3. Meeting Opening & Speaker Section

  • The presiding officer opens with energy (as appropriate) with a few comments and a welcome, then follows the presiding officer checklist.
  • The presiding officer introduces and passes control to the Invocator.
  • The Invocator performs their invocation, then passes control back to the presiding officer.
  • The presiding officer completes their checklist before passing control to the Toastmaster.
  • The Toastmaster assumes control of the meeting, opens with the introduction to their theme, then introduces the general evaluator.
  • The GE introduces the WAG.
  • The WAG explains their role and puts up the Word of the Day before turning control back to the GE. 
  • The GE introduces the timer.
  • The timer explains their role & confirms speaker times, then returns control the GE.
  • The GE explains their own role before turning back control to the Toastmaster.
  • The Toastmaster introduces any other roles as needed (some clubs introduce the Table Topics Master, for example).
  • The Toastmaster then inserts one of their theme elements before introducing speakers.
  • The Toastmaster then introduces the first speaker, using their introduction.
    • The Toastmaster may ask the first speaker's Evaluator to give an executive summary of the speaker's objectives.
  • The Toastmaster passes control to the first speaker.
  • The first speaker performs their speech, then passes control back to the Toastmaster.
  • The Toastmaster calls for a one minute period of silence for people to write comments to the speaker.
  • The Toastmaster repeats the same process of introducing speakers for the remainder of the speakers.
  • The Toastmaster calls for a timer's report, then a Best Speaker vote (as applicable).
  • The Toastmaster inserts the next theme element before moving on to Table Topics.