"Helping YOU Take Center Stage"!

“Every student can learn, just not on the same day, or the same way”. George Evans As with MANY other parents and adults who are assisting their children/students with getting ready for the 2008-2009 academic year - I am running around getting all the necessary items and school supplies for Sabrina to begin fifth grade. I think I have just about everything on the St. Pius V. list and I am sure there will be a few more things to add throughout the year. Sabrina has three plaid jumpers hanging in her closet and I don’t plan on buying ANYMORE! Believe me she will be eager to hand them off to someone else by June 2009! Then next year she will finally wear the middle school uniform (6th-8th grade) - grey skirt, white button down collar and blue vest. This will be the first year Sabrina will be upstairs with the upperclassman. I couldn’t be happier with the decision I made in December 2003 when I met with the Principal, Mr. Maestranzi to send her to St. Pius V. in January 2004. http:...

“Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Cares strives to build close, sustainable relationships with its non-profit partners. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Cares is committed to providing financial support and in-kind resources to housing-related causes in the communities where Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage New England is present. Financial assistance is achieved through the production of successful and fun events as well as annual gift drives” http://www.newenglandmoves.com/cbrbCares/events.nem Just before I left for Calgary to attend the Toastmasters 2008 Convention I received an email request from Scott Inman from THE HOME for Little Wanderers asking if I would be “willing to work with The Home and Coldwell Banker Residential Cares to be on the tribute video that would be shooting in September” for the 2008 “Spirit of Home” Awards Gala. YES - OF COURSE I WILL!! Yesterday I got an another invite from Scott asking if I would like to attend the 2008 Spirit of Home ...

“You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen”. Paulo Coelho Today I received some “unexpected news” and I was not really prepared for it. Although, I had been aware that some of our hours where I work were being cut. I really did think that MY HOURS were being cut. I just got back from Calgary and found out that I am still employed but I won’t be able to swing my car loan, Sabrina’s school loan, rent and whole bunch of other bills and other unexpected expenses that creep upon me each month. Last week my friend Sheila shared that her paycheck was being cut by 30% and a month ago my good friend Debbie told me that “out of the blue” she was being layed off. I was thinking about how lucky I was to not be in their shoes. But I am now… I got that hurt feeling I get when I hear bad or sad news and of coursed I cried a little but then I smiled and said to myself (or out loud) – “WHAT AM I WAITING FOR”? I really want to...

With Michael's Permission I am posting this e-mail note here! Thanks Michael for sharing! In a message dated 8/23/2008 1:12:14 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, michael@youcanpresent.com writes: Love your post! Being a coach, teacher, manager, leader, even training a dog... all pretty much the same. Leading means setting boundaries and having the guts to declare things "unacceptable". I have always held believed that word to one of much power... "unacceptable", I will not accept that type of behavior. I will not accept it this time. I will not accept it because it is a special occasion. I will accept it because you are felling down or had a bad day. I will accept it three times before I set down my foot. UNACCEPTABLE. It reminds me of my days as a Sergeant in the US Marine Corps. Coming to your superior beforehand was a request for help. It was recognizing that you were struggling to meet the standard or required action at the required time or deadline....

“A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader, a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves” Thanks to my “POWER HOUSES” in RHODE ISLAND; Ed Skurka, Esther Paris, Dick Karon (who couldn;t attend the training but is an Area Governor), today was our District 31 Toastmasters Leadership Institute (TLI) Club Officer Training at the Cumberland Library in Rhode Island. Thank you trainers Merrill Winoker did Pres training, Jan Wheeler did VP/E, Valerie McLaughlin did VP/PR, Tom Nyzio did VP/M and McCloughlin today was our District 31 Toastmasters Leadership Institute (TLI) Club Officer Training at the Cumberland Library in Rhode Island. I brought my “Excellence in Marketing” award that Immediate Past International President, (IPIP) Chris Ford, DTM presented to me in my hand along with a big hug at the Hall of Fame on the BIG STAGE. I thanked all the members there because they were very instrumental in assisting with paying their membership dues. Some of ...

“Domestic violence does not only happen to adults. Forty percent of girls age 14 to 17 report knowing someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend, and approximately one in five female high school students reports being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner.” Dianne Feinstein quotes (American Senator, b.1933) I got the below invite today and I gladly accepted the chance to speak from a medical student who is organizing "Worcester: The Bigger Picture". Turns out the student heard my radio interview on WBUR - 90.9 Boston NPR News Station !! http://www.wbur.org/news/2008/79443_20080818.asp ----- Dear Ms. Raftery, I am a second-year medical student at UMass Medical School in Worcester. This year I am co-leading an optional enrichment elective for first and second year med students and nursing students called "Worcester: The Bigger Picture." One of the classes is going to be about domestic violence but we are still looking for a speaker. I...

