Optimist Club of Frederick, Inc. Frederick Md.

Optimist Club of Frederick
Oratorical Contest
Application and Rules

This contest is open to students living or attending school in Frederick County Maryland only.

Optimist Club of Frederick, Inc. Frederick Md

Official Rules

Section l —

General Rules 1. The Optimist International Oratorical Contest is divided into several phases. The contest will begin at the Club level, proceed to the Zone level and end with a contest at the District level. 2. The contests are open to all boys and girls in public, private or parochial schools who fulfill the qualifications for contestants and are sponsored by an Optimist Club. 3. The district has the right to decide whether to have combined gender contests, or to separate the contests so that boys compete against boys and girls compete against girls. 4. Each contestant shall prepare his or her own speech. However, the contestant may receive advice in the preparation of the speech and may make minor changes or improvements in the speech at any time. 5. Optimist International will have the right to edit, publish and record any speech used in any contest without payment to the author.

Section II —

Qualifications For Contestants 1. The contest is open to students under the age of 16 as of December 31st of the 2005-2006 school year and must be educated in the United States, Canada, or the Caribbean. There is no minimum age. 2. A speech may be delivered in a language other than English if the language used is an official language of the country in which the sponsoring club is located. 3. Any contestant who has won an Optimist International Oratorical scholarship award is ineligible for any future competition. 4. A club may be represented by only two qualified contestants. If the district decides in advance to hold combined gender contests, the representation to the next level from each Club in that District can be from two boys, two girls or a boy and a girl. If the District decides in advance to hold separate contests for boys and girls, the representation from each Club to the next level will be from one boy and one girl only. 5. Any quotation or copyrighted material used in the speech must be identified verbally during the speech and in the written copy of the speech with the original author’s name. The contestant shall be fully responsible for the use of any quoted material and Optimist International shall assume no responsibility. Failure to identify nonoriginal material shall result in disqualification. 6. A contestant is eligible to enter/compete in only one Optimist Club Oratorical Contest during a contest year (October 1 to September 30 of the next year). 7. All contestants in any Optimist Oratorical Contest must furnish age verification records with their entry before competing. 8. Each contestant entered in the Zone or District contest must present one typewritten copy of the speech, double-spaced and identified with contestant’s name and sponsoring Optimist Club. This copy must be attached to the official entry form along with contestant’s birth record before competing in the contest. The contestant must sign the entry form.

Section III — Contest Rules 1. All contestants must speak on the official topic. 2. All contestants must state the official topic before beginning their speech in order for the timekeeper to record the exact time of the speech. A 3-point penalty is automatically assessed by the timekeeper for failure to state the official subject. 3. The use of props, special costumes or clothing, or the use of prompters will not be permitted. Penalty is disqualification. Notes and lecterns may be used if the contestant desires. 4. At all district final contests a neck-type and a lectern microphone will be available for contestant’s use, if desired. 5. The time allowed will be not under 4 or over 5 minutes in length. Contestants going over or under the time limit will not be cautioned, but will be penalized 1 point for each 15 seconds or fraction thereof over or under the allotted time. These penalties will be determined by the offi- cial timekeeper. 6. Timing will begin immediately after the official topic is expressed. Any salutation to judges, audience, etc., should precede the announcement of the subject. Timing will stop when contestant finishes. 7. No reference may be made that might identify the contestant, his or her family, or the specific geographical or political area from which he/she originates. This does not include religion or nationality. Maximum penalty may be 5 points as decided by each individual judge. 8. The contest chairperson shall conduct a drawing prior to the beginning of the contest with all contestants present for the speaking order. All contestants will then be introduced as “Speaker A,” “Speaker B,” etc. 9. Any protest in the conduct of any club, zone or district Oratorical Contest must be made immediately after the condition is noted that brings about the protest. Protests received after the next contestant has been introduced, or in the case of the last contestant, after the judges have retired for deliberation, will not be entertained under any circumstances. The contest chairperson will decide all protests in conformity with these rules. The decision of the contest chairperson is the final word and no higher appeals will be recognized. In the case of Club contests, the Club contest chairperson has this authority; in the case of Zone or District contests, the final authority is vested in the District Oratorical Contest committee chairperson. 10. Contestants shall not be identified by names or sponsoring Clubs until after the last oration has been presented and the judges and timekeeper have left the room.

