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What do we learn at Toastmasters?


During your membership in Toastmasters, you will be encouraged to complete the 10 "manual speeches" from the Communication and Leadership Program manual. Although you will pick the specific topic yourself for each of those speeches, each speech has several objectives. The manual and other materials that you will be given, will help you achieve these objectives. We have listed them below, so that you can see for yourself the types of skills you will be striving to improve.

Speech Number
Speech Name
Objectives
1
The Ice Breaker
  • To begin speaking before an audience.
  • To discover speaking skills you already have and skills that need some attention
  • To introduce yourself to your fellow club members.
  • TIME: 4 - 6 minutes.
2
Organize Your Speech
  • Select an appropriate outline which allows listeners to easily follow and understand your speech.
  • Make your message clear, with supporting material directly contributing to that message.
  • Use appropriate transitions when moving from one idea to another.
  • Create a strong opening and conclusion.
  • TIME: 5 - 7 minutes.
3
Get to the Point
  • Organize the speech in a manner that best achieves those purposes.
  • Ensure the beginning, body, and conclusion reinforce the purpose.
  • Project sincerity and conviction and control any nervousness you may feel.
  • Strive not to use notes.
  • TIME: 5 - 7 minutes.
4
How to Say It
  • Select the right words and sentence structure to communicate your ideas clearly, accurately and vividly.
  • Use rhetorical devices to enhance and emphasize ideas.
  • Eliminate jargon and unnecessary words. Use correct grammar.
  • TIME: 5 - 7 minutes.
5
Your Body Speaks
  • Use stance, movement, gestures, facial expressions and eye contact to express your message and achieve your speech's purpose.
  • Make your body language smooth and natural.
  • TIME: 5 - 7 minutes.
6
Vocal Variety
  • Use voice volume, pitch, rate and quality to reflect and add meaning and interest to your message.
  • Use vocal variety smoothly and naturally.
  • TIME: 5 - 7 minutes.
7
Research Your Topic
  • Collect information about your topic from numerous sources.
  • Carefully support your points and opinions with specific facts, examples and illustrations gathered through research.
  • TIME: 5 - 7 minutes.
8
Get Comfortable with Visual Aids
  • Select visual aids that are appropriate for your message and the audience.
  • Use visual aids correctly with ease and confidence.
  • TIME: 5 - 7 minutes.
9
Persuade With Power
  • Persuade listeners to adopt your viewpoint or ideas or to take some action.
  • Appeal to the audience's interests.
  • Use logic and emotion to support your position.
  • Avoid using notes.
  • TIME: 5 - 7 minutes.
  • TIME: 5 - 7 minutes.
10
Inspire Your Audience
  • To inspire the audience by appealing to noble motives and challenging the audience to achieve a higher level of beliefs or achievement.
  • Appeal to the audience's needs and emotions, using stories, anecdotes and quotes to add drama.
  • Avoid using notes.
  • TIME: 8 - 10minutes.

 

To become a distinguished club

Membership Requirements

As of the 2004-05 Toastmaster Year, the Membership Requirement for any Toastmaster Club to be a Distinguished Club, is to have 20 or more members by June 30th, or have a net increase of at least 5 members, or more within the Toastmaster Year.

 

10 goals in the Distinguished Club Plan:

1. Two CTM's

2. Two More CTM's

3. One ATM-B, ATM-S, or ATM-G

4. One More ATM-B, ATM-S, or ATM-G

5. One CL, AL, or DTM.

6. One More CL, AL, or DTM.

7. Four New Members.

8. Four More New Members.

9. A Minimum of Four Club Officers trained during each semi-annual training period.

10. One Semi and One Officer List submitted on time.

 

Target Goals:

Within the Toastmaster Year, If we achieve at least 5 of the 10 goals listed above, it will be recognized as a "DISTINGUISHED CLUB".

If we achieve at least 7 of the 10 goals, it will be recognized as a "SELECT DISTINGUISHED CLUB".

If we achieve at least 9 of the 10 goals, it will be recognized at the end of the Toastmaster Year as a "PRESIDENT'S DISTINGUISHED CLUB" which is the highest honor any individual club may receive.


