Post by markcameron on Jun 16, 2013 13:02:25 GMT -5
Team Cameron,
For the avid reader I would guess you've logged on here a few times over the last couple of months looking for an update, to no avail. Today I have what looks to be completely uninterrupted time to write my post. My AT&T computer, telephone and television are down which by my calculations will give me a complete afternoon of silence. I have for years placed my mobile phone on a Velcro pad on my desk with a stick I would bite in my teeth to dial my cell phone in case of emergency such as this. Don't get me wrong, I don't consider this necessarily the “emergency category” but if given the chance I would be calling AT&T for a service repair or at least a check-up. But I just found out my cell phone is also dead. So except for a radio playing softly in the background I'm going to have a pretty quiet day.
I've had a busy couple of months since my last post. I've been able to get out during the afternoons through the last two months of school to speak with students. I have been working on a couple of different committees for upcoming reunions. I've also been working on a couple of web site issues for www.teamcameron.org. In addition, I'm working on another web site outline for my potential public speaking career (more on that later.) In addition, The Golf Committee has invited me to sit in on a couple of meetings for the upcoming tournament.
I was invited to speak to six different schools this spring. Four middle schools and two grade schools allowed me about an hour each to share my story and "life advice" to about 1100 students. With audiences from third grade to eight grade I was able to hold their attention for my 30-40 minute presentation and field questions from the curious. The feedback I received from the teachers and administrators was one of shock. They are always surprised that my message will keep groups from 80-300 students silent for that amount of time.
I told you all before that I am surprised each time I speak to a different audience by some of the questions I hear from them. I decided after my last speech that I'm going to start writing down the most interesting questions of the day. They always ask the obvious questions. How I operate my chair? What I do for fun? What do I feel? How do I eat? On occasion they asked the more personal questions about God. It's interesting to see the look on their faces when something like this comes up. It's definitely a private question but I try my best to answer each question. I tell them that He has a plan.
Although I learn something about myself each time I get in front of an audience. Sometimes it's difficult to answer such a personal question in front of 300 8th-graders. I would actually prefer they asked me how I go to the bathroom. Believe me, nearly every audience asks that one, it usually the Joker with two or three of his buddies smirking next to him. I found the easiest way to answer that is the truth. I tell him I pee through a hose into a bag, just like he does. Then his buddies start laughing at him and so does everyone else in the audience.
On occasion, I will get notes from the students. This year I received packages from two different grade schools with thank you notes and get well cards from third and fifth graders. I enjoy seeing what they picked up from my speech. The illustrations are spot on of me in my chair, in a plane or on a boat just like I described during my presentation. They are an intuitive bunch. Those that express hope in finding a cure for spinal cord injuries and recognizing the dangers of shallow water diving let me know that my point is getting through. That is when it's confirmed, my reason for getting in front of the young people. They began to realize how their decisions every day could affect them the rest of their lives.
If you are local and interested in having me share my story with your child's school, organization or even the adult level groups I will do my best to make it happen. I mentioned before that I have been working on a new web site having to do with my public speaking. It's still a few months out but I will share the web site with you once it is complete. Until then you can reach me by e-mail at Cameron-Mark@SBCglobal.net.
The Golf Committee has been working on the 2013 Golf Classic. It will be held on September 27 at the Deer Creek Golf Course located on 133rd and Old Metcalf Road. The shotgun start is planned for 1:30 PM. We will have a burrito lunch provided by Chipotle at 12:30 just-in-time to fill you up before a beautiful day on the links. Texas Roadhouse is again our dinner sponsor, so expect to eat well after your game while checking out the auction items. If you don't have time to play golf feel free to join us for dinner or drinks and participate in the auction. Year after year the Committee puts on a great event.
Brown Bag Liquor will be hosting another Wine Tasting in October. I don't have a confirmed date but I believe it will be the second weekend in October. Go ahead and pencil in the 11th. They will of course be serving around 100 types of wine. In addition, they will have local restaurants with their signature dishes available for your samplings. Now if that's not enough to grab your attention, there will be another opportunity to make your way through dozens of items on the silent auction table. The Brown Bag Liquor guys and gals are known in some circles for throwing "the best parties in Kansas City." You won't want to miss this, I will give you a link to their web site and additional information when it becomes available.
