Gavel Clubs FAQ
GAVEL CLUB
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1. What is a Gavel Club?Back to Top
Gavel Clubs provide the Toastmasters experience to groups of individuals who are unable to join a traditional Toastmasters club. This may include people who do not meet age requirements or who face other barriers to full participation, such as incarceration.
Participants in Gavel Clubs use traditional Toastmasters education manuals and follow similar club meeting protocols. The club pays a single, minimal annual fee, instead of individual membership dues.
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2. Is a Gavel Club the same as a Prison Club?Back to Top
No. Some prison-based Toastmasters clubs use the Pathways program. However, if inmates lack internet access or cannot pay for Toastmasters membership dues, a Gavel Club is a practical alternative.
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3. What are the membership requirements for a Gavel Club?Back to Top
To certify a Gavel Club and maintain the club’s Certificate of Affiliation, the club must have a minimum of three (3) members to satisfy the standard minimum of club officers plus one adult counselor who serves as liaison for the club with Toastmasters International World Headquarters. The three (3) required positions are the Gavel Club President, any Gavel Club Vice President role, and the Gavel Club Secretary. Each of these positions must be held by a different individual.
There is no limit on the number of members who may participate in a Gavel club as long as they meet the membership requirements.
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4. Does a Toastmasters member or club have to sponsor a Gavel Club?Back to Top
No. Gavel Clubs are not required to have any affiliation with a Toastmasters club or member. While Toastmasters clubs and members may choose to support a Gavel Club, they do not receive sponsor or mentor credit.
Members may use the Gavel Club as part of developing their Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) project. Clubs do not receive credit for sponsoring a Gavel Club.
Gavel Clubs and Toastmasters clubs must operate separately. They may meet at the same location or time, but meetings cannot be combined.
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5. What are the roles and responsibilities of a Gavel Club counselor?Back to Top
A Gavel Club must have a Gavel Club counselor to be in good standing. This role is administrative and serves as the club's point of contact. The counselor is not a member of the club and cannot serve as an officer in any capacity.
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6. Does a Gavel Club counselor have to be a member of Toastmasters?Back to Top
A counselor does not have to be a Toastmasters member; however, they must be over 18 years old. If you are a counselor for a youth Gavel Club, ensure that you understand and adhere to all local laws and regulations related to volunteers working with minors.
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7. What information do I need to provide to start a Gavel Club?Back to Top
To start a Gavel Club, complete the required forms available on the Gavel Clubs page, including:
- Certification Checklist and Remittance Notice
- Request for Certification
- Club and Officer Information
- Club Constitution and the Standard Bylaws for Gavel Clubs
Submit all completed forms along with payment to the Club Quality and Member Support Team at clubquality@toastmasters.org.
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8. I was assigned as a new Gavel Club counselor. What should I do?Back to Top
If you have taken over as counselor of a club, the previous counselor does need to notify us of the change. They may notify the Club Quality and Member Support Team via email at clubquality@toastmasters.org, fax at +1 303-799-7753, or by mail to: 9127 S Jamaica Street, Suite 400, Englewood, CO, 80112, United States.
Include the club’s name, the new counselor's full name, address, phone number, and email address in your communication.
Once the records are updated at World Headquarters, you will be provided a link to the Gavel Club materials.
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9. What are some of the limitations of a Gavel Club?Back to Top
Gavel Clubs operate independently and are not aligned with any District, meaning they do not contribute to Distinguished Club or Distinguished District program goals.
They also have limited access to Toastmasters benefits, including:
- No access to the Pathways education program
- Limited access to Toastmasters products and resources
Additional limitations include:
- Gavel Clubs may only use the Gavel Club logo; they are not permitted to use other Toastmasters-branded materials. See the Gavel Club section available in the Brand Manual
- Gavel Club materials are available in English only
- Clubs must have a physical meeting location and may not meet exclusively online
Overall, Gavel Clubs offer a structured learning environment, but do not provide the full range of benefits available to Toastmasters members.
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10. What educational materials are available to the Gavel Club?Back to Top
Upon certification, the Gavel Club Coordinator (Counselor) will receive digital PDF copies of select Toastmasters materials, including the Competent Communication and Competent Leadership manuals, five (5) advanced communication manuals, the Master Your Meetings handbook, and award applications.
