Greeter
Recommended: Regular attendance for 3 to 4 months.
The role of the Greeter is to welcome and greet all members, as well as new or returning guests. Being the Greeter is a great opportunity to practice your interpersonal skills and your ability to speak clearly and concisely as you welcome guests to the meeting. At Thunderbird, a guest’s visits are free.
Arrive at the meeting early and stay near the front door. Familiarize yourself with the club’s guest book, guest welcome package and information form. Usually the club’s Sergeant At Arms will have the room set up, but it is a good idea to check that the following items are by the front door: guest book, pen, a stack of welcome packages, Guest Info forms, name tag stickers and copies of the “Toastmaster” magazine.
When a first time guest arrives, shake their hand, introduce yourself and have them sign our guest book and fill in the Info form. Provide them with a name tag and a welcome package then take the guest over to an experienced member and introduce them to each other. The member will answer any questions they may have and help them to feel more comfortable. They will also orient the guest to the club and our meetings.
For returning guests, provide them with a name tag, have them sign the guest book, fill out another Info form and ensure they received the welcome package last time they visited. When they have signed in, introduce them to a member.
After you greet and seat the guests, advise the Chair of the meeting of the guest’s name, then provide their Info form to the VP of Membership who will introduce them at the beginning of the meeting.
Smile and have fun! You are Thunderbird’s first impression for our guests!
Grammarian
The job of the Grammarian expands your listening skills. Near the start of the meeting, the Toastmaster will ask you to tell fellow members what your role is. You will look for proper use of English, such as vivid phrases, dramatic words and alliteration (the repetition of the sound of a particular consonant). As well, you will look for sloppy use of English, such as incomplete sentences, run-on sentences, misused words or slang. Select the word of the week. Describe your duties and give the word of the week in less than two minutes.
As the Grammarian, choose a word of the week, which helps us to increase our vocabulary. Try to pick a word that is not commonly used in everyday language. Define it, use it in a sentence and challenge everyone to use it at the meeting. Make a sign with the word of the week and post it at the front and back of the meeting room prior to the meeting.
Near the end of the meeting, the General Evaluator will ask you for your report. Name and praise those you felt used especially good English and offer suggestions for improvement to those you felt used poor English. If commenting on the speaker’s use of humour, try to be specific, such as: use of puns or clever turns of phrase. Praise all those who used the word of the week and say how many times each person used it. You have up to three minutes for this report. Be considerate, and always offer recommendations for improvement!
When the Toastmaster presents the awards, you will have the opportunity to present the Grammarian trophy to a speaker whose use of language especially impressed you during the meeting. You have the freedom to decide how to award this trophy so long as it is awarded based on use of language. For example, you may award the Grammarian trophy for:
- The most proper or most common use of the word of the week
- The most appropriate use of language
- The most creative use of language via vivid descriptions
- The most concise and efficient use of language
- The greatest reduction in the use of crutch words
- The most improved use of language
- Etc.
When you present the trophy, explain how you decided to award the trophy and then announce the winner. Remember to shake the winner’s hand!
Smile Story
The smile story is a joke or short humorous story to lighten the meeting. Keep it brief and please resist the temptation to offend or be risqué. If you wonder if your story is suitable, ask the Toastmaster or an experienced member whose opinion you value. Memorize the story, or at least the ‘punch line’, as humour must seem spontaneous. Sources may include the internet, Readers Digest, poems or personal anecdotes.
Toast
The person who is to give the toast should try to incorporate the theme of the evening, though it is not required. The Toast recognizes a person, group, or an event as being an important theme for the club and is generally about 1 minute long.
Briefly explain why the subject of your toast is important, and then propose the toast by saying “Ladies and gentlemen, please rise, raise your glasses and join me in a toast to ______________”. After the toast, sit down. A successful toast is short and offers a gracious or inspirational insight. This is the one time you don’t address the person conducting the meeting when you finish.
Um Ah Counter
The job of the Um/Ah Counter is to listen for excessive use of “um”, “ah”, ” so”, “you knows” and other crutch words. Near the start of the meeting; describe your duties in less than one minute.
Near the end of the meeting, the General Evaluator will ask you for your report. Name each person and the number of crutch words they used.
Note: if attendance is down, this role may be combined with the Grammarian’s role.
Thunderbird 101
Recommended: Regular attendance for 8-12 months.
Thunderbird 101 is a short explanation of some aspect of Thunderbird Toastmasters. It can be our history, a highlight of one of the weekly roles, a public speaking skill we’re learning, or something unique to our club culture. It is generally 2 minutes long.