One of my favorite things at a Conference or Convention is the dressing up for the Friday night events. I believe it brings out the funny side of us and gets us to meet and greet other Toastmasters.
Over the years I recall our Toastmaster club wearing Santa hats (my first conference and I still remember-boy we were easy to spot). One year Shirley, Jill, and I won the best costume, as we were music notes when we "Tuned up at Toon Town". Sometimes we have costumes to support our jingles such as 'Going down the Mighty Saskatchewan'. What camaraderie!
I recall the volunteers at the World Convention in Calgary each having a red scarf so we were easy to spot for anyone that had a question of us. Even a simple scarf can be a part of dressing up.
I believe if we make an effort to dress up you will have more fun. Try to coordinate your club or division and then have a blast.
See you at the Bloodhound Games (prior registration is required) and/or the Beach Party activities (no pre-registration needed) in Regina. Let's dress up on Friday night and have fun while we meet and greet as we Catch the Wave.
Respectfully submitted,
Maryann Samida, DTM
Whether a convention, conference, boot camp, contests at you club, area or division what do we need to make these events work. In one word, volunteers. When the phone rings and someone asks you to help out in some way jump in with both feet and volunteer.
I want to share a few highlights - At Division B boot camp on February 12, 2011 in Regina I met so many new toastmasters and we shared so many exciting things including our SMART goals.
Over the years I have volunteered at many conventions and conferences. In Regina, I was Sergeant at Arms for the whole weekend and with the minute by minute that Connie and Bev provided I knew what I had to do and when. There was not a detail missed. ‘Under the big top’ is a vivid memory for me.
In Calgary at the World Convention, I was thrilled to volunteer and it lead me to meet new people from around the world, get on the ins and outs of the opening ceremony and to learning more about Calgary and the value of voting!
Grande Prairie saw Barb and myself being at the registration table so we got to meet most of the people who were coming in - what a great way to spread your smile and pride in our toastmaster organization.
With every volunteer position you accept you will learn Volumes about yourself, Observe the talents of others, Learn new skills, Understand the Need for volunteers and earn a new respect for Timing. You will be Eager to do it over and over again and Even Remember these events more vividly. I urge you to volunteer at the Spring Convention in Regina at the end of April, we need you.
Respectfully submitted,
Maryann Samida, DTM
Remembering all the fun of conventions and conferences got me reminiscing about the fun I have had getting to these places. Well sometimes the carpooling was going to a TLI in Regina or an Area contest in Moose Jaw. Seems to me that a car plus toastmasters equals lots of laughter and getting to the destination in record time. Well, it depends on who is driving.
I remember stopping at the Home Depot, on the way to Calgary, to get ourselves some tools to use as props at the Friday night fun and games part of a District 42 get together.
I remember how quickly we got to Edmonton when Connie was Division Governor for an Area Governor training. How exciting it was to get trained and the bonus of the networking and the sharing of ideas, concepts and plans for the upcoming year.
I remember not stopping anywhere along the road with Faye as we were so excited the get to a Region IV Conference in Winnipeg and the short trip home - recapping of the 'bead dog' I got from one of the speakers, the sore dancing muscles and sadly thinking: "Wow, the last one."
I also remember a whole carload of us planning the events and speakers we would encourage to have at our Division B TLIs (Toastmaster Leadership Institutes) and how the excitement just rolled from one person to another. Man, we could have planned several years of TLIs that time.
I encourage toastmasters to carpool whether it is to a convention (in Regina soon), a conference, a contest or a special toastmaster day - you will learn a lot and laugh a lot guaranteed!
Respectfully submitted,
Maryann Samida, DTM