SEQUIM — Skwim Toastmasters invites the public to its International Speech and Evaluation Contests at 7 p.m. today at The Gathering Place.
The event is free and lemonade will be served at the event at 137 Fairway Drive in Sunland.
Visitors are asked to arrive at least 10 minutes early.
“We’re pleased to be holding a real Toastmasters contest this year,” said Rich Proctor, club president.
“Some years we’ve asked for a volunteer to advance from the club to the area level. But this year we have two evaluation contestants: Jean McDonald and Craig Barron, and four international speech contestants: myself, Don Woelfle, Craig Barron and Lindy MacLaine.”
Proctor added, “By running an official contest, we learn the contest format, judging criteria, etc. This benefits all of us — especially the winners. One candidate from each of the contests will move to the next level of competition.”
That next level will be the area contest at 6:30 p.m. March 2 in Chimacum at the Tri-Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road.
“Contests encourage everyone’s best,” said MacLaine, who represented the Skwim club in the International Speech Contest last year. “However, competition isn’t stressed as much as gaining all there is to be learned from the process. Hearing other speech contestants at last year’s area contest was fabulous.”
Skwim Toastmasters is part of Toastmasters International, a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders.
The Sequim club meets from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at The Gathering Place in Sunland, 137 Fairway St.
Toastmasters clubs are also in Jefferson County and Port Angeles.
Other Toastmasters
Jefferson County Toastmasters hosted a speaking contest on Valentine’s Day in preparation for the March 2 contest.
The group meets the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the second floor of Avamere/Seaport Landing at 1201 Hancock St. Meetings are open to the public.
For more information, see https://jeffco.toast mastersclubs.org/.
Skwim Toastmasters meets from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at The Gathering Place in Sunland, 137 Fairway St.
For more information, see https://907529.toast mastersclubs.org/.
The Port Angeles club will host prepared and spontaneous speaking opportunities Monday at Clallam Transit offices at 830 W. Lauridsen Blvd.
The club meets from 7 p.m. to about 8:30 p.m. each Monday, except holidays, at the Clallam Transit offices.
For more information, see https://25.toastmasters clubs.org/.
For more information about the March 2 contests, contact Bill Cohill at bgcohill@gmail.com or Vanessa Fadeff at vanessa.fadeff@gmail.com.
