Titbits from a Toastmasters travel & training
Greetings all! I’m excited to be writing my very first blog entry, especially because I have just returned from a week in Philadelphia, USA attending District Officer Training and then the TI Convention. Wow! It requires lots of energy to keep up with the pace of Toastmasters events! We were at breakfast by 7.30 am, training sessions all day, dinner then karaoke & dancing until midnight – sleep & repeat! My karaoke days are long gone, but I know others made the most of each opportunity.
What was great about training?
Sessions were varied, interesting & relevant without being ‘dry’. In one team building session, teams had to built a ‘cup tower’ using plastic cups and index cards. We had to take turns placing a cup on the table then an index card on top then another cup, holding them together and inverting them, gradually building a tower. If the tower collapsed during inversion, the team had to start over. My team managed to get 9 cups built and I think it was a great effort!
There were sessions only for Club Growth Directors and some were for the trios. Truly, it was an inspiring and energising couple of days. It would be better when we get to do that all again for the Mid-year training which will be held in Kuala Lumpur in January - I can’t wait!
If you have never attended a TI convention, then put it on your bucket list! It will be held in Vancouver next year and I’m sure it will be a fabulous one. There is a myriad of opportunities for networking, attending fantastic workshops, watching semi and finals of World Championship of Public Speaking, meeting aspiring International Directors, and attending business meetings.
Do you think business meetings are dry? Go to a TI business meeting! While you are waiting for votes to be counted, you can dance in the aisles (or on your chair) & conga round the room – literally!!
Now it’s back to work & also to attending to Club Growth for D90! Luckily I have a fabulous team of Toastmasters to help me – both my CGD team as well as my mentors and fellow club members.
Thank you all for your encouragement and support, you are such a valuable & valued resource!
Written by Elizabeth Lloyd DTM | Reviewed by Ramalka Kasige DTM