Individual Awards a member can obtain

Competent Toastmaster (CTM):

Members who complete all Ten Speech Projects out of Toastmasters International's Basic Communication and Leadership Manual earn the CTM Award.

Advanced Toastmaster (ATM):


ATM BRONZE: Members who earn their CTM's, and complete two Toastmasters Advanced Speakers Manuals (total of 10 Advanced Speeches) are eligible to receive their ATM-B Awards.

ATM SILVER: Members who have earned their ATM-B Awards, and complete two more Advanced Speakers Manuals, plus some other Advanced Communication Projects, are eligible to receive the ATM-S Awards.

ATM GOLD: Members who have earned their ATM-S Awards, and have completed two more Advanced Speakers Manuals, and other communication projects are eligible to receive the ATM-G Awards.

Competent Leader (CL):

Members who earn their CTM's and complete various Leadership Roles and Projects within the Club, are eligible to receive their CL Awards.

Advanced Leader (AL):

Members who have earned their CL Awards, and complete various Leadership Roles and Projects in the Toastmasters District, and within the community, are eligible to receive thier AL Awards.

Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM):

The DTM Award is the highest Achievement Level a Member can obtain. Members who have earned their ATM-G and AL Awards are eligible to receive Toastmasters' Highest Honor.


Descriptions of Roles in the Meeting

Toastmaster

The main duty of the Toastmaster is to act as a genial host and conduct the entire program, including introducing praticipants. Program participants should be introduced in a way that excites the audience and motivates them to listen. The Toastmaster creates an atmosphere of interest, expectation, and receptivity.

 Table Topics Master

The Invocator shares a poem, message or inspiration thought. The Table Topics Master leads the portion of the meeting where members or guests "think on their feet" and speak for a minute or so. The topics master prepares and issues the topics based on the theme of the day, current events or their own questioning originality.

Speaker

A major portion of each meeting is centered around two or three speakers. Their speeches are prepared based on manual project objectives and should last from five to seven minutes for projects in the basic manual and eight or more minutes for projects in the advanced manuals. Preparation is essential to success when you are a speaker.

Evaluator

The speaker receives an evaluation for every prepared speech. The evaluator will give an oral evaluation and a written evaluation using the guide in the manual. The purpose of the evaluation is to help the speaker become less self-conscious and a better speaker. This requires that you be fully aware of the speaker's skill level, habits, and mannerisms, as well as his or her progress to date. If the speaker uses a technique or some gesture that receives a good response from the audience, encourage the speaker to use it again. Praise a successful speech and specifically tell why it was successful. Give the speaker the deserved praise and tactful suggestions in the manner you would like to receive them when you are the speaker.

Timer

The timer is the member responsible for keeping track of time. The Toastmaster of the meeting will call on the timer to explain the timing rules. One of the lessons to be practiced in speech training is that of expressing a thought within a specific time. Each segment of the meeting is timed. The timer explains the timing procedure and reports to the club clearly and precisely. Throughout the meeting, the timer signals each program participant with the correct color regarding their progress.

Grammarian

Being grammarian is truly an exercise in expanding your listening skills. You have two basic responsibilities: First, to introduce new words to members, and second, to comment on the use of English during the course of the meeting. Select a "Word of the Day", give a brief definition and prepare a sentence showing how the word is used. Members are encouraged to use the Word of the Day throughout the meeting and the grammarian keeps track of who uses the word, how many times it was used and if it was used properly. Note interesting phrases and excellent word usage as well as any awkward use or misuse of the language (incomplete sentences, incorrect grammar) and the use of "filler" words or phrases (ahs & ums) and how many times they are used.

Listen Up

This person challenges the listening skills of the members at the end of the meeting by asking questions based on the speeches from the meeting.

General Evaluator

The general evaluator is just what the name implies - an evaluator of anything and everything that takes place throughout the meeting. The General Evaluator is responsible for the evaluation team, which consists of the timer and grammarian and speech evaluators. He/she introduces the evaluation team to give their reports and provides a summary report of the meeting prior to turning the meeting over to the Presiding Officers for the business meeting and conclusion.