Toastmasters District 55
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Contests > Contest Organizers

2022 Contest Information
For Contest Organizers

 The District 55 2022 contest types are:
​International Speeches and Humorous Speeches
Organizing a contest is a fun, rewarding experience, but it can be somewhat overwhelming!  On this page you'll find everything you need to know.  Go step by step and get as much help as you can.  Learning to delegate is an important part of organizing a successful event.
 
On This Page
Planning Documents
Choosing A Date
Training
Advertise Your Event
Scripts, Forms & other Paperwork
​

Step 1: Get Planning 

 

Hints For Success

Use these documents to keep track of all the things you need to do!

Complete Club Contest Planning and Tracking Guides/Templates
  • Excel Spreadsheet Version
  • PDF Version: Schedule Page - Task List - Materials to Bring - Role Player
  • How to Chair a Contest: Presentation given to Contest Chairs. Includes a week-by-week, task-by-task walk-through of the Planning Guide above.
  • ​Event Duration Predictor: Use these tools to find out how long your event will need to be:
    • International Speech and Evaluation
    • Humorous Speech and Table Topics
    • Tall Tales and Evaluation (XLS) 
  • Put on a Good Show: ​Meeting Planner Handbook downloadable from Toastmasters International. A comprehensive guide to planning & organizing events.
  • Invite your judges: Letter to Prospective Judge Template​
 

Step 2. Choose A Date

 

Start EARLY – Plan Ahead

6-8 Weeks prior – You can’t start early enough
​
Find these first
  • VENUE
  • Contest Chair
  • Chief Judge
  • Toastmaster
  • Refreshments Chair​
  • Club Contest must complete by January 31st
  • Area Contests complete by February 26th
  • Division Contests complete by April 8th
  • The District 55 Humorous Contest will be held Friday April 22nd
    The District 55 International Speech contest will be held Saturday April 23rd

Area and Division Contest dates must be approved by the Program Quality Director.

If the above dates cannot be met, the date must be negotiated with the Chair of the next level contest. At a minimum, all contests must be completed at least two weeks prior to the next level contest. For example, your Club contest must be completed at least two weeks before your Area's contest.
 

Step 3. Get Qualified

 
The Rulebook is updated every year.  Please make sure that you have read all the relevant sections.  We want to make sure that your contest is legal!

If you have any questions, check the Toastmasters International FAQs or ask your contest officials.
Download Rule Book

​Training Resources

Training events can include sessions on the four key speech contest roles: Contestant, Judge, Contest Chair, and Chief Judge. Contest training may also be a part of Toastmasters Leadership Institutes (TLIs).
Contest Planning Training
  • Setting Up A Club Contest with Betty Puckett
  • Conducting Quality Club Contests
  • Conducting Quality Area and Division Contests
  • Planning A ​Virtual Contest
  • Time background [Tested with Zoom]
  • Toastmasters Resource for Virtual Contests​
Contest Official Training
  • Contest Official Training by Pebby Garner
  • How to be a Chief Judge - Presentation given to Chief Judges.​​​
  • Contest Chair
  • Chief Judge
  • Voting Judge
 
 

Step 4. Advertise Your Event!

  • Make sure all your club, area and division members know about your contest
  • Invite Toastmasters from the rest of District 55 on our Facebook page!
  • Contest Agenda: a starting-point for your contest agenda. (MS Word DOC)
    • ​club-level
    • area-level
    • dual area
    • division-level​
 
 

Step 5. Time For Paperwork!

Online Eligibility Checker

Make sure that all contestants are eligible to compete in speech contests without calling World Headquarters.
Access the Eligibility Checker Here

​Dignitary List and Introduction Protocol

​Print out this list, check in dignitaries as they arrive, then introduce them as they appear on the list​
NOTE: If a person listed on the dignitary list is competing in a speech contest, they should not be introduced as a dignitary. Download: ​Dignitary List

Scripts

These are official District 55 Contest Scripts and are intended to be used at all contest levels. When more than one contest is being held at a contest event, appropriate modifications can be made to the Toastmaster scripts to transition from one contest to another. Contestant interviews are to be conducted only after the last contest has concluded.
Presiding Officer
This can be the Contest Chair, the Club President for a Club Contest, Area Director for an Area Contest, Division Director for a Division Contest, or District Director for a District Contest.
  • Presiding Officer Script for Virtual Contest

Toastmaster
  • Toastmaster Scripts for Virtual Contests
    • ​International Speech Virtual Contest Script
    • Evaluation Virtual Contest Script 
  • Tables Topics Virtual Contest Script​
  • Humorous Contest Script
  • International Speech Contest Script
  • Table Topics Contest Script
  • Tall Tales Contest Script

Contest Chair
  • Script for Briefing Contestants, Sergeants-at-Arms, and the Toastmaster for Virtual Contests

Chief Judge
  • Chief Judge Script for Virtual Contests
  • Contest Winner Announcement Forms - to be filled out by the Chief Judge after the ballots are tallied, then given to the Contest Chair.
  • Printable "squares" for drawing speaking order 

Virtual Contest Documentation

  • ​​Release form to take and publish a person's photo
  • Release form to record and publish a person's video
    • ​required for District contests
  • Update regarding evaluator notes for the Evaluation Contest
  • Area / Division Contest Evaluation Form
    • used by a Contest Evaluator to rate the contest and make handwritten notes
  • Post-conference Evaluation Form
    • used to evaluate your own performance

Contest Evaluation Forms

  • Area / Division Contest Evaluation Form
    • used by a Contest Evaluator to rate the contest and make handwritten notes
  • Post-conference Evaluation Form
    • used to evaluate your own performance
Copyright (c) 2021 District 55 Toastmasters - Disclaimer
  • Home
  • About
    • About the District
    • Clubs in the District
    • District Leadership Team
    • Education >
      • Pathways
  • Members
    • Member Corner
    • Club Officer Corner >
      • Resource for Online Club Meeting
      • Officer Training
      • Club Success
      • Club Reports
      • Club Websites
      • Club Administration Resources
      • Club Growth Tips
      • Open Houses
      • Club Officer FAQ
      • Club Documents Tools Templates
    • District Officer Corner >
      • Resources for District Leaders
      • DEC DC Meetings
      • District Executive Committee (DEC)
      • District Council (DC)
      • Financials
      • District Reports
      • Forms and Templates
      • District Officer Nominations
      • Becoming Area Director
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Training
    • Conference
    • Contests
  • Promotions
    • Promotions
  • Recognitions
    • Recognition
    • Corporate Recognition
  • Visitors
    • Visitors
    • Request Speaker
  • Find a Club
  • Media
    • Social Media
    • Podcasts
    • Newsletter
    • Branded Resources
  • Home
  • Home