THE PURPOSE OF THE OPTIMIST HELP THEM HEAR PROGRAM

Is to provide a forum for as many hearing impaired children as possible regardless of communication method, to help them overcome the difficulties of communication.

If you would like to read the transcript of an actual speech given by one of the Pacific Southwest District finalists, click here!

Special medals and Optimist pins were designed for all contestants showing the love hand sign. In addition there was a special Optimist Creed Plaque and a special Love pin with the Optimist emblem in the palm and "Optimist Help Them Hear" around the outside of the hand. These pins were sold to help raise money to fund the $2,000 in scholarships that are awarded.

There are two divisions in the contest - Oral and Total. Within the deaf community there are many methods of communication and the teaching of the deaf. Whether a deaf child learns to communicate orally or with one of the many sign languages is up to that child and his /her parents. The Optimist purpose is to provide a forum to help as many youth as possible whatever their communication choice.

The dictionary defines "deaf' as any hearing impairment. Many of the contestants in the final have a severe-profound to profound hearing loss. Many students who have participated in the Oral Division may annually have a greater hearing loss than those in the total division.

THE HEARING IMPAIRED CONTEST
IS DIVIDED INTO FOUR MAIN AREAS:

  1. Personal Qualities
    • (Appearance, poise, personality, attitude) = 20 Points

  2. Material Organization
    • (Subject adherence, theme, value, logic, color) = 40 Points

  3. Delivery and Presentation
    • (Gestures, sincerity and emphasis) = 20 Points

  4. Overall Effectiveness
    • (Appeal, impression, effect) = 20 Points

Penalties:

  1. Failure to announce subject title
  2. Time penalties
  3. Use of props
  4. Self identification

HISTORY

The Optimists have been conducting oratorical contests since 1928. The Hearing Impaired Contest (CCHI) started in our own Pacific Southwest District as club contests. An optimist in Orange County and then one in Van Nuys felt that the Optimist Oratorical Contest did not provide a forum that the hearing impaired could use. So they started a separate contest in 1980. Through the efforts of many, at a convention on June 29 through July 3, 1991, in Nashville, Tennessee, the Optimist International Board of Directors accepted a proposal to make the CCHI an international program for all Districts.

THE JOSEPH GREENBERG MEMORIAL AWARD

This award is presented to the contestant who is voted the most sharing. The contestants vote for this award among themselves. This is the tenth year we have presented this award in honor of past District Governor Joseph Greenberg. The trophy is provided by his club, The Optimist Club of North Hollywood.

If you have not read the transcript of an actual speech given by one of the Pacific Southwest District finalists, and wish to do so, click here.

Back to the SCV Optimist Club page.