Festival Fun 2010

FESTIVAL FUN Year 2009 Year 2008

2010 Cactus Parade & Festival

(August 19 - 22, 2010)

Cactus Parade

We had our best turnout in 3 years for the CACTUS FESTIVAL PARADE on Thursday, August 19, 2010.

15 people came out to promote the Toastmaster program including members from the Youth Leadership Program.

The weather was beautiful, the audience was friendly and we passed out hundreds of Toastmaster cards as we made our way through the 2.3 kilometer route.

Cactus Festival

Although rain did dampen the Cactus Festival, late Saturday afternoon (Aug 21), and most of Sunday, Toastmasters from five clubs did enjoy meeting and greeting numerous people who were seriously interested in the Toastmaster program.

Friday evening and most of Saturday (before the rain) was especially active with dozens of serious discussions with potential members from Hamilton, Brantford, Flamborough, Kitchener, Burlington, Oakville, Stoney Creek and, of course, Dundas.

Thank you to Veronica Taylor of Access Toastmasters for supporting us in the parade and thank you to Valley Town Toastmaster president Kenrick Chin for supplying the three e-bikes for our cruising pleasure.

Karen Wood (CC) is pictured above enjoying the parade on an e-bike.

Pictured in the Toastmaster Pavilion in the above photo, left-to-right (front row): Gerri McManamy (CC), Yolanda Miller (CC), Tony Bratschitsch (ACS, ALB), Karen Wood (CC) and (rear row) David Shaw, DTM and Geneva Neale (ACS, ALS).

Karen is also seen here in this photo showing her choice of three e-bikes to fellow Valley Town Toastmaster Tony Bratschitsch.James Ferris is front and centre (below) with fellow Valley Town Toastmasters (left-to-right) Amy Hunter, Imelda Esporlas-Jewer, Gerri McManamy and Karen Wood.James was probably the only parade participant who marched with two groups - the first being his corporate employer - and finishing off with our group.

Special Thanks

to our Parade Participants:

Access Toastmasters Club:

Veronica Taylor

Valley Town Toastmasters Club:

Kenrick Chin

Imelda Esporlas-Jewer

James Ferris

Amy Hunter

Gerri McManamy

Abeer Musleh

Geneva Neale

Richard Parrish

Jonathan Spiegel

Karen Wood

Tony Bratschitsch

Youth Leadership Program:

Jaime Jewer

Paulina Krapels

Special Helpers:

Ava & Olivia

Planning Ahead!

A prominent local politician recommended that Toastmasters establish a "SPEAKERS' CORNER" for next year's Cactus Festival.

This would be a great opportunity for Toastmasters in south western Ontario to gain exposure by public speaking in one of Ontario's TOP TEN FESTIVALS (out of 2,000).

We have already adopted that idea and have organized a committee with Gerri McManamy being its chair.

It was also proposed that we recruit a "Town Crier" to announce our programme during the festival.

Special Thanks

to our Festival Participants:

Access Toastmasters Club:

Joan McGaw

Ambitious City Toastmasters:

Godwin Abaahom

Brampton Toastmasters Club:

Penny Batey

McMaster Toastmasters Club:

David Shaw

Valley Town Toastmasters Club:

Kenrick Chin

Fred Dewit