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Contest season
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Joy
Guest





PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:20 pm    Post subject: Contest season Reply with quote

Contest season can get intense, and confusing, when you belong to clubs in
more than one District. One of my Districts is doing Tall Tales and the
other is doing Evaluation. I entered both contests in each of my clubs. At
the first one, I won Evaluation but didn't place with my International
speech. At the second one, I won Tall Tales, and placed second out of two
with my International speech. The person who won International in my first
club deserved to do so. However, I didn't think the speech that placed
second was as good as mine, and I felt the same about the speech that beat
mine at the second club. I am now working on a new International speech for
my third club. I've been given a reprieve, for which I'm very glad. I'm
recovering from bronchitis which followed a nasty bout of flu. The contest
in my third club was supposed to be last night, but because of an event at
the meeting place, there wasn't even a meeting last night. That means I
have another week to polish my new speech and gain strength to be able to
compete.

--
Joy

Blessed are the PURR in Heart!
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Guest






PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:34 pm    Post subject: Re: Contest season Reply with quote

Joy <toastie@real-me.net> wrote:


Quote:
Contest season can get intense, and confusing, when you belong to clubs in
more than one District. One of my Districts is doing Tall Tales and the
other is doing Evaluation. I entered both contests in each of my clubs. At
the first one, I won Evaluation but didn't place with my International
speech. At the second one, I won Tall Tales, and placed second out of two
with my International speech. The person who won International in my first
club deserved to do so. However, I didn't think the speech that placed
second was as good as mine, and I felt the same about the speech that beat
mine at the second club. I am now working on a new International speech for
my third club. I've been given a reprieve, for which I'm very glad. I'm
recovering from bronchitis which followed a nasty bout of flu. The contest
in my third club was supposed to be last night, but because of an event at
the meeting place, there wasn't even a meeting last night. That means I
have another week to polish my new speech and gain strength to be able to
compete.

The thing is, it's not all about the speech, it's about how the audience
reacts to it, does it have any "take home" value, how it is presented,
the organization and flow etc. The problem with presenting a speech is
that you don't know what it looks like from the audience perspective.

Good luck with your new speech.

--
Nigel Reed ACS, oCL (It's really an ATM-S in an ideal world) + LDREXC
2 Speeches + 1 Sponsorship needed for DTM. 1 Speech for next CC
District 50 Public Relations Officer http://www.toastmastersd50.org
http://www.toastytips.com - Tips of Toastmasters (submissions welcome)
http://toastmasters.sysadmininc.com - Toastmasters Club Mapping Project
Unofficial Area Motto: "I'm sure there's a speech in that somewhere"
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Colin William
Guest





PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:05 pm    Post subject: Re: Contest season Reply with quote

"Joy" <toastie@real-me.net> wrote
Quote:
Thanks, Nigel. It was a good speech, but I knew it wasn't the type to go
all the way.

Eh, who wants to design a speech that we think meets the expectations of
going all the way? Smile You want subversive? The essential thesis of my entry
this year is "people don't really change". I'm curious to see how well
received this is.

Colin
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Joy
Guest





PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:05 pm    Post subject: Re: Contest season Reply with quote

<nigel@sysadmininc.com> wrote in message
news:e0k395-pa3.ln1@news.sysadmininc.com...
Quote:
Joy <toastie@real-me.net> wrote:


Contest season can get intense, and confusing, when you belong to clubs
in
more than one District. One of my Districts is doing Tall Tales and the
other is doing Evaluation. I entered both contests in each of my clubs.
At
the first one, I won Evaluation but didn't place with my International
speech. At the second one, I won Tall Tales, and placed second out of
two
with my International speech. The person who won International in my
first
club deserved to do so. However, I didn't think the speech that placed
second was as good as mine, and I felt the same about the speech that
beat
mine at the second club. I am now working on a new International speech
for
my third club. I've been given a reprieve, for which I'm very glad. I'm
recovering from bronchitis which followed a nasty bout of flu. The
contest
in my third club was supposed to be last night, but because of an event
at
the meeting place, there wasn't even a meeting last night. That means I
have another week to polish my new speech and gain strength to be able to
compete.

The thing is, it's not all about the speech, it's about how the audience
reacts to it, does it have any "take home" value, how it is presented,
the organization and flow etc. The problem with presenting a speech is
that you don't know what it looks like from the audience perspective.

Good luck with your new speech.

