Table Topics Ideas: Round Robin Storytelling

For this idea, the Table Topics Master starts the Table Topics Session with a few opening lines of a story. It doesn't have a complex start, in fact it's be better to have a simple story opening.

If you are stumped for story openings, try to introduce a character and a goal that they are aiming for. For example, a simple banker who is tired of his normal job and is trying to become a successful singer.

Once the introduction is laid out, call on a speaker from the audience to continue the story from where it stopped. After the speaker adds to the story for about a minute or so, they can call on another person to continue the story and so on.

The challenge is to keep the story going, with each speaker taking up the story from where the previous speaker left off.

The Table Topics Master can end the story or appoint a speaker to end the story when time for the session runs out.

So if you're ready to try something new for Table Topics, try this out. Not only will you hear some crazy plot twists but you will also get loads of laughter.

Let's Watch, Learn and be Inspired

World Champion of Public Speaking 2014

Dananjaya Hettiarachchi, "I See Something."

Lambs to Lions' 5th Anniversary

Meeting Prep Series: Table Topics Master

What is a Table-Topics Master?

As Table Topics Master, you preside over the Table Topics segment which is basically the impromptu speaking session. This is the time when members of the audience, who don't have a meeting role, can come forward and speak on a given topic for 1-2 minutes.

You, as the Table Topics Master, decide on an overall theme and choose questions based upon that theme.

Do I have to get my CL manual filled?

Yes. In your CL manual, you can get your performance evaluated under the title of TopicsMaster

Projects that have a TopicsMaster section are: Project 4 (Time Management), Project 5 (Planning and Implementation), and Project 7 (Facilitation)

Who evaluates me?

Before the meeting starts, hand your CL manual to the VP of Education who will find you an evaluator. Or you can directly ask any club member in the audience to evaluate your performance.

What does the Table Topics Master do?

Before the Meeting

 

1. Ask the Vice President of Education how much time is allotted to the Table Topics segment in the upcoming meeting.

 

2. Choose a theme for the session.

 

3. Prepare at least 6 to 7 questions, although you may only have time for 4 or 5 questions. Make questions concise and easy to understand.

 

4. Prepare props or any other materials you plan to use.

On the Meeting day

 

1. After all the speech evaluations are completed, the General Evaluator(GE) will call you to the front. When you reach the front of the room, thank and shake hands with the GE. Turn to the audience and give a brief 2-3 minute description of Table Topics- it's benefits and importance.

 

2. Explain how the Table Topics will proceed by talking about: rules for the table topics, time durations for the speakers, whether speakers can volunteer or have to be chosen, etc. - whatever you feel the audience needs to know so that they can participate.

 

3. Ask the questions. You can also give an example of how to answer, if you think that will put the audience more at ease.

4. Ask for volunteers. Or call up specific members of the audience. Check the Agenda and, preferably, call on members who have no other speaking role or else have minor speaking roles only. You can even call on guests who look at ease.

5. Check with the meeting Timer to ensure that you are on schedule with the Agenda.

6. At the end of your Table Topics session, thank all the speakers for their participation.

Some Tips

1. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you are unsure about your role. Talk to the club executives or other club members about their own experiences.

2. Be positive.

3. Avoid long and detailed questions that will only confuse the Speaker.

4. If no one is volunteering, try to ask the audience members who haven't had a chance to speak in the meeting so far.

5. Check your CL manual. Each project has a different set of requirements for completion that will help you better prepare for your role.

 

Speak Outside Your Club

If you are unable to schedule a prepared speech because your club's meeting agendas are full, then maybe you need to become a target speaker.

As a target speaker, you will give a prepared speech at another club- either at a contest like speech evaluation or just as a regular guest speaker during a meeting.

What are the benefits of being a Target Speaker?

• You experience speaking in front of different audiences and in different environments.
• You learn to be calm and comfortable in dealing with different situations.
• If you're a target speaker in an evaluation contest, you get multiple speech evaluations.
• You meet new people, network and broaden your circle of acquaintances.

How do you become a Target Speaker?

• Tell your Club Executives of your interest in speaking in outside clubs. They usually get requests for speakers.
• Some clubs advertise their need for a target speaker on places like facebook. You can usually find some requests on the District 86 facebook page.
• Directly contact a club that you can visit easily and ask if they have any open speaking positions that you can fill in for.

