Club Meeting Roles

Toastmasters Meeting Roles: Who Does What?

A Toastmasters meeting isn’t just about prepared speeches—it’s a dynamic learning environment where every member gets involved. Each role provides a different learning experience, from speaking and evaluating to time management and leadership. Read more: A Toastmasters Wears Many Hats

Here’s a breakdown of the key roles in a typical Toastmasters meeting:

Meeting Sergeant-at-Arms

Greet and welcome guests & members – The first friendly face people see! Helps new attendees feel comfortable.
Call the meeting to order – Officially opens the meeting by welcoming everyone and handing it over to the Toastmaster of the Day (TMD).

Toastmasters of the Day (TMD)

Think of this person as the meeting’s host. They:

Keep the meeting running smoothly.
Introduce speakers and explain each segment.
Set the energy and make sure everyone has a great time.

Prepared Speakers

These are the members who deliver planned speeches from the Toastmasters Pathways learning program. Each speech has a different focus—storytelling, persuasion, vocal variety, etc.

Speech Evaluators

These members provide structured feedback on the prepared speeches.

Highlight what the speaker did well.
Offer positive and constructive suggestions for improvement.
Help speakers grow and improve over time.

Table Topics Master

This person leads the Table Topics session, where participants give short, off-the-cuff speeches on surprise topics.

Calls on members (and sometimes guests!) to speak.
Picks fun and engaging topics.
Encourages everyone to think on their feet.

Timer

Every Toastmasters meeting is time-conscious. The Timer:

Tracks speech lengths.
Uses green, yellow, and red signals to keep speakers on track.
Helps speakers develop pacing and time management skills.

Here’s a breakdown of the additional roles in a Toastmasters meeting:

Ah Counter

Ever noticed yourself saying “um,” “uh,” “like,” or “you know” too much? That’s where the Ah-Counter comes in!

Tracks filler words and unnecessary pauses.
Helps members become more aware of their speaking habits.
Encourages clearer, more confident speaking.

Language Evaluator

This person helps improve language skills by:

Introducing a “Word of the Day” to expand vocabulary.
Noting interesting or powerful phrases used by speakers.
Providing feedback on grammar and word choice.

General Evaluator

This person gives an overview of the entire meeting, offering feedback on:

How well everything flowed.
The quality of evaluations.
Any areas for improvement.

Jokemaster

The Jokemaster (also called the Humor Master in some clubs) has a simple but important job:

Start the meeting with a laugh!
Share a short, appropriate joke or humorous story to lighten the mood.
Set a positive and energetic tone for the meeting.

Table Topics Evaluator

The Table Topics Evaluator’s job is to:

Observe and evaluate all Table Topics speakers.
Provide quick, constructive feedback to help them improve.
Highlight strengths—Did they have great energy, clear structure, or a strong conclusion?
Suggest improvements—Could they use more vocal variety, body language, or a stronger opening?

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse