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Let
the competition begin! But wait … are
you
a part of the action?
在演講比賽會場，工作團隊已準備就緒，等待的觀眾此起彼落嘈雜聲充滿一室，而參賽者經過不斷地練習和潤飾之後，正在抽出上台順序號碼蓄勢待發。比賽開始吧！等一下……你是其中的一員嗎？
Collectively, Toastmasters clubs worldwide run thousands of speech
contests every year. Such events offer great benefits for everyone
involved: speakers, audience members
and
those who plan such programs. As an area governor last year, I put
myself on the planning side, when I chaired two fall contests in Denver,
Colorado. The experience was invaluable to me; it taught me how to
orchestrate a high-level contest and lead a team in executing a big
event. Now I can apply what I learned to real-life situations, such as
setting up events and running meetings.
世界各地之國際演講會，一年內總計會舉辦上千場的演講比賽，此類活動讓每位參與者都能受惠，包括參賽者、觀賽者及工作人員。我在去年擔任科羅拉多州丹佛市分區總監，在主辦兩場的秋季分區比賽活動中，吸取了寶貴的經驗，我不僅學習到如何協調規劃一場晉級比賽活動，也學習如何帶領一個團隊實際執行。如今，我可以將這些技巧應用於生活中，如舉辦活動或研討會等。
I used the area contest as a blueprint and dry run for chairing the
larger, 29-club division contest, which was my High Performance
Leadership project. In the process, I learned several key steps for
planning successful speech contests at all levels. Before I reveal my
“secrets,” let’s consider why we conduct our Toastmasters contests
(International Speech, Table Topics, Tall Tales, Humorous and
Evaluation).
我以分區比賽為藍圖，應用於規模更大的分部比賽(包含29個分會)，而且作為高成效領導課程中之專案計畫，在過程當中，我發現了幾個舉辦一場成功的比賽活動之關鍵因子，在公開我的「撇步」前，大家請先想想，我們為什麼要舉辦演講比賽(包括國際演講比賽、即席演講、吹牛、幽默演講及講評演講等比賽)？
Compete...and Grow
在競爭中成長
Participating in contests is an exciting way to challenge yourself.
While it’s always great to deliver a speech in front of your club,
there’s something a little more electric about doing it in a
competition. The stakes are higher and the audience knows it, so they’re
particularly interested and engaged.
參加演講比賽是令人振奮的自我挑戰，在分會中演講總是很棒的事，但是參加演講比賽，會更為興奮刺激。觀眾知道這必須要冒大風險，因此也都特別關注。
Chairing or competing in a contest is a way for Toastmasters to stretch
themselves. They inspire everyone, including the audience, and compel us
to be better leaders and speakers.
主持比賽，或成為參賽者，是讓會員成長的方法之一，不僅可以激勵每一個人(包括觀眾)，而且迫使我們，成為更好的領導者和演說者。
Planning a successful contest involves five key components:
籌備一場成功的比賽應包含以下五個要素：
1. Book a venue
預定場地.
My first task was securing a suitable room. At the time, local library
meeting rooms were booked far in advance and recreation centers charged
a fee. So I got creative and asked a nearby retirement community if we
could use its state-of-the-art meet-ing room with comfortable audience
seating. They eagerly agreed and offered the room free of charge – for
two contests!
確保有一個適合的場地舉辦賽程，是我的第一課題。記得那時候，當地圖書館所有的會議室，早就被預定了，而娛樂中心的場地都要收費；我靈機一動，就想到附近退休社區內，有設備先進的會議室，和舒適的觀眾席可以利用，乃接洽商借，他們很爽快的答應可以免費借用，而且是兩場比賽耶！
Event
space is a critical element that influences the contest’s outcome, says
Rory Vaden, the second-place winner in Toastmasters’ 2007 World
Championship of Public Speaking. “Ideal venues allow for the speaker’s
best transference of energy from the stage,” he says. “This means low
ceilings, clear stage view, close distance between the stage and the
first row of chairs, close proximity of chairs, and space that is filled
with an audience. A stage – at least 10 feet wide – is needed if there
are more than 50 people. Microphones that work clearly and a well-lit
stage also are important.”
