What a delectable (word of the day) night we had! Our meeting Chair Gordon Vuong sent this email to all of us five days before the meeting:
What is an Adventure in Food?
They say “variety is the spice of life”.
I say the BEST way to get variety in life is through the literal spices, textures, flavours of yummy food! You can learn a lot about a country, its people, traditions, and culture through its food. Since we cannot really travel now, we can still go on a CULINARY ADVENTURE!
I encourage you to support your local restaurants and order take out from a new place. If you’re feeling even more adventurous, experiment and cook a new recipe you’ve never made before. Not so adventurous? That’s okay, tell us all about your favorite comfort food that gives you warm fuzzy memories when you eat it.
Please come ready to share stories of your own adventures in food!
Bon Appétit! Your food obsessed Chair
Of course the whole club jumped in to participate – because of course we all love to eat!
Glen Abbey Toastmasters is proud to have earned President’s Distinguished Club status for the 22nd year in a row.
What is President’s Distinguished Club status?
It is the highest level Toastmasters Club can achieve in a given year based on the Distinguished Club Program scorecard
What is the Distinguished Club Program?
The Distinguished Club Program includes 10 goals that every Toastmasters club in the world strives to achieve each year. The 10 goals are grouped into four areas:
Education: How many members completed various Toastmasters Pathways Education Levels
Membership: How many new, dual, and reinstating members were brought into the club
Training: How many Club Officers attend twice yearly Club Officer Training
Administration: Whether our club submitted dues / renewals on time twice yearly
Understanding The Scoreboard
Glen Abbey Toastmasters achieved 10 goals. Each checkmark on the right counts for one goal / one point.
Why Does It Matter?
Achieving President’s Distinguished status means:
Our club is strong – and has been for a long time
Our members are engaged – and make meetings interesting and memorable
We have a great mix of experienced and new members
Our members are achieving their education goals through a great program and strong club mentorship
Our Club Officers are committed to helping you on your Toastmasters journey.
If you’d like to become a great public speaker – visit our club any time.
GATM celebrated Earth Day 2021 with a special Earth Day themed meeting.
The Toast to Planet Earth set the stage for our appreciation of the planet.
GATM Toastmasters spoke of how Earth Day impacts them and the many things they do to help the planet. During Table Topics, many spoke of the actions they take in their daily lives – from:
eating more plant based diets
how they are reducing, reusing, and recycling
how they have helped in reforestation
what they do for climate change, and
how they reduce waste when out
Also there were two great speeches on Different Abilities and Communication Styles!
District 86 is hosting it’s Spring Conference from April 10 to April 16, 2021. Over the course of the week, there will be 15 workshops, contests, the business meeting, and lots of fun events.
The conference is online and FREE this year. It is a great opportunity to:
Learn new ideas, strategies, and techniques to help your clubs, areas, and divisions succeed.
Connect face to face and network with like-minded Toastmasters from across Ontario
Spur your personal growth, thinking, creativity, and planning from outstanding workshops
Be Inspired by Distinguished Toastmasters and District Award Winners who are recognized for achieving their goals
Be Amazed by fabulous contest speakers, motivated presenters, and selfless volunteers
Renew Friendships by coming home for a TM Conference – an annual gathering of new & old friends
Re-Energize your passion and regain your focus for your own Toastmasters journey
Oakville Mayor Rob Burton is proclaiming April as Toastmasters Month for the Town of Oakville. This is a great honour for all Toastmasters clubs in Oakville including:
Everything was coming up hearts at the February 11th Valentines Day themed meeting at Glen Abbey Toastmasters.
Chair Gordon Vuong led the theme by sharing: This week, there are three big holidays that celebrate love – Valentine’s Day, Family Day, and Chinese Lunar New Year. The meeting theme was The Love You Give.
And he challenged everyone to wear red or have red in their backgrounds. Of course Glen Abbey Toastmasters delivered. Great meeting!
Winners At The 2021 Area 83 International Speech Contest
We’re thrilled for two Glen Abbey Toastmasters: Zehra Reza and Krista Rowan. They placed first and second in the Area 83 International Speech contest which was held online on February 26, 2021.
