Toastmaster Club

TOASTMASTER CLUB MEMBER GUIDE

ADOPTED ______Welcome!

Welcome to ______Toastmasters Club! Your Toastmasters experience will be an enjoyable one, especially if you use the many resources provided by Toastmasters International (TI) and ______. You will be assigned a mentor when you first join the club, and you may well continue to have a mentor throughout your TI experience. A wealth of information for the new Toastmaster can be found in The Communications and Leadership Program (C&L) manual. Take time to look through that useful document, as well as three other booklets you have or will soon receive from Toastmasters International:

Gestures: Your Body Speaks Your Speaking Voice Effective Speech Evaluation

______received its TI charter in ______. ______is an open club, which means that membership is not restricted. This has made the club more diverse, and our meetings have been richer as a result. The club aspires to professionalism balanced with a certain amount of informality. Above all, we want members to have fun while learning in a supportive and caring environment.

The success of the club is due, in large part, to the participation, loyalty and dependability of its members. In short, members who attend the meetings and uphold the responsibilities of their role assignments are directly responsible for the club's success and continuity.

We're glad that you have joined our ______Club, and we rely on your participation. If you have ideas for the club, please share them with the club officers. Please tell others of your experiences in ______so they might also benefit from the Toastmasters experience. Officer Responsibilities

President  With other officers, develops educational, membership, and financial goals.  Distributes goals of the term to members.  Conducts regular Executive Committee meetings.  Sets professional example by running meetings efficiently.  As the official club representative, attends Area, Division, and District meetings.  Provides for a smooth transition of power at term's end.

Vice President/Education  Sets the program assignments for each meeting.  Prepares and distributes meeting schedules.  Appoints speech contest chair.  Arranges for special programs and/or meetings to educate and inform members.  Encourages members to attain individual goals, especially CTM and higher designations.

Vice President/Membership  Responsible for membership recruitment and retention.  Contacts members who miss two or more consecutive meetings.  Surveys members at least once each term to determine if members' needs are being met.  Coordinates club mentor program for new members.  Conducts mentor training at least once during the term.

Vice President/ Public Relations  Promotes club meetings and individual achievements with press releases to media.  Prepares and distributes club's newsletter.

Secretary  Keeps records of Executive Committee meetings.  Keeps records of all club meetings.  Receives and processes all new member applications.  Prepares semi-annual report for Toastmasters International.

Treasurer  Receives and disburses all funds and keeps accurate banking records.  Receives and processes all new member applications.  Collects and processes renewal fees.  Prepares semi-annual report for Toastmasters International.

Sergeant-at-Arms  Prepares meeting room before meeting starts.  Greets guests and introduces them to the presiding officer.  Gets mailing addresses and telephone numbers of guests and provides to VP of Membership for follow-up contact.

Immediate Past President  Is a member of the Executive Committee.  Provides continuity of the club's program.  Chairs the nominating committee. Participation Guidelines

This section describes the various roles as they are conducted in ______. You will have an opportunity at each meeting to sign up for roles on the monthly schedule that is passed around. On the following pages, you will find role descriptions. A suggested agenda for a typical ______meeting is also included. Contact the Vice-President of Education (VPE) if you don't see the sign-up schedule.

______is an informal, but professional club. The following guidelines must not be followed rigidly, but are provided to help you grow and understand the total Toastmasters educational concept.

The VPE will assign all program roles not taken the week prior to a new month. Every job on the meeting schedule is important. If you find you cannot attend a meeting in which you are scheduled, remember that it is your responsibility to contact the Toastmaster of the day with the name of your replacement. You will not be expected to perform difficult assignments immediately, nor will you be allowed to hide shyly in the corner for months.

Control of the Meeting

Whoever is at the lectern (at ______, we use a lectern, rather than a podium) during the course of the meeting is in control of who may speak. This insures an orderly flow of the meeting.

Transfer of Control

Not all transfers of control take place at the lectern. If your role does not require you to approach the lectern, stand at your seat when recognized and receive control by recognizing the person at the lectern (by title), your fellow Toastmasters, and welcome guests. When you have finished speaking simply return the control of the meeting by recognizing the member at the lectern.

Try to avoid saying "Thank you" after speaking, the audience wants to thank you for speaking and they do so with their applause.

