HOW DOES A TYPICAL GAVEL CLUB MEETING OF THE PINES RUN?
Gavel Club of the Pines is a Highly Interactive Group
Every member will come to the meeting with some sort of task or role to be responsible for. Each weekly meeting is run similar to a traditional Toastmasters International Club meeting in that everyone is involved.
In the Gavel Club of the Pines, Students are the Leaders
Each semester the Gavel Club holds elections for several positions of leadership. Once the students are elected, it is their responsibility to fulfill the tasks to the best of their ability. Weekly, volunteers are taken to perform important duties such as Toastmaster of the Day, Jokemaster, Ah-Um Counter, Grammarian, Timer, Ballot Counter, etc... As leaders, we learn to dress the part. Students are expected to dress for success in business casual attire.
Gavel Club of the Pines Receives Mentoring by Experienced Adult Toastmaster International Members
Adult coordinators are on site at all times assisting the Gavel Club members with organization and smooth running of our weekly meeting. Additionally, Gavel Club of the Pines receives mentoring, education, and assistance from seasoned members of the Toastmasters of the Sandhills.
Our primary mentor is Chris Norkus, a 35 year veteran of Gavel Club and Toastmasters International.
In 2012, Mr. Norkus volunteered his time to conduct the 9 week Youth Leadership Program, giving many of our members a head start on becoming world class public speakers. He continues to mentor our group on a regular basis.
With Practice, Public Speaking Becomes Second Nature
Each week 3-5 speakers are assigned to give a 4-5 minute speech on a topic of their choice, which fulfills the requirements of the month's project. Gavel Club uses an assortment of manuals, such as Competent Communicator and Competent Leadership, provided by Toastmasters International, which help to educate and guide the member in the preparation and presentation of their speech. For example, in the month of January, the Gavel Club of the Pines is focusing on "The Icebreaker," a style of speaking intended to introduce and enlighten the audience about the speaker. Each member will have the opportunity to perform one icebreaker speech, and then the group will move on to the next project in the manual. Expect to give one of these speeches about once a month.
We Mentor Each Other, Providing Helpful Feedback and Support
In addition to the public speaking assignments, a member is assigned to evaluate each speaker. This gives every member an opportunity to not only speak, but to provide constructive feedback and support to their peers.
The Environment is Friendly, Supportive, and Fun
The Gavel Club of the Pines was created to provide a place for home school students to practice and improve their public speaking and leadership skills in a supportive, friendly, and fun environment. This is a group of peers who help peers. Members always have a great time while learning a valuable life skill.
Gavel Club Students Enjoy the Opportunity to Practice Their Skills With Peers
We have learned from seasoned Toastmaster educators that the best way to offer a peer mentoring environment is to kindly ask parents and guardians to stay and observe only during special family invitational meetings. This way the students will have a chance to work on their skills without the added pressure of an adult audience. However, adult coordinators, and frequently a Toastmaster Educator, are always in attendance to supervise and help facilitate the meeting. (Families who are new to the program are welcome to attend the first meeting. Special requests to attend for other reasons such as, visiting grandparents, father off work, student is working on a specific project, etc... may be submitted to the coordinators either via email or using the contact form)
We Encourage Families to Attend our Periodic Invitational Meetings
Family invitational meetings are held from time to time to allow our members an opportunity to show off what they have learned. Many parents are surprised and delighted to see the confidence and poise their son or daughter has developed during these peer-only meetings. Your student Gavel Club member will notify you of the next invitational meeting. This special invitation meeting will also be noted on the posted agenda.
Come and Check Us Out
Prospective members are welcome to join us as either an active participant or just an observer before joining. See how exciting and fun Gavel Club of the Pines can be.
IMPORTANT!
Please fill out our contact form for an invitation to observe or participate in an introductory meeting prior to attending.
Join us Wednesday mornings at 9:30 at
Brownson Memorial Church in Southern Pines, NC.
Every member will come to the meeting with some sort of task or role to be responsible for. Each weekly meeting is run similar to a traditional Toastmasters International Club meeting in that everyone is involved.
In the Gavel Club of the Pines, Students are the Leaders
Each semester the Gavel Club holds elections for several positions of leadership. Once the students are elected, it is their responsibility to fulfill the tasks to the best of their ability. Weekly, volunteers are taken to perform important duties such as Toastmaster of the Day, Jokemaster, Ah-Um Counter, Grammarian, Timer, Ballot Counter, etc... As leaders, we learn to dress the part. Students are expected to dress for success in business casual attire.
Gavel Club of the Pines Receives Mentoring by Experienced Adult Toastmaster International Members
Adult coordinators are on site at all times assisting the Gavel Club members with organization and smooth running of our weekly meeting. Additionally, Gavel Club of the Pines receives mentoring, education, and assistance from seasoned members of the Toastmasters of the Sandhills.
Our primary mentor is Chris Norkus, a 35 year veteran of Gavel Club and Toastmasters International.
In 2012, Mr. Norkus volunteered his time to conduct the 9 week Youth Leadership Program, giving many of our members a head start on becoming world class public speakers. He continues to mentor our group on a regular basis.
With Practice, Public Speaking Becomes Second Nature
Each week 3-5 speakers are assigned to give a 4-5 minute speech on a topic of their choice, which fulfills the requirements of the month's project. Gavel Club uses an assortment of manuals, such as Competent Communicator and Competent Leadership, provided by Toastmasters International, which help to educate and guide the member in the preparation and presentation of their speech. For example, in the month of January, the Gavel Club of the Pines is focusing on "The Icebreaker," a style of speaking intended to introduce and enlighten the audience about the speaker. Each member will have the opportunity to perform one icebreaker speech, and then the group will move on to the next project in the manual. Expect to give one of these speeches about once a month.
We Mentor Each Other, Providing Helpful Feedback and Support
In addition to the public speaking assignments, a member is assigned to evaluate each speaker. This gives every member an opportunity to not only speak, but to provide constructive feedback and support to their peers.
The Environment is Friendly, Supportive, and Fun
The Gavel Club of the Pines was created to provide a place for home school students to practice and improve their public speaking and leadership skills in a supportive, friendly, and fun environment. This is a group of peers who help peers. Members always have a great time while learning a valuable life skill.
Gavel Club Students Enjoy the Opportunity to Practice Their Skills With Peers
We have learned from seasoned Toastmaster educators that the best way to offer a peer mentoring environment is to kindly ask parents and guardians to stay and observe only during special family invitational meetings. This way the students will have a chance to work on their skills without the added pressure of an adult audience. However, adult coordinators, and frequently a Toastmaster Educator, are always in attendance to supervise and help facilitate the meeting. (Families who are new to the program are welcome to attend the first meeting. Special requests to attend for other reasons such as, visiting grandparents, father off work, student is working on a specific project, etc... may be submitted to the coordinators either via email or using the contact form)
We Encourage Families to Attend our Periodic Invitational Meetings
Family invitational meetings are held from time to time to allow our members an opportunity to show off what they have learned. Many parents are surprised and delighted to see the confidence and poise their son or daughter has developed during these peer-only meetings. Your student Gavel Club member will notify you of the next invitational meeting. This special invitation meeting will also be noted on the posted agenda.
Come and Check Us Out
Prospective members are welcome to join us as either an active participant or just an observer before joining. See how exciting and fun Gavel Club of the Pines can be.
IMPORTANT!
Please fill out our contact form for an invitation to observe or participate in an introductory meeting prior to attending.
Join us Wednesday mornings at 9:30 at
Brownson Memorial Church in Southern Pines, NC.