THE 2010 MARIPOSA ROTARY SPEECH CONTESTANTS ARE PICTURED, FROM LEFT, JULIANA BODFISH, BRIDGET HANNA AND TIM ANDRE. Mariposa Rotary's annual speech contest was the spotlight of last Thursday’s meeting as Rotarians were treated to another amazing display of teenage courage, confidence, skill, and hard work. On the local level, Rotary selects a few finalists to be heard - and judged - by Rotarians in several areas of expertise. These include, but are not necessarily limited to: theme, overall presentation, eye contact and delivery style, tie-in to Rotary subject, total “presence” and delivery time expectations.

This year’s Rotary subject is “The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands” and each of the three talented finalists did a great job on tying this into their presentation. The contestants spoke of how their hands can craft a better future for one another, the world, and more; they described how limited abilities can do much more when united with others.

“Learning from the past will insure a better future” opined one candidate. Another recognized “being a small cog in a big machine” and still another recognized that “hands are only tools but actions of those hands produce.”

Given the skills on display the judges had a unenviable job, but ultimately awarded prizes to each. First place went to Timothy Andre; receiving $125 and the opportunity to participate in the Oakhurst speech contest. Second place was awarded to Juliana Bodfish who received $100 to further her educational pursuits, and third place, behind by little measurable margin went to Bridgette Hanna, going home $75 to the better.