"Helping YOU Take Center Stage"!

"Soccer is the opera of the people." Lady Scorpions 3-2 Win! Sabrina scored one of the three goals. Right now the L. Scorpions are currently in first place and if we win next week - we could be going on to Pingree! I am not able to make the game next weekend as I will be traveling to Moncton, Canada on Wednesday June 3rd until Sunday June 7th for the Toastmasters Region Vii Conference. As the incoming District 31 Governor I will be training for my new office. Of course my heart will be with the players as they work together as a team for a final win of the spring soccer season. Next week are the travel tryouts too. I am hoping Sabrina moves up in her division - which will probably mean I won;t be the head coach. GO LADY SCORPIONS!

"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome". Booker T. Washington Here it is my final Educational Award Contest - created to motivate my members in District 31 to earn the last of the 51 Competent Communicators (CC's) that our District needs to make the Educational Goal and hopefully Distinguished status for the sixth (6th) year in a row! With five weeks left in the 2008-2009 Toastmasters Year we certainly can make! Here is the link to how our District 31 is doing and what we need to do to make our goals. http://reports.toastmasters.org/reports_new/DistinguishedDetailReport.cfm?secondTime=1&d=31+&thisYear=2008-2009&thisMonth=5&thisDate=2009-05-29%2000:00:00.0&btnSubmitGo=+Go + It has been an honor to serve as the 2008-2009 Lt. Governor of Education & Training (LGET)! I am really looking forward to leading and serving the district as the incoming 2009 - 2010 Distric...

http://www.emerson.edu/news/upload/Fall_08_Expression_web.pdf Expression ... the Magazine for Alumni and Friends of Emerson College is published three times a year by the Office of Public Affairs, in conjunction with the Department of Institutional Advancement and the Office of Alumni Relations. The issues can be downloaded and viewed in PDF format using Adobe Reader . It has been released online - the Fall 2008 Emerson Expression Magazine - Page 40 Profile Read my story - Page 40 http://www.emerson.edu/news/upload/Fall_08_Expression_web.pdf Growing Up Fast: Raised without parents, Sherri Raftery ’09 overcame every hurdle. ---------- Emerson College http://www.emerson.edu/ Emerson College is a private university in Boston , Massachusetts that focuses on the communication arts. [1] Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of oratory," in Boston, Emerson's main campus is located on the southeast corner of the Boston Common , i...

Wednesday May 27, 2009 Seaport World Trade Center200 Seaport BoulevardBoston, MA I recieved an invitation along with a guest to attend THE HOME's 2009 Voices & Visions Annual Gala at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston . Last year 2008 - I was one of the Honoree's. I am honored to be invited back and am looking forward to meeting this years Honorees. The Home for Little Wanderers invites you to celebrate the imaginative spirit of our children at Voices & Visions 2009, our signature fundraising event. This unique gala is the culmination of a year-long arts project throughout our many programs and features work by some of our youngest children. The theme of this year's event is Massachusetts Landscapes with a spotlight on the community, sports, cuisine, and politics of our state. In addition to the exhibit, highlights of this special evening include a cocktail reception, silent auction, dinner, program, and recognition of a special honoree. Voices & Vis...

PHOTO: Sherri & Ben! Meet Ben (Bennett) Lappen! He is the incoming 2009-2010 District 31 Lt. Governor of Marketing and I could not be more proud! Ben was not on the nomination report even though he met with the committee - he had to run from the floor. AND gave a speech with humor, pride, conviction and enthusism and those certainly helped him win. What more could I ask for !? Ben is young, eager, energenic and ready to get started - like YESTERDAY!. We started off as Area Governors together in 2006 - calling ourselves "Partners in Crime" cuz we volunteered to assist in the Prison Clubs. Then I moved up to LGM and he helped on my Marketing Committee as a Division E DEMO Team Leader and assisted me the Dues Are Dues, TLI's and other projects! Ben is currently serving as the Division E Governor and his numbers are looking great so far he has two Presidents Distinguished Clubs, four Select Distinguished and two Distinguished - Go Ben! Check it out for your self! http://...

