CONTESTS
2026-2027 Contests
District 30 Speech Contests celebrate excellence in communication and leadership by providing members with the opportunity to showcase their speaking skills, inspire audiences, and advance through the Toastmasters contest process. These events strengthen member engagement, recognize achievement, foster learning through observation and evaluation, and unite clubs, areas, divisions, and the District in a shared commitment to personal growth and excellence.
Features
- Showcases the District’s top speakers in a structured, professional competition.
- Provides members with opportunities to compete and advance through contest levels.
- Demonstrates outstanding communication, storytelling, and presentation techniques.
- The International Speech Contest leads up to a large audience venue representing contestants from around the world to be awarded the World Champion of Public SpeakingÂ
Benefits
- Inspires members to pursue excellence in public speaking and leadership.
- Encourages continuous learning by observing accomplished speakers.
- Builds confidence, resilience, and poise in contestants.
- Strengthens relationships and collaboration across clubs and divisions.
- Promotes member recognition, engagement, and pride in the District and the Toastmasters experience.
Categories
- Humorous Speech Contest
- Table Topics Speech Contest (Impromptu Speaking)
- Evaluation Speech Contest
- International Speech Contest (Projecting a Global Message)
- Tall Tales Speech Contest
- Online Speech Contest
Contest Schedule
| Date | Area Event | Lead | Location | Doors Open | Start Time or 1st Place TT Winner | End Time or 1st Place ISC Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, February 19, 2026 | B21 | AD Cheryl Duda | Harper College, building D, room D-193 | Susan Haslwanter | Seung-Hee Kyung-Lee | |
| Tuesday, February 24, 2026 | B22 | PQd, DivD, AD | Harper College, building D, room D-193 | Dave Kluge | Alan Steiner | |
| Wednesday, February 25, 2026 | B24 | Kerroy Campbell | Harper College, building D, room D-193 | Rob Herrmann | Susan Woods | |
| Thursday, February 26, 2026 | D34 | AD Flora Wu | Des Plaines Library, 1501 Ellinwood St, Des Plaines, IL 60016 | Barbara Laane | Brian Huang | |
| Saturday, February 28, 2026 | B23 | Muxiang Pajerski | Schaumburg Library, Central Library 130 South Roselle Road,Schaumburg, IL 60193 Adult Classroom | Sherry Geiwald | Rudy Segovia | |
| Monday, March 2, 2026 | D31 | Natalie Mylinski | contact D31@D30Toastmasters.org | Cancelled | Cancelled | |
| Wednesday, March 4, 2026 | E62 | Steve Sundstrom | One Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Ave., Evanston, IL 60201 | Mark Parnaby | Dheeraj Raina | |
| Sunday, March 22 before E61 | E64 | Ted Spieser | Chicago Public Library - Roden Branch, 6083 N Northwest Highway, Norwood Park | Confirm with PQD and E64@D30Toastmasters.org | ||
| Saturday, March 7, 2026 | W74 | Mani | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | |
| Monday, March 9, 2026 | N42 | Lori Grauer N42@D30Toastmasters.org | Gurnee Police Department 100 O'Plaine Rd, Gurnee, IL 60031 | 6:00PM | Jeff Stein | Sue Karmas |
| Saturday, March 19, 2026 | N43 | John Labbe N43@D30Toastmasters.org | Lake Villa Public Library | 5:30:00 PM | 6:00:00 PM | |
| Wednesday, March 11, 2026 | D32 | Stan Wertelka | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| Saturday, March 14, 2026 | W71 | Venkata | Naper Blvd Library - 2035 S. Naper Blvd. 60565 | 2:00:00 PM | ||
| Saturday, March 19, 2026 | N41 | Bonnie Sweet | Lake Villa Public Library | 5:30:00 PM | 6:00:00 PM | |
| Saturday, March 19, 2026 | N44 | Glenn Sutton | Lake Villa Public Library | 5:30:00 PM | 6:00:00 PM | |
