The Midyear Conference: When did it all begin?

In the Toastmasters world, there are two national conferences to look forward to: The District Conference and the Midyear Conference. The former happens around April or May while the latter happens on October. Another interesting thing to note is that the Midyear Conference only happens here in the Philippines. Yes. The main reason for this conference is so that the district officers could meet in the middle of the year to discuss their progress in their respective areas of responsibility. But eventually it morphed into a national event that was hosted in turns by Toastmasters from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. After all there’s no reason why we Toastmasters can’t work and party at the same time, right?

Now aside from the district meeting, a variety of contests are included in the program. These are designed to find the best speakers, dancers and singers from each Division. Yes. We Toastmasters are very talented. (Is there nothing we can’t do?)

The first Midyear Conference was held on October 10-11, 2003 at the Orient Pearl Hotel in Manila.  It originally began as the Luzon Conference attended only by Division’s A, B, G and H. It was brought about by PDG Jimmy Pamintuan’s proposal to hold a conference that would feature games, fun, food and fellowship. What couldn’t be done in a District Conference could be done here. Thus, the Quartethlon was born. It was a contest wherein one contestant had to compete in all 4 categories: evaluation, singing, entertaining and impromptu speech. If you think competing in the District Conference is tough – think again. The first Quartethlon Champion was Grea Tulio – a Toastmaster from Harbor TMC-Division H.

It was in 2006 when the Luzon conference officially became the Midyear Convention.  In 2008, the Midyear Conference was held outside Luzon for the first time - at Bacolod City. Since the first Midyear Conference, this midyear tradition has only become more and more popular. The success of last year’s conference which was held in Cagayan de Oro City, hosted by Division F and facilitated by Midyear Chair ACS Albert Mabaquiao only whetted the people’s appetite for more. And I have no doubt that this year’s conference is going to be spectacular. Why? The venue says it all.

Midyear 2011 is going to be held at the beautiful island of Boracay. It is to be hosted by Division D and organized by this year’s midyear chair ACS Mhel Sillador.

Source: http://www.scribd.com/doc/20306823/Maharlika-Noble-Press-Issue-42

Have you ever been to a Midyear Conference? If not then this would be a great time to try. Read all about it in my post Midyear 2011: Run Away with us to...Boracay!