Humorous Speech Contest Is a Winner!

Here are the Humorous Speech Contest Winners:  Susann Swan, third place; Ron Climer, second place; Josh Gravley, first place. (Photo courtesy of Carole Kitchen.)

A special thanks goes to these above contestants and the other two contestants: Karen Alexander and Don Groff.  There was one time disqualification. All the speeches were quite entertaining.

Special thanks also to the contest team that mounted the contest, from Contest Master/Chair Stan Coss to Head Judge Judy Groff, to Ballot Counters Nick Ronningen and Betty McCallister, to Timers Sally Jones and Don Glovan, to Sergeant at Arms Melinda Lowrance, to the anonymous judges.

Ron Climer's speech, "Put some Humor in your Presentation," gave some helpful humorous tips and anecdotes on adding levity.  His dramatic opening dealt with a toe truck.

Susann Swan's speech, "Take Me back to the Ballgame," gave some interesting characters that filled out the team roster of her softball team when Susann was a young career woman.  The career of most of her teammates seemed to revolve around having babies after each season was over.

Don Groff's speech, "The New Assistant Principal," gave a history of Don's paddle, an insight into his handling of senior skippers, and an apple not falling too far from the tree in a student wearing a toga and nothing else.

Karen Alexander's speech, "The Joy of the Journey," gave car trips she'd made, one with deli items to be delivered with misdirection, one with a hurricane evacuation, and one with a carload to tunes like "she's a brick house."

Josh Gravley's speech, "Eating Season," gave a stand-up routine on a number of subjects, from the humerus bone to autumn to focus on foods Josh looks forward to consuming as Halloween and Thanksgiving approach.

While the ballots were tabulated, the contestants stood in a line and gave responses to what was on their profile sheet, just like in table topic prompts.


In attendance were the following members: Mary Beth Dallman, Don Glovan, Josh Gravley, Hoyt Griffith, Don Groff, Judy Groff, Sally Jones, Carole Kitchen, Melinda Lowrance, Betty McCallister, Karla Reese, Nick Ronnigen, Susann Swan, Carol Walters, and Wendy Whitaker.  Guests were Caleb Ronningen and Jim Jones.