"Helping YOU Take Center Stage"!

"All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players" William Shakespeare (from As You Like It 2/7) So what do you think of this new Blog look? I am looking for a theme and a new design to my website - www.findyourplatform.com - The stage logo is something I borrowed from Igroops President Ryan Levesques Blog "Stage Time". I posted it on my Igroops webpage back in June 2007 and I promised I would be using and so here it is! I realize it is not unique - but being an Emerson Theatre graduate, I think it fits me - just right! Let me know what you think? ---- All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. At first the infant, Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms. And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school. And then the lover, Sighing like...

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepip08/pip08idx.htm 2008 Statewide Ballot Questions ------- On Tuesday Novemeber 4, 2008 we will be heading out to the polls to vote for our next President and Vice President and who ever wins I do hope they can lead this country into a new direction!! Here in Massachusetts many groups are urging voters to VOTE NO on Question One! As a volunteer Special Education Surrogate Parent I am voting NO. As a survivor of domestic abuse I am voting NO - because without the many support services that were offered to me - I would not have been able to break free with my new born (who will turn 11 on Nov 14th). I ask you to PLEASE VOTE NO and keep the many services that the state of Massachusetts provides to the many needed programs for children and adults across the state. How about you - what do you believe in? What do you stand for? Are you helping to make a difference? VOTE NO ON QUESTION # 1 !!! ---- Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Childr...

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” Roger Caras Ahhwwwaa - Look at my friend Imelda (Mels) Rocha's new best friend Bruno Rocha! Mels is starting to share her "puppy tails" about Bruno who is about the size of our cat Shane. I promised Sabrina we would get a dog when we get a house - {hmmm not sure when that will ever be}... More about my buddy Mels from Region Vii - District 36 soon!

Monday, August 20, 2007 Episode #4 - International Convention Wrap-Up Missed the International Convention? Talking Toastmasters has the inside scoop! http://talkingtoastmasters.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html THIS INTERVIEW WAS FROM 2007 Episode #4 - In today's episode, Bo (who attended the International Convention) and Ryan (who did not) speak with fellow Toastmaster from District 31, Sherri Raftery (who incidently also attended the convention...and yes, she is the same Sherri I mentioned in the blog post below!) We talk about the International speech contest (Yea Vikas!), meeting Toastmasters from around the world, being "juicy", the differences between the International Convention and district/regional conferences, the hot and steamy climate in Phoenix, AZ...and we get a little too much information about the apparently hot and steamy dance floor at the dinner dance! (insert shocked smiley face emoticon here) Listen now! Send your feedback to TalkingToastmasters...

"What does it take to plan a district conference? What are some of the things that go on at district conferences"? "Be prepared to be educated and entertained". Episode #44: Interview with Sherri Raftery on Planning a District Conference I got a call from Bo Bennett creater of the Free Toast Host and the Igroops and Ryan Levesque, Igroops President asking if I would like to be interviewed on the "Talking Toastmasters" Podcast in about five minutes to discuss planning a District Conference (since I am the 2008-2009 Lt. Governor of Education and Training). WELL OF COURSE I WOULD!! Last time I was interviewed by the Talking Toastmasters Partners was August 2007 after we attended the Toastmasters International Convention in Phoenix. "Public Speaking" iGrOOp link 2008-Nov-12: http://www.talkingtoastmasters.com/igroops/publicspeaking/cal/VIEW+2008+Nov+12 Listen to the interview http://www.talkingtoastmasters.com/members/publicspeaking/blog/VIEW/00000...

