Being a Toastmaster and a Tragicomedian (i.e., a member of Tragicomedy Toastmasters) means more than simply making a commitment to self-development. Everyone who joins a Toastmasters club is making a commitment to the club, to its members, and to the organization as a whole.
Promise to Toastmasters International
As a member of Toastmasters International and my club, I promise
- To attend club meetings regularly
- To prepare all of my projects to the best of my ability, basing them on the Toastmasters education program
- To prepare for and fulfill meeting assignments
- 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 education and recognition programs
- To act within Toastmasters’ core values of integrity, respect, service, and excellence during the conduct of all Toastmasters activities
Promise to Tragicomedy Toastmasters
As a member of Tragicomedy Toastmasters, I promise
- To honor the dramatic arts mission of my club
- To be a thespian to the best of my ability
- To perform stand-up comedy, stage monologues, music, and nonstandard Toastmasters presentations such as films whenever possible
- To enroll in either Pathways or the traditional program and always give manual presentations, even if they are only peripherally related to the project—friends don’t let friends give nonmanual presentations
- To give trigger warnings for any potentially charged material
- To be supportive of all members, even when I disagree with their personal views
- To serve my club as a mentor for up to three mentees at a time when called upon to do so
- To treat youth members (aka Gaveliers) and adult members (aka Toastmasters) equally
- To incorporate the sandwich method (aka “Commend, Recommend, Commend”) in all feedback
- To embrace tragicomedy in every role I fill