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Frequently Asked Questions
*** If you have more questions, please contact VP Membership ***
Question: Do I have to start speaking as soon as I join a Toastmasters club?
Answer: No, you don't have to. But you will likely discover you want to. One of the nice things about Toastmasters is that you progress through the educational program at your own speed. Members generally start out by taking meeting roles such as Timer or Jokemaster and then work their way up to prepared speeches. Some members ask to be on the speaking schedule immediately, and that can usually be arranged. It has been known for a member to wait a year before giving their first prepared speech.
Question: If I can't get on the speaking schedule what can I do?
Answer: To get on the schedule, click here to e-mail the VP Education. It is the responsibility of the Education team to make sure all members get speaking opportunities. Toast of CIBC has a goal-setting workshop twice yearly when members have a chance to share their speaking plans. If you want to deliver a prepared speech when the schedule is already booked up for the coming months, you should prepare a speech anyway and be ready to speak if there is a cancellation. This happens often. You could also ask the Education team to find you an opportunity at another club.
Question: Where and when do you meet?
Answer: We meet every Thursday 12 @ 1 pm, near the Front & Bay intersection in Toronto. Specific address is: Dawson Room, 12th Floor, 161 Bay Street (Brookfield Place). Occasionally we hold our meetings in a different room, so double-check the location by clicking here to see what?s on this week?s schedule. One thing, though. The meeting room has a security door, so please arrive on time. Click here to let us know you're coming.
Question: What is the mentoring program about?
Answer: A mentor is an experienced Toastmaster who has volunteered to help a newer member. It is up to the mentor and mentee to decide between them what the extent of this help will be. It is common for the mentor to help the mentee with his/her first three speeches. If you would like to have a mentor or a mentee, please contact the VP Education.
Question: How much is the membership fee when I join Toast of CIBC?
Answer: The annual membership fee is $168 (effective October 2016). It will be pro-rated based on the month you join. Please see table below.
| Date | Club Dues | New Member Kit | Total Dues |
| Aug-18 |
$28.00 |
$35.00 |
$63.00 |
| Sep-18 |
$14.00 |
$35.00 |
$49.00 |
| Oct-18 |
$168.00 |
$35.00 |
$203.00 |
| Nov-18 |
$154.00 |
$35.00 |
$189.00 |
| Dec-18 |
$140.00 |
$35.00 |
$175.00 |
| Jan-19 |
$126.00 |
$35.00 |
$161.00 |
| Feb-19 |
$112.00 |
$35.00 |
$147.00 |
| Mar-19 |
$98.00 |
$35.00 |
$133.00 |
| Apr-19 |
$84.00 |
$35.00 |
$119.00 |
| May-19 |
$70.00 |
$35.00 |
$105.00 |
| Jun-19 |
$56.00 |
$35.00 |
$91.00 |
| Jul-19 |
$42.00 |
$35.00 |
$77.00 |
| Aug-19 |
$28.00 |
$35.00 |
$63.00 |
| Sep-19 |
$14.00 |
$35.00 |
$49.00 |
| Oct-19 |
$168.00 |
$35.00 |
$203.00 |
| Nov-19 |
$154.00 |
$35.00 |
$189.00 |
| Dec-19 |
$140.00 |
$35.00 |
$175.00 |
| Jan-20 |
$126.00 |
$35.00 |
$161.00 |
| Feb-20 |
$112.00 |
$35.00 |
$147.00 |
| Mar-20 |
$98.00 |
$35.00 |
$133.00 |
| Apr-20 |
$84.00 |
$35.00 |
$119.00 |
| May-20 |
$70.00 |
$35.00 |
$105.00 |
| Jun-20 |
$56.00 |
$35.00 |
$91.00 |
| Jul-20 |
$42.00 |
$35.00 |
$77.00 |
| Aug-20 |
$28.00 |
$35.00 |
$63.00 |
| Sep-20 |
$14.00 |
$35.00 |
$49.00 |
The membership fee comprises two parts: one part collected by Toastmaster International in USD funds, and the other part to cover the club operating costs. The application form only covers the TI portion and therefore is NOT the basis for calculating membership.
Question: How long does it take to get my CC-10?
Answer: We have had members who attain their CC-10 in ten weeks. However, we usually recommend a longer period of time. Technically, you could give one prepared speech each week, receive feedback, and prepare for the next speech. However, you will benefit from taking other roles in meetings, such as giving evaluations to others, or chairing meetings. These will give you a new perspective on delivering prepared speeches, so ideally your CC speeches will be interspersed with other roles.
Question: How many meetings do I have to attend before becoming a member?
Answer: You can join immediately by filling out the on-line membership form and e-mailing the VP Membership to arrange payment. However, we recommend that you visit the club 2 or 3 times to see if (a) the time and location are convenient for you and (b) you find a "good fit" with our club. There is no sense joining a club if you are unable to attend regularly!
Question: Is Toast of CIBC only for CIBC employees?
Answer: No. The majority of our members work at CIBC but we have other members who are students or work elsewhere.
Question: What are the time commitments? Do I need to go to all the meetings?
Answer: No, you do not need to attend all the meetings, but you will find that regular weekly attendance, especially in your first half-year, will teach you a lot just by observing other speakers and the evaluations they receive. More experienced speakers pass along invaluable tips. The scheduler will assign each member a role every week?please reply IMMEDIATELY to that e-mail if you cannot attend, so that the role can be given to another member. If you don?t receive a role, please attend the meeting anyway?the more, the merrier! Plus, you could volunteer to take a Table Topic.
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Question: How often can I speak?
Answer: There are a variety of speaking roles, such as Jokemaster or Quotemaster. Contact the VP Education to request role assignment. We usually have 1 to 2 prepared speeches at each meeting, and your speeches will be scheduled according to the needs and wishes of all club members. Each meeting usually includes Table Topics, which is an opportunity for impromptu speaking, so even if you are not assigned a role one week, you can still participate in speaking.
Question: How do I sign up for Table Topics?
Answer: Table Topics are given out each meeting by the Table Topics Master (an assigned role). To get a topic, we encourage you to come early to the meeting when the Table Topics Master is asking for volunteers!
Question: I would like to sign up, but I have a very busy end of month.
Answer: If you know you can attend only the first two meetings of every month, let the VP Education know that you should not be scheduled for any roles in the later half of the month. Also, if you receive a role assignment, hit the "reply" button immediately to say you can?t make it.
Question: How can I get a mentor?
Answer: Click here to e-mail the VP Education, who arranges the mentoring. We depend on experienced members, so it is contingent on who is available, and what their schedule is like.
Question: How should I start?
Answer: We recommend that you start by visiting our club next Thursday! Start off attending as a guest for a few times, to see if the time and location and level of speaking challenge are appropriate for you. You might find that Thursdays keep getting filled up with lunch-dates or errands' if so, there are other clubs that meet at other times that would work better with your schedule. If you do decide to join us, e-mail our VP Membership to arrange things.
Question: I belong to another Toastmasters club. May I attend your meeting?
Answer: Certainly! We encourage members of other clubs to visit (and we often visit other clubs). During contest season we need external judges from other clubs. Sometimes we have external speakers, too. We welcome the cross-pollination. We encourage you to drop us a line and let us know of your visit.
Question: Can I eat lunch during the meeting?
Answer: This is an office boardroom that requests "no food". Occasionally we hold celebrations or membership drives that do have food; these are held in different rooms.
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