"Seek-A-Speaker" is a tremendously fabulous tool in helping us reach our goals and challenge ourselves while providing a wonderful opportunity to network and meet other fellow Toastmasters"! "It was a remarkable experience for me". Margo McCole As 2008-2009 Lt. Governor of Education and Training I launched the "Seek-A-Speaker" Program here in District 31 which covers the Eastern Massachusetts all the way up to the North Shore of Boston and down to the South Shore and across to Worcester and includes the entire State of Rhode Island. We have about 151 Clubs and 3,000 plus members. What is it? It gives speakers a chance to speak at other clubs and it gives clubs a chance to have others speakers speak at their meetings. "I benefited so much from the feedback I received last night from the Leading Speakers Club (Advanced/ Saugus, MA)". Margo McCole I have a "Seek-a-Speaker" Coordinator, Sheila Sullivan and she is very busy trying to m...

"The coals burn from your belly, flames rise from your top, and peek out of uncovered openings, that spread your light, and shine across the rapid waters, sending warmth, and guiding me home, during the storm, I can’t see, but I’m not lost, keeping me safe, flicker of rays, through the frost, like a child under the covers, with a night light"! By Sherri Raftery ---- "You are a lighthouse, there you remain, you are quite, yet audible. You are visible and strong, uou guide, you light, you never sleep, not even at night. Except for your rays, which shine through, giving power to see, giving direction to find the way, you’re a sundial in the darkness, in the storm, in the rain, bursting your light quietly, giving hope, to the helpless you’re a hero in the night, expelling your light!! By, Sherri Raftery Lighthouses are a passion of mine. I have a friend Brian who sends me photos of lighthouses that he visits during his travels at sea. Someday I will visit them too and take ...

"...we must fight to bring domestic violence out of the darkness of isolation and into the light of justice...." -- Sen. Barack Obama NOW and Violence Against Women http://www.now.org/issues/violence/ "October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and it is time to put a stop to violence against women. You can be part of the solution by supporting those who will work to bring hope for women". "We'll stop treating this as just a woman's issue, and start recognizing that when a woman is attacked, that abuse scars not only the victim, but her loved ones, sending currents of violence that ripples across our society." -- Sen. Barack Obama Vote Hope. Spread Hope. Give Hope. ------ In October 1997, while pregnant with Sabrina I stayed in a "safe house" - Help for Abused Woman and their Children Shelter - H.A.W.C. http://www.helpabusedwomen.org/ I am thankful I got out and now I speak out. After hearing my interview in August 2009 on WBUR - 90.9...

break a leg = ¡suerte!, ¡buena suerte! Ex: The theatrical tradition of telling an actor about to go on stage to 'break a leg', may have its origin in a German phrase borrowed from Hebrew. OUCH - look at my Toastmaster buddy Robert Stefanik who was the 2007-2008 District 31Public Relations Officer and is the 2008-2009 District 31 Speaker Bureau Coordinator. He actually broke both ankles but I will spare you the details. Being involved in Theatre we always say "Break-A-Leg" - but I try not to use that term too much because I know first hand (or should I say foot) what breaking a leg "REALLY" feels like. It was the summer I graduated high school and I was working the at a parks and recreations department - I was learning an outdoor activity on the bright green lawn and I tripped in a hole - off in an ambulance I rode and spent my entire summer in a blue cast while hobbling around with crutches...OUCH is right! Robert, I feel for you - get back on your feet soo...

"Be The Change You Want To See" 2008 - 2009 District Theme Karin Von Känel, ACB, ALS, District Governor I attended the District 53 Toastmasters Conference which serves Clubs in Connecticut, Eastern New York, and Western Massachusetts which is my neighboring District as District 31 serves the Eastern Massachusetts and entire state of Rhode Island. I would love to share that D53 knows how to "PUT ON A GREAT SHOW"!! It was my second time attending a D53's Conference and I was as equally impressed with this one! I even volunteered to help with the Friday "Discover the Talent Within You" Fun Night and as a Speaker Introducer for Jay Discount. And to my complete surprise and I DO MEAN SURPRISE - I was awarded a $25.00 gift certificate to the Toastmasters International Bookstore for the "CLUB PRIDE" award for clubs outside of D53. THANKS D53 this certificate will certainly come in handy when we head to the 2009 International Convention in Connectic...

