Duluth Club Member is Semifinalist in the World’s Largest Speech

Duluth Club Member is Semifinalist in the World’s Largest Speech Contest

Carlton Young rose above a pool of 30,000 worldwide Toastmasters participants.

Duluth, Georgia, May 11, 2018 — After four months of rigorous competition, eight (8) contestants out of a pool of over 4,000 claimed a spot on stage for Toastmasters District 44’s International Speech Contest where Dr. Carlton Young a member of a Toastmasters , Club in Duluth outshined all to win the competition.

Young advances to the semifinal rounds of the international contest, where he will vie for one of 10 spots in the World Championship of Public Speaking® to be held at the Toastmasters International Convention Saturday, Aug. 25 in Chicago, Ill.

A member of North Gwinnett Advanced TM Club, in Duluth, Georgia, Young, surpassed fierce competition to win over the judges with his speech, “That's Impossible”. The speech touched on the themes of bravery, passion and confidence. When it comes to connecting with an audience, he said, “The key is to have a storyline that is relatable and compelling.”

Young will compete with 105 other winners from districts around the world who advanced to the 2018 semifinal round after a six-month process of elimination through club, area, division and district speech competitions. Their five-to seven-minute speeches were judged on content, organization, gestures and style.

“Toastmasters speech contests are another way to build your confidence, sharpen your skills and speak to many different audiences,” says Young. “The Toastmasters experience can make a difference in any career or organization. It helps you focus on where you need to go, and helps you understand that your fears and failures are nothing more than the road map to greater opportunity,” says Young. This will not be Young’s first time on the Toastmasters International semifinals stage. He also competed in the Toastmasters International contest semifinals in 2015 and 2017.

Young served 22 years in the United States Marine Corps. During the Vietnam War 1969 - 1971 in a combat line unit, where he was awarded the "Soldiers Medal for Heroism" for his courageous actions and leadership in combat.

Dr. Young also served in the first Gulf War. His career took him to serve in the family services advocate's office as the drug alcohol and suicide counselor for Marine and Navy personal and their families. After his career as a decorated Marine, Young found himself living as a single parent and retired in August, 1991 and went on to work for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in Washington, D.C. as a drug site coordinator. After two years in Washington, D.C. he was transferred to Atlanta, Georgia as the regional drug program manager.

Young left the FAA to become his own entrepreneur, after two years as a business man, Young had some real life financial setbacks, in which he and his son suddenly went from actively thriving to barely surviving. While living out of the trunk of their car on the dangerous streets of Atlanta, Georgia, for more than three years he lived as a single father and a homeless man. Named the "Foremost Expert on Homelessness in America", the 69-year-old man has chronicled his life on the streets in the book titled: "From Home to Homeless to Success".

The Toastmasters International Speech Contest began in 1938 and is the world’s largest speech contest, involving 30,000 participants from 141 countries. It culminates with the popular World Championship of Public Speaking held annually at the organization’s International Convention.

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About North Gwinnett Advanced Toastmasters

North Gwinnett Advanced Toastmasters meets each Monday night from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm regularly at the Pleasanthill Presbyterian Church located at 3700 Pleasant Hill Road Duluth. For more information about the club go to https://northgwinnett.toastmas...

About District 44

District 44 is one of 106 districts, which comprises more than 200 corporate and community clubs with over 4,000 members. District 44 is located in Georgia west of Interstate 85. To learn more about District 44, please visit: www.D44Toastmasters.org

About Toastmasters International

Toastmasters International is a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., the organization's membership exceeds 352,000 in more than 16,400 clubs in 141 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators and leaders. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org. Follow @Toastmasters on Twitter.