2023-2024 Speech Contests
District 35 Speech Contest Team
- Robert Wall – Program Quality Director
- Judy Bauer, DTM, PDG – District Chief Judge
2023-24 Contests
- Evaluation Contest – Finals at the 2024 D35 Spring Conference
- International Speech Contest – District Finals at the 2024 D35 Spring Conference, and advances to the Regional Quarterfinal of the World Championship of Public Speaking
Contest Formats
- Club – Any Format – In Person, Virtual or Hybrid
- Area – All Area Contests will be Virtual
- Division – All Division Contests will be Virtual
- District – The District Contests will be Hybrid and held in conjunction
with the 2024 D35 Spring Conference
Speech Contest Timeline
- Club Contests – Prior to 1/18/2024
- Area Contests – Between 1/19/2024 and 2/29/2024
- Division Contests – Between 3/1/2024 and 4/6/2024
- District Contests
- Evaluation – 4/26/2024
- International – 4/27/2024
2024 Training Opportunities:
- Additional 2024 training will be forthcoming.
- 2022-2023’s training with Kris Pool, DTM, PDD contains much useful information, and is available here:
Note for Area and Division Contests
- Areas with 4 or fewer clubs in good standing can have 2 contestants
from each club compete in the area contest. - Divisions with 4 areas or fewer can have the 2 highest-placed available
contestants from each Area compete. - Areas and Divisions Qualifying for this format will be informed by the PQD 6 weeks prior to the start of that contest level
- Please contact your area or division director for more details
Area, Division & District Contest Functionary Eligibility (Rule 2F Clarification per WHQ):
Any current Area, Division, Club Growth, or Program Quality Director that is running for an elected office (Division, Club Growth, Program Quality, or District Director) for the 2024-2025 Toastmasters year that starts July 1, 2024:
- SHOULD serve as contest chair for their own contest, this is part of the role’s responsibilities.
- MUST delegate ALL speaking / hosting responsibilities to their Contest Toastmaster and should not speak during the contest at any time, as any speaking could be considered an unfair advantage. Candidates for office should only speak during Candidate Corner breakouts.
- CANNOT take on any role in ANY contest beyond the club level in any area, division, or district. The sole exception is being the contest chair of their own contest.
- CAN be recognized as a visiting dignitary at any contest.
- Items 2 – 3 do NOT apply if you are NOT running for an elected office for the 2024-2025 Toastmasters Year.
Important Speech Contest Resources
Contest Kits
These ZIP files contain all the forms you need to run a Toastmasters speech contest. We include links to all of them as your club may choose to run additional contests that do not advance to the Area, Division, or District level. If you need individual forms, they are available from the Toastmasters International Resource Page.
General Contest Resources
Individual Forms
- Individual Forms
- Results Form (Form 1168)
- Judges Certification of Eligibility and Code of Ethics (Form 1170)
- Speech Contest Time Record Sheet (Form 1175)
- Timer Zoom Backgrounds
- Toastmasters Zoom Backgrounds
- Counters Tally Sheet (Form 1176)
- Notification of Contest Winner (Form 1182)
- Speaker’s Certification of Eligibility and Originality (Form 1183)
- Speech Contestant Bio (Form 1189)
- Speech Contest Certificates
- D35 Sample Contest Agenda Template
- D35 Sample Contest Script
- D35 Contestant Briefing
- D35 Judges Briefing
- D35 Timer Briefing
- D35 Ballot Counters Briefing
- D35 Sergeant-at-Arms Briefing
Prior Years’ Resources:
- How to rock the contest stage? By Eric Feinendegen.
- The Ultimate Speech and Presentation Day Checklist By Eric Feinendegen
- January 19, 2022 Virtual Workshop: Chief Judge Training with Judy Bauer, DTM