A Toastmaster Wears Many Hats
As a Toastmaster, you will have an opportunity to serve in many capacities at the club meetings. By participating in all functions, you will receive well-rounded experience in communication and leadership.
When you are the:
| Speaker | Speeches are prepared based on manual project objectives and generally last from 5 to 7 minutes (ice breaker speech is 4-6 minutes) for projects from the Basic Manual; and 8 or more minutes from the Advanced Manuals. There are typically 3 assigned speakers at each club meeting. |
| Evaluator | Provides a speaker with a written and oral evaluation of the speech. The evaluation outline for each speech is provided in the project manual. The purpose of the evaluation is to provide the speaker with constructive feedback on the speech, including encouragement and areas for improvement. |
| Timer | Responsible for ensuring the timeliness of each speaking participant. One goals of Toastmasters is to express thoughts and conduct a meeting within an allotted timeframe. |
| Table Topics Master | Provides an opportunity to practice "thinking on your feet." Prepares a variety of topics for impromptu discussion by each meeting attendee. |
| General Evaluator | Introduces the evaluation team (speech evaluators, timer, ah counter) and provides an evaluation of anything and everything that takes place throughout the meeting to ensure the meeting is conducted in an orderly, timely and smooth manner. |
| Toastmaster | The Master of Ceremonies for the meeting. Introduces participants, keeps the meeting moving at a constant pace and creates an atmosphere of interest, expectation and receptivity. |
| Grammarian | Listens intently throughout the meeting for exceptional and poor uses of the English language and provides an oral report at the end of the meeting. |
| Ah Counter | Listens for unnecessary words and sounds used as a crutch or filler by anyone who speaks during the meeting and provides an oral report at the end of the meeting. |
| Word Master | Introduces a new vocabulary word to the attendees to be incorporated into speech throughout the meeting. |
| Joke Master | Provides a humorous anecdote at the end of the meeting. |
| Invocation/Pledge | Leads the club in the Pledge of Allegiance and provides a toast, prayer, quote to begin the meeting on a motivating note. |
| Inspiration | Provides a closing statement at the end of the meeting to inspire and motivate participants. |
