The Granby Gavel Club, a youth public speaking and leadership program for students in grades 6 through 12, will begin its second year in September at the Granby Senior Center. Registration for the 2026-27 club year is now open.
The club is modeled after the Gavel Club program of Toastmasters International, the nonprofit that has taught public speaking and leadership skills for over a century. The Granby club gives middle and high school students a regular, low-pressure setting to practice speaking in front of a group, run meetings and give and receive feedback.
During its first year, students worked through prepared speeches of around five minutes long. They answered impromptu questions in a segment called Table Topics, learned to give supportive evaluations of one another, and rotated through meeting roles such as Toastmaster of the day, timer and “ah” counter. Students also served as club officers including president, vice president and secretary.
Each meeting opened with a short lesson on a specific skill, such as vocal variety, storytelling, identifying speech topics or body language, followed by student speeches, Table Topics and evaluations. The year closed in May with a speech-a-thon, an awards ceremony, and prizes for “theme” points students earned through participation.
The club’s approach emphasizes effort and improvement over polish. Students are encouraged to volunteer, try unfamiliar roles and learn from mistakes in a setting where peers offer encouragement and helpful suggestions for improvement. Club members encourage critical thinking, civil critique and, above all, the satisfaction of gaining confidence as a speaker and leader. These skills carry well beyond the meeting room, supporting students in school presentations, interviews and everyday conversation.
Meeting details
The club meets each second and fourth Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Granby Senior Center. The 2026-27 year runs from Sept. 24 through May 27, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.
The fee is $60 per student, which includes the program manuals. Discounts are available for early registration and for additional siblings; details are on the club website. Registration closes in early September, and space is limited.
Families can find full registration details, fees, the meeting calendar and the sign-up form at https://bit.ly/granby-gavel-club with questions being directed to the club through the website.
Editor’s note: Philip Pape, a North Granby resident, is the club’s counselor and himself a Toastmaster.