Jettsetters joins more than 12,500 Toastmasters clubs from around the world participating in the 2011 Toastmasters International Speech Contest this month. It is the world's largest speech contest, with more than 30,000 presenters in 113 countries vying to become the next World Champion of Public Speaking. The contest is free and open to the public.

"Speech contests are a unique and exciting part of the Toastmasters program," says Pat Johnson, Toastmasters 2010-2011 International President. "These competitions challenge members to push beyond their clubs and fine-tune their skills. In a club, members are evaluated; in a contest, members are judged."

The International Speech Contest begins at the local club level and proceeds through the area, division, district and final levels. Eighty-two district semifinalists compete during the four-day 2011 Toastmasters International Convention held Aug. 17-20, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at Bally's Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. Nine contenders make it to the final round on Aug. 20, where the winner is crowned the Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking.

"Face your fears while having fun " says Roberta Macdonald 2010 Area 42 speech contest winner.

To enter the contest, a person must be an active member of Toastmasters International and have completed
at least six speeches from Toastmasters' Competent Communication manual, the first manual in the Toastmasters communication program. All participant speeches must be original, presented in English and last five to seven minutes. Judging criteria include originality, speech content, organization, voice quality, gestures and timing.

See interviews with Toastmasters 2010 World Champion of Public Speaking, David Henderson, along with highlights of the past winning speeches on Toastmasters' YouTube channel at youtube.com/user/Toastmasters.

Additional details about the Toastmasters International Speech Contest and 2011 Convention will be announced in early April. District winners will be announced in early August and posted on the Toastmasters Web site. For more information about Toastmasters International contests, please visit toastmasters.org/contest.

Jettsetters meets 1st&3rd Wednesday at noon. To visit the club and see the contest, please visit 1800 International Blvd Suite 700, Seattle, WA 98188