Thirty years ago the Grand Hotel in Apache Junction warmly greeted Ronald Regan as he arrived to spent the night after each day’s filming session of Death Valley Days. It did the same on many other evenings for John Wayne, Audie Murphy and Richard Boone, “Paladin” of Have Gun Will Travel, along with many other stars and celebrities. A room on the second floor was home to Elvis Presely during the filming of El Charo.  

On April 24-26, The Grand Hotel was again the perfect host to a special group: all who attended the District 3 Toastmasters 1998 Spring Conference.  

The star studded history of the Grand easily became the underlying Conference theme. Session rooms were named after past stars. The Friday night improv’ dubbed “Extravaganza on Hollywood” by chairman Ron McCollar and co-chair Jan Barstad of Dobson Ranch, included screen tests, celebrity costumes and karaoke contests. 

The room once occupied by Elvis became the Red Hot Mama’s room (a.k.a: Jean Riggs, DTM, International Director). 
  

Communication &   Leadership Award   recipientJerry Traylor  visits with past District  Governors Mike DiCerbo,  DTM, and Jim Davis, DTM.

And where would you expect to discover hospitality any more cordial than in the Mae West room.   It was GRAND.   The three day event was attended by approximately 175 Toastmasters and their guests representing over 100 of the District’s 135 clubs. District 3 Governor Nancy Starr, DTM, said she was pleased with the presence

“We were very fortunate,” said Educational Lt. Governor Jodie Kay Petra, DTM, “ to have found a hotel that offered affordable prices during high-peak season, food that was worth the money, and was flexible enough to allow us to have multiple educational sessions occurring simultaneously.”  

Highlights of the Conference included the International Speech Contest, Evaluation Contest, presentation of the Communication and Leadership Award, a Youth Leadership Showcase, announcement of the Club Newsletter Contest winners, educational and membership recognition awards and the election of District 3’s 1998-99 Officers.  

“The Conference was attended by two special guests: International Director Jean Riggs, DTM, and Past International Director, Ron Harger, DTM. Both participated in providing Educational Sessions.  

We salute the Boy Scouts too! This was the first year for a Scout Troop to post the colors, lead the pledge, and deliver the invocation.  

Officers elected  District 3’s leadership, elected by the Executive Council (club Presidents, Educational VP's, and Area and Division Governors), for 1998-99 were: Jodie Kay Petra, DTM, District Governor, Kelli McDoulett, DTM, Lt. Governor Education & Training, and Janice Winscot, ATM, Lt. Governor Marketing.   District Governor Nancy Starr, DTM, automatically continues into the 1998-98 term as the Immediate Past District Governor, an official office requiring no election.

Clockwise: Jodie Kay Petra,    Kelli McDoulett, Nancy   Starr, Janice Winscot

Participating in the contest were:  
Papago #2694  
Papago’s Morning Line  
Editor,  Cal Bonefield  

Above & Beyond #9096  
Take Flight  
Editor, Connie Osterlitz  

Voice of Motorola #2083 TheSqueak 
Editor, Arnold Slain  

Conquistador #5858 Conquistador Vencedor 
Editor, Barbara Crowe  

Apache Division 
Apache Aurora  
Editor, Barbara Crowe  

Smile High #7860 
The Smile High Toastmaster 
Editor, Cynthia Vann   

NW Casas Adobes #5417 Casas Chronicle 
Editor, Judy Norris   

All American #5240 
All American 
Editor, Annon.   

Granada #1772 •  
Granada Grapevine  
Editor, Ramon Valencia  

Aztec #2531 
Aztec Tattler  
Editor, Floyd Negley   

Chasemasters #3083 Informant 
Editor, Gejalisia Hinson   

Speakwell Honeywell#3569 Speaker’s Well  
Editor, Brian Cavanaugh   

Leaders Plus #1853  
Success Notes 
Editor, Roy Blomquist   

Foothills #1874  
Foothills 
Editor, Anita Hull   
 

The Winning Newsletters  1st Place: Take Flight Above & Beyond  Ed., Connie Osterlitz 2nd Place: Casa Chronicles N.W. Casa Adobes Ed., Judy Norris  2nd Place: Speaker's Well, Speakwell Honeywell Ed., Brian Cavanaugh  3rd Place: Leaders Success Notes, Leaders Plus Ed., Annette Verna   Honorable Mentions:  4th: Smile High, Smile High Ed., Cynthia Vann  5th: Conquistador Vencedor Conquistador  Ed., Barbara Crowe