h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Last Toastmasters meeting I went to, I hadn't got a role allocated, so I wasn't particularly worried when I had to sort something out at the last moment, and I arrived late at the meeting. I then found I had been allocated the job of 'General Evaluator', which is a longish speech at the end of the meeting. All the speeches at meetings are evaluated and the General Evaluator evaluates everyone who performs a role, including the Toastmaster for the evening. Others are Timekeeper, Grammarian, Topics Master and Topics Evaluator and of course the speech evaluators.

I missed the opening and joined the meeting as the first speaker launched into his speech. I didn't worry overmuch, thinking I couldn't be asked to do it as a) I didn't know I was going to do it and b) I'd missed some of the meeting, so I didn't take notes during the meeting.

One of our members is registered blind and does all her speeches, including evaluating table topics, without notes, which is truly impressive.

Anyway, at the end of the evening, the Toastmaster said that this was the part of the meeting when the General Evaluator would speak, and I decided to give it a try, saying as I went up to speak that I hadn't expected to do it and hadn't taken notes. I'm really glad that I did. I found I could remember the order I had to evaluate people in, what they'd said and done and found I had good recommendations for everyone. Not only that - I was just to time. In a funny way, it was easier doing it without notes, because I had to fly by the seat of my trousers and concentrated on the major issues. Roy said that he thought I'd gone up in the estimation of the people at the meeting; I certainly went up in my own estimation. I'm not sure whether it was a one-off or whether I'd be able to do it again.

I never use notes when giving presentations, except fvor ocasionaly very brief notes listing, E.G., order of the slides if using a power point thing, I find it easier wihtout notes as they useually get in the way and interupt the flow of things

Well done, ZSF What a lovely feeling, to be put on the spot and to come away having done a good job

General Evaluator is a senior position in the club, so it's one of the biggest roles you can have, but it's also important that you do it right. So many GE's think they can wax on about anything. They can't. They need to keep it short and sweet. The reason is simple. Most people are looking at the clock and ready a) to go home or b) to go for a few drinks. I try to make my speeches as fast and as to the point as possible.

Well done!

Thank you Fb!

Yes, Woodpigeon - I entirely agree. What helped me to keep mine within time was the fact that I didn't have notes and that helped me to focus on what was important and what wasn't. During the speech, I asked if I'd covered everyone and I'd only missed one - the topics evaluator - someone who was doing the role for the first time. He was easy to evaluate. He was very good at picking positive aspects and had started off with a situational joke, although he didn't give any recommendations. I told him that in order to improve, we needed to be given feedback on what we could have done better. Everyone he evaluated felt good!