Temecula Man Vying For Chance To Become World Champion Of Public Speaking

TEMECULA, CA — A Temecula resident is vying for a chance to compete in the World Championship of Public Speaking.

Rich Politiski has advanced to the District 12 level of the Toastmasters International Speech Contest, the world’s largest speech competition.

Politiski and fellow contestants will compete from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, at the District 12 Spring Conference, 11200 Baseline Road in Rancho Cucamonga.

The winner will advance for a chance to compete in the Toastmasters semifinals and ultimately the World Championship of Public Speaking.

Politiski has outperformed hundreds of Toastmasters participants in club-, area-, and division-level contests.

He is a member of the Temecula Toastmasters Club #1677.

Politiski previously advanced to the semifinals at the 2025 Toastmasters International Convention in Philadelphia, where he was the only competitor selected from Region 2, representing Southern California, Arizona, Hawaii, and Mexico.

"While before I got sweaty, now I use the PRB formula—power poses, breathing, and positive reframing — to help me conquer stage nerves," Politiski said.

The Toastmasters International Speech Contest began in 1938 and now includes approximately 30,000 participants from 144 countries. Each year, the competition culminates in the World Championship of Public Speaking, held at the organization’s annual International Convention.

To learn more, visit toastmasters.org.