Area A2 Contest results ....

On April 2nd, Area A2 had their Tall Tales and International Speech contests. The contest was hosted by Putnam Speaks at Guideposts in Carmel, NY with Steve Rock of BI Toastmasters filling the role of ContestMaster.

The winners of the contests were:

International speech winners:
1st Place:
Walter Beveridge, Putnam Speaks

1st Runner-Up:
Naveen Thalanki, BI Toastmasters

2nd Runner-Up:
Croix Sather, DiversityUSA

Tall Tales winners:
1st Place: Lisa Edwards, Putnam Speaks
1st Runner-Up: Gary McCourry, Putnam Speaks
2nd Runner-Up: Janice Brickwood, BI Toastmasters


Pictures:
* top picture... all attendees !
(notice all the smiles!)

* next picture... (l-r) Croix Sather, Naveen, Walter Beveridge, Steve Rock, Dave Wheeler, Lisa Edwards, Gary McCourry, Janice Brickwood

bottom picture: ContestMaster Steve Rock interviews Tall Tales contestant Gary McCourry.

* Higher resolution versions of these pictures are available by clicking the links below.
http://www.notewordy.com/Toastmasters/Spring08_A2_everyone.jpg
http://www.notewordy.com/Toastmasters/Spring08_A2_winners.jpg

Area A4 contest Tuesday night - 4-1-08

Area A-4 had their contest on Tuesday night (April 1st) at the Stony Hill Fire Dept. in Bethel, CT. The meeting was hosted by Barnum Square Toastmasters and there were six competitors in each category and the results are as follows:

A-4 International Contest Winners:

1st Place:
Nana Danso - Socially Speaking - # 4720

2nd Place:
Pearl Golay - Cartus - # 875053

3rd Place:
Hilda DeLucia - Barnum Square - # 1701

A-4 Tall Tales Contest Winners:

1st Place:

Carmine Coco DeYoung - WestConn - # 0599

2nd Place:

Annie Sorrells - Cartus - # 875053

3rd Place:
Heather O'Neil - Barnum Square - # 1701

Pictures (from top):
Audience, participant Anne Swartout, fast-moving Carmine Coco De Young and Tall Tale speaker Heather O'Neill.

Area A3 Contest results !

"Area A3 contests went wonderfully! We had very good participation (5 Tall Tales Contest contestants and 2 International Contest speakers)." - Ozgur Turkmen, Area A3 Governor

Here's the results:

Tall tales Speech Contest
1st Place : Mike LaFountain (Catskill TM - 9542)
2nd Place : Clifford Bell (Henry Hudson TM - 4507)
3rd Place : John Capen (Orange County TM - 9315)

International Speech Contest
1st Place : Mike LaFountain (Catskill TM - 9542)
2nd Place : Sharron Phillips (Orange County TM - 9315)

Featured in the picture from the Area A3 contest are:
(l-r) Clifford Bell, John Capen, Mike LaFountain, Sharron Phillips, Ozgur Turkmen (A3 Governor), Daniel Sarno (Tall Tales participant from Henry Hudson TM - 4507)

What's your story?

I read this post and thought that other Toastmasters would appreciate it.

http://pos-psych.com/news/david-j-pollay/20070802359

What's your story?

Dave Wheeler

Spring Conference a HUGE Success !

Division A was well represented at the District 53 Spring conference / Leadership Summit. Croix Sather, of WestConn Toastmasters, took home the trophy for 2nd Runner-up in the Tall Tales contest and Nana Danso, of BI Toastmasters, took home FIRST PLACE in the International Speech contest!

We are very proud of both of them and we will wish Nana the best of luck at the Regional contest ! (More information on this will be posted in case you want to attend a regional conference and see Nana compete.)

We should also point out that this was Nana's first conference (as shown by the "First Timer Ribbon" that was next to his trophy ... or at least I assume that it was his). It just goes to show that while experience might help, it is not always the complete recipe for success !

This was Croix's second year on the District stage and I'm sure we will all agree that it will certainly not be his last!

Pictures below include Croix along with the other Tall Tales winners, Phil Shay and Joe Zafian as well as Croix's Tall Tale "interview" session prior to the announcement of the winners.

