<Contest Chair Opens Contest, Leads the Pledge of Allegiance, and Introduces The

TOASTMASTER SCRIPT

<Contest Chair opens contest, leads the Pledge of Allegiance, and introduces the Toastmaster.

Welcome to the Toastmasters ______Speech Contest(s)!

Today we have the pleasure of seeing and hearing the
______contest(s).

Toastmasters competing today represent clubs in ______.

<If at the District level, skip to page 2. Otherwise, continue script>

The ______place** winners in each contest advance to the

______contests.

The next contest is ______

______

** In Areas with FOUR or fewer clubs at the start of the contest season, clubs are encouraged to send up to TWO participants each, per contest, to the Area-level competition.

Per Toastmasters International, in Areas with FIVE or more clubs at the beginning of the contest season, clubs may send ONE participant each, per contest, to the Area-level competition.

In Divisions with FOUR or fewer Areas, Areas are encouraged to send up to TWO participants each, per contest, to the Division-level competition.

In Divisions with FIVE or more Areas, Areas may send ONE participant each, per contest, to the Division-level competition.

Each Division sends ONE participant to the District contests (i.e. each Division sends 1st-place winner to District).

<If any Dignitaries are contestants, state>We will introduce Dignitaries after the contest. <Continue to page 2 and announce dignitaries during contestant interviews.>

<If none of the contestants are Dignitaries, state>Before we begin, let’s recognize the Dignitaries present.

District Director: ______

Program Quality Director: ______

Club Growth Director: ______

Division Directors: ______

Area Directors: ______

Past District Directors/Governors: ______

Past International Directors: ______

Past International Presidents:______

Other Past District Officers: <STOP. Do not introduce any other
Past District Officers.>

A few guidelines as we begin our contest(s) today...

No flash cameras
No video cameras, unless previously arranged with the contestants
Turn off pagers, beepers, phones or anything else that may distract contestants.
Please keep aisles clear of obstructions such as briefcases, purses, etc.
The Sergeant-at-Arms is instructed to not allow anyone to enter or leave during any of the speeches; you may only enter or leave in between speeches.

(Continue to page 3.)

TABLE TOPICS CONTEST

Here are the rules for the Table Topics Contest.

All contestants receive the same topic or question, which is general in nature, does not require detailed knowledge of a subject, and will lead to an opinion or conclusion
Contestants will be introduced as follows: Contestant name, the topic or question, the topic or question, the contestant’s name.
All contestants are escorted out of the room except the first contestant.
After providing their response to the Table Topics question, contestants may remain in the room for the duration of the contest.
Table Topics are 1 to 2 minutes in length. Minimum time is 1 minute; maximum time is 2½ minutes.
The green light comes on at 1 minute, the yellow light at 1½ minutes, and the red light at 2 minutes. The red light will remain on until the contestant has completed their speech.
There is 1 minute of silence between contestants for judges to complete their tallies.
After the final contestant, the audience will be requested to please remain quiet until all of the judges have completed their ballots.

The speaking orderfor the Table Topics Contestin ______is as follows:

1.______

2.______

3.______

4.______

5.______

6.______

7.______

8.______

<If holding a second table topics contest also announce.>The speaking orderfor the Table Topics Contestin ______is as follows:

1.______

2.______

3.______

4.______

5.______

6.______

7.______

8.______

The rules have been reviewed with the chief judge and contestants. The contestants have been informed of the location of the timing lights.

<To the Sergeant-at-Arms>Have you secured the door?

Let us proceed with the contest(s)!

<Contestant #1 advances to the front when you announce their name.>

______… ______…

______… ______

Everybody claps. Shake hands with the contestant and step back. Contestant gives their table topics speech.>

<Everybody claps> … <Shake hands with the contestant again>

Mr. /Madam Timer… please time us in one minute of silence.

Next contestant advances to the front when you announce their name.>

______… ______…

______… ______

Everybody claps. Shake hands with the contestant and step back. Contestant gives their table topics speech.>

<Everybody claps> … <Shake hands with the contestant again>

Mr. /Madam Timer… please time us in one minute of silence.

<Repeat section braced in red for each remaining contestant.

<After the last contestant>Please remain quiet to allow our judges to complete their ballots. Judges, when you are finished, ensure your ballots are signed, tear off the bottom of the ballot, place your ballot in the envelope, and raise your envelope in the air. Our Ballot Counter(s) will come get your ballot.Timers, please circle any contestant who did not meet the minimum time requirements or went over the time limit.

<Ballot Counters collect ballots from each judge AND the timer report. After collecting all ballots, the Chief Judge and Ballot Counters will leave the contest area and proceed to the counting room.>

(If holding a second Table Topics Speech Contest, continue this script. Otherwise, skip to page 8.)

Let’s Begin the ______Contest.

<Contestant #1 advances to the front when you announce their name.>

______… ______…

______… ______

Everybody claps. Shake hands with the contestant and step back. Contestant gives their table topics speech.>

<Everybody claps> … <Shake hands with the contestant again>

Mr. /Madam Timer… please time us in one minute of silence.

Next contestant advances to the front when you announce their name.>

______… ______…

Everybody claps. Shake hands with the contestant and step back. Contestant gives their table topics speech.>

<Everybody claps> … <Shake hands with the contestant again>

Mr. /Madam Timer… please time us in one minute of silence.

<Repeat section braced in red for each remaining contestant.

(Continue to page 8.)

<If holding another contest, dismiss for a 5-10 minute break. Switch to the script for the next contest and begin on page 3. Otherwise, continue with this script.>

Let’s Interview the contest participants.

To audience>Let’s give one more big round of applause for all of our Contestants!

<Check to make sure Chief Judge and Ballot Counters are in back in the room.>

Now, help me welcome the contest chair, ______, for the presentation of awards. <If there are 4 contestants, then the 2nd and 1st place winners are announced. If there are 3 contestants, then 1st place is announced and the 2nd place contestant is notified in private and alerted that they may move forward to compete if the 1st place winner cannot compete. For 5 or more contestants – announce 3rd, 2nd, and 1stplace.>

&lt;Contest Chair Opens Contest, Leads the Pledge of Allegiance, and Introduces The

<Contest Chair Opens Contest, Leads the Pledge of Allegiance, and Introduces The