Be an International Convention Attendee!

By Imelda Castaneda-Emenaker, ACS, ALB, Area 35 Governor

We have a big opportunity! Toastmasters International Convention is August 12-15, 2009, in Mashantucket, Connecticut—fairly close to home! Early registration is open through July 20. A great experience awaits you.

As an attendee, you'll see why Toastmasters never forget the conventions they've attended and never regret the decision to be there. Believe it or not, this convention promises to be grander than 2007 in Phoenix, Arizona, or even 2008 in Calgary, Canada. It's so close to District 40 that some will opt to hit the road instead of booking a flight.

Convening in the MGM Grand at Foxwoods, the Mashantucket convention program will blend together a celebration of accomplishments with comedy, creativity, and new passion for carrying on with our communication and leadership goals.

For example, Saturday education session presenter Fran Capo will inspire all to connect our dreams with our realities. Interestingly enough, Fran is known in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's Fastest Talking Female (603.32 words per minute). I wonder how long I will last taking notes!? Also, another presenter, Carol Dean Schreiner, DTM, will share experiences with taking good care of everyone's #1 favorite speaker: YOU! Did I mention yet the International Speech contest? As a must-see event for ever Toastmaster, it starts off our Saturday program.

So, again, why attend the Toastmasters International convention? Primarily, it's for your personal development. Specifically, you will:

• further enhance your own communication and leadership skills with more advanced and targeted education sessions as well as learning from the “champions”;
• be able to network with different people around the world;
• serve as a role model to fellow TM, motivating them and make more opportunities for building capacity in your club;
• personally represent the club’s interest to the international body as you vote in behalf of the club;
• help the club by sharing new educational ideas and methods you will learn;
• contribute to enhancing team spirit in the club, the area, the division, and the district.

Additionally, attendance in the TI convention is tax deductible if the TM member is attending and representing his/her club in the business meeting.

Notes:

• All information about the August 12-15, 2009 TI convention in Mashantucket, Connecticut is in the April 2009 Toastmaster Magazine. The full convention package is $550 when received on or before July 20th. You can save money by making an “a la carte” registration – just pick the days you prefer!
• One-day (Saturday, August 15th, including the International Speech Contest and three educational sessions) registration is only $100.
• Attendance to the business meeting (Friday, August 14th at 8:00 a.m.), only is free (open to all members). You can spend the rest of Friday visiting interesting areas around Mashantucket, if you do not want to pay extra day for registration.
• Air transportation - Flying via Bradley International Airport (BDL) from Cincinnati (CVG) may be cheaper than via TF Green Airport (As of April 25, 2009, the best roundtrip prices seen were about $340 vs. $380).
• Land Transportation
  • By car - it would take more than 13 hours (from Cincinnati to Foxwood, Casino, CT) but would only cost about $200 to $250 for gasoline – even less if you carpool.
  • By bus (as of April 25, 2009) – one-way trip from Cincinnati to Foxwood Casino, CT, would take about 21 hours and 30 minutes; roundtrip cost ranges from $120 plus applicable tax (requires a 14-day advance purchase, non-refundable) to $294 + applicable tax (refundable)
  • By train (as of April 25, 2009) – a one-way trip from Cincinnati to New London, CT would take about 22 hours; the round trip cost is about $284.
• Conference Hotel Accommodations
  • MGM Grand at Foxwoods’ double occupancy cost is $175/night plus 12% tax.
  • As of April 25, 2009—Other hotels/motels within 10 miles of the conference hotel include: • Super 8, $80.74 • Best Western, $161.00 • Howard Johnson, $103.96 • Holiday Inn, $162.95 • Ramada, $110.46 • Comfort Inn, $179.95 • Budget Inn, $112.00 • Days Inn, $180.00 • EconoLodge, $150.00 • Comfort Suites, $189.99. Applicable taxes are not included in these price quote.

Budget impact summaries

The Strict Budget outlined below assumes that the attendee travels by bus, takes the lowest hotel price (double occupancy), attends just the free business meeting and the Saturday sessions, and stays within the food allowance budget.

• Strict Budget
  • Transportation (Greyhound Bus fare plus applicable tax), $132
  • Two-day hotel stay, double occupancy sharing in cheapest hotel (Friday, Saturday), $91
  • Food allowance, $60
  • Registration, $100
  • Miscellaneous (taxi fare, pocket money, etc.), $50
  • Total (estimate): $433

The Comfortable Budget suggested below assumes air transportation, staying at the conference hotel (double occupancy), and attending only the free business meeting and the Saturday sessions, and stays within the food allowance budget.

• Comfortable Budget
  • Transportation (roundtrip airfare)—Thursday travel day to attend the Friday AM business meeting, $350
  • Three-day hotel stay, double occupancy sharing in conference hotel (Thursday, Friday, Saturday), $294
  • Food allowance, $60
  • Registration, $100
  • Miscellaneous (pocket money, etc.), $40
  • Total: $844

Lasting impressions
Remember, attending international conventions will help you improve your communication and leadership skills. Additionally, you will be able to help your club, area, division, and district more through your example and by sharing what you learn. You will get to experience a truly international sensation of Toastmasters by meeting fellow Toastmasters from 106 countries. Even if attending only the business meeting and the international speech contest, you will find it all to be well worth it! Mark your calendar now and prepare to join your colleagues at the 2009 Toastmasters International Convention! Again, early registration closes after July 20.

About the author
I am a member of Bearcat Toastmasters Club # 8020. I am campaigning to promote member attendance at the coming Toastmasters International convention because of my thoroughly spectacular experience in Phoenix in 2007. Hearing the educational sessions and the international speech contests were truly inspiring moments for me—which can soon easily be yours too. I feel strongly that every Toastmaster should attend at least one international convention and become involved with all the wonderful people worldwide who remind me in so many ways why I am proud to be a Toastmaster. For more information, call me at (513) 556-3816 or email castania@ucmail.uc.edu