Approaching the Lectern

When you are required to speak from the lectern as the Toastmaster, Speaker, Table Topics Master, Chief Evaluator, or Evaluator, take control by approaching the lectern and shaking the hand of the person who is currently in control. After you finish speaking, don't run away! Remain at the lectern to shake the hand of the person to whom you are giving or returning control. When you are Toastmaster, Table Topics Master or Chief Evaluator you will typically say that you return control of the meeting to… you don't turn it over. e.g. "I'd like to return control of the meeting to our Toastmaster." Not, "I'd like to turn control of the meeting over to the Toastmaster." Note: If you walk out in front of the lectern to do your speech or evaluation, remember to walk back around to the other side (the control side) prior to returning control. A word on shaking hands: Do so firmly and warmly. Roles and Responsibilities

(These suggestions may sound trivial, but when everything flows as it should, the meeting moves forward professionally and flawlessly.)

The following hierarchy shows the person who has responsibility introducing other role players:

President>  Invocator  Grammarian/Ah Counter (to explain the role)  Timekeeper (to explain the role)  Vote Counter (to explain the role)  Toastmaster>  Joke Master  Table Topics Master  Speaker No. 1  Speaker No. 2  Speaker No. 3  Chief Evaluator>  Evaluator of Speaker No. 1  Evaluator of Speaker No. 2  Evaluator of Speaker No. 3  Grammarian/Ah Counter (for report)  Timekeeper (for report)

President The President is the presiding officer and, as such, opens and closes the meeting. In the President's absence, the Vice President of Education or Vice President of Membership will preside.

Before the meeting:

 Confirm with Toastmaster that all duties have been assigned and taken care of.  Contact all members and ask if there will be any new business to be discussed during the business meeting.

During the meeting:

1. After you open the meeting, your first duty is to introduce the Invocator who will stand at their seat and give the invocation and pledge. 2. After the Invocator has returned control of the meeting to you, acknowledge any guests and inform them they will have an opportunity to express their views of the proceedings at the end of the meeting. 3. Conduct the business part of the meeting – reports, old business, new business, and special announcements. 4. After the business meeting, introduce the Grammarian/Ah Counter, Timekeeper, and Vote Counter, inviting them to explain their roles. They will do so standing at their seats. 5. Introduce the Toastmaster.

Invocator

The purpose of the Invocator is to start the meeting on an inspirational, or thought- provoking note. In ______, the invocation generally is something reflective regarding the theme of the meeting and should be one minute or less.

Before the Meeting:

 Check to determine the theme and try to coordinate your thoughts with the theme.

During the Meeting:

You will deliver your invocation immediately after the President first takes control of the meeting. Stand at your seat, acknowledge the Toastmaster, and present your invocation, begin the Pledge of Allegiance, and take your seat.

Toastmaster

As Toastmaster, you are responsible for the efficient planning and smooth flow of the meeting. Remember, planning is the key to success as Toastmaster. If you have planned well, your task will be fun. If you have planned poorly, your task will be an ordeal. See page 75 in the C&L manual.

Before the Meeting:

 Ask the VPE for program changes or if educational talks or other special events are planned.  Set a theme for the meeting. This is an opportunity for you and the Table Topics Master to collaborate! You are encouraged to rely on the Topics Master for help with the theme since that person has the more difficult job of creating appropriate questions.  Contact the Speakers to confirm they will speak. You need to get their speech titles, manual speech number, time limits for the speech, the objectives of the speech, and any information you need to introduce them. The speaker also may ask you to standby to help move a flipchart or other equipment before the speech actually begins and at its conclusion. Note: If you have a change in Speaker, notify the Chief Evaluator who then tells the Evaluator of the change.  Determine the information you need to introduce other role players (except Evaluators) and contact them to get it. Also tell all role players the theme.  Prepare an agenda for the meeting listing each role and the name of the person fulfilling the role. For speakers, include the speech title, manual and project name and number, and time limits. Feel free to be creative with the agenda and include elements appropriate to your theme. Bring about 20 copies to the meeting, ensuring the Club Secretary receives one for record keeping.  Provide the Club President with information for your introduction. Inform the Sergeant-at-Arms if any of the Speakers needs a special set-up for the meeting.

