Toastmasters Meetings

What happens at a Toastmasters meeting?

Toastmasters clubs are all chartered and unique in their blend of experience while providing a consistent educational program in a safe space to learn and develop skills for better communication and leadership.

General meeting agenda:

      • Meetings opens with Chairperson toast and introductions.
      • 1-3 members will give prepared presentations following their individual path.
      • A networking break provides members and guests time to get to know each other and socialize.
      • Table Topics is a fun way to improve impromptu speaking. Questions and scenarios are presented, and various members and guests will provide a response.  There are no wrong answers and guest are not obligated to participate (although they are encouraged to).
      • Formal evaluations of the presentations provide members with helpful feedback on their presentations in an encouraging and supportive way.
      • End of meeting activities.
      • Note: Each club will be different in how they set their agenda, but this is the core of our meetings. These are key aspects of Toastmasters meetings, but the order and style in which a club organizes in a different way. You are welcome to visit multiple clubs to see which best suits you.

Each meeting is run by club members who take turns volunteering for head-table roles, this may include a Chairperson, Grammarian, Timekeeper, Toastmaster (think of an emcee), a Table Topics Master and a General Evaluator.  Some clubs will have other roles as well.

Each role helps develop different communication and leadership skills.

      • The Chairperson learns to manage a meeting, for both time and resources. This helps build skills used in business and volunteer organizations, enabling you to develop leadership skills.
      • The Grammarian listens for the use of crutch words and provides a Word of the Day. By tracking the use of these words that both hinder and help your vocabulary respectively, you become more aware of your use of them and a better communicator.
      • The Timekeeper tracks the timing of all parts of the meeting to ensure they run smoothly and on time. This skill helps you become more aware of and better at managing time, a valuable skill in all aspects of life.
      • The Toastmaster introduces speakers of the meeting and gives a segue between them. This helps with communication skills that are handy at weddings and special events.
      • The Table Topics Master comes up with scenarios to quiz attendees (according to a theme). This provides both the leader with skills in short public speaking and the participants the ability to think and speak on their feet.
      • Members who take the General Evaluator role improve their listening and evaluation skills to help improve individuals and the meetings as a whole.
      • Evaluators not only help their fellow members with constructive feedback on their presentations but also learn valuable skills that help in everyday situations.
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