First Timer for the Last Hurrah

conference swag & gifts

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit focused on helping individuals improve their public speaking and leadership skills. I’m a HUGE fan of this organization and have been a member of five different clubs beginning in 2022. Currently I’m in the clubs Global Pride and NYC Tech. 

Toastmasters District 119 hosted its Spring Conference this past Saturday. It is THE event put on by the District annually. District 119 is merging into District 46 this summer, making this conference its last. This change is part of a larger restructuring effort to better serve members and strengthen clubs across the organization.

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​I loved many things about this conference. My highlights were:

• Networking. This is one of my favorite parts of most events. You never know who you are going to meet, and how your interactions could begin a friendship, lead to an opportunity, or simply result in an impactful conversation. With 100 clubs in District 119, there are loads of opportunities to meet people and hear about their Toastmasters journeys. It’s also the perfect setting to catch up with members I’ve met at events throughout my time with the organization. 

 

• Hosting a workshop. “How To Maximize Every Moment of Your Toastmasters Membership” centered on making Toastmasters work for members. Attendees paired their personal or professional goals with club officer and district leadership roles. Think Club President, Vice President of Membership, Program Quality Director. A breakout session had groups examine how different opportunities within Toastmasters can lead to achieving their unique goals. Shout-out to Robert and Zara who provided my introduction, and kept me on time and hydrated!

 

• The speech contests. Charnette, the winner of the Table Topics Contest, has been a part of Toastmasters for 36 years. This type of contest is an extension of a part of each club meeting. Table Topics helps improve impromptu speaking skills. The Table Topics Master poses a question, and a member or guest has 1-2 minutes to answer it. This conference also held the International Speech Contest. Contestants in this round won the prepared speech contest at the club, division and area levels (the three qualifying rounds leading to the district conference). Each one was phenomenal. The winner, Arlean, had one of the most memorable stories. She used body language to convey the fear she had running from cows in South Africa. Her speech mixed excitement, humor and inspiration. The second place contestant, Mario, had the crowd roaring with his tale of bussing it weekly from Chinatown in Boston to NYC. His body language also added tremendously to the speech. The line that stuck with me was “My limitations do not need to define me.”

 

• The DTM Tunnel. This is a celebration for the Toastmasters who earned their DTM during the past year. DTM stands for Distinguished Toastmaster and is the highest award that the organization offers. Several requirements must be met to attain the distinction, including presenting many speeches and taking on several leadership roles. During the conference, those in attendance who have their DTM create a tunnel. The newly awarded DTMs run through it. I am incredibly proud of Raisa, who earned her DTM for a whopping 11th time! 

 

• The swag. The welcome gift bag included a "First Timer" ribbon, for those of us attending District 119’s Spring Conference for the first time. Everyone received a clever gavel-shaped pencil and a hand clapper. One flick of the wrist produces a surprisingly satisfying clap. Given that there is A LOT of clapping in Toastmasters meetings, clubs should definitely adopt them too. 

 

• Being recognized for a milestone. District Director Denise Collins, presented me with a pin for earning the Dynamic Leadership Pathway Certificate. Pathways is Toastmasters’ educational program, offering six paths. Each involves a series of speeches to deliver and leadership roles to take on.

 

• Farewell dance party. Alzonia led the Cha Cha Slide and brought ALL the positive energy. You can’t help but feel the good vibes radiating in her presence. 

I recommend all Toastmasters attend their district’s conference. You are sure to gain something from it, just like every Toastmasters meeting. Even if it's just a friendly smile.

Ask me if you have questions, I'm happy to share more about my experience. You can also visit the Toastmasters International website for more information. ​🎉