As this year’s Conference Convenor for District 129, my role is to breathe life into the conference, coordinating every element, big or small, that will affect its “WOW” factor: Its form, its substance and its impact on all who will attend. Everything from start to finish! We are bringing together a dynamic team, and will be drawing inspiration from previous conferences and paying attention to every detail, while giving precise and timeous feedback to the Conference Committee, District Council and other stakeholders.

When our District Director, Madam Zivai Matondo DTM, stood to give her address at the DreamCon Gala earlier this year, she framed her experience up to that point as a series of “YESes” to the many challenges, opportunities and requests that came her way. (Well…that’s what I heard!) The unfolding of her YES journey epitomizes the spirit that sets apart any individual who desires to excel in Toastmasters and in life. Her first YES, unbeknown to her, set her on the pathway of Thriving towards Mastery!!!

I’ll draw from Myron Golden’s definition of mastery to give context: Mastery is the ability to execute effortlessly without the use of conscious resources. This definition encapsulates the need for us, as Toastmasters, to SAY YES to continual “learning by doing” and to navigating unknown territories in order to achieve “leadership and communication excellence”.