What's in Store
- Internationally Known Professional Speaker: Barbara Khozam, Toastmasters Accredited Speaker
- Featured Guest Speaker: Tracy Thomason, DTM
2017-2019 Toastmasters International Director
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2018 Conference Schedule
Click here for a printable PDF version
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Registration Options |
Registration closed Friday, May 11th at midnight
Register as a Club
Pricing:
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Register as an Individual
Pricing:
Saturday Night Only Registration: $60
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The business meeting on Saturday is FREE to all Toastmasters
Refund Policy
We realize that circumstances arise that may change your ability to attend the Conference. Full refunds will be given if the refund request is received on or before Sunday, April 1, 2018.
50% refunds will be given for requests received on or before Friday, May 4, 2018.
Refunds will not be given for requests made on or after Saturday, May 5, 2018.
To request a refund, send an email to the District Events Coordinator at events@tmd55.org
We realize that circumstances arise that may change your ability to attend the Conference. Full refunds will be given if the refund request is received on or before Sunday, April 1, 2018.
50% refunds will be given for requests received on or before Friday, May 4, 2018.
Refunds will not be given for requests made on or after Saturday, May 5, 2018.
To request a refund, send an email to the District Events Coordinator at events@tmd55.org
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Accommodations |
Courtyard by Marriott San Antonio SeaWorld/Westover Hills
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Discounted room rate if booked by April 20th $119
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Keynote Speaker |
Barbara Khozam
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As the founder of Barbara Khozam Speaking and Consulting, Barbara is an internationally recognized speaker and trainer having delivered over 1400 presentations to 55,000 people in ten countries on Customer Service, Leadership, and Communication. Her audiences include employees of Xerox, Symantec, Verizon, and the FBI to name a few. Known for her “High Energy/High Impact” delivery, outrageous wit, and ability to tackle real issues posed by her audience, she has been the recipient of dozens of awards for Sales Achievement & Outstanding Trainer Ratings.
Learn more about Barbara, her keynote, and her learning sessions here. |
Guest Speaker
Tracy Thomason, DTM
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Tracy Thomason began his Toastmasters journey in Lubbock, Texas, after calling in sick to work instead of giving a presentation to ten coworkers. He only joined to get past the nervousness and thought he wouldn't be a member for much longer than his 5th or 6th speech. Twelve years, five district offices, and a recent election to International Director later, Tracy is still a member and cannot fathom why he would ever want to leave the organization.
Learn more about Tracy and his learning sessions here. |
Advertise in the Conference Brochure
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Conference Presentations
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Integrating Theatre Techniques for Innovative Speech Intros
Barbara Abbate, ACB, ALB The purpose of the presentation is to demonstrate theatrical directorial principles that are used to coach actors on stage. These same principles can be applied in the preparation of any speech introduction to capture the audience. Staging, timing, and voice production techniques will be discussed and then applied to volunteers wishing to enhance their intros. Part I - Principles for creating a strong Introduction The value of capturing an audience in the first 2 minutes Part II - Introduction to directorial theatre principles used to coach actors Including
Part III - Demonstration and practice in applying these principles in the development of a speech introduction, or in the portion of a speech where there may be two people speaking. |
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The Theory of Everything for 10% More Success
Cathy Huang, DTM, Ian Muth, DTM, Shawn Thomas CC/CL
Do you feel stuck? Would you like to heighten your focus? No matter what step you are taking in your career – looking for a job, finding a new job, or making a career transition, we can help you get there! In this session, you’ll be introduced to our Theory of Everything. Backed by social theory and scientific research, come learn and practice successful habits and how to operate your brain at max efficiency. |
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Guiding Your Club Through Social Media
Christopher Johnson, DTM Help Toastmasters develop stronger skills in promoting their club. Present to Toastmasters ways to better promote themselves and their clubs to maximize their reach, in the most cost-effective way possible. Identify and understand effective vs. ineffective social media. Do you ever feel like you are spinning your wheels when it comes to reaching more people outside of your club? Do you have the basics when it comes to Social Media promotion for your club but wish you could take it to the ‘next level’? DTM Chris Johnson will share with you the tips and tricks to not only get your club seen by a broader audience, but, how to also increase your own personal visibility. He will also work with you on figuring out what kinds of social media work best, and for whom! |
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Evaluate to Motivate
Cora Lonning, DTM Participants will walk away with:
This session will outline the purpose and intention of evaluation in the Toastmaster program; and how it is essential to all we do in Toastmasters. In this session attendees will learn how to craft and deliver evaluations that support the speaker and the specific skill they are currently developing. This session also presents attendees insight as to the greater role evaluating can play in skill development for all club members-not just speakers! |
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Improv for your LIFE!
