Mind Your Toastmaster

这篇文章是9月份由美国总部所寄来的会讯里，讲述的是例会时的礼仪之道。

Always be courteous and consistent and keep guests and new members in mind.
用一视同仁 的态度对待新的会员及嘉宾

By Dee Dees, DTM, and PID Toastmasters are 99.9 percent kind, compassionate and supportive people. And in my club, we can carry those 9’s way out there! But sometimes we forget ourselves and, by not paying attention, do something that at best may cause confusion, and at worst hurt someone’s feelings. Or perhaps it’s our failure to do something that causes problems. It’s easy to become so comfortable with those in our club that we let our manners slide.

However, when guests or new members are present, it’s important that we help them feel like a part of the group right away. Here are some examples of situations that could cause discomfort for a new member or guest, followed by explanations of how such situations could be handled with good Toast manners.

演讲者是一种百分之九十九，附有同情心和给予支持的人。而在我的俱乐部，我们都是百分之九十九的人！但有时我们忘记了自己，而忽略了一些小细节，做了一些可能会引起混淆，严重的伤害别人的感受。这或许也是我们的少做一些细节而导致问题。如果大家能保持着一些演讲者所需的礼仪，这样会让大家都轻松舒适。

然而，当嘉宾或新会员目前，重要的是让他们感觉到我们是一家人。以下是一些例子的情况可能导致一个新的会员或嘉宾不自在，以及一些处理方法:-

Inconsistent Applause 不一致的掌声
In a club I visited recently, a functionary was introduced at the beginning of the meeting to explain his duties. As soon as he stood up, and before saying a word, there was applause. After he finished speaking, there was more applause. The next person, a fairly new member, was called upon to explain her duty and was not applauded before or after speaking. Then the next functionary was called upon and applauded only after speaking. Everyone who followed was applauded. It would be sad if the one person not applauded – especially a new member – felt slighted. The key is consistency.
最近在一个友会的拜访里，当一位会友站起来做自我介绍时，其他的会友都给予掌声。在他说完后，大家也给予有更多的掌声。然而，下一个人，是一名相当新的会员，在他站起来介绍自己的前和后，大家没给予掌声。再下一位会友站起来后，却呼吁大家给予掌声，他才开始他的自我介绍。大家鼓掌。这其实是很可悲的。大家没给予一视同仁的待遇。新的会友的不到相同的待遇，他们会感觉到其他会友的不重视。

Good Toastmanners 讲演会的礼仪

Set some guidelines for when to applaud and when not to, and leave it to the person in control of the meeting, whether it be the club president, Toastmaster or General Evaluator, to lead the applause at the appropriate time. A guideline for when to applaud might be:

If a person is coming to the front of the room to speak, applaud as she walks up and continue until she reaches the point from which she’ll be speaking. And, of course, also applaud when she finishes and returns to her seat.

When a person is speaking from his seat (Table Topics, functionary reports, etc.), do not applaud as he stands to speak, but do applaud when he finishes speaking. However, the important thing is to be consistent in whatever method you choose, so no one feels slighted.


设置一些指导何时鼓掌，何时不进行，并留在会议控制的人，无论是会长，会友或评论员，在适当的时候，需给予鼓励(掌声)。鼓掌的准则:-

当一个人来到台前发言，会友们应该掌声赞扬他的勇气直到她到台前。在他呈现他的演说时，大家请保持肃静并仔细的聆听他的演说。当他完成他的演说后，会友们记得要毫不吝啬的给予掌声直到他返回自己的座位。


当一个人在他的座位呈现一些报告（事项报告等），当他站起来发言时，会友们不需要鼓掌，不过，当他报告完毕后，会友们应该给予掌声 (感谢他的报告) 。不过，重要的是保持一致的方法在任何的选择，因此没有人会被感到轻视。


Unique Club Customs 各会的独特风俗

A new member in our club presented her Ice Breaker and received a standing ovation when done. The next two speakers were longtime members, and although they each gave a wonderful presentation, they did not receive standing ovations. Now, anyone who has been a member of our club for a while knows that we give a standing ovation to all Ice Breaker speakers, just for having the courage to get up and give that first speech! But in the audience that night were a couple of new members and several guests. Our actions, without explanation, may have given the impression that we liked the Ice Breaker speech more than the other two, or that we were being unfair in giving one speaker more recognition than the others.

