On January 31, 2015, Toast of Rockdale was recognized for mid-year achievements at the Division C Mid-Year Reception at the Tucker-Reid H Cofer Library. Toast of Rockdale is a local Toastmasters club in Area C-31 of Division C in District 14. This was the first mid-year reception to honor local Toastmasters clubs and Toast of Rockdale came home with multiple awards. Toast of Rockdale was recognized for completing at least five of the Distinguished Club Plan Goals before mid-term, putting the club on target for being a Distinguished Club again this year.

Long-time member Freeman Barber was honored in an Emeritus award for over 40 years of membership in Toastmasters. Other members of Toast of Rockdale took home awards including Janann Giles, who received the Coach of the Mid-Year Award, and Patricia Fiene-Voyna, who received the One with Wisdom Award for her mentoring. Janann Giles and Linda Hannah were recipients of the Division’s Mid-Year Triple Crown awards for completing at least three educational awards by the mid-year. Other awards were given to Ben Marsh for long-time membership and educational achievements, John Lewallen for long-time membership, Janann Giles for educational achievements, Linda Hannah for educational achievements, and Dean Alder for educational achievements.

Prior to the mid-year reception, Toast of Rockdale held its club International Speech Contest and Table Topics Speech Contest on January 21, 2015. Club members who competed in the International Speech Contest gave prepared speeches that inspired, motivated, or provided other meaningful purpose. Club members who competed in the Table Topics Speech Contest gave impromptu speeches by answering a general topic question provided to all contestants. Audra Gerger came in First Place and Robert Bunn came in Second Place in the club’s International Speech Contest. Hope McLeod came in First Place and Michael Parker came in Second Place in the club’s Table Topics Speech Contest. The First Place speech contest winners now have the opportunity to compete in the area level contests, which will be held on March 9, 2015 at Fairfield Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia.

Toastmasters International is a non-profit organization celebrating 90 years. The organization is focused on improving communication and leadership skills. Members complete projects related to communication and leadership at a self-pace. Several members in Toast of Rockdale are Distinguished Toastmasters, having achieved the highest level for individual member education. Toast of Rockdale currently meets every Tuesday from noon to 1 pm at St. Simon’s Church in Conyers, Georgia. Meetings are open to the public. For more information, visit http://8352.toastmastersclubs.org/.