Your first speech will be ‘The Ice Breaker’. The club has copies of this project for those who want to begin before receiving their copy of the “Competent Communication’ manual from Toastmasters International. Instructions and goals are outlined for you to follow as you prepare each speech. If you like, another member or an assigned mentor may help you to plan and organize your speech.

Bring your manual to the meeting, give it to your evaluator, and tell him/her anything you want them to look for in addition to what’s in the manual. When you arrive at the meeting, meet with the Toastmaster and outline any requirements you might have; i.e., lectern or no lectern, easel and markers. If you require an overhead projector or Powerpoint equipment, you must notify the club President one week prior to your speech so that it can be brought in for you. Ensure that the Toastmaster has the following information:

• Speech title;
• Allotted time;
• Manual title and speech number; and
• A few introductory points about yourself.

This helps the Toastmaster to give you the introduction you deserve. When you go to the lectern, while it may seem like you’re on your own, everyone is truly on your side. Your fellow Toastmasters will support you and provide constructive feedback that will assist you for future speeches.

The Icebreaker is 4-6 minutes. It’s the first of ten speeches needed for your CC (Competent Toastmaster) award. The Vice-President of Education will schedule you to speak according to the pace you set. Let the Vice-President of Education know the pace you wish to follow. As you give more manual speeches, you become eligible for more challenging roles. The Vice-President of Education will schedule you appropriately, but don’t be afraid to ask for more or less challenging roles.