News Releases

World Championship of Public Speaking in Palm Desert, Calif., includes 81
                               competitors







                 Sponsored by Toastmasters International, a nonprofit
                 organization that has helped more than 4 million people
  WHO:           hone their public speaking and leadership skills.

                 The annual Toastmasters World Championship of Public
                 Speaking, featuring the top qualifiers from a months-long
                 competition. Eighty-one contestants from around the world
                 perform at the Toastmasters International Convention.
                 Speakers in the competition deliver five- to seven-minute
                 presentations on wide-ranging topics, and are judged on
                 content, organization, gestures and style. (Watch this
  WHAT:          video of the last three winners.)

                 Semifinal rounds take place between 3 and 8:30 p.m.
                 Thursday, Aug. 12. The nine winners will compete in the
  WHEN:          finals at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14.

                 The Toastmasters International Convention, Aug. 11-14, at
                 the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, 74855 Country
                 Club Drive, Palm Desert. The Convention opens on Wednesday
                 night Aug. 11 with a keynote presentation by E!
                 Entertainment television host and Toastmaster Todd Newton
                 and offers a variety of educational sessions on
                 communication and leadership topics that are led by high-
  WHERE:         profile experts.

                 Called the "Olympics of oratory," the prestigious contest
                 features riveting speakers whose stories are dramatic,
  WHY:           humorous and inspirational.

                 Suzanne Frey, manager of the Toastmasters International
                 publications and public relations department, 949-858-8255,
  CONTACT:       or sfrey@toastmasters.org.


  About Toastmasters

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. The organization currently has 250,000 members in 12,500 clubs in 106 countries. Since its founding 85 years ago in October 1924, Toastmasters International has helped more than four million men and women give presentations with poise and confidence. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org

  Contacts:
  Suzanne Frey
  949.246.4237
  sfrey@toastmasters.org

  Katie De Boer
  949.485.9451
  kdeboer@toastmasters.org

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.

  Gary Schmidt
  https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=92252
  Daniel Rex
  https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=92253

  /PRNewswire -- Aug. 9/

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

SOURCE: Toastmasters International

Web Site: http://www.toastmasters.org/