{"id":1036,"date":"2015-03-15T16:59:07","date_gmt":"2015-03-15T21:59:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mikeraffety.com\/blog\/?p=1036"},"modified":"2015-10-06T15:33:41","modified_gmt":"2015-10-06T20:33:41","slug":"toastmasters-urban-myths-legends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mikeraffety.com\/blog\/2015\/03\/15\/toastmasters-urban-myths-legends\/","title":{"rendered":"Toastmasters urban myths and legends"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"myths<\/a>It’s really interesting how certain “rules” get made and passed around, and eventually these myths are thought to be fact.\u00a0 Here’s a few I’ve found.\u00a0 These are all FALSE.\u00a0 If someone tells you what’s below is required, they are incorrect, and I’ve included links where possible to the TI web site.\u00a0 Many of these were gathered from a discussion on the Facebook members group<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Contest myths<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. You can’t be a contestant in April\/May if you haven’t paid your membership renewal by April 1, or in October\/November for October 1 dues. (There’s a two-month grace period <\/a>for both clubs and members where they’re still in good standing and eligible for all benefits of membership.)
    \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Telling someone you’re interested in being appointed Area Governor next year disqualifies you from competing. (No, the rulebook allows even announced candidates for appointed office to compete until they take office.)<\/li>\n
  3. For the international contest, your 6th speech can be the contest speech itself. (No, the rulebook <\/a>says “<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>a member must have completed at least six speech projects in the Competent Communication manual prior to the club contest”.)
    \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  4. A speaker who misses the draw must speak first, or last, or any specific place when they eventually show. (This is obviously unfair, as it effectively allows a speaker to pick their place in the order, and we know later speakers have an advantage<\/a>.)
    \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Prepared speech contestants cannot (or must) leave the room before\/after they speak. (No, they’re free to come and go during the minute’s silence, just like any other audience member.\u00a0 Table topics and evaluation contestants must stay out until their turn, but once they’ve spoken, they’re also free to come and go.)<\/li>\n
  6. You can’t wear a generic Toastmasters pin in a contest. (The rulebook does not mention this, but the rulebook does say you cannot add rules.\u00a0 It is a good practice to remove anything showing office or educational award level, but cannot be required.)
    \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  7. You have to address the Toastmaster or Contest Chair during a speech or at a contest. (Also not in the rulebook, but a common custom, and some judges may mark down a contestant who does not follow this myth.)
    \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  8. The contest emcee stays standing at their seat after introducing the speaker until the speaker acknowledges them. (See above.)
    \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  9. You can be disqualified from a speech contest for stepping outside of the speaking area. (Again, not in the rulebook, but a common custom, and speakers who go outside the box might be marked down by some judges who believe in this myth.)
    \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  10. You cannot re-use a contest speech in another contest. (No, you can use any speech or any variation of a speech at any level, as long as it’s your speech, until the World Championship of Public Speaking final round, when the speech must be “an entirely new and different speech than given in any International Speech Contest since January 1 of that same year.”)<\/li>\n
  11. You can charge speech contestants to participate. (No, as this would constitute an additional eligibility requirement, a new rule, and is not permitted<\/a>.\u00a0 Charging for a meal or any other participation outside of the contest is permitted.)
    \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  12. Contest judges must be trained.\u00a0 (No, the contest rulebook does not say this, and rules cannot be added.\u00a0 A chief judge could well prefer a trained judge, but they cannot be required to pick only trained judges.)<\/li>\n
  13. Judges must use the scoring criteria on the ballot. (No, this is a guide, not a requirement, but I would avoid selecting judges who do not use the criteria.)<\/li>\n
  14. The tie-breaker judge is not required, they are never used.\u00a0 (Obviously, they are, or they would not be required, and ties among the voting judges is not unusual.)
    \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  15. No one can leave or enter the room until the ballots are collected (or tabulated). (No, only silence is required, the same as between speeches.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Speech myths
    \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. The top fear of Americans is public speaking. (Another\u00a0 myth; it’s not even in the top 10 in most actual surveys<\/a>.)
      \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    2. 70 (or 93) percent of communication is non-verbal. (A myth resulting from a misunderstanding of an academic study<\/a>.)
      \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    3. You can’t use certain types of speech at a meeting (sex, religion, politics). (TI has no rules limiting topics<\/a>, but some clubs do. The key is to be respectful.)
