Tag: Connecticut Association of Schools

Dinner In Southington With The Teachers

I squeezed a lot of women while we took photos. Few people get the chance to be a little flirtatious for a living!

cas dinner crowd at aqua turf.jpgI spent an evening with teachers tonight at the Connecticut Association of Schools annual Elementary School Program Recognition Dinner. They’ve got to shorten that name. This was my fifteenth year.

When I started my daughter was in elementary school. Now she’s a college grad ready to set out on her own.

Along with my emceeing I also do a full evening’s worth of weathercasts. That’s the nerve wracking part, because they are happening simultaneously. The people in Southington seems forgiving. I hope what came through on-the-air didn’t need to be forgiven.

I do a lot of schmoozing at events like this. Tonight I went to every table and said hello. It’s what I do. It’s what I think I should do.

I hugged and squeezed a lot of women while we took photos. Few people get the chance to be a little flirtatious for a living! A few women told me their husbands think they have a thing for me. Flattering… and innocent.

aqua turf prime rib.jpgThe Aqua-Turf in Southington is an interesting venue. It’s family owned, but decidedly not mom-and-pop. The place is beautifully functional and hasn’t aged or tarnished during my time in Connecticut.

The A-T also serves the world’s largest prime rib. Now, with a reasonably good camera in my pocket with the iPhone, I’ve got a chance to share a photo on a typical serving. Crazy.

Talking To The Teachers

And, of course, the folks there live have no idea what’s going on television… until the two meet and I’m speaking to both audiences at once.

I emceed for the Connecticut Association of Schools tonight at the AquaTurf in Southintgton. I know I’ve written about this before since it’s my 14th consecutive year as emcee. This dinner is all about awards for exemplary programs from elementary schools across the state.

It’s nice to stop and meet some teachers who are still fired up about what they do and who they can mold their students. It would be nice as a parent to get to choose you child’s teacher so you get one of these. You’re not always this lucky.

At one point during the program I am both emceeing and presenting the weather. No matter how many times I do it that part is nerve racking. I’ve got my little earpiece plugged in while I’m speaking to the live crowd. And, of course, the folks there live have no idea what’s going on television… until the two meet and I’m speaking to both audiences at once.

I used to stay until the very end, but now with our 10:00 PM news I’m back earlier–leaving before the program is finished.

The Speaking Season

I would guess, for most people the prospect of speaking in front of large groups would be scary. Not me. Over the course of a year, I’ll speak publicly in dozens of situations. So, by now, I’ve got more than a little experience.

This week it’s the Connecticut Association of Schools on Thursday and Juvenile Diabetes Association on Saturday. Helaine and I plan on being at a walk for autistic children on Sunday – probably no speaking, but lots of hand shaking.

This is my twelfth year for CAS. Usually there are a little over a thousand people at the Aqua Turf in Southington. There is a ‘real’ after dinner speaker, so my time is short and I’m just the emcee&#185.

What is a little nerve wracking is the fact that my emceeing comes in the middle of our 6:00 PM news! So, at the last minute I step off the dais and do the weather with all these people looking on.

It’s sort of cool, because the teachers get a look of me ‘at work,’ if you will. And, a backstage view is always fun.

Saturday I’ll be emceeing for Juvenile Diabetes. I’ve been working with JDRF for about 15 years.

I’m looking forward to Saturday for a few reasons. First, Helaine is coming! That’s very unusual. No one on Saturday will appreciate that but me.

Second, Chris Kirby has put together another video for JDRF, which will be shown. I’ve just watched it and it’s amazing. He shot it (two cameras), edited, did the graphics and post production. His wife, Patty, wrote the copy.

Though I voiced it, that was my only involvement. Believe me – I deserve none of the credit. I’ll try and post a copy as soon as I get one.

I am glad I can use the power of the television station for these good causes. No one tells me I should, but I know it’s the right thing to do. And, I always feel good that I did.

&#185 – Last week I got an email asking what I wanted for dinner. Going to the Aqua Turf and not getting the prime rib is like going to Italy and not getting the Italian food.