I ghost-wrote this... A bit of shameless self-promotion.
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Please join me in congratulating Kevin Oshiro and Marise Phillips in their recent achievements in the Toastmasters public speaking organization.

Last Tuesday night, Kevin and Marise represented Autotoast, our local Toastmasters club, at the area level. They already were winners at the club level. Kevin participated in the humorous speech contest; his skillful delivery of a speech entitled, "Mama and the Martians", filled the whole room with laughter. Marise represented Autotoast in the evaluation contest. In this type of contest, each contestant presents an extemporaneous, 2-3 minute evaluation of a "target" speaker.

These are both judged contests, in which six judges rigorously evaluate different aspects of each participant's speech. Kevin and Marise both won the contest in their respective competitions! They will go on to represent Toastmasters Area C24 at the division level in mid-October.

I also would like to congratulate Kathy Guthormsen. Kathy, the past area governor and a veteran member of Autotoast, was the target speaker last night. She presented a wonderfully humorous *and* inspirational speech titled "Purple crayons and Dr. Seuss", bravely putting herself up to be evaluated in front of a large audience.

Toastmasters International is a worldwide organization renowned for helping individuals develop Communication and Leadership skills inside a supportive public speaking arena.

Autodesk's own Toastmaster's club, Autotoast, meets Tuesdays from noon to 1:15pm at the McInnis building. It is open to Autodesk employees and non-employees.

For more information about Toastmasters and/or the Autotoast club, please contact me or any of the other current officers:
Kim Ross; Eric Strassheim; Marise Phillips and John Brewer (jbrewer@jera.com ).

Carmen Lamas
Vice President, Education
Autotoast