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Best of the Best compete in Toastmasters Division I International Speech and Table Topics Contest
By Suncher Outten
Mar 9, 2010 - 2:47:41 PM

Pictured L to R: Rick Furbush, DTM (LGET); TM Elbert Thompson, Area 83 Governor; TM Ione Hart, International Speech 2nd Place & Table Topics Contest 2nd Place; TM Katina Seymour, International Speech Contest 1st Place; TM Shakera Winters, Table Topics Contest 2nd Place; TM Dwain Wallace, Area 86 Governor & Anthony Longley, DTM (Division I Governor).

Nassau, Bahamas - Toastmasters in The Bahamas recently competed in the Division I International Speech and Table Topics Contests. Each contest had seven competitors representing the seven Areas that make up Division I (Bahamas). 

The International Speech Contest and the Table Topics Contest series are annual Toastmasters events that run through all levels of the organization. The contests which were held at Workers House on the Tonique Williams Darling Highway served as the grand finale after winners emerged from the Club level to the Area level and then on to the Division level. The winners from the Division I contests will compete against winners from 8 other Divisions in the International Speech & Table Topics Contests to held during the District 47 Spring Conference scheduled April 16-18, 2010 in Ft Lauderdale, Florida.  The winner of the District 47 International Speech contest will compete against other winners from Districts all over the world at the Toastmasters International Convention in California in August, where the winner will be awarded the title "World Champion of Public Speaking”.  

TM Ione Hart, representing Area 83 placed second in both the International Speech & Table Topics Contests. TM Katina Seymour, representing Area 86 won the International Speech Contest. TM Shakera Winters, representing Area 86 won the Table Topics Contest. 

Participants in the International Speech Contest are required to have completed a minimum of six speech projects toward their Competent Communicator designation, and must create wholly original speeches for the all levels of the competitions. The originality of a contestant's speech is verified by the contest head judge, and speakers who plagiaries or otherwise make significant use of quotes or other copyrighted material with out giving credit in a contest speech may be disqualified. Speeches are required to be 5-7 minutes.   

In the Table Topics Contest, contestants are led into the room one at a time and presented with a topic they have not previously been informed of and are judged on how well they respond; each contestant is given the same topic and is given up to 3 minutes to respond.  Responses must be structured like a prepared speech. Table Topics is designed to build skills in the art of extemporaneous speaking.  Breach of the time rules in both contests will lead to automatic disqualification.

Toastmasters International, Division I is a part of District 47, which includes all of South Florida and The Bahamas.  Division I is the governing body for Toastmasters in The Bahamas.  The Division is comprised of 40 clubs located on the islands of New Providence, Freeport, Abaco, Long Island, Cat Island, Exuma and Andros. Clubs are divided into 7 Areas, each headed by an Area Governor.  There is also an extended Division Council including several Assistant Division Governors and committee chairpersons and other administrators. Leading Division I team for 2009/2010 under the theme, “Communicate… Lead… Succeed!” is Division I (Bahamas) Governor, Distinguished Toastmaster Anthony (Tony) Longley.