Section IV — Scoring of Contest Scoring in all Club, Zone and District contests will conform to the following scoring schedule. 1. Poise: 20 points (Appearance and Personality) 2. Content of Speech: 35 points (Subject Adherence, Theme, Content, Logic and Color) 3. Delivery & Presentation: 35 points (Voice, Volume, Pronunciation, Gestures, Eye Contact, Sincerity and Emphasis) 4. Overall Effectiveness: 10 points (Appeal Impression, Attitude and Effect)

Section V — Penalties 1. Failure to announce title: See Section III, Rule 2 2. Use of props, etc.: See Section III, Rule 3 3. Time penalties: See Section III, Rule 5 4. Self-identification: See Section III, Rule 7

Section VI — Awards 1. Club Award: Medallions are awarded to the first, second and third-place winners. 2. Zone Awards: Plaques are awarded to the Zone winners. (Optional) 3. Regional Awards: Plaques are awarded to the regional winners. 4. District Awards: Plaques are awarded to the District winners. 5. Scholarships: A. Each winner of the District level contest will receive a scholarship for use at a college, university or trade school. In combined gender contests, there will either be two winners awarded $1,500 each, or three winners awarded scholarships of $1,500, $1,000, and $500 respectively for first, second and third place. In Districts conducting separate contests for boys and girls, each first-place boy and girl will receive a scholarship of $1,500. B. All scholarships will be payable either to the student or to the educational institution of the recipient’s choice, subject to the approval of Optimist International. C. All scholarships will be administered by Optimist International. D Scholarships will be held by the Optimist International Foundation for a period of up to 12 years from the effective date.

 Application for the 2005-2006 Optimist International Oratorical Contest Please send application to address below

Name ____________________________________________________ Address____________________________________________________
City ______________________________________________________ State/Province________________ Zip/Postal Code ______________ Phone ( _________ ) ________________________________________
Date of Birth ______ /______ /______
Sex     Male    Female
Have you participated in any other Optimist Club’s Oratorical Contest this school year? ❏ Yes ❏ No

I wish to enter the Optimist Oratorical Contest to receive training and experience in public speaking. I will study the rules of the contest and will be bound by all of the requirements of the rules.

Contestant’s signature ______________________________________ Date ______ /______ /______
I give my permission for my son/daughter to participate in the Optimist Club Speech (Oratorical) Contest. Parent or Guardian’s signature ______________________________
Sponsored by the Optimist Club of Frederick

Send Applications to:
Optimist Club of Frederick
Attn: Oratorical Contest
P.O. Box 1398
Frederick, MD 21702

Official Rules

Optimist Club of Frederick, Inc. Frederick Md

 Follow the links below for information on specific Frederick Optimist Club activities.

Frederick Optimist Home Page
Childhood Cancer, Oratorical Contest, Talent Show, Youth Appreciation Week , Respect for Law,  Essay Contest, 
  Celebrate the Arts,  Purpose of Optimist, Optimist Creed, Bylaws, Current Events, Trauma Kits Club Activities,  
Feed Back, Photo Release - Youth,  Photo Release -Adult 
Event Calendar Maryland/South Delaware District, Optimist International
  In the Street - 2003, Sponsorship/Donations 
Members Area

Site Map

Student Learning Advisory Board

Optimist Club of Frederick, Inc. Frederick Md

Send mail to WEBMASTER with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2003 Optimist Club of Frederick, Inc
Last modified: September 07, 2003