Founder's District Spring Conference
International Speech & Table Topics Contests
Saturday, April 24, 2004
Embassy Suites Hotel Arcadia
211 East Huntington Drive
Arcadia, CA 91006
(626) 445-8525
Registration: 7:15 AM
Early Registration Discount available until April 13
Table Topics Contest: 12:00 Noon
International Speech Contest: 5:30 PM
Click Here for Conference Flyer
For more information contact:
Linda Northrop
at 714-374-1253
email: Linda.Northrop@verizon.net
or
Norm Cook
at 714-226-00788
email: unclescrooge@hotmail.com
Why You Should Attend the Founder's Spring Conference
The district conference is an exciting, educational event, but many members,
especially newer members, don't grasp the benefits of attending. If you
have never attended a district conference, you may be intimidated by not
knowing exactly what to expect. If it was hard enough to join a 20-member
club, think how hard it might be to attend a 150-person conference.
Something that seems as simple as what to wear can be a big mystery to
someone who has never been to one of these events before.
In this message I am going to try to demystify the conference and give you
some great reasons to attend. Please share this message with all your club
members.
First, let me give you two words on why you should attend the Spring
Conference on April 23-24: Darren LaCroix. How about another two words:
Sheryl Roush. I am not exaggerating when I say that these are two of the
very best speakers I have ever heard! To have both of them at the same
conference is a chance you'll regret if you miss it. Darren won the World
Championship of Public Speaking at the International Convention in Anaheim
in 2001. For those that were there that day, you saw an incredible
performance. Sheryl was a featured speaker at that same convention, and she
had the audience enthralled. You will receive many valuable speaking tips
and be mightily entertained by these two speakers.
Yes, Arcadia is a long way to travel for many of you. I plead with you to
consider carpooling or just biting the bullet and drive up to hear these
great speakers. You won't regret it. (Consider making a weekend of it by
staying at the hotel on Friday night. The hotel has web specials starting
at $118 + tax. If 2 or more people share a room, the cost will not be
prohibitive.)
And, for those of you in the northern parts of the district: you've been
clamoring for us to hold a conference here; so don't disappoint us by not
showing up.
IMPORTANT: no matter what else you do, be sure that your club is represented
at the district business meeting on Saturday afternoon. The business
meeting is no cost to attend. This is where we will be electing the
district leadership for the coming year. We must have a quorum to have a
legal election, so it is critical that every club send a representative to
the business meeting. Proxies are on the conference flier (page 3).
Perhaps even more importantly, there is a contested election for Lt.
Governor of Marketing. Both of the candidates are outstanding individuals
and either one will be a fine district leader. But, they are very different
people and it will make a difference who gets elected. It is up to the
clubs to elect the person they feel will best represent them.
Now, some procedural information:
Attire during the day is business casual. You will see some people in coats
and ties, but most will be dressed for comfort. Friday night's humor
showcase will likely be a bit more formal, but probably not a lot more.
However, Saturday's dinner will be a lot more formal. You will see a number
of people in tuxedos and gowns, but regular business attire is fine. There
will be rooms in the hotel available to change clothes; see one of the
hospitality volunteers for more information.
If you want to participate in just a portion of the conference, this is
perfectly all right. The agenda for the day is on page 4 of the flier. If
you are coming just for the Table Topics contest, plan to arrive around
1:15; we'll probably get started around 1:30. If you're coming just for the
International Speech contest, plan to arrive around 7:00; the contest will
probably start around 7:30. If you're coming just for one of the contests,
you won't get a meal, but drinks will be available from the hotel
bar/restaurant.
Be aware, too, that the Friday humor showcase will not have a full meal. We
will have premium desserts only, so be sure to eat dinner before the show.
Registration:
Most of you should have received the conference flier by now. If you
haven't gotten it yet or have a new member who needs the information, go to
the district website, www.foundersdistrict.org. Be sure to register before
April 13 to get the best rates.
Finally:
Founder’s District Conferences offer unique opportunities for growth. If
you actively participate, you will get more out of the programs, speakers,
and attendees. You will become more informed and more enthusiastic, and you
will multiply your personal benefits. The district conference is a great
social gathering of positive-minded people. If you mingle and introduce
yourself you will have a great experience and will meet some great new
friends.
I sincerely hope to see a huge crowd on April 23-24 at the Embassy Suites in
Arcadia.
Norm Cook, DTM
Lt. Governor of Education and Training 2003-2004
Founder's District