I've been working on two reunion committees. The Olathe North High School Class of 1988 is getting together in September for our 25 year reunion. Although graduating with more than 500 people the committee itself is comprised of about 10 people. We have been meeting once a month as the committee and hosted two Pre-Reunions at a local watering hole as an attempt to bring old friends together and generate interest in spending a Friday and Saturday evening in September together as a group. I'm looking forward to seeing friends that I have lost touch with over the last 25 years.
My mom this from a family of 11 kids and I have 50 plus first cousins on that side and every three years we get together as a family to catch up with loved ones and make new memories. The planning of the reunions is passed from one family to the next every three years and the 2013 reunion is on my family. We have been organizing an itinerary complete with meals and suggested daily activities for approximately 100 people to take place this summer in Durango Colorado. We are all looking forward to spending time with the entire family for three days in a sleepy southwest Colorado vacation mecca.
So for those of you I don't know how I operate my chair? It's a series of sips and puffs into a straw that causes my chair to move forward, reverse, left and right. What do I do for fun? I enjoy getting at the house. The reason doesn't matter. Although I prefer sporting events, rodeos & county fairs; I would settle for a roll around the neighborhood or a trip to Wal-Mart to people watch. What do I feel? From the shoulders up I feel everything, from the shoulders down it feels like someone shut off the lights. How do I eat? I can eat anything someone will hold for me. I do steer away from chicken on the bone and meat on the rib.
As far as God - he has a specific design. I like to believe I'm in this chair for an ultimate reason. I think I am supposed to make an impression on someone. I can't think of a reason to give me my health, my mental capacities, incredible family and the amazing support group not to mention my wicked sense of humor and dashing good looks. I sincerely hope I'm supposed to be passing something along, otherwise I could be just spinning my wheels.
"Here is a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If you're alive, it isn't." - Richard Bach
Have a great day and a smile.
Love Mark
For the avid reader I would guess you've logged on here a few times over the last couple of months looking for an update, to no avail. Today I have what looks to be completely uninterrupted time to write my post. My AT&T computer, telephone and television are down which by my calculations will give me a complete afternoon of silence. I have for years placed my mobile phone on a Velcro pad on my desk with a stick I would bite in my teeth to dial my cell phone in case of emergency such as this. Don't get me wrong, I don't consider this necessarily the “emergency category” but if given the chance I would be calling AT&T for a service repair or at least a check-up. But I just found out my cell phone is also dead. So except for a radio playing softly in the background I'm going to have a pretty quiet day.
I've had a busy couple of months since my last post. I've been able to get out during the afternoons through the last two months of school to speak with students. I have been working on a couple of different committees for upcoming reunions. I've also been working on a couple of web site issues for www.teamcameron.org. In addition, I'm working on another web site outline for my potential public speaking career (more on that later.) In addition, The Golf Committee has invited me to sit in on a couple of meetings for the upcoming tournament.
I was invited to speak to six different schools this spring. Four middle schools and two grade schools allowed me about an hour each to share my story and "life advice" to about 1100 students. With audiences from third grade to eight grade I was able to hold their attention for my 30-40 minute presentation and field questions from the curious. The feedback I received from the teachers and administrators was one of shock. They are always surprised that my message will keep groups from 80-300 students silent for that amount of time.
I told you all before that I am surprised each time I speak to a different audience by some of the questions I hear from them. I decided after my last speech that I'm going to start writing down the most interesting questions of the day. They always ask the obvious questions. How I operate my chair? What I do for fun? What do I feel? How do I eat? On occasion they asked the more personal questions about God. It's interesting to see the look on their faces when something like this comes up. It's definitely a private question but I try my best to answer each question. I tell them that He has a plan.
