It is the afternoon after the district conference and I find
myself, as on many other occasions, covering the District speech contests. In
these contests we have people who spent a lot of time and energy preparing and
winning at club, area, and division level competing for a trip to the
International Convention and a chance at the title World Championship of Public
Speaking.
The winner is not necessarily the best speaker but the one who
can put together a number of stories, ideas, and metaphors to bring the audience
to see something familiar anew. The speakers help, teach, or offer some way to
make everyone in the room feel they have shared in that special experience on
the stage.
This year’s winners included one sharing the rewards of a
journey to find justice, another who related the experience of hard choices
with no good alternatives, and the first place winner, who built her speech on
empathy, using shoes as both a lateral device and a metaphor.
As for me, I have taken picture at district conferences since
1995, most of them as the official photographer. I have seen many very good
speeches and the standard of excellence has steadily improved through the years.
The winner often presents a special twist that, combined with
their technique, carries their response from unique to novel. We all feel a
touch of humanity, seeing several from our number stand before the whole
district offering a response to a topic presented on the stage.
In both these contests, while winning is always the most fun, it is the growth the competition offers to the speakers and to us as the audience that is most important. We are all part of a journey of growth where these contests serve as guideposts.
In both these contests, while winning is always the most fun, it is the growth the competition offers to the speakers and to us as the audience that is most important. We are all part of a journey of growth where these contests serve as guideposts.
by Mark Novak
