|
Each meeting has an agenda, organised by the 'Toastmaster'
of the day. Some meetings are quite different from others, especially
if there is a competition or special theme.
The meetings will
consist of the following people:
- Sergeant at Arms (sets up the meeting
room)
- the Toastmaster (runs the meeting,
introduces the speakers of each section)
- Speakers (formal speeches from the
club manuals - see below)
- Evaluators (give an evaluation of all
the speakers)
- Table Topics Master (there the audience
is randomly asked to do sort, unprepared speeches - usually quite
fun)
- the Timer (helps keep speeches within
time and the meeting on time)
- and a few other roles
|
Club Manuals give
the guidelines and ideas for the speeches.
When someone begins Toastmasters, they begin with the 'Competent Communicator
Manual'. This manual gives the speaker a list of themes, ten in total.
Each speech sets progressive challenges for speakers.
- The Icebreaker - introducing yourself,
the beginner, to the club
- Organise your Speech - sort your speech
into logical thoughts
- Get to the Point - learn to speak with
sincerity
- How to Say It - getting rid of the
jargon, targeting the audience
- Your Body Speaks
- using body movements and gestures
- Vocal Variety - controlling your volume
and pitch
- Research your Topic - collecting and
presenting information from various sources
- Get Comfortable with Visual Aids - using props
effectively
- Persuade with Power
- get the audience to see your point of view
- Inspire your Audience - your most important
speech so far
|
The other main manual is the 'Competent Leader' manual. This is the other parallel track in learning,
but it doesn't involve speeches as such. It guides you through a leadership course which involves
criteria such as running meetings, evaluating, running contests, and contributing
to the club in almost every other area. It's a true course that is developed for the leader in you.
Once you've done
these first Competent Communicator speeches, you start the advanced manuals, and
the fun continues!
The advanced manuals have specialised topics such as:
- The Entertaining
Speaker
- Speaking to Inform
- Technical Presentations
- Storytelling
- Public Relations and
- The Professional Salesperson
Each manual has five speeches. You will
never be short of ideas!
|
A few key points to note:
- when a speaker is evaluated by someone, it always
consists of recommendations and commendations. It's always positive
and is a great learning experience
- everyone gets an evaluated during the meeting, even
the Toastmaster of the day
- the evaluators learn by fine-tuning their listening
skills and giving constructive criticism
- the audience learns by experiencing everything that
is happening
The names "Toastmasters International,"
"Toastmasters," and the Toastmasters International emblem are
trademarks protected in the United States, Canada, and other countries
where Toastmasters Clubs exist. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
|