Contests
30,000 Members!
That’s how many members participate in speech contests all around the world in Toastmasters.
Participating in Speech Contests provides you with an opportunity to grow as a communicator by challenging you to step up every aspect of your skills. It gives you an opportunity to hone your speaking skills to a greater degree and receive recognition in front of new audiences beyond your club. It’s also a chance to introduce new people to Toastmasters, hold a special event for your club, and develop organizational skills along the way.
District 101 offers two different speech contests for our members during 2019-20. Club contests should be conducted at the club level in February. The Club winners advance to the Area contests, Area winners to the Division contests, and Division winners compete at the District 101 contests during the Annual Conference. The winner of the International Speech contest at the District level will have their recorded speech judged at the Quarterfinals. Those winners will advance to give their speech live for the Semifinals at the Toastmasters International Convention in August.
Challenge yourself and others in your club and participate in the speech and evaluation contests. You’ll be glad you did!
2020 Contests
Tall Tales
Contestants present a three-to-five minute speech on a topic that is highly-exaggerated and improbable in theme or plot.
International Speech
Contestants present a five-to-seven minute speech on any subject they choose. The International Speech contest has three levels of competition beyond the District Contest: the Quarterfinals (video record of the District speech), the Semifinals and the World Championship of Public Speaking®, the latter of which occur at the Toastmasters International Convention.
Contest Planning
Planning your speech contest involves preparation of your contest kit. Find the contest kit (handouts), rule book, FAQ and editable script on our Contest Resources page.
District 101 Contest Finals
The District 101 Tall Tales and International Speech Contest Finals were held on May 30-31, 2020 at the District 101 Annual Conference.
2020 Winners:
International:
1st place: Nish Neelalojanan, Fair Oaks Club
2nd place: Jim Carillo, Classy Toasters
3rd place: Gordon Mattingly, Silver Tongued Cats
Tall Tales:
1st place: Dennis Dawson, Big Basin Toastmasters
2nd place: Marcia Davis-Cannon, Wharton QuakeMasters
3rd place: Nish Neelalojanan, Fair Oaks Club
ALL Area and Division Contests are being held ONLINE ONLY
NO Area or Division Contests will be held in-person this year; all will be ONLINE. Contact the contest chair or Area/Division Director for specific information – you can find their information by clicking the “More Information” link for each contest.
For the Online Contest Resources, please refer to the shared folder here
Area and Division Contest Schedule
No contests have yet been scheduled.
Other Possible Contests
Evaluation
Contestants observe a five-to-seven minute “test speech” and then present a two-to-three minute evaluation of that test speech.
Humorous
Contestants present a humorous speech that must be thematic in nature (opening, body, and closing), not a monologue (series of one-liners).
Table Topics
Contestants give a one-to-two minute impromptu speech based on a topic given to them when the contest chair introduces them. All contestants receive the same topic.