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Be the best that you can be
Beehive Buzz Convention
Duxton Hotel, Wellington
7th - 9th May 2010
Enquiries to mayconvention@toastmasters.org.nz
Download registration form: Word format (for emailing), pdf format (for regular post)
View our Promotional Video (on YouTube)
Things to do in Wellington - a list of things to do and places to visit (283 KB pdf)
Duxton
Conference Venue
www.duxtonhotelwellington.com
0800 655 555
res@wellington.duxton.co.nz
Toastmasters rate $180 per night – quote Toastmasters when booking
West Plaza
110-116 Wakefield St
2min walk
www.westplaza.co.nz
reservations@westplaza.co.nz
0800 731 444
Rooms from $135 per night
Museum Hotel
90 Cable Street
3min walk
www.museumhotel.co.nz
0800 994 335
reservations@museumhotel.co.nz
Rooms from $190 per night
Base Backpackers
21 - 23 Cambridge Terrace
7 min walk
0800 BASE NZ (0800 2273 69)
http://www.stayatbase.com.
Accommodation from $27 per night
Downtown Backpackers
1 Bunny Street
15min (1.2km) walk
www.downtownbackpackers.co.nz
0800 BAKPAK (0800 225 725)
db@downtownbackpackers.co.nz
Accomodation from $25 per night
Holiday Inn
75 Featherston Street
15min (1.2km) walk
www.holidayinn.com
reservations 0800 500 619
res@holidayinnwellington.co.nz
Here's a list of accommodation further away from the Duxton:
|
Hotels |
Address |
Std rooms inc gst |
|
Abel Tasman |
169 Willis Street |
$125 |
|
Comfort Hotel |
213 - 223 Cuba Street |
$99 |
|
Holiday Inn |
Featherston Street |
$199 |
|
Ibis |
153 Featherston Street |
$109 |
|
James Cook Hotel |
147 The Terrace |
$169 |
|
Museum |
90 Cable Street |
$190 |
|
Novotel |
133 - 137 The Terrace |
$149 |
|
Quality Hotel Cuba |
213 - 223 Cuba Street |
$167 |
|
Trinity Hotel |
166 Willis Street |
$115 |
|
|
|
|
|
Backpackers |
Address |
Std double rooms inc gst |
|
Base Backpackers |
21-23 Cambridge Terrace |
$87 |
|
Nomads Capital |
118 - 120 Wakefield Street |
$85 |
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YHA Wellington |
292 Wakefield Street |
$93 |
19-21 November 2010 – New Plymouth
Planning for this convention is under way.
Table Topics Contest
- 1st Tess Bayly of Division F
- 2nd David Clarkson of Division G
- 3rd John Twaddle of Division D
Humorous Speech Contest
- 1st Graeme Valentine of Division B
- 2nd Elise Broadwith of Division A
- 3rd Ros Lee of Division D
Long Service Certificates (and Toastmasters lapel pin) were awarded to:
- Peter Altmann ACS (30 years) of Remuera
- Dave Stonyer ACG, CL (30 years) of Petone
- Craig Robinson DTM (25 years) of Napier
The May 2009 convention, was held in Christchurch at Chateau on the Park, 189 Deans Avenue, on the 16th and 17th of May, 2009. The theme for the convention was "Crusade to Confidence", which follows on nicely from the "Courage to Conquer" theme of our International President for 2008 / 2009, Jana Barnhill DTM A.S. (pictured on the left).
Read the Convention Summaries below, prepared by Wayne Webley, District Public Relations Officer.
Notes from Convention Day 1
The convention opened with the traditional banner parade, the singing of national anthems and a formal opening by the deputy mayor of Christchurch, Norm Withers, who skillfully wove the convention theme (Crusade to Confidence) into an engaging speech about his experiences and life.
International president, Jana Barnhill presented a keynote address around the theme of courage illustrating her skills of an accredited speaker as she captivated the audience with personal stories that illustrated her speech – the horrors of an aircraft crash, the fear of flying that resulted and finding the courage to conquer that fear as she took us along on a tandem skydive form 13,000 feet.
The recipient of this year’s communication and leadership award recipient, Dr Rod Carr, also spoke informatively on the subject of confidence, and about overcoming obstacles
Competitors in the evaluation contest evaluated Leonie Murray’s speech "Three things to take to India". All presented excellent evaluations that highlighted Leonie’s structure, clarity, pacing and subtle humour (among many commendations) while find ways for her to improve an already excellent speech. The placings were:
First: Arun Chaudhari
Second: Neil MacInnes
Third: Sarah Scott
The district council meeting presented delegates with a nail biting experience as the selection process for Lt Governor Marketing proceeded through three ballots to the final selection of Steve Bullock DTM for the role. All four candidates participated in the well attended candidate’s showcase on Friday night where they had the opportunity to make a brief presentation and then faced a series of questions about the role, presented in a Table Topics style format. Well done to Kevin Prohl, Ellie Young, Murray Coutts and Steve Bullock for putting themselves forward to serve the organisation at the district level.
