1

The Ice Breaker
Time: 4-6 minutes

• To begin speaking before an audience
• To discover speaking skills you already have and skills that need some attention

2

Organize Your Speech
Time: 5-7 Minutes

• Select an appropriate outline which allows listeners to easily follow and understand your speech
• Make you message clear, with supporting material directly contributing to that message
• Use appropriate transitions when moving from one idea to another
• Create a strong opening and conclusion

3

Get to the Point
Time: 5-7 Minutes

• Select a speech topic and determine its general and specific purposes
• Organize the speech in a manner that best achieves those purposes
• Ensure the beginning, body and conclusion reinforce the purposes
• Project sincerity and conviction and control any nervousness you may feel
• Strive not to use notes

4

How to Say it
Time: 5-7 Minutes

• Select the right words and sentence structure to communicate your ideas clearly, accurately and vividly
• Use rhetorical devices to enhance and emphasize ideas
• Eliminate jargon and unnecessary words. Use correct grammar.

5

Your Body Speaks
Time: 5-7 Minutes

• Use stance, movement, gestures, facial expressions and eye contact to express your message and achieve your speech's purpose.
• Make your body language smooth and natural

6

Vocal Variety
Time: 5-7 Minutes

• Use voice volume, pitch, rate and quality to reflect and add meaning and interest to your message
• Use pauses to enhance your message
• Use vocal variety smoothly and naturally

7

Research Your Topic
Time: 5-7 Minutes

• Collect information about your topic from numerous sources
• Carefully support your points and opinions with specific facts, examples and illustrations gathered through research

8

Get Comfortable with Visual Aids
Time: 5-7 Minutes

• Select visual aids that are appropriate for your message and the audience
• Use visual aids correctly with ease and confidence

9

Persuade With Power
Time: 5-7 Minutes

• Persuade listeners to adopt your viewpoint or ideas to take some action
• Appeal to the audience's interests
• Use logic and emotion to support your position
• Avoid using notes

10

Inspire Your Audience
Time: 8-10 Minutes

• To inspire the audience by appealing to noble motives and challenging the audience to achieve a higher level of beliefs or achievement
• Appeal to the audience's needs and emotions, using stories, anecdotes and quotes to add drama
• Avoid using notes

Requirements for other Toastmaster designations build off of the successful completion of the Communication and Leadership Program Manual.

Advanced Communicator Bronze (ACB)

• Competent Communicator (CC)award
• Completed ten additional speeches; five speeches from each of any two Advanced Communication and Leadership Program manuals.

Advanced Communicator Silver (ACS)

• Advanced Communicator Bronze (ACB) award
• Completed ten additional speeches; five speeches from each of any two additional advanced manuals (may not be those [speeches] completed for the AC Bronze award).
• Conducted any two programs from The Better Speaker Series, or The Successful Club Series, or one from each. 

Advanced Communicator Gold (ACG)

• Advanced Communicator Silver (ACS) award
• Completed ten additional speeches; five speeches from each of any two additional advanced manuals (may not be those [speeches] completed for the AC Bronze and AC Silver awards).
• Conducted a registered Success/Leadership, Success/Communication, or Youth Leadership Program.
• Mentored a new member with the first three speech projects.

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Competent Leader (CL)

1. Complete the Competent Leader Manual.  There are 10 projects that have multiple leadership roles either in a meeting or outside regular meeting roles such as at a club special event, club contest, or helping with the website, or newsletter.  There are 21 or 22 roles, depending on how you do Project #10.
2. You must have someone evaluate you on each role you do, so bringing your Competent Leader Manual to a meeting is vital to completing this level.  Find someone to evaluate you that doesn't have a meeting role, prior to the start of the meeting.  When you finish the requirements for a project have the VP of Education sign their initials to that project.

Advanced Leader Bronze (ALB)  

1. Complete the Competent Communicator (CC) Manual
2. Complete the Competent Leader (CL) Manual
3. Serve at least 6 months as a club officer (President, VP-Education, VP-Membership, VP-Public Relations, Secretary, Treasurer, or Sergeant at Arms).
4. While a club officer, participate in the preparation of a Club Success Plan.
5. While a club officer, participate in a District-sponsored club officer training program.
6. Conduct two programs from either The Successful Club Series, or The Leadership Excellence Series, or one from each.

Advanced Leader Silver (ALS)

1. Achieved Competent Leader Award
2. Served a complete term as a District Officer
3. Completed the High Performance Leadership program
   • The High Performance Leadership Program is a leadership development program in the way of project management; applicable to your personal and professional development. It is one of the steps to becoming a Distinguished Toastmaster, the highest educational achievement in Toastmasters. It is designed to develop strong service leadership characteristics. A good service leader is effective in communicating a vision to your team, providing direction, being persuasive, building support, project development and showing appreciation.
4. Served successfully as a Club Sponsor, Mentor or Specialist

DTM - Distinguished Toastmaster

1. Achieved the ACG Award
2. Achieved the ALS Award