As others have said - many who have competed, and even won, in the finals of the WCPS - this proposed step is at odds with the nature of Toastmasters, and the nature/consistency of this contest.. I support this petition, and supporting finding the way to keep this a live event - in all rounds.
C
Carol Bausor
9 years ago
I am strongly opposed to this move, and wonder how something so important can have been decided without consulting members.
O
olivia schofield
9 years ago
there must be another way.
R
Randy J Harvey WCPS 04
9 years ago
Opposed to videotaped competition, bad idea.
K
Katina hunter
9 years ago
Featured
I don't understand the reasoning behind this move and feel that it takes away from the audience interaction that any good speaker should gauge while speaking.
K
Kayt Duncan
9 years ago
Absolutely no support for a video component. Alternative solution thinking time...
L
Laura McCaffrey
9 years ago
Featured
Video speaking is a totally different skill set. Keep the world champions live and in person.
S
Steven Morgan
9 years ago
Public speaking is an in-the-moment interaction between the speaker and the audience. A video recording adds a level of dissociation which cannot create the same experience. Recording for a good video presentation requires a different set of skills, and a quality presentation requires quality production skills that speakers rarely have. That will put a huge advantage on those with the resources and connections for high quality video productions. If you want quarterfinals, make them live with in-person judges.
J
Joe Shaw
9 years ago
Regional finals. An extra round. A separate video contest. There are a million ideas better than what has been proposed. I'm sure you can come up with something better, TI. Don't disappoint me!
D
Dan Mendelevitz
9 years ago
Toastmasters is built on public speaking. This can only be truely experienced live. Contests must be judged live in keeping with this. Recordings do not allow the judge to feel the whole presentation and short change the contestants.
T
Tony Livernois
9 years ago
I strongly disagree with the proposed video approach for contests. Speech contests on every level should be judged live and in person so that judges can fairly evaluate each speech on a level playing field. Besides hurting contestants without high quality equipment and lighting, judges of videotaped speeches cannot get a real feel for audience reaction, etc., on equal footing, in the same environment, for each speaker being judged. Please reconsider this proposal.
R
Rudy Segovia
9 years ago
video taping would be unfair to people without top quality equipment or the know how to make professional recording
J
Jerry Evans
9 years ago
This doesn't make sense and does not replace the live event. How TM is even considering this, when as it states every other level is live and in person.
N
Nicole Cunnea
9 years ago
Budget cuts?
D
Darlene Davies
9 years ago
Live connection with an audience is very different from a video performance. Video competition does not make sense in the middle of a live contest. Please reconsider this idea.
P
Patrick Guilfoyle Dtm
9 years ago
This is a wrong move.
A video will take away from the reality of the speech contest.
R
Ray Engan
9 years ago
This would be a travesty
W
Walt Hansmann CPLP
9 years ago
Featured
We should not mix and match. If Toastmasters wants to introduce a new competition based on video submissions, they can compete together. But, the current process of live presentations creates a level playing field for everyone. Please rescind the decision to allow competition by video at any level of competition. Thank you.
D
Dave Ross
9 years ago
Live performances are the core of our Public Speaking culture. Video skills require similar but different skills. It is almost like asking Formula race car drivers to compete in a video car race to help determine who should compete in the final race of the season. The logistical challenges need to be considered, however, I prefer an additional day of quarterfinal competition at the International Convention to a video event.
L
Lance Miller
9 years ago
I fully support live competitions.
Having seen District speech contests in over 60 Districts, the venues, crowd size, local & cultural nuances vary as much as the weather. There is no fair and equitable playing field on which to compete through videos.
I competed in the International Speech Contest for 13 years. I know how each level of competition raised my game and caused me to push myself to higher levels of performance. In each competition I got see who I was competing against and stand on the SAME stage in front of the SAME audience as they did. And even then it was considerably arbitrary and subjective as to who won.
Yet, it was through the pressure, the preparation and the challenge of these contests that I developed the speaking skills I have today. To deny the members of this great organization the opportunity to develop, through the contest experience, into the best speakers they can be would be a travesty.
I will make the bold statement, that if the "Member" truly is at the top of the organization. And if the "Servant Leadership" of Toastmasters as an organization is to truly service the member. Then expediency and logistics of the International Speech Contest would take a tertiary position to service of member development.
