| rdfs:comment
| - Bear in mind the intended benefits of a Speech Contest. Some are:
* As a vehicle for practicing competitive speaking. If you thrive on competition, participating in a speech contest is a gratifying experience. The more practice you have, the better you get, just as in anything you do.
* As practice in speaking before larger audiences. A Speech Contest at a level above the club may have a significantly larger audience. The speaker will not be acquainted with most of them, albeit the vast majority will be Toastmasters.
* As publicity for Toastmasters. Toastmasters speech contests are public affairs, and can serve as publicity for the club. Prospective members can witness the activities, and the publicity surrounding the event (both before and afterward) can raise awareness of Toast
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| abstract
| - Bear in mind the intended benefits of a Speech Contest. Some are:
* As a vehicle for practicing competitive speaking. If you thrive on competition, participating in a speech contest is a gratifying experience. The more practice you have, the better you get, just as in anything you do.
* As practice in speaking before larger audiences. A Speech Contest at a level above the club may have a significantly larger audience. The speaker will not be acquainted with most of them, albeit the vast majority will be Toastmasters.
* As publicity for Toastmasters. Toastmasters speech contests are public affairs, and can serve as publicity for the club. Prospective members can witness the activities, and the publicity surrounding the event (both before and afterward) can raise awareness of Toastmasters in the community.
* As a learning experience for Toastmasters. Those not competing can gain from the experience, by observing the efforts of the select Toastmaster competitors and by carrying out leadership roles at the contest. The Contest Chair needs to make the event one that all in attendance can feel positively about:
* Contestants should feel that the experience was worthwhile, even if they did not place high in the competition.
* Contest Officials and Assistants should find the experience fulfilling and enjoyable.
* Audience members should come away feeling positively about their experience and energized to participate more in Toastmasters activities. In order to do these things, the following will be important:
* The event should be well planned, just like a good Toastmasters club meeting.
* The event should be well run, with an engaging Toastmaster as master of ceremonies.
* The event should not be an undue burden on the participants, with respect to time, effort, and monetary expense.
* The experience must offer every participant something of positive value. A competition by its nature is at odds with the idea that every participant benefits, because not every competitor comes out on top. In fact, there will be a single contestant who will go on to the next level—and the rest of the competitors and their friends will have to find their satisfaction in some other source. It is the well-run competition that can accomplish this essentially difficult task. By all means, avoid even the appearance of exclusivity, favoritism, or unfairness. If contestants, officials, or audience members leave the competition feeling frustrated because of how the event was run or how it was judged, they will not want to return.
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