Club FAQ 

We meet every Monday from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM, except on select Monday holidays. Any scheduled cancellations will be clearly posted at the top of our homepage.

We are located at Cathedral of St. Philip-2744 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305. We meet in Room 161. Finding the room can be a little tricky the first time. To make it easier, here’s a quick video to help guide you to the right spot: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHTmffmMZj7/

Peachtree Toastmasters meetings follow a structured yet engaging format designed to help members practice and improve their communication and leadership skills. Each meeting includes:

• Opening & Introductions – The Toastmaster sets the tone and outlines the agenda.

• Table Topics – A fun impromptu speaking session where participants respond to short, unrehearsed questions.

• Prepared Speeches – Members deliver speeches from their Toastmasters Pathways projects.

• Evaluations – Speakers receive constructive, supportive feedback from assigned evaluators and the evaluation team.

• Awards & Closing – The meeting concludes with recognition, announcements, and final remarks.

This consistent structure creates a supportive, high-energy environment where members grow through practice, feedback, and participation—while every meeting still feels fresh and engaging.

Guests are always welcome to attend our meetings—feel free to visit as many times as you’d like. No pre-registration is required; just show up. There’s nothing to prepare—simply bring your curiosity and come ready to learn, laugh, and connect with a welcoming community.

As a guest, your role is simply to observe and experience the meeting. You’ll watch how the meeting is structured, see different speaking roles in action, and get a feel for our supportive, engaging environment. There’s no pressure to participate or speak—just relax, listen, and enjoy the experience.

You’ll also have the opportunity to meet members, ask questions after the meeting, and decide whether Peachtree Toastmasters is the right fit for your personal and professional goals.

No. Toastmasters is designed for all experience levels—from beginners to seasoned speakers. Many members join with little or no speaking experience.

We encourage prospective members to attend three meetings as a guest to get a feel for our club. 

After your visits, you may request a membership application from our Vice President of Membership, who will email you step-by-step instructions for completing the application and submitting payment. Once both are received and processed, you’ll be notified that you are officially a Peachtree Toastmasters member.

As a new member, your initial fee is prorated based on when you join during the Toastmasters six-month membership cycle. Toastmasters operates on two six-month membership periods: April 1–September 30 and October 1–March 31.

October or April       $160.00   (6 months) 

November or May    $140.00    (5 months) 

December or June    $120.00    (4 months)

January or July         $100.00    (3 months) 

February or August  $80.00     (2 months)

March or September $200.00   (7 months)

*A one-time $20 new member fee to Toastmasters International + $20 to Peachtree Toastmasters is included in your initial dues.

Yes. All members pay $120 every six months, which covers both Peachtree Toastmasters club dues and Toastmasters International dues. Dues are paid in a single payment, rather than monthly, and are collected in advance every March and September, before the beginning of the new six-month membership period.

Payments are submitted to the Club Treasurer and may be made via Zelle.

No. We do not offer discounted membership rates. Our dues are set to ensure consistent meeting quality, educational resources, and club operations for all members. Keeping fees standardized allows us to maintain a high-quality experience and support the structured Toastmasters program.

After joining, you’ll meet with the Vice President of Education for a New Member Orientation, typically held via video call. During this orientation, you’ll learn how to sign up for meeting roles, including scheduling your first speech—the Icebreaker.

The timing of your Icebreaker depends on the availability within the monthly meeting schedule, but most new members are able to give their first speech within 1-2 months of joining.

After you join, you’ll start with a New Member Orientation led by the Vice President of Education, where you’ll learn how meetings are structured and how to sign up for roles. You’ll be guided through scheduling your first prepared speech—the Icebreaker—and introduced to the Pathways education program.

From there, you can begin participating immediately by taking on minor speaking and support roles, attending meetings regularly, and observing more advanced roles as you build confidence. As you progress, you’ll gradually take on additional speaking and leadership roles at a pace that feels comfortable.

This structured approach ensures you’re supported from day one while giving you the flexibility to grow at your own pace.

Life happens. While regular attendance helps you progress faster, there are no penalties for missing meetings.

Toastmasters meetings include a variety of speaking and leadership roles that help members develop confidence, communication, and leadership skills. Roles are assigned in advance and rotate regularly.

