Tall Tales
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Tall Tales Contest Rules

These rules apply to all Tall Tales Speech 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 for speakers to improve their speaking abilities.

B. To provide an opportunity to learn by observing the more proficient speakers who have benefited from their Toastmasters training.

C. To provide participants with the opportunity to create an original, highly improbable, humorous tale.

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 a I low 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, Trea-surer, 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 I .

C. Toastmasters who are members in more than one Club and who meet all other eligibility requirements may compete in each Club Tall Tales contest in which membership in good standing is held. However, should they win more than one Club Tall Tales contest, they can represent only one of the Clubs at the Area level contest. No contestant can compete in more than one Area Tall Tales 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.

SPEECH PREPARATION

A. The subject for the Tall Tales speech shall be selected by the contestant.

B. Contestants must prepare their own three- to five-minute speech, which must be substantially original and certified as such in writing to the chief judge by the contestants prior to the presentation of the speeches (on form 1183, Speaker's Certification of Eligibility and Originality). Any quoted material must be so identified during the speech presentation.

C. The speech must be of a highly exaggerated, improbable nature and have a theme or plot. Humor and props may be used to support or illustrate the speech.

GENERAL PROCEDURE

A. A contest chairman, chief judge, at least five judges, two counters, and two timers are appointed. These appointments will be as far as practical at Club levels, but required for Area through to District and Regional levels of this contest.

B. Before the contest, contestants 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 this known to the contest chairman and has all required paperwork in good order prior to the introduction, and m i ssed the briefing.disquaIification 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 micro-phone should be made available, if possible. It is suggested that the fixed-mounted microphone be non directional. The selection and use of 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 their preferred setup of the lectern/podium microphone and other equipment in a quiet manner before being introduced by the Toastmaster.

E. Introduce each contestant by announcing the contestant's name, speech title, speech title, and contestant's name.

F. There will be one minute of silence between contestants, during which the judges will mark their ballots.

G. Contestants may remain throughout the duration of the contest in the same room.

H. Announcement of contest winners is final.

TIMING

A. All speeches shall be from three to five minutes. Contestants who speak for less than two minutes 30 seconds or more than five minutes 30 seconds will be disqualified.

B. Time will begin with the first word uttered by the contestant. However, should the contestant engage in definite verbal or nonverbal communication with the audience (including the playing of music or other sound effects, a staged act by another person, etc.) prior to reaching the speaking position and uttering the first word of the speech, the timer must activate the timing device at that point. If this results in the contestant going overtime, the contestant will be disqualified.

The green light will be turned on at three minutes. The amber light will be turned on at four minutes. The red light will be turned on at five 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

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 announcement of the winner and alternate(s). The contest chairman shall notify the contestant of a disqualification regarding originality or eligibility prior to that announcement before the meeting at which the contest took place is adjourned.

B. Before a contestant can be disqualified on the basis of originality, a majority of the judges must concur in the decision. The contest chairman can disqualify a contestant on the basis of eligibility.

C. All decisions of the judges are final.

WINNERS

In contests with five or more participants, a third place winner (if wanted), a second place winner, and a first place winner will be announced. In contests with four or fewer participants, a second place and first place winner will be announced.

CONTEST SCHEDULE

Districts conducting Tall Tales Contests should announce the date of the District contest and establish dates by which the Division, Area, and Club contests must be completed.