The 'Backward Meeting' Format

A 'Backward Meeting' is a great way for Toastmasters members to build skills. Both challenging and entertaining this unusual theme meeting achieves several goals. Listening, thinking and speaking skills are all engaged. With a little advanced planning the meeting will run smoothly and be very entertaining. The backwards meeting room set-up is the same as a regular meeting. The meeting simply runs in reverse:

1. Adjournment & Awards: the president starts by adjourning the meeting, asking for guest comments, any special announcements, awarding of ribbons, and followed by reviewing next week's roles
2. Evaluation Segment: the general evaluator gives an overall evaluation of the meeting, the functionaries give reports, evaluators give evaluations of manual speeches (speech title will be written in the evaluators guide) based on project objectives, the general evaluator explains the purpose of evaluations, and finally the introduction of general evaluator
3. Table Topic Segment: selected members will deliver oral responses, table topic master will then give the topic or question, concluding with explaining the purpose of table topics, and the table topic master's introduction
4. Speech Segment: Speeches are given from manuals (speech title written in the evaluation page for the evaluators)
5. Functionaries: give the explanation of his or her meeting role
6. Educational Focus: a point from the Communication or Leadership manuals or Successful Club Series or Better Speaker Series is expounded
7. Meeting: toastmaster expands the meeting theme, followed by toastmaster being introduced
8. Business Segment: president has guests introduce themselves, club business items are processed
9. Pledge-Invocation: in reverse order as the summary of the meeting
10. Call to Order: sergeant-at-arms calls the meeting to order and the meeting ends

Please Note: Every club meeting is a show. As a team, be prepared to think on your feet, keep a positive attitude and modify your roles were appropriate. Let's have fun and revisit the Backward Meeting regularly!

The Clubs' Seven Officers' Roles

Serving as a club officer builds communication and leadership skills. There are seven officer roles in a Toastmasters club. The responsibilities of the roles, how they work together and with the members is organized based on Parliamentary procedure and Roberts' Rules of Order.
The President serves as the club's chief executive officer, responsible for general operation of the club. Presides at club meetings and directs educational growth and leadership needs of the members. In cooperation with the executive team, establishes plans for club health and growth.
The Vice President Education plans club meetings so that members achieve their personal goals. Schedules speeches, signs manuals, updates progress charts, reports to Toastmasters International, and coordinates recognition.
The Vice President Membership implements a continuous marketing effort to ensure the club maintains or exceeds a charter membership level of 20. Works to promote club membership and membership retention.
The Vice President Public Relations implements a program to maintain a positive image of Toastmasters and the club. Promotes the club in the media, produces a club newsletter and promotes membership programs.
The Secretary is responsible for all club records and correspondence. Custodian of the Club Constitution and Bylaws and all other official club documents.
The Treasurer is responsible for management of the clubs' finances. Collects and sends dues to World Headquarters on time. Pays obligations, and develops and recommends a budget to the executive committee.
The Sergeant at Arms sets up the room for the club meetings. Ensures equipment and supplies for the meeting are in good standing. Coordinates special equipment set-ups. Greets members and guests at meetings.
The Immediate Past President provides guidance and serves as a resource to officers and members. Chairs the nominating committee and promotes the club's efforts to become a distinguished club.
Toastmasters provides manuals and training for all of these executive committee officers' roles. Serving as a club officer also fulfills a requirement for the Advanced Leader Bronze award.

Club Leadership - Our 7 Officers' Roles

President - The President serves as the club’s chief executive officer, responsible for general supervision and operation of the club. Leads and monitors the President’s Distinguish Club award goals. Pays attention to events and deadlines and informs the members.

Vice President Education - The VP Education is responsible for planning successful club meetings so that each member has the opportunity to achieve his or her educational goals. Creates themes for the meetings, maintains the role spreadsheets. Provides current role schedule agenda for members to plan weekly meeting contributions.

Vice President Membership - The VP Membership conducts ongoing membership building programs and efforts, greets and follows up with guests, and reports on current membership. Creates and maintains guest and member information packs.

Vice President Public Relations - The VP Public Relations promotes the club to local media and produces and distributes a club newsletter quarterly. May also acts as club historian keeping records of award winners, photographs and events.

Secretary - The Secretary handles general club correspondence, and records and distributes the minutes of all club weekly and officer business meetings.

Treasurer - The Treasurer handles the club budget and banking concerns, collects and submits membership dues, and keeps records of all financial transactions.

Sergeant at Arms - The Sergeant at Arms maintains club equipment, ensures adequate meeting supplies are available, arranges the meeting room prior to meetings, and calls the meetings to order.

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