Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to ask permission to attend a meeting of a club?
Our club, and Toastmasters in general, welcome all guests. If you plan to visit us, please phone the Club President so we can answer any questions and make arrangements. Our club is open to all and we'll be delighted to have you come to the meeting. Visiting our club is free.
What happens at a Toastmasters meeting?
Meetings last for two hours (6-8pm). The format is roughly :
- Introduction of the Toastmaster, who presides over the program that day
- Impromptu speeches from members (Table Topics)
- Prepared speeches from members
- Oral evaluations of the prepared speeches
- Reports from other evaluation personnel (Timer, Grammarian, Wordmaster)
What are "Table Topics"?
Table Topics require a member to present a 60 - 90 sec impromptu speech on a subject not known until the moment they get up to speak. A member of the club assigned to be the Table Topics Master will prepare a few impromptu topics and call on members (or guests, if they've given assent in advance to being called on) to stand up and speak on the topic.
Topics might include current events (e.g. "Is Corby guilty or not?") or the wacky ("Reach into this bag. Pull an item out. Tell us about it"). The purpose of Table Topics is to develop the skill of being able to speak "off the cuff". On many occasions we are asked to comment or contribute to a discussion with little notice or preparation. Table Topics develops comfort and capability in handling these types of situations.
What is Evaluation?
All prepared speakers have their speeches/table topics evaluated by a member of the club. Evaluation is tough to do well because it requires an evaluator to do more than say "here's what you did wrong." A good evaluator will say "here's what you did well, and here's why doing that was good. Here is something you might want to work on for your next speech, and here's how you might work on it."
Time Limits?
Speeches, table topics, and evaluations have time limits. This is in order to drive home the point that a good speaker makes effective use of the time allotted and does not keep going and going until the audience is bored. In the real world there are practical limits on how long a meeting can or should go. By setting time limits on speeches and presentations participants learn brevity and time management and the club meeting itself can be expected to end on schedule.
Why all this structure to the meeting?
Meetings generally are not complicated once you get used to the timing and the different roles members of the group play. Because meeting assignments vary from meeting to meeting, everyone gets practice doing everything over the course of several meetings. One meeting, you'll be assigned to give a speech, the next you might be Timer, and the next you might be the Toastmaster of the meeting running the whole show. This keeps you flexible and gives you practice at a variety of communication skills including speaking, listening, giving feedback, and so on.
What is a "prepared speech"?
When you join Toastmasters, you receive a basic speaking manual which includes ten speech projects for you to complete. Each project calls on you to prepare a speech on a subject of your own choosing but using certain speaking principles. Each manual project lists the objectives for the speech and includes a written checklist for your evaluator to use when evaluating your speech.
In the basic "Communication and Leadership " manual there are ten speech projects. These speech projects are delivered in order from one to ten. The reason for this is that the speeches are intended to build your skill as you progress as a speaker and gradually introduce new aspects of being a speaker as you move from speech number one to number ten.
- Icebreaker - getting over nervousness by introducing yourself to the club.
- Be In Earnest - speak about something you believe deeply in with sincerity and conviction.
- Organize Your Speech - give a well organized speech with a clearly defined opening, body and conclusion.
- Show What You Mean - this project calls on you to work with gestures and body language during your speech.
- Vocal Variety - work on rate of delivery, volume, speed, pitch, emphasis.
- Work with Words - work on proper word choice, avoiding jargon and generalizations.
- Apply Your Skills - go back and practice everything you've learned up to this point.
- Be Persuasive - give a persuasive speech on a controversial issue.
- Speak With Knowledge - research an issue, write a speech, and then read that speech to the audience.
- Inspire Your Audience - Inspire your audience in a well prepared and well presented speech.
When you have completed all ten speech assignments you will earn the Toastmasters designation, Competent Toastmaster (CTM).
Joining Toastmasters
How much does membership cost?
Upon joining Toastmasters, you will find yourself paying a fee which may include three different components. One is the standard fee that every new member must pay in order to receive their educational materials (see "new member fee" below). One is the standard Toastmasters International monthly membership fee. One is your club dues, if any.
All Toastmasters clubs are billed in March and September for semi- annual dues for their members who wish to remain members for the next six months. If you join in between those periods, you submit a pro-rated share of the dues. Clubs usually charge dues in addition to the world dues. This is so they will have money in the treasury for expenses. Each club decides what it wants to charge. Some clubs waive the club dues for new members and only assess them at the semi- annual dues payment dates.
For our club the annual membership fee is approximately $110.
Are my dues tax deductible?
They may be. Please speak with your tax advisor to see if you are eligible for the deduction.
What do I get for my dues?
Your dues are paid to World Headquarters. Your new member fee covers the cost of the Communication and Leadership project manual and a monthly Toastmaster magazine which will arrive in the mail.