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When You Are the Table Topics Master

The Table Topics® session is the portion of the meeting designed to give every member and guest of the club an opportunity to speak extemporaneously for a minute or two. The Topicsmaster is responsible for preparing and issuing an original, creative topic or topics. Each speaker may be given an individual subject or presented with a choice of subjects from which they choose or draw at random. Serving as Topicsmaster supports leadership skills including planning, preparation, organization, time management, and facilitation. Tips on being an effective Table Topics Master:

Confirm any scheduled meeting theme with the Toastmaster. If one has been selected, choose topics that coordinate well with that theme. If there isn’t a theme, choose a wide selection of topics. Avoid repeating Table Topics from recent meetings. Create a list of speakers, evaluators, General Evaluator, and Toastmaster for the meeting so you can call on other members first. If time permits, call on participants already scheduled to speak. (Don’t call on guests first – let them at least see how this portion works). Make a list of people present at the beginning of the meeting, note what role they have, and you’ll know who to call on for Table Topics. The Topicsmaster states the question or topic briefly and then calls on a member or guest at random to respond. Each Table Topics speaker receives a different topic or question. Club Database

Review complete Table Topics Master responsibilities here.