Speech Contest rules and reporting

[Akbar Khan]

Dear Fellow Toastmasters,

Greetings for the new season of Training , Judging and Contests!

As a new year gift, Toastmasters International has revised the Speech Contest Rules and released the Speech Contest Rulebook for 2014. Please find attached a copy of the new Speech Contest Rulebook and also a document reflecting the changes.

From my assessment, though most of the changes are meant for clarifying the changes that were effected last year, one major change is towards relaxing the eligibility of contestants at club level. The restriction of contestants not to serve as Judges is relaxed only for the club level. This should help many clubs that found it difficult to get judges for club contests. Contestants however cannot be judges at Area level or higher while still participating (intending to participate) in the same (e.g. International Speech) contest.

I request every Toastmaster to please read the new Speech Contest Rules. Do not hesitate to seek any clarifications if needed. Also let me know if I have missed highlighting something important.

As there will be Please also find attached the reporting formats for the Judges/Chief Judges training. The reports are to be sent by the clubs via the Area Governors / Division Governors.

We will also soon begin the exciting journey of Contests in the coming months. And the Contest Chief Judges need to send the Report of contests. Please find attached also the reporting formats for the International speech and Evaluation contests.

Please follow the District guidelines and Golden Gavel criteria for communication in this regard.

Let me take this opportunity to point out couple of observations I had about the Humorous and Table topics contest reporting.

1. Many clubs failed to submit the reports. Even if you nominate members please communicate the same.

2. Some clubs used a different format to report contests. Request you to please use the attached contest report format. 

3. Please do not identify the Tie Breaking Judge in your report. The identity of tie Breaking Judge is known only to the Chief Judge of the contest. Just include the name of the TBJ in the Judges list without tagging the Judge as TBJ.

Wish you all a great round of healthy contests and see you in Goa in May for Oration 2014..

Best regards,
Akbar Khan
District Chief Judge
9657978010