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LOVE LETTERS
Better Meetings Made Easy
Dottie Love, DTM
“That was an awful meeting,” the attendee said. idea about a ‘theme’ gives
“Agreed. And I got nothing out of it,” said members something to
another. rally around and lead
When your guests and members secretly to more collaborative
voice these sentiments, then your club suffers. meetings.
We all come to Toastmasters looking for growth. 2. Review the agenda for
Effective meetings are at the heart of it all. Having open roles and send out
served in District roles like Area Director and an email reminding and
Division Director, I’ve had the opportunity to confirming roles are to be
visit a number of clubs. I can tell within 5 minutes filled. And include this link
of the meeting how healthy and thriving the for helpful role tips.
club is. When the meetings are lackluster—that 3. Send a note to the speakers
bleeds over into the health of the club. And when to find out their speech
that happens, members aren’t getting what they title and intro to their speech so that you a special event. Bring items or materials your club meeting thrives.
want. And that’s a sad thing. can introduce them properly. If using to support your theme. Dottie Love is an author and motivational
When you are effective at leading a meeting Toastmasters suggested websites, you 8. The other thing theme meetings do is give speaker. She joined Toastmasters in 2013,
as the Toastmaster, you can email the agenda and review speech the functionary roles holders something and earned her Distinguished Toastmasters
• Set the tone of a meeting information from the website. to plan around: (DTM) in 2018. To find out more, visit www.
• Set the stage for meeting success 4. Arrive early to connect with role holders. • The Grammarian can pick a word-of- DorothyElizabethLove.com
• Ensure other members are prepared to be 5. Print the agenda. Bring the agenda. And the-day to support the theme
successful in their role follow the agenda. As the Toastmaster • The Jester can pick a joke that enhances Great Leaders
I wrote a quick-reference guide to help my ‘adjust on the fly’ if things needs to change the theme
club members be their best in the role. They 6. Have fun—lead with laugher and clapping! • Very creative Toastmasters ask speakers don’t tell you what
have found this guide to be helpful in ensuring what their speeches are about ahead of
great meetings. Get a copy of tips and scripts to Add Flare to the Meeting time then set a theme to compliment those to do, they show you
share with your club by clicking here. 7. Thriving clubs that have been around for topics. Or vice versa.
many years understand the power and The best thing a Toastmaster can do when how it’s done!
The Role of Toastmaster Begins the potency of themed meetings. Themes leading a meeting is to have FUN in the role and
Week Before the Meeting start with the Toastmaster. Themes can be ‘roll’ with it. When the Toastmaster is fun and
1. Set a theme for the meeting. Themes can simple or extravagant! If EXTRAVAGANT, lively, so is the meeting. Alessandro Berselli
be Educational. Inspirational. Fun. The partner with other members and make it When you thrive as a Toastmaster, you ensure
32 ONE COMMUNITY VOICES! |NOVEMBER 2019 33
