Speech Contest
Speech Contests occur at the club, area, division, district and international levels. They happen mostly in the winter and spring, although the World Championship of Public Speaking contest occurs at the time of the International Convention.
Speech Contests are conducted according to the Speech Contest Rulebook, which is typically updated each year.
Club members are not required to compete in speech contests, although the experience can hone their skills as speakers. Club members are not required to serve as functionaries in speech contests, although the roles are fairly similar to meeting roles in a regular club meeting.
See also Master of Ceremonies, Contest Toastmaster, Area Contest and gestures.
In 2017-18 Founders District changed to one set of area/division/district contests per year rather than two.
In 2020, coronavirus required that all contests be held online, and Toastmasters International quickly came out with altered contest rules for online contests.