During the meeting:

1. After the President has introduced you, you give a preamble of the meeting. This is a defining moment in your role as Toastmaster, where you set the tone of the evening. 2. Introduce the Table Topics Master (TTM), shake his or her hand, and take a seat. Upon concluding the Table Topics part of the meeting, the TTM will return control of the program to you. 3. You are now ready to introduce the first Speaker. Keep your Speaker introductions brief and don't give away any unnecessary information regarding their speeches. Shake the speaker's hand firmly and warmly and move to a seat. Be ready to resume control of the meeting at the conclusion of the speech. Follow the same steps with the second and third speaker. 4. Note: Ask the Timekeeper to time a 30-second break after each prepared speech to allow the evaluators time to make notes and the audience time to write comments to the speakers. 5. Following the speeches, you will take control of the meeting and move into the Evaluation Segment of the meeting by introducing the Chief Evaluator. 6. After the evaluations are done, now is the time to call on the Grammarian/Ah Counter for his or her report. This report should be no longer than two minutes. Then ask the Timekeeper for a report of the use of time at this meeting. 7. Following the GAT (Grammarian, Ah counter & Timekeeper) reports, you will present the ribbon for best speech presenter. You then ask the Chief Evaluator to present the best evaluator ribbon and the Table Topics Master to present the best table topics ribbon. 8. Finally, return control of the meeting to the Chief Evaluator.

Note: The Toastmaster is responsible for initiating the applause after each participant has finished speaking.

Grammarian/Ah Counter

A major objective of Toastmasters training is to help us improve our language skills. The Grammarian/Ah Counter helps us accomplish this by performing three functions: 1. Preparing a "Word of the Day" which will help expand our vocabulary. 2. Recording any errors members make in grammar, pronunciation, or word usage. 3. Breaking us of the terrible habit of saying "ah," "um," "you know" and other unnecessary fillers, and overuse of connectors such as "and" and "so."

Before the Meeting:

 Select your word based on the theme. You may select a word from the "word cards," or you can look up a moderately challenging word in the dictionary, but don't pick one so obscure that it will be difficult for participants to use. Write the word and its definition(s) in large print on a piece of paper. Prepare an example of the word's usage in a sentence. Place your word in the "word slot" at the lectern so that it can be seen clearly by the audience.

During the Meeting:

The Toastmaster will call on you to explain your duties. Stand at your seat and:

1. Define the word and demonstrate using it in a sentence. 2. Explain that you will count each "ah," "um," "you know," and other unnecessary fillers, as well as overuse of connectors such as "and" and "so." 3. Acknowledge the Toastmaster and take your seat so that the Toastmaster can continue introductions.

Toward the end of the evaluation session, the Chief Evaluator will call on you to give your report, which you will do standing at your seat. Be specific about your "ah" count and word of the day use, telling participants how many times they used it. Also report on other grammatical errors you heard. This is not a time to be vicious, but rather a time to practice constructive criticism and diplomacy. You only have about two minutes for your report, so practice being brief and to the point.

Timekeeper

All the elements of a Toastmasters meeting are timed and recorded by the Timekeeper who is equipped with a stopwatch and timing light. A chart on the timing light explains the time range for each timed event. The Toastmaster will ask you to time 30 seconds of silence after each prepared speech for all at the meeting to write comments to the speaker.

During the Meeting:

When the Toastmaster calls on you to explain your role, stand, acknowledge the Toastmaster, and demonstrate how you will use the light to indicate the timing progression of Table Topics, Evaluations, and the prepared Speeches of the meeting. Also explain that any Table Topics presenter going over the 30-second grace period will be disqualified from the vote. Acknowledge the Toastmaster and take your seat so that the Toastmaster can continue introductions. Before the Table Topics vote is taken, the Table Topics Master will ask you if all speakers were on time. If you are not called on and a speaker was over time, feel free to raise your hand to be recognized so that you can announce who is eligible for the vote.

Timing Hints:

Leave each light on until you go to the next light. This is extremely helpful to the speaker.

The Topic Master and the Toastmaster will notify you if timing will be different from the standard times noted on the side of the light. If the changes confuse you don't be afraid to ask when to change the lights. It's better not to guess, as timing is very important to the speaker.

