Your Thoughts?
Were you at the Convention and saw the contests? We’d love to hear your feedback on the quality of the contests, and most controversially, do you agree with the judges decisions? Who stood out to you? What tips did you pick up from the speakers?
International Speech Contest
1st: Pushpa Vida
2nd: Alison Cleaver
3rd: Jock Elliot
Evaluation Speech Contest
1st: Lorraine Lehmann
2nd: Kate George
3rd: Donna Kildea
Humourous Speech Contest
1st: Terry Hicks
2nd: Kayt Duncan
3rd: Robyn Maciejewski
Table Topics Contest
1st: Kayt Duncan
2nd: Pushpa Vida
3rd: Philip Clynes
Evaluation is one of my passions so I was interested in the Evaluation Contest. I believe that in other Districts the presenters don’t use their notes when they come out on stage. If this is the case what are our Clubs in the Divisions doing and is this taken into consideration with the judging?
I agree with you, Christine. Points should be taken off if presenters use notes on stage.
If you look at the judging form 40% of your marks are to do with your Analysis, 30% for Recommendations and 15% is to do with your summary. With 85% of your score based on what you say the focus should be on who has been the most helpfull to the speaker rather than the qualitity of the presentation. A factor of wether the presenter did or didn’t use notes should not come into it.
I would say the points for presentation notes would be allocated under technique. A no notes presentation would likely connect better with the audience, and therefore the test speaker, and is likely to therefore be more sympathetic, sincere and enthusiastic.
Of course this would depend on the presenter, but just like a speech generally connects better without notes, so too does an evaluation.
I disagree strongly & feel that the five minute preparation is for exactly that, structuring exactly what the speaker said & what they need to hear, & it is too important to freewheel it. It even looks better, is the more professional approach, it is why the lectern is there, but absolutely defer to the opposite when it is the International speech contest.