      \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    4. You can fail a speech and have to redo it. (There is no pass\/fail<\/a>, you always get credit for trying.\u00a0 An evaluator might suggest a re-do, but it cannot be required.)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    5. You can’t change the timing objective in the speech project. (All objectives are goals, not requirements, see above.\u00a0 If the agenda and VPE or whomever controls the agenda has enough time for a longer speech, it’s OK on occasion.\u00a0 It’s more important to have a timing objective, and strive to meet it, it doesn’t have to be the manual timing.\u00a0 I would not generally recommend a shorter time, as that reduces the learning opportunity.)
      \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    6. It is required that you talk about yourself in your Ice Breaker speech (see above).
      \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    7. You have to finish one manual or award before starting another. (No, you can work in any manuals or awards you like in parallel.\u00a0 You can start in an advanced manual before finishing your CC, though it’s not recommended. You just can’t file an award until all prerequisites are completed.)<\/li>\n
    8. You can’t evaluate a speaker who is more advanced than you are<\/span>; a beginner just starting on their CC manual cannot evaluate a DTM. (There are no TI requirements on who can evaluate whom, though some clubs set rules.)
      \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    9. You have to do all 15 advanced manuals before doing any over, or for another DTM. (No, the rules say that each DTM must be with six different advanced manuals, but each DTM can use the same six, a different six, or any mix-and-match as other DTMs a member may have earned.)<\/li>\n
    10. You can have a meeting with just speeches, no evaluations. Only the written evaluation is necessary. (Both a written and oral evaluation are required<\/a>, though the oral evaluation could be delivered privately afterwards.)
      \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    11. You shouldn’t thank the audience. (Sometimes it is quite appropriate<\/a>, but it probably shouldn’t be the last thing you say.)
      \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Club operations myths
      \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
        \n
      1. Voting in a member is the only way a member can be voted out. (Not required at all, you can vote someone out<\/a> regardless.)
        \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      2. Only the Sergeant at Arms can open or close the meeting. (Do whatever works for your club.)
        \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      3. Table topics evaluations are a standard and required part of the program. (No, they’re not in the standard program, though many clubs find them valuable.)<\/li>\n
      4. Advanced clubs must require dual membership, or must require a CC, or anything else. (No, it’s up to the club to decide and enforce what the membership requirements might be.\u00a0 WHQ only takes an interest a the time of charter, when at least 17 members must be dual, OR 17 non-dual.)<\/li>\n
      5. District officers have authority over your club. (Area Governors and the like can only coach and advise. If there’s a legal issue, contact only WHQ.)
        \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      6. Responses from WHQ must be followed.\u00a0 (No, only the written documents with policy and protocol, and manuals, and the like, are mandatory; responses from individual WHQ staffers are great advice and should be strongly considered, but are not mandatory unless they point to a written rule somewhere, as they have not been reviewed and approved organizationally.\u00a0 They do make mistakes, they’re human.)<\/li>\n
      7. All HPL projects must be approved by the District Governor (or someone else outside the club). (Only the HPL guidance committee and club VPE have to sign off.)
        \n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      8. If your HPL project fails, you cannot get HPL credit.\u00a0 (No, if your guidance committee signs off on it, if you’ve learned something, then the HPL is a success!)<\/li>\n
      9. Club meetings (or district events) must start with a prayer and\/or pledge of allegiance.\u00a0 (No, this is a club choice, and obviously not right for all clubs.\u00a0 Do consider how these rituals might make guests feel though; be inclusive.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        What are some myths you’ve heard?\u00a0 Sound off in the comments!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        It’s really interesting how certain “rules” get made and passed around, and eventually these myths are thought to be fact.\u00a0 Here’s a few I’ve found.\u00a0 These are all FALSE.\u00a0 If someone tells you what’s below is required, they are incorrect, and I’ve included links where possible to the TI web site.\u00a0 Many of these were […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[103,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1036","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-contests","category-miscellaneous-toastmasters"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mikeraffety.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1036","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mikeraffety.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mikeraffety.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mikeraffety.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mikeraffety.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1036"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/mikeraffety.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1036\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1067,"href":"https:\/\/mikeraffety.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1036\/revisions\/1067"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mikeraffety.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1036"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mikeraffety.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1036"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mikeraffety.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1036"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}