Mark Twain's rules for writing...

I came across the following "Mark Twain rules for writing" and thought they might be of interest to Toastmasters writing speeches!

Note ... If you are in the Tall Tale contest, be sure to read #6 (and disregard as needed).

Mark Twain divides his rules into large rules and little rules:

Large rules:
1. A tale shall accomplish something and arrive somewhere.

2. The episodes of a tale shall be necessary parts of the tale, and shall help develop it.

3. The personages in a tale shall be alive, except in the case of corpses, and that always the reader shall be able to tell the corpses from the others.

4. The personages in a tale, both dead and alive, shall exhibit a sufficient excuse for being there.

5. When the personages of a tale deal in conversation, the talk shall sound like human talk, and be talk such as human beings would be likely to talk in the given circumstances, and have a discoverable meaning, also a discoverable purpose, and a show of relevancy, and remain in the neighborhood of the subject in hand, and be interesting to the reader, and help out the tale, and stop when the people cannot think of anything more to say.

6. The personages of a tale shall confine themselves to possibilities and let miracles alone; or, if they venture a miracle, the author must so plausibly set it forth as to make it look possible and reasonable.

Little rules:
7. An author should say what he is proposing to say, not merely come near it.

8. Use the right word, not its second cousin.

9. Eschew surplusage.

10. Not omit necessary details.

Thanks for The Happiness Project blog for bringing this to our attention!

Division F contest results !!

The Division F Tall Tales and International Speech Contests were held on April 24th at GE Global Research Center, Steinmetz Hall, in Niskayuna, NY. The facilities were excellent... the speeches were given in a lecture hall with sloped seating and great acoustics. In addition, there was pizza and soda provided ... very good pizza, I should point out!

Regarding pictures of the winners (or my lack thereof) .... I did bring my digital camera, but due to the security at the GE Research Center ... and the big signs saying that pictures and cameras are not allowed... I decide that I did not want to risk bringing it into the contest.

The winners of the contests were as follows...
Tall Tales Speech Contest Results
1st place – Don Countermine, Clifton Park Speakers Club #7877
2nd place - Christina van Hoesen, Bethlehem Club #542

International Speech Contest Results
1st place - Neal Benoit, Patroon Club #3863
2nd place - Yun Li, Mohawk Club #1931

Division E Contest Winners !

Division E held their Spring Contests last night at Elms College in Chicopee, MA and had an excellent evening of speeches!

The winners included...

Tall Tales Winners
(l-r in picture)
Michelle DeDominicus,
1st Runner-up,

Kay Kanavino,
2nd Runner-up,

Phil Hayes, 1st Place
International Winners:
(l-r in picture)
Steve Sottman,
1st Runner-up

Michelle DeDominicus,
1st Place,

Laura Grunfeld,
2nd Runner-up







The last picture here includes all the contestants / winners...from left to right,
Steve Sottman, Michelle DeDominicus, Kay Kanavino, Laura Grunfeld and Phil Hayes.

If we mispelled anyone's name or if you can add the contestant's speech title or home club name & number, please send an email to Dave Wheeler at theshot92@gmail.com or leave a comment below.

Who won the "Battle of the Border"????

Since you all know that the [infamous?] "Battle of the Border 2007" between District 53's Div.A & D and District 46's Div.G was held last night at Ridgefield Library (hosted by the new Div.A Advanced TM club), I'm sure you are wondering....

WHO WON THE BATTLE?????

Well.... before I get to that, let me show you some pictures....

The picture above includes (l-r) Anne Swartout (Area A4 Governor/D53), Croix Sather (Tall Tales winner Div.A/D53), Edwin Borelly (Intl. winner, Div.G/46), Rob Ferrucci (Intl.Runner-up Div.A/53), Koshy Chacko (Intl.2nd Runner-up, Div.G/46), Jinghua Xu (Tall Tales Runner-up Div.A/53), Richard Peck (Tall Tales Winner Div.D/D53), Mary Neff (Div.G Governor/D46) and Nana Danso (Intl.Winner Div.A/D53)

As you can see from the pictures... everyone was having alot of fun.

Of course it wasn't all about FUN... we provided feedback to each contestant ... in an "American Idol" format with Richard Hastings, Mary Neff and Anne Swartout providing their comments along with inputs from the audience.

