WestConn Toastmasters Club

WestConn TM

Danbury, CT

Chartered 7/1/1971

Last updated
7/22/2010

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Typical Format of a Toastmasters Meeting

We take turns in performing leadership roles at each meeting, giving everyone the opportunity to practice their skills. The Toastmaster of the day presides over the meeting that itself contains three main sections:

Table Topics where a Table Topics Master challenges the other participants to give short impromptu speeches (1-2 minutes) by asking them a brief question on the theme of the day.

Prepared Speeches where 2 to 3 members put together and deliver speeches on a topic of their choice. Each speech stresses specific goals set forth by manuals provided by Toastmasters International. Commonly, these prepared speeches are 5-7 minutes long.

Evaluations of the prepared speeches where an experienced toastmaster gives a 2-3 minutes speech detailing his or her impressions and suggestions of a prepared speech. This is a great opportunity for all to learn. This section is presided over by a General Evaluator.

Other meeting roles:

Timer: Records how long each speech is to encourage each speaker to stay on time.

Grammarian: Identify incorrect usage of the language to engage the speakers to use a correct grammar.

Ah Counter: Keeps track of the use of filler words by speakers. Filler words are "ahs", "ums", "you know" and the like. This helps improve the quality of public speaking.

In addition to the above, the club votes for a best Table Topic speaker and a best speaker when there are 3 or more prepared speeches. Finally, the coveted Kalley Award is given to the toastmaster who contributed the most to the success of the meeting.

All this takes place in each Toastmasters Club meeting