The Global Toastmasters Resource

Colleen Himes (from UW Toastmasters) wrote:

• Our themed meetings are pretty enjoyable. It creates a sense of continuity when the inspiration, jokes, tabletopics, and meeting notes are all discussing one thing.

[edit] Ideas on running theme evenings

• The Toastmaster sends out an email requesting feedback on a subject of their choice--- summer vacations, politics, favorite pets, etc.
• All of the members respond.
• During the meeting, the Toastmaster introduces the member by telling the group their response. We get to learn more about each other from those introductions.
• Our themed meetings relate only to the subject--- we don't have props or activities unrelated to speaking.
• Sometimes the inspiration, jokes, or table topics are unrelated the theme. It could be too challenging to tie a joke into the theme.
• Sometimes the theme can make the table topic

[edit] Theme ideas

Most of these theme ideas are from the University of Washington's club. They send out an email reminding members of the theme. Well done, guys! --Erichv 13:37, 12 Sep 2005 (UTC)

• The Last Days of Summer
• Summer Vacations
• Politics
• Favourite Pets
• Movies
• Quotes. I attended a meeting once where a whole bunch of quotes were pinned to a notice board. Everybody had to retrieve a quote.

At the start of the meeting, we introduced ourselves. We read the quote and why we chose that quote. Easy enough to do, and a great deal of fun.

• Health treatments and foods. Do you have a particular food item or drink that you have to have everyday, or as often as possible, like blueberries or green tea? Is there a particular vitamin or healthful food item that you swear by? Have you taken any steps recently in your life to improve you health through diet changes or new activities you've taken up? Have you every tried any alternative or holistic medical treatments like acupuncture? (Thanks to UW for this one as well).
• Friendship. Do you have a best friend or a close circle of friends? Do you spend a lot of time with these friends or do you just meet occasionally? What are the qualities that you look for in a friend? Do you regret losing touch with someone that you once considered a good friend? Did any of your friendships change when something in your life changed (e.g., you got married or had kids)? If you've ever moved to a new city or country, did you find it difficult to meet new friends? Did your friendships with the people you left behind change?
• What's In A Name - Ask people if they like their own name. What name would they have chosen for themselves. For introduction, you can also research a little on the meaning of the members' names. A fun way to get to know your fellow members better.
• YOUR FOOD. Here are some sample questions: Do you like trying exotic cousins such as Mongolian, Vietnamese, Arabian, or etc.? If you have 10 dollars with you now, what is your selection for the lunch today? Is making food always fun for you? Let's share your best recipe, if you have some. Convenience, cooking time, nourishment, decoration or taste....what is your priority #1 if you need to serve Toastmasters' members tonight with very limited resources? How many times do you eat out? What is your favorite dish?

Ideas of your own? Think this is excellent? Click on "edit" and contribute to this page!