Posted: 1 year ago

We've considered running a global essay contest for a couple years, but never figured out how to put it together.

• How do we choose a topic?
• How do we get the word out?
• How long should it run?
• How do we judge the entries?
• What would the prize be?

Larry Levenson
President 2009-2010
Prescott, Arizona USA
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Posted: 1 year ago

One of our members, Dr. Vimal Hemani, India, was planning a global essay contest on 'peace' a few years back. I helped him with the planning. You might contact him about this idea. He has been through the mill in the work that it takes and how to do this kind of global effort.

Posted: 1 year ago

This is a great idea.

I have worked on it, as Joe said, some years back. The topic we selected was peace. It was with the help of Rotary Club of Rajkot Midtown, Rotary Global History Fellowship and our club. It was for the Rotaractors globally. And if it works out well, we thought of making it a yearly affair. 

The topics were obviously related to peace.

If you are interested, please let me know, I have made rules and regulations for the same.

According to Rotary rule, we can not contact Rotaract clubs or Rotary clubs directly. So we decided to contact all the district governers and contact Rotaractors through social networking sites like facebook, LinkedIn, Orkut etc.

We decided one judges from RC Rajkot Midtown, 4 from RGHF and one from RECSWUSA. :)

About prizes... one 1st prize - $100 with a trophy, two 2nd - $50 with trophies, four 3rd - $ 25 with trophies, and 10 consolation prizes of $10 each. Plus all the participants get a certificate. These prizes were to be given at the convention at RGHF booth.

I am game for this project if I get proper help. Are you game? :) 

Posted: 1 year ago

My previous club, The Rotary Club of Victorville (California), had an annual essay contest called the 4-Way Test Essay Contest in which local high school students were invited to submit essays on a set topic for a given year. Winners presented to the club and received cash awards.

Posted: 1 year ago

I too am formerly from a District that sponsored a District-wide 4-way Test essay contest. I believe running it "globally" whatever that means to you - is no different than running it on a district-wide level. District 7950 encompasses some 70 clubs if I remember correctly so that is, in itself, a huge undertaking. Interestingly enough, I have proposed this same idea to my current Rotary Club - eClub 7890 - and we are looking into it. The beauty for us is that our members are scattered so that makes it a little easier to coordinate. Members would simply publicize the event in their geographic locations - the way we currently publicize our scholarship application - and a committee of eClubbers will be the judges. As far as prizes go, my preference for our Club is to give scholarships to the 4 top winners and all others will receive recognition certificates or Rotary paraphernalia. Good luck!

Posted: 1 year ago

My former Rotary club had the 4-way test essay contest with one middle school in our geographic location.  I believe we gave a $100 gift card to Old Navy for the first place winner and a $75 gift card to the second place winner.   If my memory serves me correctly, I think the District had one, as well, among the Youth Exchange and gave prizes at District Conference.   I'll be happy to help you with it, whatever direction you take it. 

Posted: 7 months ago

We state a goal, we form a committee, create a review board, set topics, create awards, and get the word out via our marketing muscle. Maybe we make the committee first.

I volunteer to be on that committee. This has been a dream/goal of mine since the day I said 'yes' to joining this conundrum.

Trying to get without first giving is as fruitless as trying to reap without having first sown.

It does not do to leap a 20 ft chasm in two ten foot jumps.

Posted: 7 months ago

There is a comment made by Vimal that you 'cannot contact clubs'. Why? Clubs contact each other all the time? What am I missing?