| Saturday, March 21, 2026 | W73 | Marian Stricker | Naperville 95th Street Library | 3:00PM | 4:30P | |
| Sunday, March 22, 2026 | E61 | Stella Lorens | Chicago Public Library - Roden Branch, 6083 N Northwest Highway, Norwood Park | 1:00PM | ||
| Monday, March 23, 2026 | E63 | Sabeel Ahmed | Unity Islamic Center, 8944 Austin Ave, Morton Grove | 6:00PM | 7:00PM | |
| Saturday, March 21, 2026 | W72 | Craig Lloyd | Naperville 95th Public Library | 2:00PM | 3:00PM | |
| Sunday, March 22, 2026 | D33 | Chicago Public Library - Roden Branch, 6083 N Northwest Highway, Norwood Park | contact PQD@D30Toastmasters.org for location | |||
| Sunday, March 29, 2026 | Division Contests Begin for Tall Tales and International Speech | N/A | ||||
| Saturday, April 11, 2026 | Division D | Stan Wertelka​ | Harper , Z102 | 11AM | ||
| Saturday, April 11, 2026 | Division B | Don WIlliams | Harper College Z building, room Z-102. | noon | 3:00:00 PM | |
| Saturday, April 18, 2026 | Division N | Liz Hutson | Gurnee Police Department 100 O'Plaine Rd, Gurnee, IL 60031 | 8:30:00 AM | 9:00 AM | 12:00:00 PM |
| Saturday, April 18, 2026 | Division W | PQD, DivD | Naperville Public Library, 95th Street | 1:00PM | ||
| Sunday, April 19, 2026 | Division E | Syed | Muslim Education Center, 8601 Menard Ave, Morton Grove | 1:00PM | 5:00PM | |
| Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | District 30 Online Speech Contest | Patti / John | https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6pItBZGETii_XUvryRYBuQ | 7:00PN | 9:00:00 PM | |
| Friday, May 8, 2026 | District Conference – Day 1-Tall Tales | Harper College, Wojcik Center-Bldg W 1200 West Algonquin Road Palatine, IL 60067 | ||||
| Saturday, May 9, 2026 | District Conference – Day 2-ISC | Harper College, Wojcik Center-Bldg W 1200 West Algonquin Road Palatine, IL 60067 |
| Date | Division Event | Lead | Location | Doors Open | Start Time or 1st Place TT Winner | End Time or 1st Place ISC Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, March 29, 2026 | Division Contests Begin for Tall Tales and International Speech | N/A | ||||
| Saturday, April 11, 2026 | Division D | Stan Wertelka​ | Harper , Z102 | 11AM | ||
| Saturday, April 11, 2026 | Division B | Don WIlliams | Harper College Z building, room Z-102. | noon | 3:00:00 PM | |
| Saturday, April 18, 2026 | Division N | Liz Hutson | Gurnee Police Department 100 O'Plaine Rd, Gurnee, IL 60031 | 8:30:00 AM | 9:00 AM | 12:00:00 PM |
| Saturday, April 18, 2026 | Division W | PQD, DivD | Naperville Public Library, 95th Street | 1:00PM | ||
| Sunday, April 19, 2026 | Division E | Syed | Muslim Education Center, 8601 Menard Ave, Morton Grove | 1:00PM | 5:00PM | |
| Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | District 30 Online Speech Contest | Patti / John | https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6pItBZGETii_XUvryRYBuQ | 7:00PN | 9:00:00 PM | |
| Friday, May 8, 2026 | District Conference – Day 1-Tall Tales | Harper College, Wojcik Center-Bldg W 1200 West Algonquin Road Palatine, IL 60067 | ||||
| Saturday, May 9, 2026 | District Conference – Day 2-ISC | Harper College, Wojcik Center-Bldg W 1200 West Algonquin Road Palatine, IL 60067 | ||||
District 2025-2026 Winners
District 30
| Online Speech Contest | Susan Woods | EH2 | Arlington Heights Club | 5/4/2026 |
| Tall Tales | Rob Hermann | PM1 | Mount Prospect Club | 5/8/2026 |
| International Speech Contest | Rudy Segovia | DTM | Northwest Surburban Club | 5/9/2026 |
District 103
| Contest 1 | Winner | Title | Club Name | Date |
| Contest 2 | Winner | Title | Club Name | Date |
| Contest 3 | Winner | Title | Club Name | Date |
Meet the winners
District 30 has a long history of mentoring, supporting, and producing remarkable speakers.
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