The "DOORS" rock band released a song in the late 60's entitled "When the Music's over
[...turn out the lights]". The 3rd weekend in May found me participating in the Toastmasters
District-57 International Speech contest, which turns out to be the level where I got knocked out.
(After this is the District Quarter Finals, followed by the SEMI-Finals and the Final Round finale.)
[...turn out the lights]". The 3rd weekend in May found me participating in the Toastmasters
District-57 International Speech contest, which turns out to be the level where I got knocked out.
(After this is the District Quarter Finals, followed by the SEMI-Finals and the Final Round finale.)
When it comes to speech contests, I have a personal policy of delivering trial speeches every week until I am finally out of the running. Weekly speech delivery gives me access to a speech evaluator and potentially constructive comments from evaluation forms filled out by attendees. In radiosport contests, participating in the smaller, less-known events keeps me in practice for the more major events that are scheduled throughout the year.
This year, as each week progressed, my speech contest speech on bullying metamorphosed
from a simple area-level speech ("We only have Winners on Our Team") to a district-level speech ("Bully Me Once - Bully Me Twice") involving the use of props and a unique change of clothing.
I was encouraged by reviewing 1st-place videos from previous world championship winners.
from a simple area-level speech ("We only have Winners on Our Team") to a district-level speech ("Bully Me Once - Bully Me Twice") involving the use of props and a unique change of clothing.
I was encouraged by reviewing 1st-place videos from previous world championship winners.
Each week, the excitement intensity dialed-up and dialed-up until it reached "11". While snippet changes to the speech occurred throughout the week, I finalized the final form for that previous
7 days, Tuesday afternoon, running a few trials at my office before the Tuesday evening meeting
of the Alameda Tongue Twisters (Motto: "If it's Tuesday, it MUST be Toastmasters"). After each win (Club-level Area A-22 & Division-A), I took a DEEP breath and took a long nap, refreshing me enough to start rehearsal/practice all over again on Wednesday.
7 days, Tuesday afternoon, running a few trials at my office before the Tuesday evening meeting
of the Alameda Tongue Twisters (Motto: "If it's Tuesday, it MUST be Toastmasters"). After each win (Club-level Area A-22 & Division-A), I took a DEEP breath and took a long nap, refreshing me enough to start rehearsal/practice all over again on Wednesday.
Because the District International Speech Contest serves as an opening to the annual District Conference, after the contest is over, there is still much to experience in the form of the Keynote Speech on Saturday morning that was missed thanks to the district business meeting running
a woefully 62 minutes overtime. (I thought Toastmasters events ALWAYS ran on time.)
a woefully 62 minutes overtime. (I thought Toastmasters events ALWAYS ran on time.)
The day proceeded with a number of workshops and noon-time guest speakers. Rounding out
the conference was the District-57 speech evaluation contest. Attending evaluation contests offers me ideas that can be useful towards crafting a speech for next year.
the conference was the District-57 speech evaluation contest. Attending evaluation contests offers me ideas that can be useful towards crafting a speech for next year.
attention on Radiosport operations, which for that weekend was the King-Of-Spain Cw contest.
In the end, it comes down to the oft. heard saying: The Decision of the Judges is FINAL.
When you engage in competition, what do YOU do when the music's over?
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