The club will act as a platform where teenagers can hone their communications and leadership skills in a structured and fun filled environment.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 13, 2007: Creations Gavel Club, a public speaking forum specially designed for teenagers, was launched in Dubai under the sponsorship of Star of Arabia - one of the oldest Toastmasters' Clubs in the UAE. Creations Gavel Club, mentored by two energetic and dynamic toastmasters - Avinash D'souza and Vishnu Raut, will meet every alternate Saturday to focus on developing the communication and leadership skills of its young members.

 "In today's competitive world, one needs to develop an edge. Knowledge is essential and provides the basic foundation for success. However, it is communication and leadership that provides individuals with that cutting edge to face the corporate world. Creations Gavel Club is launched to help teenagers develop their communication and leadership skills," says Avinash D'souza, mentor of Creations Gavel Club and ex-president of Star of Arabia toastmaster's club.

Gavel Clubs are part of the Toastmasters movement which started in 1924 and has more than 220,000 members in 11,300 clubs in 90 countries across the globe. This non-profit organization offers a proven - and enjoyable - way to practice communication and leadership skills through meetings held at individual clubs.

A Toastmasters club meeting is a learn-by-doing workshop in which participants hone their speaking and leadership skills in a friendly atmosphere. Participants practice and learn skills by filling a meeting role, ranging from giving a prepared speech or an impromptu one to serving as timer, evaluator or grammarian. There is no instructor; instead, each speech and meeting is critiqued by a member in a positive manner, focusing on what was done right and what could be improved. A typical group has 20 to 40 members who meet biweekly to practice public speaking techniques. The average meeting lasts two hours.

Gavel Clubs function similar to the Toastmaster clubs, except that Toastmaster volunteers take up the responsibility of guiding the Gavel Club members.

Creations Gavel Club will help its young members to improve their ability to communicate effectively and listen analytically. Members will be provided opportunities to deliver speeches where they will receive a fair and constructive evaluation of their efforts toward self-improvement. The purpose of the club is to afford leadership training for its members, to provide opportunities and encouragement for its members to appear before audiences, and to express their thoughts creditably.

"Through clubs such as the Creations Gavel Club, children are encouraged to develop and improve their communication and leadership skills at a very early age." adds Vishnu Raut, a co-mentor for the Creations Gavel Club.

Toastmasters Avinash D'souza and Vishnu Raut, who have been part of Star of Arabia for more than five years, felt the need to share their experience with the teenagers. The spark for this club came from Mrs. Elaine Fernandes who saw the benefits of the programme and wanted her son and other children to benefit from it. Seeing the dedication of this parent, Toastmasters felt it would be a good idea to reach out to the youth, facilitate their growth and get them ready for the outside world.

Creations Gavel Club will be meeting on Saturday, November 24, 2007. For further details on joining this club, please contact Avinash D'Souza on 050 5588276 or Vishnu Raut on 0506445102.

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About Toastmasters International:
Toastmasters International is a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping its members improve their communication and leadership skills through mutually supportive activities, such as public speaking contests.

It is basic to this mission that Toastmasters International continually expand its worldwide network of clubs, thereby offering ever-greater numbers of people the opportunity to benefit from its programs. However, minors and those who cannot afford to pay Toastmasters dues, cannot normally avail of the benefit of Toastmasters training. For those individuals, Toastmasters International has an answer in the Gavel Clubs.

The Gavel Club program is open to any group of individuals who cannot otherwise qualify to become a Toastmasters Club due to age, inability to pay full Toastmasters dues, or other circumstances which would prohibit full participation in Toastmasters activities. This makes it ideal for high schools and colleges where potential members are either below 18 years of age or have yet to embark on their chosen careers. Thus, Gavel Clubs provide an opportunity for community service by Toastmasters members or clubs.

Members of Gavel Clubs use the very same manuals and training that Toastmasters members use.

This press release is sent to you by Nirmala D'souza, PR Consultant, on behalf of Star of Arabia toastmaster's club and Creations Gavel Club. For further details, please contact:
Nirmala D'souza
PR Consultant
OAK Consulting FZC
+971507343840
nimi@oakconsulting.biz

© Press Release 2007