{"id":893,"date":"2017-11-10T18:51:47","date_gmt":"2017-11-10T23:51:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/markhenkelspeaker.com\/toastmaster\/?p=893"},"modified":"2018-02-01T16:21:08","modified_gmt":"2018-02-01T21:21:08","slug":"priscilla-hansen-mahoney-wins-2nd-place","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/markhenkelspeaker.com\/toastmaster\/priscilla-hansen-mahoney-wins-2nd-place\/","title":{"rendered":"Priscilla Hansen Mahoney wins 2nd Place at last Humorous Speech Contest of District 45 Toastmasters"},"content":{"rendered":"

By the Autumn of 2017, World Headquarters of Toastmasters International<\/a> had made a new requirement that all Districts must reduce from two Conferences down to only one District Conference each year. Hence, at the District 45 Fall Conference, on November 3-5, 2017, at Lake Morey Resort, in Fairlee, VT, US, the District 45 Toastmasters<\/a> Humorous Speech<\/em> Contest was the last and final year that this particular contest cycle will ever happen in the District. <\/p>\n

For this last and final year of the Humorous Speech<\/em> Contest cycle, I chose not to compete.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The reason was easy. I wanted to, instead, focus on supporting and coaching a fellow Toastmaster and friend, Priscilla Hansen Mahoney.<\/a><\/p>\n

Priscilla had put together a great and very funny speech, titled, “Sink or Swim.”<\/em> With this speech, she moved beyond the local club to win 1st Place at the Area 6<\/em> level contest on September 26, 2017, in Portland, Maine.<\/p>\n

\"Priscilla<\/a>
Priscilla Hansen Mahoney – 1st Place – Area 6 Humourous Speech<\/em> Contest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Two and a half weeks later, on October 14, 2017, in Auburn, Maine, after making the already-great speech even better, Priscilla won 1st Place at the Division B<\/em> level contest.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Priscilla Hansen Mahoney – 1st Place – Division B Humorous Speech<\/em> Contest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Priscilla then took the next three weeks to make the speech even better.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, November 4, 2017, at the District 45 Humorous Speech Contest<\/em>, she gave a fun, funny, and inspiring presentation of “Sink or Swim.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Priscilla<\/a>
Priscilla Hansen Mahoney speech “Sink or Swim” at District 45 Toastmasters Humorous Speech Contest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She was up against a lot of good humorous speeches from some very capable fellow contestants.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Contestants of the very last District 45 Toastmasters Humorous Speech Contest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In my opinion, the contest was really a neck-and-neck horse race of only the “Top Two,” as the most amazing standouts:<\/p>\n

Priscilla Hansen Mahoney’s “Sink or Swim,”<\/em>
\nvs.
\nTalia Steeve’s “Pants on the Ground, Mama Would Be So Proud.”<\/em><\/p>\n

I fully enjoyed eating formal meals with both of these outstanding ladies during the weekend events, making new friends with Talia! She is a great young lady with a great attitude.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Mark Henkel and Talia Steeves<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Priscilla and Talia, both of these fantastic women had also become fast friends too!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Priscilla Hansen Mahoney and Talia Steeves<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ultimately, even in a close race like this one, there can only be one 1st Place – which Talia Steeves won.<\/p>\n

Priscilla Hansen Mahoney did amazingly: she won the 2nd Place trophy.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Priscilla Hansen Mahoney wins 2nd Place at District 45 Humourous Speech Contest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She did such an awesome job throughout this whole contest cycle.<\/p>\n

For me, it has been both a pleasure and an honor to have been even a small part of her outstanding journey to the 2nd Place victory at the very last Humorous Speech<\/em> Contest of District 45 Toastmasters.<\/p>\n

When Priscilla online-posts the video of her speech (which she asked me to record), I will post\/embed it here too.<\/s>
\nEDIT UPDATE, 1\/31\/2018:<\/em>   Here is the video I recorded\/engineered of her great speech that Priscilla has youtube-posted:<\/p>\n