Contest season is here again!
Please take note of the following information and timelines as you plan your contests. Be sure to reference the Speech Contest Rulebook (Item 1171, Rev. 03/2024) for rules and checklists. Reach out for support if you have any questions.
Good luck to all contestants and thank-you to all our contest officials and volunteers!
Contests
We will host the International Speech Contest as well as the Evaluation Contest this year.
Remember that a Test Speaker will need to be recruited for each Evaluation Contest.
Deadlines for Contests
- Club Contests completed on or before: Sunday, March 2, 2025
- Area Contests completed on or before: Sunday, March 30, 2025
- Division Contest completed on or before: Sunday, April 27, 2025
- District Contests will be hosted at the D99 Spring Conference which will be held May 30 – June 1, 2025
Format of the Contests
Club:
As per the Speech Contest Rulebook (Item 1171, Rev. 03/2024, Rule 3.A.): “Each club in good standing is permitted to choose its contestant for each Area speech contest by whatever means the club desires. If a club contest is held, it must comply with the rules in this rulebook, and the contest result is final.”
If a club hosts a contest, it may be in whichever format the club decides (in-person, hybrid, or online).
Area, Division, District:
All Area, Division, and District contests will be hosted as in-person events. All participants (contestants, officials, volunteers, guests) will attend in-person at the contest venue.
Contest Resources
Number of Contestants to Advance
As per the Speech Contest Rulebook (Item 1171, Rev. 03/2024, Rule 3.B.4.):
“The decision whether or not to allow two (2) contestants to advance from club to Area, from Area to Division, and/or from Division to District must be made and communicated throughout the District prior to the commencement of the contest cycle, i.e., prior to any club contests being held.
- Once the decision is made, it must be implemented consistently throughout the District in all clubs, Areas, and Divisions affected.
- If a District decides to allow two (2) contestants to advance from club to Area, its decisions regarding the number to advance from Area to Division and/or from Division to District need not be the same.”
For the 2024-2025 Contest Season District 99 has decided that for each contest:
- Areas with 4 or fewer clubs may advance two contestants from each club to the Area Contest
- Divisions with 4 or fewer Areas may advance two contestants from each Area to the Division Contest
- For the District 99 Contest, one contestant will advance from each Division Contest to the District Contest
District Leadership
Are you considering running for an elected position on the District Leadership Team for the 2025-2026 year? If so, remember the rules regarding:
- Competing (at any level) – Rule 2.C.6
- Volunteering (beyond the club level) – Rule 2.F
Support for Contest Planning
Clubs may contact their Area Director to request support, as needed, as they plan and prepare for their contests.
Area Directors may contact their Division Director to request support, as needed, as they plan and prepare for their contests.
Division Directors may contact the D99 Program Quality Director to request support, as needed, as they plan and prepare for their contests.
You may submit questions regarding contests to Von Eric Tandoc, DTM, Program Quality Director:
Enjoy the Contests!!