Toward the end of the meeting, the Chief Evaluator will call on you by to give a report. At this time, stand at your seat and briefly give the name and exact time for each Speaker, Evaluator, and Table Topics speaker.

Note: Be sure the Toastmaster and Table Topics Master are aware if the meeting starts to get behind schedule.

Vote Counter

Your purpose is to count the votes for Table Topics, Main Speakers and Evaluations and write the name on the appropriate ribbon. You will also collect and deliver any notes written for the speakers. In ______these notes are referred to as "glows and grows."

Before the meeting:

 Check to be sure the Sergeant-at-Arms has placed ballots at each seat.

During the Meeting:

The Toastmaster will call on you after the Timekeeper. Announce your purpose and encourage all guests and members to vote for Best Table Topics Speaker, Best Speech and Best Evaluator and to write "glows and grows" for the main speakers. Collect votes after all Table Topics, Speeches (and "glows and grows") and Evaluators after each segment of the meeting. Deliver the "glows and grows" to the speakers. Count the votes and write the name on the appropriate ribbon and give to the Toastmaster, Table Topics Master and Chief Evaluator to be presented to the presenter with the most votes.

Joke Master

The purpose of the Joke Master is to start the Table Topics off on a humorous note. In ______, the joke generally is something funny regarding the theme of the meeting and should be one minute or less. Before the Meeting:

 Check to determine the theme and try to coordinate your joke with the theme.

During the Meeting:

You will deliver your joke immediately before the Table Topics. Stand at your seat, acknowledge the Toastmaster, and present your joke, and take your seat.

Table Topics Master

Table Topics is an educational and fun portion of the meeting--if it is well planned. Refer to page 73 in your Communication and Leadership Manual for advice on being the Table Topics Master. Topics should give the participant an opportunity to be creative. Open- ended, thought-provoking questions or statements have worked well in the past, but you are encouraged to use your creativity.

Before the Meeting:

 Work with the Toastmaster to set a theme. Coordinate your topics with the theme. Develop four or five questions of twelve words or fewer. Avoid making the questions mini-speeches about your views and avoid lengthy introductions or explanations. Your objective is to give the members an opportunity to speak.

 PLEASE do not shock any guests by calling on them. That is, don't put a guest on the spot by asking him or her in front of the entire audience if he's "up for Table Topics". That's the best and quickest way to scare any guest away permanently! If you get a chance before the meeting starts, ask the guest if they are willing to participate. However, visiting Toastmasters are ALWAYS fair game, and a special effort should be made to call on them if time permits.

 Consult with the Toastmaster and the Chief Evaluator to determine any changes made to the schedule that may affect the time you have for Table Topics. Finalize your list of participants as you see who arrives for the meeting, taking care not to select anyone who is playing a role. The object is to reduce the number of unspoken Toastmasters; so pick members who will not otherwise have a chance to speak. If you must call on someone with a role, be sure to not call on the Chief Evaluator, Evaluators, Toastmaster, or Speakers. If you run short of people you may then call upon the Vote Counter, Timekeeper, and Grammarian/Ah Counter in that order.

During the Meeting:

When the Toastmaster calls on you, take control of the meeting at the lectern. For the benefit of guests, preface the start of Table Topics with a brief explanation of the purpose of the session and re-introduce your theme, if any. Present the topic, announce the name of the person chosen to speak, and present the topic again. The speaker will take control of the lectern, deliver a response to the question, and return control to you. Thank the speaker and move on. Do not give a mini-evaluation of each speaker.

At the conclusion of your session ask the Timekeeper if all speakers were within the time limits. Then review the names of the speakers, the topic on which they spoke, and ask members to vote for the person they believe did the best job at table topics. Everyone, including guests, is encouraged to vote.

Return control of the meeting to the Toastmaster.

Note: Watch your time. You have 15 to 18 minutes between taking control of the meeting and returning control to the Toastmaster.

Speakers

Before the Meeting:

 Check the schedule or contact the Chief Evaluator to get the name of the person who will evaluate you. Contact your evaluator if he or she has not contacted you. Don't wait until minutes before the meeting begins because you may not have adequate time to discuss your project. Next, contact the Toastmaster of the meeting and provide the title, manual number, and time limits of your speech and any introduction you may want. Let the Toastmaster and Sergeant at Arms know if you will need assistance setting up and taking down any visual aids. If you are using visual aids, set them up as much as possible before the meeting begins so as not to disrupt the flow of the meeting.

