Athens Conference

On the 25-27 of May 2018 in Athens was held District 59 and 95 joint conference.This District conference was special because two districts came together, district 59 and 95, and they were split into 6 districts when going home. In total there were 850 Toastmasters from all over Europe.

There was a a wide variety of workshops, in total 30, that you could choose from. Often there were 6 workshops in parallel.

As in all district conferences there were international speech contests in various languages including German and Greek.

We are all unique and the value of Toastmasters for us is also unique. When we just join the TMs communities usually we only aspire to become a good speaker without thinking about all other possibilities the TM community opens to us. During these 5 years I am a Toastmaster, my vision of this community has changed a lot: from a place of only public speaking to a platform for both personal and profesional development, networking and….overcoming my own fears.

Being a very active and social person, I have found a great pleasure and benefits in becoming an “internationally engaged “ toastmaster that now means for me assisting at international conferences, taking part as a judge or helping with some organizational details and getting acquainted with toastmasters from all over the world.I hope that some day I  will also be able to take an international toastmasters stage.

Why is it important to travel to the international conferences?

Well, a good question. Being a member of the Executive board of Moscow Area, I am responsible for international relations. My task is to stay in touch with other countries, create some mutual projects and invite foreign toastmasters to our Moscow conferences. The nearest one will take place in December (8th and 9th) and together with my colleagues we invite foreign toastmasters. They will show our Russian community the diversity of international toastmasters and the level of those people who have already participated in different international speech contests, who can also share their leader’s experience. At the same time we want to show the “face” of Russian Toastmasters who also have a lot of things to share: it is the best way to promote Russia internationally!

Why should we take roles during the international conferences?

“Toastmasters” means quality, level, and your personal investment. For raising the level of your own conferences you should have an entire vision and experience of how it works on the highest level, you should study together with those who know more. International conferences are the best place for that.

What does an international conference mean for you?

Well, I would highlight three main points:

1) Observing professional TM speakers (many of them have started their public speaking professional career or work as trainers after becoming a TM membership) in action - good “live” example of what WE can become;

2) Fantastic networking which then gives you an opportunity to have several foreign toastmasters during your own conference;

3) Positive emotions and motivation that you have after witnessing another huge TM event and a great desire of organizing something similar in your own Country. 

Frankly speaking, I hope that in some moment we will conduct an International Conference in Moscow and you all are already invited=)