Club Roles
The success of Toastmasters meetings relies upon the active participation of our members. At each meeting, there are many roles to fill and they each play an important part in making the club experience enjoyable and memorable.
​Below is a list and brief description of the general club meeting roles. They are not exhaustive, so don't feel confused if you see a meeting role that isn't on this list.
​Don't forget to check with any of the club officers or your mentor for further details regarding your role, when you are assigned!
Toastmaster
Improves: Organisation, time management, public speaking skills.
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The Toastmaster is the meeting's director and host. Think of them as the MC of the evening. At Robina, the Toastmaster selects a theme for the evening ahead of time, which guides some of the other roles (like Grammarian and Topicsmaster), provides educational segments related to the theme throughout the meeting, and ensures smooth transitions between speakers during the club meeting.
Timer
Improves: Time management skills.
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One of the skills Toastmasters practice is expressing a thought within a specific time. The timer is responsible for monitoring time for each meeting segment and each speaker, and ensuring the meeting is running according to the schedule established. As timer, you will listen carefully to each member and utilise a signal device (and bell if needed!) to provide a visual cue of a speaker's timing throughout their speech (green, yellow, red). On two occasions throughout the evening, you will be required to provide a 1 minute speech outlining speakers' names and times.
Grammarian
Improves: Vocabulary, grammar, critical listening skills, evaluation skills.
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The Grammarian helps club members improve their grammar and vocabulary by monitoring language and grammar usage and providing a 2-3 minute speech at the end of the evening outlining their findings.
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The Grammarian also introduces a "Word of the Day" that helps meeting participants increase their vocabulary - this word may be linked to the theme selected by the Toastmaster. The word and brief definition is displayed at the front of the room alongside a sentence example showcasing how the word should be used. All members are encouraged to utilise the word throughout the evening in their speeches when possible, and this is also monitored.
Ah-Counter
Improves: Observational and listening skills.
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The purpose of the Ah-Counter is to note any overused words or filler sounds used as a crutch by anyone who speaks during the meeting. Words may be inappropriate interjections, such as and, well, but, so and you know. Sounds may be ah, um or er. At the end of the meeting, the Ah Counter provides a 2 minute speech outlining their observations.
Meeting Speaker
Improves: Critical thinking, confidence, public speaking skills.
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As a meeting speaker, you prepare, rehearse and present a speech during the club meeting and discuss your goals, strengths and weaknesses with your evaluator prior to giving your speech.
Speaker Evaluator
Improves: Active listening, critical thinking, positive feedback skills.
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As an evaluator of a meeting speaker, you observe the speech to which you have been assigned and offer an objective verbal and written evaluation, offering praise as well as constructive criticism. It is best practice to ask the speaker ahead of time what they will present and what they wish to achieve.
Table Topics Master
Improves: Organisation skills, time management, facilitation skills.
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As Table Topics Master, you select topics in advance of the meeting that allow speakers to offer opinions - usually the topics align with the theme of the evening and can be presented by the speaker in 1-2 minutes. Pick members who aren't assigned a speaking role so they have the opportunity to speak during the meeting.
Table Topics Speaker
Improves: Confidence, impromptu speaking skills.
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The Table Topics Master provides a brief description of Table Topics and then calls on respondents at random. As a speaker, your response should express your thoughts clearly and succinctly, lasting one to two minutes.
Table Topics Evaluator
Improves: Active listening, critical thinking, positive feedback skills.
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As Table Topics evaluator, you observe all impromptu speeches and offer an objective verbal evaluation to the club, offering praise as well as constructive criticism.​