Toastmasters Conference Nov. 7-8, Open to Public

Interested in improving your communication, public speaking and leadership skills? Clear your calendar for Nov. 7-8, 2014, for the Toastmasters International District 54 Fall Conference.

Toastmasters International is the world’s leading organization devoted to communication and leadership skills development. Open to the public, the conference features a mix of lectures, educational workshops, speech contests and networking.

The first vice president of Toastmasters International, Mike Storkey, DTM, of Townsville, Queensland, Australia, will deliver the keynote address. A business trainer and coach at Storkeys’ Team, a business he cofounded in 2005, he helps small business owners develop strategic business plans and trains members of local government bodies throughout the Queensland region.

Storkey also will lead two educational workshops, one offering proven delegation strategies and the second exploring the need for mentorship.

Additional workshops include:

· Blueprint for Your Footprint: Leave a Legacy with Joan K. Moore, DTM, PDG. Life is what we are given. Living is what we do with it. Use your abilities, unique gifts, and passion to create a blueprint for stretching to success and making a difference. What legacy will you leave?

· Winning Presentations: Design, Style & Techniques with Nancy Depcik. Discover proven techniques for constructing a dynamic speech – and time-proven tips for calming your nerves.

· Fearless Leadership with Debbie Leoni. Fear is a powerful energy that can either drive behavior towards success, passion and fulfillment or sabotage, frustration and resignation. Discover how to make new choice in the face of fear … so you can move into the life of your dreams.

· Still Standing: How to Knockout Adversity and Win in Life and at Work with Tony Powell. Adversity is something we all experience, yet it stops many in their tracks. Listen in as Tony shares the essential qualities it takes to overcome adversity, such as the importance of attitude, language and self-talk, choices, relationships, goals, vision, determination and self-love.

· Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say: Communicate with Conviction and Confidence with Kate Webster. Do you find yourself challenged to communicate clearly because of certain people, situations, or events? You won’t want to miss this session, where you’ll gain effective strategies to enhance your communication style that best matches your personality type and you will learn to stand up for yourself in all areas of your life.

During the conference, the district will hold its Tall Tales and Humorous Speech contests. Contest participants include the winners of all 6 divisions in the district.

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of meeting locations. Headquartered in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, the organization’s membership exceeds 313,000 in more than 14,650 clubs in 126 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people of all backgrounds become more confident in front of an audience.

District 54 hosts educational conferences for its members and the public each spring and fall. This fall’s conference takes place at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, 205 Remington Blvd., Bolingbrook. General admission tickets are $40 per person. Meals are available for purchase separately. Pre-registration is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome.

Check-in starts at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014; the event ends at 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014. For a detailed schedule and to register, visit www.d54conference.com

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