When you are General Evaluator

You are evaluator of anything and everything that takes place throughout the meeting. You are responsible for the evaluation team, which consists of the timer, grammarian, ah counter, and speech evaluators. The usual procedure is to have one evaluator for each major speaker, but this is not necessary. Review the Effective Speech Evaluation manual for ideas.

Prior to the Meeting:

· Find out from the Toastmaster if there is a theme, how the program will be conducted & if there are changes from the meeting format.

· Call Wordmaster / Grammarian, Ah Counter, Timer and each Speech Evaluator to confirm responsibilities and notify of the theme.

· Brief each Speech Evaluator on their job and to tell them who they’re evaluating. NOTE: assign any experienced evaluators to new speaker’s speeches and new evaluators to more experienced and confident speakers. Suggest each evaluator call their speaker to talk over any special requirements suggested in the manual for the speech. During the briefing, emphasize that evaluation is a positive, helping act. As conscientious Toastmasters, their goal must be to help fellow Toastmasters develop their skills. Evaluations are of the speech delivery, in relation to the manual objectives, not of the speech content or message.

· Call the Toastmaster a few days prior to the meeting to confirm the evaluation team.

· Prepare a brief talk on the purpose and benefits of evaluation for the benefit of guests.

Upon Arrival at the Meeting:

· Arrive 20-30 minutes early and sit at the head of the table next to the Toastmaster and Table Topic Master. This ensures easy access to the lectern and reduces distractions if you have to communicate last minute program changes.

· Ensure the individual evaluators have the speaker’s manual and understand the project objectives and how to evaluate it.

· If an evaluator is not present, arrange for a substitute.

During the Meeting, notice the following:

· Take notes on everything that happens (or doesn’t but should). Create a checklist from which you can follow that meeting. Cover each participant on the program. Look for good or unacceptable examples of preparation, organization, delivery, enthusiasm, and general performance of duties.

1. Comment on the Toastmaster’s preparation, introductions, energy level, organization, theme (if there was one).

2. Did the Table Topics Master call on all members who had no other speaking role? Were Table Topics posed appropriately (i.e. question first, then person selected to respond)?

3. You may wish to comment on the quality of evaluations. Were they positive, helpful? Did they point the way to improvement? Remember, you are not to re-evaluate the speakers.

4. Has timekeeping been good, both overall and in specific roles (such as Joke Master, Table Topics Master & Toastmaster)? Did the meeting begin and end on time? Were un-timed sections such as Toastmaster & Table Topic introductions of appropriate length and form?

5. Were there unnecessary distractions that could have been avoided? How? What did you like most about the meeting?

During the Evaluation part of the Meeting:

· When introduced to conduct the evaluation phase of the meeting, go to the lectern and introduce each Evaluator, Grammarian, Ah Counter and Timer.

· Speech evaluations should be 2-3 minutes, while Word Master/Grammarian, Ah Counter and Timer reports should each be 1-2 minutes.

· Wrap up by giving your general evaluation of the meeting, using your notes, and take 2-3 minutes. BE POSITIVE AND HELPFUL.

· Remember if someone happens to say something negative during the meeting, smooth things over (i.e. isn’t it great that we have an environment where we can learn).

· Return control to the Toastmaster, and call for votes for Best Evaluator.