Evaluation speech winners Dean Gotham, first place; Sharon Shute, second place; and Louis Rigod, third place. Courtesy photo.

FINLEY, Calif. – Dennis Fordham and Dean Gotham of Toastmasters, Tenacious Talkers, Club No. 8731, recently won the club contest.

Fordham won for a humorous speech and Gotham for evaluation speech.

Each category is judged on specific goals that need to be met during competition. The highest ranking contestant wins in their category.

“Going through speech contests helps Toastmaster members gain more experience speaking in front of unfamiliar audiences,” said Sharon Shute, vice president of public relations for the Tenacious Talkers.

The area contest will be held at 9 a.m. Sept. 25.

Toastmasters, Contagious Communicators, Club No. 866864 will host the contest at Sutter Lakeside Hospital, 5176 Hill Road East, Lakeport, in the conference room next to the cafeteria. The public is welcome to come and listen to the speakers compete.

Tenacious Talkers meets at 6:15 p.m. each Thursday at 2150 Argonaut Road in Finley.

For more information about the club, call 707-279-0381, Extension 5704 or visit http://tenacioustalkers.freetoasthost.net.

Humorous speech winners Dennis Fordham, first place; Phyllis Hoffman, second place; and Rick White, third place. Courtesy photo.