PURPOSE

A. To provide an opportunity for speakers to improve their speaking abilities and to recognize the best as encouragement to all.

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

APPLICABILITY

These rules, unless otherwise noted, apply to all Toastmasters speech contests which select contestants for the annual International Speech Contest, which is conducted in English only. These rules may not be supplanted or modified, and no exceptions may be made.

SELECTION SEQUENCE

A. Club, Area, District. 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 con-test winner be unable to participate in the next level contest, the highest placed available contestant will advance to that level. NOTE: The District contest chairman informs World Headquarters of the name and address of the winner and alternate in the District contest. Information concerning the Regional contest is then mailed to the winner and alternate.

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.

C. Each Region shall select a winner and an alternate. The contest chairman, usually the first-year Director, in-forms World Headquarters of the name and address of the winner and alternate in the Regional contest. Information concerning the International Speech Contest is then mailed to the winner and alternate. Eight speakers, one from each Region, compete in the International contest. A ninth speaker, selected in a special speech contest among Districts outside of North America, also competes in the International contest.

4. ELIGIBILITY

A. To be eligible to compete at any level of the International Speech Contest, an individual must:

1 . Be a Toastmaster in good standing of a Club in good standing.

2. Have completed at least six manual speeches in the Communication and Leadership Program manual.

3. If a new, dual, or reinstated member, have dues current with Toastmasters International.