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Toastmasters
Timer
The Toastmaster of the meeting will call on
you to explain the timing rules.
One of the lessons to be practiced in speech
training is that of expressing a thought within a specific time.
The timer is the member responsible for keeping track of time.
Each segment of the meeting is
timed. You should explain your duties and report to the Club
clearly and precisely. This exercise is an excellent opportunity
in practicing communicating instructions – something that we do
every day.
PRIOR TO THE MEETING
Confirm scheduled program participants with the Toastmaster and
general evaluator.
Confirm time required for each prepared speech with the
speakers.
Write out your explanation in the clearest possible language and
rehearse it. For the benefit of guests, be sure to emphasize
timing rules and how timing signals will be given.
UPON ARRIVAL AT THE MEETING
Get timing equipment from the Sergeant at Arms. Be sure you
understand how to operate the stopwatch and signal device
and make certain that timing equipment works.
Sit where the signal device can be seen easily by all.
DURING THE MEETING
When introduced, explain the timing rules and demonstrate
the signal device. Throughout the meeting, signal each program
participant as indicated below. In addition, signal the
chairman,
Toastmaster, and table topics master with red when they
have reached their allotted or agreed upon time.
Record each participant’s name and time used.
When called to report by the topic master, Toastmaster,
and /or general evaluator, stand by your chair, announce the
speaker’s name and the time taken. State those eligible for
awards if your Club issues awards. Generally topic speakers
should be +- 15 seconds of allowed time; prepared speakers
must be +- 30 seconds of allowed time; the ah counter and
grammarian must be +- 15 seconds of allowed time; all
others +-30 seconds. However, these times may vary from
Club to Club.
AFTER THE MEETING
Return the stopwatch and timing signal device to the Sergeant at
Arms.
Give the completed timer’s report to the Secretary for recording
speech times in the minutes if this is done in your Club.
SAMPLE DESCRIPTION
Part of the training in Toastmasters is
to learn to speak in a timely manner. It will be my job
today to time each of the speakers in the prepared Speeches,
Table Topics, and Evaluators.
For the Prepared Speakers, I will hold
up:
Green flag when you have 2 minutes to go
Yellow flag when you have 1 minute to go
Red flag when your time is up
You will still have 30 seconds to complete your speech at
which time you must stop if the bell is rung.
For the Table Topics Speakers, I will
hold up:
Green flag when you have met the minimum time of 45 seconds
Yellow flag when you have 15 seconds remaining
Red flag when your time is up
You will still have 15 seconds to complete your talk at
which time you must stop if the bell is rung.
For the Speaker Evaluators, I will hold
up:
Green flag when you have met the minimum time of 1 minute 30
seconds
Yellow flag when you have 30 seconds remaining
Red flag when your time is up
You will still have 30 seconds to complete your speech at
which time you must stop if the bell is rung.
For the General Evaluator, I will hold up
Green flag when you have met the minimum time of 2 minutes
Yellow flag when you have 30 seconds remaining
Red flag when your time is up
You will still have 30 seconds to complete your speech at
which time you must stop if the bell is rung
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