A good overview for GUESTS is this document. Feel free to print it and bring it along with you to a meeting!

Meeting Agendas

Toastmaster meetings are held in an orderly manner. Meetings are usually divided into two segments. First half of the meeting usually involves a business session which current executives and members participate in discussion about the club's housekeeping activities. A Toastmaster club is a non-profit organisation and therefore there is a need to talk about the running of the club, budgets, as well as any concerns and issues members may have for the club. Once a year, the clubs also hold an election and appointment of executives to serve the club for the next coming year. Other agenda items such as Table Topics, Laugh Master, My Word and Toasts are added to meetings as a form of encouragement to participate and involvement from members and guests are all welcome.

Second half of the meeting then introduces the speeches that is to be delivered in that meeting. Each member is required to follow an education curriculum of toastmasters to gain their toastmaster awards (click here for more information on education) Evaluations are also given to the speakers during this part of the meeting and club awards are presented.

At Cumberland Forest Toastmasters, we also take the time to recognise and greet our guests formally and provide mentoring services to new members or interested guests.

For a sample agenda of a typical Cumberland Forest Toastmasters meeting, please click here.

Meeting Assignments and Activities

Each role are given a guideline to follow. The guidelines given are guides not rules. They help establish the mechanics of what is accepted and proper practice. In this way they can eliminate worry and strain for new members while ensuring meetings are properly conducted.

However the essence of a good Toastmasters Club is individuality and variety. As members gain experience they should seek to innovate with many of the assignments, using novel and fresh approaches in order to keep the Club stimulated. Click here to view the different club assignments available and what they involve.

Meeting Awards

• Best Speaker
  From the formal speeches presented, the best speaker is chosen. Points considered include:
  Did the speaker accomplish the educational purpose of the speech?
  Did the speaker clearly communicate this purpose to the audience?
  Did the speech have meaning or relevance to the audience?

• Best Table Topic
  This award is given for the most outstanding table topic presentation of the morning. Consideration is given to:
  Speaking on the assigned topic.
  Speaking clearly and effectively, for the allotted time.
  Utilising the word of the week effectively.

• Best Evaluator
  This award is presented to the evaluator who does the best job of constructively criticising the speaker. Points considered include:
  Avoidance of platitudes.
  A recommendation and provide clear opportunity for improvement.
  Identification of positive points.
  Suggestions of alternative methods, which utilize the speaker's strengths.
  An evaluation that will help the speaker present a better speech next time.
  Commend , Recommend, Commend

• Most Improved Table Topics
  
• Most Improved Speaker
  
• Most Improved Evaluator