Attendance of three club meetings or completion of one speech.
The objective of Table Topics is to give everyone an opportunity to speak at every meeting. Participants can practice impromptu speaking, and hone their skills (such as vocal variety, eye contact, and hand gestures). The participants should be encouraged to incorporate a strong beginning, a consistent middle, and a conclusion to their Table Topic. A maximum limit of 1 1/2 minutes is usually given. This is an excellent exercise in "thinking on your feet".
Duties:
� Take control of the meeting from the chairman.
� Briefly explain what Table topics are about.
� Introduce your Topic(s) and ways in which you wish the speakers to participate.
� Announce the speaker's name before they speak.
� Sit down when the speaker is speaking.
� Lead the applause when the speaker is finished.
You are welcome to make brief comments at this point. Positive humour is always encouraged. The program usually allows enough time for 3-5 speakers. Ask people who don't have other roles in the program to speak. Keep your theme consistent throughout Table Topics, and try to match it to the theme of the evening.
At the conclusion of Table Topics, make a brief uplifting comment on everyone's effort, and past control back to the chairman.
Tips and Suggestions:
Keep the session moving quickly. The introduction of your topics should take less than 30 seconds. As the Table Topics Master, you can direct the speakers to move to the lectern or stand near their seats. Be enthusiastic, speak audibly, and add humour to lessen the tension of Table Topics.
Try to keep your topics creative, yet not complicated. Simple, easy and yet challenging topics ensure successful Table Topic sessions.
Try these ideas:
� Topics from community affairs, the news, etc.
� Dreams, ambitions, goals, nightmares, favourite things, what if's.
� Tall tales.
� Debates (avoid emotional topics).
� Having speakers discuss objects or topics randomly picked from a bag.
� Create scenarios between two Toastmasters (role playing).
� Continuous stories (from speaker to speaker, each adding on).
Remember to have fun, but keep the meeting under control. Don't forget that the objective of Table Topics is to allow everyone to speak.