Divisions I & J International Goals - Preparation & Practice

Hi Guys,

Wow, so many plans and strategies for the international speech contest.
Actually from my research a few more of us than you've mentioned have
reached the status of District level winners in the past. As a note we only
had one winner from Indonesia TMC that went all the way to the Inter
District Level which is a bit funny that he's actually from the Philippine.

If I could put my five hundred perak (way less than a dime), winners are
irrelevant in our level of contests from club to division. Because from my
observant especially with discussion with the senior toastmasters half of
the time they can guess who will be going to District. The dilemma is point
out in each of our contestants "dedication". Putting all the effort in the
performance, delivery and most important speech content (for seasonal
contestants know to win WCPS after District they have to be ready with 5
different speeches and they will deliver 2 of them where one have to
be qualified in the originality screening process).

This effort is base on preparation x3 and dedication from wasting time,
money and other people’s time. If you read the TM magazine it is said that
contestants at the beginning of the level at club contest have rehearsed it
for many times by Area and Division levels it would be more than hundred
times. Some champion such as Ed Hearn mentioned that they are so prepared
that they can changed their speech to personalize it for each specific
contests that is required to capture each different type of audience. Not
including after the District level where he had personalize coaching from a
wide team of professionals, videotaped sessions on performance and so on to
make it acceptable for an International Audience, hence the name of the
contest.

So preparation is so crucial, yes. Logan and Fernando the WCPS 1st Runner-Up
and District Contest Winners said during the Bali convention the perfect
amount of rehearsal is 22 times. But is it by themselves or does it include
all the other club practices? What about previous contests level? At Jakarta
Advanced Toastmasters previous meeting discussion we had a comment by Pak
Robert, even so each of them before they perform it they have already
memorize their speech “word by word”, which is unlike us on our preparation.
Also noted by Ibu Attie that they have Theater experiences and one is a
professional comedian while the other is a playwright with media
experiences.

So as Division, Area or Club Officers we can offer tools, examples and
gimmicks. Which then become as suggestion in our evaluations. Where after we
offer advice after advice after advice where it may become a case of so many
Cooks, “But” sometime Confident is such a big factor for a contestant that
is going to District where they have to also be prepare and know how much to
be taken in to make the perfect Chinese 7 spices or it may become an over
cooked 252 sauces that is not too good.

Fellow Toastmaster’s Indonesia members do you have what it takes to be a
contestant? Will you be ready to go all the way? Do you have the dedication,
spirit and drive? Do you have the courage to conquer your dream?

All the best,

Johan Setiawan
Area I-1 Governor

Spring Contests International Speech & Table Topics Contests

Level Time
Club January – Mid February
Area February – Mid March
Division March – Mid April
District (Rep. Division Indonesia in Kuching)
Run-Off Saturday, 18 April 2008
Final Sunday, 19 April 2008
International Speech for WCPS (World Champion of Public Speaking 2009)
Inter-Districts (Rep. District 51 in USA) Tuesday, 11 August 2009
Final (Rep. DNAR 2 in Connecticut) Saturday, 15 August 2009