Tm meeting roles abbas

TOASTMASTERS MEETING
ROLES
TM Abbas Kudrati, CC,ALB
President
Desert Pioneers Club – Kuwait
Club #: 649467, Area #:36
Division I, District #: 20,
Est: 3/19/2004

Meeting Roles
1. Toastmaster of the Day
2. Grammarian aka “Word
Watcher”
3. Ah Counter aka “Umm
Counter”
4. Timer aka “Time keeper”
5. Table Topic Master aka
“Topic Master”
6. Speaker
7. Evaluator
8. General Evaluator
9. Vote Counter

10. Joke Master
11. Listener aka “Quizzer”,
“Hark Master”
12. Round Robin Master aka
“The warm up”
13. The Inspiration aka “2 min
information”
14. Posture Peeler
15. Anchor Evaluator
16. Table Topic Evaluator

Optional and Advance Roles

Must to Have Roles
Compiled by TM Abbas Kudrati abbask@gmail.com

2

Toastmaster of the Day
Purpose: To act as a genial host and conduct the entire program, including
introducing participants in a way that excites the audience and motivates them to
listen.

• As the Toastmaster, you have ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the
meeting runs properly.
• Even though other people have roles to fill, it is your job to check with them
ahead of time to make sure that they have understood the requirements of the
role and are prepared.
• There are two primary roles for the Toastmaster:
1. Set the focus and tone for the meeting, including a n appropriate Theme. Your
attention to these details ensures that the meeting is a solid learning
experience for all that attend.
2. Introduce those with specific roles to play at the meeting, such as the Table
Topics Master, General Evaluator and Educational Speakers, if applicable.


3

Grammarian
Purpose: To improve and use of correct language
•

This is a tough listening task that is part of the overall evaluation team. You will introduce
the "Word of the Day" and listen and report grammatical errors and incorrect uses of the
English language. Report on creative language usage

•

Write the "Word of the Day" on the white boards and display them in front of the lectern
and on a chair facing the lectern including spelling, definitions and good applications.
Note and report word of the day usage by each member (especially if used in prepared
speech).

•
•

•

•

Listen carefully for incorrect use of the English language and comment on improper usage
when called for by the General Evaluator (this might include improper use of words or
connectives, wrong pronunciation, run on or unfinished sentences, grammatical errors,
poor sentence structure or over-used phrases) and comment on excellent language use.
Try to offer the correct usage in every instance where there was a misuse instead of
merely explaining what was wrong.

This role can be combine with “Ah Counter” aka “Um Counter” aka “The Grunt Counter”.

Duration and Time:
2 to 3 min for the report
5 to 6 min if combine with Ah Counter role

4

Ah Counter
Purpose: To identify the filler words use by speaker
• The role of Ah Counter or the Grunt Counter is to note any grunts or other bad
vocal habits of anyone who speaks during the meeting.
• Words may be any inappropriate interjections such as "you know", "and",
"well", "but", "so".
• Sounds may be "um", "ah", "er". You should also note when a speaker repeats
a word or phrase.
• When called upon by the General Evaluator near the end of the meeting, stand
by your chair and deliver your report.
• This role can be combine with Grammarian Role.
Duration and Time:
1 to 2 min


5

Time Keeper
Purpose: To keep the meeting on time track, improves time management skills
• One of the lessons to be practiced in public speaking is expressing a thought
within a specific time interval.
• The ability to speak within designated time limits is a sure mark of
professionalism.
• Three major segments of the Toastmasters meeting are timed, and must fall
within a certain time limit in order to qualify for the voting process: speeches,
evaluations, and table topics.
• The timer also monitors the progress of the meeting, to make sure that the
Agenda is being followed.
• The Timer operates a digital clock and a set of three lights (green, yellow, red).
Most speeches have a 30-second leeway.
• Become familiar with operating the timing device.

