Published at: 05:04 pm - Wednesday April 11 2012
Rose Wellman, DTM, District 7 LGET Interview
By Lisa Hutton, D7 PRO
“Communicating in the 21st Century” is the theme for the upcoming D7 conference and brain child of our district Lt Governor of Education and Training, Rose Wellman. I recently sat down with Rose to ask her about the behind the scenes preparations for planning such a huge event and why she thinks you should attend Communicate Oregon on May, 5th.
[eNews] How did you come up with “Communicating in the 21st Century” for this year’s communication (spring) conference?
[Rose] I had just experienced a hectic, yet exciting, period at work where I had traveled to Canada, New York, and Las Vegas for my “day” job. During this time I was collaborating with colleagues in Germany, the UK, and here in the United States.
What struck me was how efficient and in some cases inefficient, the format of the communication was during this hectic period. I was facilitating workshops both in person and utilizing web conferencing tools; I was setting my alarm for 3:00am so that I could talk via Instant Message with my Program Manager; and of course relying on email.
As I finally caught a brief moment to breath, I thought WOW; we have come a long way in the last 12 years. I remember when I first started this job, I would stop by a pay phone, dial-out, and retrieve my email during layovers at the airport.
Now, I simply whip out my iPhone or iPad and I can participate in web conferencing with my iPad or, I can have a 3-way conference call on my cell phone and send you an email at the same time. I can do all these amazing things with 21st century technology but, am I truly communicating? Am I getting the importance of my message across? Is my humor being missed despite the smiley faces? Are you really reading my emails? No, seriously that was a question.
[eNews] Yes, of course I am. (wink, wink). Do you think technology is hurting our ability to communicate?
[Rose] Yes and no. The debate on whether or not it hinders or helps us is for another organization’s conference.
What I hope for is that our attendees learn ways to embrace 21st century technological communication forums and use it to their advantage. Our speakers are not going to address how to create a Facebook page, but why having one could help you in your small business, your passion with the homeless, and yes, your Toastmasters club.
At the same time, I hope to remind our attendees the invaluable importance of connecting face to face with others. Today, more than ever, being authenticate is critical in crafting our message.
We’re in the second year of the second decade of the 21st century. The innovations of tomorrow will be just as impactful as the innovations of yesterday. Embrace the benefits.
[eNews] That’s quite a wide range of topics. How do you find experts on these topics?
[Rose] We are blessed here in our district to have a very diverse and talented group of Toastmaster members. Our speakers this year, and years past, are experts on the subjects they present. They are entrepreneurs, business leaders, civic leaders, and workers like you and me.
I also like to seek Toastmasters from outside of our district. This provides the opportunity for our members to meet fellow TM’ers whom they would not otherwise have the chance to meet. It promotes the idea of our district members being offered the chance to speak at other districts. This is especially important for our entrepreneur members. Although, the speaking engagement itself is unpaid, it provides them the opportunity to network and hopefully gain business contacts in the process.
For example; Last year, I traveled to Perth Australia with Cathey Armillas (then District Governor) a keynote speaker at District 17 (District 73 at the time). Our friends in the land down under would not otherwise have had the opportunity to meet and hear Cathey had they restricted their speakers to District 17. And of course, Cathey would not have had the chance to network and gain a few clients.
As LGET, it is important for me to provide our members with beneficial educational opportunities at the conferences. I also consider it my duty to help our presenters if possible. They are, after all, putting in long hours of prep time for an unpaid gig.
[eNews] If we don’t pay our speakers, then why is there cost to the conference?
[Rose] That is a great question, and a sensitive one at that. I wish we could offer the conferences free of charge. I believe it would allow more people to attend. However, to host 300 – 400 at a venue costs money. We have the space rental itself, food for breakfast and lunch, beverages throughout the day, and audio/video costs just to mention a few. We must ensure that our attendees are comfortable and well cared for during an 8 to 10 hour conference.
