Monday, January 26, 2015

In the prison

This is a continuation of the post: Do the right thing

After this speech, I was taken to the prison.

Couple of my toastmasters friends offered me to visit the club that they were running in a MD prison for 9 years and deliver this speech. Very noble people - since last 500+ weekends they are serving this club. The prisoners were calling them :King: and :Queen:

I would not lie, I was afraid to step into a prison, we walked through 7 locked doors. They patiently listened to me and were kind with their words.

The words from the prisoners after this speech had made me feel the power of a simple speech. I couldn't win the contest but I was over the top of the world when I heard from one of the folks "I wished I had heard you speaking before I came to the prison ..................... I might never have come here." 

The prisoners asked me to come again and share more. I promised that I would visit them soon and I did, for the second time. This time I gave them an hour long session - 30 minutes on Story telling Process and 30 minutes session on How to craft your speech. Very well received.

After a month, I got call from my friend, who invited me to the jail, he said - "One of the prisoners has passed on his thanks to you. He used the techniques you explained to write a song and had presented that song to their club."

Toastmasters is all about, sharing your knowledge and thoughts, and the organization must be proud that it is able to mark its presence even in prisons and their goals and motives are perishing and improving lives of those who need it the most!



Finding a Speech Topic - the funniest speech by far



Finding a Speech Topic - Haha haa .. Humorous Speech Contest of 2013 - runner up.

The speech had 25+ laughter in less than 7 minutes. This was the speech where I had most fun while delivering it !


Do the Right Thing - District 18 Toastmasters International Speech Contest -2014


What an experience this was to share the stage with world-class speakers on the Toastmasters District 18's stage. Couldn't won the contest, but learned a lot during the contest. I was a second runner-up in the contest and here is the video of that speech. I plan to continue competing and producing my best speeches.

With this speech I validated that the runner-up at Humorous Speech Contest was not a fluke!

Feel free to critique and highlight what you liked.

After this speech, I was taken to the prison