当新会友呈现他们的作业一后，所有的会友站起来和给予鼓励的掌声。接下来就是两名比较资深的会友呈现他们的作业，虽然他们各给一个精彩的演讲，他们没有得到"起立"，只有掌声。对于，我们会内的会友们都知道，大家给予新会友的"起立"和"鼓掌"，是给予表扬他第一次呈现演说的勇气！但，在当晚的嘉宾可能不知道我们的鼓励新会友的方式，加上我们可能没有对嘉宾们解释清楚，这可能给嘉宾的印象是我们比较喜欢的新会友的作业呈现，这是对另外两位作业员来说是不公平的。


Good Toastmanners 讲演会的礼仪

If your club has similar customs that members all understand but guests may not, be sure to explain the purpose behind them. We now announce that a standing ovation is to congratulate the Ice Breaker speaker for his or her courage, and it is seen as an act of encouragement.


如果你的会所有以上的习俗，嘉宾可能不知道。带嘉宾来的会友一定要解释习俗其背后的目的。而当晚的司仪也可以在新会友呈现完毕，呼吁全体同仁起立鼓掌，并解说是祝贺和鼓励，他或她的勇气踏出第一步，呈现第一个作业


Respect for Others’ Religious Beliefs This has caused some discussion in Toastmasters over the years. Some clubs open their meetings with a prayer, while others use an inspirational saying, words of wisdom or something similar. A club should decide by a vote of the membership how to begin a meeting. If a prayer is the method of choice, then respect for the beliefs of others needs to be a two-way street. The member who says his rights are being violated by having to listen to a prayer is not respecting the rights of the one who prays. However, the person giving the prayer also should understand that others in the audience (whether member or guest) might not believe as he or she does.

这个问题已经在讲演会里争论很久了。有些分会相信这智慧的说法，在例会在开会前做祈祷，会使大家激励鼓舞。一个分会应该决定通过投票的决定如何开始例会的仪式。如果祈祷是首选方法，然后为尊重他人的信仰需要一个双行道。但是，也须了解，嘉宾们可能不认同。


Good Toastmanners 讲演会的礼仪

When giving a prayer, try to refrain from using terms that may offend those who have different beliefs. However, if you are the one who is offended by such phrases or prayers, this is the time to respect the belief of the one praying. You don’t need to believe the same or agree with the religion, but show tolerance. Toastmasters is a worldwide organization, and members from many cultures often end up in the same club. Let’s learn from, rather than denigrate, one another.

做祈祷时，尽量避免使用术语可能冒犯那些谁有不同的信仰。不过，如果你用一些短语或祈祷冒犯祈祷者这，这是一个尊重不同信仰的信念。您不必相信或同意该宗教，或表现出容忍 。演讲会是一个世界性的组织，会员来自不同文化，却同一个讲演会。让我们一起学习，而不是彼此诋毁。


Off-color jokes伤风败俗的笑话

The Internet has put thousands of jokes literally at our fingertips. Many are very funny, but not all are suited for telling in a Toastmasters club. Many years ago, a club lost a potential member because of an off-color joke and some risqué side remarks during the meeting. I could see in her eyes that this guest would not be back. She joined another club the following week.


互联网里每天有成千上万的笑话。每一个都很有趣，但不是每个都适合在讲演会内呈献给会友们。很多年以前，一个分会因为呈献一些色情笑话及在会内做出一些伤风化的举止，而失去了一位可能会加入的嘉宾。从这位嘉宾的眼神，我就知道她不会再回来了。过了一个星期，就听说她已经加入其他的分会。


Good Toastmanners讲演会的礼仪

Before telling a joke, consider not just whether it is funny, but whether it is appropriate for everyone. This rule should apply whether or not guests are present. Would you tell the joke to your grandmother? Would you tell it to a 10-year-old? If not, don’t tell it at a Toastmasters meeting.

在呈献一则笑话，不单子需要考虑笑话是否滑稽，还要考虑是否适合每一个人。如果不是，就不要再例会里呈献。


Public Disagreements公共分歧

Since we are such a diverse group of people, we will not always agree on how something should be done. But letting a discussion turn into an argument can make others in the room uncomfortable. And guests may decide that this is not the club for them, after all. They may join another club, or worse, have the mistaken impression that this is how all Toastmasters are. This is not the kind of “Moment of Truth” we want our guests to take with them!