Let's Watch, Learn and be Inspired

 

World Champion of Public Speaking 2015

Mohammed Qahtani, "The Power of Words."



Meeting Themes (3)

This is our third compilation of meeting themes- a resource to help you prepare for the role of Meeting Chair if you are having trouble coming up with a theme. You can find our previous posts here.

All these themes were used by our club members in past meetings.

1. Summer Fun

2. Mentoring

3. New Beginning

4. Celebrate our Success

5. Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway

6. Exploration

7. Make Mistakes

8. The Circle of Life

9. Opportunity

10. Commitment

Good luck being the Meeting Chair.

Speech Tips: Story Telling

There are two simple ways you can bring any story to life when giving a speech. Both these tips deal with bringing the characters of your story to life on stage for your audience.

Vocal Variety

When you have two or more characters speaking in your story scene, it helps to define each character by a different tone of voice. For instance, one character can have a loud and booming voice while the other can have a soft and hesitant voice.

Just with the different tones, you convey a lot about the characters in your story. And more importantly, it allows your audience to differentiate which character is speaking.

Gestures

Acting out how a character in your story stands, drinks or does something is the best way to add even more dimension to your story.

Picture this. A speaker acts out one of his characters giving a toast with slow movements and shaking hands? What do you, as an audience member, think about the character just from that simple action? You'd think that the character is either old, ill or a mix of the two.

Think of simple gestures you can use to make each of your story characters vibrant.

Presenting with a Projector: Making Your Slides

Presenting a speech can be daunting. Presenting a speech with a projector can make things even more nerve racking.

But there are things to make this easier for you.

In this post, we are going to go over some key points on how to make the best possible presentation slides for your speech.

Don't clutter your slides with information

Make slides with the basic points that give out the most basic bit of information.

Do not dump all of your speech information and text into the slides. That will distract your audience from your speech because they will be too busy reading your slides.

Less is more

If your speech is 15 minutes and you have 15 or more slides, then you have too many slides. Cut it down.

Pictures are your friends

A picture is truly worth a thousand words, but only if it is the right picture.

Ask yourself: Do I really need this picture for my speech? What does it add to my presentation?

If you can't answer those questions, then you're better off not using the picture.

Readability is important

Make sure you have a good font colour and a good font size so that everyone in your audience can read your slides.

Some good fonts would be Helvetica and Garamond.

Meeting Themes (2)

This is a continuation of our previous list of meeting themes compiled to inspire you and help you prepare for the role of Meeting Chair- especially if you can't think of a meeting theme yourself.

All these themes were used by our club members in past meetings.

1. Be Thankful

2. Invest in Yourself

3. Cherish the Moment

4. Never Give Up

5. Personal Identity

6. Always do your Best

7. Training for Success

8. Vacation

9. Democracy

10. Practice Makes Progress

Good luck with being the Meeting Chair.

Lambs to Lions Wishes You a...

A Brief Look into Mentoring

We all have mentors in our lives and we don't even know it. They are the friends we go to when we need help with decisions or choices.

Toastmasters also has a mentorship program where mentors help and guide you.

 

Whether you are considering becoming a mentor or getting a mentor, here is some basic information to help you decide.

What qualities does a mentor have?

A mentor needs to be kind, willing to listen and help without being condescending or mean about the questions that they get asked. They need to be willing to help their mentee and be supportive.

All these qualities will help a mentee 'trust' their mentor. And trust is an important factor at the start.

What are the benefits of having a mentor?

You get the help that you need and having someone motivate and push you makes you progress much faster than if you were struggling by yourself.

What are the first steps in creating a successful mentoring relationship?

Both the mentor and the mentee's expectations should be established right at the start of the relationship. That way both parties know what needs to be done.

From there consistent communication is the key in getting the most out of this unique relationship.

Meeting Themes

Are you the Meeting Chair for your next Toastmaster's meeting and can't think of a meeting theme?

Here's some inspiration to help you out.

This list below contains wonderful meeting themes that our club members have used in the past with great success.

1. Look Ahead

2. Change

3. I Believe

4. Make New Mistakes

5. Things to Remember

6. Change with the Time

7. Take Charge of Your Life

8. Teamwork

9. Inner Knowing

10. Cherish the Moment

Good luck as the Meeting Chair.

New Year's Greetings!