獲2007年世界國際演講比賽亞軍的羅里．韋登說：「比賽場地是一個會影響成效很重要的元素，一個理想的場地，可以讓演講者將他最好的能量，自台上傳遞出去，例如低天花板、講台與第一排觀眾席要靠近、座位與座位貼近、且一個座位正好容納一人。超過五十位觀眾席的場地，講台至少要有10英呎寬，同時麥克風播音要清楚，且講台燈光明亮也很重要。」
2. Handpick a team
仔細挑選團隊成員.
You’ve heard the expression, “It takes a village to …” Well, it does
take a village of Toastmasters to run a contest. That means delegating
roles and recruiting volunteers. Select people who are dependable and
experienced to fill key positions such as chief judge, sergeant at arms
and timer. I was the Toastmaster for my division contest and asked each
area governor to be a judge or to select one for balanced
representation, which worked well.
你應該聽過「這需要一村子的人一起………」，是的，辦一場比賽，的確需要很多人的參與，包括工作人員及義工，挑選可靠、具經驗的會員擔任總裁判、事務員及計時員，我擔任分部演講比賽的主持人時，為均衡之計，乃邀請各分區總監，或指派一人擔任比賽評審，一切進行的頗為順利。
Area
Governor Carolina Moore from District 33 in Las Vegas, Nevada, advises,
“Remember that your area is more than just
you.
It’s a group of clubs, each with members and leadership that you can –
and should – draw from. Set your expectations up front, by e-mail or
phone, and during your area governor club visits.
來自內華達州拉斯維加斯第33分區總監，卡羅琳納．莫耳提醒道：「要記住你自己所屬的分會之外，還有分區，那是一群分會，有很多會員和幹部，都是你可以，及應該挑選的人選。」儘早利用電子郵件或電話聯繫，或在你以區總監身分參與所屬分會的活動時提出。」
“Tell your clubs that you need their help to ensure that ‘our
area has the best contest.’ Ask, ‘Who wants to be Toastmaster? Sergeant
at arms?’ New members can staff the registration table; this is a great
opportunity for them to meet lots of people.”
「告訴你的分會，為確保『舉辦一場最好分區比賽』，你需要他們的協助，問他們『誰願意擔任主持人？』『誰願意擔任事務員？』，安排新會員擔任接待員，可以藉此機會認識很多人。
3. Create an agenda
建立議程表.
Early on, design a contest agenda template and add the details as they
become available: contestants (remember that their eligibility has to be
confirmed), contest team, visiting officers, the program and timeline,
sponsor and volunteer credits, and upcoming events. A timeline keeps
your program on track from start to finish. I used my agenda as a
script, much like I use an agenda at club meetings.
儘早開始設計比賽議程表，並將已敲定之相關資料逐一加入：如參賽者名單(記得確認參賽資格)、工作人員名單、到場的上級幹部、程序表及時間表、贊助者名單、感謝狀及未來活動預告等。時間表可使整個賽程從頭到尾按部就班的進行。在主持比賽時，我和在主持分會例會時一樣，直接用議程表作為講稿。
For interest, include inspiring or humorous quotes in your agenda, as
well as graphics, sponsor logos and easy-to-read typefaces. Print plenty
of copies and make sure everyone has one at the start. Use the agenda
template for future contests.
你可以在議程表內加一些激勵或幽默語錄、或圖案、贊助商標誌、及一些容易閱讀的字體。列印足夠的份數，並在活動開始前，確認每個人都拿到一份議程表，並可以將此作為未來比賽使用的樣本。
4. Communicate clearly and often
多溝通且要清楚表達.
A contest chair can never over-communicate with the contest team and
contestants. Connecting with members in your home club is easy. But
communicating with multiple clubs for higher-level contests can be a bit
more challenging. I chose club presidents and area governors as my
liaisons for the information and contacts I needed.
身為比賽主持人，和工作團隊及參賽者的溝通，永遠不可能過頭。和自己分會會員溝通很容易，但是在分區，或分部的比賽活動中，和多個分會溝通，則需要費些心思。我選擇各分會會長，和區總監作為窗口，以取得相關者之聯絡資訊。
Secure contacts’ e-mail addresses and group them for frequent and clear
instructions about contest location, time, speech titles and team roles.
Following the contest, send e-mails to the contest chair at the next
level of the competition, with the winners’ complete contact
information.
