Table Topics Master Guide

The information below is from the Communication and Leadership Manual (a.k.a. Basic Manual).  Refer to this manual for more information but note some of the meeting roles and responsibilities have been modified to fit LOTC interests.

If you have any questions, contact the meeting’s Toastmaster.

The Table Topics Master ensures the LOTC Mission "To create a supportive environment for members to improve their communication and leadership skills".  

 

Toastmaster International has a tradition --every member who wants to speak at a meeting is provided an opportunity.   The Table Topics Master is responsible for continuing this tradition.  The purpose of this session is to have LOTC Members “think on their feet”. 

 

Early in the week:

 

• Find out from the meeting’s Toastmaster if the meeting has a theme you should coordinate with.  If no theme is schedule choose any topic you would like.
• Create 8 Table Topics Question or Props.  When choosing your questions choose ones that will inspire the speaker to expound on them.  Don’t make the questions too long or complicated.  Phrase them in such a way that the speaker clearly will know what you want them to talk about.  Keep you comments short.  Your job is to give others a chance to speak, not to give a series of mini-talks.
• If you have any questions about your responsibilities contact the meeting’s Toastmaster.

 

Right before the meeting:

 

• Greet and hand out 8 numbers to Guests, New Members, and experienced members that do not have an assigned speaking role. 
• The meeting’s Toastmaster, General Evaluator, Speakers, Speaker’s Evaluators, Ahs/Grammarian, Timer/Vote Counter, Videographer and Humorist are not eligible to receive a number.  Do not hand out numbers to members with an assigned speaking role, even if you do not have enough table topics participants.

During the meeting:

 

• The meeting’s Toastmaster will call on you at the beginning of the meeting to introduce yourself and explain table topics.
• After the Prepared Speeches segment of the meeting the Meeting Toastmaster will call on you to host Table Topics.
• Set the stage for your table topics program.  Keep your remarks brief but enthusiastic.  If the meeting has a “Word of the Day” encourage speaker to use the word in their response.
• Keep the segment rolling; be certain everyone understand the maximum time they have for their response and how the timing lights work (if the Timer/Vote Counter hasn’t already done so).
• Call up speakers (by number) at random.   Introduce each table topics participant and give them a question.  Keep a list of the table topics participants names so that you can state them at the end of the segment when you ask for a timer’ s report.
• Table topics must end by 7:35!  Even if the table topics segment started late, end on time to avoid the total meeting running over time.
• If there is not enough time for every table topics participant to participate you can do one or both of these things:  1. Modify the table topics time limit from 2 minutes to 1 minute or 2. Acknowledge there is not enough time and only call on the number of participants the time allows for.
• If there is additional time (you have gone through all the numbers) you can than open the floor to participation from anyone, including members who have a meeting role.
• After everyone has spoken ask for a timer’s report.
• Ask all members to vote for “Best Table Topics Speaker”.
• At the end of the segment return control of the meeting back to the meeting’s Toastmaster.