A Typical Club Meeting
The purpose of Toastmasters is to help
members overcome apprehensions about speaking in public
and to improve communication skills.
This is accomplished by providing a self-paced,
focused speaking program with a supportive, experienced
group of people to assist you. This mutual support will
help you become more effective in several skills, including
formal public presentations, individual communications,
impromptu speaking situations, managing and participating
in meetings, and leading and managing people.
The chief mechanism in developing these
skills is through the typical club meeting, which is
designed to provide an opportunity to practice various
techniques in a variety of situations. A normal Toastmasters
meeting will therefore contain a number of individual
sections within the meeting, as described below.
Table Topics
During this portion of the meeting, club members (and sometimes guests)
practice impromptu speaking by responding to questions or suggestions prepared
by the Table Topics Master.
Prepared Speeches
In this section, a few members of the club practice their public speaking
skills by giving a prepared presentation from the Communication
and Leadership Program manual (or from other advanced
manuals). Each project in every manual has a specific
objective in an area that helps members practice different
speaking techniques. These objectives are designed as
guidelines to help you think about the various qualities
that comprise a good speech. Some members may be just
starting out, while others may be further advanced.
Remember, though, that all Toastmasters began just as
you did, and as you learn more from each speech you
make, you will be able to reach and exceed what you
see in your first meetings.
Evaluations
During this portion, members practice their listening and learning
skills. A few members will give evaluations of the prepared
speeches, and of the meeting as a whole. These evaluations
provide feedback of how the evaluators saw the presenters
and will point out the positive aspects of the speech
and some possible areas for improvement. Good evaluations
are the hallmark of good Toastmasters.
Roles in a Meeting
Other members fill a number of roles in order to help the meeting
flow smoothly and improve the quality of the meeting.
- The Toastmaster prepares and leads the meeting as
"host".
- The Table Topics Master leads the impromptu speaking
portion.
- The General Evaluator conducts the evaluation portion.
- The Timer supports everyone by reminding them of
their use of time.
- The Um-Ah Counter tracks annoying speaking habits,
so that speakers can become aware of and correct them.
Business Meeting
During this portion, the club's business is handled. At the same time, the
club practices effective meeting management skills, so that business can
be handled quickly and efficiently. Visiting a Club If you would like to
learn more about Toastmasters meetings, the best way to do so would be
to visit a club.
District 4 Clubs
Click here to find a club that suits your needs.
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