This means that they will both move up to compete with contestants from other areas in the Division D contest on Feb 20th 2021. Congratulations to both of them from the GATM family!
About the International Speech Contest
International speeches should be original speeches of 5-7 minutes. They can be given on any subject, and can be serious, funny, or inspirational. The International Speech Contest is held at the Club, Area, Division, District, and International level, and as it goes all the way to the International level, it is the most important of all the Toastmaster contests, and where the World Champion of Public Speaking is decided! In order to be a contestant in this contest, a Toastmaster must have completed at least 6 speeches from the Competent Communicator or Pathways Program.
The Glen Abbey Toastmasters Handook is designed to guide you in understanding the information you require to participate confidently in all Club meetings.
In order for you to excel at the meeting roles with confidence:
we have provided guided scripts for you to learn the roles.
however, it is important that you add your stamp, your personality, and your style to each role – rather than just memorizing the scripts below.
it is also important that you look at the timing of each role, and stay within the time allotted. this will keep the entire meeting on time.
Excel in your Toastmasters experience and realize that you are now a member of an outstanding, dedicated group of individuals that will support you in your communication and leadership goals. Our club is very committed to creating a fun and comfortable learning environment to help you grow in your speaking skills. Be proud that you are an integral part of the Glen Abbey Toastmasters Club.
The Chairperson is the most important function of the meeting. The Chairperson is like the conductor. Your job is to ensure all is in harmony and the meeting flows smoothly.
Two Weeks Prior To The Meeting
Develop your theme for the meeting
Discuss with the Toastmaster for the evening ideas to make the theme / meeting great.
One Week Prior To The Meeting
Send out the meeting theme / roster (based on the roster developed by the VP Education)
Ask Speakers to confirm with the Chair and the Toastmaster
Ask Evaluators to confirm with the Chair and General Evaluator
Ask everyone else to confirm with the Chair
Review your parliamentary procedures
Confirm all assignments preferably by Sunday (3 days before the meeting)
Prepare the agenda for the meeting by Wednesday
Timing
The meeting is two hours long. It is the responsibility of the Chair to keep the meeting on time.
During The Meeting
The Sargeant At Arms will introduce you.
[After being introduced by the Sargeant At Arms, the Chairperson comes to the lectern and takes the gavel from the Sargeant At Arms to indicate he/she is in control].
Opening
Thank you Toastmaster………………………………….
Good Evening fellow Toastmasters and Guests. Welcome to Glen Abbey Toastmasters weekly meeting. We have a great meeting in store for you. So sit back, relax and have fun.
Theme
The theme tonight is ……………………………explain theme………………………………………
Spend 2-3 minutes providing a great opening for the meeting, speaking about your theme and why it matters to the people attending this evening.
Introduction of Officers
I’d like to introduce our officers for the meeting tonight. As I call the names of the officers, please rise and remain standing. Would the rest of the audience kindly hold their applause until I have completed all the introductions.
The Toastmaster this evening is: …………
The General Evaluator is: …………
The Toast will be given by:
The Table Topics Master is: …………
The Secretary is: …………
The Sergeant-At-Arms is: ……………
The Parliamentarian is:…………………..
The Timekeeper is: …………
The Grammarian is: …………
The Quizmaster is: …………
And I am your Chair this evening……………………
Fellow Toastmasters and Guests, these are the officers for tonight’s meeting: [Lead applause]
Introduction of Guests
We have ……………………..guests this evening, and we’d like to introduce you to everyone now.
Toastmaster ……………………. would you like to introduce your guest?
Toastmaster ……………………. would you like to introduce your guest?
Toastmaster ……………………. would you like to introduce your guest?
Toastmaster ……………………. would you like to introduce your guest?
Toastmaster ……………………. would you like to introduce your guest?
