ICCFS Tournament Documents!

Hello, everyone! I hope you are all doing well!
As many of you probably already know, there is an ICCFS (Institute for Cultural Communicator's Forensics Society) tournament coming up in Colorado. This is an amazing opportunity to learn and grow in confidence, as well as get tips from people in the community on how to improve your (or your student's) speech! While talking to our chapter parents, there was a suggestion to post the links to the documents you will need to use when going to a tournament, so without further delay:
Click here to access the event rules and descriptions for tournament events.
Click here for the script submission forms of different events. (This link will take you to a page, scroll to the bottom of the page and you will see a section titled "script submission forms". Find the event that you (or your student) will be competing in, and click on it. That will bring you to a page for the script submission form for that specific event.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at jyharpforyou@gmail.com, or you can contact Mrs. Yuen at outloudjilly@gmail.com.

-Jocelyn

Living OUT LOUD

Wow! This year has gone by fast. We have been to many different platforms out in

the community and I am so glad that I got to be a part of loving our community. We’ve

been to retirement homes, libraries, a home for mentally disabled adults and many more

platforms our members have set-up on their own.


 This last Wednesday we had the privilege to  present at Mountain View Care Center retirement home. We have been to this retirement home a few times and I have always very much enjoyed going. But this

week going to Mountain View was different. We were short on presentations and we

had an hour to fill. I didn’t really know what to do, and for some reason I wasn’t at all

stressed about how many presentations we had. My intension for this platform was

to present and then spend the rest of the time speaking to the residents.  That is what we did and it was truly

amazing. I saw faces light up as we came up and shook their hands, and as little kids

came and asked the residents how their day was going. I realized that this was what a platform

actually is. A platform isn't about the amount of speeches we have, and who attends from our chapter.

Those things are good but the real reason is to spend time with the people in our

community and show them Christ’s light by our attitudes and actions.

 Right before we were about to leave one of the residents got up and read us a letter. This letter was

addressed to us and talked about how much we had blessed them and how thankful

they were for us. I was truly blessed by these people and I learned what a platform

really is all about. It’s about showing love.....It’s about caring....It’s about giving your

time....It’s about showing Christ. It’s all about LIVING OUT LOUD!

Thank You OUT LOUD pouring out your life to the community!

with JOY,

Your Community Ambassador, Kaylin Rutkowski

What's so awesome about tournaments, anyway?

I went to my first tournament two years ago. As a first-timer for a tournament, I can remember not really being sure what to expect. I was nervous, but beyond that, I wasn’t sure how things were going to work, or how I was going handle everything. I’ve been to quite a few tournaments since then, and one thing remains consistent; I always learn a lot. 

There are a lot of things I can think of personally that make a tournament experience valuable, and...almost none of them have anything to do with competition. ICC’s focus is on blessing the community, so it isn’t really a surprise that it worked that way for me. 

When I went to my first tournament, I learned that tournaments are helpful because they help to set a deadline. I was working on a speech for YSG at the time, and was dragging my feet on it. When I decided that I was going to do that speech at the tournament, I suddenly had a deadline that was very fast approaching. Because I’m a person that’s pretty deadline-driven, I found it helpful to have a set time that I had to be done, and a standard that was beyond something that I could give myself. 

Another thing that the tournament gave me is a good grasp of ways I could improve my speech. Since I’d be giving my speech in the community, having evaluators from the community is great guidance. The short two or three minutes of critique that we give at chapter are useful, but having two or three ballots for one speech in just one round, really helped me get a good perspective. I was able to see patterns with many people telling me the same things, which helped me to weigh which things I should keep in my speech, and what exactly I could improve on. 

On average, most of us don’t speak on a platform two or three times a day with up to four or five speeches. The tournament gives the opportunity to do just that. Like so many other things, the more you speak in the public, the more comfortable you get with it. Being scheduled to speak as much as I was at the tournament boosted my confidence so much. It didn’t make me want more competition, but it did make me more confident and willing to command the public platform. 

The tournament isn’t something that’s necessary for communication, but it does teach you a lot in a short amount of time. I’m still learning from the tournaments. Chances are, if you go to one, you’ll see me there. Until then, though, I hope this gave you a good glimpse of what a tournament is all about.

Jocelyn

Unexpected Blessings on the Road to ICC Leadership

During the most recent CFC fall tour conference, I had the privilege of serving as an
Apprentice 2. The Apprentice 2 program is a new step in the ICC leadership ladder.
Being a part of this program really broadens your view of what it means to be an intern.

This year’s team included five other amazing servant leaders, and I had a fabulous
time working with all of them! In addition to the objectives of an Apprentice, this role
allows one to be a role-model and a leader to other apprentices and students. One of the
jobs I had this year, was BPS Point Person. In this job, I was asked to shadow the BPS
coordinator interns helping with anything that was needed.

I learned many different things in this position, but something that really stuck with me
was knowing that God has a reason for everything. I remember it was the first day and
we were supposed to be doing open activities outside. It rained. Not knowing what
to do, we decided to move the students to the third floor in three different rooms. And
you know, it went wonderfully, even if it wasn’t what we had in mind. Being part of
the Apprentice 2 program allowed me to see how much the Lord was a part of that
conference.

I encourage you to consider whether God would have you seek being part of the
Apprentice 2 program. You have to be 15 years or older; serve as an Apprentice a
minimum of two different times; and have a letter of recommendation from your Chapter
Sponsor. I had a blast doing this, even though sometimes it was a little overwhelming
and tiring. I thank God for giving me this opportunity.
Until next time,

Your Community Ambassador,

Kaylin Rutkowski!

