Conventional Afterthoughts 2011 - Where Leaders Are Made

Greetings Happy People,

I had the opportunity to be a part of the action in the 2011 Toastmasters International Convention at Bally's Hotel Casino - Las Vegas. Like last year's convention in Palm Desert, California, this one was an awesome experience!!

It only seemed like yesterday when they made the announcement that the convention was coming to my town of Las Vegas. Now that it is history, I take some awesome memories and amazing experience with me.

Over two-thousand people came to this event. From Austrailia to China, Canada to Portugal, Mexico to Bahrain, and South Africa to Saudi Arabia, this convention brought a great variety of Toastmasters from all over the world to learn, share, and grow together. I had the chance to meet familiar friends from a year ago and make new friends in the same process.

I also took in some awesome educationals from dynamic speakers, learned good material from District Officer training sessions, and interviewed candidates running for International Officer positions. I also got the chance to look at the new worldwide brand for the organization!! This includes a brand new logo and a new tagline - "Where Leaders Are Made."

The Opening Ceremony was a spectacular event and the main presenter for that event brought up an interesting message that gave me some food for thought:

Invention, Arrangement, Style, Memory, and Delivery.

Without invention, all one can be is a carbon-copy. This message helped me personally because I am at a crossroad with certain things in my life. This REALLY came in handy.

There were also some semifinal speech contests that took place. Scott Pritchard, a person from my Toastmaster District, actually won one of the nine semifinal contests. This victory allowed him to compete with 8 other contestants in the World Championship of Public Speaking. At the World Championship, he took action and gave a humorous and touching speech that got him third place. I was amazed and very proud of Scott. He did a very fantastic job!!

There were also some awesome dinner events at this Convention. The first one was the Golden Gavel Dinner and the second was the Presidential Dinner Dance!! Both were phoenominal events and I enjoyed them. I enjoyed the Presidential Dinner Dance more because I got a chance to spend it with my beloved fiancee Dana.

We have moments where we deal with difficult people, situations, and moments. If one is looking for a nice place to hang with cool people and learn worthwhile things, Toastmasters is a great getaway!! It does not matter if it is by club or convention, attending a Toastmaster related event is a great and privileged experience. One can become a better leader and communicator if they join this organization. This past convention is a great example!! It is August 2011 and I am already looking forward to next year's convention in Orlando, Florida!!

For those people that would like to know more about this world class organization, please go to the Toastmasters International website (http://www.toastmasters.org). Who knows? You might create and take in the beauty of self confidence and personal growth because THIS is the place where leaders are made!!

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I