Are there age / grade restrictions to apply for membership? Yes. To enroll in SPEAK! students must be in currently enrolled in 2nd grade or higher. Students PreK-4 - 1st grade can be enrolled in Wee SPEAK!.
How can I register my child for membership? Parents can register students for membership by completing an application. You can download the application on our website under Membership and then Application. Download the application, complete it and mail it in with the appropriate fee by the deadline.
Is there a discount for registering more than one child per family? No, there is no discount for multiple registrations from one family.
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
Do I have to stay with my child during the 1 hour oratory sessions each week? Due to the limited time of the practice you are encouraged to stay on site to ensure prompt pickup of your child. We do not offer before/after care and do not have use of the facilities beyond the 1 hour session.
In what capacity does SPEAK! request that parents volunteer? SPEAK! requests that parents volunteer in some capacity for the program. Most needed are coaches for the practice sessions and volunteers during the tournament.
PRACTICE SESSIONS
Where do participants meet and how often? Participants will meet at a local pre-arranged practice site for 1 hour each week for 10 weeks. The exact meeting dates and times, will be provided at the interest meetings or by contacting us directly. Locations for the practice session will vary each oratory session. Location sites and directions for each oratory session will be provided on the SPEAK! website under the SPEAK! Schedule tab.
How can I help my child prepare for an oratory session and the competition? Parents can help SPEAK! orators prepare by helping them to select age appropriate material that meets the requirements of the specific category in which they are competing. Bring your proposed orator piece to the first meeting; give a copy to the coach. Additionally, parents should provide an opportunity for orators to practice and memorize their material regularly. Parents can provide encouragement and praise as students master the various oratory techniques.
Will my child get individual attention from the coach? It is our goal to maintain a small coach/ student ratio; however no student will receive one on one coaching. Rather, all students will benefit from the expertise and feedback of the coaches at their practice site. The goal of each practice session is to provide as many opportunities for students to practice their piece in a friendly, stress-free environment and receive constructive feedback from coaches and peers alike.
Where can I get appropriate materials (poems, speeches, essays, dramatic works) that would meet SPEAK! competition material requirements? The Internet provides a vast amount of material for accessing e-texts of poems, plays, as well as fiction and no-fiction material. Additionally, many websites provide the complete transcripts of current and historical speeches by various artists, politicians and historical figures. Of course, libraries and bookstores are excellent resources of materials appropriate for use in the various oratory competition categories.
Where can I get detailed information about the specific oratory category in which my child is competing? Your child's coach can provide you with a Competition Category Descriptions sheet that gives an overview of each competitive category.
TOURNAMENT
Does my child have to participate in the tournament aspect of the program at the end of the practice session? No, participation in the tournament is completely voluntary. While we strongly encourage SPEAK! members to compete in the end of session tournament, students may choose not to participate.
Who are the judges?How are they trained? Judges comprise a wide variety of local professionals. They undergo training to prepare for the competition and are provided with the detailed category rules which details the criteria for judging each event.
Can I volunteer to be a judge? Parents may not serve as judges when their child is competing at a tournament.
How are the members of the SPEAK! evaluated at the tournament? Judging for each category is based upon standard competition rules as defined by the three major forensic organizations: the Wisconsin Forensic Association; the National Forensic League and the Nationall Catholic Forensic League. Students are judged based on the quality of their presentation as determined by a variety of criteria defined in the SPEAK! MD Oratory League, Inc, Judges Handbook and Tournament Operating By-Laws.
Is there a dress code for competition? Yes, all orators where black pants/skirts and a white shirt. Orators are required to dress professionally. It is our goal that children understand the difference between casual and professional attire and make every effort to make a positive impression not only with their oratory skills, but also with the dress, manner and demeanor.
REGISTRATION FEES
There a registration fee for membership. How is the money used? The registration fee helps to fray the administrative cost to run the competition and provide SPEAK! members with certificates, medals and trophies at the competition. SPEAK! MD Oratory League is a non-profit organization, thus additional funding is regularly sought out from a variety of sources including fundraisers, grants, and donations from the community.
What forms of payment do you accept? We accept cash, Money Orders or checks made payable to SPEAK! MD Oratory League, Inc.
NOTE: There is a $60 fee for returned checks. We are unable to accept credit cards at this time. Registration in non-refundable and non-transferable.
