Have you ever noticed how our society always wants things to be easy? Advertising tells us that banking at a certain bank can be like sitting in a nice green easy chair or claims that “We can show you the easy way to lose weight or borrow money or get out of debt.” We are continually bombarded with messages encouraging us to sit back and make our lives “easy”, to stay in our comfort zone. We in Toastmasters though, know that in order to accomplish anything in life, it is necessary to go outside of our comfort zone.

Neale Donald Walsch tells us, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

The District 60 Spring Conference April 20-22 will offer you all kinds of ideas for getting out of your comfort zone, for going Above and Beyond.

The Keynote speaker will be Accredited Speaker and 2005-2006 International President of Toastmasters International, Dr. Dilip Abayasekara. He is a professional speech coach and an accomplished speaker- he was a finalist at two World Championships of Public Speaking and placed second in 1992.

The opening keynote address will be given by DTM Harry Ansara, an active Toastmaster here in the Toronto area known for delivering motivational, passionate and confidence-building speeches based on real-life experiences.

There will be a variety of great workshops given by amazing presenters. You will witness the best speakers in District 60 competing in the Evaluation and International Speech Contests.

There would be no point though, in putting together a committee and organizing this great event unless there are people who are going to attend. As chair of the 2012 Spring Conference, I would like to officially invite you to mark your calendars for April 20-22, 2012 and plan to come to the Toronto Don Valley Hotel for the District 60 Spring Conference. Not only will you hear great speakers and attend wonderful workshops, but you will have the opportunity to attend the Business Meeting, to see Robert’s Rules of Order in practice, and to make your club’s voice heard in electing the new district leaders. Bring your fellow club members and take advantage of this opportunity to get out of your comfort zone – to go Above and Beyond.

Your District 60 Spring Conference Chair,

Mary Wallace, ACB ALS