Kevin Thompson, Toastmaster from Keyport, Won Third Place in District 83 Table Topics Speech Contest

Oct. 19, 2011 - PRLog -- Kevin Thompson, a Toastmaster from Keyport NJ, won Third Place in the District 83 Table Topics Speech Contest.  Vying for the title of the “Best Impromptu Speaker” in the District, the contest was held in East Hanover, NJ on September 25.   The Table Topic Speech Contest was one of two speech contests highlighting the two-day bi-annual (September 24-25) of Toastmasters International, District 83.  Kevin represented Division A, which covers parts Essex, County, Hudson County and Staten Island, NY.

Kevin offered these thoughts to anyone thinking about participating in speech contests. “I would advise them first, to have fun.  You are only in competition with yourself.  So, get out there and give the best performance that you can.  Finally, remember, regardless of what the judges decide, you are already a winner because most people never enter a contest”, said Kevin.

Thompson competed against four other Division finalists.  When asked how he felt about competing in the District 83 Speech Contest, Kevin said, “I love Table Topics!  My approach is always to provide a message of value whenever I am faced with a Table Topics question.  I want for the audience to remember me, whether or not I win 1st, 2nd or 3rd place.  If I leave the audience with a memorable message then I’m successful.  I’m a winner.”  A panel of judges (from Toastmasters) evaluated 5 contestants from Metropolitan New Jersey, Rockland County and Staten Island, all of whom had advanced to the district level following a process of elimination, using club, area and division speech competitions.  Criteria used in judging included speech content, organization, voice quality, and gestures.

Kevin Thompson, MPA, DTM, acknowledged as a human behavior customer service expert, is the founder and CEO Inspired Communications, LLC, and lives in Keyport, NJ.  Thompson joined Toastmasters nearly 8 years ago.  “My membership and participation in Toastmasters International has helped me develop into a professional speaker.  Toastmasters has provided me with the opportunity to touch the lives of people in organizations, businesses and churches, as I help them provide exceptional customer service and so much more,” Said Thompson.

Thompson is a member three Toastmasters clubs: UMNDJ – Newark Toastmasters Club, which meets at 5:30 PM, on the 2nd & 4th Wednesday; ACES - Iselin & Piscataway which meets at 7:00 PM on the 2nd & 4th Monday; and No Limits Toastmasters Club- Staten Island, NY which meets on the 1st Saturday of the month.  For more information about the UMDNJ-Newark Toastmasters Club (http://umdnj.freetoasthost.info); ACES - Iselin & Piscataway Toastmasters Club (http://aces.freetoasthost.com) and No Limits Toastmasters Club, please visit their websites.
 
About District 83

District 83 includes 150 clubs in Metropolitan New Jersey, Staten Island, NY, and Rockland County, New York. For more information, please visit the District 83 website at http://www.toastmasters83.org.

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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 http://www.toastmasters.org.