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District 26 - Serving Colorado, Wyoming and Western Nebraska

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.

Click here to view the recording of the  November 11th Speech Contest training for Contestants, Judges and Contest staff 

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

Club Contests: complete by January 31, 2024 (in-person, hybrid, or online)
Area Contests: February 1-29 (hybrid)
Division Contests: March 1-31 (hybrid)
District Finals: April 27, 2024 (hybrid)

Note: Briefings are held for Contestants, Judges and other Contest Support Roles before the contest. Your attendance at these briefings is critical to ensure a fair and successful competition. Please arrive well in advance of the announced contest start times in order to attend the briefings. Email or call the contest contact for specific details.

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.

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
Qualify: 4:30 min. to 7:30 max.

2-3 minutes
Qualify 1:30 min. to 3:30 max.
Full Kit

1169 international speech kit zip

Evaluation Speech Contest Kit
Scripts  

 2024 Hybrid Script for 

International Speech Contest

2024 Evaluation Toastmaster Script and Contest Flow Script
Evaluation Contestant Notes

——

Evaluation Contestant Notes
Script Preamble Slide

Toastmasters Hybrid Speech Contest Statement

 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

2024 Combined Contestant Briefing – Evaluation

and International Speech Contests

Briefing Document – Judges, Timer, Ballot Counters

Chief Judges Briefing Script 2024

Judges Email Template

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.

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