One of my FAVORITE moments in the business meeting - but I had sooo many (even during the entire conference - and I'll share them soon!) Photo: LGET, Sherri Raftery, DTM - soon to be DG with LGM, Bil Lewis, DTM - soon to be LGET and Division E Governor, Ben Lappen (hard to see him!) soon to be LGM and PID, PDG, Current D31 Governor, Bash Turay, DTM - installating the officers! Bil and I are saying with saying - WE DID IT !! We are going to lead the District as the TOP TWO ranking Officers in District 31 and we are VERY HONORED!! PHOTO: Meet my Incoming TEAM! Sherri Raftery DG, Bil Lewis, LGET, Ben Lappen, LGM and soon to be Immediate Past District Governor, Bash Turay who will be on hand to help mentor us, guide us, inspire us just as he has done since February 2009!! PHOTO: Parade of Banners Ceremony - YES - I Carried the District 31 Banner! It was just a few short years ago when I was the Parade of Banners Coordinator - who would have predicted that I WOULD CARRY the district f...

It is OFFICICAL! I am the 2009-2010 District 31 Governor Elect - with ONE VOTE from the Sectretary - which means no one ran against me from the floor! I am VERY happy with my ONE VOTE!! Photo: Past International Region Vii Director, Past District 31 Governor, Howard Riverson, DTM D31 Governor Elect, Sherri Raftery, DTM, current D31 Lt. Governor of Marketing and newly elected Lt. Governor of Education & Training, Bil Lewis, DTM (son of PDG, Bettye Underhille). Giving my accepatance Speech - yah I did cry -- but who wouldn;t with a standing ovation that seems to last a VERY l o n g time - it was as if everyone wanted this MORE than I did - (Is that possible?)!! Presenting my LGET Report

This just came into my email box and wanted to share the exciting news. I have been announced as MOTHER OF THE YEAR! Almost as good as being elected the 2009-2010 District 31 Governor yesterday during my spring 2009 Conference Business Meeting!! Of course I will post more on that when my photos come in. Dear Sherri, Your friend Esther Paris sent you the following video from CNNBC: "Sherri Raftery Announced as 2009 Mother of the Year." Watch it here: http://news.cnnbcvideo.com/?nid=z_DgSJGv6gJIVnDCfhDITzEzODgzMjUy&referred_by=16579076-KUFymbx&p=moveon Thank you Esther - this certainly helped to bring a smile to end my Mother's Day!

District 31 Spring Conference - Sat May 9, 2009!! Communication & Leadership Awardee Paula Lyons, M. Ed. Keynote Speaker, 2001 WCPS, Darren LaCroix Promo Video from Darren LaCroix http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKlobzBaUNg http://www.district31.org/SPRING2009-Conference.htm D31 Sping 2009 Conference Agenda http://www.district31.org/2009-SpringConf/VisualSched-Apr29.pdf As the D31 Lt. Governor of Education & Training it is my responsibility to plan both the fall and spring conferences for the 2008-2009 Toastmaster Year. On Saturday May 9, 2009 at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel and Trade Center - 181 Boston Post Road WestMarlborough, MA 01752 (508) 460-0700 District 31 Toastmasters is hosting our Spring 2009 Conference! D31 Online Registration http://www.district31.org/SpringConferenceRegistration.htm I am so thrilled that we have our 2001 World Champion of Public Speaking, Darren LaCroix as our Keynote Speaker who will speak in the morning about Mentoring in the Ball Ro...

“ Take your victories, whatever they may be, cherish them, use them, but don't settle for them. ” Mia Hamm ( American female Soccer Player . b. 1972 ) Photo : Sabrina Raftery, Lady Scorpions Soccer Team - Favorite Position - Sweeper! ANOTHER Victory for the Lady Scorpion's Team on Saturday May 2, 2009! We won 4 - 2 and my daughter Sabrina scored three of those goals! Of course it was ALL a team effort but I must admit - I am VERY proud when I see how aggressive she can be on the field! We will not be able to attend the soccer practices this coming week or the game on Saturday May9th - because I am the Lt. Governor of Education & Training for District 31 Toastmasters and I have been busy planning and will be hosting the D31 Spring 2009 Conference. I am also running for the District 31 Governor seat. I wish the Lady Scorpions Luck and hope they bring us another victory and WIN the game. I am also praying that I too have a Victory for this most coverted seat in the District. ...