Meeting Roles

Toastmaster

The Toastmaster hosts and conducts the meeting. When you’re the Toastmaster, you introduce speakers and keep the meeting moving along. This role is generally reserved for experienced members who are familiar with the club and its procedures.

Speakers

Each Speaker presents prepared speech (typically 5-7 minutes), based on a project assignment from their learning path in Pathways.

Grammarian

The Grammarian introduces new words to members (Word of the Day), listens to the way members speak, and presents a verbal report at the end of the meeting. The grammarian provides feedback to help Toastmasters improve their language skills and stretch their vocabularies.  Since to be eligible for Best Table Topics Speaker requires use of the Word of the Day, the Grammarian should select a word that is appropriate to the meeting’s Table Topics.

Wisdom Master

The Wisdom Master provides some works of wisdom or inspiration either from a well-known speaker, writer, etc. or an inspirational story. 

Timer

The Timer helps to keep the meeting on schedule and times each table topic, prepared speech, and evaluation. The Timer uses a stopwatch and timing cards or lights to keep track of time and displays green at the minimum time, yellow halfway between the minimum and maximum, and red at the maximum red. At the end of the timed portions, Timers provide a report on how long each speaker spoke and indicate whether they were within the allotted time with a +/- 30 second grace period.

Vote Counter

The Vote Counter collects and counts ballots for Best Table Topics , Speaker and Evaluator using the provided forms.  The Vote Counter will also collect the form’s notes to the speakers and pass them on.  Should there be a tie in any of the categories, the Vote Counter will act as a tie breaker.  The Vote Counter should provide the result of the count to the Toastmaster during the meeting evaluation. 

Ah-Counter

The Ah-Counter helps speakers keep track of the filler words and sounds they use and gives a report at the end of the meeting. Words may be inappropriate interjections such as and, well, but, so, you know. Sounds may be ah, um, er.

Table Topics Master

The Table Topics Master facilitates Table Topics—the meeting segment in which members deliver brief, impromptu speeches. The Table Topics Master prepares and introduces the topics, reiterates the Word of the day and determines the speaking order.  Guests may be called on after 1 or 2 members have participated but they should be given the option to decline.

General Evaluator

The General Evaluator evaluates everything that takes place and gives feedback to improve future meetings. When you serve as General Evaluator, you are responsible for pointing out what worked well and what could be better next time.  Note that while the General Evaluator provides feedback to the Evaluators, he/she does not evaluate the speakers.

Evaluator

Provides a 2-3 minute prepared evaluation for a prepared speaker focusing on the goals of the speaker’s project. The evaluator observes a speaker’s presentation and gives constructive comments in a brief evaluation speech. In addition to a verbal evaluation, the evaluator gives a written evaluation using a specific resource.