Role Descriptions

In order to assist you in getting to understand the various roles in a Toastmasters Meeting, please find the following role explanations and documents to download.

Educational – A short segment of the meeting presented with a learning element for members

General Evaluator – The General evaluator evaluates all roles at the meeting not previously evaluated  by a speech evaluator, providing input on what was done well and what can be improved.

Grammarian – The grammarian helps club members to improve grammar, vocabulary, use of language and introduces a word of the day

Listening Post – Keeps track of what is being said and asks a 3-4 ‘quiz’ based questions at the end of the meeting to keep people engaged and present

Opening the Meeting– The Sergeant-At-Arms gets the attention of members and opens the meeting at the beginning and after a break

Mini-Speeches – At times we have a variety of mini-speeches that will be delivered in 2-3 minutes on a specific aspect such as a book review, motivational speech or your point of view.

Reading Club Mission – A short introduction to Toastmasters and a reminder of the Club’s Mission and Values, read at each meeting

Salute to the Theme – A mini-speech about the theme of the meeting and an opportunity for members to introduce themselves at the meeting

Speaker – A member who is delivering a prepared speech at the meeting generally from the Toastmasters Pathway program

Standby Speaker – A standby speaker is rostered in case a speaker is unable to attend the meeting. The standby speaker should be prepared to present their speech if required

Speech Evaluator – Speech Evaluators give feedback using a Praise-Improvement-Praise method to prepared speeches

Table Topics – An impromptu portion of the meeting where speakers are chosen at random to answer a question in a speech format

Table Topics Evaluator – Table Topics Evaluators give short feedback using the Praise-Improvement-Praise method to table topics speakers. Generally there are two or more table topics evaluators, evaluating the odd and even numbered speakers.

Table Topics Master – The leader or MC of the Table Topics segment, this person creates the Table Topics and chooses the speakers

Timer – A very hands on role timing each element of the meeting to keep the meeting running on-time and smoothly

The Toast – A mini-speech honouring the meeting theme with an opportunity for everyone to ‘raise their glasses’ and join in on a toast

Toastmaster – The leader or MC of the Prepared Speeches segment of the meeting. This person introduces the speakers and keeps the session running smoothly.  

Toastmaster’s Promise – A mini speech often presented by a new member reading some of the Toastmasters’ Promise. This is a great way for new and experienced members to remember what they promised when joining Toastmasters.

Ums &  Errs Counter – Listens for and reports to the club use of overused words or filler sounds