January 2024
 
First of all, Happy New Year.
 
The goals for this year continue to be the same since we have had the honor to lead the District Youth Speech Contest (DYSC) Committee:
  • Achieve 100% club participation.
  • Establish a self-sustaining model for funding leadership prize awards for the participants.
We are requesting the help of every Club and Area in achieving the two goals:
 
Achieve 100% club participation.
With the passing of Rick King, we believe that one of the best ways to honor him would be the "participation" of every club in the district. This could take the form of any (or all) of the following:
  • Conduct a Club contest
  • Partner with another club to conduct a contest
  • Sponsor the Area contest or Southern/Northern Regional contest
  • Participate in the DYSC Sponsorship Program (In fact a $25 sponsor level has been added to enable all clubs and D5170 Rotarians to participate.)
Establish a self-sustaining model for funding leadership prize awards for the participants.
The DYSC Sponsorship Program has begun to accumulate funds in a restricted account in the D5170 Charitable Foundation. This enables the commitment to higher prize levels at the beginning of the Rotary year, prior to the collection of sponsor funds for that year. As "excess" funds are collected, budgets will be proposed to provide more support for leadership prizes, as well as support for clubs that have not been able to fund their own contests in the past.
 
Club Presidents and Youth Service Chairs will receive another request for their Speech Contest Chair info to which they should respond. Finally, with regards to the Area and Regional Contests, we are working with the Areas and Clubs to finalize the plans and the information will be updated in Key Dates.
 
And, how about the Prize Money?
 
Regards,
Debi and Mark
 
Debi Pavlecic-Bischoff, DYSC Chair
Mark Linsky, DYSC, Vice Chair
District 5170 Speech Contest Committee
 
Thanks to our 2024 Sponsors