New Horizons Toastmasters

There are many speaking opportunities at a New Horizons Toastmasters meeting as seen by the many roles/functions which compose it. Some functions have more speaking time during the meeting than others. For example, a Speech Evaluator has more speaking time than the Wordmaster.

Functions for the meeting are assigned on a voluntary basis. If you feel uncomfortable performing a function or you require a specific function to progress through the Competent Leadership (CL) manual, please contact the VP of Education so you can be scheduled accordingly.

Here is a general overview of the meeting functions at New Horizons. A more complete description can be found in the CL manual.

Toastmaster – The Toastmaster is the meeting facilitator. The Toastmaster starts the meeting with some opening remarks based on the meetings theme, introduces the major functionaries, hands out the awards at the end of the meeting, and handles any awkward moments that may occur during the meeting.
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Filed under: Guests & Prospective Members

Earlier, I covered the different parts of a New Horizons Toastmasters meeting. During the prepared speech portion of the meeting, up to 3 members give a speech they practiced in advance using the guidelines in the manual they are currently working on completing. For new members, this is the 10 speech Competent Communication (CC) manual.

The CC manual assumes you are new to public speaking. Each speech project provides instruction in an area of public speaking, like speech organization or body language, and a set of goals for you to achieve in your speech. Most of the projects in the CC manual require you to speak for at least 5 minutes but no more than 7 minutes.
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Filed under: Guests & Prospective Members

At New Horizons Toastmasters, we strive to provide a structured environment which provides growth opportunities where you can take on more responsibility as you become more comfortable speaking in front of an audience.

Each New Horizons Toastmasters meeting has an agenda listing the theme for the meeting and the meeting functionaries (Topics Master, Ah Counter, etc) along with the member performing the function. If you look at one of our agendas, you will notice our meeting have four sections:

• Introduction of Functionaries – Here, the members who are performing a function for the meeting (like Ah-Counter, Timer, etc) give a brief summary of their duties.
• Table Topics – This is the impromptu speaking portion of the meeting where the Topics Master asks a few members (and willing guests) an individual question based on the meeting’s theme. Only the Topics Master knows the questions in advance and who will be asked a question.
• Prepared Speeches – This is where the members give a speech they prepared prior to the meeting based on the guidelines given in the Toastmasters manual they are currently working on completing. For new members, this is the Competent Communicator manual.
• Evaluations – This is where the functionaries give their reports and where the speakers who gave their prepared speech receive an individual evaluation from their assigned evaluator for that meeting. Their evaluator will cover how well the Speaker achieved their speech’s objectives as outlined in their manual.

As a new member, you can gradually move into larger speaking functions as you become familiar with them. The Competent Leadership manual you will receive when you join the club has the full description and responsibilities of each functionary.

Perhaps during your first few meetings you will answer table topics questions. The next meeting, you may have a role, perhaps the Ah-Counter. In later meetings, you may take on a larger speaking role, like the Table Topics Master. If you are already comfortable speaking in front of a group, you can start working on your first speech in the manual, the Ice Breaker, and give it when there is an open slot on the club’s schedule.

The beauty of Toastmasters is how the program adjusts to your public speaking skill level and the environment it creates for you to grow.

Filed under: Guests & Prospective Members