Desmond Calloway ACS, ALB In this session we will examine how to add improvisation to daily activities that one may encounter. This may range from a job interview to a simple elevator pitch. We will explore how even these moments of interaction can benefit from improved improvisation and extemporaneous speaking skills. This program is geared so that you’ll have new skills to help you in work, and life. More effective communication, less self-consciousness about in speaking in public, an easier access to thinking on your feet, and the ability to listen without an agenda. The benefits are limitless. |
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Pathways
Doug Kelly, DTM, PDDG Members will be inspired to choose a path and begin their Pathways journey. Pathways is alive in district 55! If you’ve taken your assessment and selected your path, come and have your questions answered. If you haven’t entered Pathways, come and find out why you should. The clock is ticking. On June 30, 2020 our familiar Traditional educational program will end. Our transition to Pathways will be completed. Since February many of you have taken your assessment and selected your first path and have “how to” questions. Many of you have not begun your Pathways journey and may not know what questions you should ask. District 55’s Chief Pathways Ambassador is here to explain the Pathways Learning Experience and to answer your questions. Tick-tock tick-tock |
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Meetings to Motivate
Hettie Allsup, DTM The focus of planning meetings is to decide the purpose of the meeting, select the participants for the committee meeting, arrange for a meeting location to accommodate all attendees and notify the participants in the best method for that group. Develop the agenda to cover all material to be discussed in the correct order and the desired conclusion of the meeting. |
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Toastmasters the Next Generation, To bravely go where many Toastmasters have not gone in quite a long time
Humberto Vela, DTM Introduce audience to the Modified Youth Leadership Program for High Schools. Recruit Toastmasters to support the District’s ongoing efforts to bring Public Speaking sessions to ALL Northside Independent School District High Schools Provide testimony from eight Toastmasters who have participated in the program and know the benefits of the program for Students and Toastmasters alike. I and a team of 5 to 7 Toastmasters familiar with the Modified Youth Leadership Program will present a description of the program as implemented this year in six local high schools in San Antonio. Presenters will describe the nuts and bolts of running the different programs. And will address the demographics of the students and their projects which are supported by the skills they learn from the program. Presenters will also expose the dramatic need for volunteers to help spread the program to ALL the high schools in Northside Independent School District |
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Cold Call Potential Clubs Like a Pro
Kathy Moore, DTM Help members overcome their fear of cold calling Potential Toastmaster clubs. Help members learn how to do the research first. Provide hands on experience through role play exercises. How to Cold Call Potential Clubs Like a Pro is designed to teach attendees step-by-step how to find, research and call on potential clubs. Presenter will share experiences of her own and give attendees the chance to practice while role playing various scenarios. |
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Real Leaders Wear Boots
Robi Ley, DTM The objective of the presentation is to provide the audience with a foundation of five leadership concepts. Using the BOOTS acronym, the program walks the audience through 5 leadership concepts; Believe, Overcome, Own, Trust, Serve. These foundational concepts are key to being a successful leader. |
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Professional Development: Why Continuing Learning Matters and How You Can Get it For Free from the Pros!
