U.S.A. = Freedom of Choice

It was an unusually warm, fall day and I was glad that I had worn a summer-weight suit.  Amid the hustle and bustle of returning students, I carefully drove along campus streets, found a coveted parking space and made my way to the student union building on the University of Pittsburgh college campus, navigating around students and staff who little knew the special occasion being celebrated there that day.  I was just one of many coming to witness the August 29^th naturalization ceremony for my friend and 101 others who had completed the requirements to become American citizens.

They came from all over the globe.  From Canada to China, Argentina to Uzbekistan.  They came for new opportunities, or to escape political and personal oppression.  There to witness the event were family and friends.  Immigration Services Officers officiated.  Even President Obama was there, in a pre-recorded welcome for the new citizens.

The program opened with the National Anthem.  After listening to several speeches, they received their much-anticipated citizenship papers.  It was a moving ceremony, as each announced recipient made his or her way down a line of officials handing out papers, handshakes and tiny American flags.

Then we all recited the Pledge of Allegiance, both old citizens and new.  The words to the Pledge rang clear and true.  “Liberty and Justice for all” were unfamiliar concepts to many of these new citizens.  And this old citizen found new meaning in the typically mumbled and worn out phrases.

Then, carefully clutching their hard-earned citizenship papers, families clustered together to share hugs and tears.  Making their way to pre-selected locations around the venue, they took pictures before leaving to spend the rest of their first day on home soil.

During this election year there has been vicious talk about taxes, health care and unemployment.  Arguments and negative campaigning point out the faults of each candidate.  But how many really understand what a privilege it is to live in a country that allows the freedom to debate and disagree?  To vote for the candidate of their choice without governmental interference?  To speak out in public without fear of reprisal and, in fact , with the support of the government?  These 102 new citizens may not know it yet, but each day will bring new realizations.

How will these new citizens vote in the coming election?  I don’t know.  And I don’t need to know.  What I do know is that it’s their choice.  They’re Americans.

© Judy Beck, J.D. 2012

First Pennsylvania Woman to Earn Toastmasters International’s Speaking Accreditation

Tammy A. Miller of State College, Pennsylvania, originally from Toledo, Ohio, has earned Toastmasters International’s most prestigious title, Accredited Speaker. Miller is president and CEO of Tammy Speaks, LLC, and is the only professional female auctioneer in Centre County. She earned the esteemed Accredited Speaker designation at the Toastmasters International Convention in Orlando, Florida, Aug. 15-18.

The largest organization in the world dedicated to teaching communication and leadership skills development, Toastmasters launched the Accredited Speaker Program in 1981 to recognize its members who have mastered professional-level speaking skills. Only 65 people in the world have received the Accredited Speaker (AS) designation.

To become an Accredited Speaker, Miller met a rigorous set of requirements, including the presentation of at least 25 speeches before various non-Toastmaster audiences within three years. Miller was required to give two additional presentations to Toastmasters International that determined her final qualification for accreditation.

“I was giving a presentation in a class approximately 17 years ago,” says Miller. “I was speaking about a pencil that I was holding in my hand, and I was shaking so badly that I had to use both hands to put the pencil down on the lectern. I knew I needed help and someone suggested I check out an organization called Toastmasters. The rest, as they say, is history! This organization has changed my life!”

Miller serves as the Director of Communications for the Penn State Lunar Lion project — one of 30 team finalists in the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE competition to land a vehicle on the moon by 2015. www.lunarlion.psu.edu.  She is also an international speaker, the author of three books and a speech coach. She speaks to a wide variety of audiences including business leaders, entrepreneurs and cancer survivors. Her topics relate to leadership, presentation skills, motivation and the healing power of humor. www.tammyspeaks.com.  Additionally, she served on the Toastmasters International Board of Directors and is a Distinguished Toastmaster, a designation that recognizes the highest level of achievement within the organization.

To learn more about the Accredited Speaker program, please visit www.toastmasters.org/ASProgram.

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About District 13

District 13 is one of 86 districts, which comprises more than 75 corporate and community clubs in western PA, northwestern WV, western MD, and the southeastern Ohio Valley. To learn more about District 13, please visit: www.d13tm.com.

