Two Champions at Area Contest!

Congratulations to Roger Wells and Theresa Frasch! Our Burien Breakfast members represented our club with panache.

Roger and Theresa both arrived at ERAC in work clothes, but changed into more appropriate attire before the contest began. They each attended the participant briefing for their category and drew lots for their speaking order. As it happens, they both drew the number two spot in their event.

The speech contest was first. Roger surprised this writer by changing the title of his speech to "The Power of a Minor Event." It was a powerful change. Roger's speech was even more refined and polished last night than it was at the club contest. He was very effective as he looked down at the stage and seemed to talk to his dad in the cemetery. You could see and feel his passion as he spoke about Rosa Parks. I think everyone will remember Roger's message, "You never know how one simple act may inspire others - 30, 40, or even 100 years later."

After a short break we had the Evaluation Contest. The Guest Speaker was Cynthia Late with a speech titled, "I'm No Good at Speaking, Am I?" Theresa's evaluation pointed out three things that made the speech effective: Cynthia gave the audience a road map of where she was going with the speech, she made vivid pictures with her body language, and she used the stage to mark off time and accomplishments. Then three suggestions that she thought would improve the speech: Speak in one spot, look at one person and make a point; leave more time after each of her opening questions so the audience had time to answer the questions in their head; and the last one was to delineate her points better so that there was more distinction between them.

Roger Wells took home the Third Place Trophy for the Area 41 International Speech Contest. Theresa Frasch took home the First Place Trophy for the Area 41 Evaluation Contest. Congratulations to our Burien Breakfast members!