Toastmasters are a language development community where all sought of people joined to improve their English language skills. Later on this went on to become a gentlemen’s club. Joining the club nowadays costs about $50. In 1900s they made a big mistake in order to train the young people before they joined the club, they introduced gavel clubs. Where young people would get the same privileges for no cost at all. With this more and more people started joining the gavel club. And gavel clubs went on to threaten Toastmasters itself. In response Toastmasters decided to add strict laws on these gavel clubs. Which made several gavel clubs become independent leaving toastmasters.
So what about gavel club of NSBM? Which side do we stand? Being on either sides have advantages and disadvantages.
If we were a valid Gavel club,
More international recognition but less local (In Sri Lanka) Recognition.
Are free to use the international toastmasters logo and brand “gavel”
Sponsorship for events by toast masters.
Limited to Public speaking improvement.
Only members under the age of 18 can attend meetings.
Have a very strict set of rules to follow.
Access to Gavel Conference every year.
Certain Speech topics are prohibited.
If we were a what I like to call an anti-toastmaster gavel club,
Less international recognition but more local (In Sri Lanka) Recognition.
Not limited to Public speaking only.
Doesn’t have to use the toastmaster defined Gavel Logo.
Can maintain a custom Club constitution.
More freedom in speech Scopes.
Get to organize your own events.
No access to certain items provided by toastmasters international.
Need to raise funds. Sponsorships are difficult to come by.
A lot of Anti- toastmaster clubs in Sri Lanka than valid clubs.
So by now you must be wondering which type of club we are. Well welcome to one of the only 5 clubs in Sri Lanka that is in both sides. We are not registered with toastmasters so we are a valid member of the anti- toastmaster gavel clubs. Still we have a lot of connections with inside people of valid gavel clubs in Sri Lanka. So we also get to do most of the stuff that a valid gavel club gets to do. So we are playing the both balls as a non-aligned club. But enough of club politics. Let’s get to know more about gavel club of NSBM!
Current President
Gavellior Thanushi Rajapkshe
Executive Committee
Vice President(Education)- Gavellior Narendra Wettewe
Vice President(Public Relations)- Gavellior Adi Hettiarachchi
Vice President(Membership)- Gavellior Kalna Pabasari
Secretary- Gavellior Sathurshini Yogaraja
Treasurer- Gaveliior Imaad Mowlana
Sargent at arms- Gavellior Tharaka Peiris
Ambassador to the Gavel Sri Lanka– Gavellior Ayesh Lokumudali
News & Events
Gavel Club is an international Club. So we have plenty of events to cover.
- Gavel Conference
- Joint meetings with other gavel clubs in Sri Lanka
- Outings
- Discussion Sessions
- Other gavel club’s events – installations, talent shows etc.
- All island best speaker
- FIFA event
- Annual Sri Pada Trip
- Beach Trips
- Fundraiser events
And much more.
