PNW Optimist Clubs prepare for youth oratorical contests

District Oratorical Chair Ray Hilts has announced the dates of the regional competitions for the PNW District.  The Regions were set by the District Oratorical Chair based on the number of clubs participating as of this post.  Not all zones have participants.  For example, in Region 4, only Zones 7 & 10 are sending contestants, but should other clubs decide to have contests their top two contestants would compete in the designated region. 

The dates were set in coordination with the lt. governor in the community where the competition is being held.

Region 1 - Zones 1 & 2: May 2, 2010  
Region 2 - Zone 3 & 5: April 10, 2010
Region 3 - Zones 4 & 6: TBD
Region 4 - Zones 7, 8, 9 & 10: May 1, 2010

We will update this post when more information becomes available.  There is still time for every Optimist Club to hold a club level contest.  We guarantee that your club winners will have the opportunity to advance to a zone or regional contest, even if it is not geographically correct, up until the last regional competition is held.

The Optimist Oratorical Contest has been held annually by Optimist Clubs since 1928.  Children up to age 16 prepare and deliver a 4 to 5 minute speech on a single topic and compete for college scholarships.  The topic this year is "Cyber Communication: Progress or Problem?"

More than $250,000 in college scholarships will be given away by Optimist Clubs, Districts and Optimist International this year.