TOASTMASTERS
TABLE TOPICS & INTERNATIONAL CONTEST SCRIPT
Sgt. At Arms
Toastmaster
Chief Judge
Judge 1 (omit for contest copy)
Judge 2 (omit for contest copy)
Judge 3 (omit for contest copy)
Judge 4 (omit for contest copy)
Judge 5 (omit for contest copy)
Tie-breaking Judge (omit for
contest copy)
Timer 1 (Chief Timer)
Timer 2
Ballot Counter
Ballot Counter
Ballot Counter
Club Name
6:30
Contestants - Table Topics
Contestants - International
Chief Judge meets with judges, timers, and vote counters to give instructions, go over
rules, review how to complete forms, and procedures for timing.
Chief Judge meets with contestants to draw for position and complete certificates of
eligibility form and contestant bio.
Toastmaster meets with contestants to discuss contestant bio form. The toastmaster
will use the information during contestant interview portion of contest.
6:55
Sgt. at Arms sounds warning gavel
7:00
Sgt. At Arms -- Calls the meeting to order.
 Leads the Pledge of Allegiance
 Introduces Area Governor
7:03
Division/Area Governor -- Welcome
 Say a few words & acknowledge Contest Venue host. There will be two contests this
evening. First, the Table Topics contest, then a short break, then the International
Speech contest.
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 Recognize any dignitaries in audience:
District Governor –
Lt. Governor Education & Training –
Lt. Governor Marketing –
PRO –
Other District Officers
Visiting Division & Area Governors –
Past International and District Governors.
 Introduce The Toastmaster.
7:08
Toastmaster
 Opening remarks – set the mood for the contest (1 - 2 minutes).
 Refrain from any comments regarding specific contestants and speeches.
 Refrain from any comments regarding specific club names or numbers.
 Introduce the Chief Judge
7:10
Chief Judge
 Brief review of contest rules and timing for the Table Topics contest (1-2 minutes)
 Chief Judge explains timing (1-2 minute speech with green card shown at 1 minute,
yellow card shown at 1 minute, 30 seconds, and red card shown at 2 minutes. The
contestants have 30 seconds to complete their table topic. Contestants speaking less
than 1 minute OR more than 2 minutes 30 seconds will be disqualified) and asks the Chief
Timer to show the appropriate cards.
 State: The order that Contestants will present their Table Topic was determined
earlier this evening by having our contestants draw for position. (Note: Toastmaster
will share the speaking order with the audience)
 Return control to Toastmaster
7:15
Toastmaster -- Please make the following announcements:
 Anyone with a pager or cellular phone should place it on silent mode without vibration.
 No flash photography of the contestants during the contest. There will be photo
opportunities later.
 Once the contest has begun, the Sgt. at Arms will secure the doors. Members of the
audience are asked to refrain from leaving or entering the room during the contest.
After the contest, no one will be permitted to leave the room until all ballots are
collected.
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 State: The winner will represent this [Area/Division] at the [Next level] contest at
[Date/time/place].
 Ask: Are all the Table Topics contestants in the room? Are there any questions?
 State:
The Chief Judge prior to the contest has briefed the Contestants on the
rules & timing of the Table Topics contest. Toastmaster briefly reiterates timing (12 minute speech. Contestants speaking less than 1 minute OR more than 2
minutes 30 seconds will be disqualified).
 The contestant order is:
1. Name ____________
2. Name ____________
3. Name ____________
4. Name ____________
5. Name ____________
6. Name ____________
 State:
We will now begin the Table Topics Contest.
 The Toastmaster asks the Sgt. At Arms to escort all contestants but the first
speaker from the room. The contestants will enter into the room based upon drawn
order.
 Verify that the Sgt. At Arms has escorted all the contestants to a neutral room.
 The Toastmaster introduces each contestant by NAME ONLY, followed by the topic,
the topic, and the contestant’s name. For example, if John Smith were the contestant
and the table topic were “Silence is golden,” the Toastmaster would introduce the
contestant in this way: “John Smith, Silence is golden, Silence is golden, John Smith.”
Lead the applause after the introduction.
 After each contestant finishes and the applause has ended, Toastmaster states:
There will be one minute of silence to allow time for the judges to mark their ballots.
 Ask: Timer, please signal the end of one minute of silence.
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 The Sgt. At Arms ensures that the next contestant is ready during the one minute
of silence. Contestants can remain in the room after they have spoken.
 After the final contestant, Toastmaster States: There will be two minutes of silence
to allow time for the judges to mark and tally their ballots. Call for a signal after two
minutes of silence.
 Toastmaster asks: Will the judges please hold up their ballots for collection?
 Wait 15 seconds, then Toastmaster asks: Are there any ballots not yet collected?