Jana Barnhill also took the time to explain the proposal to changes to the structure of Toastmasters International and encouraged club presidents to return their proxies to our District Governor, Chrissy Meyer so we can be represented on this important issue.
The formal part of the day's program ended with participants breaking out for educational sessions on "Club Building and Membership Growth" (Sean Joyce), "How to Bring Your Speech Alive" (Rachel Prosser) and "Keeping Yourself Employed in this Economic Environment" (Cam Brinsdon).
Well done to the organising team for putting together an excellent first day.
Notes from Convention Day 2
The first day of the convention concluded with a dine and dance at which District Governor elect, Alun Chisholm presented his theme for upcoming Toastmasters year: "Look, listen, then speak". Participants enjoyed excellent food, excellent company and excellent dancing.
International President Jana Barnhill opened Sunday's proceeding with a question and answer session touching on issues such as leadership, speech contests and the new manuals for the Youth Leadership Program and club and district officers.
Jana then spoke about the core values of Toastmasters:
- Integrity
- Respect for the individual
- Service to the members
- Dedication to excellence
Participants were treated to seven superb speeches in the International Speech Contest with honours being awarded to:
- First Place: John Reimers: "Communication Breakdown"
- Second Place: Linda Miller: "Uncle Mockey"
- Third Place: Pablo German: "Dreams Never Die"
Past International President, Bob Barnhill, DTM, AS, presented an educational entitled "If not you, then who?" in which he explored various aspects of effective leadership noting that "effective leaders inspire people to do what they are capable of doing but wouldn"t do without you."
An excellent convention and a credit to Phil Gourdie and the team who organised it.
View a selection of photos in our Photo Gallery.
! Goals, Opportunities, Leadership, Direction, Reassurance, Understanding, Support, Help
Held in Dunedin on 14-16 November 2008
Convention Notes - by Wayne Webley, District PRO
The convention opened with a bag piper leading the banner bearers into the auditorium. Dunedin’s mayor Peter Chin welcomed delegates with a magnificent song in praise of his fair city. He stressed the importance of public speaking and the role of Toastmasters in promoting this in a witty and entertaining speech that had the audience in fits of laughter.
District Governor Chrissy Meyer officially opened the convention using the convention’s gold rush theme to urge participants to open doors of opportunity.
The keynote address from Professor Mark Henaghan, the Dean of Law at the University of Otago was entertaining and informative. He tastefully drew out the parallels between public speaking and sex – why do it if you don’t enjoy it - and urged the audience to consider his ten commandments of public speaking, illustrating his theme with stories taken from his experience in teaching law.
During the convention Immediate Past District Governor Geoff Trotter presented a range of awards to clubs and individuals who had excelled during his term while District Governor Chrissy Meyer presented 11 Toastmasters with their Distinguished Toastmaster award.
Table Topics contestants were faced with the subject "We live in a PC world" and all skillfully constructed brief exposes to illustrate their views. David Hatchuel placed first, Mark Baker second and Astarte third.
Humorous speech contestants had the audience in fits of laughter. Adrian Humphries took first honours with 'Wax On – Wax Off' a speech about having his back waxed, Barry Edwards placed second recounting his experiences as the winner of the wooden spoon award in junior rodeo, and Dominic Philips recounted the childhood horrors of being passenger in a car driving up one of Britain’s busiest motorways in the wrong direction.
Sunday's keynote speaker Christian Kasper related some of his experiences in building his company Vouchermate and his success in working alongside key international media companies to develop the business overseas. Using personal stories he transformed what could have been a dry business presentation into an entertaining and informative speech.
There was a diverse range of superb educationals. Anna Campbell and Gaelene Woods explained personality types and portrayed that the best speeches are given when they are presented in a way that is true to the speaker's personality type. Gaelene also presented a later educational on speaking from the heart.
Kevin Prohl talked about creating the invisible thread that connects the speaker to the audience. Chris Manly, a Dunedin based drama teacher, explained the fine points of story telling and illustrated them masterfully. (Her description of a pavlova was cruelly evocative with many minutes to go before lunch).
Lindsay Wright’s educational 'Beyond 7 Minutes' focused on techniques for presenting longer speeches. With members of the audience holding up his washing line he illustrated the concept of a theme (the line) holding together a series of inter-related stories (each a piece of washing) and rounded off with volunteers piecing together an effective presentation using this technique (pictured below).
District Officers presented educationals on membership building and retention and successful clubs.
Chrissy Meyer chaired a well attended district council meeting that dealt efficiently with the business at hand. Past district treasurer Jan Meehan gave a particularly effective visual summary of the district's financial performance for the 2007/8. Chrissy also lead the district officer training on Friday night where area and division governors were briefed on their roles for the coming months and Richard Moffatt, the Division G governor received two bottles of wine for leading his division to a win in the division web site challenge.
There was networking, dancing and general conviviality at the Saturday evening at the dine and dance although some of those who stayed late and then gathered at 6:00 AM on Sunday to watch the Rugby looked a little jaded by the time the conference ended.
Well done to Julie Culpitt and her team for putting together a superb convention.
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May 2009