Speech Contests

By joining a Toastmasters Club you will build your confidence in presenting speeches as well as be able to think a lot clearer on your feet. But that is only the beginning ! See the rules for each contest here.

Each year speech contests are conducted by Toastmasters International, and the Indooroopilly Club starts Club Contests during the August / September period. This coincides with most other Clubs within the Area.

There are five contests that members of the Club can enter :

1. International Contest
2. Humerous Contest
3. Evaluation Contest
4. Table Topics Contest
5. Novice Contest

Indooroopilly Club runs the fifth contest for members who have completed less than six speeches, however this is a local contest only and winners cannot compete at Area Contests or above.

Most people within the Club participate by either entering the Contests or by providing assistance by means of Time Keeping, Sargeant at Arms, Timekeeper, Tally Counters, or MC.

Participants who win the Club Contest compete at the Area Contests, which usually occur during October. And those who win at Area go on to compete at District Contests.

The winner of the District Contests is flown to the US to compete in the World Toastmaster Championship, which is during May in the following year.

NOVICE SPEECH CONTEST

This contest is open to members who have given less than six Manual speeches. The topic is of the speaker’s choice.

This contest is held at Club level.

Time: 5-7 minutes

TABLE TOPICS CONTEST

This contest is open to all members. The contestants are given the same topic which is not revealed until they enter the contest room.

This contest is held at Club, Area, Division and District levels.

Time: 1-2 minutes

EVALUATION CONTEST

This contest is open to all members. A Guest Speaker presents a speech. All contestants complete their evaluations of the same speech. Their notes are then collected and are returned to them before they deliver their evaluations.

This contest is held at Club, Area, Division and District levels.

Time: 2-3 minutes

HUMOROUS SPEECH CONTEST

This contest is open to all members. The speech is in good taste and not a series of jokes.

This contest is held at Club, Area, Division and District levels.

Time: 5-7 minutes

INTERNATIONAL SPEECH CONTEST

This contest is open to all members who have completed at least six Manual speeches and have been a member since the previous July 1st. The topic selection is of the speaker’s choice.

This contest is held at Club, Area, Division, District and International levels.

Time: 5-7 minutes

Assisting Other Clubs during Contests

It is the tradition of the Indooroopilly Club to support other nearby Clubs by providing Judges and/or Test Speakers for their contests. This is an opportunity to sit in and participate on some of the finest meetings of the year - and is strongly recommended in order to learn speaking tips and tricks used by other Clubs. It is common to receive a "thank you" gift as part of participating in the meeting in an official manner.

A member may be asked to become a Test Speaker for another Club as part of the Evaluation Contests. The speaker usually has completed no more than six speeches, and may use the evening as a means to complete another speech from the C&L MAnual, if desired. Test Speakers receive a lot of feedback on the night as to their speaking performance, which can be viewed as a real bonus.

Members in their second year within the Club, or who have completed eight speeches or more, are encouraged to take on the role of Judge in other Clubs. The role of Judge is to evaluate whether the speakers have met their objectives in delivering their speech. There is usually three Judges, along with a Chief Judge.

Members who have achieved CC as well as completed at least four other speeches from Advanced Manuals are encouraged to become Chief Judges during the Contests.