About Toastmasters International

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. Founded in October 1924, the organization currently has more than 280,000 members in 13,500 clubs in 116 countries. Each week, Toastmasters helps more than a quarter million people of every ethnicity, education level and profession build their competence in communication so they can gain the confidence to lead others. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org. Follow Toastmasters International on Twitter @Toastmasters.

The Miss Pittsburgh Beauty Pageant – A Different Kind of Pageant

When you think of beauty pageants, the pictures that may come to mind are either young children wearing make-up and inappropriately mature outfits, or a bunch of empty-headed, anorexic teenage girls.  But, that is not what you would have seen at The 2012 Miss Pittsburgh Summer Preliminary on Saturday, June 23^, 2012.  Instead, a supportive crowd of men and women, family and friends, watched as girls between ten and twenty-two, of various shapes and sizes, exhibited their confidence, inner strength and beauty.  Uniquely placed, the event was held on Pittsburgh Luxury Cruise Liner’s Fantasy Yacht and The Miss Pittsburgh Water Limo (www.pittsburghluxurycruises.com).   Rather than a competition, contenders were evaluated to determine if they qualified to compete in the Jr. Teen, Teen and Miss Division finals on Sunday, September 23, 2012, at 3:00 p.m. at the Sheraton-Station Square in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The guiding force for the pageant is Michele Alexander, Pittsburgh paralegal, tax & audit professional and business owner (www.JacksonParalegals.com).  She has owned and produced pageants since 1998. Her passion is “to operate a pageant system that focuses on the development and articulation of various skills at multiple levels while giving all contenders the opportunity to shine in ways they never knew possible.”

The girls and young women are taught pageant training competition basics and life skills using Ms. Alexander’s book, Preparation for Winners, Success for Life (available on www. amazon.com and http://www.winacrown.com).   Ms. Alexander is the owner of WinACrown, the company that produces the Miss Pittsburgh Pageant.  The mission of WinACrown, is “Empowerment …Self-Confidence…Self Esteem, accomplished through the Basics of Pageantry.” The focus is on “recognizing intelligence, beauty & talent” while “celebrating the young women in our community.”

Ms. Alexander is surrounded by talented artists and entrepreneurs who share her vision of empowering young women.  Pittsburgh TV personality Shirley Douglas was on hand to “warm up” the crowd as we waited for the competition to begin.  Judges were Rita Gregory, author and actress, Jessica Bassulto, public speaker and Miss Pittsburgh 1998, and Terri Berceli, talent agent and actress (tbtalent.com).  The entertainment was provided by Jazz Diva Patte Terrell, who sang a mix of blues and jazz that forcefully highlighted current social issues, and Hakim Rasheed, smooth singer of soul, R&B and alternative music.  Troi Simpson, owner of Steelmindz Entertainment Agency, has assisted Ms. Alexander with the pageant for five years.  Eric Gaines, talent agent and owner of Emage (OneFashionPlace.net), has been the pageant photographer for the last three years.   Stephanie Scarci, Miss Pittsburgh 2011, distributed crowns and sashes to the participants, as all qualified for the finals.

Captain Mark Schiller, part owner of Pittsburgh Luxury Cruises, sees the value of The Miss Pittsburgh Pageant.  He approached Ms. Alexander with the idea of having the pageant on his Water Limo “The Miss Pittsburgh,” because of the name similarity and to promote this innovative pageant style to  benefit his own daughters, now two and six.  If you agree with us that it is imperative for society to foster the growth of young girls into strong and successful women, go to www.winacrown.com and get involved in The Miss Pittsburgh Beauty Pageant, as an audience member, participant, or promoter.

Hello fellow travelers!

I started this blog to share both fictional pieces, and non-fiction stories about my life in Pittsburgh.

The ficitional pieces are products of the improvisational writing workshops I have been facilitating for over a year.  The topics vary from semi-autobiographical to extraterrestrial fantasy.

Pittsburgh supports several international companies, the major league Pirates baseball team, the Mario Lemieux inspired Penguins, and the champion Steelers football team.  Yet it has a small town feel.  Until recently, Pittsburgh was The Steel Town.  Immigrants from all over Europe came here to work in the steel mills and coal mines.  And those immigrants brought the varied cuisine and rich cultures of their homelands.  Come with me on this journey to see unique sights and sites in Pittsburgh.