During the Meeting:

When the Toastmaster calls on you, approach the lectern, shake hands, and move into place to begin your speech.

After you finish, remain at the lectern to shake hands with the Toastmaster, and then make sure your visuals are out of the way so that the Toastmaster can go on to the next speaker or part of the meeting.

Listen attentively to your evaluator and if you have comments, reserve them for after the meeting.

Preparation Hints:

Each manual project is a highly compressed summary of communication principles. Read each project carefully and thoroughly. Make sure your topic is appropriate to the assignment and that you are meeting all of the objectives. Practice your speech and use a timer. Practice builds confidence and lessens stomach butterflies and the habitual use of "ah" and other fillers. If you must use notes, jot down key phrases and words. Contact your mentor for help and suggestions.

Chief Evaluator or General Evaluator

The Evaluation segment may be the most important part of the meeting. Evaluation helps members improve their speaking, provides important feedback on effective control of a meeting, and gives everyone an opportunity to practice listening. Use this opportunity to the best advantage of the Speakers, Evaluators, the club, and yourself. The manual Effective Speech Evaluation has a wealth of information regarding evaluations.

Before the Meeting:

 Contact the Toastmaster of the meeting to review the meeting schedule, special events, names of Speakers and their project numbers. Contact the Evaluators, confirm their Speaker assignment, and encourage them to contact their assigned Speakers before the meeting to discuss their speaking assignments.

During the Meeting:

When the Toastmaster calls on you, take control of the lectern. Introduce your Evaluators one at a time by stating who they are and who they will evaluate. It is appropriate to thank each Evaluator when he or she is finished but avoid making value judgments or lengthy statements between Evaluators.

Your next duty is to evaluate the meeting and evaluators. Your objective is to assess the effect of their evaluation, NOT to re-evaluate the speech. Indicate whether the evaluation was properly balanced. A good way to prepare is to do a mini-evaluation of each Speaker on a piece of paper and listen to each Evaluator. Did he miss something? Did she catch something or offer some exceptional hints? Say so during your evaluation. You are specifically expected to evaluate the President, Toastmaster, Table Topics Master, and the general flow of the meeting. Make your comments brief and to the point.

Finally, you award the Spark Plug Award to the member you thought showed the most spark, enthusiasm or originality. This is not necessarily the Toastmaster or the Table Topics Master, but it can be. Explain your reasons for giving the award to the person you have chosen, present the ribbon and return control of the meeting to the Toastmaster.

Note: You have about 15 to 16 minutes to conduct the entire evaluation portion of the meeting. Evaluator

Once you have given two or three speeches, you will be scheduled to evaluate the presentation of a fellow Toastmaster. Refer to page 71 of the C&L manual for additional information on evaluations. Again, the TI manual Effective Speech Evaluation is extremely useful. To present an effective evaluation, you will need to prepare diligently, listen carefully, analyze quickly, and evaluate constructively.

Before the Meeting:

 Contact the Speaker you are scheduled to evaluate to discuss the speech objectives and any special points the Speaker may want you to watch. Remind the Speaker to bring the manual so you may complete the comments page for the speech.

During the Meeting:

Listen and watch carefully while the Speaker is speaking. A careless evaluation will be of little benefit to the speaker or to the club members. Evaluation Tips:

On a piece of paper write "Opening" at the top and leave a few lines to write comments about the opening of the speech. At the bottom write "Close" and again leave yourself room to write a few comments. In the middle of the page draw a line lengthwise down the middle. Use one side to write comments on speech content and use the other side for comments on gestures, visual aids and the like. During the evaluation, phrase your statements as opinions, rather than judgments. The Speaker is most likely to accept your statements if they are prefaced with " I believe..." or "The impression I gained was..." rather than "You were..." or "This was bad because..." Use the sandwich technique or Glow-Grow- Glow. Be supportive without whitewashing. A good evaluation has both "glows" and "grows" for the speaker.

