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 at the Area Contest. Club contests
must be completed prior to the date of their 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 April or May
Empower Your Speaking
Participating as a contestant in a contest can take your speaking skills up a notch and help you overcome some of those speaking fears. There are five types of Contests that require speakers:
- International Speech
- Table Topics
- Humorous Speech
- Tall Tales
- Evaluation
There are additional roles at contests to practice your speaking:
- Toastmaster
- Chief Judge
- Sergeant at Arms
Playlist of 2022 Contest Training (YouTube)
- Full Playlist
- Introduction
- Opening Comments
- Toastmaster Introduction
- Welcome to Contest Season
- The Contestant
- Introduction for Contest Chair
- The Contest Chair
- Introduction for Contest Toastmaster
- The Contest Toastmaster
- Introduction for Contest Chief Judge
- The Contest Cheif Judge
- Introduction for the Ballot
- The Contest Judges
- Introduction for Contest Panel
- The Contest Panel Discussion
- Conclusion
- Closing Remarks
PowerPoint Display Slides for Contests
For use by Zoom Master or Host. Slides are set up based on Evaluation Contest taking place first. The document will open in Google Slides. Click on File and scroll down to download as a Microsoft PowerPoint document. The file is large, created for 4 area contests taking place at the same time. Delete the slides that are not required for your contests.
If pledge is presented, the flag slide will move (wave) when clicked
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.