Overcome Your Fear One Step at a Time

It is an exciting time in the Riverside, Moreno Valley area as Toastmasters clubs prepare for a spectacular International Speech and Table Topics Contest. Public speaking with style or terror! That is the question for many. Speaking with style is the hope and dream of contestants that will be participating in the Area C2/C4 International Speech and Table Topics Contest. The goal of the contestants, who are coming from throughout the area, is to speak with a style that is funny, inspiring, moving, and utterly fascinating for their audience and contest judges. For many of these contestants, they have traded their fear of public speaking in for the quest to win the title of "World Champion of Public Speaking". The area contest is only the start of the journey for the winner seeking to claim the Toastmasters World Championship. Think about the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in his speech, “I have a dream”; John F. Kennedy's, “And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”; and President Ronald Reagan's challenge in his Berlin speech, “Tear down this wall.” These great leaders demonstrate that public speaking has been a powerful tool of inspiration, persuasion and can be a commanding force for change. Public speaking can also offer a sense of fear. Some people actually do feel physically ill, nauseous, and dizzy. They can overcome that fear. There are many speaking organizations such as Toastmasters International, whose main goal is to help their members to overcome a fear of public speaking while honing their presentation and speaking skills. The local Toastmaster Area C2/C4 contest to be held at the Ayres Hotel later this month is an excellent showcase that demonstrates how members have overcome their fears and fine-tuned their speaking skills. Even some of the best of these contestants started out as frightened novice speakers. Come out and join Toastmasters District 12 Area C2/C4 for the Riverside and Moreno Valley area International Speech and Table Topics competition on Saturday, March 29, 2014 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Ayres Hotel & Spa located at 12631 Memorial Way, Moreno Valley, CA 92553. The public is invited to join the festivities. The price is $10 at the door. Toastmaster Members bringing guests can bring one guest free! You can RSVP online at http://d12divcareac2c4internationalsp.splashthat.com/. Please contact Reatha Corbett at reathacorbett@msn.com or 909-518-9244 if you have any questions.