Last Story Standing is a storytelling competition owned and operated by the National Speakers Association (NSA) and is intended to raise awareness and heighten the importance and power of storytelling for professional speakers. Last Story Standing includes three levels of competition: Chapter, Regional, and National. Below is the process, eligibility rules, and FAQs applicable to the NSA Arizona Last Story Standing competition.
PROCESS
All videos are reviewed by a three-judge panel.
Submissions are judged on the following three categories: Purpose, Impact, and Delivery.
ELIGIBILITY RULES
FAQs
Once I submit my story, can I change it if I reach the regional or national competition?
A participant cannot change their primary storyline. The general story can be enhanced based on feedback/coaching received during mentor sessions, but the story at large must remain the same.
Can I use slides or props in my video submission?
No. Any use of slides or props will automatically disqualify participants.
Can my story be a little over 5 minutes long?
No. 5 minutes is a strict cutoff. Any stories that go over 5 minutes will be disqualified.
Why is our chapter charging a $25 entry fee?
The winner from each chapter must submit a $500 entry fee to enter the NSA regional competition. The NSA AZ chapter will use the $25 entry fees to cover the $500 regional entry fee for our winner.
Are all NSA chapter competitions being operated in the same way?
No. Every chapter is given discretion by NSA HQ to operate their competition differently.
Who can I contact with questions?
Matt Silverman, NSA AZ President: matt@blueprintorg.com or (847) 946-6500.
By registering for this event, you are giving permission for NSA-Arizona to add your contact information to our email list and to use any photographs that are taken at the event containing your likeness for as long as NSA-Arizona deems appropriate and desirable.
Project Lab
What is it? A casual, virtual co-working support space
Why do it?
How long is it? 2 hours, once weekly
When is it? Monday from 12:00 p.m. -2:00 p.m. (excluding holidays)
Project Lab Flow:
Start at 12:00 p.m.
Facilitator schedules a 50-minute work session
The regular host is Michele Redmond, with co-host Shevon Quijano.
By registering for this event, you are giving permission for NSA-Arizona to add your contact information to our email list and to use any photographs (screenshots) that are taken at the event containing your likeness for as long as NSA-Arizona deems appropriate and desirable.
We ask presenters what their purpose is and what kind of feedback they want or need. We provide feedback in a structured environment that includes guidelines both for evaluators and for speakers. This helps to provide supportive, constructive, and useful advice.
Is there an area of your speaking that would benefit from some feedback? Come join us at Speaker Studio and experience the valuable feedback and encouragement to help you improve in any area of your content development or presentation skills.
This meeting will be held in building 1438 on the first floor in the Privacy + Board Room. You may also attend virtually.
Along with Dr. Michael Haley, NSAAZ President-Elect Dr. Ana Melikian will be facilitating this session.
You may attend these sessions as a Guest. However, if you wish to present, you must be a Chapter member in good standing.
In a regular meeting, we fit in as many speaking slots as possible. The maximum time allocated is 20 minutes but many are less based on what the speaker is trying to accomplishwe usually have time for four 20-minute slots – 10 minutes for presentation and 10 minutes for feedback. Speakers can use the time to receive feedback and tips for a specific purpose, like trying out new material or a new form of speaking.
“Jim and I attended the last session and it was amazing!! Don is GREAT at leading this...and the privilege of having some platform time with constructive feedback is priceless!! Don't miss this. We will both be at as many as possible!”— Naomi Rhode
SPEAKER PRACTICE SESSIONS
To request a practice session slot, please contact Michael Haley at at via email or 480-968-7443, by no later than the Friday preceding an upcoming Speaker Studio meeting.
There may be more participants wanting to present at a specific practice session than time can accommodate. Requests will be approved on the following priority basis:
A. New Studio participant (following at least two observation sessions)
B. New Studio participant follow-up practice session
C. Participants not presenting in the most recent four Studio sessions
D. NSA-Az members requesting feedback on specific presentation elements
E. All other requests.
Special circumstances will be taken into account when scheduling practice sessions.
SPEAKER STUDIO COMPILED READINGS
Don Thoren has contributed many documents – articles, emails, etc. – over the past several years as teaching aides. These documents are contained in this file (click to access).
