CONTEST BAG
Mikey Kelly, DTM
The contest bag was my way of trying to help end some of the last minute confusion of holding a contest.
The original idea for this was fromDeborahDarbee my first DivisionF Governor, she is a twice Presidents Distinguished Division Governor. I was helping her with a division contest. She came in had a box and called us all together and started handing out JudgesFolders. I thought this was so organized so I borrowed her idea and added my own twists to it.
I have found in the past by trial and error tomake extra copies of the Speaker’s Certification of Eligibility and Originality and Contestant Profiles. Why do this? When the contest Interviewer gets the only copies of the Contestant Profiles sometimes in the confusion that follows the contest they have been misplaced and turn up missing. The same goes for theChief Judge having the only copies of the Speaker’s Certification of Eligibility and Originality. This then prevents having to ask the winningcontestants for thissamepaperwork again.
The Speaker’s Certification of Eligibility and Originality and Contestant Profiles with a completed Notification of Winner for each of the contests are supposed to be received from the clubs holding contests or otherwise deciding on a contestant. This will prevent delays at the start of the Area Contests having contestants rushing to fill out these forms.
Area / Division Directorshave a complete package of each contestant’s documentation that can be passed on to the next level in the contest process.
Contest Chair Folder that has a full size contest rule book that was downloaded as a PDF file from TI, contest guide for the appropriate contests, and a blank sheet of paper for notes.
Contest Master or Masters Folder will be the same as the Contest Chair shown above.
One Tiebreaking Judge Folder with appropriate contest forms, a sheet of blank paper, and marked envelopes to put their completed ballot in.
Seven Judge Folder’s with appropriate contest forms, a sheet of blank paper, and marked envelopes to put their completed ballot in.
One Chief JudgesFolder with appropriate contest guides, and a contest briefing Check list, a full size contest rule book that was downloaded as a PDF file from TI. There are two marked envelopes with two sheets of blank paper to record the contest winner’s names to be given to the contest chair. There is one blank sheet of paper to take notes on. Also copies’ of contestants Speaker’s Certification of Eligibility and Originality are in the Chief Judges folder.
Notification of Winner Folder with pre-filled and blank Notification of Winner forms. This is typically completed by the Chief Judge.
All of the Judge Folders have a Judges Certification of Eligibility and Code of Ethics Form, contest rule book, Judges cheat sheet, a blank sheet of paper for notes so that they don’t mark up the rule book, the Folder, or Judges cheat sheet.
Ask to have all of the Judges Folders returned with all of the documentation except for the ballots at the end of the contest.
There is an Interviewer Folder that you put a copy of the Contestant Profile in for the interviewer to use.
There are two Timer folders with their two timersforms appropriately marked for each of the contests plus a sheet of blank paper to make notes on.
There are three Ballot Counter folders with their threeballot counterforms appropriately marked for each contest plus a sheet of blank paper to make notes on.
Thereis a Contestant Eligibility forms folder to put thecompleted forms in when they are received from theAreas contestants.
There is a Contestant Eligibility Blank Forms folder with blank forms in it just in case contestants who handcarries their forms forgets to bring them.
There is a Contestant Profile forms folder to put the completed forms in when they are received from the Clubs contestants.
There is a Contestant Profile BlankForms folder with blank forms in it just in case contestants who handcarries their forms forgets to bring them.
There is a Contestant Certificate folder for pre filled Contestant Certificate forms.
There is Contestant CertificateBlank forms folder.
There is aInternational Speech & Evaluation guide folder with3 copies.
There is a Humorous Speech & Table Topics guide folder with3 copies.
When you receive your official contest packet you can then put a copy of the contest rules in the TiebreakingJudge folder and the other seven Judges folders.
There is also a stop watch with instruction sheet in case the time or battery needs to be changed.
There are a set of Timers cards. They can be made with laminated Green, Yellow, and Red construction paper.
There is a printed American Flag that is laminated in case an American Flag is not available at the contest venue.
There is also a small Zip Lock baggie with the backs of seven pennies marked 1 through 7 to be laid face up and mixed up, the contestants for each contest then pick a coin the number indicates where they are in the speaking order. There is also a quarteror other large cointo flip for heads or tails if that kind of choice is needed.
Thereis also a container of50 HELLO MY NAME IS blank stickers.
There is a package of ball point pens and lastly two magic markers. These can be stored conveniently in a Zip Lock baggie.
A re-useable grocery store bag for very little cost will work to hold the contest materials. Any other bag that is strong enough and will hold the items will work.
Clip boards for the Contest Chair, Contest Masters, Chief Judge, and Interviewer are a handy enhancement at little cost from Wal-Mart but not absolutely necessary.
When the contest ends please ask to have all the folders returned to you as theDivision / Area Director. That way you will have them to use for the next contest and just have toreplenish them withthe new forms.
Here is everything for a contest bag. Some items need to be purchased, Avery 8160 labels 1"X 2 5/8" 30 labels to a sheet, stop watch, I bought a package of construction paper that had red and yellow and green sheets in it, peel of laminating material, 10 to 20 black Bic ball point pens, and a couple of black magic markers. The above mentioned purchased items I bought at Walmart. The stopwatch was from the jewelry/watch area, and the labels and pens from stationary aisles. Acouple of zip lock sandwich bags to hold the ball point pens and pennies and other large coin seem to work fine.
PS. Additional note from Barbara Spauce, District 38 Director 2015 – 2016: Area director and District director will receive a contest package (sent from district 38) including contestants participation certificates and contest winner’s certificates. Club contest chair need to order their own copies of these certificates from TI website. Please order early enough for them to arrive ontime.