Contest participation
Joy
attendance between Districts?
I belong to clubs in two Districts. District 52 is relatively small
geographically. Generally Area contests are combined because of poor
participation. In the Area contest where I competed, there were three
Evaluation and two International contestants from one Area and five
Evaluation and three International contestants from the other. A friend of
mine belongs to a club in a different Division of District 52. He and his
wife both competed in an Area contest there. Again, two Areas were
combined, with each Area having only two or three contestants in each
category.
District 33 covers a large area including parts of two states. Nearly all
clubs in my Division have contestants in each contest. Area contests are
held separately, and there are usually more people in attendance at Area
contests in District 33 than there are at Division contests in District 52.
--
Joy
My mind is like a parachute...it functions only when open.
Rick
> Has anyone else noticed a big difference in contest participation and
> attendance between Districts?
I'm only in one District. I have noticed differences in Areas. Company
clubs that only draw members from there company tend not to participate
in outside events. Areas with a lot of company clubs, tend to have
lower participation.
There are several reasons that company clubs don't participate in
contests or other activities:
1. You have people who have the noon hour free, but may have family or
other activities in the evening.
2. Many people are their to learn to run meetings and don't see the
benefit in contests.
3. People are there because their manager told them to. There manager
didn't tell them they have to compete in contests.
4. There level of commitment is to walk across their building at lunch.
I visited on club that was looking to rebuild. Someone raised the
possibility of joining another club. It meets across the street and
across a parking lot. Several members thought that was too much effort.
(They have since dropped out of the club anyway.)
It take awhile to build participation in contests. It takes telling
people about the benefits for awhile before they build interest. It
also takes someone coming back from a contest and talking it up.
As I mentioned in another posting, combining contests really assumes
that both Areas assumes both Areas will have a poor turnout. If one
Area is unlucky enough to have a good turnout, it makes for a long
evening. That can discourage clubs that have turned out for the first
time from participating in a contest again.
Rick Clements, DTM
VPM Daylighters
Joy
news:47E6C2C9...@verizon.net...
All of these are good points. Now you remind me, I have noticed that about
corporate clubs.
Joy
Colin William
"Joy" <toa...@real-me.net> wrote...
> Has anyone else noticed a big difference in contest participation and
> attendance between Districts?
Heck, I notice a big difference just within this area and division from year
to year.
Colin
Joy
news:64oeo2F...@mid.individual.net...
That's true. There can be fluxuation from year to year, or even season to
season. One of my clubs usually has at least 3-5 contestants in each
category, but every so often there are only one or two.
However, I've noticed this discrepancy between my two Districts over a
period of quite a few years.
Joy
Mark
> Has anyone else noticed a big difference in contest participation and
> attendance between Districts?
IMNSHO, I wish the area governors would not wait until the END of the
month to schedule their contests. We don't have THAT many judges, and
six contests on one night really stretches things. Then, you have the
district webwrangler (me) constantly making updates.
I'm have to automate the scheduling of contests.
Joy
news:13uee1k...@corp.supernews.com...
My impression is that many area governors wait much too long to schedule the
contests, which may account for the bunching up. I think that is something
that should be done well in advance, and coordinated with other area
governors in the division. There have been many times when I have competed
at club level without having any idea when or where the area contest would
be.
Joy
John Fleming, DTM
in the scriptorium "Joy" <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
> $My impression is that many area governors wait much too long to schedule the
> $contests, which may account for the bunching up.
Up here, as long as you know when District fall conference
and spring convention are, and using a couple of guidelines
or rules of thumb, an Area governor can schedule both the
fall and the spring contests near the beginning of the
Toastmasters year. So there really is no reason to wait too
long to schedule an area contest.
--
John Fleming, DTM
Edmonton, Canada
Attitude Boosters Toastmasters (7022-42) - Member
Chamber Toastmasters (5594 - 42) - Member
A scientist can discover a new star but he
cannot make one. He would have to ask an
engineer to do it for him.