Friends we are just packing up from our short trip to IDAHO!! We spent Sunday thru today in IDAHO! One nite with Bil's brother Sandi, a nite out on the TWIN LAKE where Bil's grandfather built a cabin and they own lots of land. Sabrina enjoyed tubbing and we took a boat ride up the channel. We headed back to Bil's brother Sandi's and Sabrina rode Molly the horse last nite and today. I just took a quick ride and now we are all packed and heading to the Spokane Airport - to fly on the RED EYE - back to BOSTON! It was a fun trip to Calgary Canada and Idaho. I am looking forward to getting back home and seeing our cat Shane. I will post about the Toastmasters Convention. I may be changing my BLOG over to Type Pad soon. UNTIL I get home YIPPPPY!! WOO HOOO!! YEE HAW!!

Breaking the Ice - The Story of, Helen Blanchard, DTM, the First Woman President of Toastmasters International. "Looking back at my life experiences, a common thread seems to be woven in the tapestry of my years. From my Nebraska school teaching days, to success in Federal Service, then attaining the highest office in Toastmasters, I accepted challenges that made me reach far beyond my comfort zone, time and again". "...I credit Toastmasters for training that gave me the confidence and communication skills to pursue the opportunities that came my way". ..."Toastmasters gave me the knowledge...Ultimately, my ability to share this knowledge earned me recognition and more opportunities". Helen Blanchard Pg. 219 Breaking the Ice Buy the book http://www.helenblanchard.com/book.shtml www.HelenBlanchard.com www.toastmasters.org WOW - I am soooo excited to have a signed copy of Helen's book Breaking the Ice - This was a MUST DO at the 2008 Calgary Convention ...

Hey folks - I was interviewed on WBUR - 90.9 Boston's NPR News Radio Station a few weeks ago and it aired last thursday. Here are some of the emails that I have been getting! Here is the link http://www.wbur.org/news/2008/79443_20080818.asp ----- Hi Sherry, The piece on domestic violence aired this morning on Morning Edition. Here’s a link to our website if you missed it: http://www.wbur.org/news/2008/79443_20080818.asp. Bob really enjoyed the interview with you. We’re really impressed with how far you’ve come. Surely you’ll provide inspiration for others struggling with domestic violence who will have heard your story this morning. I hope the Toastmasters Conference in Calgary went well! Best wishes in the future. Thanks for everything, Sarah _________________________ Sarah Bush Field Producer, Morning Edition WBUR-FM (90.9) -- Boston's NPR News Station 617-353-0171 (office) 617-353-4747 (fax) sbush@wbur.bu.edu ------------- Sherri, We can't thank you enough fo...

Friends - I have SOOO much to report about my trip to Calgary and I promise I will - especially since I KNOW people are reading it - and I met some of you at the Toastmasters International Convention who told me you do!! AND THANK YOU!! BUT right now I am eagerly awaiting for Sabrina's flight to land in Portland Oregon on Alsaka Air that is currently 36400 feet and about to land - that left from Boston an hour late today and managed to gain time in the air and land a minute earlier that scheduled. This is her first flight unaccompanied by me and she still has another connecting flight from Oregon to Spokane Washington - where I will meet her at the airport - PROUD MOM!! This morning I left the Hyatt in Calgary and drove for seven hours in a 1995 Power Stroke - F250 Ford Pick Up with a LOUD engine and bug guts splattered on the wind shield - talk about culture shock - I am now on a farm with two dogs, three cats and seven horses - more on all of this and the wonder time I had rec...

"The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people halfway" Henry Boye Well, one thing I can say about Toastmasters is that it is helping me learn how to TRAVEL and there is a LOT to know about TRAVELING!! Beginning with learning about my own little state of Massachusetts and finding cities and towns that I have never even heard of! But I am not only learning how to read a map or following connecting routes on the automobile road, in addition I am also learning how to travel on airplanes taking trips outside of my own state. There are many things to consider when you are going to travel. Let’s begin with booking the flight. HMMM – so far I think the price is what I consider when flying. I had a flight booked with Continental Airlines leaving this morning August 8, 2008 at 7:00AM flight to Houston Texas and a connecting flight from Houston to Calgary for 11:00 am. Now just because I have this flight booked and paid for does NOT absolutely guarantee that I wi...

“To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage” Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes (American Poet, Lecturer and Essayist, 1803-1882) Here it is - my NEW Website - Launched Today! www.findyourplatform.com I bought this domain name last year at the August 2007 Get Paid to Speak Champ Camp -it was one of my 10 goals that I wanted to complete. http://www.worldchampslive.com/champcamp-getpaid.html It didn;t take a YEAR to create it - it took a year to believe I COULD make it happen - so I may be slow - but at least when I go to Champ Camp this year on Saturday August 9th - Monday August 11th - I can feel great about KNOWING that I made a deadline - and I won;t be sitting there saying - "I WISH I..." Well, at least I won;t be saying that about my website but I may be saying it about "asking for a fee"... (but that is another post!). ANY and ALL feedback is welcomed - I need to work on the colors - I can finally say - "DONE IS BETTER THAN PERFECT...