Saturday at the conference is for opening ceremonies, workshops, the Communication and Leadership Luncheon, and the Humorous Speech contest, all before the District Governor’s Ball.

Keith Stoltz, in his workshop, Improving your club with Improv, took us through group and individual exercises in learning to work together and think beyond ourselves. Wearing a striped sports shirt and carrying a whistle, he reminded me of a coach leading his team through the paces getting ready for the big game. I want to take those exercises back to our club. Keith is a new DTM as of this conference. Yeah!

Second in the line-up for me was Tony Nelson with his workshop, Maximize your Toastmasters Experience. With 40 years in the organization, he says, ” You get out of it what you put into it.” Instead of just standing up for a role as it comes, he encourages us to prepare for it and do our best. Nelson is founder of the Energetics Toastmasters club—my club. He holds 8 CTM/CCs and a DTM, and after his DTM, an Advanced Silver and Gold. Like the commercial with the rabbit that keeps on coming back.

Muriel, Carolyn (me) and Tony

The third workshop I attended, The World is Yours with a Story, was given by Josh Muirhead, with much experience for his youth, in the meaning of story in corporate and the business world. A different take on storytelling than my experience but a message I will also remember as a business owner.

The Communication and Leadership award was presented to Jane Roy and Glen Pearson, who have been involved with Food Bank work, among other leadership activities intheir community and beyond. Glen, speaking on behalf of both of them, shared a few of their experiences and challenged us to use our leadership and communication abilities to help others who need someone to speak for them. What an inspiring speech.

In the afternoon, we were treated to not one, but eight humorous speeches in the district contest. After the contest, the business meeting took place, then a break in the schedule to get ready for the District Governor’s Ball and more dancing. It’s a rather full but enjoyable day. After awhile it seems as though one needs a break to absorb all the information, to slow down a bit, and and maybe even take a nap!

Come back tomorrow for Part 3

Winner Neil Dunsmore with fellow members of his Kitchener, Ontario, club