Delivering a Toast -
"Let's drink to..."
If you're delivering a toast then it's interesting to think about why it's called "a toast". This curious term came to us from the Romans, who were always concerned about appeasing the gods and ways to appeal to their own palettes. They wanted to remove any unpleasant flavors from the wine so they added a bit of burned, toasted bread to the cup. Apparently the toast did the trick.
A few hundreds of years later in 16th Century England the toast had moved from the bread sort to mean the actual glass of wine. Gradually over time, it turned into the practice of raising your glass in a salute or tribute to honor someone.
If you're delivering a toast at a Toastmasters meeting then it differs from one delivered in a social setting, such as a wedding, in three main respects:
- A Toastmasters toast, although brief at only about 1½ minutes, is still a complete speech with an opening, a body, and a close;
- Rather than toasting a particular person, a toast delivered at a Toastmasters meeting often recognizes an idea or a thing, or contains a proverb or a witty saying;
- A Toastmasters toast may or may not include good wishes or cheers.
Before the Meeting
The person proposing the toast should prepare the toast and practice it as any other speech. The Toastmaster of the Day should be contacted to coordinate the toast with the meeting's theme.
During the Meeting
When called upon to deliver the toast by the presiding officer, the speaker stands, addresses the meeting, raises a glass, proposes the toast, sips from the glass, then sits. Note that toasts are not applauded.A typical toast might begin like this: "Mr. / Madam President, fellow Toastmasters, honored guests, please raise your glasses in a toast to . . ."
When proposing the toast at a Toastmasters meeting, the speaker considers the following:
- Simple, brief toasts work best.
- Sincerity is important.
- Relaxed demeanor helps - the speaker is among friends.
- If the toast generates laughter, the speaker pauses to let the laughter die down before continuing.
- The toast should fit the occasion (or meeting theme).
- Vocal variety should be used.
- The toast should fit the speaker's personality - a toast will ring false if the speaker is not him or herself.
Delivering a toast may seem like a minor role, yet it can affect the atmosphere of the meeting. The member delivering the toast speaks near the beginning of the meeting and as such, helps to ensure the meeting begins on theme. If there is no meeting theme, the member has the opportunity to help set the tone of the meeting.
Where next?
Back to Toastmaster Meeting Roles
Back to Toastmaster Public Speaking from Delivering a Toast
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