"But regardless of whose fault it is, most politicians today are not human beings. You want to pry open their mouths and shout into the darkness, 'Hello! Is there a human being in there?' Buried under all that lust for office, all that fear of offending a contributor? I know there must be." Charley Reese ("Conservative Chronicle", 8 September 1993, p. 17) I just got this email and thought I would post here on my BLOG - All thoughts are welcome. What are YOUR views? This is an article written by Charley Reese, a former columnist for the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper. "545 PEOPLE" By Charley Reese http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18568.htm Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them. Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits? Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we ha...

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it". Helen Keller I am sooo excited to see my Nebraskan friend Charlotte Endorf's Unsung Neighbors Website launched! I highly recommend our mutual Webmaster Frank Storey he will give you more than you expected!! Frankstorey@cablespeed.com I met Charlotte through an another Toastmaster who mentioned her book Plains Bound Fraigil Cargo about the Orphan Train Movement. The Home for Little Wanderers was part of the Orphan Train Movement as well. I was invited by Charlotte to speak at the 2008 Orphan Train Celebration in Fremont, Nebraska. We are now linked through our websites! http://unsungneighbors.com/Toastmasters.htm Are you linked to other people's websites? -------- Webmaster http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&defl=en&q=define:Webmaster&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title The individual assigned to administering a corporation or organization's...

History of the Essex Agricultural Society - 188 Years of Agriculture and Education http://www.topsfieldfair.org/ “The colorful and often exciting history of Topsfield Fair began in 1818 when the Essex Agricultural Society, the non-profit organization that owns the Topsfield Fair, was officially granted a charter on June 12th of that year”. “The goal of the fledgling Society, formed by a group of "practical farmers" who first met on February 16, 1818, was "to promote and improve the agricultural interests of farmers and others in Essex County."” “Topsfield Fairgrounds sits on the former Treadwell Farm property. Dr. John Goodhue Treadwell of Salem bequeathed the farm to the Agricultural Society in 1858 for the "promotion of the science of agriculture."” Learn more here – this link http://www.topsfieldfair.org/fair%20history.htm On Thursday 9th I was one of seven other chaperone parents to take the St. Pius V. School Fifth Graders to the Topsfield Fair in To...

http://www.thehome.org/site/PageServer?pagename=events_holiday 2008 Holiday Events November 25 - December 23, 2008 Help The Home for Little Wanderers provide gifts for the thousands of children and families in our care by participating in our "Big Wishes for Little Wanderers" gift drive. November 25 - December 17, 2008 Our “Big Stars for Little Wanderers” online auction has been a great addition to The Home’s holiday fundraising activities, giving bidders a chance to have fun while raising money for The Home. In fact, over the past three years we have raised more than $100,000! We’re reaching out to the local community to help us make our 4th annual auction the most exciting yet. Items that tend to generate the most interest include: • Weekend getaways that include meals and lodging • Gift cards to stores (often offered along with a “personal shopping experience”) • Tickets to local sporting events or any “family” experiences • Dinners, meetings or tours with celebrities o...

http://www.thehome.org/site/PageServer?pagename=give_corporate_corp_cards Corporate Holiday Cards Share in The Home’s vision of a brighter future for every child by sending our holiday cards to your clients, colleagues or employees. The revenue earned from the cards raises both funds and awareness to help the many at-risk children and families that we serve. New for 2008 - orders can be placed online! Features and Description • Card size: 7" x 5" • Printed on heavy card stock (100lb) • Cards are $2.00 each; minimum order of 200 cards • Blank white envelopes included • Envelope size: 7.25" x 5.25" • Printed return address is an additional charge 2008 Card Designs How to order: 1. Card Selection. Choose the holiday card design that you wish to send. Each card features original artwork of a child served by The Home for Little Wanderers. 2. Card Personalization. Create a holiday message from your company to be printed on the inside of the card in black ink. See online ...