District 30 Toastmasters Announces Winners of Table Topics and International Speech Contests
On April 24 and 25, 2015, members of District 30 Toastmasters International won coveted speech contests during the District's Spring Conference at the Holiday Inn in Skokie, Illinois. The theme for this year's conference was S-T-R-E-T-C-H to YOUR Success and both winners did this by competing in multiple contests against members from District 30's 243 clubs. Barry Mixon's clear, concise, and clever impromptu response to the statement, "I am looking forward to the day when I…" helped him to excel during the April 24th Table Topics Contest. Mixon, a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) and member of the Christ Universal Temple, Toastmasters Club #3, resides in the South Shore community. He has the distinction of being the only member within District 30 to have won all four District-level contests - Humorous Speech, Table Topics (which he has won twice), Evaluation, and International Speech. Eric Feinendegen, a resident of Gurnee, wowed the crowd during the International Speech Contest when he delivered a prepared presentation that served as a reminder about the importance of relationships and living for today. Feinendegen is a member of the Lake County and the Look Who's Talking Toastmasters Clubs, and he has competed in six District-level contests. Feinendegen will proudly represent District 30 at Toastmasters' International Speech Contest that will take place at the International Conference in Las Vegas in August 2015. The winner of the International Speech Contest will have survived seven rounds of competition and advanced beyond 33,000 competitors from around the world to be deemed "The World Champion of Public Speaking."
"The contests are a great way for members to challenge themselves to achieve their personal best," said Donna Weston, DTM, District Governor, District 30. "Toastmasters' district-level contests always showcase the best speakers and serve as a motivator for less experienced speakers to inspire them to enhance their communication and public speaking skills."
More than 500 members and guests attended the Spring Conference which commemorated District 30's 65th Anniversary. Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen attended the conference and presented the organization with a proclamation to acknowledge this milestone. The event also included educational sessions on leadership, and communication skills, two award and recognition ceremonies, and interesting and inspirational presentations by Alan Shaner, Toastmasters International Region 5 International Director; Author, Coach, and Motivational Speaker Sheryl Roush, DTM; and Chicago's own Author, Motivational Speaker, and Singer Wayne Messmer. Messmer read a letter of recognition and congratulations to District 30 Toastmasters from Illinois Governor, Bruce Rauner.
About Toastmasters International
Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of meeting locations. Headquartered in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, the organization's membership exceeds 313,000 in more than 14,650 clubs in 126 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people of all backgrounds become more confident in front of an audience. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, visit www.toastmasters.org. Follow @Toastmasters on Twitter.
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