Speech Trek Update By Ann Arneill

Speech Trek is getting into full swing with our busy fall season.

All nine campuses in the Elk Grove Unified High School District participate in our public speaking contest. Now is the time we recruit students to participate by distributing our promotional materials and having students sign up for workshops scheduled for November, which Shari Beck and Ann Arneill will conduct. At these workshops, we inform students about the contest rules, present the topic, give them resources for researching the topic, and provide public speaking tips. Once the students who decide to participate have completed their speech drafts, we will give them feedback on their speeches.

The topic this year is very timely:  If an educated population is essential to a nation’s prosperity, then how can we ensure a robust public school curriculum that is accessible to all and teaches historically accurate information?

The contest will be held on Feb. 10, 2024 at Cosumnes River College, so put that on your calendars!

Don’t forget about the Speech Trek Challenge, which will be held via Zoom on Jan.13, 2024.  Members will have a chance to discuss the topic in advance of the contest to pique their interest.

The Speech Trek Committee would like to expand its membership. Working on Speech Trek is very gratifying. You are helping high school students develop a skill that is no longer taught in public high schools. Public speaking will help them in their future schooling and their careers. There are a variety of tasks that committee members can do with varying degrees of responsibility. Please consider volunteering for this committee.

Speech Trek News By Kathleen Deaver

Speech Trek, AAUW’s public speaking contest, is in its 17^th year.  The very timely topic for 2023-2024 is “If an educated population is essential to a nation’s prosperity, then how can we ensure a robust public school curriculum that is accessible to all and teaches historically accurate information?”  We work with the 9 high schools in the Elk Grove Unified School District and recruit students to compete in the contest that will be held during February 2024 at Cosumnes River College. Students deliver 5-6 minute speeches extemporaneously for cash prizes ranging from $200-$500.  The local winner can go on to the statewide competition to compete for a prize of $1,500.  The committee is currently busy planning for student recruitment and scheduling workshops.  We hope for a successful year.

On Saturday, January 13, 2023, we will hold the Speech Trek Challenge, designed for AAUW members to attend to discuss the topic themselves in anticipation of the student contest.

The Speech Trek Committee is currently looking for branch members who would like to help prepare for the 2023-2024 Speech Trek activities and beyond…. If you are interested in joining the Speech Trek Committee, please contact Kathleen Deaver. Kathleen’s contact information can be found in the Membership Directory.

Speech Trek Contest Celebrates Its Donors By Ann Arneill

The Speech Trek Contest season is drawing to a close.  At the May 20, 2023 Branch Meeting our First Prize winner, Lauren Secreto, delivered her speech on the topic:  “How can communities, organizations and citizens of all ages help protect and expand voting rights?”

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the many Branch members who contributed to Speech Trek in 2022.  We appreciate our long-standing contributors and welcome the many new contributors this year.  Because of your generosity, we can award $1,075 in cash prizes to our winners each year.  Donors include Sharon Anderson, Ann Arneill, Kathleen Asay, Alice G. Bauer, Shari Beck, RosaLee, Black Jean Bonar, Margaret Brown, Karen Burley, Kathleen Deaver, Deborah Dunn, Lori Franz, Cheryl Fuller, Joan Hammond, Elizabeth Jordan, Catherine Locke, Elaine Moody, Susana Mullen, Bonnie Penix, Diane Petersen, Ann Rhodes, Georgia Richardson, Elizabeth Rose, Sandi Schoenman, Kathryn Schrumpf, Hedda Smithson, Diana Squire, Shirley Wheeler, Linda Whitney, Patricia Winkle, and Gloria Yost.

16^th Annual Speech Trek Contest Celebrates Its Winner By Ann Arneill

On Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, the Speech Trek Committee held its Speech Trek contest at Cosumnes River College, its first in-person contest after two years of virtual contests, with great success.  An audience listened to three high school students from three Elk Grove Unified School District high schools speak on the topic:  “How can communities, organizations and citizens of all ages help protect and expand voting rights?”

First-place winner was Lauren Secreto, a senior at Laguna Creek High School, receiving $500.  Second-place winner Maren DeMille, a junior from Pleasant Grove High School, received $300.  The third-place winner was Lauren Richie, a junior from Cosumnes Oaks High School, who received $200.

The Sacramento Branch’s winning speaker is entered in the AAUW CA Speech Trek Semi-Finals.  If Lauren Secreto makes it into the top three, she will be invited to compete in the finals for $1,500.  She will also present her speech at the May branch meeting — something to look forward to because she is a very dynamic speaker.

Virginia Kidd, Ph.D., communications professor emeritus at CSUS, and our very own members Liz Jordan and Linda Patterson judged the event.  AAUW member Kathleen Deaver served as timekeeper for the contest.  Thanks to branch member Karen Burley for technical assistance and Gloria Yost and Cathy Locke, who also helped with the contest.

Speech Trek Contest is Coming Up By Ann Arneill

The Speech Trek Committee has completed its recruitment for Elk Grove High School students to compete in the contest with this year’s topic:  “How can communities, organizations and citizens of all ages help protect and expand voting rights?” The contest will be held on Feb. 18, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.  We hope to conduct it IN PERSON at Cosumnes River College, Room Winn 150, COVID-19 pandemic conditions permitting.

We hope to see you there!

Speech Trek – January and February Events By Ann Arneill

The Speech Trek Committee has completed its recruitment for Elk Grove High School students to compete in the contest and has stimulated significant interest in this year’s topic:  “How can communities, organizations and citizens of all ages help protect and expand voting rights?” The contest will be held on Feb. 18, 2023 – mark your calendars! We hope to be conducting it in person at Cosumnes River College, COVID-19 pandemic conditions permitting.

We are now looking forward to the Speech Trek Challenge that will be held via Zoom on Jan. 21, 2023 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 pm.  Members will have a chance to discuss the topic in advance of the contest to pique their interest. There will also be an opportunity to hear from scholarship recipients. Look for the Eventbrite registration announcement arriving in your email in mid-December and several times in January. We hope to see you there for a lively discussion of this important topic! Please register on EventBrite using this <link>. Once registered, you will  receive the Zoom link two days prior to the challenge event.

We look forward to holding the Speech Trek Contest in person this year (as long as there are no COVID-19 complications) on Feb. 18, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Cosumes River College, Room Winn 150.  We hope to see you there!

Speech Trek News, By Ann Arneill

The Speech Trek Committee has completed its recruitment for Elk Grove High School students to compete in the contest and has stimulated significant interest in this year’s topic:  “How can communities, organizations and citizens of all ages help protect and expand voting rights? The contest will be held on Feb.18, 2023.  We hope to conduct it in person at Cosumnes River College, COVID-19 pandemic conditions permitting.

We are now looking forward to the Speech Trek Challenge that will be held via Zoom on Jan. 21, 2023 from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm.  Members will have a chance to discuss the topic in advance of the contest to pique their interest.  There will also be an opportunity to hear from scholarship recipients. Look for the Eventbrite registration announcement that will arrive in your email in mid-December and several times in January 2023.  We hope to see you there for a lively discussion of this important topic!