Contests... how did I fare back then?

Back in my first life in Toastmsaters, before my two-decade long hiatus, I was active in joining contests... at least, when I was not a District Officer (Area Governor 1997-1998 and Division Governor 1999-2000). I would usually join in Table Topics or Evaluation - both merited a different kind of preparation, one focused on quick thinking, the other on listening. Both needed the ability to organize one's thoughts.

I won the Table Topics once, and Evaluation twice - unfortunately, my last evaluation trophy - a beautiful glass scuplted on, broke, so I just have two... all of these were on the Area Level - my lone attempt to go Division ended in me going overtime by two seconds. Ah well, leson learned.

So why join? Aside form the beautiful trophies, and recognition? I guess it's about meeting and mingling with friends. Yes, there may be a level of competition, but at the end, one needs to accept oterh Toastmsters as part of their ever expanding network... a network where one can learn from, improve with, and be better Toastmasters.

Will I decide to compete in other categories in the future? Maybe... but I want to try and reach District level, and maybe even win, first.

The picture above is where I competed with friends. This was when we received the certificate of participation - later, the announcement for the winners would be made.

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