2020 – 2021 Optimist Year District Oratorical

Topic: “Healing the World with Optimism”

THE OLDEST AND BEST CONTEST OF OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL & THE GATEWAY DISTRICT

Chair: Don Thornton

The contest is open to students under the age of 19 by October 1, 2019. Students must enter in the District in which they reside.

Local Club contest winners received by the Lt. Governors: March 16, 2021

Zone contest: March 30, 2021

Area contest: April 20, 2021

District Contest: 3rd Quarter Conference

Two Oratorical finalist from the Optimist Zone competition, delivered at the Historical Courthouse in Canton on Saturday March 20th, will move on to present their speeches at the District Level towards the end of the month in April. The District Oratorical competition will take place in Tucker on April 24th at the Doubletree Hotel Atlanta located at Northlake 4156 LaVista Rd., Tucker, Ga 30084.

The two winners are high school females from Cherokee and Pickens counties. Tristan Barber sponsored by the Holly Springs club and Jordan Dean sponsored by the Jasper, GA club won 1st and 2nd places respectively from a talented field of competitors on March 20th matchup.

All 6 contestants delivered their persuasive speeches from the podium in person while practicing proper social distancing in the old courtroom. The classic 91 year old courtroom in Canton really added a degree of professionalism to the setting of intellectual debate on a topic of “Healing the World with Optimism.” There were 4 clubs represented by the 6 participants this year. Several clubs didn’t have any respondents to the Optimist invitation mainly because it was difficult to have people present their perspectives in the midst of the pandemic. Virtual debates, via applications or internet websites, were a medium that club level presentations practiced preceding this Zone event.

We were honored to have local citizens participate voluntarily to judge these student’s viewpoints and their presenting techniques. Pam Carnes, CEO of the Cherokee Chamber, JoEllen Wilson, current Chairwoman on the Canton City Council, and David Simmons the Vice President of Facilities for all the Chattahoochee Technical campus locations in North Georgia. We really appreciate their time and their input at this event to help direct these young adults’ future development.