The contestants came prepared for a "bare-knuckle speech contest" and the audience was not disappointed! (The ContestMaster, Dave Wheeler, wore boxing gloves ... at least for a little while... but eventually, "the gloves came off".)

The prizes were awarded to the following contestants (pictured here, l-r):

Edwin Borrelly D46, 3rd place

Nana Danso D53, 1st place

Rob Ferrucci D53, 2nd place.

Of course the real winners were ALL the contestants who participated and were able to take their speeches and skills to a new level. All the speeches were incredible... and some may argue that the audience was the real winners.

How are we going to tell who really won?

I guess we will have to do it again next year !

Division D crowns their champions....

Last evening at the Plumb Memorial Library in Shelton, CT, Division D had their Spring contest, led by ContestMaster Maureen Moreau and Chief Judge Tom Fitch with the following results....

Tall Tales Contest:

1st Place:
Richard Peck, "The Snow Angel"

1st Runner-up:
Yashika Forrester, "The Magic Pot"

Tall Tales contestants pictured:
(l-r) Seizo Mazer, Richard Peck, Yashika Forrester, Richard Frantz, Jr.

International Speech Contest:

1st Place:
Brian Cavanaugh, "The Call's for You."

1st Runner-up:
Ben Lacar, "Fear as a Source of Power"

contestants pictured are:
(l-r) Angela Govila, Brian Cavanaugh, Ben Lacar and Jeff Rosow

It was a fun evening of entertainment and education....If you missed it, you will definitely want to get to the Spring Conference on May 19th!

The "Battle of the Border" .... April 19th!

The Battle of the Border is ON !

The newly initiated Div.A Advanced Toastmasters club has reserved the (very large) "Dayton Room" at Ridgefield (CT) Library for a BIG EVENT on April 19th.

Click here for a copy of the event FLYER !

The Dayton Room at the Ridgefield Library has a raised platform and audio equipment that will be good practice for the winners of the Division A contests (prior to the District Contest in May). We expect to pull in the winners from Division D ( Southern CT) and even Division G of District 46 in WestChester County, NY and parts of NJ.

The agenda will be similar to a Toastmasters contest... with a few variations since it is NOT an official contest. It is simply a [tongue-in-cheek] grudge match between neighboring divisions in different districts!

In fact, it might end up being more like "American Idol" than a "normal" Toastmasters contest!!

Our "first pass" agenda looks like this....

Warm-up Section:
Toastmaster: Dave Wheeler, Division A Governor
Introduction of Timer, Ah Counter / Grammarian and Judges

Speakers:
Croix Sather, Tall Tales winner, Div.A (D53)
Tall Tales winner Div.D (D53)
Nana Danso, Intl. Winner, Div. A (D53)
Rob Ferrucci, Intl. 1st Runner-up, Div. A (D53)
Intl. Winner, Div.G (D46)
Intl. 1st Runner-up, Div. G (D46)
Intl. Winner, Div.D (D53)
Intl. 1st Runner-up, Div. D (D53)

alternate speakers (to fill any empty slots above if needed)
Jinghua Xu, Tall Tales 1st Runner-up, Div. A (D53)
[name?], Tall Tales club winner, BI Toastmasters (D53)
[send an email to Dave Wheeler at theshot92@gmail.com if you would like to be considered as an alternate speaker).

Panel of Judges:
Anne Swartout, Area A4 Governor (D53)
Mary Neff, Div.G Governor (D46)
Evaluation Contest Winner & Runner-up(D46)
Div.A Advanced Club members
Ah Counter/Grammarian
Timer

Voting for Best Overall Speech (and runner-up) will be made by audience choice and announced after the speakers have each had a brief evaluation / comments from the Judges.

TROPHIES will be awarded !!!!!!

Bring a guest and enjoy a great evening of entertainment !

Div.B Contest Winners !

Div. B had their Tall Tales and International contest on April 12th with some excellent speeches! (Division A contestants better keep practicing!)

