What to expect at a

Yappers Toastmasters Meeting

         YSY Toastmasters meetings are structured.  These meetings are are designed to give as many people as possible a chance to participate.  They are classes on communication and leadership.  No one likes a meeting that "runs over" or is "out od control". Here’s how they typically proceed.

• The Sergeant at Arms opens the meeting.  She/he leads the group in the Pledge of Allegiance, and also recognizes and introduces any guests that are present.  She/he then turns control of the meeting over to the…
• Toastmaster of the Meeting.  The Toastmasters job is to see that the meeting runs both on time and smoothly.  She/he is the Master of Ceremonies.  The Toastmaster will have previously called all the members and guests so that the meeting runs professionally.  The Toastmaster then introduces the…
• Theme for the Meeting.  The Toastmaster will deliver a 2-3 minute speech.  The topic will be current events, some aspect of Toastmastering, or even an anecdote, but will serve as "food for thought" for the group.
• Grammarian.  The Grammarian for the meeting will select and discuss a word, based on the Theme, which will help to build the members' vocabularies.  Throughout the meeting, the group will use the word as much as possible – for practice.  The Grammarian will then deliver a joke or humorous story of 2-3 minutes in length. Control is given back to the Toastmaster and she/he introduces the…
• Prepared Speakers.  Here’s where members present prepared speeches from the Toastmasters Manual.  Each speaker will have been previously assigned an evaluator that takes careful notes throughout the speaker’s performance.  Up to three speeches are given with the Toastmaster moderating between them.  After the last speech the Toastmaster introduces the…
• Table Topics Master.  The Table Topics Master will call members up, one at a time.  They will be given a subject and will speak on that subject for one to two minutes without preparation.  These short mini-speeches will be timed.  This gives members practice in speaking off-the-cuff.  Usually two to four Table Topics are given.  Guests are given the option of participating.  Members may "Pass" on the question if necessary.  A Timer's Report is called for, then Control is given back to the Toastmaster and she/he introduces…
• General Evaluator.  The General Evaluator conducts the evaluation portion of the meeting.  One-by-one she/he introduces the…
• Evaluators.  The evaluators give an oral evaluation of the speaker to which they had been assigned.  The evaluations are two to three minutes and are timed.  Speakers also receive written evaluations.  All evaluations emphasize the positive.  The last Evaluator re-introduces the…
• General Evaluator.  The General Evaluator comments on the evaluators performance as well as the meeting as a whole.  She/he then calls on the…
• Timer.  The timer briefly explains the importance of timing and then gives the times the Table Topics participants, the Prepared Speakers, and the Evaluators.  Control is then given back to the General Evaluator and she/he introduces the…
• Grammarian.  The Grammarian has been keeping track of the members use of grammar, uh’s, and other verbal miscues.  She/he gives a short presentation on his findings.  Control is then given back to the General Evaluator and the re-introduces…
• The Presiding Officer.  The Presiding Officer now takes brief comments from anyone in the meeting.  When complete, the meeting is adjourned.