LEADERSHIP

Imagine Dr. Seuss at Toastmasters

The wacky wizard of words would’ve had fun with the Grammarian role

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches people to be better leaders and public speakers. Each meeting has a different theme, and club members take turns performing various roles. The Grammarian listens critically to other speakers and gives suggestions for improvement. In a Dr. Seuss-themed meeting, the Grammarian’s script might sound something like this:

Greetings, fellow Toastmasters and most welcome guests; I know you’ve got stories to get off your chests.

As Grammarian, I’ll be listening with wide-open ears to your words and your speeches — also laughter or tears.

I’ll be noting down sayings, curious phrases and pauses, grammatical errors and intriguing clauses. No abstractions or reactions will escape my swift pen. Include audience distractions — you’ll hear back at the end.

And if I detect filler words like um, like, or so, or lip smacks or sighs or ahs or y’ knows, I’ll be writing them down and reporting right back, so use pauses instead when you come up to yak.

My job is to help you think fast on your feet and give riveting speeches so we don’t fall asleep. The best speakers, they say, are those who chat less, clear-speaking orators who do not digress.

The Grammarian introduces new words to club members. Here’s the word of the week I’d like you to remember:

Snunkoople

Snunkoople is a ridiculous word with no meaning. Use it at will in the course of this meeting. Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!

The recognition we’ll give when you use the said word is a knock on the chair arm to prove that we heard. I’ll be jotting down users in my trusty Snunkoople and, at the end of the meeting, report back to you people.

Some things to remember:

No fillers, more pauses, use the word of the week; most important of all, come up here and speak.

I want to acknowledge Rachael Ann Sand for inspiring me to add audio to my writing. By including audio in our written pieces, we open up our thoughts and stories to those with visual impairments and people who prefer listening to reading.

For instructions on adding audio, please read Rachael’s article below:

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