First Pennsylvania Woman to Earn Toastmasters International’s Speaking Accreditation

Tammy A. Miller of State College, Pennsylvania, originally from Toledo, Ohio, has earned Toastmasters International’s most prestigious title, Accredited Speaker. Miller is president and CEO of Tammy Speaks, LLC, and is the only professional female auctioneer in Centre County. She earned the esteemed Accredited Speaker designation at the Toastmasters International Convention in Orlando, Florida, Aug. 15-18.

The largest organization in the world dedicated to teaching communication and leadership skills development, Toastmasters launched the Accredited Speaker Program in 1981 to recognize its members who have mastered professional-level speaking skills. Only 65 people in the world have received the Accredited Speaker (AS) designation.

To become an Accredited Speaker, Miller met a rigorous set of requirements, including the presentation of at least 25 speeches before various non-Toastmaster audiences within three years. Miller was required to give two additional presentations to Toastmasters International that determined her final qualification for accreditation.

“I was giving a presentation in a class approximately 17 years ago,” says Miller. “I was speaking about a pencil that I was holding in my hand, and I was shaking so badly that I had to use both hands to put the pencil down on the lectern. I knew I needed help and someone suggested I check out an organization called Toastmasters. The rest, as they say, is history! This organization has changed my life!”

Miller serves as the Director of Communications for the Penn State Lunar Lion project — one of 30 team finalists in the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE competition to land a vehicle on the moon by 2015. www.lunarlion.psu.edu.  She is also an international speaker, the author of three books and a speech coach. She speaks to a wide variety of audiences including business leaders, entrepreneurs and cancer survivors. Her topics relate to leadership, presentation skills, motivation and the healing power of humor. www.tammyspeaks.com.  Additionally, she served on the Toastmasters International Board of Directors and is a Distinguished Toastmaster, a designation that recognizes the highest level of achievement within the organization.

To learn more about the Accredited Speaker program, please visit www.toastmasters.org/ASProgram.

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About District 13

District 13 is one of 86 districts, which comprises more than 75 corporate and community clubs in western PA, northwestern WV, western MD, and the southeastern Ohio Valley. To learn more about District 13, please visit: www.d13tm.com.

About Toastmasters International

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. Founded in October 1924, the organization currently has more than 280,000 members in 13,500 clubs in 116 countries. Each week, Toastmasters helps more than a quarter million people of every ethnicity, education level and profession build their competence in communication so they can gain the confidence to lead others. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org. Follow Toastmasters International on Twitter @Toastmasters.

Wilkinsburg PA resident Twanda Clark advances to semifinals of the world’s largest speech contest

Twanda Clark, of Wilkinsburg, PA, rose above more than 1500 local participants to win the District level of the Toastmasters International Speech Contest, representing western PA, northwestern WV, western MD, and the southeastern Ohio Valley. Clark has qualified to advance to the semifinal rounds of the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking, which will be held in Orlando, Florida on Thursday, Aug. 16.

The Toastmasters International Speech Contest is the world’s largest speech contest, involving 30,000 participants in 116 countries. It concludes at the organization’s 2012 International Convention, held Aug. 15-18, in Orlando, Florida, at the Hilton Bonnet Creek Resort. Nine finalists will emerge from the semifinals, and they will compete in the finals on Saturday, Aug. 18, for the coveted title of Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking.

Clark, a member of the Penn Hills Club, http://1104.toastmastersclubs.org, in Penn Hills, PA, surpassed fierce competition to win the hearts of the audience and judges alike with her speech, ‘My Gift’. The speech touched on the themes of lessons learned and appreciating the people in our lives.  When it comes to connecting with an audience, she said, “The key is telling a story to which everyone can relate.”

Eighty-six district-level winners from around the world advanced to the semifinal round after a six-month process of elimination through club, area and district speech competitions. Their five-to-seven-minute speeches were judged on content, organization, gestures and style.

“Toastmasters speech contests are an opportunity to sharpen skills and gain competence as a public speaker,”says Clark. “I am looking forward to competing against speakers with diverse backgrounds and ideas in Orlando, Florida!” Clark is a foster care and adoption facilitator for Second Chance, Inc. and the Director of Communication and Education for her own business, Youthful Expression, in Pittsburgh PA.  Clark joined Toastmasters to become a better speaker and leader at work and in the community.

To contact Twanda Clark or learn more about the contest or Toastmasters club membership, contact Judy Beck, District 13 Public Relations Officer at d13pro@d13tm.com. Follow Toastmasters International on Twitter @Toastmasters (#TIConv12).

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About District 13

District 13 is one of 86 districts, which comprises more than 75 corporate and community clubs in western PA, northwestern WV, western MD, and the southeastern Ohio Valley. To learn more about District 13, please visit: www.d13tm.com.

About Toastmasters International

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. Founded in October 1924, the organization currently has more than 270,000 members in 13,000 clubs in 116 countries. Each week, Toastmasters helps more than a quarter million people of every ethnicity, education and profession build their competence in communication so they can gain the confidence to lead others. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org.