This weekend’s Fall Symposium is in the books. Was it a good one? I would say so. To tell you the truth, I wasn’t sure I was going to attend until the week before. I didn’t want to ask off having a busy weekend just before that. But the Giant Eagle scheduling gods were smiling down on me and gave me Friday night off so I could attend. Did we make it three in a row next week so I could attend SRU Homecoming? No, and that’s OK too.
This was only my second Fall Symposium I attended. I did briefly sit in for the awards portion of the 2020 Fall Symposium before heading off to a wedding in Pittsburgh.
I braved the rainy weather getting there and coming back home. However it made for a nice drive on PA 819. In a way, the rain was a metaphor just as it was two years ago and four years ago on Halloween. When I arrived and got signed in, I met up with a few Toastmasters. One I knew well and another whom I didn’t so we introduced ourselves and got to know each other. We also talked about our bags. For most of the day, I kept the electronics in check and preferred social interaction more.
I’m not trying to do away with my phone, but I am trying to spend less time on the social media platforms. That, and not relying on everyone’s approval in my fashion journey. If I like it, that’s all that matters. Anyway, back to the Symposium.
Our presenters did an amazing job. Russell Drake, Distinguished Toastmaster and past International Director, kicked off the morning talking about leadership. To lead or not to lead. That is the question. Fursey Guatico (Mr. G) presented online to us and had us doing physical exercises to show us to do our gestures better when speaking or giving feedback. Our newest Distinguished Toastmaster James Teague shared his experience being part of Jest Speaking. Everything all had something to say and we kept our Toastmaster busy yesterday morning. A big thank you to Russell, Fursey, and Jim for giving us their time and energy yesterday.
Fursey did mention metaphors and other types of grammar yesterday. I talked about the rain being a metaphor of its own yesterday. It was the same a few years as WIS made changes and I would soon make my exit there, and again on Halloween 2019. A rainy and windy day and night marked one of my final nights living in my grandma’s house (she passed away in June of that same year).
Lunch was excellent and WCCC’s culinary staff always does a bangup job. The chicken and pasta were the chef’s kiss. The potatoes and green beans with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese were a great compliment. While I’m on a pumpkin spice kick and could have easily gone for the pumpkin pie, I chose the cherry pie instead (because you know, I love cherries).
The moment we were all waiting for was the awards ceremony. We heard the winners, both clubs and individuals. Priority Speakers, Erie Insurance, Indiana, and Bakery Square all came away in 2022-23 as great clubs in their divisions. I’m off Thursday night which may give me the opportunity to visit Indiana Toastmasters Friday morning. Greensburg made Select Distinguished so it’s up to me to keep the streak going and get us to President’s Distinguished.
We have three new Distinguished Toastmasters in our home club, plus our longtime Toastmaster Mike Dalton won the Commitment to Excellence award yesterday.
Greensburg is a Club of Champions, and it was worth a Saturday morning to attend this great event.
Winter TLI will be held December 2. By then I’ll have published my 500th blog post.
Stylish 🍒 