AREA Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contests !!

Coming up on Sunday 9th October 2005 2:30pm - 4:30pm at Palmer Hall, Fairford, Gloucs

Prepare for another fun and enjoyable evening when Club Contest winners (including our very own Steve Graham!) deliver 5-7 minute Humorous Speeches, which will be scored by judges spread amongst the audience for content, humour, delivery and style. The winners will be announced at the end of the evening.

[Speeches must be original material and are not meant to be a 'stand-up' routine or series of jokes, but a proper speech. Whilst humorous, language must be clean and appropriate! In other words, a 5-7 minute speech with a lot of humour value but also displaying good speechmaking abilities.]

Speakers must speak for a minimum of 4mins 30secs and a maximum of 7mins 30secs. The times will be noted, but not made public. There will be no evaluations, and other club members will assist with warmup, judging, chairing, timing, counting etc.to make this a really great evening. You'll be sorry if you miss it !! The winner has the opportunity to represent the club at the Divisional Humorous Speech contest.

The evening's fun continues with the Table Topics contest, where Club Contest winners will deliver 1-2 minute impromptu speeches, all on the same topic that will be given just before they start. The subject will be general in nature and not require any specialist knowledge. Again, these will be scored for content, delivery, style and fluency and the winners announced at the end of the evening. This time, speakers must speak for a minimum of 1min and a maximum of 2mins 30secs. A chance to have some fun and spontaneity with no evaluations for a change! Again, the winner has the opportunity to represent the club at the Division Table Topics contest.

[For future reference, any paid-up Club Member can enter either the Humorous Speech competition or the Table Topics competition or BOTH.]

The key dates for your diaries are:

Area 22 Humorous Speech and Table Topics Competition
Sunday October 9th 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Palmer Hall, Fairford, Gloucs.
(Contact Jo Haskins 01285 713709 for details)

Division E Humorous Speech and Table Topics Competition
Sunday October 23rd Arrival 12:45 - Buffet 13:00 - Contest start 14:00
Holiday Inn, Bolton. Junction 5 M61. BL3 4TA.
Tel: 08704 009011 or 01204 855584

District 71 Autumn Conference and Competition
Fri-Sun November 4th-6th
Chesford Grange Hotel (In the heart of Warwickshire - Shakespeare's Country).

Please consider supporting our Club winner Steve Graham (who won both contests!) - it is great fun and very good experience.

For future reference, bear in mind that although the Humorous Speech Contest requires some preparation, the Table Topics (by its nature) does not - except perhaps for a clear head!]

So... ensure you support your fellow Toastmaster Steve by coming along and watching the fun!.

There is no Evaluation Contest at this time of year - that happens during the International Speech and Evaluation contests in Spring 2006.

Here are the scoring guidelines for the two contests - these are the maximum points available for each of the headings:

Humorous Speech Contest (5-7mins, minimum 4min 30sec, maximum 7min 30sec)

Table Topics Contest (1-2mins, minimum 1min, maximum 2min 30sec)

David Smith CTM - Club President

(updated 17th September 2005)

For Public Speaking, Effective Presentations and Presentation Skills, Confidence to Speak in Public and Building Self-Esteem: Cottonwood Speakers, Bournemouth (Poole Christchurch Wimborne Dorset Ringwood Hampshire)

PLEASE NOTE: the names Toastmasters International, Toastmasters, and the Toastmasters International emblem are trademarks protected in the United States and Canada and other countries where Toastmasters clubs exist. Unauthorized use is prohibited.