將有關人員之電子郵件製作成群組聯絡清單，隨時提供賽程資訊，如地點、時間、工作分配等。比賽結束後，則將優勝者名單，及聯絡資訊以電子郵件，寄給下一場晉級比賽之主持人。
5. Generate publicity
宣傳以引起注意.
It’s vital to let other clubs as well as the community at
large know about an upcoming contest. For non-members, attending a
contest can pique their interest in Toastmasters, which can lead them to
join the organization and reap the benefits. For mem-bers, participating
in a contest is wonderful – but so is being in the audience. It’s a
great way to learn techniques to improve your own speaking. And by
seeing speeches that are more polished than the typical club speech,
audience members gain a better idea of the skills they can aspire to.
讓即將舉辦的比賽活動，廣為其他分會，及附近社區知道是很重要的。使非會員參觀比賽活動，可引發他們對國際演講會的興趣，進而入會並受益。會員如能參賽或觀賽，都是很棒的經驗，可以學習相關技巧，以改進自己的演講技巧，觀賞這些千錘百鍊過的演講，與一般在例會中的演講不同，會員可以獲取渴望中，且更好的榜樣來學習。
Publicizing a contest is also important for the competitors themselves.
“The speakers want to have an audience there,” notes Colin William, a
finalist in the 2008 World Championsip of Public Speaking from West
Lafayette, Indiana, who once participated in a contest where he
delivered his speech to fewer than 10 people.
廣為宣傳比賽活動，對於參賽者本身也是很重要的。曾參加國際演講比賽決賽，來自印地安納州西拉法葉市的柯林．威廉說：「演講者總是希望有觀眾在場的。」有一次，他參加演講比賽，觀眾10人都不到。
“It’s tough to give your best speech when you have a small audience.”
「當你面對很少觀眾時，要發表一場很好的演講是很困難的。」他說。
To get the word out, take advantage of free social networking tools such
as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube. Generating publicity for
contests has never been easier. Ban Seng Chew, DTM, a member of YMCA
Toastmasters club in Singapore, says the Internet is best for generating
free publicity. “Printed mass media are expensive and not easily
accessible,” he says. “We use social networking, including the club,
division and district Web sites, like
http://district80.org.”
可以利用免費的網路工具傳播比賽活動訊息，如Facebook,
LinkedIn, Twitter 和
YouTube。宣傳賽事不是一件易事，新加坡YMCA分會會員Ban
Seng Chew認為，使用網際網路是免費宣傳的最好方式，他說：「印製宣傳品是昂貴且困難的，我們使用社群網站，包括演講會分會、分部及區域網站，如第80地區網址：http://district80.org。」
Remember to publicize the contest winners. I did this using a citizen
journalism tool that my local newspaper, the
Denver Post,
features online. I submitted a photo of the contest winners with a
detailed caption crediting the clubs involved. I listed our District 26
Web site for follow-up information. Voila! The picture appeared in the
print version of
http://YourHub.com, a
community site for sharing news and photos.
要將比賽的得獎者好好宣傳一番，我利用丹佛市當地報紙「Denver
Post」的電子版，在有關市民活動報導內，刊登得獎者的照片，並有詳細標題，包括所屬分會名稱等，並備註第26地區的網址，作為聯絡管道。看吧！這些照片已刊登在一個分享訊，息及照片的社群網站YourHub.com的列印版了。
Consider being a part of the exciting contest action during the next
round of your club, area, division and district contests. When chairing
a contest, remember these key components: book a venue, handpick a team,
create an agenda, communicate clearly and often, and generate publicity.
Your contest is sure to be a smashing success.
當下次你參加分會、分區、分部或地區演講比賽時，若擔任主持人，可要記得這些關鍵要素：預定場地、仔細挑選團隊成員、建立議程表、多溝通且要清楚表達、宣傳以引起注意。相信你所主持的一定會是一場令人激賞的成功的比賽活動。
作者：Janet
Reese, DTM, belongs to the Toast of Inverness and Liberty Toastmasters
Club in Denver Colorado. She is a communications specialist, speaker,
presentation coach and freelance writer. Reach her at
Janet@RinPR.com
作者：Janet
Reese, 傑出會員,
科羅拉多州丹佛市Toast
of Inverness and Liberty演講會會員，她是一位溝通達人、演說家、簡報教練、以及兼職作家，她的電子郵件地址
Janet@RinPR.com
譯者：曾玲玲
Jennifer, JOY Toastmasters Club |
