The dust is gradually settling on another fantastic National Conference here at the ASC and conference-goers have returned to the four corners of the UK. But what a conference it was!
Lytham St Annes and the Dalmeny Resort Hotel
This year’s conference was organised by Western Region, led by Regional Co Ordinator Anne Bouget. For those who found time to explore the area, what a great choice of venue and location it was. Miles of unspoilt, empty, sandy beaches for our competitors to vent some nervous energy and sunshine to boot! The hotel was slightly quirky but ideal for our needs with large balconies, plenty of meet-up spaces, and a suitably sized conference room.
The SLT and AGM
As conference attendees started to arrive on Friday afternoon, the Senior Leadership Team tucked themselves away in a quiet space for an SLT meeting. Conference is always both a sad and uplifting time as we say goodbye to our outgoing president, welcome in our new president, reflect on our achievements (and failings), and start to regroup and plan for the future.
Catherine Williamson
By 5 pm there was just time for a quick refresh before conference got properly underway with the new format AGM, the election of national officers, and the first of the ASC national competitions, Topics. An ASC AGM is always a lively and educational experience, but the new format meant that it’s a greatly shortened affair. We formerly said goodbye to Catherine Williamson, our outgoing president who has led us with wisdom, energy and compassion through an incredibly difficult time. Catherine has a unique leadership style and her effervescent personality will be greatly missed.
Ramana Sundara
We welcomed in Ramana Sundara as our new president to take us through the next chapter in our ASC story – namely recovery and growth after Covid.
Topics competition
On then to our Topics competition with the subject Modern Times. In one of our hardest disciplines (impromptu), the standard was incredibly high, and the winners were Nerys Jones (first), Sarah Wadsworth (second), and Stewart Thomson (third). Well done to you all.
Topics Winner Nerys Jones
Evaluation and Speech contests
The sun was shining on Saturday morning for our two remaining competitions. Conference convener Anne Bouget gave a fabulous target speech for our evaluation contestants which gave them a very difficult job. Congratulations to our winners: Rob Parsons (first), Michael Cox (second) and Anna Tewson (third).
Evaluation Winner Rob Parsons
In the afternoon, our speech contest covered a diverse range of subjects including everything from potatoes, failure, and flippers giving our judges a very difficult task. A massive well done to the winners: Jill Finney (first), Rob Parsons (second), and Kathryn Loftus (third). The standard just keeps getting higher!
Speech Winner Jill Finney
Educational sessions and Zoom
Slotted in between the competitions were a series of educational seminars for ASC members which included valuable advice on hosting hybrid meetings, growing a club, and more. No one could accuse Saturday of not being full to bursting with interesting and educational content. Meanwhile, for those that couldn’t attend, the main elements of the conference were streamed live via Zoom and recorded for future reference. Just one of the ways in which we have embraced some of the lessons learnt from Covid and lockdown.
Glad rags and dinner dates
Come Saturday night we were ready to party, and it was the first time I have seen ASC members do the conga! The Bothers of Swing kept us well entertained, the speeches kept us engaged and it was a great chance to catch up with old friends and new.
Reflections
The ASC National Conference is a unique event and once you’ve been once, it becomes strangely addictive!
It’s that annual chance to meet in person those that you know only via social media or those who live at the other end of the county but share common interests. For competitors, it’s about getting out of their comfort zones and challenging themselves, for organisers and the SLT it is about leadership and more. In short, it’s heady a combination of education, experience, learning, inspiration, fun, and serious business. It showcases the very best of our talent and leaves us all with much to reflect on. Roll on next year.
Well, if that excellent write-up (of, yes, a super event) does not sell it for next year, then nothing will. Full credit to the author. Who was it? PS The Brothers of Swing were no bother at all, they were a truly wonderful duo. Would they travel to Cardiff?