Toastmasters Speeches: Toastmasters Rookies Contest

From the "Conducting a Quality Club Speech Contest" training, we had lunch, in the same venue at Fluor Daniel in Alabang. Thereafter, the Rookies Contest, top-billed as "Headliners of Tomorrow" started.

It was Area Director 74 Kate Allison Gapul who hosted the afternoon affair.

The balloons and decorations at the venue seemingly lent a festive fiesta ambiance to the contest.

Shown below are the Timers and Talliers for the Headliners of Tomorrow or HOT Contest.

At the other table were the Contest Judges, Janette Parra, Dulce Ranosa and Manohari Gunawardhena (shown below, L-R).

Unlike a typical speech contest, this Rookies Contest had the contestants deliver a prepared speech of 4-6 minutes. After that, the judges had the option of asking questions to the contestants for 2 to 3 minutes.

One thing peculiar with this speech contest was that all speakers needed to have visual aids. Slide presentations were encouraged. A researched topic as part of the speech was also a requirement.

The first contestant was Jay Herson Ramos from the Fort Bonifacio Toastmasters Club. His speech was entitled, "Talking Mindlessly".

Contestants must not have been Toastmasters members before September 30, 2017 and should have never competed in a previous contest. Hence, the contest was really for beginners or "rookies".

The second contestant was Gab Achacoso from the Omega Toastmasters Club. His topic was familiar among most manufacturing companies and entitled, "What is 5S?"

Apart from medals for the three placers (gold, silver, bronze), the prizes include a 6-month membership to the club. All participants will receive an event ribbon.

The third contestant was Renzo Vergel de Dios from the BF Commmunity Toastmasters Club. His speech was entitled, "What I Took For Granted." His researched topic was about an injury he had, a Torn ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament).

Note cards were allowed in the presentation but were only to be used for referencing the material. That meant the speech may not be read directly from the notes.

The fourth and last contestant was Kristine Sumague from the Microspeak Toastmasters Club. Her speech was entitled, "Urban Gardening."

Two of the contestants, Gab and Renzo, represented clubs under my area, Area 73. Renzo was my club's contestant (BF Community TMC). Since I was Renzo's mentor, the club decided that I automatically become his speech coach.

During the break, I went around the hall and had a brief chat with BF Community club members, Leah, Nelle and Marlyn (show below, L-R) regarding Renzo's performance.

Helping me coach Renzo was Immediate Past President Leah Catapia. Leah's excellent writing skills proved to be invaluable because she was able to inject humorous parts in the speech - something that Renzo and I had difficulty incorporating. She also gave the speech a much tighter focus. Thank you, Leah!

Shown below are Renzo, Leah and me.

Soon, the results of the contest were to be announced and I seated myself with a couple of guests from the Metro South Alabang Toastmasters Club, Tzarina and Ken, as shown below.

Incidentally, Tzarina was the Test Speaker in the mock Evaluation Contest of the Conducting a Quality Club Speech Contest training. I had my lunch at the table where Tzarina's was seated.

Before the actual announcement of the winners was the requisite brief interview of Contest Master Kate with the contestants.

Finally, the winners were announced and were only two. Renzo won First Place and Kristine won Second Place. As in the mock contest in the morning, dummy trophies were handed out. Raul said the medals were to be customized with the winners' name engraved on them.

At this time, I had to leave the contest because of a medical appointment (physical therapy session). Congrats, we're proud of you, Renzo!

Although I was no longer there, the photo below shows how the other members, Duchess and Cristina, were delighted in discussing Renzo's performance, as guests Nath and Micah were listening intently.