- Gordon L. Glegg
John Fleming, DTM
in the scriptorium Mark <dontb...@surewest.net> wrote:
> $Joy wrote:
> $> Has anyone else noticed a big difference in contest participation and
> $> attendance between Districts?
> $
> $IMNSHO, I wish the area governors would not wait until the END of the
> $month to schedule their contests. We don't have THAT many judges, and
> $six contests on one night really stretches things. Then, you have the
> $district webwrangler (me) constantly making updates.
> $
> $I'm have to automate the scheduling of contests.
Up here, fall contests tend to be bunched up. That's
because most clubs break for the summer, and the earliest
contests get run tends to be the second meeting after our
Canadian Labour Day holiday. And all the club, area and
division contests have to be completed by the middle of
November. (District is usually close to the end of
November.)
Spring contests are a bit more spread out. District is at
the beginning of May. Division are usually two to three
weeks ahead of District. Area are usually two to three
weeks ahead of Division. And club should be done two weeks
before Area. So a club VPE can schedule the club contest
ten to twelve weeks ahead of District without even knowing
when Area and Division are.
All that said, when I was Area Governor many long years ago,
I pulled my Area council together in July, and we scheduled
*everything*-- Area contests and club visits for the whole
year included. Made for a very smooth year.
Joy
news:2r8gu39r44talge76...@4ax.com...
That is the way it should be done. Unfortunately, it usually isn't. Any
chance of you moving to District 52 or 33? <g>
Joy
Colin William
> and spring convention are, and using a couple of guidelines
> or rules of thumb, an Area governor can schedule both the
> fall and the spring contests near the beginning of the
> Toastmasters year. So there really is no reason to wait too
> long to schedule an area contest.
Our AGs and DivGs usually make a point of scheduling the area contests very
shortly after they take office, so clubs can plan their own schedules
accordingly. Excepting one year where they had to change the date for the
Div contest, it's worked well.
Colin
Rick
>>
>> I'm have to automate the scheduling of contests.
My biggest source of updates isn't changes by the Governors. It's
getting incomplete information and having to e-mail for more details.
The three most common are:
1. What city is that in?
2. Will people know where the ____ building is or should we include an
address?
3. Is that time the start of the contest or when participants need to
show up? (In one case it was the time of the pot luck before the contest.)
> My impression is that many area governors wait much too long to schedule the
> contests, which may account for the bunching up. I think that is something
> that should be done well in advance, and coordinated with other area
> governors in the division. There have been many times when I have competed
> at club level without having any idea when or where the area contest would
> be.
In our District, there is a two week period for Area contests then a two
week period for Division contests. Here the contests are scheduled
early. In January, I get announcements for contests to post and
promises that officer training information is "coming soon".
Rick Clements, DTM
D7 Webmaster
John Fleming, DTM
in the scriptorium "Joy" <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
> $"John Fleming, DTM" <nos...@sprynet.com> wrote in message
> $news:2r8gu39r44talge76...@4ax.com...
> $> On Sun, 23 Mar 2008 22:12:18 -0700, while chained to a desk
> $> in the scriptorium Mark <dontb...@surewest.net> wrote:
> $>> $Joy wrote:
> $>
> $>> $> Has anyone else noticed a big difference in contest participation and
> $>> $> attendance between Districts?
> $>> $
> $>> $IMNSHO, I wish the area governors would not wait until the END of the
> $>> $six contests on one night really stretches things. Then, you have the
> $>> $district webwrangler (me) constantly making updates.
> $>> $
> $>> $I'm have to automate the scheduling of contests.
> $> Up here, fall contests tend to be bunched up. That's
> $> because most clubs break for the summer, and the earliest
> $> contests get run tends to be the second meeting after our
> $> Canadian Labour Day holiday. And all the club, area and
> $> division contests have to be completed by the middle of
> $> November. (District is usually close to the end of
> $> November.)
> $>
> $> Spring contests are a bit more spread out. District is at
> $> the beginning of May. Division are usually two to three
> $> weeks ahead of District. Area are usually two to three
> $> weeks ahead of Division. And club should be done two weeks
> $> before Area. So a club VPE can schedule the club contest
> $> ten to twelve weeks ahead of District without even knowing
> $> when Area and Division are.