Teresa Brinson, ALB In this presentation, participants will be able to:
You’re in Toastmasters or interested in the program because you want to grow professionally and personally. In this presentation, participants will receive information on affordable and mostly free options, including receiving certificates or degrees from Ivy League schools, to help you move up the career ladder. You’ll also learn tips and tricks to improve your brand to help you get recognized and you’ll learn to create an action plan to help you meet your goals. |
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Raise Your Happiness Quotient
Tina Renee D’Souza, ACB, ALB I will teach the attendees how to influence their own level of happiness so that, regardless of where they are now, they can lead a happier life. Do you sometimes wonder why you are never quite as happy as you’d like to be? Many of us struggle with finding happiness. We believe that happiness is innate or that we simply haven’t achieved THE thing that will make us happy. Research on happiness has shown that we often subvert our own happiness. In this session, Tina will teach you some fundamental concepts to start you on a journey toward a happier life. |
Tracy Thomason, DTM
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Tracy Thomason began his Toastmasters journey in Lubbock, Texas, after calling in sick to work instead of giving a presentation to ten coworkers. He only joined to get past the nervousness and thought he wouldn't be a member for much longer than his 5th or 6th speech. Twelve years, five district offices, and a recent election to International Director later, Tracy is still a member and cannot fathom why he would ever want to leave the organization.
Tracy graduated from Texas Tech University in Lubbock in 1992 with a degree in Computer Science. He's written software for the agriculture, insurance, manufacturing, and law enforcement industries. He now leads a team of developers who produce a software package for municipal governments and is excited to have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of 13.5 million citizens every month through his team's great work. His passion for learning, spurred on by Toastmasters, led him to earn certifications as a ScrumMaster, Scrum Professional, as well as a certificate from the Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership in Atlanta, Georgia. In August 2017, during our International Convention in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tracy was elected to the Toastmasters International Board of Directors as the International Director from Region 3. When not working with computer software or Toastmasters, Tracy and his wife Lisa enjoy spending time with their two daughters who have both grown up, moved out, and are in the midst of starting families of their own. |
Saturday Night Keynote
Lead from the Side
How do you exercise leadership if you're not the boss? Or when you are, how do you build leadership -- and ownership -- in your team?
Over his 30-year career, Tracy's seen that most compelling leaders are not just leading followers. They also lead their bosses and peers.
Whether you're working on your own leadership or looking to build up others, discover how real leadership is about leading from where ever you are in your organization. Build skills, increase personal significance and expand influence as you learn to Lead from the Side.
Over his 30-year career, Tracy's seen that most compelling leaders are not just leading followers. They also lead their bosses and peers.
Whether you're working on your own leadership or looking to build up others, discover how real leadership is about leading from where ever you are in your organization. Build skills, increase personal significance and expand influence as you learn to Lead from the Side.
Leadership Session
Love 'Em or Lose 'Em - Engaging & Keeping Your Members
You own your club and it's up to you to protect it. As with most organizations, your most valuable assets are your people -- your fellow members. While they came to your club for the promise of the Toastmasters program, don't assume that is enough to retain them. To keep your members as members, you have to work at engaging them every day.
Learn best practices for keeping your members and how to apply these at your office as well. Find out how easy it is to Love 'Em and not Lose 'Em.
Learn best practices for keeping your members and how to apply these at your office as well. Find out how easy it is to Love 'Em and not Lose 'Em.
Sunday Session
The Cheetah, the Chihuahua, and Barry White
Ongoing membership building campaigns create vibrant, thriving clubs. However, the effort challenges many members. With a dash of sales psychology and a pinch of irreverent humor, this presentation looks at subtle but effective ways to market your club.
