The Last Great Spring Conference

Has it really been three years since we last had an in person Toastmasters Conference? Has it been that long since we got together for a fun weekend? Has it been three years since we got to hear great contest speeches that were just amazing and left us with a tear in our eye and many laughs?

Yes it has, and the upcoming conference on April 29 is long past due for those who are hungry to meet up in person once again.

The conference will be held at the Pittsburgh North Marriott in Cranberry Township.

Coming off the heels of the greatest contest season since 2019, the District 13 Spring Conference is a great way to bring everyone back together after two years of six feet apart and social distancing. The event doesn’t plan to disappoint with the Evaluation contest Friday night and plenty of fun 🤩 scheduled that evening. Saturday morning will feature the first live parade of banners since the last great conference three years ago.

There will be workshops where those attending can take what they learned back to their clubs. DTM Melissa McGavick will be the keynote speaker at the Conference. Don’t forget the amazing District 13 International Speech contest in the afternoon. The evening’s banquet will celebrate 80 years of District 13 and all of the Toastmasters who earned their DTMs (present and past). Plus, there’s a special Sunday event going. “From Speaker to Trainer” will be held that Sunday at 9am.

The 2019 Spring Conference was definitely up there in my Top Five of 2019. I didn’t do one but I will post a future blog on some of the great things that made the year before the pandemic special. A great Toastmasters contest season, getting my DTM, starting my blog, and an overnight work trip that changed me are definitely up there.

2019 was a year of Toastmasters, tragedy, good friends, and fashion (accentuated by a cute pink cherry dress).

It was the last sane year before the everything went to crap in 2020. It was my year. Now, let’s talk about how great that conference was.

I arrived Friday afternoon and checked into my room at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott in Moon Township. That evening a group of District 13’s finest hung out in the hotel lobby. This replaced the popular Friday fun night that was a big part of past District conferences.

The next morning we had breakfast and were treated to a wonderful Parade of Banners. We heard wonderful keynote speakers and were blessed with wonderful contests consisting of Tall Tales and the International Speech contest. That weekend, we really found the words. That was the theme for the 2019 Spring Conference.

It was the final contest Charlie Wilson competed in before he passed away in April 2020. Jim Teague competed in the contest as well with a speech that involved a fruitcake. It was the final conference for me before I would be awarded with my Distinguished Toastmaster in September of that year.

We had a great turnout for new DTMs that year. Four members from Cranberry High Noon got their Distinguished Toastmaster award. That conference I coined the term “DTM huddle” when I saw the wonderful CHN members achieve their great awards. One of my favorite terms I came up with in 2019.

The night ended with some great disco dancing. For newly minted DTM Sarah Souri, that would be a great way to cap off a great confernice weekend.

The last great conference before the world shut down in 2020. Enjoy this year’s Spring Conference if you plan on going. It’s hybrid (virtual and in person) and we will be “Facing the Future”.

Bye everyone. ❤️ you.