People in the picture include:

Front row (l-r): John Lynch, District Gov.; Rama Ramesh,Tall Tales 2nd Runner-up; Will Ryan, Lt.Gov.Education & Training

Second row (l-r): Marsha Kiley, Div.B Gov.; Michael O'Brien, 1st runner up for Int'l; Mike Aron, ContestMaster & Area B3 Gov.; Joe Zaphian, Tall Tales winner; Rich Couture, Tall Tales 1st Runner-up; Steve Gondak, Intl. Contest winner.

Division A Spring Contest Results !!!

Last evening the Spring Contest for Division A was held at the Wooster School in Danbury, CT. The contest was hosted by WestConn Toastmasters who were able to adjust to a change in plans when we arrived and found that Wooster School had scheduled a meeting in the Wooster School Library at the same time as our contest. Bruce Cornwell worked with one of the top people at the school to find another location on campus and we ended up in the dining hall next door to the library. Everyone chipped in and re-configured a portion of the dining hall into a "contest area" and we were able to have a GREAT contest!

The winners of the contests were...

Tall Tales Speech Contest:
1st Place: Croix Sather, Socially Speaking Toastmasters, club 4720, Area A4

1st Runner-up: Jinghua Xu, BI Toastmasters, club 7386, Area A2

2nd Runner-up: Thomas Franklin, IBM Poughkeepsie Speechmakers, club 315, Area A1

International Speech Contest:
1st Place: Kwabena (Nana) Danso, BI Toastmasters, club 7386, Area A2

1st Runner-up: Rob Ferrucci, WestConn Toastmasters, Area A4

2nd Runner-up: Deanna Dunn, IBM Poughkeepsie Speechmakers, club 315, Area A1

Picture Captions:
Top picture:

(L-R) District Governor, John Lynch, Deanna Dunn, Nana Danso, Rob Ferrucci

Middle Picture (Tall Tales Winners):

(L-R) Thomas Franklin, Jinghua Xu, Croix Sather

Bottom Picture (Intl. winners):

(L-R) Deanna Dunn, Nana Danso, Rob Ferrucci

Area A1, A3 and A5 Contest Results

We had a fun-filled evening last night hosted by Marist College Toastmasters in Poughkeepsie, NY. Here are the results...

Area A1 Results:

Tall Tales

1st place: Adam Izzo

(pictured to the right with Area A1 Governor/ContestMaster, Colleen Yarter and Area A5 Governor, David Gavin)

1st Runner-up: Thomas Franklin
3rd Place: Ziyad Choudhury

International Speech Contest:

1st place: John Affronti

1st Runner-up: Deana Dunn

(John & Deana picture to right)

3rd Place:Richard Basener

Area A3 Results:

Tall Tales

1st place: Susan Lacey

(pictured to the right)

1st Runner-up: Joan Kern

International Speech Contest:

1st place: Chris Albanese, Orange County Toastmasters

Trophy for 1st Runner-up was not awarded (no other contestants)

Area A5 did not have any contestants in the International or Tall Tales contests. Two trophies and one winner's medal for Area A5 went home lonely!

We look forward to having the winners (or their runner-ups, if they can't make it) at the Division A Contest on Wed. April 11th at the Wooster School (hosted by WestConn Toastmasters). Times and directions are available on the District 53 website (click here).

Winners of Local Putnam speaks Contest

Susan Schefflein sends along the results for Putnam Speaks Toastmasters recent club contests...

Subject: Winners of local Putnam Speaks Contest
We had our local ontest last night.
The winner of the International Speech Contest was David Alexander ATMS. Runner up was Walter Beveridge DTM.

The winner of the Tall Tales was Nicholas Valhos, a new member to Toastmasters.

fyi: The area contest will be March 21: http://www.district53toastmasters.org/diva/calendarA.html

Tips for Tall Tales Contestants (or anyone writing a speech)...

The YouTube videos by Ira Glass (see links below) were featured on Presentation Zen (another blog) today and they have some great ideas for anyone building a speech ... especially those of you who are entering the Tall Tales contest.

Check them out...

Video # 1 (Click here)

Video # 2 (Click here)

Video # 3 (Click here)

Video #4 (Click here)

Let us know what you think ... leave a comment below !

Barnum Square Toastmasters - Speech Contest Results !

Speech Contest Season is underway ... and we have some results & pictures!