• Give a brief report of times for each category, plus who qualified time-wise,
when called upon
Duration and Time:
1 to 2 min

6

Topic Master
Purpose: To teach members how to “speak and think on their feet” and give as
many meeting participants an opportunity to speak as possible.
• Toastmasters have a tradition - every member speaks at a meeting. The Table
Topics session is the portion of the meeting that helps fulfill this tradition. The
purpose of this period is to have members "think on their feet" and speak for
60-90 seconds. The Table Topics Master prepares and issues the topics:
originality is desired as much as possible.
• An experienced speaker should be given a challenge: a new Toastmaster should
be given a topic that will enable him or her to speak without difficulty.
Duration and Time:
10 to 15 min for Topic masters
60 to 90 seconds for speakers ( 6 to 8 topics / speakers)


7

Speaker
Purpose: To develop speaking and communication skills
• Deliver a prepared manual (C & L manual or other advanced manual), nonmanual speech or educational speech ranging from four to fifteen minutes.
• Notify VP Education if speech will be in excess of 8 minutes.
• Provide evaluator with evaluation form / manual or prepared evaluation form
from club supply.
• If giving an advanced manual speech give your evaluator a copy of the speech
instructions so they can be adequately prepared to evaluate you.

• Begin your speech by addressing the audience – "Mr./Madam Toastmaster,
fellow toastmasters and honorable guests".
Duration and Time:
As per the speech and Manual


8

Evaluator
Purpose: To develop evaluation skills that help presenters improve their
speaking ability
• One of the strongest features of the TM program is that members are
encouraged to become evaluators at an early stage. However, you may find it a
challenge, fearing that you may be lost for words and unable to offer advice,
especially if the speaker is far more experienced.
• However, if you know what to look for in assessing a speaker, you will find the
task much easier.
• There is a guide for the evaluator at the end of each speech description in the
manual, which you should fill out.
• The oral evaluation should be more general than the written one although you
should mention the objectives and whether they were achieved.
• A good evaluation should start and end on a positive note. Remember:
COMMEND, RECOMMEND, COMMEND

Time and Duration
The timing for evaluations is 2-3 minutes. There will be a 30-second leeway.
GREEN light at 2 minutes, AMBER at 2 minutes and RED at 3 minutes


9

General Evaluator
Purpose: Successful meetings and the growth of the Club depend on constructive
feedback.
• One of the goals of Toastmasters is to help people learn how to plan and
manage effective meetings.
• The General Evaluator (GE) plays a very important role, because he or she can
help the attendees learn how to improve weak points in the meeting
execution, while praising strengths and providing positive feedback.
• Members are assigned to this role after completing three manual speeches and
3 or 4 oral evaluations.
• The general evaluation should cover 3 broad areas:
• an overall evaluation of the meeting and how people fulfilled their roles
• an evaluation of the table topics session, and
• an evaluation of the speech evaluators

Duration and Time:
The GE has three (3) minutes to make his or her meeting evaluation, exclusive of
the time taken by the Timer and Speech Evaluators


10

Vote Counter
Purpose: To improve coordination and team management skills
• Tally votes for speaker who best met objectives, best table topic, and best
evaluator. Pass on to the Toastmaster.
• Gather comments and evaluations and pass on to the individual members at
end of meeting.
Duration and Time:
2 to 3 min


11

Joke Master
Purpose: To energize the meeting and identify potential humorous speaker
• Provide a joke or funny story of not more than one minute to get the meeting
off to a positive and energetic start.
• Rehearse your joke or story so you can deliver it, using gestures and vocal
variety instead of reading it.
• Also helps in identifying the humorous speaker.

Duration and Time:
2 to 3 min


12

Listener / Quizzer
Purpose: To improve listening skills
• Your task is to test the listening skills of the people present. As the meeting
proceeds, compile about six questions based on events that have happened
throughout the meeting, the content of speeches, table topics, the business
session, etc.
• When called upon by the Toastmaster near the end of the meeting, rise from
your chair and ask your questions.
• Direct them particularly to people who have not played a major role. Try to be
humorous.
• You may ask questions of guests; it is a good opportunity to involve them in a
minor way in the program. But ensure that the questions are simple and be
aware that guests may be confused about the names of members, etc. It is
better not to ask a question of a guest than to ask one which is too difficult or
which is not understood.
• You should collect a small fine for incorrect answers! 
Duration and Time: 2 to 4 min

