D50 After Dark Podcast
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Highlights
(0:00) Intro
(0:14) Mickey introduces D50 After Dark, focusing on starting a Gavel Club for young people interested in Toastmasters.
(2:32) Jen explains that starting a Gavel Club has fewer requirements than starting a Toastmaster Club.
(3:45) Clubs pay a $125 registration fee plus $125 annual fee.
(7:00) Pathways is not accessible to Gavel Club members; they use digital versions of older Toastmaster manuals.
(6:45) This event is for anybody, so the first invitations went out to past participants and Gavel Clubs.
(9:42) Nikki identifies finding free meeting space as a major challenge for youth leadership programs.
(10:53) Jen recommends starting with the youth leadership program as a short introduction before connecting with a Gavel Club for continued development.
(14:12) Jen recommends starting with the youth leadership program as a short introduction before connecting with a Gavel Club for continued development.
Summary
This D50 After Dark episode, hosted by Mickey Bennett, features guests Jen Hoch and Nikki Jones, with input from Hitesh Bhalala, about starting and running Gavel Clubs for youth. The conversation is warm and informative tone with plenty of back-and-forth exchanges.
Jen, who has 15 years of experience with Gavel Clubs, explains they’re easier to establish than adult Toastmasters Clubs. Requirements include having members under 18, endorsement from a host location (often a local Toastmasters club) and following Toastmasters International procedures. It is recommended to have at least seven members to start. The club pays a one-time $125 registration fee plus an annual $125 fee for affiliation.
Gavel Club members use digital versions of the Competent Communicator, Competent Leader, and advanced manuals. Jen appreciates these resources, noting that the ten speeches in the Competent Communicator manual progressively build skills from icebreakers to more complex presentations. The Competent Leadership manual helps members understand meeting roles and the corresponding leadership skills.
Hitesh mentions that Gavel Clubs face similar challenges to regular Toastmasters Clubs, particularly managing summer breaks when students may be unavailable. Nikki adds that finding suitable free meeting spaces is a significant hurdle for youth leadership programs, though they have successfully partnered with libraries and community centers. Jen’s club meets in a city community center with discounted rental fees due to their nonprofit status.
Both Jen and Nikki enthusiastically confirm the programs are “100%” worth the effort, with Nikki highlighting parents’ amazement at the dramatic changes they see in just four weeks. Jen shares success stories of students who started in second grade and continued until joining high school debate teams.
For those interested, the hosts recommend reaching out via email to youthleadership@d50tm.org, where Nikki personally responds and connects interested parties with nearby clubs. Jen suggests starting with the youth leadership program as an introduction before moving to a Gavel Club and recommends having young people visit Toastmaster meetings or contests to see the process firsthand.
The episode ends with Mickey promoting the next installment, which will feature stories about the experiences of kids in these programs.
District 50 Toastmasters’ webpage about Youth Leadership Programs is https://d50tm.org/pq/youth-leadership/
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