Duties of the Table Topics Master

The Table Topics session is designed to provide respondents with the opportunity to gain experience in, and develop expertise in impromptu speaking. Whether the most appropriate response for the speaker is serious, humorous or imaginative, practice is given in presenting thoughts concisely and effectively.

Table Topics should be stimulating, interesting, provocative, pleasurable – and above all ANSWERABLE.

SELECTION OF TOPICS

As Table Topics Master the subjects, format and organisation is up to you.

Areas and style of topics could be chosen from:

• Theme of meeting
• Topical social events or issues
• Personal experiences eg. "My most embarrassing moment", "My favourite book"
• Creating a story/theme eg. Wedding speeches, speeches in a court case - prosecutor / defendant / witnesses
• Describing the many uses of eg. A coat hanger, milk carton etc
• A Day in the Life of …….

NB. Be cautious about selecting topics which are technically based or have a special interest focus - you may be knowledgeable on the subject matter or have checked the i nternet but don't assume others can automatically respond.

If you are unsure, speak to your mentor or the Vice President Education.

PREPARATION

Prepare 6 – 8 topics. Check with the Toastmaster as to how many to present. Normally 6 topics are given at GWTM. Having more topics prepared than you need also gives flexibility to present appropriate topics to respondents.

AT THE MEETING

1. Accept the handover of the meeting from the Toastmaster
2. Give an outline of the purpose of Table Topics for the benefit of guests. This can also help to “break the ice” for you and the members present
3. Ask the Time Keeperto demonstrate the lights and buzzer as you explain the timing. (Green light at 60 seconds, red light at 90 seconds, the speaker may finish the sentence.) Audience to clap
4. You may choose to introduce the theme of your session and suggest ways in which the topic may be tackled. eg. “Please use your imagination!” Usually the topic is announced first and then the respondent’s name
5. Prior to the commencement of the meeting, refer to the program, noting ALL club members who DO NOT have a duty for the evening. THESE MEMBERS SHOULD BE GIVEN A TOPIC. Visiting Toastmasters should also be included but NOT GUESTS who are non-Toastmasters
6. When Topics are finished, thank the participants and hand back to the Toastmaster
7. The Toastmasterusually calls for a vote for the best Table Topic and may call upon you to quickly run through names of speakers and topics

REMEMBER

• Prior to the Table Topics session, give a copy of the questions to the Table Topics Evaluators
• Keep questions concise and avoid lengthy introductory explanations
• Priority SHOULD BE GIVEN to members without tasks for the evening and to visiting Toastmasters

Table of Contents

	The Aims of GWTM Club		When You Are Speech Evaluator
	You the Member		When You Are Table Topics Evaluator
	A Toastmasters Duties		Duties of the General Evaluator
	Duties of the Sergeant-At-Arms		Business Session Evaluator
	The Inspiration		When You Are A Mentor
	When You Are Chairman		Duties of the Time Keeper
	The Round Robin		Time Keeper's Schedule
	The Toastmaster for the Evening		Duties of the Harkmaster
	Introducing a Speaker		Duties of the Gruntmaster
	The Table Topics Master		Duties of the Grammarian
	Why Evaluate?		Back to Duties Index