Toastmasters Europe - Continental Europe :: Toastmasters Europe - Continental Europe :: Timekeeper
Author malw Date 10 Dec 10, 13:14 Views 56489
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Description What does this role involve?

Timekeeper 

The Timekeeper is reponsible for keeping track of time. (The role is also known as the Timer.)

One of the skills in speech training is expressing a thought within a specific time. The Timekeeper helps those at the meeting practise this. As well as recording the times, the Timekeeper should regard each report to the meeting as a mini-speech opportunity.

Before the meeting

Confirm scheduled programme 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.

On 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 those at the lecturn.

During the meeting

When introduced, explain the timing rules and demonstrate the signal device.
Throughout the meeting, signal each programme 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 Toastmaster, stand by your chair, announce the speaker's name and the time taken. When reporting on the Table Topics timings, remind the audience of the title or subject of each Topic.

After the meeting

Return the stopwatch and timing signal device to the Sergeant at Arms.
Give the completed Timekeeper's report to the Secretary for recording speech times.

Timing programme

Here is a timing programme which you can use on a laptop computer as a timing signal device ...
http://www.tmdistrictone.org/speechtimer.asp