World Championship of Public Speaking to Take Place in Palm Desert

Posted on July 30, 1998

On Saturday, August 22, nine articulate Toastmasters will vie for the title of World Champion of Public Speaking at the Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, Calif. The speech contest is one of the highlights of the Toastmasters International Convention (Aug. 19 through 22), which is expected to draw more than 2,000 Toastmasters from around the world.

Each year more than 10,000 members of Toastmasters International compete in the organization's International Speech Contest. Contests begin at the club level with winners advancing to area and regional contests. The competition culminates during the International Convention each August, where nine finalists contend for the top prize.

The contest speeches are five to seven minutes, with no restrictions on topic selection. Contestants will be judged on content, speech organization, voice quality, gestures and delivery.

Last year's world champion was Willie Edwards Jones, an experienced motivational speaker from Pearl City, Hawaii. A Toastmaster since 1980, Jones commanded the stage with his funny and conversational speech, "A Warm Boot," which described his experiences owning a computer-repair business and helping customers reboot their computers.

Through its 8,400 clubs worldwide, Toastmasters International has helped more than three million people develop their communication and leadership skills since the organization's 1924 inception in Santa Ana, Calif. Today, Toastmasters International has more than 172,000 members in 70 countries, including 89 clubs in the Inland Empire.

For more information, contact Suzanne Frey 949/858-8255. After August 17, call the Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa 760/341-3112 and ask for Suzanne Frey.