Example 4-WAY SPEECH CONTEST Letter

Dear (name of principal),

The Rotary Four Way Test speech contest offers an opportunity for educators to provide an ethical learning opportunity to young people. Your entire student population can be involved, usually through the English or History departments.

All students in participating classes should be asked to write a short essay on the subject: "What the Rotary Four Way Test Means to Me" that can be read in six minutes to their entire class. It is essential that the students not be limited in any way in their choice of topics. We should encourage innovation and creativity in their selection, even if it seems off-the-wall to us, or states a position that might be controversial or held only by a minority. The only criteria should be that the student's presentation must specifically relate the essay/speech to Rotary's Four Way Test. It can be humorous or serious, current or historical, commonplace or unique. The text only need incorporate in some manner each of the four tenets of the "Four Way Test of the Things We Think, Say or Do", which states the following:

Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"

More information about Rotary's Four Way Test can be found on the Rotary International web site at http://www.rotary.org/aboutrotary/4way.html .

Each entire class then should determine which of the essays is the best, in a manner conducted by the teacher. Those students then are asked to polish the effort into a speech of the same length to give to a selected group of teachers and Rotarians at a specially planned event at school no later than January 31.

Winners from each of the high schools in {YOUR COUNTY}, {YOUR STATE} will then present their speech to a {YOUR} Rotary Club Meeting on {YOUR MEETING DATE, TIME, PLACE}. The winner selected by the Rotarians will receive a {YOUR PRIZE AMOUNT} cash prize and continue into the Rotary District 6110 competition representing {YOUR} County and the {YOUR CLUB} Rotary Club.

The process followed for the complete competition from the club to district finals is described on the web page at

http://www.ri6110.org/4wayspeech.htm . The winner at the Rotary 6110 District Assembly in May will receive $1000. Each of the four runner-ups will receive $350.

The judging form is attached. (4 way test judging form download the form in adobe acrobat format here)

If your high school is interested in participating in this competition, please contact me with the name, phone number and email address of your school’s contest coordinator.

Yours in the Service of Rotary,