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  Club is Lab
  Humor Ideas
  Bring Manual
  Finding Topics
  Speech a Month
  Timing Speech
  Jazz It Up
    

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Toastmasters is a Laboratory
by Beth McElhinney
Look at our Toastmasters Club as a laboratory, a place where it is safe to experiment with speaking. A place where you can try speaking slower, or try different styles of speaking, or just simply standing up & talking in front of others.
It doesn't have to be perfect, or even really good for that matter. It is the practice that counts for that is the only way we learn.
It doesn't even matter what you talk about! It can be about your pet pig, or your favorite vacation, or even what you did last weekend! That's right, pretty much everything can be made into a speech!
So don't look at speeches for the Toastmaster program as formal or scary. Look at it as a laboratory, a place where you can PLAY with learning to get comfortable simply speaking.
And with enough playing, the next thing you know, you'll be through the manual and a certified CTM!
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Humorous Contest Ideas
by Beth McElhinney and Randy Samberg
When the annual Humorous Speech Contest approaches, you may get anxious about finding a good humorous topic. Actually, coming up with a humorous speech can be easier than you think.
Here are some ideas for sample topics:

Every cloud should have a silver lining. think about those tasks or things that you just hate in life, and turn it into a humorous speech.
For example, growing old. Randy Samberg gave a speech titled "Aging is a Dysfunctional State of Mind".
Write a speech called "Pager Hell".
Do you hate telemarketers? One winning humorous speech was called "Retaliatory Telemarketing". The speech showed how someone turned the the telemarketing call around to sell something to the telemarketer.
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Bring Your Manual
by Beth McElhinney
When you are giving a speech, don't forget to bring your manual to the meeting.
This is important for 2 reasons:
1) There is an evaluation guide for each speech in the book that your evaluator will need to follow.** (They are different for each speech).
2) You'll need to have your speech signed off by our VPE. This allows you to show that you've done all 9 speeches for your CTM (Certified ToastMaster certificate).
** When you're an evaluator, you may want to make a copy for scratch notes during the speech and then put your final comments in a neater form in the actual book.
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Finding Speech Topics
by Louise Wolfe
Experiencing writer's block (or speaker's block)? Out of ideas? Can't think of anything to talk about? Try these ideas to get your creative juices flowing again.
Table Topics Frustrated because you had a great story for that table topics question that someone else got to answer? Expand it a bit and use it for one of your future speeches.
Your Ice BreakerDescribe more past experiences or share a different aspect of your life--early childhood, college days, professional life, interesting hobbies. What's your most embarassing experience or saddest/most touching, biggest surprise or disappointment? Base a speech on a favorite quote or saying. Describe someone who has inspired you or been a mentor or role model. Discuss news items, pet peeves, or favorite causes.
Bedtime Notebook Don't waste those middle of the night inspirations. Put pre-sleep thoughts to constructive use. Or even your dream could become your next speech.
Manual Re-read the goals for your next few speeches. Think of relevant topics. If necessary, skip a speech. Inspiration will finally strike if you keep an open mind.
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A Speech a Month
by Louise Wolfe
As former VP of Education, my slogan (adapted from the almond industry) was "A Speech a Month is All I Ask". This time-line is not only a way to reach your CTM/ATM goals within the Toastmasters guidelines, but also a way to most effectively benefit from the Toastmasters program and manuals.
Instead of doing your speech at the last minute, next time try this schedule instead.
Week 1-Planning First read the instructions for your next speech and think of some possible topics that would fit in well with the objectives for that particular speech. Choosing a subject that suits the goals will help you maximize your learning. Once you have chosen a topic, write a rough outline or list of ideas to cover. Then let your subconscious think about it for a while.
Week 2-Research & Writing Fill in the details of your outline, research the subject (if needed), and write the rough draft of your speech.
Week 3-Timing & Revision Start reading the speech and timing it. Revise as needed until you have a final draft that fits the time limit.
Week 4-Practice & Polish Practice, practice, practice. Memorize it or be able to use your notes with smooth transitions. Focus on the particular objectives of the speech project. Polish your speech until it is "perfect" or at least until you will be proud to deliver it.
I look forward to your speech next month!
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Timing Your Speech
by Louise Wolfe
Accurately timing your speech can be one of Toastmasters more difficult challenges. Somehow, no matter how many times you time it when you practice at home, the club timing may be very different. When I'm under the adrenalin rush of an actual presentation, I tend to get more dramatic and take longer pauses, so my speeches usually go longer than anticipated. Plus, I have a tendency to ad lib extra comments, which doesn't help any! Some others get nervous and deliver their speech faster than their usual pace. If the speech is humorous, you also need to estimate audience reaction. Never talk over the laughter you have generated! Examine your own patterns and lengthen or shorten the speech accordingly.
Try to aim for the middle of the time range, so that you have a "fudge factor" in both directions. Don't just time the full speech. Also try to estimate where you should be when you've reached minimum time (green light) and mid-range (yellow light). That will help you adjust the delivery accordingly. When timing is extremely important, as in contests, you may want to have an "emergency exit"--a shorter alternate ending to use if you see the dreaded red light.
How strict are the times mentioned in the manuals? That depends on your club's policy. If there is an impelling reason that your speech should be a different length than recommended, then consult with the Toastmaster and ask for the time you need. But don't just do this because you are too lazy to edit your material or limit your topic to a more manageable size. Time at Toastmasters meetings, especially one hour lunch meetings, is a very valuable commodity. Respect your audience by doing your best to stay within your scheduled speaking times.
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Jazz It Up!
by Louise Wolfe
You know the importance of props because Toastmasters devotes a whole project to it in the Basic Communications Manual. I would like to address two specific types of "props"--your dress and music.
One of my pet peeves is Toastmasters who dress casually when giving a speech. If the topic is running or your tropical vacation, then by all means wear that jogging suit or Hawaiian shirt. But if you are delivering a serious topic, don't expect to be viewed as an expert in shorts and a T-shirt. The term "dress for success" applies to speaking as well as job interviews.
However, my true passion is dressing in costume when appropriate. The "costume" can be as simple as a hat or a special scarf. It can help you get into character and generate interest in your topic. And it's just plain fun. Don't wait until Halloween to add some variety by having your outfit match your speech topic.
My second favorite tool to "jazz" things up is the use of appropriate music, especially while making your entrance or exit. It sets the mood and gets and holds people's interest. You can even dance a bit on your way to the podium, or get everyone clapping along as a warm-up.
Whether you're using a wardrobe or a boombox, jazz things up once in a while!
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