ANNOUNCING THE DISTRICT 26 CONTEST SEASON
Mark your calendars because the Club Contest season is just around the corner.
This is your chance to showcase your communication and leadership skills on a club level. Our two contests this year are the International Speech Contest ending at the World Championships of Public Speaking at the annual Toastmasters International Convention in August 2024; and the Evaluation Contest, ending at our own District 26 stage.
As voted on by the District Council, the two speech contests for 2024 will be
Evaluation and International Speech Contests
Only 1 winner from each club can advance to each Area Contest.
Only 1 winner from each Area contest can advance to the Division Contest.
Saturday, November 11 – 10:00 AM – 12 Noon.
Speech Contest Training to organize club contests will be offered during the Area Council meetings hosted by each Division.
Division & Area Contest Schedule
CONTEST ROTATION DETAILS
- International Speech contest each year
- Evaluation, Humorous Speech, Table Topics, or Tall Tales
Details on the resolution: Establish a Speech Contest Rotation so that all of the other contests take place to allow all members the opportunity to compete.
- The second District contest will be held according to the following rotation schedule: 2024 : Evaluation | 2025: Humorous | 2026: Table Topics 2027: Tall Tales – Adopted September 23, 2023
Hybrid Speech Contest Best Practices
Links to International documents and a webinar recording are provided below, along with additional resources to help you prepare.
Updated Documents for 2024
Hybrid & Online Evaluation & International Speech Contests In – Person International & Evaluation Briefing The scripts below are for the Area and Division Contests but can be adapted for Hybrid Club contests. |
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International Speech Contest | Evaluation Speech Contest | |
Procedures for Speech Contests | Area Director Procedures for 2024 Speech contests | |
Contestants Draw for Speaking order | wheelofnames.com | |
Time |
5-7 minutes |
2-3 minutes Qualify 1:30 min. to 3:30 max. |
Full Kit | Evaluation Speech Contest Kit | |
Scripts | 2024 Evaluation Toastmaster Script and Contest Flow Script | |
Evaluation Contestant Notes |
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Evaluation Contestant Notes |
Script Preamble Slide | ||
Ballot | 1172 Int. Speech Guide and Ballot | Contest Judges Guide and Ballot-ff |
Tiebreaker | 1188 Int. Speech Tiebreaking Judge’s Guide & Ballot | Evaluation Tiebreaking Judge’s Guide & Ballot |
Rulebook | 2023-2024 Speech Contest Rulebook | |
Briefing Document – Contestants, Sergeants-at-Arms, Zoom Master, Tech Assistants | ||
Briefing Document – Judges, Timer, Ballot Counters |
Chief Judges Briefing Script 2024 |
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Agenda_Sample Area Director | Dual/Triple Area Sample Agenda | |
Contestant Eligibility | 1183 Speaker’s Certification of Eligibility and Originality | |
Contestant Profile | 1189 Speech Contestant Profile | |
Timer | 1175 Time Record Sheet and Instructions for Timers | |
Counters | 1176 Counters Tally Sheet | |
Judges | 1170 Judges Certifications of Eligibility and Code of Ethics | |
Results | 1168 Results Form | |
Winners | 1182 Notification of Contest Winner | |
Certificates of Appreciation | Certificates of Appreciation | |
Video Release | 1193 Region Quarterfinal Video Release * only for the District contest, each contestant |
PowerPoint Slides for Speech Contests –
Download as .pdf and convert to Google or MS PowerPoint. Please update for your Area or Division. This slide deck example is for an Area holding three (3) Evaluation and three (3) International contests in one day.
For Zoom Master to display during the Speech Contests. The first three slides after the title slide are for online Zoom host to move attendees into breakout rooms.
2024 Dignitary List: Download and give to Contest Chair or the person who will acknowledge dignitaries. Only announce leaders who are in attendance. Past and current district leaders are recognized in the beginning of every speech contest. Note, however, if past district leaders are competing in the speech contest, recognition of them must wait until the announcement portion near the end of the contests.
WHQ Policy
All district-level speech contests are to be conducted only at the annual district conference. The decision to hold contests at the area and division level rests with the district executive committee. Contests must be conducted in the same manner for all areas and divisions within the district. For those districts that decide to conduct additional contests, those contests must originate at the club level and proceed through the area, division and district levels. To reiterate: district-level contests are only to be held during the annual district conference.