WHY, OH WHY??

We have our second homework assignment.  A recitation.

I know a lot of kids wonder why they need to do a recitation.  I know a lot of parents think it is because it is (hopefully) an easy piece to memorize and is just to get their kids comfortable being in front of people.

I want to challenge both sets of people with the following video.  It is a group recitation that the interns did as a small devotional.  It is powerful and impactful.

So, even if your kids are doing a cute, or funny, or SHORT recitation.....you never know who it might impact.    Keep them at it!!

The Lion's Den?? INDEED!

Ever feel like Daniel in the lion's den? I had a day like that yesterday. Or rather my son did.Yesterday, I had to miss my first chapter meeting as a chapter sponsor. I have shingles and I am quarantined. My kids, however, are fine and non-contagious so they were allowed to go. Good thing - one was giving a speech and the other was teaching! And then there was my 6 year old.Before I tell you Gecko's story, I should back up a couple of weeks to the Parent's Informational Meeting that I had. For those of you there, you may remember me implicitly saying, "If your SIX year old balks at coming to a conference or chapter, do not tell them they don't have to go! Encourage them in every way and take them. Don't back down. If they are a believer, they are called to give an answer for the hope that is within them. We want to help train them to do that effectively, in a non-intimidating, fun and exciting environment. Don't give them the out. You will be amazed at what your six or even your nervous 16 year old can do!" And I meant it! I have seen kids come through this all the time.Yesterday, I saw it happen in my own home!As Angi Rutkowski, our Assistant Chapter Sponsor, and our student leader team and member students got ready to leave my house for the meeting (Gecko, my SIX year old son's first meeting), Gecko began hysterics! I mean REAL hysterics. He screamed, he cried, he blubbered about how scared he was to go. I reassured him that ICC only wants to make it easy for kids to speak and so everything would be fun! I told him this was how we would learn to talk well about Jesus to others. I told him he needed to face his fear so he can go to the conference and see his sister while she is here. I told him he just needed to do it this one time and it would be easier after this. Nothing worked. My husband put him in the car, as my words to the parents at our info meeting went through my head...."Don't give them an out!".....As Angi backed out of my driveway, Gecko OPENED THE CAR DOOR so he could try to jump out of the MOVING vehicle! That is how frightened my son was to speak in front of ANYONE. I am a Chapter Sponsor, one of my daughters is the chair of our chapter, one daughter is almost done with YSG 1 at 12 years old, my last daughter is TOURING with ICC as an intern, for goodness sake....but here was my son, who would rather risk life and limb than have to speak in front of people. I had a choice. Keep him home, or throw him in the Lion's Den.Anyone who was at the meeting yesterday knows that I threw him in the den. You know what the beautiful thing about the Lion's Den is? God shows up. In BIG ways. He overcame my son's fear enough that he was willing to give OUT LOUD a try. As the rest of us prayed, God gave him courage to face one of his greatest fears. Public Speaking.As of today, Gecko STILL won't stop talking about the "TON of fun" he had yesterday! He is searching high and low for the perfect recitation piece to give at the next meeting....in front of people. And he is excited to share Jesus.I know that some of you may have felt like you were throwing your kids into the Lion's Den, too. But, trust me, with your encouragement and OUT LOUD's training and activities, God can really show up! Give your kids every chance to be strong and courageous! God will do the rest. Even in Public Speaking!

• Here is a slide show. When you watch it, you can see why my son...and your kids, too....come to enjoy Public Speaking!

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!

www.onetruemedia.com

YSG ICCE CREAM SOCIAL

YSG stands for Young Speakers Guild.  It is a three phase curriculum that ICC Chapter students from ages 11-18 may participate in.  YSG books focus the student first on God and Scripture to meditate on and pray about the purpose they are speaking.  After studying the Word, they move on to preparing for the audience that God has laid on their heart.  This might include research, interviewing, reading, praying and discussing current issues.  Once they have determined their message and their audience, they present these speeches to their audience in the community.

Each level of YSG that the student completes offers them more opportunity to serve in leadership with their chapter and at national events.  Once a student completes all three phases of YSG, they may be inducted into the Young Speakers Guild.  Because of the development of their character and competence through this program and their service within their chapter, community and ICC, they are then eligible for all new levels of opportunity nationally and internationally with ICC.

YSG students take public speaking to a whole new level.  They are committed not just to character and competence development, but also to teaching, leading and serving in all areas.

Oh yeah....they also have a LOT of fun!!

We just had an ICCe Cream Social for the YSG students to get to know one another and to see how much fun public speaking can be.  Once or twice a year, YSG students who complete a level of YSG will be invited to a party to celebrate their commitment and their progression.

If you have a student who is 11 older (or you ARE a student 11 or older), I hope that you will encourage them to grow through our YSG program.  Feel free to contact me regarding any questions you might have!  outloudjilly@gmail.com

ET Two Line Vocabulary
Teaches:  Limited Prep, Interpretation

WOW (Who, Object, Where)
In this case Teletubby, Rubik's Cube, in The Fiery Furnace
Teaches:  Interpretation, Limited Prep

I Came, I Saw, I Conquered
Teaches:  Persuasive, Limited Prep, Most Platform Speeches

Toy Story/Star Wars/Megamind/Jetsons Two Line Vocabulary