What are the Rules for Capturing the TAG?
The intent of the Traveling Award Gavel (TAG) is to encourage members to visit other clubs. To this end, visiting members “TAG Masters” are expected to attend the full meeting.
- To be eligible, the capturing members must be on time, based on the official meeting information posted at Toastmasters International, and stay for the entire scheduled time of the meeting, or until it adjourns, whichever is earlier.
- Because the TAG is meant to encourage Toastmasters to visit other clubs, there are no “take backs.” A club may not take back the TAG from the club that most recently captured it from them. Furthermore, a host club may not surrender the TAG to the same visiting club more than once in a 12-month period.
- A club may capture the TAG only once per 3-month period.
- The TAG may only be captured by and reside in District 106 clubs.
What happens if more than one club arrives to capture the TAG?
- Any District 106 Toastmaster visiting from a club that meets over 150 miles away takes precedence over other potential claimants. See the complete description for the Rule of 150 below. Otherwise, it takes at least 2 people from the visiting club to capture the TAG.
- If 2 or more visiting clubs are present, the club with the most members present wins. Dual members (members of both the capturing club and the host club) count as ½ credit. It is not allowable to capture the TAG with only dual members; at least 1 person must attend who is not a member of the host club.
- If two or more visiting clubs have the same number of members in attendance, the one with the highest percentage of their membership in attendance captures the TAG (based upon number of members registered at TI).
- If after rule #3 there is still a tie, then the TAG goes to whichever of the tied visiting clubs came the farthest distance (as determined by club meeting locations).
Rule of 150
Usually, it takes at least 2 people from the visiting club to capture the TAG.
The only exception is when a club attempting to capture the TAG is over 150 miles away (one-way trip distance, on the most direct road route between the two club locations, as measured by MapQuest, Google Maps, or another authoritative source). In that case, 1 member is enough to capture the TAG. A visiting Toastmaster from a club over 150 miles away takes precedence over any club within 150 miles, no matter how many members the closer club has in attendance.
If more than one club from over 150 miles away is in attendance, then the TAG goes to whichever club came the farthest combined distance (person-miles). A club sending 2 members 170 miles (340 person-miles) would take precedence over a club sending 1 member 300 miles but come behind a club sending 1 member 360 miles.
What happens after the gavel is captured?
Take a picture to commemorate the event!
By the end of the day, the capturing club will fill out the form on the D106tm.org website and upload the picture. The TAGmaster will verify the information and date the website.
Any and all disputes will be arbitrated by the TAGmaster. If you have any questions, please Contact the TAGmaster who will refer all issues as appropriate.
For further information, please see: Where is TAG for the current club hosting. TAG History to see which clubs have captured it in District 106. TAG FAQs for questions.