> $>
> $> All that said, when I was Area Governor many long years ago,
> $> I pulled my Area council together in July, and we scheduled
> $> *everything*-- Area contests and club visits for the whole
> $> year included. Made for a very smooth year.
> $
> $That is the way it should be done. Unfortunately, it usually isn't. Any
> $chance of you moving to District 52 or 33? <g>
Not anytime soon unfortunately.
After all, the occasional grass fire notwithstanding,
southern California has fantastic weather. And some pretty
dedicated Toastmasters.
--
John Fleming, DTM
Edmonton, Canada
Joy
True. We have some movers and shakers. <G>
Joy
Mark Perew
> After all, the occasional grass fire notwithstanding,
> southern California has fantastic weather. And some pretty
> dedicated Toastmasters.
SoCal has occasional:
* grassfires
* mudslides
* earthquakes
* major traffic stoppages
OK, the major traffic stoppages are regular, often, dare I say even
ubiquitous?
--
Mark Perew <pe...@squeep.com>
To the world you may be just one person,
but to one person you may be the world. (Source Unknown)
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
Joy
news:47ea49f2$0$26122$8826...@free.teranews.com...
> John Fleming, DTM <nos...@sprynet.com> wrote:
>> After all, the occasional grass fire notwithstanding,
>> southern California has fantastic weather. And some pretty
>> dedicated Toastmasters.
>
> SoCal has occasional:
> * grassfires
> * mudslides
> * earthquakes
> * major traffic stoppages
>
> OK, the major traffic stoppages are regular, often, dare I say even
> ubiquitous?
>
> --
> Mark Perew <pe...@squeep.com>
> To the world you may be just one person,
> but to one person you may be the world. (Source Unknown)
But aside from that, it's a great place to live! ;-)
Actually, I'd rather live here, where we have a major earthquake maybe once
every 20 years, than live where they have several hurricanes and/or
tornadoes every year.
Joy
John Fleming, DTM
> $news:47ea49f2$0$26122$8826...@free.teranews.com...
> $> John Fleming, DTM <nos...@sprynet.com> wrote:
> $>> After all, the occasional grass fire notwithstanding,
> $>> southern California has fantastic weather. And some pretty
> $>> dedicated Toastmasters.
> $>
> $> SoCal has occasional:
> $> * grassfires
> $> * mudslides
> $> * earthquakes
> $> * major traffic stoppages
> $>
> $> OK, the major traffic stoppages are regular, often, dare I say even
> $> ubiquitous?
> $>
> $> --
> $> Mark Perew <pe...@squeep.com>
> $> To the world you may be just one person,
> $> but to one person you may be the world. (Source Unknown)
> $
> $But aside from that, it's a great place to live! ;-)
> $
> $Actually, I'd rather live here, where we have a major earthquake maybe once
> $every 20 years, than live where they have several hurricanes and/or
> $tornadoes every year.
Yes, a hurricane could really dampen your enthusiasm.
And speaking of tornados, the last one we had in Edmonton
was just over twenty years ago, and it was a whopper!! The
twister cut its way through several residential
neighbourhoods, and the only reason the death toll was as
low as it was is that the twister "thoughtfully" touched
down mid afternoon when most people were at work.
Joy
news:8j3mu3dg9pl6ic8p6...@4ax.com...
I've never experienced either, but the idea of a hurricane scares me, and I
find the thought of a tornado positively terrifying. That's another reason
I prefer earthquakes. By the time you have a chance to be scared, it's all
over. Of course the fact that I've lived with earthquakes all my life might
have something to do with it. They're even a part of my family history. I
don't even feel anything under about a 4.5. That used to be 5.0, but I
became a little more sensitive after our last big one in 1994.
Joy
John Fleming, DTM
> $news:8j3mu3dg9pl6ic8p6...@4ax.com...
