Three months to go until TEDxTryon returns to the Tryon Fine Arts Center, and the prepping and planning is really starting to pay off. Speakers are moving into the final selection stage and are anticipating being paired with their coaches.

Entertainer applications are still being received and will be evaluated soon. Key personnel positions have been filled. Sponsors are signing on. Food, venue, design and day-of-event details are being studied and tweaked. Volunteer opportunities are appearing daily.

The goal: To keep TEDxTryon thriving and to establish itself as a much anticipated annual celebration of what makes our community special.

Last year TEDxTryon was novel. The hype was huge. Expectations were high. There was a lot of pressure to make it succeed. But organizers Corrie and Loti Woods marshaled an army of volunteers and plunged in. And obviously, it worked. It worked so well, that TED is examining a TEDxRural concept. Although still in the incubation stage, it recognizes that “great ideas worth spreading” can sprout in out of the way places.

So, with one event under our belt and much of the groundwork laid, we are able to concentrate on refining the process. This year’s co-organizers, Arlene Cassidy and Lisa McAlpine, welcomed back many returning volunteers as well as several new faces to the TEDxTryon Core Team.

Beth Brand returned as speaker selection lead. Donna Donnelly returned as speaker coaching lead. Cinda Austin will once again be our food coordinator, and Susan Johann will manage backstage as technical director. New faces include: Becky Collins, assuming our volunteer coordinator position, and Chris Tinkler as event director.

“I’m confident that our stage will feature another group of exciting, thought-provoking speakers and outstanding entertainers,” said Arlene Cassidy. “We have assembled a fabulously dedicated, can-do team. In short, TEDxTryon 2016 will rock!” Watch for announcements for our ticket release date in early August.

TED is a platform for ideas worth spreading. Started in 1984 as a conference where technology, entertainment and design converged, TED today shares ideas from a broad spectrum—from science to business to global issues—in more than 100 languages.

Independently licensed TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world. TEDxTryon is a locally organized event and is especially supported by the Arts and Education committee of Tryon Fine Arts Center.

– Arlene Cassidy