Although I learn something about myself each time I get in front of an audience. Sometimes it's difficult to answer such a personal question in front of 300 8th-graders. I would actually prefer they asked me how I go to the bathroom. Believe me, nearly every audience asks that one, it usually the Joker with two or three of his buddies smirking next to him. I found the easiest way to answer that is the truth. I tell him I pee through a hose into a bag, just like he does. Then his buddies start laughing at him and so does everyone else in the audience.
On occasion, I will get notes from the students. This year I received packages from two different grade schools with thank you notes and get well cards from third and fifth graders. I enjoy seeing what they picked up from my speech. The illustrations are spot on of me in my chair, in a plane or on a boat just like I described during my presentation. They are an intuitive bunch. Those that express hope in finding a cure for spinal cord injuries and recognizing the dangers of shallow water diving let me know that my point is getting through. That is when it's confirmed, my reason for getting in front of the young people. They began to realize how their decisions every day could affect them the rest of their lives.
If you are local and interested in having me share my story with your child's school, organization or even the adult level groups I will do my best to make it happen. I mentioned before that I have been working on a new web site having to do with my public speaking. It's still a few months out but I will share the web site with you once it is complete. Until then you can reach me by e-mail at Cameron-Mark@SBCglobal.net.
The Golf Committee has been working on the 2013 Golf Classic. It will be held on September 27 at the Deer Creek Golf Course located on 133rd and Old Metcalf Road. The shotgun start is planned for 1:30 PM. We will have a burrito lunch provided by Chipotle at 12:30 just-in-time to fill you up before a beautiful day on the links. Texas Roadhouse is again our dinner sponsor, so expect to eat well after your game while checking out the auction items. If you don't have time to play golf feel free to join us for dinner or drinks and participate in the auction. Year after year the Committee puts on a great event.
Brown Bag Liquor will be hosting another Wine Tasting in October. I don't have a confirmed date but I believe it will be the second weekend in October. Go ahead and pencil in the 11th. They will of course be serving around 100 types of wine. In addition, they will have local restaurants with their signature dishes available for your samplings. Now if that's not enough to grab your attention, there will be another opportunity to make your way through dozens of items on the silent auction table. The Brown Bag Liquor guys and gals are known in some circles for throwing "the best parties in Kansas City." You won't want to miss this, I will give you a link to their web site and additional information when it becomes available.
I've been working on two reunion committees. The Olathe North High School Class of 1988 is getting together in September for our 25 year reunion. Although graduating with more than 500 people the committee itself is comprised of about 10 people. We have been meeting once a month as the committee and hosted two Pre-Reunions at a local watering hole as an attempt to bring old friends together and generate interest in spending a Friday and Saturday evening in September together as a group. I'm looking forward to seeing friends that I have lost touch with over the last 25 years.
My mom this from a family of 11 kids and I have 50 plus first cousins on that side and every three years we get together as a family to catch up with loved ones and make new memories. The planning of the reunions is passed from one family to the next every three years and the 2013 reunion is on my family. We have been organizing an itinerary complete with meals and suggested daily activities for approximately 100 people to take place this summer in Durango Colorado. We are all looking forward to spending time with the entire family for three days in a sleepy southwest Colorado vacation mecca.
So for those of you I don't know how I operate my chair? It's a series of sips and puffs into a straw that causes my chair to move forward, reverse, left and right. What do I do for fun? I enjoy getting at the house. The reason doesn't matter. Although I prefer sporting events, rodeos & county fairs; I would settle for a roll around the neighborhood or a trip to Wal-Mart to people watch. What do I feel? From the shoulders up I feel everything, from the shoulders down it feels like someone shut off the lights. How do I eat? I can eat anything someone will hold for me. I do steer away from chicken on the bone and meat on the rib.
As far as God - he has a specific design. I like to believe I'm in this chair for an ultimate reason. I think I am supposed to make an impression on someone. I can't think of a reason to give me my health, my mental capacities, incredible family and the amazing support group not to mention my wicked sense of humor and dashing good looks. I sincerely hope I'm supposed to be passing something along, otherwise I could be just spinning my wheels.
"Here is a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If you're alive, it isn't." - Richard Bach
Have a great day and a smile.
Love Mark