大家是来自不同文化，大家也会有不同的意见。当一个讨论转变成争论时，会造成意见分歧然后争吵。见到如此的环境，嘉宾们马上就能否决加入这个讲演会。他们可以加入另一个分会，或者更糟糕，替讲演会冠上不好的印象。这并不是大家的意愿。

Good Toastmanners 讲演会的礼仪

If the discussion is getting out of hand during the business portion of the meeting, a good knowledge of parliamentary procedure can help keep things moving smoothly. If you strongly disagree on a personal level with what someone is saying, hold your thoughts and comments until after the meeting. Then, if you feel you must, talk privately with the other person.


如果在讨论的过程有无法控制的情况出现，一个良好的议会程序的知识，可以帮助事情进展顺利。在会议进行中，如果你坚决不同意在一个人的说法，请不要打岔会议，把你个人意见或想法会后再讨论。


The Ignored Guest 被忽略的嘉宾

Members of small clubs often wonder why a guest never returns to join. I have visited clubs where no one knew who I was, and though a few members may have said, “Hello,” that was about the extent of their interaction with me. It’s difficult enough for most people to walk into a room full of strangers; having everyone act indifferently to their presence is a guarantee they will not return.

会友们都想知道为什么嘉宾永远不会加入。我拜访了几所分会，没有人知道我是谁，尽管一些成员可能会说，“你好，”这对他们与我的互动程度而已。这样是很难对嘉宾建立亲切感。每个会友只是表面的做法，是不能留住嘉宾的。

Good Toastmanners 讲演会的礼仪

Even more important than greeting guests before the meeting is making them feel welcome throughout the entire meeting. Introduce them at the beginning. Ask them if they’d like to participate in Table Topics (but don’t spring a question on them without asking permission first!). Have a member sit next to the guest and perhaps go over the agenda and explain a few things before the meeting begins, so the guest will know what to expect. At the end of the meeting, ask what they thought of it, and make sure they know they’re welcome to visit again, and encourage them to apply for membership. Make every guest – or even a member who is returning after a long absence – feel wanted.

在会议前，向前迎接嘉宾能使他们感到我们欢迎他们的到来。在开始介绍嘉宾的同时，也可以询问嘉宾是否愿意参加一些演说（比如：即席，不过最好事先先和嘉宾沟通好）。安排一名会友坐在嘉宾的旁边，以便解说例会议程和解释例会前所需注意的事项，所以嘉宾有些初步的概念。在例会结束时，询问嘉宾对例会的认识，并且让他们知道大家欢迎他再次的参与，并鼓励他们加入这个大家庭。须让每位嘉宾或久违的会友感受到大家热诚的欢迎。

Talking During Meetings 例会中的谈话


Side conversations during a meeting are sometimes inevitable, but they can be very distracting – especially when someone is speaking. Imagine a new, nervous speaker being distracted by a conversation going on during her speech, and then losing her train of thought. This isn’t the kind of “support” we want to offer our members.

在例会进行中交谈，有时不可避免的，但是，如此行为会造成分心，尤其是当会友们在发言时。试想一想，如果一名新会友呈献他的第一个作业，大家在交头接耳的，这会增加新会友的紧张，及阻碍她的思路。这并不是大家所要给于的“鼓励”

Good Toastmanners讲演会的礼仪

Sometimes questions need to be answered or instructions given during the course of a meeting. If it absolutely cannot wait until afterward, be as quiet and discreet as possible, and try not to interrupt a speaker, whether during Table Topics, speeches or evaluations. And of course, just “chatting” during a meeting should not be done at any time! Toastmasters International has so much to offer to so many people. It would be a shame if an isolated, incident caused someone to walk away from a meeting without ever knowing how much he or she could have gained from membership. Let’s all put on our best “company manners” for every meeting. This will entice our members to return week after week, and our guests to join such positive clubs.

有时，例会进行中须要解答会友或嘉宾的疑问或给予会友一些职务上的指示。如果不能等到会后，敬请把声量放到最低，无论是即席，作业或评论环节，尽量不要影响到在台上演说的会友。当然种行为（会议进行中交头接耳）是不被鼓励的。

国际演讲协会有这么多提供这么多的人学习的空间。在会友们呈献演说时，而站起来离开例会，视为漠视会友对演说的诚心。对正在演说的会友来说，这是一种耻辱。让我们都穿上我们最好的“礼仪的衣服”出席例会。如此一来，无形中会把嘉宾及久违的会友吸引回来我们这个大家庭