Viva Las Vegas!
From The STAFF
It was hot! With temperatures rising at 105 degrees outside, the action was even hotter inside at the Toastmasters International Convention on August 15-20. District 7 had an impressive delegation of 9 in attendance, Leanna Lindquist (Area 63 Governor), Michael Lindquist (Area 73 Governor), Dick Parsons (Area 21 Governor), Pat Lynch (High Desert Division Governor), Adele O’Neal (Region 2 Advisor), Dorothy Cottingham, Carl Cottingham, Gary Schmidt (Immediate Past International President), and Dave Coffman (D7 Speech Contestant).
Following is an account of our convention adventures.
Training for the STAFF… Yes, even the STAFF is required to have training! Monday and Tuesday from 7:00am – 5:00pm, with homework late into the night. Tuesday, the STAFF gave a dynamic presentation on why and how District 7 Celebrates Toastmasters. For the record, Toastmasters International stoled our theme of Celebration and used it throughout the convention! Great minds think alike!
Inspiration was found everywhere, beginning with the opening ceremony. It is truly a touching experience to cheer for each country’s flag that is represented at the convention. The educational sessions were inspirational and presented by amazing people who challenged us to be better leaders, teaching us to lead in all kinds of ways ranging from building teams to humor.
The Best of the Best were there to entertain us. Dave Logan (Tribal Leadership), Robin Sharma (The Leader Who Had No Title), and Dan Nainan (comedian, look him up on YouTube) were keynote speakers each with a special message to share.
All work and no play will keep you out of trouble when in Las Vegas! Most days we were on the convention floor at 7:00am to save seats for each other with not enough time for lunch, then afternoon sessions, then interviewing international candidates until 9:00 at night when the Candidates Corner closed. Of course, as you know, your District 7 STAFF does love to Celebrate… and celebrate we did with hugs and stories amongst our fellow Toastmasters from around the world.
International Business is very serious business! With the responsibility of the District 7 club proxies, we spent all of our spare time interviewing candidates who were running for international offices. I am proud of our D7 delegation for the high level of interest and commitment to meet the candidates and to spend their lunchtime in a round robin discussion of who is the best candidate. The voting process was a four-hour experience not to be missed. I am happy to say that all who were elected are all very capable to fulfill the responsibilities of international office. For more information, you may go to this link to check out the business meeting results.
New and old friends abound. Sharon doesn’t know a stranger, she gets the prize for meeting the most new people from around the world. She is now an admirer of Balraj Arunasalem from Sri Lanka, new International Director from Region 13. Her new hang out buddies are the STAFF from her home state, Hawaii. Her new LGM friend from Reno has already e-mailed her a lead for a new club. Sharon loves the Aussie’s and the South Africans. Rose lately is in the habit of meeting people on the plane home (George, and then Corey), practices her Toastmaster elevator speech, and then takes her new found friend to her next Toastmaster meeting. I was inspired by my fellow District Governors from around the world who have many of the same challenges, that we have right here in district 7. At the same time, there are many challenges that we are free of because we live in this grand country, the United States.
I am content to say that your STAFF represented you well at the 2011 International Convention and we were proud to represent District 7, “Where Leaders are Made!”