"Helping YOU Take Center Stage"!

Take Center Stage! www.district31.org If you don;t like change, you're going to like irrelevance a lot less". Tom Feltenstein This book Change is Good ... was a gift given to me (and all current District Governors) by a candidate from the 2009 Toastmasters International Convention. I appreciate receiving it and I enjoyed reading it. It has many great quotes! I recommend it to leaders. I especially like the cover because of my theme for District 31 this 2009-2010 Toastmaster's year " Take Center Stage"! 21 Ways to Inspire Change by Mac Anderson and Tom Feltenstein This business gift book takes a step-by-step approach to inspiring change in any organization and is a must read for every manager in your company. Best selling author Mac Anderson and successful marketing consultant Tom Feltenstein join forces to share their expertise on how to get your staff to embrace new ideas and organizational shifts. Give every manager useful ideas for getting their team on boa...

Great news, I'm the boss! I consider that a sacred responsibility. I'm going to make sure everything goes well around here. I'm going to help you get a bunch of work done very well, very fast, all day long. I'm going to set you up for success every step of the way. When you need something, I'm going to help you find it. When you want something, I'm going to help you earn it". Bruce Tulgan, P. 186 It's Ok to be the Boss. http://www.amazon.com/Its-Okay-Boss-Step-Step/dp/0061121363 In his recent best-selling book, IT'S OKAY TO BE THE BOSS , Bruce Tulgan puts his finger on the biggest problem in the workplace today--an undermanagement epidemic affecting managers at all levels of the organization and in all industries--and offers another way. His clear, step-by-step guide to becoming the strong manager employees need challenges bosses everywhere to: spell out expectations, tell employees exactly what to do and how to do it, monitor and measure perform...

https://sa2.www4.irs.gov/modiein/individual/legal-structure.jsp   Starting a Business Most businesses start out small. As a new business owner you need to know your federal tax responsibilities. This page provides links to basic federal tax information for people who are starting a business. It also provides information to assist in making basic business decisions. The list should not be construed as all-inclusive. Other steps may be appropriate for your specific type of business. =============== I filed for an Employee Identification Number (EIN) today. I am slowly beginning the steps to building my own public speaking business. I am also in training and will be working for James Feudo teaching public speaking courses. I first met Jeff via the internet through the Public Speaking Igroops Internet Forums. http://www.igroops.com/ I finally met James in person a few months ago at the Framingham & Natick Toastmasters Club's 30th Anniversary meeting. We spoke after...

"As a resident and client of THE HOME for Little Wanderers in the 1970's, I was placed into several different foster homes while I was growing up, due to my parents inability to care and provide for my siblings and me". "At one point I was ALMOST adopted by one family in particular, but then I was removed, which is not uncommon for a foster child. I always wondered what it would have been like to adopted and to have lived with the same family, on the same street, in the same town, in the same HOME". "Although I will never know what that is like there are so many children who still need a HOME" . Sherri Raftery, M. Ed., Resident and Client 1978 - 1989, The Home Honoree 2008. Consider adopting a child(ren) today - contact THE HOME. http://www.thehome.org/ The imposing facade of the New England Home for Little Wanderers in 1914. http://www.thehome.org/ The Home for Little Wanderers is a nationally renowned, private, non-profit child and family servic...

TO LEAD IS TO SERVE, Dr. Ralph Smedley, Founder of Toastmasters! http://www.toastmasters.org/ I am thrilled to be a Toastmaster and I am thrilled to be a District Officer serving the Members, Clubs, Areas, Divisions and of course District 31. What I really love is when the members want to share their thoughts and words of praise. Here are a few kind words...and thank you to each of you for taking the time to write and send them to me. Keep Taking Center Stage! "Sherri, You could probably teach a class on how to get the most out of the Toastmaster program in one’s career and personal life. I am very impressed at how you are able to leverage your experience and skills and fit everything together". "I think all Toastmasters – including myself! – would be interested in a session on how to link what we learn in Toastmasters to additional career advancement". Daniel L. Pollard, DTM, TLI Dean, 2009-2010, Immediate Past Division C Governor Toastmasters, District 36 2008-2...

New York Fire Fighters raising the American Flag The BEAUTIFUL NEW YORK TWIN TOWERS President Bush in a classroom being told about the NEWS Lee Green Wood Yes - I remember - more importantly - HOW COULD I FORGET? I know exactly where I was and when I saw the planes flying into the New York Trade Center Twin Towers. My daughter was in preschool - I was working at the Salem YMCA. I still tear up in disbelief, shock and wonder...how could they? Why would they? God Bless the USA ---------------------- 9/11 God Bless the USA - Tribute A musical tribute to the people who died in the terrorist attacks on America on Septmeber 11, 2001 and to the emergency workers. All are true heroes. There's a hole in the NY skyline I wish they ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZIApwWq1AU&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7r-BvicJk0&feature=related 9/11 - Tribute September 11th, 2001 This is a video response to The Healing Power of Jesus Christ - Sculptures by Angela Johnson By...

