What is an HPL Project Anyway?

Many Toastmasters find the Leadership Excellence Award (also known as the High Performance Leadership project) a huge stumbling block on the path to their Distinguished Toastmaster Award.

As stated on the Toastmasters International website:

High Performance Leadership

High Performance Leadership features five projects offering instruction and practice in such vital leadership areas as developing a vision, goal-setting and planning, developing plans and strategies, and team-building. It also gives you feedback on your leadership skills. The program may be completed within your Toastmasters club, area or district, and even within your company or community.Perhaps you would enjoy taking on a project for your club or district while serving as an officer or committee chairman. Or, if you are an employee or supervisor in a business organization, you could do a leadership project related to the needs of your organization. Other possibilities include projects for your community, church, an association or professional group, or some other organization. Your project can be almost anything, so long as it is legal, ethical, and socially responsible, and your activities are not represented as being endorsed by Toastmasters International. 

When can you start an HPL project? I would suggest anytime after completing your CC and CL. There is no need to wait for other awards to be earned.

What steps should you take?

• Order your materials from Toastmasters International
• Form your committee
• Come up with your project

These are the initial steps and can be done in any order. If you need direction please contact me at cindyhinckley@d25toastmasters.org and I will be happy to assist you.

Make Your Club Meeting a Golden Gavel Award Winner

Why are Golden Gavel meetings so special? They are quality meetings!

Your club can be a Golden Gavel winner by meeting certain requirements.

Clubs with well-run, lively, and educational meetings that meet the needs of their members earn the Golden Gavel Award. This award is recognized with a ribbon that can be added to the club banner.

The club must meet all of the following criteria:

• Members and guests are greeted warmly and enthusiastically.
• Meeting starts and adjourns on time.
• 15 or more club members must be present (clubs with fewer than 20 members must have 75% of members present).
• At least one non-Toastmaster guest is present.
• There is applause after every speaker - functionaries included.
• All speeches are MANUAL speeches.
• Evaluations are both specific and supportive.
• Participants are positively recognized and ribbons/rotating trophies are awarded.
• Members and guests have name tags/badges OR are provided with table tents with their names.
• Printed agendas are distributed and followed with 3 or fewer assignment changes to the agenda.
• Table Topics are interesting and/or fun - participants are able to speak the full time period.

Get your thinking caps on and start planning your club's Golden Gavel meeting today. Don't forget to invite guests to this special meeting, including your Area Governor or other District Leader to witness what a great job you did! Then your club can proudly display the Golden Gavel Ribbon on your club banner.