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.
judy beck enterprises 