> $> On Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:36:43 -0700, while chained to a desk
> $> in the scriptorium "Joy" <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
> $>> $"Mark Perew" <pe...@bokbok.squeep.com> wrote in message
> $>> $news:47ea49f2$0$26122$8826...@free.teranews.com...
> $>> $> John Fleming, DTM <nos...@sprynet.com> wrote:
> $>> $>> After all, the occasional grass fire notwithstanding,
> $>> $>> southern California has fantastic weather. And some pretty
> $>> $>> dedicated Toastmasters.
> $>> $>
> $>> $> SoCal has occasional:
> $>> $> * mudslides
> $>> $> * earthquakes
> $>> $> * major traffic stoppages
> $>> $>
> $>> $> OK, the major traffic stoppages are regular, often, dare I say even
> $>> $>
> $>> $> --
> $>> $> Mark Perew <pe...@squeep.com>
> $>> $> To the world you may be just one person,
> $>> $> but to one person you may be the world. (Source Unknown)
> $>> $
> $>> $But aside from that, it's a great place to live! ;-)
> $>> $
> $>> $Actually, I'd rather live here, where we have a major earthquake maybe
> $>> $every 20 years, than live where they have several hurricanes and/or
> $>> $tornadoes every year.
> $>
> $> Yes, a hurricane could really dampen your enthusiasm.
> $>
> $> And speaking of tornados, the last one we had in Edmonton
> $> was just over twenty years ago, and it was a whopper!! The
> $> twister cut its way through several residential
> $> neighbourhoods, and the only reason the death toll was as
> $> low as it was is that the twister "thoughtfully" touched
> $> down mid afternoon when most people were at work.
> $
> $I've never experienced either, but the idea of a hurricane scares me, and I
> $find the thought of a tornado positively terrifying. That's another reason
> $I prefer earthquakes. By the time you have a chance to be scared, it's all
> $over. Of course the fact that I've lived with earthquakes all my life might
> $have something to do with it. They're even a part of my family history. I
> $don't even feel anything under about a 4.5. That used to be 5.0, but I
> $became a little more sensitive after our last big one in 1994.
I'm sure people who live in hurricane areas take it in
stride much the same way you take earthquakes in stride.
Like, really, what's a little rainstorm once in a while?
Ditto with tornados. We get tornado warnings from time to
time here in Edmonton these days--a consequence of the 1987
Edmonton Tornado. Most tornados are a *lot* smaller, and as
long is your house/workplace isn't in its way, no problem.
Actually, most potential tornados up here don't develop
beyond funnel clouds, so, no danger. BTW, a tornado the
size of the Edmonton Tornado is a once-in-a-lifetime event,
kind of like the 1907 (?) San Fransisco Earthquake.
--
John Fleming, DTM
Edmonton, Canada
Joy
I suspect most of us think the hazard we're used to isn't as bad as ones
we've never experienced. Of course, people whose homes, and even towns,
have been devastated by the one they're used to may disagree. I have some
friends on another newsgroup who moved to Georgia after their Florida home
was literally flattened by a hurricane.
Joy
Mark Perew
> I suspect most of us think the hazard we're used to isn't as bad as ones
> we've never experienced. Of course, people whose homes, and even towns,
> have been devastated by the one they're used to may disagree. I have some
> friends on another newsgroup who moved to Georgia after their Florida home
> was literally flattened by a hurricane.
Even Shakespeare wrote about how people "rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of".
--
Mark Perew <pe...@squeep.com>
To the world you may be just one person,
but to one person you may be the world. (Source Unknown)
--
John Fleming, DTM
scriptorium Mark Perew <pe...@bokbok.squeep.com> wrote:
> $Joy <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
> $> I suspect most of us think the hazard we're used to isn't as bad as ones
> $> we've never experienced. Of course, people whose homes, and even towns,
> $> have been devastated by the one they're used to may disagree. I have some
> $> friends on another newsgroup who moved to Georgia after their Florida home
> $> was literally flattened by a hurricane.
> $
> $Even Shakespeare wrote about how people "rather bear those ills we have
> $Than fly to others that we know not of".