Gavel Clubs do not receive any physical materials.
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11. What educational awards can Gavel Club participants earn?Back to Top
Gavel Club participants may complete the full Communication Track, and advance to Advanced Leader Bronze in the Leadership Track. They are not eligible for Advanced Leadership (ALS), Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM), or High Performance Leadership awards.
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12. How do Gavel Club participants receive their awards?Back to Top
To receive an award, the appropriate award application must be signed by a club officer and submitted to the Club Quality and Member Support Team at membership@toastmasters.org. Once processed, the counselor will receive a digital certificate to present to the Gavelier.
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13. Can Gavel Clubs order physical materials?Back to Top
Yes, though there are limited physical materials available for Gavel Clubs. Please note, a Gavel Club must be paid and in good standing to place any orders.
To place a Gavel Club order, the Gavel Club counselor should email the Club Quality and Member Support Team at supplyorders@toastmasters.org.
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14. Can a Gavel Club conduct a speech contest?Back to Top
Gavel Clubs cannot hold official Toastmasters speech contests, as members are not paid Toastmasters, and there are no Area, Division, or District contests for them to advance to.
However, a Gavel Club may host its own, informal contest-style event and use Toastmasters contest rules as a guideline. These events are not official Toastmasters contests, and Toastmasters International does not oversee eligibility or administration.
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15. If a former Gavel Club participant joins a Toastmasters club as a new member, are they still required to pay the new member fee?Back to Top
Yes. The new member fee is a standard processing fee that all individuals must pay when joining a Toastmasters club for the first time. While participating in the Gavel Club program, Gaveliers may be assigned a member number; however, this is for award administration only and does not indicate a paid Toastmasters membership.
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16. Can I get a list of all the Gavel Clubs in my area?Back to Top
To maintain privacy, Gavel Club information is not distributed. If you are interested in participating in a Gavel Club, you may wish to contact local organizations to see whether they currently host one or would like to sponsor a new one.
DUES AND FEES
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1. What are the fees involved with a Gavel Club, and what do they cover?Back to Top
There is a one-time certification fee of $125 USD. Additionally, annual club dues are $125 USD. The initial dues are prorated depending on the certification month. Clubs may choose to pay the next year's annual renewal at the time of certification, but this is not required. The $125 USD annual dues cover the entire club, regardless of how many participants the club has.
Gavel Club fees are paid at the club level and cover the club’s certification and renewal with Toastmasters International. These fees support administrative services, educational resources, and access to the Toastmasters program adapted for Gavel Clubs and permit the use of the Toastmasters name, Gavel Club Logo, and use of the education materials.
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2. Do Gavel Club participants pay dues?Back to Top
Individual Gavel Club participants (Gaveliers) do not pay dues to Toastmasters International; however, clubs may choose to collect local dues to help cover meeting materials or operating expenses.
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3. When are renewal payments due for Gavel Clubs?Back to Top
Renewal payments are due by November 1 each year. The Gavel Club annual term runs from November 1 to October 31. The $125 USD annual dues cover the entire club.
For assistance with submitting renewals, please contact the Club Quality and Member Support Team at clubquality@toastmasters.org or +1 720-439-5050.
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4. If a Gavel Club does not pay at renewal time, what happens to the club?Back to Top
Clubs that do not submit renewals will be closed, will no longer retain access to Gavel Club resources, and will be unable to submit any awards for processing until the renewal has been received.
A closed club is subject to all certification requirements to return the club’s Certificate of Affiliation to a status of good standing. For assistance with this process or to discuss available options further, please contact the Club Quality and Member Support Team at clubquality@toastmasters.org or +1 720-439-5050.
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5. Can a Gavel Club open a bank account?Back to Top
Gavel Clubs may apply for bank accounts based on local ordinances. In the United States, an Employer Identification Number (EIN) is usually required to open a bank account. However, Gavel Clubs are not eligible for an EIN. Below are a few alternate suggestions:
- A responsible counselor may open a checking account at a bank in their name, which the club may use.
- The Gavel Club can hold and use a physical lockbox, in which club funds may be stored and held by the Treasurer and passed along after each term.
If an existing Toastmasters club sponsors the Gavel Club, funds may be held in a bank account under the club's name.