How to Conduct Quality Contests

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How to Conduct Quality Contests

• Helen Chen, ATM-Silver/CL
• Sept. 4, 2005

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Speech Contest

• A club may choose its contestants by whatever
  means the club desires.

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Keys to a Successful Contest

• Plan ahead for success.
• Ensure fair, impartial judging.
• Know the rules.

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Key points

• Date/time, Location, Budget, agenda
• Contest Committee
• Contest Chair
• Contest Master
• Chief Judge, judges
• Materials
• Protests
• Before announcing winners
• Contest Master, Chief Judge

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Contest committee

• Contest Chair
• - Contest Master
• - Chief Judge
• Judges (area 5, Div 7, District 9)
• Timer
• Counter
• - SAA
• - Receptionist
• - Test speaker (Evaluation contest)
• - Technician

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• Contest Chair
• President/EVP
• presiding officer
• Pre, post contest
• Behind the scene

• Contest Master
• Toastmaster
• Master of ceremony
• introduces speakers
• Transition

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Materials printed
Prepared by Contest Chair

• Agenda
• Collect contest names and confirmation
• Contestant eligibility and originality forms
• Judging ballots
• Tie breaking judge ballot
• Timers record sheet
• Counters Tally Sheet
• Speaker order draw
• Certificates/Trophies (winners)
• Certificates participation (contestants)
• Certificates appreciation (judges, helpers)

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Materials printed
Prepared by Contest Chair

• Speech contest rules
• Timing equipment, Timing signals
• Table Topics question
• Target speaker (for evaluation contests)

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Contest Chair
EVP, Education Assist. Gov, Lt. Gov Education

• Organizes contest team (venue, equipment,
  contacts)
• Selects tie-breaking judge
• Emails info to contestants / judges / helpers
• Prepares materials , equipment , set-up
• Contestant and Helper reminder
• Speaker/judge eligibility, speaking sequence
  drawing
• Pre-contest briefings (judges, contestants)
• Accepts protests
• Name list to contest chair

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Contest Master

• Prepares script
• Contest opening
• Announces
• Speaking area, rules, timing
• no photo, no phone rings, no interruptions
• Introduces Chief Judge
• Introduces contestants
• - name, title, title, name
• One minute silence
• Interviews contestants
• - club, speech, interesting topics
• Announces winners
• Appreciation

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Chief Judge

• Select judges carefully.
• Selects one tie-breaking judge
• Conduct briefings to judges
• Timing is not considered
• briefing for timer, counter
• Timing ballots gt winner
• Accepts protests

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More Tips for Great Contests

• Insure everyone knows their duties.
• Confirm contest date, time, and location.
• Pay attention to judging and ballots.
• Be familiar with contest rules
• Start and end on time
• Check equipment, microphone