District 31 Toastmasters Division A Director & my Area Director Team!

 The District 31 Toastmasters - Division A-Team! 

Area A-11 Jennifer Curcuru, Area A-12 Karthik Yajurvedi, 

Area A-13 Bethany Hashway, DTM, Area A-14 Bob Moran, Division A Director Dr. Sherri Raftery, DTM4 PDG.

hashtag

#D31DeliverResults www.district31.org

This Toastmasters 2025-2026 Year I was elected to serve as the District 31 Division A Director on Saturday April 26, 2025. 

I have a team of 4 Area Directors that I was able to seek out, contact, and ask if they would like to serve on my team. And they said "YES"!

  and what a blessing it is witnessing as learn how to navigate leadership, and I get to help guide and direct them on their journey. 

More as the year goes along and as our first female International President Helen Blanchard said:

"If you can get all there is to get out of Toastmasters, 

you will never get out of Toastmasters."  

- Helen Blanchard, DTM, PIP 1985-1986

(L-R) Helen Blanchard, DTM, PID & Dr. Sherri Raftery - photo from the Toastmasters International Convention (I believe it was 2010).

Happy 17th Birthday Shane!

Happy 17th Birthday Shane!

I remember when we first "adopted" you!

We drove to Hull, MA from the Salem, MA to pick out a white cat with blue eyes from my District 31 Toastmaster friend Sheila Sullivan. Her bf's cat had a litter, and we planned on the white one. BUT...Shane crawled up on my daughter's leg and she looked up at me and said "Mommy, can we get him instead?" I replied "Of course, it's your cat". 

We drove back with Shane, and he has been a part of our family for 17-years. He started off being her buddy but since she moved out 10-years ago he has become my therapeutic fur-baby. Always by my side, by my feet, sleeping on my bet, purring next to me. My study-buddy follows me around like a little puppy. I am blessed to have him, and I am so grateful that he chose us. Best personality, docile, calm, cute, and mellow. My vanilla Zebra Happy 17 Years - SHANEYYYY! 

Photos & Quotes thanks to Canva!

 I am super exited to share that I figured out a way to share my quotes and photos in one place through using Canava! Thank you to Toastmaster District 31 Public Relations Manager for walking me through the process. 

Good thing I am a quick study that I could organize and create the look that I wanted. I created two and will keep these in a folder and then I will publish the book.

I have been wanting to use my personal photos and my quotes for many years and can finally do that now!

Super excited for this new opportunity to share these photos and quotes.

I will try to post on my blog more often too in 2025!

Podcast is coming soon too!

Dr. Sherri

Happy Birthday January 9, 2025!

 

Happy Birthday to me! 

On January 9th I turned XX years old. 

I celebrated with my family and my BFF Sharon - whose Birthday is on January 13th. We are Capricorns.

I appreciated this flyer that Dr. Sunny created from Contest Mastery Toastmaster Club. I am serving as the 2024-2025 President.

I also appreciated the cards, emails, texts, and warm messages from numerous friends across the globe.

I am grateful to celebrate my Birthday!

Thank you for helping to make it special!

Donating Blood to the American Red Cross (Jan 5, 2024)

Donated Blood to the - Boston American Red Cross 

Friday January 5, 2024, for to celebrate my Birthday (January 9, 2024)

https://www.redcross.org/

      

  

• American Red Cross | Help Those Affected by Disasters

 This morning I gave a blood donation to the Boston American Red Cross on Tremont Street in Boston Mass. I took the blue line train and got off at State Street then Walked over to 274 Tremont and GOSH is it COLD outside - it is like a winter polar VORTEX!  

The young woman who prepped me and drew my blood is 26-years-old (same age as my daughter), her name is Shannon. I appreciated her kindness, gentleness, and ability to help me feel calm and at-ease.

This is my second year of giving Blood. I started on January 9, 2023 because my big sister Mary needed a blood transfusion to survive. When she shared that with me - I felt an immediate need/connection to give blood so that I could help save OTHER people's lives to. This is my way of giving back in honor of my sister - and in honor to all those who give blood and are saving lives too! You can give too - here is how. Call 

1 (800) 733-2767

  American Red Cross | Help Those Affected by Disasters

Thank you to Calar Barton who started this organization years back! 

The American Red Cross (ARC), also known as the American National Red Cross,^[5] is a nonprofit humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States. It is the designated US affiliate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the United States movement to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. (Credit to Wikipedia)  

American Red Cross National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. started May 21, 1881  (credit to Wikipedia)

Happy 3rd Birthday to my Grandson!

It's March 2, 2023 and my Grandson Desi is now THREE-YEARS-OLD! We are celebrating his party on Sunday and the theme is Lighting McQueen. I love you the bluest! Love Nana or as Des calls me "NiNah"!
 

Celebrating 18-years in Toastmasters!

I am celebrating 18-years in Toastmasters! I joined February 2005! It has been an amazing journey. Here is to 18 more years! I have grown as a speaker and have been able to help others grow and improve their public speaking, communication, and leadership skills. There are numerous stories and successes as well as challenges that I have experienced along the way.