The documents have been organized into four sections: A) Annotated Table of Contents; B) Speaker Studio Feedback Forms; C) Speech/Presentation Preparation; and D) Business Development. Please access and apply any of the content that is relevant to your learning and work. Also, please feel free to submit your own documents and articles that may be helpful to other Speaker Studio participants.
BECOME OR REMAIN AN IN-DEMAND AND HIGHLY PAID
SPEAKER, TRAINER, COMMUNICATOR
PRACTICE PRESENTING TO A LIVE & SAFE AUDIENCE – Receive valuable personal coaching from Guest Enrichers as well as other mentors and speakers.
JUST OBSERVE THE PRESENTERS - Your speaking and writing skills improvement will accelerate 10-fold.
Questions or suggestions? Feel free to contact Michael Haley via email or phone at 480-968-7443
By attending this event, you are giving permission for NSA-Arizona to add your contact information to our email list and to use any photographs (or screenshots) that are taken at the event containing your likeness for as long as NSA-Arizona deems appropriate and desirable.
This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom.
Alog with Dr. Michael Haley, NSAAZ President Matt Silverman will be facilitating this Studio.
To request a practice session slot, please contact Michael Haley via email or 480-968-7443, by no later than the Friday preceding an upcoming Speaker Studio meeting.
This meeting will be held upstairs in the training room.
Please note: Coffee and water will be provided. You are welcome to bring your own beverage and snacks.
3 Ways to Participate:
Turn Conversations into Speaking Contracts
Many seasoned as well as a Speakers just starting out struggle answering the question “What do you speak about?” with clarity, confidence and conviction. Oftentimes they even beat themselves up because they know they’ve lost clients, contracts and consulting opportunities because you were all over the place when pitching and explaining their speaking services to clients or corporations.
As a result, attending in-person industry events, conferences and networking events makes them nervous or anxious because they haven’t found the right words to verbalize their value on how their presentation is different and what their audience will learn that can transform their life, business, career or relationships.
This presentation teaches Speakers and Business Owners why they must retire their boring and basic elevator pitch and replace it with a clear, concise and compelling verbal business card. It shows them how to strategically leverage luxury language as a competitive advantage in their communication style so they can have intentional conversations that lead to clients, keynote speaking contracts and consulting opportunities.
What you will learn:
EARLY REGISTRATION ENDS ON MARCH 24TH. REGISTER EARLY TO SAVE!
Quinn Conyers has over 17 years of in-person and virtual public speaking, event hosting, and professional Emcee experience. She has served as an engaging Event Emcee for organizations such as Nike, TedX, Black Girl Ventures, M&T Bank, Women’s Future Annual Conference, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Meeting Planners International and Black Ambition to name a few.
As soon as Quinn opens her mouth you will quickly realize why she is an Emcee Extraordinaire. Quinn is a faculty and founding member of the Black Speakers Network (BSN), and has taught Speech Communications for 5 years at Coppin State University. In 2021 she was named one of 20 Black Women Entrepreneurs to Watch, a Distinguished Alumni from her high school and an AT&T Dream in Black Future Maker alongside Lebron James, Tabitha Brown and Sarah Jakes Roberts to name a few. She is the author of two books, Speak Up: The Ultimate Guide to Dominate in the Speaking Industry and Speak Black Woman: How Women in Business can Profit from Public Speaking which can be purchased online at Barnes & Noble, Target and Amazon.com. For more information, email Quinn@QuinnConyers.com or visit QuinnConyers.com.
Cancellation Policy: No refunds.
Please notify us if you have any special needs for the meeting.
Own the Stage: How to Use Acting, Movement and Vocal Techniques to Captivate and Inspire Audiences
If you want to truly stand out as a speaker with your delivery, you need to move beyond standard speaking techniques. Acting, voice and movement techniques – adapted so that anyone can learn them quickly and easily – will help you become an unforgettable speaker and hold the audience in the palm of your hand. In this session, led by 28-year speaking and performance coach and theater professional Jonathan Bender, you’ll get introduced to trade secrets that performers use to uplevel their self-expression, confidence and presence. Don’t worry: performance techniques don’t make you lose authenticity – in fact, they help you grow it.
