The Toastmaster

The Toastmaster is the emcee for the meeting. It is the Toastmaster's job to:

• Review the meeting’s agenda
• Introduce each speaker
• Form a bridge between the various parts of the meeting.

 

The Table-Topics Master

Helps members increase extemporaneous (i.e., “off the cuff”) speaking skills by asking members to speak for one to two minutes about a surprise topic. The intent is to have members think creatively and quickly on their feet.

 

• States various questions to members that are requested to stand up and respond with an impromptu answer. Answers to these questions do not necessarily need to be true.
• Guests can participate if they are comfortable in doing so.
• Scheduled Speakers and Evaluators should not participate in this portion of the meeting so that members who don’t have an assigned task for the evening get an opportunity to speak. Assigned members can be called if there is additional time, or if attendance happens to be low.

 

The Speakers

Present prepared speeches, based on projects in the Toastmaster’s Basic or Advanced Communications Manuals. The manuals provide structure and guidance to improve skills such as organization, vocabulary, vocal variety, and body language.

 

The Evaluators

Provide constructive feedback in oral and written form. Evaluations are highly encouraging and provide a positive learning experience for all.

 

The General Evaluator

• Introduces the evaluation team members,
• Evaluates how well the evaluators did their jobs
• Evaluates the overall meeting in order to provide positive feedback to improve future meetings.

The Timer

• Keeps time of each segment of the meeting (time frames outlined below),
• Operates Green, Yellow, and Red signal lights to quietly inform the speaker of the time.
• At the end of each segment, the Timer gives a report on how long each person spoke for. This not only affords members the opportunity to learn concise speaking, but it gets them comfortable with speaking for set time periods, which can be very difficult if you’re nervous or caught up in the moment of your speech.
  

Table-Topics 1:30 minutes	Regular Speech 5 – 7 minutes	Short Speech 3 – 5 minutes	Evaluations 3:00 minutes
Green :45 seconds	Green 5:00 minutes	Green 3:00 minutes	Green 2:00 minutes
Yellow 1:00 minute	Yellow 6:00 minutes	Yellow 4:00 minutes	Yellow 2:30 minutes
Red 1:30 minutes	Red 7:00 minutes	Red 5:00 minutes	Red 3:00 minutes
Grace :30 seconds	Grace 1:00 minute	Grace :30 seconds	Grace :15 seconds

 

 

The Grammarian

Comments on the use of English during the course of the meeting. Being grammarian is truly an exercise in expanding your listening skills.

• Introduce “Word of the Day”
• Listen to everyone’s word usage and write down any awkward use or misuse of language (incomplete sentences, sentences that change direction midstream, incorrect grammar, malapropism, etc.)
• Records the number of times and those who have used (or incorrectly used) the “Word of the Day.”
• During the General Evaluator segment of the meeting, you will be asked to give the results of your data.

The Ah Counter

Counts the number of times each person uses unnecessary filler such as “ah”, “uh”, “well, “but”, “you know”, and “um” instead of a stately pause.

Listen and record inappropriate interjections, double clutches (i.e. “I, I” or “ This means, this means”) and favorite or crutch words used by speakers and participants.

When called on by the General Evaluator during the evaluation segment, you will be asked to give the results of your data.

 

The Vote Counter

Tallies all the votes and announces winners at the end of the meeting. If there is a tie, it is the Vote Counters privilege to make the tie breaking decision for the winner.

 

The Joke Master
Tells a joke. This lightens up the meeting and puts everybody in a good mood.

 

All participants (How to address the group)

To get comfortable with speaking even in the most formal of settings, members try to address each other in a formal manner during the Toastmaster’s meetings. Here are some common examples of how to respond when you’re called upon to participate.

 

• Stand-up next to your chair and thank whoever called on you or introduced you. For example, if you were asked to answer a question during a Table-Topics exercise, you would stand, and might start your response with:
  
  

Thank-you Madam (or Mister) Table-Topics Master, Fellow Toastmasters, and most welcomed Guests…

In addition to sounding very polite, it buys you time to think of a response.

• It is appropriate to address everyone in this manner before you speak during a meeting. Some other examples include:

 

“Thank-you, Madam Toastmaster”

“Thank-you, Mr. Table-Topics Master ”

“Fellow Toastmasters and most welcomed guests…”

“Fellow Toastmasters and our most honored guests…”