Timer
The Timer must ensure that all speakers can view the timing lights without hindrance at all times.
The Timer is responsible for advising the Chairman when a segment of the business session is running over time, and recording the timing of:
- The start and finish times of each segment, (as set out in the meeting agenda).
- All the Table Topics answers, (60 seconds plus or minus 10 seconds).
- All the Speeches, (time limits for speeches are found in the objectives box of each speaking project).
- All the Evaluations including Parliamentarian’s evaluation, (2 to 3 minutes, maximum time– 3.5 minutes).
- TableTopics evaluation of each speaker, (15 seconds per speaker).
- The Grammarian,(3minutes).
- Point of View, (2 minutes for Point of View, 1 minute for each response).
- Listening Critic, (3 minutes).
The Timer is to use the Club’s timing device and keep the log of all times on the timing sheet. (Refer to appendix 2). The timing device (and the Club’s gavel) is the creation of Club member, Rowley Hilder. The timing device has a stopwatch facility, a bell and a set of three lights, green, amber and red.
Table Topics
Start the stopwatch when the speaker utters the first word, sound, movement, in other words, any communication with the audience of any type, and ring the bell when 60 seconds has been reached. Keep the stopwatch going until the speaker has finished and record the total time of the answer. (Do not use lights for Table Topics).
Speeches
Start the stopwatch when the speaker utters the first word, sound, or movement and display the green, amber and red lights as instructed by the Toastmaster, i.e. for a 5 to 7 minute speech, turn on the green light at 5 minutes, switch to the amber light at 6 minutes and switch to the red light at 7 minutes. Leave the red light on until the speaker has finished the speech and record the total time of the speech. (Do not sound the bell for speeches).
Evaluations
Start the stopwatch when the evaluator utters the first word and turn on the green light at 2 minutes, switch to the amber light at 2.5 minutes and switch to the red light at 3 minutes. Leave the red light on until the evaluator has finished and record the time of the evaluation. (Do not sound the bell for evaluations).
Point of View
Start the stopwatch when the speaker utters the first word and ring the bell at 2 minutes for the presenter, and ring the bell at 1 minute for each response. (Do not use lights Point of View).
Listening Critic
Start the stopwatch when the speaker utters the first word and ring the bell at 3 minute. (Do not use lights Listening Critic).
The Timer’s report should include the scheduled start and finish times of each segment and the actual times, mentioning if under or over the time limit. The times reported for Table Topics are those times under 50 seconds or over 70 seconds. There is no need to report the times of answers within the time limits. Include the times of each speech in the report and if under or over the time limits. The evaluations will not have yet been delivered when the Timer gives the Time Report, so just record the times of each evaluation in case the Master Evaluator asks for them after the completion of the evaluation segment.
Finally, the timer should nominate the member who spoke longest overtime. It can be a member from either Table Topics session or the speaking session. This member will be the recipient of the “Ice Camel” award. The Toastmaster will ask you during the voting section to nominate the member receiving the “Ice Camel” award for the meeting.