My first Spring Conference was a blur.
As an evaluation contestant in 2014, I most remember the pit of nerves in my stomach all of Friday evening. I recall having the lapel mic placed on my sweater while I anxiously awaited my turn on stage. I recollect very little of what I said, only a few key points. I reminisce about the experience as an important milestone in my Toastmasters journey.
While my first Spring Conference experience shaped my view of District 26 and widened my eyes to how large an organization Toastmasters is, I realize now that most of the reasons a Toastmaster SHOULD attend a conference, were not the reasons I first attended.
Most of you are probably not one of the amazing contestants working hard to win at the Division level, but I do hope this article will prompt you to ask yourself, “Why should I attend the Spring Conference?” The answer is simple, yet robust. You should attend to:
1. Network, socialize and engage with friends and fellow Toastmasters
2. See 2 – not 1, but 2 – keynote sessions with Darren LaCroix
3. Watch the highest level of speech competition in our District
4. Vote on new District Leadership
5. Learn from local experts in the educational breakouts
As the Spring Conference Chair, I pledge to you that this years’ conference will be a valued, fun, and rewarding experience. And, we’ve kept costs as low as possible to bring you the biggest bang for your buck.
Support your fellow Toastmasters, your Area, your Division and your District on May 3rd and 4th at the Double Tree in Greenwood Village.
Register, book your hotel, and find out more here: https://www.d26toastmasters.org/spring-conference-2019/.
Louise C Watson, ACS, ALS
A Toastmaster for 9 years, Louise Watson began her career in public media as a volunteer on-air host on her hometown public radio station in Park City, UT in the late nineties. Her love of non-profit fundraising, operations management, and systems administrations grew after she finished her Masters in Political Management from George Washington University in Washington, DC. Louise specialized in web fundraising, door to door fundraising, and online marketing before becoming a Project Manager at one of the largest non-profit-dedicated contact center solutions companies in the US.
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