Hear ye, hear ye! The Toastmasters want your laughs.

The best speakers in the Mission Viejo area will be chosen Saturday, October 10, when local Toastmasters clubs conduct their annual humorous speech and evaluation contests.

Four weeks ago, nearly 400 contestants from 22 Toastmasters clubs competed to see who was the best and funniest at telling a story. The top speakers have advanced to the area-wide (Division G) contest from the following nine South Orange County cities: Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Irvine, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, and San Clemente.

The public is invited to watch the event conducted at the Mission Viejo Swim and Racquet Club, 26221 Tierra Circle. A nominal $10 door charge covers administrative costs and a continental breakfast starting 9:30 a.m. The contest runs from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Local businesses have generously donated gifts to be raffled during the event. Tickets are sold at the speech contest and winners must be present to win.

The best speaker will be chosen from among five contestants and will advance to the Founder’s District contest held at the Marriott Hotel on November 14, in Fullerton, California.

The 22 clubs in the Mission Viejo area are among more than 12,000 Toastmasters clubs around the world participating in Area and Division speech contests in October. The competition will culminate in the International Speech Contest, the “World Championship of Public Speaking,” which will be conducted during the annual Toastmasters International Convention August 2010 in Palm Dessert, California.

For additional information please contact Toastmasters Division G Governor Jeanne Cassidy at jeanne.cassidy@boeing.com or 714-421-0751.