Frightful tales on tap for Toastmasters party

By Sequim Gazette Staff • October 23, 2019 1:30 am
Pictured are (clockwise, from upper left) Toastmasters Sharon Labrecque, Sheryl Lamb, Linda Christensen and Don Woelfle. The Skwim Toastmasters Club hosts a “Spooky Stories!” event on Oct. 29. Submitted photos
Pictured are (clockwise, from upper left) Toastmasters Sharon Labrecque, Sheryl Lamb, Linda Christensen and Don Woelfle. The Skwim Toastmasters Club hosts a “Spooky Stories!” event on Oct. 29. Submitted photos

The Skwim Toastmasters Club invites the community to the club’s free “Spooky Stories!” event, set for 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 29, in the Sequim Library conference room, 630 N. Sequim Ave.

Costumes are strongly encouraged, surprise prizes will be awarded for best costumes and refreshments will be served.

Reservations are requested at SpookyStoriesTM.eventbrite.com.

No speaking is required of the audience but imagination is a must, event organizers say. The evening features eight, 5- to 7-minute minute stories, followed by Table Topics — 1- to 2-minute impromptu micro-stories that are open to all.

“Our Speakers Hacks event in July was well attended and received such positive responses,” says Kyle Hall, Club VP of Education. “We wanted to bring another opportunity to share the fun of public speaking. What could be better than spooky stories at Halloween?”

The evening’s cast of characters are: M.E. Bartholomew of Port Angeles, who will emcee the evening. Hall, Don Woelfle, Terry Barrett, Linda Christensen, Sonya Zohar and Candis Conelly, each from Sequim, along with Terralene Burnham and Michael Schmitt of Port Angeles, will speak.

In addition to the eight scheduled speakers, Table Topics gives brave audience members a chance to tell tales.

“It’s an opportunity to see, hear, and experience the encouragement of a team of fun and caring people,” new club member Karen Tyson said. “I thought I would be reluctant to try speaking in the group, but when the impromptu speaking portion of the meeting came up, I actually really enjoyed giving it a go.

“I’ve found the club to be such a wonderful community to get started in. It’s been an easy process to begin to grow my skills in speaking, and receive feedback that affirms what I’m already doing well, as much as offering pointers for improvement.”

Skwim Toastmasters is part of Toastmasters International, a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that “empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders.” The Sequim club normally meets each Tuesday evening from 7-8:30 p.m. at The Gathering Place in Sunland, 135 Fairway Dr.

For more information about the event, call Hall at 360-808-5760. For more about the club, see 907529.toastmastersclubs.org or www.facebook.com/SequimToastmasters.