--
Nigel Reed ACS, oCL (It's really an ATM-S in an ideal world) + LDREXC
2 Speeches + 1 Sponsorship needed for DTM. 1 Speech for next CC
District 50 Public Relations Officer http://www.toastmastersd50.org
http://www.toastytips.com - Tips of Toastmasters (submissions welcome)
http://toastmasters.sysadmininc.com - Toastmasters Club Mapping Project
Unofficial Area Motto: "I'm sure there's a speech in that somewhere"

Thanks, Nigel. It was a good speech, but I knew it wasn't the type to go
all the way. I did think it was better than a couple that beat me, but
that's okay. I have more people up against me at this last club, but who
knows?

Joy
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Colin William
Guest





PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:05 pm    Post subject: Re: Contest season Reply with quote

"Joy" <toastie@real-me.net> wrote
Quote:
However, I didn't think the speech that
placed second was as good as mine, and I felt the same about the speech
that beat mine at the second club.

Be sure to check out the ballots and make sure that you're hitting all the
major points therein.

And make sure your message is simple. I think that's been my problem in the
past, trying to squeeze too much content in instead of doing very little,
but doing it clearly and well.

Colin
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Guest






PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:40 pm    Post subject: Re: Contest season Reply with quote

Joy <toastie@real-me.net> wrote:
Quote:
Thanks, Nigel. It was a good speech, but I knew it wasn't the type to go
all the way. I did think it was better than a couple that beat me, but
that's okay. I have more people up against me at this last club, but who
knows?

Joy,

You don't want a speech that goes all the way...not unless you make
International! After you win District you need a different speech for Region
so your first speech needs to be good enough to get you to win at District
level. After that you need to start thinking about speeches to take you all
the way!

Regards
Nigel
--
Nigel Reed ACS, oCL (It's really an ATM-S in an ideal world) + LDREXC
2 Speeches + 1 Sponsorship needed for DTM. 1 Speech for next CC
District 50 Public Relations Officer http://www.toastmastersd50.org
http://www.toastytips.com - Tips of Toastmasters (submissions welcome)
http://toastmasters.sysadmininc.com - Toastmasters Club Mapping Project
Unofficial Area Motto: "I'm sure there's a speech in that somewhere"
Back to top
Joy
Guest





PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:01 pm    Post subject: Re: Contest season Reply with quote

<nigel@sysadmininc.com> wrote in message
news:cur395-qu3.ln1@news.sysadmininc.com...
Quote:
Joy <toastie@real-me.net> wrote:
Thanks, Nigel. It was a good speech, but I knew it wasn't the type to go
all the way. I did think it was better than a couple that beat me, but
that's okay. I have more people up against me at this last club, but who
knows?

Joy,

You don't want a speech that goes all the way...not unless you make
International! After you win District you need a different speech for
Region
so your first speech needs to be good enough to get you to win at District
level. After that you need to start thinking about speeches to take you
all
the way!

Regards
Nigel
--
Nigel Reed ACS, oCL (It's really an ATM-S in an ideal world) + LDREXC
2 Speeches + 1 Sponsorship needed for DTM. 1 Speech for next CC
District 50 Public Relations Officer http://www.toastmastersd50.org
http://www.toastytips.com - Tips of Toastmasters (submissions welcome)
http://toastmasters.sysadmininc.com - Toastmasters Club Mapping Project
Unofficial Area Motto: "I'm sure there's a speech in that somewhere"

I appreciate the sentiment, and the advice. However, I will not ever go all
the way in International, because my speaking style isn't the kind that goes
past District, if that far. My goal is to win at District in the other
categories. So far my personal best is second at Division.

When competing, it is important to know both your strengths and your
weaknesses, although I don't consider my speaking style a weakness. It
makes me a good storyteller, but not an International Champion. I'm happy
with that. I'll be even happier when (I almost said "if") I win at District
in Humorous or Tall Tales, or even Evaluation or Table Topics. ;-)

--
Joy Gaylord, ATM-S, CL
Simi Valley Toastmasters (Dist. 33)
The Supper Club (Dist. 33)
Storytelling & Performing Arts Toastmasters (Dist. 52)
Southern California
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John Fleming, DTM
Guest





PostPosted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 3:10 am    Post subject: Re: Contest season Reply with quote

On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:05:35 -0800, while chained to a desk
in the scriptorium "Joy" <toastie@real-me.net> wrote:

Quote:
$Contest season can get intense, and confusing, when you belong to clubs in
$more than one District. One of my Districts is doing Tall Tales and the
$other is doing Evaluation. I entered both contests in each of my clubs. At
$the first one, I won Evaluation but didn't place with my International
$speech. At the second one, I won Tall Tales, and placed second out of two
$with my International speech. The person who won International in my first
$club deserved to do so. However, I didn't think the speech that placed
$second was as good as mine, and I felt the same about the speech that beat
$mine at the second club. I am now working on a new International speech for
$my third club. I've been given a reprieve, for which I'm very glad. I'm
$recovering from bronchitis which followed a nasty bout of flu. The contest
$in my third club was supposed to be last night, but because of an event at
$the meeting place, there wasn't even a meeting last night. That means I
$have another week to polish my new speech and gain strength to be able to
$compete.

Congratulations on the wins, and all the best on the
International next week.

I'm judging again, so no competing for me. Chief judge at a
club contest and then Chief Judge at a joint Area contest
featuring two areas.

--

John Fleming, DTM
Edmonton, Canada

Attitude Boosters Toastmasters (7022-42) - Member
Chamber Toastmasters (5594 - 42) - Member

A scientist can discover a new star but he
cannot make one. He would have to ask an
engineer to do it for him.

- Gordon L. Glegg
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John Fleming, DTM
Guest





PostPosted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 3:10 am    Post subject: Re: Contest season Reply with quote

On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:40:08 GMT, while chained to a desk in
the scriptorium nigel@sysadmininc.com wrote:
Quote:
$Joy <toastie@real-me.net> wrote:

$> Thanks, Nigel. It was a good speech, but I knew it wasn't the type to go
$> all the way. I did think it was better than a couple that beat me, but
$> that's okay. I have more people up against me at this last club, but who
$> knows?
$
$You don't want a speech that goes all the way...not unless you make
$International! After you win District you need a different speech for Region
$so your first speech needs to be good enough to get you to win at District
$level. After that you need to start thinking about speeches to take you all
$the way!

Good point.

I suppose it doesn't hurt, if you plan to go all the way, to
start working on the Region and International speeches even
while you are working on the speech that will take you to
District.

Last time I was at Region, I was kind of disappointed by
some of the International Speech Contest entries. It's liek
the speakers had gone to District, then discovered they
needed a new speech--and it showed.

--

John Fleming, DTM
Edmonton, Canada

Attitude Boosters Toastmasters (7022-42) - Member
Chamber Toastmasters (5594 - 42) - Member

A scientist can discover a new star but he
cannot make one. He would have to ask an
engineer to do it for him.

- Gordon L. Glegg
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Joy
Guest





PostPosted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 7:00 am    Post subject: Re: Contest season Reply with quote

Fleming, DTM" <nospam@sprynet.com> wrote in message
news:e83vr3tgkdgd3cnnp2i5hhmjncrcf4dgp6@4ax.com...
Quote:
On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:05:35 -0800, while chained to a desk
in the scriptorium "Joy" <toastie@real-me.net> wrote:

$Contest season can get intense, and confusing, when you belong to clubs
in
$more than one District. One of my Districts is doing Tall Tales and the
$other is doing Evaluation. I entered both contests in each of my clubs.
At
$the first one, I won Evaluation but didn't place with my International
$speech. At the second one, I won Tall Tales, and placed second out of
two
$with my International speech. The person who won International in my
first
$club deserved to do so. However, I didn't think the speech that placed
$second was as good as mine, and I felt the same about the speech that
beat
$mine at the second club. I am now working on a new International speech
for
$my third club. I've been given a reprieve, for which I'm very glad.
I'm
$recovering from bronchitis which followed a nasty bout of flu. The
contest
$in my third club was supposed to be last night, but because of an event
at
$the meeting place, there wasn't even a meeting last night. That means I
$have another week to polish my new speech and gain strength to be able
to
$compete.

Congratulations on the wins, and all the best on the
International next week.

I'm judging again, so no competing for me. Chief judge at a
club contest and then Chief Judge at a joint Area contest
featuring two areas.

--

John Fleming, DTM
Edmonton, Canada

Thanks. I enjoy judging, but I'd rather compete. ;-)

I once knew a man who competed in every contest. He said he did it so
nobody would ask him to judge.

Joy
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p c
Guest





PostPosted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 5:40 pm    Post subject: Re: Contest season Reply with quote

Good luck, Joy.
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