It is not to early to start thinking about your club sponsoring a 4 Way Test Speech Contest at a local High School. Last year we had a record number 37 clubs that held contests. We hope to have even more clubs hosting contests this year. Now is the time to meet with school principals, speech teachers and debate team coaches so they can build the contest into the curriculum and be ready for club contests in January and February.
 
 
HOW TO INTEREST YOUNG PEOPLE IN ROTARY
or
HOW TO DEVELOP STUDENT LEADERS
or
HOW TO HOLD A FOUR-WAY TEST SPEECH CONTEST
 
So what are you really looking for?  Want future leaders in the community?  Want future dedicated Rotarians?  Here is one easy way to start ---
 
HOLD A FOUR-WAY TEST SPEECH CONTEST
 
And it is so easy.  Just five easy steps:
 
  1. Contact a school or more than one school in your area to inform them of the opportunity for their students to participate.  Share the guidelines during that visit. Then let the school select the students and do the work.
  2. Establish a date when the students can speak to your Club either during a Club visit or at an alternative time.  Identify your judges and time keeper for the Club contest.
  3. Hold the contest. Determine the winners, possibly the first, second, and third place winners plus one honorable mention.
  4. Inform the winner and that person's school sponsor about the Regional Contest and assure they make it to that Contest.
  5. If your student is successful at the Regional Contest (and this is your ultimate goal), assure they make it to the Contest.
 
VOILA!!  Done!
           
 
 
HERE ARE THE DETAILS
 
Within that framework are some specific rules and guidelines. As you move through each step, here are some helpful hints for each.
 
  1. When you contact the school,
  1. Be sure to inform them of the benefit to their students.
  2. Impress upon them the importance of communication throughout their lives.
  3. Show them the value of speaking before a group of professionals, especially as they are considering and applying to colleges and universities.
  4. Share the rules and timing guidelines with the principal and school sponsor who will be working with their students to create and refine their talks.
  5. Maintain contact with the school to assure they know when the students will deliver their talks to the Rotary Club and have transportation.
  1. Before the Club Contest
  1. Identify three judges and a timekeeper.  Be sure you have a stopwatch handy.
  2. Give the judges and the timekeeper instructions for the Contest.
  3. If possible, have sheets available for the timekeeper to hold up designating 'one minute', '30 seconds', and 'Time' so the speaker will be able to stay within the time limit.
  1. When the contest is held,
  1. Have a certificate for each of the winners.
  2. If your Club chooses to award a prize, have that ready to present before the meeting has adjourned.
  1. When the first place winner is determined,
  1. Assure that he or she knows when and where the Regional Contest is to be held.
  2. Be sure the student has transportation to and from the meeting.
  1. If your student is successful at the Regional level,
  1. Be sure he or she knows the date, time and location of the Regional contest and is available to come.
  2. Assure that the student has transportation.
  3. Club members are encouraged to come and support your student.
 
Please download all the required forms by clicking here.
 
I am happy to come to your Club to make a presentation, anywhere in the District.  If I can be of service to help you in any other way to establish your Four-Way Test Speech Contest, please don't hesitate to contact me.
 
Janelle Kavanaugh
District Chair, Four-Way Test Speech Contest
817-312-3477
janellekavanaugh@att.net