After the Meeting:

Give the manual to the VPE to sign and then return it to the Speaker. Discuss your evaluation with the Speaker and ask for his or her comments and suggestions to you as an Evaluator. Suggested Agenda Format

______Toastmasters Club DATE ______Theme of the Meeting______

Presiding Officer ______Invocation & Pledge ______Guest Introduction Business Meeting Grammarian/Ah Counter ______Time Keeper ______Vote Counter ______

Toastmaster ______Joke Master ______Table Topics ______

Main Speakers Speaker l ______Title of Speech ______Speech No. ___ - ______from ______Manual (___ to ___ min.) Speaker 2 ______Title of Speech ______Speech No. ___ - ______from ______Manual (___ to ___ min.) Speaker 3 ______Title of Speech ______Speech No. ___ - ______from ______Manual (___ to ___ min.)

Evaluation Segment Chief Evaluator ______Evaluator of Speaker 1 ______Evaluator of Speaker 2 ______Evaluator of Speaker 3 ______

Toastmaster - Reports Grammarian/Ah Counter Timekeeper Announce Table Topics Winner Announce Best Speech Winner Chief Evaluator - Announce Best Evaluator Winner Evaluate evaluators and wrap up of meeting Presiding Officer - Close the meeting ______Toastmasters – General Timing Guideline

Time President - Calls meeting to order 6:00 Introduces Invocator; standing in place and leads pledge Welcomes guests Conducts business meeting Introduces Role Players; each, standing in place, explains his or her role Grammarian/Ah Counter Timekeeper Vote Counter Introduces Toastmaster ……………………………………………. 10

Toastmaster - Introduce Table Topics Master…………………………...... 0.5

Joke Master tells joke ……………………………………………………... 1 Table Topics Segment - usually four or five speakers …………….…… 15

6:30 Toastmaster - Introduces Speaker 1 ………………………………………. 0.5 Speaker 1 - varies from 4-6 to 10-12 ………………….………… 10

Toastmaster - Asks for 30 seconds to write glows and grows ……… . 0.5 Asks for a five minute break………………………………………. 5 Introduces Speaker 2 ……………………………………………. 0.5 Speaker 2 - varies from 4-6 to 10-12 ……………………………. 8

Toastmaster - Asks for 30 seconds to write glows and grows ……………. 0.5 Introduces Speaker 3 …………………………………………… 0.5 Speaker 2 - varies from 4-6 to 10-12 ……………………………. 8

Toastmaster - Asks for 30 seconds to write glows and grows ……………. 0.5

Toastmaster - Introduces Chief Evaluator ……………………………….. 0.5 7:00

Chief Evaluator - Explains evaluation segment of meeting and Introduces Evaluator 1……………………………………………. 0.5 Evaluator 1……………………………………………………….. 4

Chief Evaluator Introduces Evaluator 2 …………………………………………… 0.5 Evaluator 2……………………………………………………….. 4 Chief Evaluator Introduces Evaluator 3 …………………………………………… 0.5 Evaluator 3……………………………………………………….. 4

Toastmaster - calls for Timekeeper and Grammarian/Ah Counter reports; asks Table Topic Master to announce best Table Topics; and announces winner of Best Speech……………………………….... 5

Chief Evaluator - Announces Best Evaluator and comments on evaluators' work, evaluates the meeting, and announces winner of Spark Plug Award………………………….. 5 returns control to President ……………………………………... 0.5

President - Makes announcements, calls on unspoken Toastmasters, thanks guests for coming and asks for comments from them, asks VPE to review schedule for next meeting, and closes meeting ……… 5 7:30 Communication and Leadership Program

1. The Ice Breaker 4 to 6 minutes  To begin speaking before an audience.  To help you understand what areas require particular emphasis in your speaking development.  To introduce yourself to your fellow club members.

2. Speak with Sincerity 5 to 7 minutes  To convince the audience of your earnestness, sincerity, and conviction on a subject you thoroughly understand.  To confront and control any nervousness you may have.

3. Organize Your Speech 5 to 7 minutes  To organize your thoughts into a logical sequence that leads the audience to a clearly defined goal.  To build a speech outline that includes an opening, body, and conclusion.

