Fallon residents compete in Toastmasters contest

Toastmasters International held its annual International Speech and Table Topics contest earlier this month at the KNPB studios in Reno.

Members from five Northern Nevada chapters competed, including Fallon’s Cathy Coval and Suzann Gilliland Peterson.

The “table topic” on April 2 was “If I had only known.” Coval had less than a minute to prepare and only 2-minutes to expound on the subject. She took third place.

The “international speech” topic was open. Peterson delivered her speech, “The Return,” about rejoining the workforce after being a housewife for 24 years. She survived two rounds, which was enough for her to continue on to April 9 where she was ultimately eliminated.

For their efforts and achievements, Coval and Peterson received a certificate and a plaque, respectively.

Each level of the speech contest takes the winners one step closer to the Toastmasters International Best Speaker of 2016 international competition in Washington, D.C. later this year.

For more information on the Fallon Oasis chapter of Toastmasters International, which meets every Thursday at 6:30 p.m,, contact Carla Popeney at 775-867-5911.