[After each guest has been introduced lead applause, welcome them, and say…]
At the end of the meeting, you’ll be given the opportunity to say a few words about you impressions / experience about this meeting tonight. Enjoy
Toast
It’s now time for the Toast. Toastmastaster ………………………, would you kindly like to give the toast. [Toast] Thank you Toastmaster ………………………………………….[Lead applause]
Introduction of Grammarian
Toastmaster ………………………….., could you kindly stand up and explain your role as Grammarian this evening [ Grammarian Role ] Thank you Toastmaster ……………………………………… [lead applause]
Quizmaster
Toastmaster………………………………………………………………, could you kindly stand up and explain your role as Quizmaster this evening. [ Quizmaster Role ] Thank you Toastmaster…………………………………………………..[lead applause]
Table Topics
Now we come to the fun part of our evening – Table Topics. And to conduct that session, I would like to introduce our Table Topics Master this evening Toastmaster………………………….[lead applause]
Thank you Toastmaster ……………………………..for the wonderful Table Topics session. [lead applause]
Education Session
[If there is an educational session, introduce the person and their topic. At the end , thank them].
Business Session
I would now like to start the Business session [Bang gavel].
Option 1. If you are dispensing with the reading of the minutes, indicate this and confirm that they have been distributed to all members.
Option 2. Could the secretary please read the minutes of the last meeting.
Are there any errors or omissions in the minutes? [Listen to all comments and ask the secretary to make the necessary corrections] If there are no comments then I would like to declare the minutes approved as read (or corrected, as the case may be). [Bang the gavel].
Is there any business arising from the minutes? Is there any other unfinished business to discuss? [Address each one accordingly]
Do we have any Officers’ reports?
Do we have any Committee reports? [Standing and Special committees]
Do we have any Ambassador reports?
(Optional) During the Share your Greatness segment, I would like to invite one Toastmaster to share how Toastmasters has helped improve his/her life outside the Club.
New Business Session
Now we are going to start our New Business session. May I ask the Timekeeper to turn on the red light and ring the bell after ………. minutes (usually 10 minutes but it may vary depending on schedule).
Is there any item of new business to be tabled at this meeting? [This is where a new motion may be tabled. See parliamentary procedures on motion rules and regulations on the following pages. Also have your Robert’s Rules book handy and do call upon your parliamentarian when in doubt. Ensure that all items/motions brought up for discussion is properly disposed of. Usually this session ends when the Timekeepers gives the red light. Otherwise, you may want to say:].
Having no further items of business, if there are no objections, I will now declare the business session closed. [Bang gavel]
Parliamentarian Report
Could the Parliamentarian please give his/her report. [At the end of the report, thank the parliamentarian and lead applause]
Recess
Now I would like to Recess for …… minutes. May I ask the Timekeeper to turn of the red light and ring the bell with the time is up?
[At the end of the recess, the SAA will bang the gavel to let everyone know that recess is over. The SAA will introduce the Toastmaster.]
Prepared Speeches
[At the end of the Prepared Speeches session, after the General Evaluator has given the awards.]
Thank you Toastmaster ……………………………. for enlightening us with a wonderful Prepared Speeches Session. [lead applause]
Great Toastmaster of the Evening
I would like to reward a person who has helped making this meeting great by …………… ……………………………………………………………….. [Call this person to the lectern and give him/her a ribbon.]
Guests’ Comments
[At this point, invite guests to give their comments.]
Since participation is the key to self-improvement at Toastmasters meeting, I would like to ask our guests for their comments on tonight’s meeting. [Make sure you have the guests’ names and thank each one warmly.]
Final Comments
Is there any other business to be discussed for the good of Toastmasters?
If there is no other business, I declare this meeting adjourned. The time is now ………….
The SAA’s responsibility is to ensure that the meeting room is well prepared and that the meeting itself starts on time with enthusiasm is under his/her jurisdiction. It is not expected that SAA carry out all the required duties on his/her own but it is essential that the required work gets done. Delegation of responsibility to committee members or any other reliable person is very important to ensure meetings run smoothly. Coordination with other members and executives is essential to doing a good job.
Advance Preparation
Planning ahead is the key to a successful Toastmaster meeting.
Ensure that you have all the materials required for the meeting (lectern, educational materials, timing light, voting forms, ribbons or certificates and trophies, etc.). The SAA is fully responsible for the administration and management of the Club property.
