What happens at a Toastmaster Meeting?

Now that I have participated in Toastmaster meetings since October 2004, I have forgotten what it feels like to a first timer. A new Toastmaster notices the following at a well-run meeting:

1. Lots of applause.
2. Fast paced progress through the agenda.
3. Many speakers. Prepared speeches, Table Topics, and Evaluations.
4. Although everyone seems to know what to do and what is going on, the new Toastmaster is
mystified as to how everyone knows which ritual to perform at the given time.

Along my Toastmaster journey, I was told that watching a Toastmaster meeting resembles a hunter looking over the veld.

At first, everything is peaceful. Then a tail pops out above the grass and the tail begins to move. The hunter watches the tail go back and forth, sometimes in a straight line with purpose, and sometimes in random movements. Puzzled, our hunter investigates and find that the tail is attached to a warthog who is following a trail.

When our hunter was looking over the grass, a moving tail made no sense. But watching a warthog work resolutely towards a goal makes perfect sense.

A new Toastmaster has the same impression at a well-run club meeting. Many seemingly unrelated activites are merely the tail in the grass, indicating a group of individuals working resolutely towards improving communication and leadership skills while having fun.

The next time you see activities that don't make sense to you, but the participants are growing and having fun at the same time, remember the tale of the warthog tail. Then investigate to see if you can find the warthog, because you may just want to and join in the fun at Toastmasters.