Toronto Debate Toastmasters

Who Are We?

The Toronto Debate Toastmasters Club is a non-profit specialty club. We are Canada’s only Toastmasters International club that follows Toastmasters’ 2-track programme of communication and leadership, plus we work on debate in every meeting.

We are a dynamic group of members who meet twice monthly. Our goal is to become confident, effective communicators, debaters and leaders, within the self-paced Toastmasters International programme.

Our membership is comprised of graduate and post-graduate University of Toronto students, and similarly-credentialed, employed business executives, entrepreneurs and professionals in the private and public sectors.

Members range in age from 20-something and up and are from all over the world. The magic is in the mix!

While we work together to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment, we also have a great deal of fun!

The bar is set high at our club, as members strive for high quality meetings, speeches, debates and evaluations, which help them succeed inside and outside our club. We also hold special events periodically.

Why Toronto Debate Toastmasters?

Everyone wants to become a better communicator, leader and debater. At the Toronto Debate Toastmasters club, we help facilitate personal growth in all these areas.

How Do We Do It?

We engage in a wide variety of activities including, but not limited to:

•    Debate & debate evaluation
•    Speech (prepared speech) & speech evaluation
•    Table Topics (impromptu speech exercise)
•    Speech marathons
•    Educational sessions, workshops, training sessions, guest speakers

For further information on debating please download this free paper by Mr. Paul Cheeseman

We do not limit ourselves to meetings alone. We often get together for social activities.

Where?

•   U of T’s OISE (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education), at 252 Bloor St., W., steps from the St. George TTC subway station; guests are required to RSVP before attending a meeting

When?

• We meet on 2nd & 4th Monday of the month, as well as on the 5th Monday of the month in any month with 5 Mondays in it, year-round, from 5:45-8:00pm.

A Typical Meeting

We would love for you to come and join us at a meeting, as it is really the only way to get the full experience of what our club in particular can offer you.

Typical roles in a meeting are:

•    Toastmaster: presides over the meeting as genial host
•    Speakers: deliver prepared speeches (manual, educational or impromptu)
•    Speech Evaluators: evaluate prepared speeches
•    Timer: times the meeting & keeps the meeting on schedule
•    Grammarian: monitors use of the English language & presents word of the day
•    Ah-Counter: monitors pause-fillers such as words & sounds
•    Debatemaster/Debate Chair: presides over the debate
•    General Evaluator: evaluates all (except Table Topics, Soap Box & other impromptu speaking activities)
•    Table Topics Master: presides over the Table Topics portion of the meeting, allowing an opportunity to speak, to those not already scheduled to speak
•    Other roles: as the meeting permits & as agreed to by Club Executive

What You Gain with Toronto Debate Toastmasters

•    Learn techniques and skills of effective debate

•    Improve your communication skills: listening, thinking and speech

•    Lose your fear of public speaking

•    Increase your negotiating skills

•    Grow your teamwork skills

•    Participate in a twice-monthly educational programme

•    Expand your awareness of personal, local, provincial/state, national and world issues

•    Think and act in a logical and persuasive manner

•    Learn to research effectively and analyze issues

•   Hone editing skills

•   Have fun!

Would you like to JOIN the club?

•    Check our FAQ

•    Be a Guest (free of charge): please contact us and let us know you would like to attend.

•    Complete the Membership Application form available at the meeting, and hand it and your Membership Fee (payment by cash or cheque to: Toronto Debate Toastmasters Club) to our Club Treasurer.

•    You will be issued a receipt.

•    Our Vice-President, Education will contact you to start your programme.

•    Welcome & Have fun!!

What are my responsibilities as a member?

As a member of Toastmasters International and my club, I promise…

•    To attend club meetings regularly
•    To prepare all of my speech and leadership projects to the best of my ability, basing them on projects in the Competent Communication, Advanced Communication Series or Competent Leadership manuals
•    To provide fellow members with helpful, constructive evaluations
•    To help the club maintain the positive, friendly environment necessary for all members to learn and grow
•    To serve my club as an officer when called upon to do so
•    To treat my fellow club members and our guests with respect and courtesy
•    To bring guests to club meetings so they can see the benefits Toastmasters membership offers
•    To adhere to the guidelines and rules for all Toastmasters educational and recognition programs
•    To maintain honest and highly ethical standards during the conduct of all Toastmasters activities

Every member is not able to attend every single club meeting, but attending a majority of meetings is desirable, and will enable you as a member to progress in the self-paced programme at a comfortable rate. Fellow Toastmasters help one another by preparing for and attending meetings, and fulfilling meeting roles. Even if you do not have a meeting role, you are always learning, as you listen and watch what goes on in the meeting and “up there” when people speak. Fellow Toastmasters will give you their best, so you give them yours. Together, we’ll all progress in our Toastmasters journey!