Timer

Time required for your report (30 sec - 1min)

Purpose:

Timing is an important part of all meetings. One of the lessons to be practiced in speech training is that of expressing a thought within a specific time. 

As such it falls upon the timer to time each major section of the meeting and to time the participants. Did it start on time and end on time? 

Imagine the situation where a speaker is asked to speak for five minutes and they speak for 20. Equally horrifying is the speaker asked to fill 20 minutes that only talks for five minutes. The timers role is keep us aware of time during the various activities.

Before the meeting:

Ensure that the chronometer and lighting device are in working order. See the Sgt@Arms if there are any problems. Situate yourself in a location where all speakers will be able to see the lighting device will be visible. Confirm what the time criteria will be for each portion of the meeting. Prepare an explanation of your duty as you will be called upon by the toastmaster at the beginning of the meeting to explain what your role is within a 30 - 45 sec time frame.

At the Meeting:

Keep an accurate record of time for each meeting events.

Note time that meeting started.

Note start and end times of business meeting. Monitor current time and be prepared to provide timing instructions when called upon

Be prepared to handle timing requests from the Chairman during the business meeting.

Time break as instructed and be sure to alert the Toast Master when time is up.

Record each Table topic, speakers and evaluators. For example:

Table Topics; Generally 2 min,

• Green 1:00, 

• Amber 1:30, 

• Red 2:00 

• at the direction of the Table Topics Master, you may be asked to lead the applause should the speaker speak longer then 2:30
    

Speakers; Most basic Manual Speeches are 5-7 min

• Green 5:00, 

• Amber 6:00, 

• Red 7:00. We do not clap down prepared speeches but you may flash the red light should the speaker go over by more then 1 min
   

Evaluators, Generally 3 min,

• Green 2:00, 

• Amber 2:30, 

• Red 3:00 (flash the red light and get the Evaluators attention after 3:30)
   

General Evaluator.

• Timing of the General evaluator is calculated as a whole including the report of the :

  • Evaluators, 

  • Grammarian, 

  • Ah Counter and 

  • yourself the Timer.

• Therefore the more quickly you deliver your report the more time the General evaluator will have to deliver his/her report.
    

Flash the red light if someone or a section of the meeting is overtime. Make sure you are informed about when blue, amber and red lights are to appear for each speakers. Make your report brief. Time for your report should be approximately 45 seconds.

Give timers report if called on by the General Evaluator. List times recorded for meeting start, business meeting start and end, table topics, speakers, and evaluators.

Sample explanation of your role for the meeting.

The aim of the timer is to assist each participant of the meeting to speak within their designated time allotment with the assistance of this timing device. For example in the case of Table topics the lights will be activated as follows. The Blue light will be activated at 1:00 min, the Amber light at 1:30, and the Red light at 2:00 indicating that the speakers time has elapsed. The speaker is then allowed a 30 second grace to close his thought but should he/she still be speaking after the 30 seconds grace the speaker will be clapped down.