For the Reporter

More than a dozen of the best speakers in the area compete from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, at the Auburn Library, 1102 Auburn Way S.

The public is invited to watch this second round of competition among speakers who finished first at eight club contests in the Auburn, Puyallup and Enumclaw areas. Light refreshments will be served.

Through self-paced educational programs, Toastmasters sheds the fear of public speaking, while gaining organizational and leadership skills that help participants progress in their professional and personal lives.

For Tall Tales, contestants present a speech on a topic that is highly exaggerated and improbable in theme or plot. Table Topics are impromptu speeches. All contestants are assigned the same topic, told to them when they are introduced by the contest chair.

The Aug. 20 event includes contestants from two areas, which are part of Toastmasters District 32, encompassing Western Washington from Federal Way to Chehalis as well as the Kitsap, Key and Olympic Peninsulas, and clubs throughout Alaska.

Winners will go on to a division contest in September; winners at that level will go on to the District 32 contest taking place at a Fall Conference Oct. 14-16 at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, Alaska. The public is invited to view all levels of competition and to attend the conference; additional information on the conference is available at toastmastersdistricts.org.

For more information about Toastmasters clubs in the area, visit online.