From Chief Judge Presenter,
Beth Boaz, DTM, PID,
Area D5 Director 2023 – 2024
Thank you to all who attended the November 11, 2023 session on serving as a contest functionary, judge, or contestant.
I must correct my answer to the question of whether a tiebreaking judge may lodge a protest regarding eligibility or originality.
The correct answer is:
“No, a tiebreaking judge may not lodge a protest.”
Here’s why:
- The contest rulebook, Section 5 – General Procedure states: “At club contests, a contest chair, chief judge, at least five (5) voting judges, a tiebreaking judge, two (2) counters, and two (2) timers are appointed, unless impractical.” Clearly, tiebreaking judges are not considered voting judges. The same distinction is stated for all higher levels of the contest.
- Section 7 – Protests and Disqualifications states: “Protests are limited to eligibility, originality, and reference to another contestant’s speech and must only be lodged by voting judges and/or contestants.”
- Therefore, since a tiebreaking judge is not considered a “voting judge”, they are not eligible to lodge a protest.
Thanks to the detail-oriented participants who raised this question, and my apologies for giving an incorrect answer.
The moral of the story:
Study the rule book carefully to ensure a fair and proper contest!
Clarifying a question concerning a new member joining a charter club. This answer was provided by the Toastmaters International Speech Contest Department:
If the member who joins after the club is chartered is a dual or reinstated member who has attained the necessary eligibility status able to compete in the club contest?
Answer: To compete in the International Speech contest, a member in this scenario (who is not a charter member of a club chartered less than one year before the club contest), must have completed the outlined education requirements.
