These rules apply to all Table Topics Contests, which are
conducted in English only. These rules may not be sup-planted or modified, and
no exceptions may be made.
1. PURPOSE
A. To provide an opportunity to learn by observing the more
proficient speakers who have benefited from their Toastmasters
training.
B. To encourage development
of impromptu and/or extemporaneous speaking skills and to recognize the best
as encouragement to all.
2. SELECTION SEQUENCE
A. Each Club in good standing may select a contestant to
compete in the Area contest. An alternate should also be selected. The Area
speech contest winner then proceeds to the Division contest (if applicable).
The Division winner then proceeds to the District contest. Should an Area or
Division contest winner be unable to participate in the next contest level,
the highest placed available contestant will advance to that level.
B. In those Areas with four assigned Clubs or less eight
weeks prior to the Area contest, Districts have the option to allow the two
highest placed available contestants from each Club to compete in the Area
contest. Should additional Clubs charter prior to the Area contest, the two
highest placed available contestants from each Club may compete. In those
Divisions with four assigned Areas or less, Districts have the option to allow
the two highest placed available contestants from each Area to compete. In
Districts with four assigned Divisions or less.
Districts have the option to allow the two highest placed available
contestants from each Division to participate in the District contest.
3. ELIGIBILITY
A. All Toastmasters who are
members in good standing, in a Club in good
standing, are eligible to compete. New, dual, or reinstated members must have
dues current with Toastmasters International.
B. The following are ineligible to compete in any con-test:
incumbent International Officers and Directors; District Officers (Governor,
any Lieutenant Governor, Division
Governor, Area Governor, Secretary, Treasurer, or Public Relations Officer)
whose terms expire June 30; International
Officer and Director candidates; Immediate Past District Governors; District
Officers or announced candidates for the term beginning the upcoming July 1 .
C. Toastmasters who are members in more than
one Club and who meet all other eligibility requirements may
compete in each Club Table Topics Contest in which
membership in good standing is held. However, should they win more than one
Club Table Topics Contest, they can represent only one of the Clubs at the
Area level. No contestant can compete in more than one Area Table Topics
Contest, even if the two Areas are in different Divisions or different
Districts.
D. A contestant must be a
member in good standing of the Club, Area, Division, or District being
represented when competing in a speech contest at the next level.
E. Each contestant must
complete the Speaker's Certification of Eligibility and Originality (form 1183)
and submit it to the chief judge prior to the contest.
4. TOPICS
A. All contestants shall receive the same topic, which shall
be of a general nature, and shall speak for two minutes.
B. The topic shall not require a detailed knowledge but should lead to an
opinion or conclusion.
5. GENERAL PROCEDURE
A. A contest chairman, contest sergeant at arms, chief
judge, at least five judges, two counters, and two timers are appointed. These
appointments will be as far as is practical at
Club levels, but required for Area through to District and Regional levels of
this contest.
B. Before the contest, contestants and the contest sergeant
at arms are briefed on the rules by the contest
chairman, judges,
counters, and timers are briefed on their duties by the chief judge.
Contestants will then draw for their speaking position with the contest
chairman.
C. If a contestant is absent from the briefing, the
alternate speaker, if present, may be included in place of the primary
contestant. When the contest Toastmaster is
introduced, if not present, the primary contestant is disqualified and the
alternate officially becomes the contestant. Where the primary contestant
arrives and makes his presence known to the contest chairman and has all
required paperwork in good order prior to the introduction, and missed the
briefing, disqualification shall not occur and the primary contestant may
speak in the drawn order, but waives the
opportunity of a briefing.
D. All contestants will speak from the same platform or
area designated by the contest chairman with prior knowledge of all the judges
and all the contestants. The contestants may speak from any position within
the designated area and are not limited to
standing at the lectern/podium.
1 . A lectern/podium will
be available. However, the use of the lectern/podium is optional.
2. If amplification is
necessary, a lectern/podium fixed-mounted microphone and a portable
microphone should be made available, if possible. It is suggested that
the fixed-mounted microphone be non directional. The selection
and use o a micro-phone is optional for each
contestant.
3. All equipment will be available for contestants to
practice prior to the contest. Contestants are responsible for arranging for
their preferred setup of the lectern/podium microphone and other equipment in
a quiet manner before being introduced by the Toastmaster.
E. When the contest begins, all contestants except the first
shall leave the room. The topic is then read to the first contestant, who shall
then speak on that topic for two minutes.
F. Introduce each contestant by announcing the contestant's
name twice.
G. There will be one minute of silence between contestants,
during which the judges will mark their ballots.
H. Announcement of contest winners is final.
6. TIMING
A. Speeches shall be two minutes long. Contestants who speak
less than one minute or more than two minutes 30 seconds shall be disqualified.
Time will begin with the contestant's first definite verbal
or non-verbal communication with the audi-ence. This usually will be the first
word uttered by the contestant, hut would include any other communication such
as sound effects, a staged act by another person, etc.
B. The green light will be turned on at one minute and remain
on for 30 seconds. The amber light will be turned on atone minute 30 seconds and
remain on for 30 seconds. The red light will be turned on at two minutes and
remain on until the speech is concluded. No audible device, such as a
buzzer, shall be used for the overtime period.
C. Any sightless contestant may request and must be granted a
form of warning signal of his or her own choosing, which may be an audible
device. The contestant must provide any special device required for such signal.
D. In the event of technical failure of the signal, a speaker
is allowed 30 seconds extra overtime before being disqualified.
E. Prior to announcing results, the chairman should announce
if time disqualification(s) occurred, but not name the contestant(s) involved.
7. PROTESTS
A. Protests will be limited to judges and contestants. Any
protest will be lodged with the chief judge and/or contest chairman prior to the
announcement of the winner and alternate(s). The contest chairman shall notify
the contestant of a disqualification regarding eIigibiIity prior to that
announcement before the meeting at which the contest took place is adjourned.
B. The contest chairman can disquality a contestant on the basis of
eligibility.
C. All decisions of the judges are final
