Formal Part of the Meeting
During the prepared speeches portion of the meeting, members deliver planned speeches based on their personal goals and Toastmasters learning projects. This allows them the opportunity to practise public speaking, build confidence, and develop stronger communication skills.
The Toastmaster hosts and conducts the meeting, introduces speakers, and keeps the meeting moving. This role is typically reserved for experienced members who are familiar with the club and its procedures.
What skills will I develop by serving as a Toastmaster?
- Organization
- Time management
- Public speaking
The Chairperson leads the meeting. The main duty of the Chair is to ensure that the meeting runs according to the agenda. At each point in the agenda, the Chairperson will introduce the new role.
What skills will I develop by serving as a Chairperson?
- Organization
- Time management
- Public speaking
Speaker
Every speaker is a role model, and club members learn from one another’s speeches. As a meeting speaker, you prepare, rehearse, and present a speech during the club meeting. You should arrive early to make sure the microphone, lectern, lighting, and other equipment are ready. Before speaking, you also meet with your evaluator to discuss your goals, strengths, and areas you would like feedback on.
What skills will I develop by serving as a speaker?
- Critical thinking
- Confidence
- Public speaking
Evaluations
During the evaluation portion of the meeting, speakers receive constructive and encouraging feedback on what they did well and where they can improve. Evaluations help members build confidence, strengthen their speaking skills, and continue growing from meeting to meeting.
The General Evaluator evaluates everything that takes place and gives feedback to improve future meetings. They are responsible for pointing out what worked well and what could be better next time.
What skills will I develop by serving as the General Evaluator?
- Critical thinking
- Organization
- Time management
- Motivation
- Team building
Each evaluator observes a speaker’s presentation and completes a written evaluation along with providing constructive comments in a brief evaluation speech.
What skills will I develop by serving as an evaluator?
- Active listening
- Critical thinking
- Positive feedback
The Table Topics Evaluator observes and provides feedback to all the table topics speakers as well as the table topics master.
What skills will I develop by serving as a table topics evaluator?
- Active listening
- Critical thinking
- Positive feedback
Other Meeting Roles
The Topics Master facilitates the Table Topics, the portion of the meeting in which members deliver brief, impromptu speeches. The Topics Master prepares and introduces the topics and determines the speaking order.
What skills will I develop by serving as the Table Topics Master?
- Organization
- Time management
- Facilitation
The Grammarian introduces new words to members, listens to the ways members speak and presents a verbal report at the end of the meeting. They help members improve language skills and stretch their vocabularies.
What skills will I develop by serving as an evaluator?
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- Critical listening
The Ah-Counter helps speakers keep track of the filler words and sounds they use and gives a report at the end of the meeting. Words may be inappropriate interjections such as and, well, but, so, you know. Sounds may be ah, um, er.
What skills will I develop by serving as the Ah-Counter?
- Observation
- Listening
The Timer helps to keep the meeting on schedule and times each speech using a stopwatch, timing lights or other device provided by your club. At the end of the meeting, they share timing records with club members.
What skills will I develop by serving as the timer?
- Time management
- Observation
The Quizmaster’s job is to test the audience’s listening skills. They must note various facts and figures mentioned throughout the meeting and prepare three questions.
What skills will I develop in this role?
- Listening
The role of the Joke Master is to find and present a suitable joke to the audience. It can be anything that will provide amusement and enable the audience to relax.
What skills will I develop in this role?
- Confidence
- Public speaking
The Invocation role is meant to uplift and motivate the audience; to invite participants to set an intention for self-improvement for the meeting.
What skills will I develop in this role?
- Confidence
- Public speaking
The Ballot Counter is responsible to gather the votes from all participants for the Best Speaker, Best Table Topics and Best Evaluator during the meeting.
The Toast Presenter role is designed to celebrate someone (supportive members, friendly audience, mentors, family, leaders, etc) or something (friendship, open communication, constructive feedback, diversity of our club, inclusivity, etc).
What skills will I develop in this role?
- Confidence
- Public speaking