Toastmasters meetings are planned to maximize opportunities for communication using all different roles. The timer helps ensure that discussions stay anchored to the plan’s timeline, so we end the session on time.

Timing Signals for Speeches:

For a 5-7 minute speech:

1. The green light at 5 min
2. Yellow light at 6 min
3. Red light at 7 min
4. The timer raises a hand at 7:30 seconds; at that time speaker stops
5. Thirty seconds of grace period to qualify for the voting. If the speaker’s speech time is between 4.5 min and 7.5 min, they would be eligible for the vote.

If a speech is 8-10 minutes long, the green light at 8 min, the yellow light at 9 min, red light at 10 min. The grace period would still be 30 seconds. So, if the speaker’s speech is between 7.5 and 10.5 minutes, they qualify for the vote.

If a speech is 6-8 minutes long, the green light at 6  min, the yellow light at 7  min, and the red light at 8  min. The grace period would still be 30 seconds. So, if the speaker’s speech is between 5.5 min and 8.5 minutes, they would qualify for the vote.

Timing Signals for Table Topics:

1. The green light at 1 min
2. Yellow light at 1.5 min
3. Red light at 2 min
4. Fifteen seconds of grace time. So, the speaker qualifies for the vote if the table topic is between 45 seconds and 2 min, 15 seconds.

Timing Signals for Evaluation:

1. The green light at 2 min
2. Yellow light at 2.5 min
3. Red light at 3 min
4. Fifteen seconds of grace time. So, if the evaluation is between 1 min, 45 seconds, 3 min, and 15 seconds, the speaker (evaluator) qualifies for the vote.

Ah-counter helps the group track ah’s, um’s, and other filler words such as like, so, and so, or any other word that might come across as a filler word. With our club, ah-counter clicks when they think a particular said word was a filler word.

We don’t click during prepared speeches. We still keep track of filler words and provide that in the report. But we don’t click.

As an ah-counter:

• Explain to fellow club members to use pauses instead of trying to fill the space with filler words. Encourage all to get comfortable with the silence while speaking (using pauses).
• Keep an ear for run-on sentences as well. If the speaker connects sentences using so, and so, and, or any other word, click. In the ah-counter report, explain not to do run-on sentences.
• Use clicker (click) when you think a particular word from the speaker was a filler word.
• Prepare a brief statement to explain your role when prompted by the toastmaster.
• In the end, give a detailed report for each person separately (number of ah’s, um’s, and filler words). You have 1-2 minutes to do that.

The role of a counter is more challenging than it seems. You are actively counting ah’s and um’s and other filler words and click from beginning to end. The role helps you cultivate active listening skills, one of the key components in learning how to communicate and work with others as a team.