I do everything I can to keep costs down. We run our conferences on a tight budget. In fact, other Districts have asked me how we do it. The conference in Australia cost me $250 to attend which is about the norm from what I’ve heard at district leadership training. I am proud of my team for developing a quality program at an affordable price. And we do have a high quality program. I have attended trainings with all 87 districts from around the world for last two years. I am pleased to report that time after time I have been asked for District 7’s conference plans, brochures, and marketing material. Other districts are modeling their conferences after ours.
[eNews] Could you scale back the conferences?
[Rose] I had that same thought when I started with Toastmasters. But the conference is a really important event on many aspects. If you look at the District Leadership Handbook, the first item on the list of “District Conference Purpose” is: District business and it is a critical aspect for May 5th since we are electing next year’s District leaders. To reach a quorum for the business meeting, one-third of club presidents and VP Education will be in attendance, plus the current district executive council, and the election committee members will come to a minimum of 180 people for the business meeting!
Of course the ever, exciting business meeting is not the only reason folks attend. They are there to support, cheer, and compete in the contests, another critical aspect for Saturday, May 5th.
First, let me say for the record, all contests are equally important, but Communicate Oregon on May 5th is the big one. I estimated about 25,000 members worldwide will compete for the title of World Champion of Public Speaking. Granted loose math, but hear me out. There are close to 14, 000 clubs worldwide. If each has 2 members competing at the first level—the club—that’s 28,000. But we know that not all clubs compete and some have more than 2 members, so I’m confident in my loosy-goosy math of 25,000.
Our District has nine Divisions. Each will be sending their respective champ to the District conference. Only one will go to Orlando. But every one of them has a winning speech. Every one of them has been practicing 100’s of hours on their speech. In the shower, in the car, outside with the dog, to strangers on the bus, in front of the microwave, in their make shift video studio at home…anywhere they can.
Each District will be sending their respective International speech contestant winner to the International championship in Orlando, Florida. Our District winner will first compete in semi-finals against 86 other districts and then on the big stage with 9 other contestants. The top 10 from a starting point of 25, 000 contestants. That’s huge!
I owe it to them to give them the opportunity to give their most important speech on the biggest stage possible here in our District in preparation for Orlando.
That’s why the spring conference, Communicate Oregon, is not scaled back. The members deserve the opportunity to learn and grow and experience a memorable event for all their accomplishments throughout the year.
[eNews] Seems like a lot of work goes into the planning. How do you do it all?
[Rose] I wish to quote our current (Toastmasters) International President, Michael Notarao. “If as a leader you are doing it alone, you’re doing it wrong.”
I have the most awesome team ever. I know, the word “awesome” is over used. But I do. Believe me, there is no way I could do this alone. The conference chair, Leanna Lindquist, missed her calling. She should have been an event coordinator for Oprah. I don’t think she sleeps.
She has assembled a top-notch group. Um. I believe you’re on that team. By the way, thank you for coming in mid-year and taking over the District PRO position and putting so many hours into promoting Communication Oregon. You and Ryan are doing … yes…an awesome job!
Honestly, it takes about 30 volunteers to host a conference this size with all the important events taking place that day and for the Friday night, May 4th event. It’s all hands on deck especially during the month of April.
[eNews] Sounds like an event not to miss. What would you say to someone reading this who is still not convinced to attend?
[Rose] Don’t miss it. You will regret it. Trust me. Here are three reasons why you want to attend Communicate Oregon.
First, I honestly believe we have the next world champion among our contestants. I’ve seen a number of contests so far and we have the winner. You will want to see this person in action.
Second, We have a world champion as our keynote. The STAFF attended Dana LaMon’s session last year at The International Conference in Las Vegas and was so impressed we immediately contacted Dana to be our keynote. Dana has lived an amazing life and will be sharing his experience from winning the championship to his humorous anecdotes of being a blind man in a sighted world.
Finally, my team and I have lined up 8 presenters who will be delivering their message in 21st century style. COMMtalks, which is, modeled after the popular TEDtalks and PechaKucha.
Not only will the audience learn about “how” to communicate in the 21st century but also learn two popular 21st century styles to deliver their message.