Gavel Clubs, an affiliate of Toastmasters International Business Speakers Gavel ClubWarren, New Jersey Reserve a seat

Student-led Gavel Club · Warren, NJ

Walk into any room ready to speak.

We help motivated middle and high school students in Warren and nearby towns speak with confidence in the classroom, the interview room and the boardroom. Free to join, run by students, and part of the Toastmasters International Gavel Club program.

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What you'll practice

Every member speaks at every meeting.

Not a debate team and not a competition. Each meeting gives you a turn to speak, a turn to listen closely, and honest, kind feedback.

  • Prepared speeches

    Work through the 10 projects in the Competent Communication manual, starting with the Ice Breaker. You choose every topic.

    Use it for: class presentations, pitches

  • Table Topics

    Answer a surprise question for one to two minutes. It's the fastest way to get comfortable thinking on your feet.

    Use it for: interviews

  • Evaluations

    Give and receive specific, supportive feedback after every speech, so you know exactly what to work on next.

    Use it for: teamwork, leadership

  • Meeting roles

    Help run the meeting as Timer, Ah-Counter, Grammarian or Toastmaster of the day. Members can run for office each spring.

    Use it for: college applications, internships

Try it now

Can you talk for one minute?

This is a Table Topic, the impromptu part of every meeting. Pick a question, start the timer and answer out loud. The lights work like the Timer's signals at a real meeting.

Your question

Sell me this pen.

0:00

Green at 1:00. Yellow at 1:30. Red at 2:00, time to wrap up.

How a meeting runs

One hour, start to finish.

Every meeting follows the same structure, so you always know what comes next.

  1. 0:00

    Welcome

    The President opens the meeting and welcomes guests.

  2. 0:05

    Roles

    The Toastmaster of the day introduces who is timing, counting and evaluating.

  3. 0:10

    Prepared speeches

    Members give speeches from their manual.

  4. 0:26

    Table Topics

    Volunteers answer surprise questions.

  5. 0:43

    Evaluations

    Evaluators and the Timer, Ah-Counter and Grammarian report.

  6. 0:57

    Close

    Announcements, thanks to guests, and the gavel.

Meeting dates and roles

  • $0Dues for members
  • 18Member seats this year
  • 10Speech projects in your first manual
  • 6–12Grades welcome

Who it's for

For students. Built with parents in mind.

If you're a student

  • You get nervous speaking in class and want a low-pressure place to practice.
  • You have college or job interviews coming up and want to feel ready.
  • You're into business, leadership or any career where you talk to people.
  • You want to get better without the pressure of competition.

If you're a parent

  • Free to join. Meetings are held at the Warren Township Library.
  • An adult Club Counselor oversees the club and its officers.
  • We use the Toastmasters International curriculum, used by clubs around the world.
  • We never post full last names or contact details. Photos and first names appear only with written consent.

Questions parents ask

World Championship of Public Speaking®

See where practice can take you.

Every World Champion gave a first nervous speech somewhere, many of them in clubs like ours. Here are six of our favorites.

Videos are from Toastmasters International's YouTube channel. They load from YouTube only when you press play. Every World Champion since 1938

Follow along

Meeting recaps, dates and speaker shout-outs.

@gavelclubnj

Limited seats

Seats go first come, first served.

18 member seats. Seats go first come, first served.

Reserve a member seat Read the FAQ