ENTRY IS CLOSED FOR THE 2024 ACTIVITY!
CLICK HERE
for the application form and rules.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2024 PARTICIPANTS:
1st Place: Gabby Howell, 12th Grade, Durant High School
2nd Place: Marley Mueller, 10th Grade, Plant City High School
3rd Place: Jazmin Richarte, 7th Grade, Marshall Middle Magnet School
Plant City Observer coverage is linked here.
Gabby and Marley advance to the Zone 6 Competition against
the top two from both the Lakeland and Winter Haven clubs on
March 25, 2024, 6:30 pm, Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center
UPDATE 3/26/2024:
Gabby was unable to compete due to a scheduling conflict. Lakeland had no competitors, so Marley competed against two excellent orators from Winter Haven Optimist Club and she took 1st place. Marley will advance with Winter Haven's Luke Besing to the SW FL Regional - details below.
Zone 6 results:
1st Place: Marley Mueller, 10th Grade, Plant City High School
2nd Place: Luke Besing, 12th grade, Winter Haven High School
3rd place: Jayda George, 10th Grade, Winter Haven High School
UPDATE 4/14/2024:
The SW FL Region Competition, with six competitors from Zone 6 - Plant City, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Zone 7 - Tampa, and Zone 9 - St. Petersburg, was held on April 13, 2024 - 1:00 pm - Parks & Recreation Administation conference room.
SW Florida Region results:
1st place: Olivia Bond (St Pete)
2nd place: Marley Mueller
Both advance to the North Florida District Finals!
UPDATE 4/27/2024:
The top two from the SW FL Regional advanced to the North Florida District Competition and competed against the top two from the SE Region (Orlansodo/Cocoa area) and from the North Region. At the North Florida District Competition on April 27, 2024 - 1:00 pm, Paradise Oaks RV Resort, 4628 CR 475, Bushnell FL, there were $2,500, $1,500, and $1,000 college scholarships on the line for the top three orators.
North Florida District results:
1st Place:
Olivia Bond, 6th Grade, LCC Day Schoool, St Petersburg - $2,500 scholarship winner
2nd Place:
Andrea Anthony, 10th grade, Haggarty High School, Oveido - $1,500 scholarship winner
3rd place:
Marley Mueller, 10th Grade, Plant City High School - $1,000 scholarship winner
CONGRATULATIONS, MARLEY! YOU REPRESENTED PLANT CITY WELL!
2024 Topic: "How to Change the World with Optimism"
The Plant City Club competition will be held Monday, February 19, 2024 at 6:30 pm at the Plant City Parks & Recreation Administration Office, 1904 South Park Road, Plant City FL 33563. Complete the application linked above and return it to us no later than February 1, 2024 so we know you are competing.
The top two Plant City participants will compete at the Zone 6 Competition against the top two competitors from Winter Haven and Lakeland. The Zone 6 Competition will be held Monday, March 25, 2024 at 6:30 pm at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center, 302 South Maryland Avenue, Plant City FL 33563.
The top two participants from the Zone 6 Competition will compete at the SW Region Competition against the top two competitors from other Zones in the Central Florida West Coast area. The SW Region Competition will be held Saturday , April 13, 2024 at 1:30 pm at the Plant City Parks & Recreation Administration Office, 1904 South Park Road, Plant City FL 33563.
The top two participants from the SW Region Competition will compete in the North Florida District Competition for a shot at the $2,500 / $1,500 / $1,000 scholarships. The N FL District Competition will be held Saturday, April 27, 2024, 1:00 pm, Paradise Oaks RV Park, 4628 CR 475, Bushnell FL.
The N FL District winner may advance to the U.S.A and World Championships competition in St Louis, MO on July 18-19, 2024, and a shot at the $15,000 / $10,000 / $5,000 scholarships.
Summary of the requirements:
- Competition is gender-neutral with boys and girls competing together.
- Open to contestants under the age of 19 as of October 1st of the current contest year (October 1 – September 30) and who have not yet completed secondary school or its equivalent. There is no minimum age.
- Students may only participate in one Club level competiton each year.
- Each contestant shall prepare his or her own speech.
- Speech will be between four (4) and five (5) minutes in length.
- All contestants must speak on the official topic and must state the official topic in the first sentence of the speech.
- Scoring will conform to the following criteria:
1. Poise – appearance and personality: 10 points
2. Content of Speech – subject adherence, theme, content, logic and color: 40 points
3. Delivery & Presentation – voice, volume, pronunciation, gestures, eye contact, sincerity and emphasis: 35points
4. Overall Effectiveness – appeal, impression, attitude and effect: 15 points
- Penalties will be deducted from the points as follows:
1. Failure to announce the official topic in the first sentence – 3 points
2. Failure to identify non-original material – up to 10 points
3. Use of props, costume, etc. - 10 points
4. Time penalties – 1 point for each 15 seconds or fraction of over or under the allotted time.
5. Self-identification – up to 5 points
6. Failure to complete speech – disqualification
7. Use of audience prompters - disqualification
- The Plant City Club competition is judged by a panel of Plant City Toastmasters Club members and is usually held in February, prior to the Strawberry Festival.
- The top two (2) competitors at our local Club competition advance to the Zone 6 Competition against the top two orators from both the Winter Haven and Lakeland clubs, usually held in March.
- The top two (2) from the Zone 6 Competition advance to the SW Region (Tampa Bay area) Competition, usually held in April.
- From the Regional Competition, the top two (2) advance to the North Florida District Competition, usually held in April/May.
- The North Florida District typically awards a first place scholarship of $2,500, a second place scholarship of $1,500, and a third place scholarship of $1,000.
- The top finisher at the North Florida District may advance to the USA and World Championships in St Louis, MO, usually held in June/July.
Please click the link at the top of the page to obtain
the full set of rules as set by Optimist International!