Table Topics Master

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:
As Table Topics Master is responsible for running the "table topics" session with the several purposes in mind. Enabling members to develop the skills of impromptu speaking or the ability to "speak on their feet" andproviding a speaking opportunity for any member who is not otherwise included in the meeting agenda.

PRIOR TO THE MEETING:
Check with the TMotD to find out if a theme meeting is scheduled. If so, prepare table topics to carry out that theme. If no theme is scheduled, choose a selection of topics that follow a similar theme.

Prepare a brief but thorough summary of your role as Table Topics Master that explains your role in the program to visiting guests. You may want to include comments about the skills that are improved during the exercises.

Prepare sufficient topics to accommodate a minimum of three members as topics speakers and a maximum of five members.

When choosing your specific questions:

Select topics that will inspire the speakers to expound on them, give opinions, etc
Originality is desirable as much as possible
Don't make questions too long or complicated
Phrase questions so that the speaker will know clearly what they are to talk about
Keep your comments short. Your job is to give others a chance to speak, not to give a series of mini-talks yourself.

AS YOU ARRIVE AT THE MEETING:
Obtain a copy of the agenda from the TMotD. This will alert you to who the prepared Speakers, Evaluators, and the General Evaluator are so you can call on the other members first. Only if time permits at the end of the table topics session, should you call on the program participants (with speakers last).
DURING THE MEETING:
During the Toastmaster of the Day's introduction of the table topics session, they will provide you with the number of questions to ask given the time remaining in the meeting. After your introduction by the TMotD, make a few "scene setting" comments which mention the purpose of table topics and introduce the general theme of your session with a maximum duration 2 minutes.

Keep your comments brief but enthusiastic.
Encourage the speakers to use the Word of the Day in their response.
Keep the program moving. Be certain everyone understands the maximum time they have for their response and how the timing lights work.
Give each participant a different question. Don't ask two people the same question unless you ask each specifically to give the "pro" or "con" views.

Call upon the table topics speakers, as follows:

Call on speakers at random. Avoid going around the room in order of seating.
A couple of experienced members first
Members with no other speaking role
Willing guests (do not pressure anybody to speak)
Anybody else who wants to participate

State the question briefly, then call on one of the members in the audience.
This serves two purposes:

First, it holds everyone's attention, each one is thinking of a response should he or she be called on to speak;
Second, it adds to the value of the impromptu element by giving everyone an opportunity to improve his or her "better listening and thinking" skills.

Another format to use in selecting table topics speakers:

Introduce the speaker by name
Describe the topic assignment (30 seconds maximum)
Greet the speaker - repeat their name
Thank the speaker on completion of their topic

WARNING: Do not exceed the requested number of speakers unless time permits.
Contrary to popular belief, Table topics is not intended as an opportunity for EVERYBODY to speak. In a typical Tuesday Toasters club meeting, many of the attending members are already participating on the agenda so lack of speaking opportunities is not a problem. When choosing table topic speakers, avoid choosing one of the Speaker Evaluators if at all possible.
Timing is also regarded as important in a Toastmaster club and the best way to control timing in a topics session is to control the number of speakers.
One last comment; subject matter is entirely the responsibility of the Topics Master but experience shows that a good overall performance is achieved in the following circumstances:

The table topic is one allowing the speaker to speak from their own experience.
The table topics session follows a common theme allowing the less-experienced speakers some preparation time.
Of course, some Topics Masters prefer to set "challenging" topics which generally result in excellent performances from a few speakers and dismal performances from the rest - the choice is yours.

On completion of the session, thank all participants and return control of the meeting back to the TMotD
AFTER THE MEETING:
Give you list of questions to the Secretary to be placed with the meeting minutes.
RESOURCES:
Think Fast ( Code 1315 ) . . . A manual on Table Topics
Table Topics Game "Stand Up and Speak" ( Code 1316 )
Table Topics Game "Stand Up and Speak II" ( Code 1317 )
TableTalk ( Code 1318 )
Patterns in Programming ( Code 1314 )
Chairman ( Code 200 )

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