Temat: NEWS FROM DISTRICT 59 FALL CONFERENCE IN BARCELONA...

Dear Fellow Toastmasters,

Temperature over 20 degrees, exotic fruits and freshly squeezed juices at the Boqueria market, the crowd and the artists on Las Ramblas, the city of stunning architecture, exclusive shops and banks on the street De Gracia, famous La Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, and other architectural pearls designed by A. Gaudi, a beach with a promenade on the Mediterranean coast, the Olympic village, atmospheric restaurants, tapas bars and ...many others.

Barcelona is always worth visiting. In this colorful and vibrant city you should have been obligatory at the end of November.
Why? Not only in order to escape the cold and clouds in Poland, but primarily to attend the European Conference of Toastmasters ( District 59 Fall Conference 19th-21st.Nov.2010)

Nearly 300 participants from over 17 countries in Europe and visitors from outside our continent. Therefore, this conference is like the Tower of Babel and how well we co-operate and how much can be learned!

On Saturday were fantastic level competitions (humorous speech and Table Topics) in three languages: English, German and French. Evaluating in such contests is a difficult task. Here you meet the winner of each Division. This is the master show! E.g. For two hours you could be laughing while listening to ten participants in the humorous speech contest in English. Laughter is good for health!

Enlightening, and sometimes funy were workshops. How many friendships begin just during the workshops! This is because of the need here to work in international groups, in pairs, prepare a summary, to find a solution.

Interesting information for all TM's clubs in our District and the targeting of finance, education, development, marketing and PR were presented during the District Council Meeting on Saturday.

Everyone has been waiting for the evening gala. When it was honoring those who have, after years of intensive study and work received DTM title (the highest achievement: Distinguished Toastmaster). Then we could get to know the winners of the contests and have a dinner. Individual dinner dishes proved to be a masterstroke for our eyes, and not just our stomach. All this in an elegant banquet room at the Pullman Skipper, located on the promenade in Barcelona.

Charming are always ladies having beautiful evening dresses and men in elegant suits and tuxedos. A Toastmasters member from Krakow, who attended the European Conference of Toastmasters for the first time said, “it's a reception at great level, for which he waited a long time”.

And then we saw a flamenco show. Spanish trio in colorful costumes raised the temperature to the maximum. Immediately after the show every Toastmasters members entered the dance floor. This time we showed how to celebrate. How can we not only speak but also to dance with passion.

On Sunday morning, have been held workshops. It is difficult to get up in the morning after dancing to 2-3 at night and concentrate on the workshop. You can choose to chat in the foyer with Toastmasters members from across Europe and at the same time have delicious cookies and fresh fruit.

Around midday closing ceremony began with Hall of Fame.We have been waiting impatiently for it, because we wanted to learn about the achievements of individual Areas, Divisions and District 59 (namely the European Toastmasters) and about the achievements of outstanding leaders in Europe.
More info about outstanding leaders in next news soon.

If you want to watch the master show of public speakers, register now for District59 Spring Conference in Lisabon (May, 2011).

Your's in Toastmastering,

Monika Królak
Immediate Past Division C Governor
Northern Germany and Poland
District 59/Toastmasters International