As a Timer, your main responsibilities are to keep track of the time for the speakers and to use the timing signal device correctly to provide visual cues to the speakers regarding the time remaining. You will sit at the front row with a table for the timing device. At our club, we use a professional LED box (as shown above) as the timing signal device. Turn the knob on the box to light up different colours. Remember to turn off the LED at the end of each speech by turning the knob in the reverse direction.
During the meeting, the Toastmaster of the Evening (TME) or Table Topics Master (TTM) may call on you to explain the timing rules.
PRIOR TO THE MEETING
Confirm the time required for each prepared speech with the speakers or VPE. Get the Timer’s Guide sheet from the VPE or download it here to familiarise yourself with the different colours that you should display at which specific time of each speech.
Click on the above icon to download the Timer’s Guide.
UPON ARRIVAL AT THE MEETING
Get the timing equipment from the Sergeant at Arms. Be sure you understand how to operate the stopwatch(or stopwatch on your mobile) and timing signal device and make certain that all the equipment work. Make sure that the bell works fine too.
Sit where the timing signal device can be seen easily by all. Place the Timer’s Guide in front of you as a quick reference on what colour to display on the signal device or what colour card to show.
AT THE START OF THE MEETING
If the TME or TTM were to explain the timing sequence required for each speaker, demonstrate the signal device by displaying the different colours in-sync with what the TME or TTM is saying. Ring the bell too when you hear the TME or TTM mentions when the bell will be rung.
In general:
- Green for the minimum time stipulated
- Amber for the in-between time stipulated
- Red for the maximum time stipulated
- Bell for the maximum allowed time elapsed (30 seconds after Red is shown)
For example, for a prepared speech of 5 to 7 minutes, the timing sequence is:
- Green for the 5th minute
- Amber for the 6th minute
- Red for the 7th minute
- Ring the Bell at 7’30”
Record each participant’s name and time used after each speech. When called upon to report the time by the Toastmaster of the Evening, only for Prepared Speeches, the Timer would need to announce the speaker’s name and time taken for each project speech. For table topics and evaluation, simply states who qualify and who is disqualified for voting to speed up the process.
To have any voting for Best Speaker, Best Evaluator and Best Table Topics, the meeting needs to have at least 3 speakers in each segment qualify for voting (speakers who did not go over time or under time). If there are less than 3 speakers who qualify, consult the Club President during the Timer’s Report segment. Only the Club President can reverse the time disqualification to allow for voting.
For speech contests, no bell will be rung if the speaker exceeds his or her maximum allowed time. The timing signal lights should also be shielded away from the audience and judges only in a contest.
AFTER THE MEETING
Return the stopwatch, timing signal device and the bell to the Sergeant at Arms. Inform the Prepared Speeches speakers and/or Evaluators of their actual timing if they request from you.