The GEO Oratorical Contest Committee is now seeking entries for the Optimist International 2006-2007 Oratorical Contest. The Optimist Oratorical Contest gives youngsters the chance to speak to the world. More than $150,000 in college scholarships are awarded annually from this program. First conducted in 1928, this is the second most popular Optimist International Program. Nearly 2,000 clubs participate in this program each year.
We actively recruit contestants beginning in January
from local schools, churches, other organizations and our members for our Club contest,
which will be held in the second week of March. Contestants must be under the
age of sixteen as of December 31st and write and deliver a speech on the
official Optimist International topic, which for this year is: “My Biggest Challenge is. . .”
Each speech must be five minutes in duration, and given in front of an audience and three judges. Optimist members cannot be judges; so qualified members of the community are selected for this task. There is a girl's category and a boy's category. Our two club winners (one girl, one boy) will then compete at the Zone level. The winners of that contest will next move to an Area contest, between Zones in the same geographical area, where those winners go on to the District finals held at the 3rd Quarterly Meeting. District winners will each receive a $1500 scholarship. Throughout these competitions, the participants and immediate family are "guests" of the Optimist Organization, with all travel expenses, meals and lodgings provided for.
If you know of a youth who may be interested in entering our club’s Oratorical Contest, please click here for an official entry form or contact Jim Carroll, Assistant Oratorical Chair, at (310) 336-2370 for more information. The deadline for entries is March 10, 2007.
Entry forms may be mailed to:
Attn: Oratorical Chair
Or emailed to: info@gardenaoptimist.org