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.

 

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.

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.

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.

Meeting Role Prep: The Meeting Chair

What is a Meeting Chair?

The Chair is basically the meeting director who runs the meeting. You exercise overall control of the meeting and make sure that it runs smoothly.

Toastmasters International recently combined the roles of Meeting Chair and Toastmaster, but our club still keep both roles separate with few duties each so that more club members can participate without being overwhelmed.

Do I have to get my CL manual filled?

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

Projects that have a Toastmaster section are: Project 4 (Time Management), Project 5 (Planning and Implementation), Project 7 (Facilitation), Project 8 (Motivation) and Project 10 (Team Building).

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 Meeting Chair do?

Before the Meeting

1. Choose a meeting theme as early as possible. This lets other members who have a meeting role to prepare accordingly.

The theme can be anything you want- a word, phrase or even a celebration. Put the theme on the EasySpeak agenda. If you have any problems doing so, contact your VP of Education.

2. Talk to the VP of Education about the line up and the times on the meeting agenda. Ask for a copy of the final agenda if you didn't get one. Check which roles are still empty, etc and get a general idea of who will be doing what. This will help you prepare.

If you need something specific put on the printed meeting agenda, tell the VP of Education in advance so that the agenda can be changed.

On the Meeting day

1. Come to the meeting place early so that you can get comfortable with the podium setup and get your required materials (the gavel and printed meeting agenda) from the Sergeant-at-arms.

2. Go through the agenda. Keep track of who is present for their roles. Take note of roles that are empty and need to filled up. Try and fill up any empty positions by asking the club members in the audience. Ask a club executive for help if you need it.

3. When it's time to start the meeting, have someone close the meeting room door and hit the gavel on the podium to officially begin.

4. Your Opening Remarks: You can talk about the meeting theme you chose or just tell the audience what they can expect from the meeting and why it'll be helpful for them. Keep this introduction 3-5 minutes long.

5. Call on the club member with the role of Humor.

6. If there is no Humor section, call on any guests present to introduce themselves. Give clear instructions when you call on them. Say something like “Please stand, tell us your name and why you came to today's meeting...”

7. Call on the club members who have taken up the Grammarian, Timer and Quizmaster roles. Ask them to stand and give a short explanation about their role and it's importance to the meeting.

8. Introduce the meeting's Toastmaster. Wait till they come to the front podium, shake their hand and then go back to your seat until it's time for you to come back front.

9. After the General Evaluator gives their meeting report near the end of the meeting, they will call you back to the front. Shake the General Evaluator's hand and take your place at the podium.

10. For the Club Business session, call on the Club President and ask if there's any club business to discuss. If the President is absent, call on another executive.

11. Call on the guests once again and ask them for their thoughts and opinions about the meeting.

12. Call on the speaker for the Thought of the Day, if any.

13. Give your closing remarks for the meeting.

14. End the meeting by hitting the gavel on the podium.

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 as the Meeting Chair. They'll share their own tips for the role.

2. Have your watch or cellphone with you so that you can track the time. You could even arrange with the meeting Timer to have them give you a cue at the appropriate times so that you won't have to constantly check your watch. Start and finish the meeting on time to make a good impression on the audience.

3. Applaud. During most meeting, the audience doesn't know when it's time to applaud. As meeting chair, you can make this simpler by leading the applause at the appropriate times such as:

• After each guest introduces themselves at the start of the meeting. And again when they comment on their meeting experience at the end of the meeting.
• When members with meeting roles are first called on and then again when they are done speaking.

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