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3 November 2008
Gavel Clubs will be commenced in several Colleges and High Schools in the Western Bay of Plenty in early 2009 for Years in Education 12 &13. Included in qualifications to be a Gavel Club Member are any age under 18 or unemployed over 18.
Advice of the Clubs being formed at Tauranga will be on this website as soon as the Clubs are registered with Toastmasters International. We are waiting for the Colleges to have their established procedures re-working before commencing these Clubs.
Alan suggests that new Gavel Clubs be formed on petition from Students with prior consent from both their Head of English and the Principal of the College or High School. An unelected Counsellor is named on the list of Club Officers sent to Toastmasters International. Usually this person has Toastmasters experience.
The resource of persons available to be Counsellors of Gavel Clubs with Toastmasters experience is thought to be very limited at present in Tauranga. Please surprise! Volunteers are asked to email Alan Northcote, DTM at alltax@xtra.co.nz or telephone (07) 544-2234, fax (07) 544-6634 or initiate directly with newclubs@toastmasters.org to obtain a new Gavel Club kit.
Although Gavel Clubs are registered directly with Toastmasters International with no formal Area, Division, District structure, Alan anticipates that at Tauranga there will be inter-Club prepared debates and other activities such as exchange of ideas and group interactive learning opportunities, particuarly in the matter of Leadership. Gaveliers may advance to Gavelier equivalents of ACG and ALB with cross-credits to Toastmasters Awards when they join a Toastmasters Club. It is for this reason that Alan is encouraging Membership of Gavel Clubs be delayed until Year 12: the Toastmaster journey should not be "all achieved" by 18 years of age. Otherwise we might work us out of potential Toastmasters!
Youth Leadership courses:
Toastmasters International Youth Leadership courses are being conducted each school term at a fixed establishment at St John's Community Centre at the top of Bureta Road, Tauranga. At present there are 15 Students in training under this Toastmasters International Course. This is a truly International "Club". Parents are involved: some have joined Toastmasters.
Meetings are held on Mondays from 4.15pm to 5.30pm. For five minutes to commence and for five minutes to conclude there are vigorous soft largeball games in the hall adjacent to the meeting lounge.
Individual Toastmasters are invited to offer their services to coordinate Groups: both Youth Leadership and Speechcraft. These give very personal rewards to the Toastmaster Coordinator as the Young People and the Adults show remarkable growth in confidence and in skills of Listening Thinking Speaking and in Leadership. As well, the Toastmaster qualifies for part of their Advanced Communicator Gold (ACG) Award.
Three senior Toastmasters are available to assist.
Alan Northcote, to celebrate his second DTM, and, being in a position of semi-retirement, is conducting four Youth Leadership Courses at four Schools in Te Puke town and in the extended seaside suburbs of Papamoa. There are no Toastmasters Clubs at present in those areas.
These courses will be extended for the present groups of 8 in 2009. And, further commencing courses will be added next year: 100 Youth Leadership manuals have been ordered.
Families are invited to attend Papamoa Library, weekly on Wednesdays from 7.00 pm to 8.30 pm, commencing from 5th February 2009.
The full range of Toastmasters International services are envisaged for Papamoa: Adult Toastmasters Club, Gavel Club, and Youth Leadership courses. Toastmasters International Policies and Constitutions are known, and will be respected.
Enquiries and exchange of experiences with Toastmasters and with all interested Persons, of all ages, are invited:
Alan Northcote, DTM
Email: alltax@xtra.co.nz
Phone 07 544 2234 and Alan will return your call
Fax: 07 544 6634
The Educators take it one step further.
Thursday 9th November 2006 was the end of a great year of communication and growth for a group of students from South Auckland.
It all began on 10th May 2006, when a group of students joined up with Toastmasters from "The Speechcraft Club" to start a project that we all believed would make some huge changes in the South Auckland school. Little did we know at the beginning just what those changes would be. Eight weeks later 12 students and their teacher had not only worked through a specially prepared program but they had chartered the first Gavel Club in New Zealand.
Toasties: Toastmasters of tomorrow.
Graduation Fun!
The students decided that a club within their school would benefit everyone. Permission was obtained from the school board, principal and ERO before the project could be advanced. When permission was obtained the students carried out elections in true Toastmaster’s style. Everyone was given the chance to speak and then elections took place. The students also democratically decided on a club name and discussed succession planning for the coming year.
Challenges along the way The initial course sessions were at 3.30 in the afternoon, making it difficult for many Auckland toastmasters to attend. This was made even more challenging when once chartered the club decided to meet at 7.30am. Despite reservations of teenagers and early mornings, the club has flourished and at year end boasted a membership of 25 students with a waiting list of around 200 students from years 11 through 13.
The best parts were: the presentations to family, friends, supporting staff and skeptics of the staff and family variety; the students prepared the entire evening arranging invites, catering and venue; the enthusiasm and support from students and their friends.
A special thank you to all the Toastmasters who made up this very special team so that the students could achieve their goals and demonstrate some moving and very emotive speeches.
This project has reinforced how important speaking skills are for our students and how the extra boost of confidence can make the next step in life so much easier.
For comments or discussion, please contact Claire Read email claire.r@ihug.co.nz or call 09 5800904 and look out for more Youth Initiatives http://www.youngspeakers.org/news
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