4. Show What You Mean 5 to 7 minutes  To learn the value of gestures and body movements as part of a speech.  To explore the different ways of using body language.  To develop a sense of timing and natural, smooth body movement.

5. Vocal Variety 5 to 7 minutes  To explore the use of voice volume, pitch, rate, and quality as assets to your speaking.  To achieve a pleasing natural voice quality when speaking.

6. Work with Words 5 to 7 minutes  To select precisely the right words required to communicate your ideas clearly and vividly.  To avoid lengthy words and sentences and jargon.

7. Apply Your Skills 5 to 7 minutes  To-bring together and apply the communication skills you have learned in the preceding projects.  To organize your speech in a logical manner, following one of the suggested outlines.  To research the facts needed to support your speech.  To make a personal evaluation of your progress.

8. Add Impact to Your speech 5 to 7 minutes  To learn the value of props in speaking.  To learn how to use props effectively in your presentations.

9. Persuade with Power 5 to 7 minutes  To present a talk that persuades the audience to accept your proposal or viewpoint.  To achieve this persuasive effect by appealing to the audience's self-interest, building a logical foundation for agreement, and arousing emotional commitment to your cause.

10. Inspire Your Audience 8 to 10 minutes  To understand the mood and feelings of your audience on a particular occasion.  To put those feelings into words and inspire the audience, using all the techniques you have learned so far. The Ice Breaker

By now you've heard speeches by Club members and have probably participated in table topics. Here is your opportunity to give your first prepared talk and "break the ice".

The best way to begin your speaking experience is to talk about the subject closest to you - yourself. You will introduce yourself to your fellow Club members and give them some information about your background, interests, and ambitions. As you prepare and deliver your talk, you will become aware of speaking shills you already have and areas that require some work. Your fellow members will help you understand these needs, as they see them.

As you read this project, make notes in the margin. Underline the key phrases to help you quickly review what is expected of you. Read the entire project before preparing your talk.

OBJECTIVES

 To begin speaking before an audience.  To help you understand what areas require particular emphasis in your speaking development.  To introduce yourself to your fellow Club members.

• TIME: Four to six minutes

Narrow the Subject

The general subject of this talk is you, but that subject is too broad for a short four to six- minute talk. You must narrow the subject by selecting three or four interesting aspects of your life that will give your fellow members insight and understanding of you as an individual. These might include your birthplace, education, or family. You could explain how you came to be in your present occupation and tell the audience something about your ambitions. Should you prefer to avoid autobiography, you might talk about your business, hobbies, or anything relating to you as an individual.

Once you have the highlights of your talk in mind, weave them into a story, just as if you were telling it to friends around the dinner table. Share significant personal experiences. The more personal you make your-talk, the warmer will be the relationship between you and your audience.

Opening, Body, and Conclusion

Like any good story, your talk needs a clear beginning and an ending. Create an interesting opening sentence that captures the audience's attention. Memorize it, if necessary, and use it even if a better idea 'occurs to you just before you speak. Then devise a good closing and memorize it, too. Giving your audience too much information will only overwhelm them. A memorized beginning and ending enable you to start and finish your talk with confidence and ease. In any speech, it's best to select a few main points (three or four at the most) and emphasize them by using examples, stories, or anecdotes. If you merely state a fact and then continue, most of your audience will miss the point. You should make a point, say it again in different words, illustrate the point, and then state it once more in order to be clearly understood. This is a good skill to learn.

If you think you will need notes, write a brief speech outline on 3x5 cards, which you can place on the lectern. Refer to them only when you need them. Remember, you're speaking, not reading. Many speakers begin by writing out an entire speech, then breaking it down into parts, with a key word for each part, and finally writing just the key words on one note card.

Preparing Yourself

Now the talk is ready, but are you ready to present it? You will need to rehearse. Practice the talk until you are comfortable with it. You won't need to memorize the body of the talk, since you already know all about the subject. As mentioned earlier, you should memorize your opening and conclusion.

Present the talk to a family member, a friend, or your Toastmasters mentor. Ask for comments. They may give you some helpful suggestions. If you have a tape recorder, record the talk and listen to it carefully, making any necessary improvements. Using a tape recorder is one of the best ways to improve your speaking ability.

