Chardon Toastmasters is having an amazing August! The month began with the club honoring and congratulating Matt Everett, of Mentor, on achieving the first milestone on his Toastmaster journey. Everett earned his Competent Communicator award with his inspirational speech, “We are Legend.” Everett joined Chardon Toastmasters in 2014 for professional and personal development.
This month, the club also welcomed a new member, Kimberlee Jackson, of Huntsburg. Jackson decided to become a toastmaster to build better public speaking skills and to challenge herself. Jackson joins a diverse and engaging membership that includes members from five counties: Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Portage.
Rounding out the month of August was the Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contest. The contest is held every fall and begins at the club level moving up through Area, Division, and culminates with the District 10 competition. Club competition was stiff among the seven speech competitors. Coming in first was Amy Patterson, who had the audience laughing with her speech “Winning like the Browns.” Second place went to member Marilyn Harman who shared her fond and not so fond memories of attending Woodstock in her speech “The Return, um, Trip.” Third place winner, Gary Hedrick, entertained everyone with his speech “Don’t worry-what could happen?” describing the humorous ups and downs of family moves during his Air Force career.
The seven Table Topic contestants had the topic Family Reunions. First place winner was Nicole Noscal; second place went to Juel Leonard, and third place to Anna Kelly.
The Area contest will be held Thursday, Sept. 17, at 6:30 p.m. and is being hosted by Chardon Toastmasters at the Western Reserve Land Conservancy office on Chardon Square. All are invited to attend this free event and watch some of the area’s funniest speakers compete!
Chardon Toastmasters was founded in 2002 and has helped many improve their public speaking and leadership skills. Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday at the Western Reserve Land Conservancy office at 102-C East Park on Chardon Square. For more information email jslco529@gmail.com or visit the club website.
