The Rotary Clubs of District 5170 sponsor the Richard D. King Annual Youth Speech Contest each year with three goals in mind for the club members and each contest participant:
To increase personal knowledge and awareness of the importance of being able to speak effectively before a group.
To increase public knowledge of what Rotary is and does throughout the world, especially among young people. Through this knowledge, we hope that they will learn, as we have in the past, "He who profits most serves best."
To increase participation in the contest and to provide all high school contestants with an opportunity to win prizes as top public speaker, or runner up, in District 5170
Prizes can be more depending on clubs, but the minimums are:
Club: $100 (1st), $50 (2nd), $25 (3rd)
Area: $200 (1st), $100 (2nd)
Regional: $250 (1st), $250 (2nd)
District: $1000 (1st), $600 (2nd), $300 (3rd), $300 (4th)
Any timely topic of interest as long as the speech mentions the “Imagine Rotary” theme (dream big and take action) and one of its Four Way Tests.
Each speaker must clearly relate, apply, or interweave one or more of The Four Way Test principles into their speech. However it is NOT required that all four must be used. These four principles, which Rotarians have adopted as a guide for everyday living, are as follows:
Of the things we think, say, or do:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Is it BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Speeches are between four and five minutes in length. Timing will begin when the contestant first speaks, not after the student's salutation to the chairperson or audience. A penalty of 2% shall be deducted from each judge's score for each 30 seconds (or fraction thereof) the contestant speaks under four or over five minutes.
Please see official flyer if you are competing.