I am sure that all of you who were at Playcon this weekend can only standup and applaud Keryn House and her team. What a fantastic conference! Everybody who missed the conference has really lost out. There were so many highlights that it is difficult to single out a particular event, so I will just mention a few that stuck out to me.

Photos of both evening functions are here. Please email me if you would like hi-res copies.

The conference started on Thursday evening with a beer tasting very ably presented by SAB. I learned a great deal about their new product, Pilsner Urquell(or at least new to South Africa – since it has been made in Plzen in the Czech Republic for about 300 years), and of course we were served plenty of free beer.

Friday started bright and early (and cold) with the main conference. We went straight into the guest speaker Justin Cohen, who told us all about The Psychology of Success. The afternoon provided us with a selection of over 12 workshops to attend, of which you could select two. I attended “Creativity” presented by Terry Ellen, and “Using humour in business presentations” presented by Rod Taylor. Both were very ably presented. My only regret was that I could only attend two workshops, since there were so many others that I would have loved to attend.

Friday evening was a very decadent meal at the Carnivore (the name said it all). This is not a restaurant for the faint-hearted. I think I ate my annual quota of red meet that night. Just some of the food on offer was chicken, pork sausage, pork ribs, lamb, beef, crocodile, zebra and rhino. While I did enjoy the meal, I don’t think my doctor will let me eat there too !

Saturday was of course the day of the contests. The International winner was Cristoff Appel, who will be representing District 74 in Washington in August. Good luck! While Division D did not win any of the contests, Cristof was originally a member of E&Y Toastmasters in Cape Town.

The AGM was held on Saturday afternoon, which proceeded very smoothly. Of course, the elections are held at the AGM, the results of which are below:

District Governor	Frances Boshoff
Lieutenant Governor Education & Training	Karin Cremer
Lieutenant Governor Marketing	Lois Strachan
District Public Relations Officer	Keryn House
District Secretary	Rob Douglas
District Treasurer	Brian Gowans
Immediate Past District Governor	Elize Janse van Rensburg
Division A Governor	Susan le Roux
Division B Governor	Isaac Mokale
Division C Governor	Beauty Zondi
Division D governor	Craig Strachan
Division E Governor	Liz Bullock
Division F Governor	Jan de Beer
Division H Governor	Brian Simelane

The day chairmen for both days (Brian Simelane for Friday, and Erich Viedge for Saturday) performed their tasks very competently and really showed us how to do it. Well done to you both!

On Saturday evening, I attended something that I have not attended for a long time – a barn dance! I had no idea about some of the lesser-known talents of some of the Toastmasters, because Richard and Zosia Greaves very ably ran the entire show, and had everybody on the dance floor.

The conference was really a fantastic affair, and very professionally run. I think that often as Toastmasters, we underestimate the value for money that we get, from our membership fees to the cost of attending a conference. Where else can you attend two days of world-class speakers and trainers, and receive six meals, each consisting of several courses for the cost of about R950? In any other environment this conference would cost far, far more.

I must also mention the networking opportunity. Through the last few conferences, I have personally become friends with Toastmasters from about eight different countries in Southern Africa, not to mention all of the South African Toastmasters I have become friends with.

I would like to encourage all of you to get out there, and register for the next Minicon and Maxicon.

See you there!

Craig

Ps: Just one request for the conference organizers – please arrange warmer weather next time!

Pps: What are your highlights?

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