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark.Frohlinger
Subject: Barnum Square Toastmasters - Speech Contest Update

Our last meeting featured our local Speech Contest in preparation for the coming Spring 2007 Speech Contests for all Toastmaster Clubs and Areas in District 53.

All the contestants who participated performed exceptionally and their speeches were thoroughly enjoyable as well as motivating. Those who will present at the next level will proudly represent Barnum Square.

The following is a listing of who presented, the titles of their speech as well as in which realm they spoke. Also included, thanks to Gail and Phil Palermo are pictures taken during the meeting.

In the future, please consider participating in such a wonderful experience and enter a future contest. Thank you and enjoy your day and weekend to come.

Barnum Square Speech Contest Summary-

Tall Tales

Richard Smith KILLER - First Place

Pat Wilson-Perkins TRAUMA ROOM 2

Tom Shaw DAMNED NATION DAILY

International

Liz Smith FA BAFF - First Place

Gail Palermo ORDINARINESS

Area A3 Contests... set for April 4th

From Dave Wheeler, Division A Governor:

Since I have not gotten any responses the email I sent out last week, I made an "executive decision" and scheduled the Area A3 contest in conjunction with the Area A1 / A5 Contest on April 4th. (I have already discussed the subject with Area A1 & A5).

We want to make sure we give all the clubs in Area A3 the opportunity to participate in the Spring contests ! They should also be aware that each area will have their own trophies so while the contests are being run together, the competitions will only be within each Area!

On 2/27/07, Roger Brown <rogerbrown@mac.com > wrote:

Good Morning Dave.

The Area Contests should start real soon now. And it

looks like Division A is nearly ready for the march to the

final 6 speakers in D53.

Area A1 Tall Tales and International Speech Contests

Wednesday, April 4, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

at Dyson Bldg, Ulrich Conf Rm Marist College,

3399 North Rd (Rte 9), Poughkeepsie, NY

Area A2 Tall Tales and International Speech Contests

Wednesday, March 21, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

at Wooster School Library, 91 Miry Brook Rd, Danbury, CT

Area A3 Tall Tales and International Speech Contests

Wednesday, April 4, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
at Dyson Bldg, Ulrich Conf Rm Marist College,
3399 North Rd (Rte 9), Poughkeepsie, NY

Area A4 Tall Tales and International Speech Contests

Wednesday, March 21, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

at Wooster School Library, 91 Miry Brook Rd, Danbury, CT

Area A5 Tall Tales and International Speech Contests

Wednesday, April 4, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

at Dyson Bldg, Ulrich Conf Rm Marist College,

3399 North Rd (Rte 9), Poughkeepsie, NY

Division A Tall Tales and International Speech Contests

Wednesday, April 11, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

at Wooster School Library, 91 Miry Brook Rd, Danbury, CT

Div. A Spring Contests Set

The following dates have been added to the Div.A calendar on the District53 website ...

Area A2 / A4 Contest, March 21
Hosted by WestConn Toastmasters, Danbury, CT (same location and details as in the Fall)

Area A1 / A5 Contest, April 4th

Hosted by Marist Toastmasters at Marist college, Poughkeepsie, NY (same location and details as in the Fall).

There is the possibility that the Area A3 Contest may be combined with Area A1/A5, but I still need to confirm that with the clubs in that area.

Division A Contest, April 11th

Hosted by WestConn Toastmasters, Danbury, CT (same location and details as in the Fall)

District 53 Contest (and Spring Conference / Leadership Summit),

May 19th, E.Hartford, CT

Mark your Calendar !

Beyond Bullet Points ... Powerpoint tips!

I came across the following PDF from Cliff Atkinson's Beyond Bullet Points after reading a comment on another blog. (Which reminds me... your comments are welcome and encouraged for this blog too!)

Click here:
http://sociablemedia.com/PDF/atkinson_nov3_05_PDF.pdf

This web site also offers some free tools including a template for laying out a story... which might come in handy when you are developing your Tall Tale contest speech!

The resources page is located at:
http://www.sociablemedia.com/thebook_resources.php4

ADDED BONUS....
Click here to read the first chapter of Beyond Bullet Points !

Please let us know what you think by adding a comment below !