Rather than thinking of this presentation as "making a speech," think of it as a talk before a group of friends, sharing information of interest. Don't be afraid of the audience. They have already experienced the same feelings you are having. They want you to succeed and they're eager to help you.

Appearance is important. Be well groomed and appropriately dressed for your presentation. When you look right, you feel good about yourself. You will then forget about your appearance and concentrate on presenting your talk. You will have increased confidence because you know you have made a good first impression on your audience.

Presenting Your Talk

Once you've completed your speech preparation . . . relax. Nervousness is common to every speaker, no matter how experienced. In fact, you can put this nervous energy to work for you by using it to add excitement to your delivery. No one is going to notice a little quavering in your voice, and it will soon disappear anyway as you become involved with what you're saying. (More information for controlling nervousness appears on page 80 of the C&L manual.

While being introduced, take a deep breath and slowly exhale. This will help your voice sound resonant and natural. Begin by facing the Toastmaster and saying, "Mr. (or Madam) Toastmaster." Then, face the audience and say "Ladies and gentlemen... " or "Fellow Toastmasters and welcome guests... " Pause, then plunge in with your prepared opening sentences.

While speaking, make eye contact with various members of the audience, first looking directly at one person for a few seconds, then looking at another, so no one feels left out of your talk. As you're doing this, glance periodically at the timer. If the red light comes on while you're talking, move smoothly to your conclusion and finish quickly. Observe time limits whenever you speak.

Don't worry about what to do with your hands. Leave them at your sides if you wish. You'll have opportunities to practice "body language" later.

One final comment: Don't end by saying "Thank you." The audience should thank you for the information you've shared. Instead, just close with your prepared ending, nod at the Toastmaster, and say, "Mr. (or Madam) Toastmaster" - then enjoy the applause!

Your Evaluation

After you finish, you will probably begin evaluating yourself even before you sit down. You may think you left out some of the best parts. Everybody thinks that. Just congratulate yourself on having delivered your first speech, then write down the things you did well and the things you want to improve. Try to avoid making the same mistakes in your next speech.

To supplement your own evaluation, an experienced Club member has been assigned to evaluate your efforts. Before the meeting begins, give this reprint of the Ice Breaker speech to your evaluator so he or she may make notes on the evaluation page for this project. This will give you a permanent record of your progress. If you want the evaluator to observe something in particular, be sure to inform the evaluator in advance.

Ask other members for additional comments after the meeting. All of these comments may not be useful to you, but you should consider them carefully. Remember the evaluations are representations of how the audience perceived you and your talk. They are usually - but not always - helpful to your self-development.

Speaker's Checklist

 Bring this manual to the meeting whenever you are scheduled to speak.  Review your talk with your mentor.  Discuss any special points with your evaluator before giving the talk.  Give the evaluator your manual before you speak so he or she can make written comments on your performance.  Have the VPE initial the "Project Completion Record" on page 56 after you complete each project. This will give you credit toward your Competent Toastmaster (CTM) certificate.  Don't be discouraged if your evaluator "missed the point." Evaluators have varying degrees of experience in speaking, and evaluation is a "learn by doing" skill, just as speaking is.  If you have not already done so, read the Effective Speech Evaluation manual. It will help you understand how to get the most out of the Toastmasters program. GUIDE FOR "THE ICE BREAKER"

______TITLE EVALUATOR DATE

Note To The Evaluator: The purpose of this speech was for a new member to "break the ice" - to introduce himself/herself to the Club and begin speaking before an audience. The speech should have a clear beginning, body, and ending. The speaker has been advised to use notes if necessary and to forget body language. Point the speaker toward methods of improvement, but don't "pour it on". Strive to have the speaker look forward to his/her next speech. Above all, be encouraging. Your evaluation should help the speaker feel glad about joining Toastmasters and presenting this speech. In addition to your oral evaluation, please write answers to the questions below:

. What strong points does the speaker already have?

. How well did the audience get to know the speaker?

. Did the speech reflect adequate preparation?

. Did the speaker talk clearly and audibly?

. Did the speech have a definite opening, body, and conclusion?

. Please comment on the speaker's use of notes.

 What one or two specific suggestions can you give to help the speaker improve? Focus on showing the speaker how he/she can make the greatest amount of improvement in his/her next speech.)

. What did the speaker do especially well?