A handshake and a very warm and friendly welcome! Burien Breakfast Toastmasters is a diverse club made up of people from all walks of life. We have some members who have been members since 1966, and some who are brand new. We have very experienced speakers, and those who are just beginning. Some of us are confident in our speaking skills, and some of us still sweat and shake when we get up to speak. We usually have anywhere from 10-20 people attending each meeting. We all try to wear nametags, and we also have name cards on the table to help everyone learn and remember names.
I attended my first meeting a little over a year ago, and I still remember it like it was yesterday. I am an outgoing person, but still always nervous about meeting a whole group of new people. I was also particularly nervous about joining a group.
Our meetings start promptly at 7:00 a.m. with a Toastmaster's tradition -- an invocation and flag salute. At my first meeting, someone opened with a prayer. Remember how I said I was nervous about joining groups? My first thought was, "Is this a religious group?" I finally got the nerve up to ask one of the members, and she assured me that it was not. The invocation can be a prayer, a saying, a poem, just about anything that offers a moment of reflection.
Meetings are opened by the club President who leads a very short business meeting. The President will also welcome and introduce guests -- that means you! After the business meeting, the President introduces the assigned Toastmaster who takes it from there. The Toastmaster's job is simply to ensure that the meeting runs smoothly and on time, introduce speakers, and perhaps tie the meeting together with a simple theme.
The Topic Session is an opportunity for everyone attending to speak about a subject of the Topic Master's choosing. This is a 45 to 75 second impromptu speech that is timed. Members and guests are always free to pass, but we encourage you to take the opportunity to speak. I won the Topic Session trophy at my very first meeting! The topic was "Murphy's Law" and we were to tell a story illustrating this theory.
After the Topic Session, we have a short break. At your first meeting, expect everyone to want to meet you during the break. We all take turns bringing light breakfast-type food to the meeting--typically muffins and fruit, bagels, and sometimes a quiche. Coffee and tea are available for a small donation.
Next come the speeches. We usually have two or three speeches each meeting. Topics vary widely and can be educational, funny, motivating, informational, or inspiring. It's a blast watching our Advanced Toastmasters give speeches, and I always learn so much. Speeches typically range from 4-10 minutes.
Then comes evaluation time. A General Evaluator evaluates the meeting as a whole, and pre-assigned Evaluators evaluate each speech. This is the most educational portion of the meeting and how we all learn to become better speakers. Evaluations are always very constructive with positive feedback and a few suggestions for improvement.
At the end of the meeting, the Toastmaster presents awards to the Topic Session and Speech winners for the day, and turns control of the meeting back to the President. The President will usually ask guests for feedback or comments, review next week's agenda, and adjourn the meeting by 8:15 a.m.
We'll invite you to join Toastmasters, provide you with an application form, and answer any questions that you have. After you join, you'll receive "The Communication and Leadership Program" handbook and begin working to become a Competent Toastmaster. When you're ready, the Vice President of Education will start putting you on the schedule for different duties, including giving your first speech--The Icebreaker. The program is self-paced with no pressure or commitment except to fulfill your assigned duties or find a substitute.. You can also ask for a mentor to guide you through you first three months.
You can also learn more about Toastmasters at the other Toastmaster sites referenced on our homepage. We hope you will attend a meeting and let us know what you think. If you have additional questions, please e-mail me.
Karina Miller