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Toast Master

Your responsibility is to conduct the prepared speaking session and to give a two minute prepared toast.

PRIOR TO THE MEETING

1. Phone each scheduled speaker at least four days before the meeting and find out the following:
   • speech project
   • objective of the speech
   • topic and title of the speech
   • particulars of the speaker for the introduction
2. Phone the speech evaluators and let them know which speaker they are evaluating.
3. Prepare your Toast:
   • no longer than two minutes
   • if possible tie in with the Theme of the meeting
   • after your opening, the Toast itself will be repeated by the members and must be no longer than three words e.g., "TO HAPPY DAYS."
4. Prepare your Speaker introductions. Each introduction should answer the question:
   • why this subject
   • why this time
   • why this speaker
   • why this audience
   • Your introduction is to warm up the audience for the speaker and the topic. Regardless of how well known the speaker is, he/she has the right to be introduced properly
   • You must convince the audience that this speaker is the best person to speak on this topic
5. You may want to use the guidelines attached. This is project #5 from the Advanced Communication and Leadership manual SPECIALTY SPEECHES entitled INTRODUCE THE SPEAKER.
6. You will then get credit for an advanced speech. Make sure you let the Vice-President Education know so that an Evaluator will be assigned.

AT THE MEETING

1. Give your prepared Toast
2. If using ballots, remind audience to write brief comments on the ballots and to vote for the best speaker in each category. Remind the Sergeant-at-Arms to tabulate the ballots
3. Introduce each speaker using all the warmth and enthusiasm you can muster and to make the audience as receptive as possible.
4. Lead applause and keep it going until the speaker reaches the lectern. Do not stop applauding until you shake the speaker's hand. Return to your seat
5. Remain standing at your seat until the speaker addresses you
6. After the speech, take back control and lead applause until the speaker has taken his/her seat
7. Thank the speaker graciously and make a nice comment about the speech. Use that comment to bridge and help your audience adjust and be receptive to the next speaker.
   DO NOT EVALUATE THE SPEECH EXCEPT TO SAY HOW NICE WAS
8. Call on the Speech Evaluators
9. Thank all the speakers and evaluators
10. Turn meeting back to the Chairman

INTRODUCE THE SPEAKER

• Objectives:
  • Focus on the special occasion talk from the standpoint of the introducer (function chairman, toastmaster or master of ceremonies)
  • Become knowledgeable and skilled in the functions associated with the master of ceremonies
  • Handle the introduction of other speakers at a club meeting.
  • TIME: The duration of a club meeting. (To be arranged with the educational vice president.)
• The Functions of a toastmaster or master of ceremonies vary depending upon the program for any specific meeting. The club agenda usually involves special occasion talks: introductions, nominations, award presentations and reports and announcements. For this project you will introduce other speakers within your club.
• Your function as toastmaster of the meeting is to act as genial host and to move the proceedings along quickly smoothly, with dignity and in a professional manner.
• Offer a word of thanks to the club president and accept the gavel when you are presented as toastmaster. Say a few words about the nature of the forthcoming program to warm up the audience. You should emphasize a theme for this particular meeting or explain the significance of the gathering.

Introduction of Another Speaker

• In handling the introduction or another speaker. Your purpose is to highlight him or her. This is accomplished by explaining who the speaker is and why he or she is addressing the selected subject. In this case identify the manual project the speaker is presenting and briefly describe the purpose of that project. Your introduction establishes this important relationship between the speaker and the audience
• In making an introduction, the importance of brevity and focus cannot be overstressed. Other than in passing reference to your acquaintance with the Speaker, you should not dwell on yourself. Consider as examples such skillful talk show hosts as Dick Cavett and Merv Griffin.
• By the same token, you should not read off a list of facts about the speaker's life. If possible, talk to the speaker well in advance to become acquainted and gain information. Select only the significant accomplishments and expand slightly on some incident in the career of your guest. Your anecdote should reveal qualities that will help the audience relate to the speaker.
• When introducing a leading businessman, you might relate an unusual incident from his childhood that motivated him to achieve or some good works that he has done in the interest of the community.
• Perhaps you are to introduce a woman who is a renowned authority on education. There's undoubtedly some incident in her life that would explain the motivation behind her accomplishments.
• Various methods or devices can help you convey the essential qualities and nature of your speaker. They might take the form of quotes, anecdotes, a summarization or even brief dramatization or any combination of these elements. The following introduction provides an example.

Why this speaker?

"Ladies and Gentlemen.
It has been said of our guest speaker that she is an irritant to traditional education in our public school, that she is not supportive of our educational system that she is overly concerned with revolutionary tactics rather than working within established guidelines according to the system."

Why this audience?

Those seem like strange qualifications for a speaker about to address a conference of Educators, many of whom have years of experience in their profession.

Why at this time? Why this subject?

During a recent press conference, our guest speaker offered a rebuttal to the accusations I have just enumerated. Quote, "Those who call me an irritant are disturbed at bring aroused from their complacency. Those who say I'm not supportive of our educational system should reconsider where in fact their support comes from. And as for revolutionary tactics, I would strongly advise them to carefully reread recent legislation concerning a child's educational rights." Unquote.

Why this speaker?

Mrs _____________'s career has has taken her through 25 years of dedicated study, research, teaching and administration. She holds five advanced degrees in psychology and education and is currently working on a sixth.

Why this audience? Why at this time? Why this subject?

We are all familiar with some of the reasons why the teaching profession has come under attack the past three or four years. As a professional group, we are confronted with problems or which we must take responsibility Our speaker tonight intends to illuminate these problems and offer some solutions. Please join me in welcoming Mrs.__________. As master of ceremonies, your manner of introduction will establish an attitude toward the speaker. You lead the audience into a mood of seriousness or humor according to your speaker's topic. You prepare the emotional and mental disposition of the audience to receive what the speaker is about to say.

You should prepare well in advance as much as for any other speech. Be certain that you have accurate information about your guest so he or she does not have to make corrections following your introduction.

Your Project Speech

Your project is to be toastmaster of the meeting, fulfilling the functions of that position for the duration of a club meeting. Remember to keep your introductions brief within one one to  three minutes. and to adhere to the following guidelines:

• The Opening: Capture the audience's attention and emphasize the importance of the speaker
• The Body: Why this speaker? Why this subject? Why this audience? Why  at this Time?)
• The Conclusion: The lead-in to your actual presentation of the speaker.

At the end of the program. briefly thank all speakers and return control of the meeting to the club president.

Remember that you are the intermediary between the speaker and the audience. When you have completed your introduction, bring the speaker on with applause. Wait until the speaker arrives at the lectern, and greet him or her before returning to your seat.

While seated on the platform. you are providing the cues that tell the audience how to respond to the speaker. Listen attentively and with appreciation. At the conclusion of the speech stand, begin the applause, walk to the lectern, and publicly thank the speaker on behalf of the audience.

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