General Evaluator

It is very important for the Toastmaster of the Day ( TMotD ) to confirm participants are planning to attend so he/she may adjust the agenda if necessary.

If you are not going to be able to attend the meeting and fulfill your role, PLEASE notify the TMotD of your replacement by noon on the Monday before the meeting. It is your responsibility to find a replacement for your position on the agenda. It is recommended NOT to utilize standard e-mail communications to secure your replacement. Instead, review the three-month rolling schedule and see if you can find a replacement for your position on the agenda. A higher success rate of finding a replacement has been found by picking up the phone and making a few calls to other Toastmasters who would welcome the opportunity and swap for a future role. Once you find your replacement (or are unsuccessful after moderate attempts), please call the TMotD immediately so he/she may make any necessary adjustments to the agenda.

PURPOSE:
The General Evaluator is responsible for the evaluation of the entire meeting. In practice, the General Evaluator evaluates every portion of the meeting. This begins with the opening of the meeting, through the business meeting, introduction of the TMotD and every participating member, including the speaker evaluators. The exception would be the prepared speakers who have individual evaluators. However, if a speaker evaluator has overlooked an obvious opportunity to praise a speaker or to point out a means to improve their presentation, you will have the chance to make a few comments accordingly.

PRIOR TO THE MEETING:
Check with the TMotD to see if there will be any planned deviations from the usual meeting format.

You should already be familiar with the Tuesday Toasters guidelines which define each participant's role as performed in the club. In particular, the General Evaluator works alone as an observer of the meeting and not as a manager of the evaluation team.

Prepare a brief but thorough summary of your role as General Evaluator that explains your role in the program to visiting guests.

AS YOU ARRIVE AT THE MEETING:
Arrive a few minutes early as the meeting will start promptly at the planned time. Advise the evaluators of the format of the evaluation portion of the meeting. Ask the evaluators to confer with their assigned speaker one last time to see if they have any specific things for them to watch for during the speech. If an evaluator is not present, consult with the Vice President of Education and arrange for a substitute.

Obtain a copy of the General Evaluation of the Meeting form from the Sergeant at Arms to use during the meeting. Sit near the back of the room to allow yourself full view of the meeting and its participants.

DURING THE MEETING:
Take notes on everything that happens (or fails to happen) at the meeting and pay particular attention to the overall management of the meeting as well as the performance of the individual participants.

Your report should comment on the quality of preparation, organization, delivery and general performance of each individual. Although the General Evaluator does not evaluate prepared speakers or topics speakers, feel free to add something that an individual evaluator may have missed. The General Evaluation should recognize and encourage examples of good performance but we also need fairly positive recommendations on the improvement of inadequate performance.

When the TMotD calls upon your team for speech evaluations, you should proceed to the lectern and assume control of the meeting. Begin with a brief explanation of your role. Next, announce the speaker evaluators in the order they are to approach the lectern and then welcome the first evaluator to the lectern. Upon completion of the last evaluator, you will then return to the lectern and deliver your evaluation of the meeting.

When you have finished with your general evaluation, return control of the meeting to me as TMotD by saying: "Mr. Toastmaster" or "Madame Toastmaster", remaining at the lectern until I arrive; shaking hands and then return to your seat.

As General Evaluator, you should also set an example of good time keeping. The general evaluation should fall within the time frame of speech evaluations; the green light will be turned on at two minutes, amber light at two minutes thirty seconds, and the red light at three minutes.

AFTER THE MEETING:
Give you completed meeting evaluation form to the Secretary to be placed with the meeting minutes.

RESOURCES:
Chairman (Code 200)