Putting It Together

How to Run a Great Contest

Order the Kit from TM International

  • Put in about 12 hours of organizational work.
  • Consult with the people who know what to do.
  • Bother and annoy the Top Three so they can…..
  • Consult with the people who know what to do.

Be Nice to the people who know what to do!

Participants:

The Contest Master: Practice the Contestants name over and over and over and over and over and over.

  • Practice the speech title over and over and over and over and over and over.
  • Say the Speakers name, Speech Title, Speech Title and Speakers name.
  • Read the Table Topics question the same way for every contestant.
  • Give the Judges a minute between each speaker and two minutes after the last speaker so they can tally their ballots.
  • Remind the Judges to sign their ballots

Chief Judge:Will provide three (3) Judges per contestant.

  • At Club Level have a total of at least 4 judges plus a tiebreaker Judge.
  • Invite Area Governor.
  • At Area Level tell President or EVP of Club to bring two qualified people.
  • At Division Level order the respective Area Governor to bring two qualified persons.
  • Two Ballot Counters, Two People to time.

Make sure the Chief Judge Gets the Kit from TM International

Sergeants At Arms: Must have assistants

  • Secure room during contest.
  • Escort Table Topics and Evaluation Contestants to a secure room.
  • Bounce any unruly Toastmasters. (Hasn’t happened in District 38 yet).

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Before the contest starts:

The Contest Master briefs the Contestants, picks the order and then tells the Chief Judge.

In a separate room: The Chief Judge then charges the Judges and tells them the order. No one is to know who the tiebreaking judge is nor is the identity of the judges to be announced.

The AGENDA: should list the speakers name in alphabetical order and the respective title of the speech with space to write the speaking order when announced by the chief judge.

Acknowledgements and appreciation of participants (except judges) are in order.

Location of next level contest should be advertised on back or on separate sheet.

It is customary to adjust the admission fee to pay for expenses incurred.

The District officers can voucher any unexpected expense subject to approval by the District Governor.

By assigning the above roles way before the contest you will be guaranteed a smooth and memorable event for all. The contest will magically come to life when everyone knows what to do and are there. Build it and they will come.

Most of all make sure everyone has A Great Time.

How many people would be involved in a Division Contest with 6 areas? 4 areas?

Are the contestants allowed to see the Judges ballots before the contest?

If the winners are announced incorrectly is that official?

Express Yourself,

Elliot