From Andrew P Bennett DTM, District 91 Youth Leadership Adviser
Fellow Toastmasters let's celebrate!
Toastmaster Raphael Kopel a member of Watford Speakers ( and Past President of Experience French & St Paul's Speakers) has produced a video to commemorate the affiliation of our very first Gavel Club in District 91 at Merchant Taylors Prep School where he teaches. Enjoy watching the pupils aged 10 to 13 years old getting the most out of our Toastmasters program. Congratulations Raphael and your pupils for this achievement.
Please note this Gavel is an 'in school' club and not an 'open' membership one. If you would like to see Youth Leadership Program and possibly Gavel Club at your son or daughter's school why not begin by discussing with your Club President and committee to see if it can be included as a club project, prior to contacting the school.
This is an important moment for us in District 91 Youth Leadership because it means that following on from Youth Leadership Program the school has been the first to take the step into a closer relationship with Toastmasters International. Membership of a Gavel Club is open to those who are too young for full TI membership ( i.e. under 18 years old) but also when founding a club for specific groups, for example projects with people who are unemployed/ unwaged. The clubs are popular in High Schools in the USA.
More details of Gavel Clubs and forms can be found on Toastmasters International website. At District 91 we suggest that your club organizes a Youth Leadership Program initially as this helps to train up a team of good role models among the young people for your Gavel club officerships.
2015 / 2016 has been a very rich year for our youth work and we were able to share the fruits of our young people's efforts with some very fine speaking at the YLP Speaking Showcase last week at conference. My thanks to all and do contact me if your club would like to be involved in YLP.