13

Round Robin Master
Purpose: To warm the meeting and members
The Round Robin Master presents a topic or a rolling story which is then responded to by
each person present in turn. Visitors may choose to pass.
You start the story and the next person picks up from where you stopped.
The RR story goes sequentially around the room from the first person you pick. You can pick
any person to be the first to follow on, just as long as you go all the way around the room.
• Make sure your introduction is short (<15 seconds); you don’t need to embellish the
story that’s for your audience to do.
• Keep the story moving by ringing the bell or banging the gavel and remember the pace of
the story is in your hands.
• It's vital that you don't go over time. If there are lots of people in the audience, you'll
have to allow less time to each speaker. Watch the time - speed it up if you need to. Or if
time permits—continue around the room again and stop when the red light goes on.
• Before you start advise the guests they can pass if they choose.
You don't need an elaborate idea to get the story going. You could start with something as
simple as "It was a dark and stormy night...."
Remember - Round Robin is not about you. It's a warm up routine that everyone needs to
take part in. Long introductions mean that there will be less time for people to speak.
Also can be introduced as one off session when there are not many speakers.
Duration and Time: Total 6 min for complete session

14

The Inspiration
Purpose: To provide an interesting information related to any subject or topic.
• The purpose of this assignment is that of a meeting “starter” and could be an
original thought (or story) of your own, a quotation, a poetry reading, reading a
section (or selection) from a book or a newspaper etc.
• The person to deliver the inspiration will be introduced by the TMOD at the
beginning of the meeting – usually after the welcome and introduction of
guests.

• The choice is entirely your own and you can use the opportunity to amuse,
provoke or inspire.
• Avoid anything too short, as members have hardly settled down at this point
and your “message” may be lost – this applies particularly to a quotation.
Likewise avoid anything too lengthy.
Duration and Time: 1 to 2 min


15

Posture Peeler
Purpose: To call attention to distracting gestures a speaker may unconsciously
use
• Describe your task at beginning of meeting – to observe and report distracting
mannerism or body language irrelevant to speech content or message
• E.g.: When a speaker uses a distracting gesture like wringing the hands, rocking
from side to side, touching the face or hair, hands in pockets, etc.
• Track the posture infractions as they occur: note speaker name and type,
count, etc.
• Give a brief report when called upon by the General Evaluator
• This role is suggested for Advance Clubs
Duration and Time:
2 to 3 min


16

Anchor Evaluator
Purpose: To provide a detail and collective feedback to the speaker and to
prepare club speaker for contests.
• Anchor evaluator will be called by the TMOD to evaluate the speaker (usually
advance topics).
• You have to spend 2-3 minutes on your feedback and then anchor the feedback
from other members.
• You have to summarize the results and then enter the information in speakers
Manual. This way, speaker gets best of all members feedback

Duration and Time:
2 to 5 min


17

Table Topic Evaluator
Purpose: To prepare Table topic speakers for contests
• After the Table Topics voting, you will be called upon to evaluate each of the
table topics. Get a list of topics from the Table Topics Master before the
meeting. Look for: -body language, -eye contact, -vocal variety, -how well
speaker answered question, -how promptly speaker responded, -opening,
body, conclusion.
• Rather than covering each speaker individually, you may wish to concentrate
on a particular aspect of the speech presentations that you feel deserves
comment (e.g. body language).
• Do not evaluate the Table Topics Master, that is the job of the general
evaluator.
• Don't be daunted by being programmed for this as your first evaluation
assignment. In many ways, it is the easiest of all evaluations as there is always
something of value that an inexperienced Toastmaster can comment upon.
Time and Duration:
Time to evaluate all the speakers is limited (2 -3 minutes with 30 second leeway).

18

“TOASTMASTER IS A JOURNEY
NOT A DESTINATION”
TM Abbas Kudrati, CC, ALB
Sponsor, Mentor – Kuwait Leaders TM Club
President – Desert Pioneers Club - Kuwait
VP Education - Kuwait Advance TM Club – Kuwait
Past member: Bright Horizon Toastmasters Club - Kuwait
Past member: Bahrain Toastmasters Club – Bahrain
Past member: Vision Advance Toastmasters Club – Bahrain
Past member: Bahrain Debate Toastmasters Club - Bahrain
https://www.linkedin.com/in/akudrati

Note: I have compiled this list from various sources and club across the world, if
you know any other interesting role which can be included in my list, then please
send me the detail on my email below.

19

Tm meeting roles abbas

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