All too often those making such decisions have themselves not benefited from the program and activities that they are managing. This is not to trivialize their work, contributions or intentions. It is to say that it is simply impossible to know the benefit of standing on top of the mountain if you, yourself, have not climbed it. As Sir Edmund Hillary stated, "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves." So it is with the World Championship of Public Speaking.
We are an organization that gives the individual a voice. We are an organization gives people the confidence to stand up and be heard. I suggest that we practice what we preach.
As others have said - many who have competed, and even won, in the finals of the WCPS - this proposed step is at odds with the nature of Toastmasters, and the nature/consistency of this contest.. I support this petition, and supporting finding the way to keep this a live event - in all rounds.
I am strongly opposed to this move, and wonder how something so important can have been decided without consulting members.
there must be another way.
Opposed to videotaped competition, bad idea.
I don't understand the reasoning behind this move and feel that it takes away from the audience interaction that any good speaker should gauge while speaking.
Absolutely no support for a video component. Alternative solution thinking time...
Video speaking is a totally different skill set. Keep the world champions live and in person.
Public speaking is an in-the-moment interaction between the speaker and the audience. A video recording adds a level of dissociation which cannot create the same experience. Recording for a good video presentation requires a different set of skills, and a quality presentation requires quality production skills that speakers rarely have. That will put a huge advantage on those with the resources and connections for high quality video productions. If you want quarterfinals, make them live with in-person judges.
Regional finals. An extra round. A separate video contest. There are a million ideas better than what has been proposed. I'm sure you can come up with something better, TI. Don't disappoint me!
Toastmasters is built on public speaking. This can only be truely experienced live. Contests must be judged live in keeping with this. Recordings do not allow the judge to feel the whole presentation and short change the contestants.
I strongly disagree with the proposed video approach for contests. Speech contests on every level should be judged live and in person so that judges can fairly evaluate each speech on a level playing field. Besides hurting contestants without high quality equipment and lighting, judges of videotaped speeches cannot get a real feel for audience reaction, etc., on equal footing, in the same environment, for each speaker being judged. Please reconsider this proposal.
video taping would be unfair to people without top quality equipment or the know how to make professional recording
This doesn't make sense and does not replace the live event. How TM is even considering this, when as it states every other level is live and in person.
Budget cuts?
Live connection with an audience is very different from a video performance. Video competition does not make sense in the middle of a live contest. Please reconsider this idea.
This is a wrong move. A video will take away from the reality of the speech contest.
This would be a travesty
We should not mix and match. If Toastmasters wants to introduce a new competition based on video submissions, they can compete together. But, the current process of live presentations creates a level playing field for everyone. Please rescind the decision to allow competition by video at any level of competition. Thank you.
Live performances are the core of our Public Speaking culture. Video skills require similar but different skills. It is almost like asking Formula race car drivers to compete in a video car race to help determine who should compete in the final race of the season. The logistical challenges need to be considered, however, I prefer an additional day of quarterfinal competition at the International Convention to a video event.
I fully support live competitions. Having seen District speech contests in over 60 Districts, the venues, crowd size, local & cultural nuances vary as much as the weather. There is no fair and equitable playing field on which to compete through videos. I competed in the International Speech Contest for 13 years. I know how each level of competition raised my game and caused me to push myself to higher levels of performance. In each competition I got see who I was competing against and stand on the SAME stage in front of the SAME audience as they did. And even then it was considerably arbitrary and subjective as to who won. Yet, it was through the pressure, the preparation and the challenge of these contests that I developed the speaking skills I have today. To deny the members of this great organization the opportunity to develop, through the contest experience, into the best speakers they can be would be a travesty. I will make the bold statement, that if the "Member" truly is at the top of the organization. And if the "Servant Leadership" of Toastmasters as an organization is to truly service the member. Then expediency and logistics of the International Speech Contest would take a tertiary position to service of member development. All too often those making such decisions have themselves not benefited from the program and activities that they are managing. This is not to trivialize their work, contributions or intentions. It is to say that it is simply impossible to know the benefit of standing on top of the mountain if you, yourself, have not climbed it. As Sir Edmund Hillary stated, "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves." So it is with the World Championship of Public Speaking. We are an organization that gives the individual a voice. We are an organization gives people the confidence to stand up and be heard. I suggest that we practice what we preach.