Contest Champions
Well, it's been a while. What's been happening in the world of Hong Kong Toasties? Most notably, the Division contests were held producing some interesting results.
Now, I have to confess I wasn't there, but here are my thoughts on the results...
Matchy Ma makes a comeback (where has he been?). Always a popular speaker but a little theatrical for my tastes, though it's been a while since I've seen/heard him. A shame Jimmy didn't make it this time. I enjoy his speeches a lot; some great humour . His style is just so natural and unaffected unlike so many of our so-called 'good' speakers.
As for Division K, I did hear PC's speech at Area level and I reckon he's doing great for a relatively new Toastmaster.
So how come the Evaluation H Champion of Champions only came in 3rd?!!
I am always suprised by contest results. This year, the organisers went to great lengths to select judges who were impartial. But that excluded anyone who had competed even at club level and been knocked out. It excluded - as always - area governors and all other organisers. And it excluded - of course - other contestants. That doesn't leave much choice!! And it still can include members of Chinese language clubs, which I believe is barmy. If we have no official selection citeria, let's at least exclude those who do not choose to use the language of the contest in their club!!
OK, let's see what happens in Singapore. Please send in your reports!
Now, I have to confess I wasn't there, but here are my thoughts on the results...
Matchy Ma makes a comeback (where has he been?). Always a popular speaker but a little theatrical for my tastes, though it's been a while since I've seen/heard him. A shame Jimmy didn't make it this time. I enjoy his speeches a lot; some great humour . His style is just so natural and unaffected unlike so many of our so-called 'good' speakers.
As for Division K, I did hear PC's speech at Area level and I reckon he's doing great for a relatively new Toastmaster.
So how come the Evaluation H Champion of Champions only came in 3rd?!!
I am always suprised by contest results. This year, the organisers went to great lengths to select judges who were impartial. But that excluded anyone who had competed even at club level and been knocked out. It excluded - as always - area governors and all other organisers. And it excluded - of course - other contestants. That doesn't leave much choice!! And it still can include members of Chinese language clubs, which I believe is barmy. If we have no official selection citeria, let's at least exclude those who do not choose to use the language of the contest in their club!!
OK, let's see what happens in Singapore. Please send in your reports!
I would like to said a few words about the issue. Why the champion of Champions come 3rd, if you ask her then she will tell you that she miss at least 1/3 of her evaluation speech during contest. And it is not at her usual standard.
For the selection of Judges, it is true that after excluded all these members, there will not be much left to select, still they did select two judges from each Area for the contest. For the Chinese speaking club why should we excluded their right to be judge since they have contestant coming from that Area to take part in Division contest. Also language is only the media we use for our speech, not the mean element of the speech itself. For those judges from chinese speaking Area do not mean that they did not understand English and not good enough to be a judge. Speech contest is the content and delivery skill and not which language they use. Provide judge can understand English and give mark to all contestants then they are qualify to be judges.
In Toastmasters we learn communication and leadership skill and not language, which mean judges should judge the contestants by their content and delivery skill.
Now I hope you will understand more and think before you write anything online. In Toastmasters we are a big family.
I agree with some of what you say, Neil, and disagree with some of it. And, I always do think before I post; it just may be that I don't think the same way as you. A blog's purpose is to provide a platform for chat, sharing, etc. Of course, what is written is only opinion, but the writer has that right. Am I right?