Why do we keep coming back to Toastmasters?
And how can we make it more so?

Think about your "Toastmaster moments" - the experiences you have had that make you glad you joined Toastmasters. In general, these aren't just happy accidents - many of these experiences come from the design of the Toastmasters Educational and Leadership programs, and the actions and intentions we all have to make them happen. Here are some ideas and affirmations for how we can have more "Toastmaster moments" from toastmasters of District 4.

Fun!    Lab!    Life!    Roar!    Service!

Toastmasters is FUN!

Excitement! Entertainment! Recreation! Inspiration! Competition!

• In our next meeting, let us:
  • present non-traditional awards - and have acceptance speeches
  • create a non-traditional agenda
    • restaurant menu (10k PDF)
    • run the meeting backwards
    • draw all the roles out of a hat at the beginning of the meeting
    • court docket
  • meet in the park and have a picnic
  • meet at a movie  - and critique the film right afterwards
  • have a potluck - and talk about the dish you brought
  • have a white elephant auction
  • host a murder mystery special meeting
  • get whacky with the theme
    • historical characters - in costume
    • movie reveries
  • get whacky with table topics
    • tell a progressive story about politicians  / celebrities / our members
    • put on a skit in table topics
  • soap-box meeting on the beach / at the park: give speeches to passers-by
  • have a laugh counter report on how many jokes were told during the meeting
• Travel the world, meet interesting people - and talk to them.

The Toastmasters LABORATORY

Education - Support - Safety - Practice - Learning - Etiquette - Evaluation

• In our next meeting, let us:
  • practice a real business presentation
  • conduct a survey during the meeting of:
    • what each of us values / wants most from our club
  • invite a district officer / advanced toastmaster to present:
    • the TM organization outside the club
    • overview TM education past the CTM
  • conduct an Effective Evaluation workshop
  • video the speeches so we can get used to how we appear
  • be extra formal, acknowledging people's roles and educational accomplishments in introductions
• Try it here before you try it in The Real World...

THIS is YOUR Life!

Recognition - Attention - Appreciation - Networking - Ceremony - Traditions

• In the first meeting of each month we will conduct a 15 minute networking session
  • collect / hand out business cards and stories one-on-one
  • in table topics we are asked to describe what someone else does
• Once a month we will have a social meeting
  • "post toasties" - outside our club - at lunch after or dinner before
  • during the meeting - a 15 minute "social break"
• Once each quarter we will conduct a special meeting
  • invite a special guest (company executive / community leader / politician)
  • have a joint meeting with another club
• In our next meeting, let us:
  • have the toastmaster announce members' personal celebrations
    • birthdays, anniversaries, promotions
  • conduct the "club classifieds" - personal announcements / for sale / job wanted
  • celebrate speech milestones - icebreaker, 5th speech, final award speech
    • anticipate during club officer meetings, order pins / badges ahead
  • celebrate other toastmaster milestones
    • 1 / 5 / 10 years in toastmasters
  • report on attending toastmaster events outside the club
  • hand out ribbons for best speaker / evaluator / table topics
    • keep a log of winners
    • hand out "desk trophy" - conversation starter, comes back next meeting
• Get a life... at Toastmasters

I am a Toastmaster! Hear Me ROAR!

Personal growth - Empowerment - Confidence building - Inspire others

• In our next meeting, let us:
  • announce members' outside speaking engagements
• In a scheduled part of the first meeting of every month, let us:
  • share our "toastmaster moments" (success stories) outside the club
• Once each year conduct an awards dinner / lunch / breakfast
  • give annual club awards e.g. Toastmaster of the Year
  • have acceptance speeches
  • invite club alumnae to present speaking successes outside of club
• I was a 15 decibel weakling before I joined Toastmasters...

Service

Mentoring - Helping others - Meeting needs - Watching people grow - We make it all happen

• At our next club officer meeting, let us:
  • assign / offer a mentor to each member with 3 speeches or less
• Within the next 6 months, let our club:
  • conduct a general information workshop to the public using expertise of our members, e.g:
    • resume writing - and what hiring managers look for
    • job interview skills
  • conduct a Youth Leadership program at the school of one of our members' children
• I will seek district office in order to help clubs create "toastmaster moments" for their members
• Not to worry! I've been here before, I know the way...

Revised 06/05/2004