Contestants Must:
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Be high school students, grades 9-12, in June, and prior to the state conference on November 2009.
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Not have won a prior speak-off at the state level. Previous winners are not eligible to be contestants.
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Have an interest in agriculture, resource conservation, or the environment.
Each
contestant must fill out and submit an application form to the local
RCD office [Loma Prieta is the local office for San Benito, and Santa Clara Counties, download application below], which is a member of the California Association of Resource
Conservation Districts. The application must include name, address,
phone number, social security number, school, age, club affiliations,
and a brief statement about interest or involvement in agriculture,
conservation or environmental practices.
All regional winners will receive plaques at the state speak-off. The state speak-off winners will receive:
| 1st place - $300 and a plaque |
| 2nd place - $200 |
| 3rd place - $100 |
The
speech shall be at least three minutes, and not more than five minutes,
including the salutation and title. Notes will be allowed at district
and regional levels, but not at the state level. There will be NO props, costumes, or visual aids at any level.
There shall be three judges and a timekeeper for each speak-off: district, region, and state.
It is the Regional Director's responsibility to include the speak-off
on the fall meeting agenda and to secure regional judges and a
timekeeper. Judges or timekeepers shall not be related, in any way,
to contestants. At the regional level, directors from districts with
contestants cannot be judges or timekeepers.
Any
question arising during the state level speak-off shall be decided by
the Speak-off Committee of the Conservation Education Committee. At
regional meetings, questions shall be decided by the Regional
President. Contestants must speak at a regional meeting in order to compete at the state conference.
Call Patti Marfia at Loma Prieta RCD, for details:
408.847.4171