Barbara Khozan
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As the founder of Barbara Khozam Speaking and Consulting (BarbaraKhozam.com), Barbara is an internationally recognized speaker and trainer having delivered over 1400 presentations to 55,000 people in ten countries on Customer Service, Leadership, and Communication. Her audiences include employees of Xerox, Symantec, Verizon, and the FBI to name a few. Known for her “High Energy/High Impact” delivery, outrageous wit, and ability to tackle real issues posed by her audience, she has been the recipient of dozens of awards for Sales Achievement & Outstanding Trainer Ratings. |
Through her unique consulting services, Barbara and her team help businesses create cultures of service in which employees become customer advocates. Ultimately and consistently, the results are extremely loyal (and happy) customers and a profitable bottom-line.
Barbara is the author of How Organizations Deliver BAD Customer Service (And Strategies that Turn it Around) and the co-author of The Power of the Platform, and Executive Etiquette Power.
In 2014 Barbara was the 14th woman in the world to be honored by Toastmasters International with their elite Accredited Speaker designation for “outstanding platform professional speaking.” Only 75 have earned the award in 145 countries.
Barbara is the author of How Organizations Deliver BAD Customer Service (And Strategies that Turn it Around) and the co-author of The Power of the Platform, and Executive Etiquette Power.
In 2014 Barbara was the 14th woman in the world to be honored by Toastmasters International with their elite Accredited Speaker designation for “outstanding platform professional speaking.” Only 75 have earned the award in 145 countries.
Friday Night Keynote
Zap Negativity and Ignite Your Life, Your Results
In business, the rules of fair play are constantly changing, leaving many teams feeling drained. And when negativity creeps in, it becomes a trap that is easy to get caught in. Barbara will guide you out of that trap and show you proven techniques to create a rewarding and positive environment. She will take you on a laugh-filled, fast-paced, motivating journey that is custom tailored for our district. You will discover the following:
Barbara combines her unique enthusiasm and humor to instantly create connections and rapport with her audiences. She will help you discover how to take seemingly complex solutions and boil them down to simple, measurable actions.
- How to build a solid foundation so you can succeed at work and at home
- How to create a “Get over it and get on with it” attitude
- How to avoid someone else’s emotional negativity
- How to discover your enthusiasm and fuel it fire hot!
Barbara combines her unique enthusiasm and humor to instantly create connections and rapport with her audiences. She will help you discover how to take seemingly complex solutions and boil them down to simple, measurable actions.
Saturday Leadership Session
Does Your Club Serve Its Customers?
Do guests visit once and never return?
Are first impressions that important?
Do you want your guests thinking, “I want what she’s having?”
Customer service is no longer a department. It’s a culture that flows through the veins of every great organization. It’s one thing to get guest to attend, but another to get them to join. In this fast paced session, you’ll learn FIVE ways to WOW guests from the moment they enter the room, to the second they leave.
This dynamic, humor filled program will help your club discover the following:
Customer Service expert, Barbara Khozam, shares proven strategies that are easy to implement, cost effective, and harmless to animals.
Are first impressions that important?
Do you want your guests thinking, “I want what she’s having?”
Customer service is no longer a department. It’s a culture that flows through the veins of every great organization. It’s one thing to get guest to attend, but another to get them to join. In this fast paced session, you’ll learn FIVE ways to WOW guests from the moment they enter the room, to the second they leave.
This dynamic, humor filled program will help your club discover the following:
- The three biggest mistakes clubs make with customer service (and how to avoid them)
- Gain and maintain repeat members
- Ways to identify and avoid the most common member turnoffs
Customer Service expert, Barbara Khozam, shares proven strategies that are easy to implement, cost effective, and harmless to animals.
Sunday Q&A
Join us for an open Q&A session. Barbara will field questions about becoming a professional speaker, becoming a Toastmasters Accredited Speaker, and a variety of other topics as proposed by the audience.
It takes a team to put on a conference.
Please reach out to our wonderful conference co-chairs
Rikkita Hughes and Sherilynn Vineyard to ask how you can contribute.
Please reach out to our wonderful conference co-chairs
Rikkita Hughes and Sherilynn Vineyard to ask how you can contribute.