Toastmasters club meetings provide an opportunity for members to learn and practice communication and leadership skills by assuming a variety of roles. Each meeting role has a unique set of responsibilities and skills for you to explore.
Each speaker prepares and presents a speech based on a project assignment from their learning path in Pathways.
What skills will I develop by serving as a speaker?
- Critical thinking
- Confidence
- Public speaking
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
For more information use Speech Evaluator Form
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
To prepare for this role use the Chairperson Role Form
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
More information on the Toastmasters Form
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
More information on the General Evaluator Form
The Topicsmaster 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
Find more information about the role on the Table Topics Form
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
To make it easier use the Table Topics Evaluator Form
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 the Grammarian?
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- Critical listening
- Evaluation
More information about the role on the Grammarian Role Form
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
Use the Ah Counter Role Form
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
Timing instructions and more information on the Timer Role Form
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 Quizmaster’s job is to test the audience’s listening skills. They have to make note of various facts and figures mentioned throughout the meeting and prepare 3 questions.
What skills will I develop in this role?
- Listening
For your convenience use the Quizmaster Role Form
The Toast 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
More information on this role HERE
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.
You can use the Ballot Counter Form to keep organized.
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
You can find a few samples on this Form