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Our Spring 2017 Conference takes place in Amarillo, Texas, on May 5 – 7, 2016. This page includes everything you need to know about the Spring 2017 Conference from conference & hotel registration to sharing a room or ride to our speakers and even fun things to do in Amarillo outside the conference. You’ll find it all here.

If you still have a question, scroll to the bottom and send us an email using the contact form.

Spring 2017 Conference Final Agenda (Uploaded May 1, 2017)

Spring 2017 District Council Agenda

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Registrations for the District 23 Spring Conference in Amarillo are now closed. You can still register for the excursions (below in the Things to Do in Amarillo section.)

Hilton Garden Inn Amarillo
9000 Interstate 40 West
Amarillo, TX 79124
(806) 355-4400

Reserve Online

Group Name: Cognizant MTG Group Code: TOAST

$104 per night

Looking to cut conference expenses, but don’t have a carpool friend and/or roommate? We’re compiling a list of willing people.

On the Conference Registration online form, you can sign up to receive information about sharing a room or ride. This section is at the bottom of the registration form.

If you have questions about sharing a ride or room, please contact Kevin Wilson (kevinwilson16@gmail.com.)

Please note:

  • Kevin is unable to guarantee that any specific route or room sharing options will be available. He will do the best he can to arrange rides and rooms, but he can only work with the people who contact him and are willing to share a ride or room.
  • Please contact Kevin as soon as possible. Sometimes the options for sharing rides and rooms fill up quickly.

 

Program Ads, Sponsorships, and More!

First Timers, Frequently Asked Questions, and More!

Things to Do in Amarillo

Extra-Conference Activities

Get a flavor of Amarillo by going on one or more of these excursions into the Yellow City and the surrounding area! These are for Non-Toastmasters and Toastmasters alike.

Sign up using the link below the Palo Duro Canyon excursion.

Trip to The Big Texan!

Friday, May 5th, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Here you will have the opportunity to sample some of Big Texan’s micro brews (or other beverage you may choose). Shop the unique gift shop for those special souvenirs to take back home.

No charge for this outing except for what you choose to spend at The Big Texan.

You will be back to the hotel in time for dinner and the evenings festivities.

Visit to Cadillac Ranch and Route 66 for Lunch and Shopping

Saturday, May 6th, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Don’t forget your spray paint! (Or if you do, we will have a few cans available for purchase). We will provide (courtesy of the Amarillo Convention and Visitors Center) a plastic pancho to protect your clothes as well as some latex gloves so you can keep your hands clean. Tag a Cadillac. Get a Photo. Have FUN!

You will then be bussed over to Historical Route 66 to stroll among the antique and gift shops. Enjoy lunch and/or a beverage. You can pick up some fun décor for your house or gifts for friends and family.

No charge for this outing except what you choose to spend on Route 66 at the shops and food/drinks.

You will not be back to the hotel in time for lunch or the Table Topics Contest. However, you will be back well before dinner, the International Speech Contest and Auction.

Palo Duro Canyon

Sunday, May 7th, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Enjoy a ride out to the beautiful Palo Duro Canyon. Learn more about the Canyon at: http://www.palodurocanyon.com/. You will be joined by a guide to learn some fun details about the Canyon.

Cost for this outing is $15. This fee includes transportation, a box lunch, water and entry into the Park. Please specify turkey or ham for your sandwich choice. You must pay in advance for this outing as lunches have to be ordered prior to end of conference.

Please sign up here on the website OR mail a check to Jerri Glover, 2300 North Western, Amarillo TX 79106.

This outing leaves after all scheduled conference activities have concluded.

Sign up for any or all of the extra-conference activities here:

Extra-Conference Activities sign-up form

Pay for your Palo Duro Canyon trip here:



Find other things to do in Amarillo:

VisitAmarillo.com

Map of Interesting Things to Do in Amarillo

First Timers
Business Meeting Proxy

Either the club president or vice president education of any member club may designate, in writing, any active individual member of the club to act as a proxy for him or her at any district council meeting. In the event one of those officers is not in attendance at the meeting and has not designated, in writing, an active individual member of the club to act as his or her proxy at such meeting, the officer or proxyholder in attendance shall be deemed to hold the proxy of the other and may therefore cast two votes at such meeting. The intent of this provision is to assure that every club will be represented by two votes. No other proxies shall be valid at a district council meeting. A written proxy, to be valid at a district council meeting, must contain all the elements set forth in Toastmasters International policy and must be delivered personally, by mail, by fax, by e-mail, by electronic transmission, or by other reasonable means to the club member who will hold the proxy. The proxy holder must present the proxy in paper form (i.e., print out an e-mail) to the credentials desk. If the proxy does not bear a handwritten signature, it must have the typed name of the club officer(s) giving the proxy or some other indication that the club officer(s) authorized the proxy to be given. A proxy that complies with these requirements shall be treated as valid so long as the credentials desk has no reason to believe that the proxy was not authorized. A proxy holder cannot transfer or assign a proxy to someone else. A valid proxy delivered to the proxy holder is revoked only if the club officer who gave the proxy takes one of the following subsequent actions: he or she destroys the proxy, cancels the proxy in writing, issues another proxy authorized at a later date, or actually attends the district council meeting. (Source: Toastmasters International District Administrative Bylaws, Article X(d).)

District 23 Proxy Form (PDF)

Tax Deductions

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)(3) so some expenses may be deducted as charitable contributions. For more information, please read this document from Toastmasters International: Tax Deductions for U.S. Toastmasters

Your Conference Crew
Conference Chairs Jerri Glover & Leona Stark
Registration
Finance
Credentials
Education
Hospitality
Friday Evening
Opening Ceremonies
Saturday Evening Activities
Sergeant At Arms
Solicitations
On-Site Fundraising
First Timers Activities
Guest Speaker Host/Guide
Audio/Visual
DTM Ceremony
Contest Chair
Chief Judge
Publicity
Souvenir Program
Roomshare/Rideshare Chair Kevin Wilson

Questions about the conference? Please ask!

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Speakers

Donny Crandell

Donny Crandell

Keynote Speaker

Donny Crandell believes
“It’s All About Connecting.”
As a Speaker, Educator,
Chaplain, Entertainer and
Writer, he connects with
his audience through
inspiring, motivating,
training and educating by
creating a fun and
enjoyable experience for
all. Donny is a two time semi-finalist in the World
Championship of Public
Speaking.

David Terry

David Terry

Guest Speaker

David, a featured trainer and past board chair of the Executive Committee for the National Business Incubation Association, will be presenting a keynote on leadership in communication and offering a breakout session on coaching with concrete tips you can use in your professional and personal lives.

Sondra Nunez

Sondra Nunez

Guest Speaker

Sondra, a two-time Distinguished Toastmaster and the District 39 Director, will give you the tools you need to create a happy and healthy team environment in her presentation “YIKES, I’m the Leader, Now What? Six Steps to forming a happy, healthy team!”

Rubén Dicún

Rubén Dicún

Guest Speaker

Ruben, a global leader in management of businesses and non-profit organizations, will share his personal journey of managing multicultural teams. He has worked in 38 countries and he will invite the audience to discover the common characteristics of a leader with an international perspective.

Beth Duke

Beth Duke

Guest Speaker

Beth Whitley Duke is executive director of Center City of Amarillo, a Texas Main Street City. Through its mission of downtown revitalization, Center City has established the Amarillo Community Market, the Downtown Dining District, and the Amarillo Cultural District.