EARLY REGISTRATION ENDS ON APRIL 7TH. REGISTER EARLY TO SAVE!
Jonathan Bender, MS, MFA, the creator of the WholeSpeak Method, has trained thousands of executives, professionals, coaches and entrepreneurs on 5 continents to grow their voice and presence, both for their personal life and as confident, authentic and dynamic speakers, for over 26 years. The founder of WholeSpeak and the creator of the WholeSpeak Method, he teaches an integrative, holistic approach that consistently transforms nerves into confidence, and help anyone become a dynamic, inspiring presence in their lives. Clients include executives and directors at Google, HP, Meta and Uber, as well as countless coaches, trainers and speakers.
Jonathan is also a theatre professional as well as a poet, and holds two graduate degrees, a Master of Science in Performance Studies and Speech Communication, as well as a Master of Fine Art in Theater.
Break Out of the Pack: Craft and Deliver Presentations That Truly Move the Needle for Your Audience!
Too much data, not enough stories? Too many stories, not enough action? Too many nerves, not enough confidence? Too much practice, not enough good reviews?
Whether you’ve been asked to give a 10-minute board presentation, a 20-minute sales pitch, or the 60-minute keynote of your life, you want to be compelling, engaging, and break out of the pack of ordinary speakers and presenters. Great speeches chase down big ideas; targeted interactions deliver breakthrough moments; and impeccably told stories prime the emotional pump to crystallize your message and create unforgettable moments of clarity and inspiration for your audience.
Using an intuitive communication process called The Lioness Principle, master trainer, champion speaker, and Certified Speaking Professional, Katherine Eitel Belt will help us create an improved speech outline, well-crafted stories, and a captivating stage presence to bring our material roaring to life.
Katherine is known throughout the US, Canada, and UK as the Unscripted Communication Expert and winner of the coveted “Spotlight-on-Speaking” award. This fast-paced, interactive presentation promises to be one of the best investments you’ll make this year to find your courage, amplify your voice, drive your message, create lasting change, and advance your professional career.
Learning Objectives:
EARLY REGISTRATION ENDS ON MAY 5TH. REGISTER EARLY TO SAVE!
Katherine Eitel Belt, CSP® is America’s Unscripted Communications Coach! Founder and CEO of LionSpeak, Katherine is an international speaker, author, and performance coach, best known for helping professionals develop courageous, unscripted conversations with clients, co-workers, and audiences. Whether communicating from a treatment room, consult room, boardroom, or stage, audiences love her simple yet powerful formulas for delivering messages with clarity, courage, and inspiration.
For more than 35 years Katherine has keynoted annual conferences in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., coached thousands of professionals in hundreds of businesses, and consulted or presented for companies such as Care Credit/Synchrony Financial, Informed Diagnostics, LuLaRoe Fashion, Berecz & Associates Law Firm, Henry Schein, Aurum Group, Dentsply Sirona, e-Assist, Cain Watters Accounting Firm, Pacific Dental Services, and Philips Oral Healthcare.
Katherine is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), an earned designation of the National Speakers Association achieved by less than 17% speakers worldwide. She is a Spotlight-On-Speaking champion, SpeakingConsulting Network founding member, past-president of the Academy of Dental Management Consultants, faculty member for the Dental Business Institute and the Dental Speakers Institute, faculty instructor for the Texas Tech University Dental School in El Paso, Board Advisor Emeritus for Dental Entrepreneur Women (DeW), Dental Festival 2023 Speaker of the Year, and recipient of the Nifty Awards Favorite Dental Speaker and the Linda Miles Spirit Award.
She was recently featured in the documentary film, Women Shaping Dentistry Tomorrow, and her latest book, Courageous Conversations, is scheduled for release in 2025. Learn more at www.LionSpeak.net
CONTACT US
10869 N. Scottsdale Road
Suite 103, PMB 238
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
480-968-7443
info@nsa-arizona.org
CONNECT WITH US
NSA-Arizona is a 501(c)6 nonprofit organization.
