Speech Contests and District 26
2023 Hybrid Speech Contests Updates Speech Contests are one of the many ways Toastmasters can grow and perfect both speaking and leadership skills. Contests are conducted in a safe, fair environment that encourages speaking and leadership growth.
Please note the following contest rulebook change for the International Speech Contest: To be eligible to compete in the International Speech Contest, a member must have earned certificates of completion in Level 1 and Level 2 of any path in the Toastmasters Pathways learning experience or earned the Distinguished Toastmaster Award (DTM).
However, a charter member of a club that chartered less than one (1) year before the club contest is permitted to compete without having completed this requirement. The club must have officially chartered before the Area Contest.
The Speech Contests for our District in 2023 are the International Speech Contest and Table Topics Speech Contest.
Clubs are encouraged to conduct their speech contests in January. Clubs have the option of conducting a club
contest or appointing a member to represent the club for each contest at the Area Contest. Club contests
must be completed prior to the date of their area contest. Clubs may only send 1 member per contest to the Area Contest.
If a club decides to have a club contest they must follow the Speech Contest Rulebook.
Area Contests start in February 2023. Division Contests start in March 2023.
The District Contests will take place during the Annual Conference in Breckenridge, CO on April 29, 2023.
Area Hybrid Speech Contests – Saturday, February 25
| Foothills Division | 10:00 AM – Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Denver Division | 2:00 PM – Areas 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Area Hybrid Speech Contests – Sunday, February 26
| Eastern Division | 11:00 AM – Areas 1, 2, 3 |
| Eastern Division | 2:30 PM – Areas 4, 5, 6 |
Division Hybrid Speech Contests – March 4
| Southern | 10:30 AM |
| Denver | 2:00 PM |
Division Hybrid Speech Contests – March 11
| Metro | 10:00 AM |
| Urban | 2:00 PM |
Division Hybrid Speech Contests – March 18
| Foothills | 10:00 AM |
| Northern | 2:00 PM |
EASTERN DIVISION HYBRID SPEECH CONTESTS |
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| Sunday, March 26, 2023 – – 11:00 AM | |
Hybrid Speech Contest Best Practices
Links to International documents and a webinar recording are provided below, along with additional resources to help you prepare.
PowerPoint Slides for Speech Contests –
Download as .pdf and convert to Google or MS PowerPoint. Please adapt for your Area or Division. This slide deck example is for an Area holding three (3) Table Topics 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.
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.