Dear District and Club officers

The International Speech Contest and the Table Topics contest for the term 2003-2004 will begin in January at the club levels and progress to the area, division and finally the District level on 30th May 2004 at the Annual Convention in Penang. Most clubs would have already started preparing for the club level contests.

Please take not of the following when organising the contests:



1. District decision on number of contestants at Area and Division level contests:

Areas with 4 or less clubs, 8 weeks prior to the Area Contest, will have 2 contestants from each club to participate in each Area Contest. If new clubs are chartered in the Area during the 8 weeks prior to the Area contest, each club will still send 2 contestants to the Area contest even if the total number of clubs in the Area is more that 4.

Divisions with 4 or less Areas will have 2 contestants from each Area for each of the Division Contest.

In accordance with the Contest Rules, this decision has to be implemented consistently throughout the District in all Areas and Divisions affected.



2. Use of Inappropriate Language, Words and Messages in contests
 


The District has received complaints from members concerning the use of "offensive language" and messages with sexual insinuations that are not in good taste. The district strongly advises the contestants to refrain from messages on sex, politics and religion which are offensive or "not in good taste" to the audience.


3. Introduction of contestants by Contest Chair


3.1 Contest Chairs are required to announce each contestant's name and speech title followed by speech title and name. No Toastmasters title or other titles such as Dr., Professor, etc to be used when introducing the contestant.

3.2 Contest Chairs should not make any preliminary remarks about the speaker or the topic before and immediately after the contestant's speech.

3.3 Do not mention the name or location of the contestant's Club or place of residence when introducing contestants.
 

However all the above can be mention during the interview of the contestants after the judges have marked their ballots and collected by the ballot counters.


4. Eligibility of Contestants


4.1 Contestants for the International Speech Contest must have completed at least six manual speeches in the

C & L manual prior to the first level of contest, ie the Club or Area level. The contest speech cannot be counted as the sixth speech. Only Charter members of clubs chartered since the previous July 1st are exempted from this requirement. Members who join after the charter of these clubs are not exampted.

4.2 Contestants must be members in good standing in a club that is in good standing at all levels of the contest, i.e from Club or Area level.

If at any level is is discovered that a contestant was ineligible to compete at any previous level, the contestant must be disqualified even if the ineligibility is not discovered until a later level and has been corrected since.


5. Changes / additions to Contest Rules 2004
 


TI has made some changes to the contest rules in the Speech Contest Rulebook 2004.

Listed below are the changes in the new rulebook:

5.1 The following are ineligible to contest:

5.1.1 International officers and District Officers (DG, LGET, LGM, DS, DPRO, DS, DVG and AG, IPDG)

5.1.2 District Officers or announced candidates for the term beginning next July 1st.

5.1.3 Presenters of educational sessions at the Area, Division and District event at which the contest is being held. e.g The district level contestant cannot be a presenter of educational workshops at the District Convention.

5.2 Judges

5.2.1 An individual may not be a judge at any level for a contest in which they are contesting. e.g. A contestant at a club level contest cannot be a judge at any other club level contest.

5.2.2. Qualifications of Judges:

Insofar as practicable Judges should be members in good standing since July 1st of the previous year and have completed at least six C&L manual speeches.

5.2.3 Number of judges required:

For Club Level contests: at least 5 voting judges (as far as practicable)+ tie breaker judge + chief Judge

For Area Level contests: at least 5 voting judges + tie breaker judge + chief Judge.

For Division Level contests: at least 7 voting judges + tie breaker judge + chief Judge



If you have any queries on any matters pertaining to contests please feel free to email me.


With best regards
Dr. Arul, DTM

Lt. Governor Education & Training

District 51