Capitol Toastmasters

Toastmaster Competitions

Area International Speech and
Table Topic Contestants

The P1 area International speech competition at The Department Of Environmental Quality (DEQ)


Winner of the Area International Speaking Competition, Ahmad Daniels (AZ You Like It Club )		Winner of the Area P1 Table Topics Competition, Vasanti Deshpande (Palm Lane Club)


Alternate Table Topics Competition Ian Stoddern (State Expressions Club)		International Speech Competition Alternate. William G. Kohn (Capitol Club)


Table Topics Speaker Mary Cook (Capitol Toastmasters Club)		International Speech Competition Speaker Becky McGill (Palm Lane Club)

Contest Support Staff


Left to Right: Leigh Waite (Capitol Club) and Eva Stoddern (Area Governor) Leigh Receives award for Hospitality.	Left to Right: Shana Knox (Capitol Club) and Eva Stoddern (AG) Shana receives award for Ballot Counter.	Left to Right: Tim Owens (Capitol Club) and Eva Stoddern (AG) Tim receives award for Contest Manager.

Left To Right: Gloria Diaz (Fish Tales Club) and Eva Stoddern (AG) Gloria receives award for Toastmaster.	Left to Right: Mel Brender and Khala Walker (Both from AZ You Like It Club). Khala receives award for Ballot counter.	Left to Right: Dean Gibbons and Eva Stoddern. Dean receives award for Chief Judge.


Left To Right: Ken Holtkamp (Az You Like It Club) and Gloria Diaz. Ken receives award for Table Topic Contestant.		Left to Right: Ricia Allen (AZ You Like It Club) and Eva Stoddern (AG) Ricia receives award for Ballot counter.

Contest Shenanigans


Left to Right: Eva Stoddern and Raul Amavisca. Raul’s quick thinking and improvision lead to an amazing shot.


Left to Right: Gloria Diaz and Eva Stoddern. We’re not exactly sure what was in the award bag but… Ok, these pictures aren’t in the exact order in which they occurred.

Toastmasters Contest

TOASTMASTERS CONTEST COMING TO PHOENIX

By Timothy Owens and Raul G. Amavisca

The Copper Dome

Coming soon to Phoenix is the Toastmasters Paiute Division International Speech and Table Topics Division Contest. The winning contestants from an earlier Area P1 contest consisting of Capitol, State Expressions, Palm Lane and Az You Like It Toastmasters clubs will participate in the division contest on April 23, 2010 at 6:00 pm at the State Compensation Fund Building on 3030 N. Third Street, Eighth Floor. Those contestants who will compete are Ahmad Daniels of AZ You Like It in Speech and Vasanti Deshpande of Palm Lane in Table Topics. This is an entertaining event as the best speakers from the Paiute Division areas compete so be sure to be there. Food and beverages will be provided.

Ahmad Daniels, M.Ed., is a professional presenter and facilitator with over twenty years experience in community outreach programs, diversity training and African American History. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina and a Master of Education degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Vasanti Deshpande has been a Toastmaster for 11 years and she is a Distinguished Toastmaster. She has a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. She works for the Maricopa County as a Permit Engineer. In addition to her numerous hobbies, Vasanti has a passion for public speaking and she believes that Toastmasters has helped her think on her feet. That ability helped her win the Table Topics contest at the area level.

In the event the winners are unavailable, their alternates will compete. They are Ian Stoddern of State Expressions for Table Topics and Bill Kohn of Capitol for the Speech contest.

Ian Stoddern Bsc, MBIBB, has been a Toastmaster for two years and is President of State Expressions Toastmasters. He comes from England and moved to the USA nine years ago after serving 22 years in the Royal Navy. Ian is a Martial Arts Instructor, and has a Degree in English and History. He presently works for the Phoenix Transit Police Department. According to Ian, joining Toastmasters is one of the best things he has done allowing him to improve his public speaking while teaching.

Bill Kohn, MBA, has been a Toastmaster for just over a year. He joined the Capitol club in order to gain confidence and experience with speaking in public. He felt that competing in the speech contest was a terrific experience which challenged him to expand his confidence level. Bill currently serves the people of Arizona at the Department of Transportation, working with the Equipment Services team.

Area P1 clubs are mostly made up of state workers (active and retired) as well as those that do business with the state, though everyone is welcome. Stop by and visit a club and see how it will benefit your communications and leadership skills. . . or just have fun. You can find the clubs and their meeting times at www.Toastmasters.org.