General Evaluator Script
Complete guide and script for the Toastmasters General Evaluator role
What is the General Evaluator?
The General Evaluator (GE) oversees the evaluation portion of the meeting and is responsible for the overall quality of the meeting experience. You introduce your evaluation team — the speech evaluators, Ah-Counter, Grammarian, and Timer — and at the end of the meeting you deliver a comprehensive evaluation of the entire meeting, including the roles played by every participant except the prepared speakers (who are evaluated individually).
Opening Introduction Script
"Madam/Mister Toastmaster, fellow Toastmasters, and honored guests.
My name is [Your Name] and I am your General Evaluator for today's meeting. My role is to evaluate the overall quality of our meeting — the roles, the organization, the energy, and the environment we've created together.
I am privileged to introduce our evaluation team. Evaluating [Speaker 1's name] and their speech on [speech project] is [Evaluator 1 Name]. Evaluating [Speaker 2's name] is [Evaluator 2 Name]. Our Timer today is [Name]. Our Grammarian is [Name]. And our Ah-Counter is [Name].
During the meeting I will be taking notes on all aspects of the meeting itself. I'll report back at the end of the evaluation segment. Back to you, Toastmaster."
What the GE Observes During the Meeting
- •Meeting flow and pacing — Did the meeting run on time? Were transitions smooth between segments?
- •Toastmaster of the Day — Was the meeting well-prepared and hosted with energy? Did they make guests feel welcome?
- •Role players — Did each role player (Timer, Ah-Counter, Grammarian, Table Topics Master) perform their role effectively?
- •Meeting environment — Was the room set up properly? Was there a welcoming atmosphere for guests?
- •Evaluation team — Were evaluations specific, balanced, and actionable?
Introducing the Evaluation Segment Script
"Thank you, Toastmaster. Ladies and gentlemen, we've now reached the evaluation portion of our meeting — the heart of the Toastmasters experience. We learn by speaking, but we grow by listening to feedback.
I'll now call upon our evaluation team to share their reports. First, I'd like to invite [Timer's name] to give us the timing report. [Timer Name]?"
[After timer, call Ah-Counter, then Grammarian, then each speech evaluator in turn.]
General Evaluator Closing Report Script
"Madam/Mister Toastmaster, fellow Toastmasters, and honored guests.
As General Evaluator, I've had the privilege of observing our entire meeting from the perspective of overall quality. Here is my evaluation:
[What worked well]: [2–3 specific highlights — e.g., the Toastmaster's warm welcome of guests, the energy in Table Topics, excellent preparation by role players].
[Areas for improvement]: [1–2 constructive suggestions for the meeting overall — e.g., transitions between segments, meeting pacing, room setup].
Overall, today's meeting was [summary statement]. I'm proud to be part of this club and look forward to our continued growth together.
Madam/Mister Toastmaster, I return the meeting to you."
Tips for Success
Arrive early
Understand the meeting agenda and know each role player's name before the meeting starts.
Take notes on every segment
Use a dedicated notepad to track observations about each part of the meeting — not just the speeches.
Provide balanced feedback
Even if a segment went poorly, find something positive to acknowledge before offering areas for growth.
Evaluate the host too
The Toastmaster of the Day is one of the most important roles — your feedback on their hosting is valuable.