Toastmasters International -Table Topics From History

Dick Brooks of Westchester Toastmasters in Los Angeles shows off his Table Topics cup–which he proudly modified into this photo–in a 1954 issue of The Toastmaster.

On October 22, 1924, about two dozen men met in the basement of the Santa Ana YMCA and listened to founder Ralph C. Smedley outline the premise and procedure of a Toastmasters club. Describe the first meeting as if you were there.
If you could talk to Smedley, what would you ask him?
Helen Blanchard was the first female International President. She joined Toastmasters before women were allowed by using initials and a fake male name. Blanchard’s club held a Table Topics session to choose the name, Homer. If you had to rename yourself, what would you choose and why?
Smedley was an avid stamp collector. What is something you collect, or would like to collect, and why?
Smedley once said, “We grow or learn or work better when we enjoy what we are doing.” Is there someone who made learning enjoyable for you?
Another one of Smedley’s quotes was: “The past prepares us to meet the challenges of the future.” What lessons from your past help you meet challenges?
Toastmasters World Headquarters was located in Southern California for more than 90 years, until the organization relocated to Colorado. What place do you think would make a great site for Headquarters?
A 1960 Reader’s Digest article on Toastmasters noted that there was an industrial swing-shift Toastmasters club in Portland, Oregon, that met at 1 a.m. What would be your favorite time of the day to meet? The most difficult time?
A famous film director of the 1950s and ‘60s named King Vidor was once a member of Toastmasters. If there was a film made about Toastmasters, who do you think should play Smedley and why?
Smedley once said, “The work of a Toastmasters club is to help each member be his best self, as a member of society and as a protagonist of the things which seem to him most worthwhile.” How has your Toastmasters experience helped you be your best self, or how have you used your skills to help someone else be a better member of society?
Astronauts Jim Lovell and Wally Schirra were once Toastmasters members. If you were an astronaut, what are some ways you could use your Toastmasters skills?
Smedley did all of his own typing in the early days. When did you learn to type, and do you think it’s still a useful skill?
Terry McCann, 1975–2001 Toastmasters International Executive Director, won a gold medal for wrestling in the 1960 Summer Olympics. What Olympic sport would you like to win a gold medal in?
In 1953, Smedley spent two weeks visiting clubs in Scotland. If you could spend a few weeks traveling, where would you go?
With words and actions, describe a windmill in action.
The baby wakes up crying in the middle of the night. Show how you get him back to sleep.
Demonstrate how to split kindling and start a fire.
Explain and demonstrate your favorite swimming stroke.

Recognize the best Table Topics® speech of each club meeting with a custom-printed ribbon.
Demonstrate how you would cast a fly for trout in a lake and catch your fish.
Demonstrate how to play a violin.
Choose two people. One tries to sell the other person something, and the other must resist the sale.
One member presents a “gift” to another member, and that member must respond to the gift.
One member gives a brief talk on a topic, with subsequent members adding something to the talk to make it better.
Choose two members. One gives an unrehearsed talk on a lively subject, the other makes the appropriate gestures that the speaker should be making, with the speaker making no gestures at all.
Choose four members. Each member writes a topic on a piece of paper. When it is time for each of them to speak, each member hands his topic to the person on their right, who speaks on that topic.
Put speakers into pairs. One person gives a sales talk, while the other interrupts, haggles about the price, or makes excuses.
Give the speaker a job title that is not their own (firefighter, milk delivery person, usher, etc.) and have them describe how they would do that job.
With words and action, describe the close finish of a horse race.
Choose two people. The first talks for one minute, and the other must pick up where the first leaves off and complete the speech.
The first speaker is assigned a subject for a one-minute talk. The second speaker does not use the same subject but selects a topic from one of the suggestions made by the previous speaker. The next speaker chooses from one of the second speaker’s topics, with each subsequent speaker taking a topic from the preceding speaker.
Try to sell your neighbor an item in your house that you’ve had for a while.
Describe the best job you’ve ever had.
What do you tell people when they want to know what Toastmasters does?
If you could have any job, what would it be? Describe why you want it and how you are qualified for it.
Choose a club officer role and give a campaign speech on why you are the right person to fill the role.
What would you serve the president of Ethiopia (or another country) for dinner?
If you were suddenly left a huge fortune, what would you do?