From the play "Hamlet Prince of Denmark". The lines are
spoken by Hamlet and are buried in the monologue that starts
with the words, "To be or not to be, that is the question.
Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and
arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea
of troubles, . . .." (Act III, Scene i, lines 56-90)
--
John Fleming, DTM
Edmonton, Canada
Mark Perew
> On 28 Mar 2008 14:30:06 GMT, while chained to a desk in the
> scriptorium Mark Perew <pe...@bokbok.squeep.com> wrote:
>> $Joy <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
>
>> $> I suspect most of us think the hazard we're used to isn't as bad as ones
>> $> we've never experienced. Of course, people whose homes, and even towns,
>> $> have been devastated by the one they're used to may disagree. I have some
>> $> friends on another newsgroup who moved to Georgia after their Florida home
>> $> was literally flattened by a hurricane.
>> $
>> $Even Shakespeare wrote about how people "rather bear those ills we have
>> $Than fly to others that we know not of".
>
> From the play "Hamlet Prince of Denmark". The lines are
> spoken by Hamlet and are buried in the monologue that starts
> with the words, "To be or not to be, that is the question.
> Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and
> arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea
> of troubles, . . .." (Act III, Scene i, lines 56-90)
The play's the thing! :)
John Fleming, DTM
scriptorium Mark Perew <pe...@bokbok.squeep.com> wrote:
> $John Fleming, DTM <nos...@sprynet.com> wrote:
> $> On 28 Mar 2008 14:30:06 GMT, while chained to a desk in the
> $> scriptorium Mark Perew <pe...@bokbok.squeep.com> wrote:
> $>> $Joy <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
> $>
> $>> $> I suspect most of us think the hazard we're used to isn't as bad as ones
> $>> $> we've never experienced. Of course, people whose homes, and even towns,
> $>> $> have been devastated by the one they're used to may disagree. I have some
> $>> $> friends on another newsgroup who moved to Georgia after their Florida home
> $>> $> was literally flattened by a hurricane.
> $>> $
> $>> $Even Shakespeare wrote about how people "rather bear those ills we have
> $>> $Than fly to others that we know not of".
> $>
> $> From the play "Hamlet Prince of Denmark". The lines are
> $> spoken by Hamlet and are buried in the monologue that starts
> $> with the words, "To be or not to be, that is the question.
> $> Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and
> $> arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea
> $> of troubles, . . .." (Act III, Scene i, lines 56-90)
> $
> $The play's the thing! :)
And therein lies the concience of the King.
BTW, where's Polonius?
Mark Perew
Polonius DQ'ed on time. He never understood that brevity was the soul of
wit.
John Fleming, DTM
scriptorium Mark Perew <pe...@bokbok.squeep.com> wrote:
> $John Fleming, DTM <nos...@sprynet.com> wrote:
> $>> $> On 28 Mar 2008 14:30:06 GMT, while chained to a desk in the
> $>> $> scriptorium Mark Perew <pe...@bokbok.squeep.com> wrote:
> $>> $>> $Joy <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
> $>> $>
> $>> $>> $> I suspect most of us think the hazard we're used to isn't as bad as ones
> $>> $>> $> have been devastated by the one they're used to may disagree. I have some
> $>> $>> $> friends on another newsgroup who moved to Georgia after their Florida home
> $>> $>> $> was literally flattened by a hurricane.
> $>> $>> $
> $>> $>> $Even Shakespeare wrote about how people "rather bear those ills we have
> $>> $>
> $>> $> From the play "Hamlet Prince of Denmark". The lines are
> $>> $> with the words, "To be or not to be, that is the question.
> $>> $> Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and
> $>> $> arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea
> $>> $> of troubles, . . .." (Act III, Scene i, lines 56-90)
> $>> $
> $>> $The play's the thing! :)
> $> And therein lies the concience of the King.
> $>
> $> BTW, where's Polonius?
> $
> $Polonius DQ'ed on time. He never understood that brevity was the soul of
> $wit.
Oh well, he'll have lots of time under the castle staircase
to practice his speeches and learn to keep them within the
5-7 time limit of most CC manual speeches.