1.   Q: Are Gavel Clubs only for people less than 18 years of age?

       A: No. Gavel Clubs are governed by the "Policy for Special Groups" of Toastmasters International. A Special Group is one which is unable to comply with provisions of the bylaws of Toastmasters International and with the standard Toastmasters club bylaws provisions requiring that:

     However no special group can be formed by employed adults. Those above 18 years of age may still form gavel clubs for as long as they are unemployed.

2.   Q: Why does Toastmasters have a minimum age requirement of 18 anyway?

       A: The Toastmasters program is designed for adults. The 18 minimum age requirement is in the club constitution and in the bylaws of TI. It is mandatory and not optional,so all Clubs must abide by this rule. The Youth Leadership Program,which Clubs may conduct for youth,are designed for those under 18 years of age. The materials are written at an adult level. Also,there is a matter of increased liability anytime you have underage persons and adults. Some Clubs meet in restaurants where alcohol is available.

3.   Q: Where may Gavel Clubs be formed?

       A: Gavel Clubs may be formed in high schools and colleges,rehabilitational institutions,hospitals and elsewhere. The members must be part of an institution,educational organization,or people under age.

4.   Q: What do you call a member of a Gavel Club?

       A: A Gavelier.

5.   Q: Is a Gavel Club member who has completed the ten basic speeches awarded a norm like Competent Toastmaster?

       A: Yes,but it is called a Competent Gavelier award.

6.   Q: Will a gavelier who eventually joins a Toastmasters club get manual credit for the speeches he delivered in the gavel club?

       A: Yes,all speeches toward the next award level will be honored in a regular Toastmasters Club. The member must simply keep their record of speeches that have been signed off.

7.   Q: Will a Gavelier who achieves the Competent Gavelier award receive a certificate from World Headquarters like a Competent Toastmaster does?

       A: A member does receive a certificate for completing the first ten speeches,like a regular club.

8.   Q: Do new gavel clubs formed outside the United States have to get a Taxpayer Identification Number?

       A: No,a tax ID number is not required outside of the United States.

9.   Q: Will members of a gavel club have to pay for their speech manuals or are they provided as part of the fees like in a Toastmasters club?

       A: A newly chartered gavel club pays .00 to charter and will receive 20 manuals at that time. Each year the gavel club will pay .00 to renew for the year and they will receive two new member kits at that time. Any additional kits that are necessary can be purchased from our supply department.

10.   Q: Why should a Toastmasters Club bother to set up a Gavel Club at all ?

     A:Gavel Clubs provide an opportunity for community service by Toastmasters members and clubs. While there are other programs that Toastmasters can offer the public i.e. Speechcraft and other Success Communication/Leadership Programs,Gavel Clubs is the only program we have that provides non-Toastmasters with the same environment Toastmasters experience during regular meetings to those who under normal circumstances,cannot avail of it. Gavel Clubs set up in schools may also benefit Toastmasters,as the Gaveliers there already know the value of Toastmasters training when they graduate,and are likely to become Toastmasters members themselves,thus enlarging our membership base from which new ideas can come.
         In the case of rehabilitational institutions,it provides the individual with an educational program that may help him or her achieve vocational objectives. It may also provide the individual with a useful skill that will help the individual to become a person who makes a positive contribution to the community.

       For a great example on how a Gavel Club can be implemented in a rehabilitational institution,see "Breaking the Bonds" in the January 1999 issue ofThe Toastmastermagazine.
                                                                                                                -Webmaster

11.   Q: Why should a school have a Gavel Club?

       A: A Gavel Club provides students with an opportunity to practice what they learn in Speech and English class while their teachers can still help them. A Gavel Club provides them with many opportunities to develop their public speaking skills,skills they might not be able to use often enough in the classroom. As Toastmasters International also has manuals in Spanish and French,it will afford students of these languages a chance to actually use them.

12.   Q: Can Gaveliers participate in the new Leadership Track of Toastmasters International?

       A: No,only regular Toastmasters members may participate in the new leadership track.

13.   Q: Why are there speech contest awards for gaveliers? Do they participate in the regular Toastmasters speech contests or do they have their own speech contests ?

       A: They can have their own contests within a club,but they cannot participate in area or district contests.

14.   Q: Do Gaveliers get free copies of The Toastmaster magazine?

       A: No,but they can purchase subscriptions for US$ 20.00 a year.

       Thanks to Shellie Zepeda,New Club Coordinator and Daniel Rex of Toastmasters International for the answers to most of these questions. If you have more questions about Gavel Clubs,please e-mail clubs@toastmasters.org. If you want to add to this primer,e-mail gavelclubs@toastmasters.org.ph.

       We'd also like to make a directory of Gavel Clubs. If you belong to a Gavel Club anywhere in the world,please send your Club Name and Number,your meeting time and place,and a contact name and number to the webmaster.