President's Tip of the Week

Four Things a Speaker Needs to Do
Before the Sergeat-at-Arms Pounds the Gavel
(1/17/08)

1. Consult with the timer on the length of your speech.

2. Give your manual to your evaluator. Provide the evaluator with information on the speech objectives you'd like to receive feedback on from the rest of the group. Discuss any additional items you would like the evaluator to look for in your speech. Optional but highly recommended: provide this information to your evaluator in written form. I also include information on my current achievement level in Toastmasters, the name of the manual I am working in, and the name of the project I am working on.

3. Tell the Toastmaster whether you want the lectern or not. If you have special equipment needs, you should also inform the Toastmaster if you need his or her assistance in setting that up between speeches.

4. Give the Toastmaster an introduction. It should be in an easily legible format, and it should introduce you and your speech. More information on how to write a great introduction will follow in another tip!