YES - I AM A TWITTER MOM and a BLOGGER!! And today is a great deal for MOMS who TWITTER and BLOG - especially if you are a single MOM with a part-time job like me who loves a great deal and SAVINGS . I am a proud MOM of an 11-year-old TWEEN. And even though she attends a Catholic School and wears a uniform - she STILL needs to wear KWEL KLOTHES everyday. http://gapoutlet-twittermoms.com/ In fact, she wears more than one outfit each day - believe me I do enough laundry to PROVE THAT. Sabrina LOVES fashion and what better way to state KIDS FASHION than shopping at the GAP - especially when there are coupons, end of the season sales, other BONUSES. It is amazing to note that we have been shopping at the GAP throughout her childhood (ya that included age five) and I am happy to note that we are still shopping at the GAP! Gap Store Near YOU??? http://www.gap.com/customerService/storeLocator.do?tid=gopf030 Gap Outlet is running a blogging program with TwitterMoms. The first 50 people to p...

The Baltimore Sun - Light For All - Second Opinion Obama's health care speech to Congress - Andy Green - quoted below http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/2009/09/obamas_health_care_speech_to_c.html "It was shocking to hear the president -- any president -- heckled by a member of Congress during a joint session, and Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina later apologized for yelling "you lie" when Mr. Obama debunked the falsehood that the health reform plan would cover illegal immigrants. But that unplanned outburst is less telling than the planned vacation from reality taken during the GOP's response to the president's speech". "YOU LIE", Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina The Baltimore Sun - Light For All - Second Opinion Obama's health care speech to Congress - Andy Green http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/2009/09/obamas_health_care_speech_to_c.html ---------------- Thursday, 10 September 2009 15:37 UK Lawmaker sorry for ...

S with a six foot long Ticonderoga # 2 Pencil - photo taken by Bil Lewis, proud ower of the pencil. There she is my soooon to be SIXTH grader. On thursday September 10, 2009 S will begin Sixth Grade at St. Pius V. School in Lynn, MA http://www.stpiusvschool.org/ where she has been attending school since Grade K. She is wearing the plaid jumper, with matching neck tie, yellow Peter Pan collar or blue socks. Sabrina never wants to wear blue socks again! Tomorrow she will be wearing the grey skirt, white shirt, blue vest, grey socks with no tie! Ibet by the end of eighth grade she will no longer want to wear grey socks either! GOOD LUCK MY SOON TO BE SIXTH GRADER! Love MOM!! ---- PENCIL A narrow, generally cylindrical implement for writing, drawing, or marking, consisting of a thin rod of graphite, colored wax, or similar substance encased in wood or held in a mechanical holder. Something shaped or used like a pencil, especially a narrow medicated or cosmetic stick: an eye...

Top Tier - PIP, Bob Barhill (Jana's husband), Second VP, Mike Nataro and his guest, Tammy Miller, Third VP, John Lau and his guest, Sherri Raftery (ME), ID, Lee Holiday and another International Director (will get the name) - Second Tier - Lyle Applegate, Mohamed, ID Keith Ostergard, ID, Kim photo by Imedla Rocha Darnell, Carmelita DeLaCruise, Sherri Raftery, Imelda Rocha during the Speak Easy Film District 31 Governor, Sherri Raftery, DTM - guest of Third Vice President, John Lau, DTM and Escort, Helmut, C'Gary at the 2009 President's Dinner Dance Reception - photo by Rose Beeson District 31 Governor, Sherri Raftery with the S. Africa - Zambia Flag - 2009 Opening Ceremonies rehersal - Photo by Brian Lin District 31 Taking Center Stage with 2009 Second Place WCPS, Mary Cheyne! - photo by Don Saracen International Director, Mike Rafferty, District 31 Governor, Sherri Raftery with escort, Helmut C'Gary at the President;s Dinner Dance Reception - photo taken by ...

D31 Lt. Governor of Marketing, D31 District Governor, Sherri Raftery, DTM, 2005 WCPS, Lance Miller - photo by Imelda Rocha What an amazing 2009 Toastmasters International Convention !! I am posting some photos that friends have sent me along with some comments and the link to the Toastmasters International Photos from Jowdy - photographer Todd. I hope I am crediting everyone correctly. ------ Sherri: Meant to tell you when I spoke to you – the pictures from Jowdy are up and you are all over them!! I saw pictures of you at the business meeting casting a vote, posing with Gary at the bus meeting, with the Top 3 winners of the International Speech contest, dancing at the dinner dance, you and John walking into the dinner dance, etc.!!!! Take a look: http://store.jowdy.com/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=1100 Enjoy! David S. Freedman, DTM - "Move Forward" 2009 International Convention Speech Contests Chair District 53 Chief Judge 1993-1995; 1996-2002; 2007-2009P...