The Vote Counters retire to another room with the Chief Judge to count votes after all
are collected.
7:45
Toastmaster asks: Will the Table Topics contestants please join me, in the order of
appearance?
 Toastmaster leads the applause.
 Toastmaster interviews contests. Present certificate of participation and ask each
the same question. If time is short, ask the club they represent and the length of
time they have been in Toastmasters.
7:50
Toastmaster states: There will now be a 10-minute break.
10 MINUTE BREAK
8:00
Sgt. at Arms gives warning gavel and calls the meeting to order
8:01
Toastmaster
 Remind the audience that the rules about pagers, phones, flash photography, and
refraining from entering/leaving still apply.
 State: We will now begin the International Speech Contest portion of the contest.
The winner of the International Speech Contest will represent the [Area/Division] at
the [Next level contest].
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 Introduces the Chief Judge.
8:03
Chief Judge
 Brief review of contest rules and timing for the International Speech contest (2 - 3
minutes)
 Chief Judge explains timing (5-7 minute speech with green card shown at 5
minutes, yellow card shown at 6 minutes, and red card shown at 7 minutes and
will remain on until the contestant finishes their speech. The contestants have
30 seconds to complete their speech. Contestants speaking less than 4 minutes
30 seconds OR more than 7 minutes, 30 seconds will be disqualified) and asks the
Chief Timer to show the appropriate cards. State that all International Speech
contestants can remain in the room during this contest.
 Turns control back to Toastmaster
8:05
Toastmaster
 Ask the Chief Judge if all contestants have been briefed on the rules and have drawn
for their speaking order.
 Ask: Are all contestants in the room? Are there any questions at this time?
 State: The order for the speakers in the International Speech Contest was
determined earlier this evening by having our contestants draw for position.
8:10
State:
We will now begin the International Speech Contest.
 The contestant order is:
1. Name ____________
2. Name ____________
3. Name ____________
4. Name ____________
5. Name ____________
 Toastmaster states:
The Chief Judge prior to the contest has briefed the
contestants on the rules & timing of the Evaluation contest. Toastmaster briefly
reiterates timing (5-7 minute speech. Contestants speaking less than 4 minute
30 seconds OR more than 7 minutes 30 seconds will be disqualified).
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 Toastmaster introduces each contestant by NAME AND TITLE ONLY, no remarks.
The proper introduction is CONTESTANTS NAME, SPEECH TITLE, SPEECH
TITLE, and CONTESTANTS NAME. Lead the applause.
1. Name _______________________________________________________
Title_________________________________________________________
2. Name _______________________________________________________
Title_________________________________________________________
3. Name _______________________________________________________
Title_________________________________________________________
4. Name _______________________________________________________
Title_________________________________________________________
5. Name _______________________________________________________
Title_________________________________________________________
 At the end of each Speech, Toastmaster states: There will be one minute of silence
after each contestant to allow time for the judges to mark their ballots. There
should be no talking during the period of silence.
 Toastmaster requests: Timer, please signal the end of one minute of silence after
each participant.
 The Sgt. at Arms should prepare each contestant during the one minute of silence.
 After the final contestant, Toastmaster calls for a signal after two minutes of
silence.
 Toastmaster asks: Will the judges please hold up their ballots for collection?
 Wait 15 seconds, then Toastmaster asks: Are there any ballots not yet picked up?
 The Vote Counters retire to another room to count votes after all are collected.
 Toastmaster asks: Will the International Speech Contest contestants please join me,
in the order of appearance?
 Toastmaster leads the applause.
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 Contestant Interview: Present certificate of participation and ask each the same
question. If time is short, ask the club they represent and the length of time they
have been in Toastmasters.
8:45
Toastmaster
 Ask District Representative to come up and make appropriate District announcements
 Announcement of Conference
 Announcement of Date of TLI
 Announcement of District Events
 Return control to the Area/Division Governor
8:55
Toastmaster thanks the participants:
Dignitaries –
Toastmaster –
Division Chief Judge—
Table Topics Master –
Sgt. at Arms –
Refreshment providers –
Judges
Timers
Host Club –
Contest Venue
 [Area/Division] Governor to present trophies. Announce Winners:
Table Topics Contest
Alternate (second place)___________________________________
Winner (first place)
___________________________________
International Speech Contest
Alternate (second place)___________________________________
Winner (first place)
___________________________________
 Ask that all winners and alternates to remain for a few minutes to ensure completion
of the eligibility forms for the [next level] contest.
9:00
Adjourn the meeting.
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NOTE: There should be NO remarks, thanks, etc. after the final presentation. This is the
highlight of the evening.
Area/Division Governor: Get names, phone numbers, etc. of winners and alternates to send on
to the next level contest chairman along with the Eligibility forms.
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