#d6tm

Twin Cities Toastmaster Goes Against World Class Competition

Nothing like hearing from a motivated, and motivational speaker!

Watch John Gross interview Toastmaster Kenny Ray Morgan of Eden Prairie, Minnesota right here as he pushes to showcase his talents in the World Championship of Public Speaking.

John reports that Kenny will compete against nine other speakers today (Thursday) at 10:15 in his semi-final section at the Toastmasters International annual convention in Chicago. Semifinal bracket 4 includes districts: 6, 31, 32, 39, 55, 62, 73, 82, 85, 90 and 105.

If he wins, John says that Kenney will be in the final round of the World Championship of Public Speaking on Saturday.

Congratulations to our Latest YLP Grads!

Where will they go next and what will they achieve? No one knows for sure, but we do know the group of students you see above from Beth Rojas’ speech class at Rochester’s Alternative Learning Center have some extra skills that could make a big difference.

Over the space of eight, one-hour sessions this fall, Beth’s students have been made to feel a bit uncomfortable, they’ve taken risks and they’ve gained new self-confidence as they’ve learned new skills.

They’re now graduates of Toastmasters International’s Youth Leadership Program. With the assistance of Beth and the members of Rochester Chamber Toastmasters, the students have learned the basics of public speaking and leadership.

The results are in a few words “transformative” and “life-changing.” Most have never stood up front of a group or been able to express themselves to their peers. In many cases, it’s also the first time the students have been recognized for achievement.  

YLP Graduate Wins Scholarship, Sets Sights High

If you need a healthy dose of inspiration and determination, a graduate of Rochester Chamber Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program may be in a clinic near you someday soon to deliver it as a nurse.

This past week, Diana Sanchez of Rochester, Minnesota was awarded the Overcoming Adversity Keeping Strong (OAKS) Scholarship from Rochester Community Technical College. The OAKS scholarship program awards deserving students from Rochester and surrounding areas a scholarship to attend RCTC.

The OAKS program pays tribute to students who have overcome tremendous odds to become personally and academically successful.

Diana came to the United States from Mexico when she was four-years old and didn’t speak a word of English. She struggled with anorexia and self-esteem issues and in seventh grade she began attending the Rochester Alternative Learning Center, which is geared toward students who don’t excel in the city’s traditional high schools.

Among the many classes Diana took at the ALC was a speech course conducted by Beth Rojas. Since 2013 Beth has been partnering with members of Rochester Chamber Toastmasters. Over a space of eight sessions held in the Fall or Spring of each academic year, the Toastmasters volunteer to facilitate one-hour classes which highlight key skills of public speaking and leadership.

The transformation brought about through Beth’s nurturing instruction, positive feedback from the Toastmasters and the YLP curriculum are transformative. From barely having the confidence to say their names in front of a group, to giving full presentations, the results can be life changing.

Beth couldn’t be prouder of her former student and emailed her congratulations, “You continue to amaze me each and every day by your level of self-confidence, never-ending compassion for others and living your life in a way that others notice and want to be more like you!  Continue to reach for the stars, Diana and always look to the sky!”

Another one of Diana’s former ALC teachers, Leah Baethke, was on hand as she received the scholarship and summed it up this way in an email, “Diana left everyone with tears in their eyes. She did a remarkable job giving an emotional speech in front of 500 strangers. She couldn’t have been a better representation of what the ALC is all about, and everyone was so impressed with her and had lots of questions for me about our school (which I was happy to brag about).So proud to be a member of the ALC community!”

Holy Everything: Toastmasters help ALC students open doors

Emily Carson [email protected]

Public speaking is consistently ranked the number one fear of adult Americans. The Rochester Chamber Toastmasters are disrupting that familiar narrative by empowering area high school students to confidently embrace public speaking opportunities.

The Toastmasters’ 8-week Youth Leadership Program is wrapping up its sixth year at the Alternative Learning Center (ALC), one of Rochester’s public high schools. On Wednesday mornings for the last two months, students have been gathering from 8 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. in Beth Rojas’ classroom for the program.

On a particularly sunny Wednesday morning earlier this spring, I had the opportunity to sit in on a session. Tim Amert, Mike Winkles and Greg Klinger were the three Toastmasters volunteers that day.

After a review of the morning’s schedule, it was time for the three student speeches of the day. A volunteer leader from the classroom did all the introductions that day and formally shook each speaker’s hand as the Toastmasters protocol encourages.

First, Gabe gave a talk about procrastinating complete with a bag full of props, sailor hat, and the kind of playful humor that instantly warmed up the room. Next, Jacq shared about the positive impacts of drawing. She provided a desktop full of samples and asked classmates to take one if they’d like.

“There isn’t a person in here who can’t do a fantastic drawing. Anyone can draw,” she said encouragingly.

Seth then gave his speech about the brain benefits of playing chess, complete with a board and all its pieces.

The room filled with applause after each speech. From the outside, it appeared to be a typical high school classroom, but inside it felt like more. Rojas’ classroom, like all the rooms of the ALC, are spaces that have been cultivated by teachers, students, administrators and community partners to be grounded in an attitude of mutual respect, adaptability and encouragement.

The session lasted just less than 50 minutes. The three Toastmasters expressed individual feedback to each of the day’s speakers. Several students also had the opportunity to give spontaneous speeches. The day concluded with everyone helping to get the space back in order and set up for the next class to begin.

After class I spoke with Seth and Jacq, two of the morning’s speakers. Jacq said, “It’s a useful experience for everyone. It’s also really fun.” Seth shared next. He described the ways that the training has helped him to improve eye contact during public speaking. “These are all skills that are going to help us later in life,” he reflected.

For Rojas, the partnership with the Rochester Chamber Toastmasters has been outstanding. She teaches a variety of subjects at ALC and primarily focuses on ninth-grade students.

“I can’t say enough wonderful things about this partnership with Toastmasters,” she said. “They’ve been great mentors to my students.”

The Toastmasters also feel encouraged by the partnership with ALC.

“Partnerships like this are so important to our community because everyone benefits,” Klinger said. “The students and school benefit from having some guidance for the kids as they tackle public speaking. As Toastmasters, the Youth Leadership Program is one way we can serve the community, which I think is the main reason a lot of us want to improve our public speaking and leadership skills through Toastmasters to begin with.”

Klinger and fellow Toastmaster Amert both highlighted that the students of ALC are a source of inspiration to them. Amert described that, over the years, the students have taught him that “persistence and perseverance and drive can overcome big issues.” Klinger said that being with the students reveals that “everyone has a story or a talent that will take you by surprise.”

Public speaking is a life skill that can open doors and increase confidence. The partnership between the ALC and the Rochester Chamber Toastmasters is a reminder that when groups work together, new possibilities expand and mutual transformation takes place.

Holy Everything is a weekly column by Emily Carson. She is a Lutheran pastor serving at the Southeastern Minnesota Synod Office in Rochester. Visit her blog at emilyannecarson.com.

Click here to see the rest of the graduates!