Major Speaking Roles

1. Toastmaster
   Leads the entire meeting, keeps the agenda on track, and sets the tone and energy for the evening.
   
   

2. Table Topics Master
   Facilitates the impromptu speaking portion of the meeting and selects participants from the audience.
   
   

3. 2 to 3 Prepared Speakers 

Deliver speeches based on their Toastmasters Pathways projects. 

4. 2 to 3 Speech Evaluators
   Provide structured, constructive feedback to assigned prepared speakers.
   
   

5. General Evaluator
   Evaluates the overall meeting, leads the evaluation team, and provides feedback on     meeting flow and effectiveness.

Minor Speaking & Support Roles 

6. Jokester
   Opens the meeting with light, appropriate humor to energize the room.
   
   

7. Ah-Counter (ER/AH/UM Counter) - Tracks filler words to help speakers improve vocal clarity and awareness.
   
   

8. Timer / Voter - Times each segment of the meeting and manages audience voting for awards.
   
   

9. Grammarian - Introduces the Word of the Day and listens for effective—or ineffective—language use.
   
   

Camera Operator - Records prepared speeches using a mobile device for speaker review.

Prepared speeches at Peachtree Toastmasters follow the Toastmasters International structured education program known as Pathways. Rather than speaking on random topics, members deliver speeches that align with specific Pathways projects, each designed to build particular communication or leadership skills.

While each project includes clear objectives and guidelines, most allow significant creative freedom in your choice of topic, message, and title. You’ll shape your speech content to meet the project goals while expressing your own ideas, stories, and style.

This structure ensures that every speech you give has purpose, measurable progress, and meaningful feedback—helping you grow steadily as a speaker and leader.

Peachtree Toastmasters typically schedules no more than three prepared speakers per meeting, with each speech lasting approximately 5–7 minutes, depending on the Pathways project.

Because our meetings run for 90 minutes (6:30–8:00 PM), this format ensures there is ample time for all key portions of the meeting—including evaluations, Table Topics, and leadership roles—while maintaining a focused, high-energy experience for both speakers and the audience.

Limiting the number of prepared speeches allows each speaker to receive meaningful feedback and helps keep the meeting balanced and engaging.

Yes. New members are paired with experienced club members who serve as mentors during their early journey in the club. Your mentor will help guide you through your first speech (the Icebreaker) by reviewing drafts, offering practice feedback, and answering questions about meeting roles and expectations.

Mentorship often continues beyond the Icebreaker as you progress through the Toastmasters education program, providing ongoing support, accountability, and encouragement as you deliver future speeches and take on new roles.

This one-on-one guidance helps ensure a smoother transition into the club and accelerates growth in a supportive, confidence-building environment.

No. In addition to speaking, members develop leadership, listening, feedback, and facilitation skills through meeting roles and club leadership opportunities.

We are a non-profit organization and do not offer private public speaking courses.

Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. Peachtree Toastmasters is one of the 16,800 Toastmasters clubs all over the world.

The Toastmasters International website provides more detailed information about the organization and how it works.

There is a common misconception that Toastmasters speeches cannot address topics such as politics, religion, or sexuality. This is not true. Toastmasters International does not prohibit any speech topics, content, or language.

Toastmasters recognizes that members learn from hearing a wide range of perspectives. Diverse topics can enrich meetings, spark thoughtful discussion, and challenge speakers and listeners alike. For these reasons, Toastmasters International places no formal restrictions on speech subjects.

At the same time, Toastmasters emphasizes that clubs are made up of individuals from diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences. Speakers are encouraged to exercise good judgment, respect, and sensitivity when selecting topics and language, keeping the audience and setting in mind.

At Peachtree Toastmasters, we value open expression within a culture of professionalism and mutual respect. While we do not impose blanket bans on speech topics, we expect members to communicate thoughtfully and responsibly. Club leadership may offer guidance when appropriate to ensure that speeches align with our shared values and maintain a welcoming environment for all members and guests.

This approach allows Peachtree Toastmasters to balance freedom of expression with inclusivity, supporting meaningful, impactful speeches while fostering a respectful community.