How the Mona Lisa Spurred a Trip to Kuala Lumpur

A Dana Point man will soon be on his way to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to represent his fellow local toastmasters in a speech contest.

Daniel Midson-Short won a Southern California contest in May for the privilege.

Eight individuals presented some of the most outstanding speeches ever given at a district conference,” said Brenda Johnson, fellow “Coastmaster,” the appropos name of the Dana Point Toastmaster club. “But in the end, a moving and heartfelt speech by Daniel Midson-Short that began with an inspirational story about seeing -- REALLY seeing -- the Mona Lisa, was declared the winner.”

Midson-Short, originally from Australia, is headed east for another competition on Aug. 21, and if he’s victorious at the four-day Annual Toastmasters Convention there, he’ll participate in the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking just a couple days later.

Coastmasters meets everyThursday morning at 7 a.m. in the Dana Point Harbor at the Sailing and Events Building at Baby Beach.

PHOTO Daniel Midson-Short. Photo courtesy of Coastmasters.