Toastmasters Taking HOPE to The Prisons

by Donald Thompson, CC

At Liberty County’s Correctional Institution annex in Quincy, Florida, a team of toastmasters lead by Chuck Rabaut, DTM participates in a demonstration Toastmasters meeting. The theme for the day is “HOPE.” The toastmasters along with institutional staff make the journey through fences, locked gates, and razor wire to the Chapel. Traveling through the iron jungle; “hope” isn’t the first thing on the sojourners mind. It is evident from inmate body language and other verbal and nonverbal communication “hope” is recessed in the minds of those whose stay is more permanent. However, hope isn’t so recessed that an observer doesn’t notice the distinct need for programming within the fences, locked gates, and razor wire that institute “hope.”

Toastmaster’s Gavel Clubs are becoming a catalyst for “hope.” The inspirational ingredients of a Gavel Club meeting promote confidence, self-esteem, self-worth, and leadership. Thus, Gavel Clubs and Toastmaster volunteers become instruments of “hope.” 

Quincy Gavel Club

One such agent of hope is Chuck Rabaut, DTM. Chuck leads the effort to establish Gavel Clubs in Northwest Florida. His promotion and leadership has led to 3 active Gavel Clubs in Wakulla Correctional Institution, and one each at Calhoun, Liberty Quincy, and Jefferson Correctional facilities, as well as an all female Toastmasters club in the Gadsden Correctional Institution.

Mr. Rabaut noted that “prisoners, like anyone desiring to enhance their future, need to do all they can to improve their skills in the areas of communication and leadership.” He believes that Toastmasters provides these opportunities for growth. When asked what inmates receive from participating in Gavel Clubs? Chuck noted, “Inmates are particularly prone to suffer from lack of confidence and low self-esteem, which are some of the same reasons we became Toastmasters.

Hope radiates from each Gavel Club meeting as change is embraced. At the Calhoun Correctional Institution’s Gavel Club meeting on April 1st, the forty plus inmates formed the Radiant Phoenix Gavel Club. The name heralds the inmate’s declaration of hope as they are raised out of the ashes of despair, low self-esteem and lack of confidence.

When asked what is motivating this pursuit, Mr. Rabaut revealed, “The return on investment to you and I is a reduced recidivism rate! That means the knowledge, skills, and abilities gained by these inmates will be put into practice when they return to become contributing citizens.”  He further stated, “WE ALL BENEFIT.”

We may not all be able to personally participate in the Gavel Clubs. However, we can facilitate “hope” through alternative means, such as providing monetary support or donating educational or leadership manuals and recycled Toastmasters magazines. Gaveliers receive copies of the Toastmaster Magazine as a part of the continuing education process. Like Toastmasters members, they utilize the magazines to reinforce what they have learned during their meetings.

Mr. Rabaut spends countless hours encouraging Toastmaster Club involvement and seeking funding from individuals and local Toastmaster Clubs. These tasks are imperative to the success of each Gavel Club. Of course, the success of these clubs would not be attained without the help of team members like Riley Smith, who also devotes his time to this effort.