see myself attending any more International Conventions after attending and enjoying the previous two.  I was planning on just being a club member and officer, occasionally attending some TM events outside of the club.  Instead of spending $600 to [...]

There was a question recently in LinkedIn for those who are in the Toastmasters International Members group, the official LinkedIn group of Toastmasters International, from a Toastmasters member from India regarding a Division Lt. Governor competing in an Evaluation contest: I wanted to know from you the rules.. can a Lt. Governor for Division participate [...]

I went to the North 42 Area Contest tonight, which includes the North Suburban club, serving as Chief Judge.  Interestingly enough the Northwest 4 Area Contest, which includes the Arlington Heights club, was also held tonight, but I went to North 42 as the Area Governor also belongs to North Suburban and I wanted to [...]

I’ve been to so many Toastmaster contests over the years.  In many cases, I’ve witnessed a contestant going from one level to another, then another, until they either reached the ultimate goal, such as Ed Hearn when he won the 2006 World Champion of Public Speaking, or they come up short.  There was one contestant [...]

As the Contest Chair for the 2006 District 30 Fall Conference, I had to make a gut-wrenching call to a Humorous Speech contestant less than a week before the conference – he was disqualified because Toastmasters International never received his application and payment from the club he was representing, an Advanced club he joined a [...]