Pre-Meeting Activities
Set up Lectern, timing light and any special equipment requested.
Post proper signs to help guests find the meeting room.
Lay out education materials, name cards, guest book, brochures, etc.
Distribute agendas and any other handouts provided.
Hang up Club banner.
Lay out trophies on table in front of lectern and gavel on top of lectern.
When Members and Guests Arrive
Greet all meeting attendees and make them feel welcome
Request guests to sign the guestbook
Make temporary name cards for the guests
Ensure members pick up their name tags
Explain or get someone to explain the Toastmasters program to the guests with the help of the promotional literature provided for the guests.
Assign a member host to each non-Toastmaster guest for the duration of the meeting.
To Start The Meeting
Ensure the meeting starts on time. If there is a delay in the meeting start – announce it to club members from the lecturn
Bang the gavel and welcome all members and guests to the Glen Abbey Toastmasters Club #8644 meeting
Introduce the Chairperson. It is helpful to know something about the Chairperson so you can make a proper introduction – eg – time with club, roles held, other pertinent and interesting information
During The Meeting
Sit near the door – or assign someone – so you can ensure any late arrivals are taken care of easily and quickly without disturbing the rest of the meeting
Ensure extra chairs are available for the late comers
Collect ballots and feedback forms in a manner requested by whomever is in control of the meeting at the time.
Tally votes, complete awards certificates, and provide to Chairperson
After Recess / Second Half of Meeting
Call the meeting to order on time
Introduce the Toastmaster in this manner:
Now, to start our Prepared Speeches portion, I would like to present to you a very fine Toastmaster who will be hosting this part of the meeting. This person …………………………………………………………………………………
Ladies & gentlemen, please help me welcome our toastmaster for this evening, Toastmaster ………………… [Lead applause, pass the gavel to the Toastmaster and take a seat.]
After The Meeting
Clean up the meeting room with the help of other members. Keep any reusable materials such as extra ballot forms, handouts, educational material, etc.
Pack all items neatly in the boxes in the same manner they were packed at the start of the meeting. Check if anything requires a refill for the next meeting.
Ensure all materials are complete and packed away properly.
Make a final quick tour of the premises to ensure nothing is left behind, and that the room is clean and neat. You or your delegate should be last person out of the room.
The Toast should be given to a single person, or sometimes a group.
In giving praise to someone, it should be mentioned why the praise is being given. In other words, a build-up of the person being honored is necessary.
The name of the person should always be given last, keeping the audience in suspense until the very last moment.
If possible, toast a person who has recently done something exceptional and focus on their achievements.
To give the toast:
Stand and give background information on the person [for instance, the Queen].
Then take your glass in your hand and say: “Will you please stand … [Wait until everyone is standing] and join me in a toast … to the Queen”.
The phrase “to the Queen” is repeated by everyone, and everyone drinks.
After the toast, say: “Please be seated”, and sit down.
Occasion and special events are always an opportunity for GATM members to be creative, have fun and celebrate our wonderful culture!
In our online 2020 Christmas party, we played “Would you rather …” questions and answers, danced, stretched together and talked about 2020 highlights in our lives and what we were looking forward to in 2021.
Not only did we have fun before the Holidays, but also we learned more about each other.
This is how the GATM family celebrated Christmas and welcomed 2021!
Check the theme for the meeting on the meeting roster page.
Prepare 8 table topics around the theme. Depending on timing and length of speeches that day – all 8 may not be used. Usually we have 5-7 table topics.
Just Before The Meeting
Bring your table topics to the meeting and hand them to selected participants (it is recommended that you select participants who are not speaking or taking a significant role in the meeting).
You may wish to use the following schedule to make your job easier. Chart for speakers / Topics
During the Meeting
After being introduced by the Chairperson, you are in control
Go to the lecturn, and use this script as a guideline.
Remember, put your style and personality into the script
Timing
The Table Topics portion of the meeting is usually 10 minutes in length.
Script
Thank you Mr./Madam Chairperson for this kind introduction.
Now we come to the impromptu speaking portion of the evening, Table Topics.
For the benefit of our guests [if guests are present], the objective of Table Topics is to acquire the ability to speak well when called upon and do so with only little prior preparation.
Speaking “off the cuff” is something we are often asked to do at work or in social situations. Learning to “think on your feet” is important during interviews, discussions, debates and seminars.
The benefits of impromptu speaking are many and 3 of the most important are:
You learn to remain cool under pressure,
You gain self-confidence, and
You learn to develop readiness of the wits.
The format we will use is to have the next sequential speaker open their envelope as the current individual speaks.
May I ask the first speaker to open his/her envelope now?
[Give information or instructions on your chosen subject related to the theme while the first speaker is getting ready.]
The timing for each speech is 1 minute. Mr./Madame Timekeeper: Green at 0:30, Amber at 0:45, Red at 1:00. [Explain the reasons for timing speakers and the fact that speakers who do not speak within the assigned time will not be eligible to the vote for “Best Table Topic”.]
May I ask Speaker #1 to begin and Speaker # 2 please open your envelope. [Thank the speaker and lead the applause]
[Repeat this process for each speaker.] You have just heard ……speakers expressing their feelings about a variety of subjects: Mr./Madame Timekeeper could I have the time duration of all speakers please? [At your discretion, exclude from the vote any speakers with timing infractions]
Please use the ballot in front of you to vote for the Best Table Topics speaker. Wrap-up That concludes my function as your Table Topics Master and thank you for your active participation.
I will now return the control to our Chairperson of the evening
We celebrated Halloween at GlenAbbey Toastmasters like never before!
Unlike other years that we had an in-person celebration for Halloween, we met online for this year. However, that did not stop us from wearing costumes and having fun.
We changed our names to scary ones and told terrifying stories! This was one of the most memorable halloween celebrations at GATM!
Glen Abbey Toastmasters won the Membership Leadership at the District level in 2019/2020!
The Membership Leadership Award is given to the club with the highest number of points in the Membership Leadership category – clubs who have successfully grown their membership base.
In 2019/2020,18 new members have joined our club despite the challenges that all the clubs because of the pandemic.
Congratulations to GlenAbbey Toastmasters and the 2019/2020 executive team!
When introduced by the Toastmaster, please state the following:
Greetings Mr./Madam Toastmaster, fellow Toastmasters, and guests. As Timer, I will time the table topics speakers, formal speeches, and the evaluations. I will also alert each speaker of the time they have left, using the green, yellow, and red cards, which denote specific times remaining. Thank you Mr./Madam Toastmaster.
Table Topics Speakers should limit their remarks to no more than 2 minutes. • At 30 seconds, I will raise the green card. • At 45 seconds, I will raise the yellow card. • At 1 minute, I will raise the red card.
Ice Breaker speeches should be 4-6 minutes in length. • At 4 minutes, I will raise the green card. • At 5 minutes, I will raise the yellow card. • At 6 minutes, I will raise the red card.
Most other speeches will be 5-7 minutes in length. People giving speeches outside of these times will advise their evaluator, and the evaluator will advise the timekeeper. • At 5 minutes, I will raise the green card. • At 6 minutes, I will raise the yellow card. • At 7 minutes, I will raise the red card.
The individual evaluations should be between 2-3 minutes. • At 2 minutes, I will raise the green card. • At 2 minutes and 30 seconds, I will raise the yellow card. • At 3 minutes, I will raise the red card.
to take notes of the information of the current meeting.
The secretary goes to the Minutes of the Meetings binder and takes the minutes from the previous week. As well, s/he takes a new minute’s template to be filled during this current meeting.
At the start of the meeting, when the secretary is asked to read the minutes of the past meeting, s/he will read the section clearly marked to be read.
During the meeting, as it proceeds, s/he will fill in the information requested.
At the end of the meeting, s/he will put back the previous meeting’s minutes, as well as the current meeting’s minutes in the Minutes of the Meetings binder.
This will then be available for the next week’s secretary. The Minutes of the Meeting binder is kept on premises.
